Dan Simmons

Mr. Simmons was at The Tattered Cover last night for the first appearance of his tour promoting Olympos, the sequel to Illium. He was as entertaining as always, and seeing him here is always a treat as he gets more personal and reads a bit longer since here is "home base" for him.

Support the HDF

Hack your local crosswalk.

Eminent Domain

Based upon the recent Supreme Court decision ruling that a government can take private property and give it to a private comapny, someone is attempting to get Justice Souter's house and replace it with a hotel. No, I'm not kidding!

More mokeys

The latest issue of Wired magazine contains an interview with the virtual band Gorillaz by Neil Gaiman. Luckily you can read it online if you don't have a print copy.

King! Kong!

The triler for Peter Jackson's upcoming version of King Kong is now available on the movie's site.

MIT Blogger Survey

If you're a blogger, why not take ten minutes and help the folks over at MIT out?

Funny t-shirt

I'm pretty sure that administration will frown on you wearing this shirt while working the reference desk. (Tempting as it may be...)

Dylan signs coffee chain CD deal

AS if the whole Alanis-CD-exclusively-in-Starbucks thing wasn't enough, now Bob Dylan is doing the same thing, for 18 months in this case. The question is, as my friend Steve put it, will Dylan fans go into a Starbucks specifically for the CDs?

Posdcasting makes or breaks today

Why? Because the new version of iTunes (4.9), released today, natively supports podcasting.

Longhorn

Here's the first videos from Microsoft regarding RSS support in Longhorn

The Penguin Classics Library Complete Collection

Never mind that Amazon is offering you a collection of 1,082 titles for only $6,658.87, or that you'll never read most of them (even if you intend to). Here are my two questions: What is a "sourcing fee" and why does it cost $1,331.12.

Popular "person"

According to BlogPulse, "Aussie Slang" is a very popular "person" this week.

Playboy Stays Put in Illinois

Here we go again. Here's someone else who thinks that the library shouldn't subscribe to Playboy. Luckily, the board decided to keep it in the collection. I realize that this may be a cliche, but they do have good articles. Imagine you're doing a paper on Jimmy Carter. The Playboy interview in which he admitted to having "lusted in my heart" could be a good primary source.

New blog. Send your library's image now.

As an interesting summer project (and because I just can't convince myself that I don't already have enough in my life to keep myself occupied,) I've created a new blog named Satellite Libraries. Go check it out and submit your library's image for inclusion.

Blog errors

Yes, there's a problem with the layout. The title's up there and the content is down here. It seems that Blogger is inserting a bit of XHTML/CSS that's causing the problem. Since I'm not the one entering the code, I can't get rid of it. I've put in a request for assistance with the folks at Blogger and hope that they can offer me a solution.

Internet access at libraries better than ever - but often rationed

This article "Internet access at libraries better than ever - but often rationed" is from last week but I'm just getting to it. The author has some points, but they're of no surprise to anyone in a library.

David McCollough

On the 23^rd I had the pleasure of listening to David McCollough discuss his new book 1776. I was able to get an autographed copy but unfortunately the combination of his age and the fact that Denver was city #16 on his book tour, he pre-signed all the books insteading of doing a post-talk line.

Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud

The Miles Davis sountrack to the classic Louis Malle film Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud (Lift To The Scaffold) has been finally re-released in its entiriety!

Amazon.com essential recording
Performed by a Miles Davis-fronted European band for a movie by Louis Malle, this music helped define the sound of film noir. It made viewers think the genre's films had always sounded just so, with slow-walking bass beats and muted, slithering horn lines miming the characters on the screen--and underlining their emotions. The melodies here are brief fragments, sometimes rising up only to disappear and then briefly return. This is Miles playing in the moment, improvising musical impressions as he watched the screen. And what he played managed to capture the era of postwar everywhere, while it offered Davis the freedom to test his on-the-spot compositional skills within a minimalist context. How many other beboppers who worked within the shadow of Charlie Parker could have ever recorded these little gems? --John Szwed

Longhorn loves RSS!

It has been announced that Longhorn (the next version of Windows, due in fall 2006) will contain native RSS support. If you're into pictures, here's a few of how RSS implementation looks in IE7 from Friday's Gnomedex conference in Seattle.

Grokster and StreamCast lose

BREAKING NEWS:
According to SCOTUSblog the supremes have unanimously ruled that "developers of software violate federal copyright law when they provide computer users with the means to share music and movie files downloaded from the Internet, at least when the software companies take 'affirmative steps to foster infringement.'"

Andrew William Sauers

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the family, my first nephew, Andrew William Sauers.

The one with the silly grin, is my brother, Matt, as proud as he should be.

RE: Freaks

In response to my post on my Starbucks-related freakiness, my father passed along to me a link to a PowerPoint presentation by management guru Tom Peters. Here's the content of slide #64:

Why Do I love Freaks?

(1) Because when Anything Interesting happens … it was a freak who did it. (Period.) (2) Freaks are fun. (Freaks are also a pain.) (Freaks are never boring.) (3) We need freaks. Especially in freaky times. (Hint: These are freaky times, for you & me & the CIA & the Army & Avon.) (4) A critical mass of freaks-in-our-midst automatically make us-who-are-not-so-freaky at least somewhat more freaky. (Which is a Good Thing in freaky times—see immediately above.) (5) Freaks are the only (ONLY) ones who succeed—as in, make it into the history books. (6) Freaks keep us from falling into ruts. (If we listen to them.) (We seldom listen to them.) (Which is why most of us—and our organizations—are in ruts. Make that chasms.)

Thanks dad. (I think...)

2nd Edition

Neal-Schuman is busy drafting a contract for me to do a second edition of my book Using the Internet as a Reference Tool. I'm excited about this one. They do have a question though and I'm looking for some help from all of you. Here's the deal:

Before we prepare the contract, our marketing gurus asked me some questions I couldn't answer. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this: Would we sell more if we change the title? Is the concept of "using the Internet as a reference tool" dated? Is there a "sexier" title for this edition? I'm not sure. Since you teach this, what workshop title would attract the highest registration, especially those people who do use the Web daily for reference work, but perhaps want to upgrade their skills (which is where we see the marjority of the market for this 2nd edition)?

I'm open to suggestions. As for the associated workshop, "Using the Internet as a Reference Tool" is the title (which I'm sure the folks at NS were not aware of. If you have any suggestions for a "sexier" title please submit them ASAP. I've promised to get back to NS on Monday.

ICPL

Look what's installed on the public computers at the Iowa City Public Library!

"Why I am lucky"

My good friend Louise just posted this to her blog, Librarian's Rant. I'm not passing it along because I'm mentioned. I'm passing it along because everyone should read, and take to heart, what she says.
Louise: Thanks for the kind words and thoughts that have brightened the outlook my day.

:: The Oracle of Starbucks ::

Enter your drink and The Oracle of Starbucks will divine your personality type. Me, I'm a "Freak". Surprise!
Thanks Amy

Reference librarians on a (virtual) hunt

Iowa City, IA

This is the end of my Iowa trips. Here's a few photos of and around the Iowa City Public Library.

Comments

I've just been informed that my comments are busted again... I'll get them working eventually, I promise.

Photos

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake

Storm Lake Public Library

Quote

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.
—John Adams

Students working hard

Welcome to Storm Lake, IA

Lite-Brite

Look, an online Lite-Brite
Thanks bro (soon to be a daddy again)

Smart USB

I've commented on software designed to run off of USB drives. Well, it seems that USB drives specifically designed to run software locally are being developed.

Collector to open bookstore

My ex always threatened to do this without my consent. I recall something about "25-cents per book" being said every once in a while.

Early Anansi Boys review

I can not wait for Neal Gaiman's next book!

Where to begin?

Tarantino up for Cop 4

Scary government

Multiple items today:

• Republican Doctors Campaign Photos With Dean's
• 'Watch, Ride, And Report'
• Gov. Tells Gay Vets.: Get Out Of Texas If You Don't Like Our Laws
• State Abstinence-Education Gives Students False Information
  "One abstinence program, for example, tells teens they should "be prepared to die" if they use condoms because the contraceptives are likely to slip off or break"

Domain confusion

I received this e-mail from my domain registrar yesterday. Uh, .DE is for Germany, not Denver. (I'll not point out the typo...)

PATRIOT Act news (important enough to not wait for evening posting session)

Senate panel votes to expand Patriot Act | Senate panel votes to expand Patriot Act | News.blog | CNET News.com
"the proposal appears to grant the FBI more power to seek information from banks, hospitals, libraries, and so on through 'administrative subpoenas' without prior judicial oversight."

IE6 Gets Pseudo Tabbed Browsing

Yes, you can add tabbed browsing to IE6 but you have to install the new MSN Search Toolbar to do it. Or, you could just install Firefox.

Colorado passes anti-PATRIOT act resolution

Considering the general leaning of politicians in this state this I find this to be a welcoming surprise.
via LISNews

Guess-the-Google

Here's a new Google game. You're shown 12 partial-pictures and you need to guess which word searched in Google to retreive those pictures. On my first try, I scored 238 points.

Stephen King's 'Misery'

This woman claims she inspired Stephen King's Annie Wilkes character. Considering all the other nut-ball suits she's brought against him over the years, this time she may just be right, just not in the way she intended.

Judy Blume interview

Judy Blume is a wonderful woman. I've had the honor of meeting her and enjoyed every minute of it. Here's an interview from The Guardian mainly discussing the 30th anniversary of Forever and the issues of censorship it, and her other books, have raised over the years.
via LISNews

Lowest approval ratings in 75 polls

MSNBC.com
"George W. Bush’s approval rating is now a full twenty points lower than Bill Clinton’s was on the day he was impeached. Dear media, that means you gotta stop referring to him as a “popular president,” and no less important, stop treating him like one. If you want to be wimps about everything, fine, just don’t blame it on his ‘popularity.’ Blame it on yourselves."

Video fun

This guy always wanted to be in a music video so he did one of his own. Considering I saw the original band perform this song live back in the day, I can say that this version is better.

Also, there's the Star Wars Gangsta Rap Special Edition on AtomFilms.com.

You too can make $100k for watching The Dukes of Hazard reruns

Well, no, you can't but this guy does.

2GB in your pocket

Jump drives have officially hit 2 gig. A 4 gig version is in the works.

LibrarianInBlack: Don't fly into the sun!

Thanks to LiB for pointing me to the "paper starship archive". Some of those B5 ships look like they'll be fun to try to piece together.

Rare books?

When you're a book collector, you always want a "first", i.e. first edition, first printing. But when the publisher has "a first printing of 10.8 million copies" does that really allow the "first" to be worth anything? The first rule of collecting (anything) is scarcity. So, if there's a second printing of (only) 500,000 copies, and therefore more scarce, does that make the second printing more valuable?

Sex offender charged with gathering porn on UI computer

Here's the story:
GazetteOnline - Sex offender charged with gathering porn on UI computer

Here are my questions:
* What was the amount of time between the viewing of the material and when the police came asking for records?
* How often does the library clear out the cache and history files of their public computers?
* What is the library's policy on supplying such information to the police?
* Did the police have a search warrant, subpoena, or other legal document requiring the library to give up such information?
* I'm sorry, but one does not "find" child pornography in the library. You might use a library computer to access it but "find" implies that the library carried/offered it.

I'll actually be in Iowa City in two weeks. I'm considering stopping by to see if I can find any answers to these questions (time allowing). If you know anything about this story I'd love to hear from you.

Not to revive Gormangate but...

Just founf this bit on Neil Gaiman's blog via Library Journal. Go Neil!

"You know, I love librarians. I really love librarians. I love librarians when they crusade not to be stereotyped as librarians. I love librarians when they're just doing those magic things that librarians do. I love librarians when they're the only person in a ghost town looking after thousands of books. I love the ALA and am proud to be on one of their posters.

"On the other hand, I feel the love diminishing a tad when I read an article by the president-elect of the ALA, and find myself unable to decide whether it's mostly that a) he's simply a very, very bad writer, or b) he lacks any skills of a diplomatic nature, or it's just c) he really believes that statements like 'Given the quality of the writing in the blogs I have seen, I doubt that many of the Blog People are in the habit of sustained reading of complex texts' are somehow going to disabuse people who keep blogs, journals and such from believing or repeating the calumny that 'Michael Gorman is an idiot' (someone apparently said this on a blog, he tells us, expecting us to feel an outrage on his behalf I somehow wasn't able to muster). (Surely, if you're upset that someone called you an idiot, the wisest course of action would be not to write an odd screed that will itself convince many people who haven't heard of you before reading it that this is in fact the case.)

"There are a great many wise and sensible librarians out there, lots of whom have been keeping blogs as long as there have been blogs around, and all of whom understand that the people who can and do read and write and comment on what they read and write are probably not the enemy. Can some of you take your president-elect aside and suggest to him that articles like http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA502009 don't put him, or the profession, in the best possible light? And tell that there are some fine blogs out there, too."

Stop..Look..Listen...

It's posts like this one that make me glad that I know Michael Stephens and why you should be reading his blog, librarian or not, technologist or not.

United to Offer In-Flight Wireless

United is going to start offering WiFi in some of their planes. No word on how much they're going to overcharge for this service yet but guess who rarely gets to fly far enough to get a plane as big as a 757-200...

I want my public WiFi. One congressman doesn't think I deserve it.

According to this mobilepipeline article, HR 2726, "prohibits state and local governments from providing any telecommunications or information service that is "substantially similar" to services provided by private companies.". Here's the official information on the bill from Thomas.

Summer reading prize idea

Here's an idea. One Denver area library has, as one of their summer reading prizes for teens, a $2.00 off your fines coupon. Sort of a "get out of jail free" card for the rascals who don't return their books on time. I think it's a great idea especially since it pretty much costs the library nothing. (Chances are they wouldn't get most of that money back anyway and many of the participants will never have the need to use it.) I hear though that it took a lot of work to convince management of the idea.

MS Evangelist?

Yeah, I'm lookin' to the the next Technical Evangelist for Internet Explorer. Not.

Voluntary Airport Security ID to Debut in Florida

Pay $80, let them take you fingerprints and retina scan, and never get pat down again. What could possibly be unfair about that?

"Interstate" no longer requires multiple states to be involved.

Today the Supreme Court ruled against locally grown and state-legal medical marijuana under the federal interstate commerce laws even if the pot doesn't cross state lines.

Looking back at the rise of 'Googlezon'

epic-2015-thompson-sloan.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)

Amazon to supply MARC records

From Akla:
Sheila Ring of the Martin Monsen Library in Naknek reports that Amazon.com has a pilot project for libraries in which it will supply MARC records for books purchased through Amazon. Tony Small is a member of the "library team" at Amazon.com and says those interested in the program should go to http://www.marcive.com/profile/amazon/ to learn more to sign up.
Even if you are not interested in MARC records through Amazon, you may want to look at what other services Amazon offers to libraries on the webpage at www.amazon.com/libraries.

What's a cubit?

Anyone got an ark I can borrow. We're getting what seems like biblical-level rain right now. Here's a 30 second video if you want a peek. (11.1mb, MOV)

Anonymous Library Cards

In response to a library's recent decision to use fingerprints as identification, Ben Ostrowsky is suggesting a method for creating "anonymous library cards". His method involves cash.

"You've seen anonymous cash cards already; you may even have received them before. They're better known as gift cards. Using the same principle, libraries can issue a borrower card that uses cash, rather than personal ID information, as collateral. Here's an example: If a privacy-minded user deposits $20 to get an anonymous library card, she can check out The Terror State without identifying herself. Her account balance is temporarily reduced by $15, and when the library checks the CD back in (in good condition), her balance is restored to its original value."

At first I liked this idea but on further thought I'm not so sure. The idea has one significant flaw. This idea only works for patrons who can afford it. The moment you attach a direct monetary cost, a percentage of your patron base will not be able to participate. The end result is that privacy is only available to those who can afford it. This is not a fair solution.

Rush to judgement

The original headline
Rush Guitarist, Family Sue Over Fla. Altercation
Fark's version:
"Rush guitarist files suit against Ritz-Carlton over altercation, claims his freewill was abused because he's in the limelight. He went on to say the lawsuit was not about the big money, but rather justice which is closer to the heart"

Church vs. Church

On one side, Charlotte Church. On the other, the Pope. What are they arguing over, none other than Harry Potter.

Grocery Store Wars

Grocery Store Wars is both paradoy and propaganda. The puns are not bad enough to overlook the propaganda. They're pretty darn close though.

The Anarchist in the Library

If you haven't read this book and you're interested in topics such as peer-to-peer, pay-per-view, and information privacy, you should go get yourself a copy now. Only one chapter deals specifically with libraries but every word is relevant. Here's one specific example:

Libraries are under incredible pressure to conform to the pay-per0view model. Increasingly, academic journals are coming to libraries in electronic form rather than on paper. So imagine this: An electronic journal is streamed into a library. A library never has it on its shelf, never owns a paper copy, can't archive it for posterity. Its patrons can access the material and paybe print it, maybe not. But if the subscription runs out, if the library loses funding and has to cancel the subscription, or if the company itself goes out of business, all the material is gone. The library has no trace of what it bought: no record, no archive. It's lost entirely. This is not a good model for a library. It defeats the fundamental purpose of a library. You might as well be sitting at a computer terminal in a copy shop. [emphasis added]

Celebrate Doughnut Day!

Go into your local Krispy Kreme tomorrow (June 3rd) and get your free doughnut.

Office to default to XML

Microsoft has announced that the next version of its Office suite will use an open XML-based format instead of the currently used proprietary format for saving files.

This entry will probably get me filtered...

ICANN had approved the new top-level domain ".xxx" for which "names would cost around $75 and come with no restrictions except that any sexually explicit content feature only adults."

Promotion to management

No, not mine, nor anyone's for that matter. It's rare that I compare anyone near and dear to me to Dilber's Alice but I just can't let today's comic go by without a link here. The person who this is for knows who they are.

Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Human Events Online has published a list of the Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Guess which end of the political spectrum this group is on...

American's "know it when they see it"

According to this report from MediaDailyNews a new study reports that 48% "of adults were personally offended by something they saw on television in the last three months." However "these viewers tend to disagree about what offends them." Justice Stewart would be proud.

One for the folks

As a boomer, do you remember any of these foods?

Episode III Easter Egg Hunt

The official Star Wars site has several pages of Easter Eggs from Episode III. I caught several of them myself while watching the film the first time and a few more the second. (I spotted the Millennium Falcon!) Warning: Contains spoilers.
via Librarian's Rant

New Library Card

Today I received a library card from Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto in Portugal. You can see it in the library card collection. (Turns out my best friend / pet editor has actually been there.)

More Deep Throat

Woodward has confirmed W. Mark Felt as Deep Throat.

• BBC NEWS
• Nixon aides condemn 'Deep Throat' for betrayal

And a bunch of responses from the bloggers of The Huffington Post.

• The Devil in Deep Throat, Paul Krassner
• Where is Today's Deep Throat?, Rep. John Conyers
• Deep Throat and I: Now It Can Be Told, and Not for the First Time Either, Nora Ephron
• A Deep Throated Yawn, Bill Diamond
• Vanity Fair and Deep Throat: The Story Behind the Story, Richard Bradley