Omaha Librarians Rock the House

Via Joystiq read all about Omaha, Nebraska librarians who got in trouble for purchasing (for the library) the game "Rock Band", then making an entertaining promotional video of themselves assembling and playing the game. They put this on YouTube and though these librarians rock in every way, there are questions about them using public funds for the purchase, and perhaps they were just too cool in the video. I think they did a great job, just the sort of bold and fun promotions we could all be doing.

Snugglebeagles

I've been looking for a companion for my little beaglemeister since November of last year. My sister loaned me her Golden Retriever and I really loved the way she got along with my beagle pal, and thought to find a Golden Retriever of my own for him.

As it turned out, the Golden Dog of his dreams was another beagle. She is just a pup, and she is so sweet. They have had some adjustments to make in getting along, but after about three weeks now they snuggle by each other and live to go for walks, play fight, and explore the yard side by side.

Beagles for the win!

So Lost: 316 (Spoilers for anyone who doesn't think I'd actually talk about what happened in the episode...)

I definitely have to watch this episode a second time. It was a mostly straightforward episode time-switching wise. Almost a relief!

Jack, with his "messiah complex" (From wikipedia: Messiah complex is a state in which the individual believes themselves to be, or destined to become, the saviour of the particular field, a group, an event, a time period, or in an extreme scenario, the world) is sooo easily led by the nose by Mrs Hawking and Ben. Here is a smart talented man who has no clue, but thinks it is always his job to save the day and "fix things". Couldn't he use those smarts to see that Mrs. Hawking and Ben and the Island aren't fixable? Noooooo. And there he is, in direct competition with John Locke who also believes he is destined to be "special" and save the Island. Criminy.

Kate is such a little psycho. How she manages to appear small and vulnerable while being up to no good 24/7 I just can't see. "You must promise never to ask me about Aaron"...yeah right. Lucky for you Jack always wears his leash so you can just give him a little shake now and then and he rolls on over to have his belly rubbed (dog reference).

What happened to Aaron we ask? My coworker JR (not the one from "Dallas") had a great theory that Charles Widmore has both Kate and Sun working on his behalf. We have seen Sun offering to work with him, but wily Kate?

He might easily be involved though...how did those two women, Sun and Kate leave their children behind and trudge off to the Island? He could have promised them something, and it would have to be something that would eventually allow them to be re-united with the kids. I can see that he could convince them to carry out some set of orders.

I think Sun is sufficiently obsessed with being back with Jin so that she would go no matter what. But not Kate. The other possiblity for Kate is that she had another visit from Claire, who told her in a previous episode not to bring Aaron back to the Island.

But...what about the whole "nobody must raise Aaron but Claire" thing? Hmmpf. Kate could have left Aaron with Claire's mom, but why? And why do that and go back to the island? Does she think she can switch places with Claire somehow? She would do that for Aaron I think.

The Dharma Initiative and its membership raises its intriguing head as the inventor of the pendulum that detects the Island. How they guessed there was an island like this in the first place is a puzzle. I need to go back and watch the very first Dharma Initiative training film. In it, briefly, the founders of the Dharma Initiative, a man and wife are briefly seen and named. I don't recall that they have been referred to since, but they have remained in my mind. Woman with blond hair, hairy bearded guy...could be anyone. I keep thinking they are Eloise Hawking and Charles Widmore under bogus names but that would be too easy.

The whole 316 thing...over my non-theological head. Clearly John is the sacrifice and Jack the unbeliever (Doubting Thomas) who must be convinced. I will say I do not feel Mrs Hawking or Ben are remotely holy, reverent, or using the church, it's teachings or anything else as more than a tool and a screen. Ben can light candles till doomsday but he is a bad bad man.

Mrs. Hawking, though there is speculation she is a protector of the island and the timestream or some such...also seems bad to the bone. Did you see her face all hard and cold and ugly when Desmond told her he was there on Daniel's behalf to ask for help? Not exactly snuggly mama. Although it did occur to me as I pondered this that she is angry at him, perhaps for trying to alter time and events to save Charlotte. Ack and how could I forget, Daniel had funding for his time travel research for 10 years from Charles Widmore. So mama doesn't like her mumbly voiced son sleeping with the enemy. Aha.

Lastly, at the end we have Hurley, Jack and Kate back on the island, greeted by Jin with a brand new Dharma Initiative uniform and the blue van from previous episodes all sparkly and new. So they are on the island but in the early days of the Dharma Initiative. Maybe they'll meet those founders I find so intriguing.

We're missing Sun, who will be going BONKERS that Jin is not on the island as promised, though he's in another time frame, I speculate. How is Ben going to explain all that? With a full helping of slime, no doubt. I will be surprised if all of them are in the past and just in different locations on the island.

We're missing Sayid and his lovely police escort.

Of course John-in-a-box is missing. Too interesting to see in what corporeal form he shows up next.

And too cute! A whole back-of-the-plane-load of new shiny disposable Red Shirts! All of those people ready to be ground up in the Island Munch Machine.

Good stuff.

Note: here is the orientation film. I can't make out the names of the Dharma Founders, (DeGroots?) but I did see something I didn't pay attention to the first time around: Charles Widmore up in his office, seen through an outside window and said to be the financial backer of the Dharma Initiative. (Ah this answers my question above...how did the Dharma Initiative know to look for the island...Charles Widmore got them involved, since he funded them.) These two don't look like Widmore and Hawking at all so forget that wild theory. There we have it...

Survivor Tocantins Episode 2 Catfight!

I took my notebook down to watch the show and the first note I made was:

Candace Cannon Fodder!!!

Sure enough! She was a tough physical competitor but socially she really needed to be a lot more mellow. It was a big mistake to go against the oily but apparently influential "Coach" so early on. She really had to make sure she had lots of allies. I had her on my "Survivors" list and poof she goes down. Oh oh. It did surprise me to see whiny Erinn vote against her though. If "Coach" is getting people popped for poor attitude, then Erinn is next. *shudder*

I also noted "Stephen=Dork" Man where did they get this guy? Has he ever watched the show?

Sierra, who I wrote off based on her bio and her picture (waif like) has really proven to be a tough and determined competitor. She needs to bond with the others in the group though or she is toasty.

Taj: Big mistake for her to say she is a famous football player's wife. However just on her own I just love her. She has the best personality and attitude. She's working the social game and the psychological game and she was right in there physically competing in the "basketball" competition. Cool lady! I hope she stays in the game.

Brandon really is working the entrepreneurial angles. He's going to be a wealthy man someday, however he does on Survivor.

More Things on a Stick Thing 25: Blogger's Toolkit (or in the common parlance..."How to Pimp Your Blog")

20 Usability Tips For Your Blog

Following my Master Plan to be more methodical and thoughtful this time around with the 23 Things, I'm going to hit every part of the "DO"s. There are a ton of Things in Thing 25 so this post will be a long one. I considered breaking it up but I have other post topics I'd like to cover for myself so keep your 2.0 eyes peeled here for the Thing 25 Saga.

1. Pick a topic for your blog.

I absolutely agree with this. Although it may seem initially appealing to do stream of consciousness blogging about whatever pleases you, even you will soon become bored. If you are writing for yourself or your imaginary audience about something that you are really fascinated by, you will be inspired to write far more frequently.

It is cheating, and a BAD SIGN when you subtitle your blog "...and anything else I feel like writing about". You can certainly offer off-topic items, and write about something not specifically on your theme, but its best to just slide those posts in under the wire rather than be sort of in-your-face about the whole thing.

I will say, counter to this in a way, if you are a public library reference librarian, you get every question in the world, a high percentage of which are unique things you've never been asked, no matter how long you've been in the field. This gives you huge leeway in your blog because the sky is the limit. You actually can talk about anything at all and be spot on topic. Tis good to be a librarian :)



2. Encourage comments

I certainly encourage comments and allow anonymous readers the ability to comment. This is really nice for those who read your blog but don't have one of their own. I would not get discouraged if there are no comments, nor can you assume no comments mean no readers. Blogger has a nice step by step help page on enabling comments:

How do I enable comments on my blog?

If you'd like to see if someone really is reading or if your words are floating unread in the ether, get a site use counter (probably covered later in these things).
I use Blog Patrol here, which gives a count and lets you know what people are reading and searching for that brings them to your blog. It can be a little quirky signing in sometimes, not loading, but you can just check later in the day.

3. Make it easy to subscribe:

Easier said than done! I recall having difficulty with Feedburner in Round 1 and here it is again. I bet this is some tricky way of having people re-do some of the tough stuff so they get the knack of it. Hmmpf.

Feedburner has been purchased by Google. They have a sign in on the Feedburner site that does not take your Google sign in. However, if you circuitously get to Google's page you're fine. Why they make you jump through that sign in hoop, I don't know.

In fact, signing in through Google only lets me have the ability to burn feeds and connect with an aggregator such as Bloglines. I am going to let this go for the nonce.

4. Include an About Page

I made a few changes to my original page. Not many.


5. Present your ideas visually

I really like adding some type of visual to each post. Even if I have alot of text, the perfect picture or cartoon or altered image brightens things up.

6. Keep posts short and to the point

This is mostly a good idea but it has to depend on what you're writing about. For pithy posts...go to Twitter!

7. Use subheadings for long posts

I understand the principle of this but in truth I rarely read what is continued on another page. This is probably a necessary technique when you have many updates or multiple posters and frequent updates. For a solitary blogger, it seems unnecessary.

8. Link abundantly

You definitely should credit others and link to the work of others who enhance or support your view.

9. Make headlines descriptive

This will make the reader decide to stop and look. If I am laughing at my heading as I type it, I know the post will be a good one.

10. Archive by topic

I like the idea of this but I'm already lagging terribly on these Things so I'm not going to ponder it now. I also fear the topical archive might take up too much sidebar space.

11. Include a list of related posts beneath each post.

I think in a more technical blog this would be useful. It seems like hubris to do it on a blog you write for fun.

12. Allow users to contact you offline

I had a mailbox for the blog briefly and had nothing but you've won a lottery in a foreign country scam-mail.

Currently someone could leave a Meebo message, but I am seldom logged in there and can never remember my password :(

13. Present your real viewpoint

Absolutely.

14. Write for your future employer

My future employer is aways out in the timeline, but it will be me, retired and sitting in the sun with my spouse and beagles so, I'm okay on this one :) :)

15. Include a Top Posts Section

Again, this seems self-promotional so it is not for me.

16. Provide an Index

The one listed is alas for WordPress only.

17. Get your own URL

If I ever become famous I'll be sure to get one.

18. Include a Recent Posts section

Good idea for many, but for my purposes, it takes up prime sidebar real estate. I'm trying to recommend books and authors and other sites as much as I am interested in what I write myself.

19. Reward commenters for commenting

Excellent for high traffic sites, or as a means to promote comments on a high traffic site but I think it might also discourage some to be listed with a puny commenter score.

20. Post Often

Definitely a goal, but there is in truth not always time or inspiration.


More Useful Blogger Tools

Post by Email This could be useful while traveling but otherwise not so much.

Google Gadgets I'm a big fan of gadgets, for instance the Feedjit map that shows where my visitors hail from.

Make your Blog Talk!

The Blog Typealyzer

Since the Book Besotted Librarian and Carol Has Her Nose In A Book were buzzing about the blog/personality analyzing tool the Typealyzer (sounds like it might kill you in your sleep, doesn't it?) I found it and my blog reveals:

ISTP - The Mechanics
The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

Paragraph one is fine but paragraph two? No way.

Survivor: Tocantins My Early Calls: Survivors vs Cannon Fodder

I'm geared up for tomorrow night's show. For the first time ever I'm going to try to call who has the best chances of survival based solely on the pictures and biographies on CBS's page.

Crazy!

I've divided the contestants into two groups, the Survivors (who seem likely to have the best chances from what little we know) and the Cannon Fodder (those who will be scooting on out, torches blowing in the wind.)

We all know the game is loaded with surprises and that people disintegrate into their bare selves by about day three, but we have to start the guessing game someplace.

Cannon Fodder!

Benjamin
Brendan
Carolina
Debra
Erinn
Joe
Sandy
Sierra
Sydney
Tyson

Survivors! (Best of luck folks!)

Candace
Jerry
JT
Spencer
Stephen
Taj

Edit: After watching the show, I think I'm wrong about Stephen. He seemed very high strung and I fear he will be on the Cannon Fodder pile all too soon.

Chapter & Verse Book Club at Red Balloon Bookstore for adults who love children's books

This would be me! Although I'm not and have never been a children's librarian, ah how I do love the books. Perhaps because I had access to libraries (school only) beginning in about sixth grade, books written for that age and a bit younger and a bit older are always enjoyable to me.

There was an article in the paper a week or so ago on this club and I have kept it in the back of my mind because I'd love to go.

From Red Balloon's web site:

It's a Book Club!
Good News for Children’s Literature Enthusiasts!

Beginning February 19 and continuing on the third Thursday of each month, a book club for adults who love to read and discuss children’s literature will meet at The Red Balloon Bookshop from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The club, called Chapter & Verse, is co-sponsored by Children’s Literature Network and The Red Balloon Bookshop. Membership in Chapter & Verse is free. Participants who attend meetings at The Red Balloon Bookshop will receive a 20% discount on the price of book-club titles.

Discussions about children’s and young-adult fiction, nonfiction, picture books, and poetry will be led by Gail Nordstrom, who is the youth services supervisor at Stillwater Public Library. Gail served on the 2002 Newbery Award Committee for the American Library Association and has organized metro-area Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Award mock discussions for teachers and librarians since 1997.

The titles for the February 19 meeting are: Madapple, a mystery for young-adult readers by Christine Medrum, and How I Learned Geography, a picture book by Uri Shulevitz.

Visit www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org to find the book list (under the Events heading) for the next several months.

Chalice by Robin McKinley

Mirasol has been chosen as the “Chalice” after the unexpected and violent demise of her predecessor. In a society with a very hierarchical structure (Overlord/Master/Chalice/Grand Seneschal) her role is to ceremonially, psychologically and physically bind the land, the Master and the counselors together.

The Master of the land or “demesne” is also new and untrained. The younger brother of the now dead former Master had been sent off to be trained as a Priest of Elemental Fire, training which alters the acolyte physically into a Being a Fire.

The untrained pair work to fulfill their obligations never sure they are doing the right thing. Perhaps because they are in the same awkward, isolated position, they make extra efforts to work together and to find a way to heal their land.

Running through the narrative are bees. Mirasol was responsible for keeping an area of woodlands which has a small cabin and bee hives. The bees, like the land, respond to Mirasol. They produce honey for her in amounts and qualities such as has never been seen. Mirasol discovers that adding honey to her ceremonial healing chalices makes them more effective.

The storytelling, like the hum of bees on a hot lazy summer’s day was refreshing and relaxing. There is a great deal of power in celebrating the rhythm and cycle of life, nature and human relationships.

Mostly Mysteries: Joan Maze

I try to keep a mystery theme here though I often stray. One of the things I hope to do is to feature Minnesota mystery authors whenever I can.

Today, a long time customer came in who I know has been working to get her Romance novels published. She has been working on a mystery series on the side as well (with romance elements liberally sprinkled in).

She has a guest column on the Chasing Heroes Blog and though it is "under construction" I'm all admiration for the work she is doing on a web site of her own.

Joan's book will be available as a downloadable audio. Keep an eye on her site for more details. Good luck to her!

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

The third novel in the Inkheart Trilogy delves further into the story of the Inkworld and its inhabitants. Funke’s villains really come to the fore in this volume, especially the immortal , yet rotting, Adderhead, and his dangerous daughter Violante. As a counterpoint to them, Mo, the original “Reader” takes on the role of the "Bluejay" a masked robber who helps Adderhead’s victims.

The story takes on a life of its own that neither the original Inkheart author Fenoglio, nor the twisted upstart plagiarist Orpheus can quite control. There are many questions about the real world vs. the Inkworld and whether our characters can or should stay in the Inkworld-if they survive.

Although the book is the third in a trilogy, certain events lead the hopeful reader to think we might see more of the Inkworld and our heroes and villains in the future.

This is a suspenseful and rich story for anyone who loves books and reading and wishes they could step into the pages of a beloved imaginary world.

So Lost: The Little Prince (Spoilers of course, bozoid)

We interrupt this non-serious blog with a note on last night's episode of Lost.

This was the most straightforward episode in a long while. It actually drove the plot forward in a fairly linear manner (despite the Time Jumps).

The questions that arise from it are:

Everyone is on the dock except Hurley (who will arrive via RottenLawyerMobile shortly we can assume) and John's body, correct?

How much time of the "70 hours" that they had to work with has elapsed?

Why are they at "slip 23"? And will Penny's Ship "The Searcher" land in that particular dock shortly as well? This would bring Desmond who is a "key" of some sort right into the "return-to-the island-fray".

Will Charles Widmore and the cloaked woman who we assume is Daniel Faraday's mom also show up? If they both get back to the island, what happens then? Would they actually want to get back?

If Daniel and crew make it to the Orchid and someone (I'm guessing Daniel or John) turns the wheel to move the island just as all of the other players are gathered in one place on the dock, will this bring all of the people on the dock to the island?

If the wheel turner is Daniel and Desmond his "Constant" is among the dock group, then will Daniel hold his place and stay on the island rather than being moved back to regular land?

If the wheel turner is John, can he convince everyone on the dock to come back to save the remaining people from the plane--the fact that they know he is "dead" could have a huge impact on their judgement. Perhaps the dead body of John is a place holder that keeps the "live" John from moving back to normal space or in fact it allows him to return to normal space and still return to the island.

Note the episode title "The Little Prince". Does this refer to Aaron, and is there a tie to the book The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupery's novel?

Final notes: I love the Rousseau character and it was both lovely and sad to see her young, sweet caring self and to know what would happen to her shortly.

I KNEW Jin was alive! He and Sun are two of the best characters on the show and unlike some of the cast, their characters have changed and grown so much. I know Sun would go back to the island for him in a heartbeat, but..her little baby is in Japan. What am I thinking? I'm sure Ben is having her transported to the dock as we speak.