Memorized any poems or stories lately? Until recently, memorization was common not only amongst school children, but also with adults. One-hundred-fifty years ago, Christmas celebrations would feature performances from the audience. It was expected. Everyone had some story, poem, or song to contribute to the evening's festivities. Gentlemen would recite tales of daring do; ladies performed on spinet and or sang well-known songs. Mary Shelly created her story of "Frankenstein" for her traveling party whilst waiting out a snow storm on Christmas Eve. Couples would delight with charming duets. Innocent games, fraught with innuendo and wit, encouraged party guests to join in the fun. Everybody was encouraged to participate.
What could you contribute to a Christmas evening's entertainment? Have you any poetry memorized or songs practiced? Could you spend the evening conversing with others on the season's experiences? Do you know any simple, yet fun parlor games? Can you even fathom such an evening?
To be honest I would be able to manage a couple of poems by Robert Frost, one or two short speeches from Shakespeare, or a variety of Christmas songs--preferably accompanied by someone who could play piano and/or drown me out when I went off key. Charades might be managed, or Password-type games. These would be nothing compared to our fore bearers. They would probably be bored to death with me, but too polite to say so. What would you do to enliven the event?
Maybe you could complete my Christmas story. It begins: Once upon a time, before TV, football, Game Boy and Wii, friends and family gathered together to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. They spoke with each other face to face. Everyone had the present of themselves to offer...(you continue)...and they went into the New Year joyful and happy to know each other.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The 140-Year-Old Wonder
The World Almanac and Book of Facts celebrated its 140th birthday this year. Its longevity as a reference source for all sorts of quick facts and background information can be directly related to its excellence. It is one of the most useful books I have in my home. No library—whether public, academic, special, medical, or personal—should be without a recent copy. The paperback editions are inexpensive. It makes a good gift too.
I have no monetary connection with World Almanac Books. I pay the relatively low price for a new version every couple of years. I purchase a second copy for my son, who is a high school social studies teacher. I hope he keeps it on his classroom desk.
In order to get the most from your copy I recommend that you use both the topical table of contents in the front of the book and the comprehensive index at the back. A “quick reference” index is also included, but learning to use the full index will increase the utility of this book while it amazes you with it comprehension. An online component has been added in recent years.
What types of information will you find? There are clear world maps and photographs of newsmakers. There is a perpetual calendar that can help you determine the day of the week for events in the past as well as in the future. Other calendars will help you determine the date of Easter, Islamic holy days, Julian and Gregorian dates, leap years, and Chinese New Year. Time zones are delineated.
The History and World Countries sections are massive. Find biographies of U.S. Presidents, election results, population figures, the words to historical documents, and flag code protocols. A concise history of the world and a brief description of each nation will help you to understand the historical context of our culture. Learn about world leaders—historical to modern. Ever wonder which are the longest rivers, highest mountains, deepest lakes, or most active volcanoes? It’s in there.
Like numbers? There are vital statistics, health data, mileage between cities, numbers of eggs produced by state, attendance at worldwide theme parks, insurance data, number of licensed motor vehicles, and a dizzying array of other statistical and economic information. Learn about the fastest growing franchises, number of families in poverty, median income by race, and how much money is spent on selected items from personal income. The list of stock market record gains and losses as well as the number of bank failures will certainly be of interest in the forthcoming editions.
Interested in sports? The World Almanac has Olympic and Professional statistics to satisfy the most dedicated fans. Sports biographies are included. Championship records for most sports are inclusive. You’ll find all you want to know about NASCAR, the Olympics, college sports, and MVPs.
This book has it all—and so much more! Here’s a very random sample of items from the 2007 edition. The 2009 version is on my Christmas list.
Johnny Podres, a pitcher, was the World Series’ Most Valuable Player in 1955.
The Statue of Liberty weighs 450,000 pounds.
FDR is on record as having the most total vetoes (635).
The chances of having a full house in poker are 693 to 1.
A heat wave in the summer of 2003 was responsible for the death of approximately 35,000 deaths in Europe.
The Edo Period of Japan began in 1603 and lasted until 1867.
In 1928 Elizabeth Robinson of the United States ran 100 meters in 12.2 seconds at the Amsterdam Summer Olympics.
The Patagonian desert in Argentina is 300,000 sq. miles in area. The Sahara is more than ten times larger.
When the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, a wind of 15 miles per hour can make it feel like it is 19 below zero.
Nearly 85% of the land in Nevada is federally owned.
Woodrow Wilson’s portrait is on the $100,000 bill. Read The Almanac to learn why you will never see one. Read The Almanac for fun. I do.
I have no monetary connection with World Almanac Books. I pay the relatively low price for a new version every couple of years. I purchase a second copy for my son, who is a high school social studies teacher. I hope he keeps it on his classroom desk.
In order to get the most from your copy I recommend that you use both the topical table of contents in the front of the book and the comprehensive index at the back. A “quick reference” index is also included, but learning to use the full index will increase the utility of this book while it amazes you with it comprehension. An online component has been added in recent years.
What types of information will you find? There are clear world maps and photographs of newsmakers. There is a perpetual calendar that can help you determine the day of the week for events in the past as well as in the future. Other calendars will help you determine the date of Easter, Islamic holy days, Julian and Gregorian dates, leap years, and Chinese New Year. Time zones are delineated.
The History and World Countries sections are massive. Find biographies of U.S. Presidents, election results, population figures, the words to historical documents, and flag code protocols. A concise history of the world and a brief description of each nation will help you to understand the historical context of our culture. Learn about world leaders—historical to modern. Ever wonder which are the longest rivers, highest mountains, deepest lakes, or most active volcanoes? It’s in there.
Like numbers? There are vital statistics, health data, mileage between cities, numbers of eggs produced by state, attendance at worldwide theme parks, insurance data, number of licensed motor vehicles, and a dizzying array of other statistical and economic information. Learn about the fastest growing franchises, number of families in poverty, median income by race, and how much money is spent on selected items from personal income. The list of stock market record gains and losses as well as the number of bank failures will certainly be of interest in the forthcoming editions.
Interested in sports? The World Almanac has Olympic and Professional statistics to satisfy the most dedicated fans. Sports biographies are included. Championship records for most sports are inclusive. You’ll find all you want to know about NASCAR, the Olympics, college sports, and MVPs.
This book has it all—and so much more! Here’s a very random sample of items from the 2007 edition. The 2009 version is on my Christmas list.
Johnny Podres, a pitcher, was the World Series’ Most Valuable Player in 1955.
The Statue of Liberty weighs 450,000 pounds.
FDR is on record as having the most total vetoes (635).
The chances of having a full house in poker are 693 to 1.
A heat wave in the summer of 2003 was responsible for the death of approximately 35,000 deaths in Europe.
The Edo Period of Japan began in 1603 and lasted until 1867.
In 1928 Elizabeth Robinson of the United States ran 100 meters in 12.2 seconds at the Amsterdam Summer Olympics.
The Patagonian desert in Argentina is 300,000 sq. miles in area. The Sahara is more than ten times larger.
When the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, a wind of 15 miles per hour can make it feel like it is 19 below zero.
Nearly 85% of the land in Nevada is federally owned.
Woodrow Wilson’s portrait is on the $100,000 bill. Read The Almanac to learn why you will never see one. Read The Almanac for fun. I do.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
High Praise Indeed from Old Black Thumb
My favorite houseplants are the two that require occasional dusting. The “real ones” survive to spite me. Their sole raison d’être is to suck up the carbon dioxide in my air and spew forth oxygen. That is, if they can breathe at all through the drought induced dust on their leaves.
Our outdoor plants are usually those simple to grow. Long ago I gave up tulips. The squirrels watched me plant the bulbs and, as soon as I went inside, they were digging them up. Partially chewed squirrelly guides to bulb locations were all they left behind. Seeds have a less than 50 % chance of germination under my guardianship. After I thin the bravest about 25 % of those will actually bloom. For obvious reasons, the flower and vegetable flats that cost a fortune are my best bet. They have been cold—and gardener—hardened before I put them in the ground.
It’s not that I don’t admire a nice garden. My neighbor has a master plan of lovelies that blooms from April through October. I enjoy the view. Tactfully, they never mention theirs. Travel in Ireland, Great Britain, and France as well as a number of area botanical gardens reveal beautifully planned and executed displays. I’ve enjoyed strolling through many such gardens, hardly deterred at all by swarms of bees that have my name engraved on their stingers.
It is strange indeed for me to promote any floral oases, but I have just returned from Southern California (again!) and need to sing the praises of a little gem we found in Corona Del Mar. The Sherman Library and Gardens are special. The garden specializes in rare cacti and succulents of desert regions from as distant as South Africa. A delightful Conservatory is tucked away in one corner of the property. It features ferns, orchids, bromeliads, and a koi pond abounding in large, varied colored fish. Beautiful flowers treat the eye throughout.
There are fountains, sculptures made of natural materials, and creative displays that emphasize color, texture, and contrast. There is a library that has a special collection of materials on the history of the Pacific Southwest and the Gulf of California. The library's old maps depict California as an island.
Our outdoor plants are usually those simple to grow. Long ago I gave up tulips. The squirrels watched me plant the bulbs and, as soon as I went inside, they were digging them up. Partially chewed squirrelly guides to bulb locations were all they left behind. Seeds have a less than 50 % chance of germination under my guardianship. After I thin the bravest about 25 % of those will actually bloom. For obvious reasons, the flower and vegetable flats that cost a fortune are my best bet. They have been cold—and gardener—hardened before I put them in the ground.
It’s not that I don’t admire a nice garden. My neighbor has a master plan of lovelies that blooms from April through October. I enjoy the view. Tactfully, they never mention theirs. Travel in Ireland, Great Britain, and France as well as a number of area botanical gardens reveal beautifully planned and executed displays. I’ve enjoyed strolling through many such gardens, hardly deterred at all by swarms of bees that have my name engraved on their stingers.
It is strange indeed for me to promote any floral oases, but I have just returned from Southern California (again!) and need to sing the praises of a little gem we found in Corona Del Mar. The Sherman Library and Gardens are special. The garden specializes in rare cacti and succulents of desert regions from as distant as South Africa. A delightful Conservatory is tucked away in one corner of the property. It features ferns, orchids, bromeliads, and a koi pond abounding in large, varied colored fish. Beautiful flowers treat the eye throughout.
There are fountains, sculptures made of natural materials, and creative displays that emphasize color, texture, and contrast. There is a library that has a special collection of materials on the history of the Pacific Southwest and the Gulf of California. The library's old maps depict California as an island.
The facility has a Café operated by North African chefs well tutored in the art of the crêpe. Café tables surround one of the fountains. The peaceful and relaxing sounds of the water enhance the dining experience. A larger area is available for catered events.
We spent hours exploring and enjoying this treasure of Orange County. Little did I realize that a garden could be as relaxing as sitting on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean as the tide begins to ebb. High praise indeed…
The photos that accompany this entry include (from bottom to top) the fountain near the Café, a corner of the garden resplendent with a variety of cacti, the Koi Pond, and a variety of cacti I’d like to call the Prickly People Eaters.
We spent hours exploring and enjoying this treasure of Orange County. Little did I realize that a garden could be as relaxing as sitting on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean as the tide begins to ebb. High praise indeed…
The photos that accompany this entry include (from bottom to top) the fountain near the Café, a corner of the garden resplendent with a variety of cacti, the Koi Pond, and a variety of cacti I’d like to call the Prickly People Eaters.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Twenty Minutes
What if…You have finished all your work and find that you have twenty minutes absolutely free. You are home alone and must remain in the house. What would you do in that allotted time? Bear in mind that “social networking” will not be allowed. No telephones, “texting,” TV, A/V devices, or computers! Would you spend the time, waste it, use it, or kill it? There is a difference. And that difference can say a lot about you.
Some might read—a book, magazine, old mail. Some might write—a journal, a letter (paper only!), or a list of things to do. Others might make music or draw. A few might take a nap, or daydream. Maybe you would do yoga or another form of exercise. How many would pace the house like a caged animal?
There is no correct answer to this “what if”. If you reflect on what you would have done, how you would have filled those 20 minutes, you might learn something important about yourself. Are you comfortable with quiet, with being alone? Do you need something to do? Were you at a loss to fill those long, long minutes or were you happy to have the opportunity to do something you haven’t had time for in ages?
Did the nap refresh you? What did you dream? Were those twenty minutes a ‘treat’ or a “time waster”? Did the time pass slowly or quickly? Was it terribly difficult to be without your electronic toys for even that short period? Were you glad to “get on with your life” or would you want to have those twenty minutes again?
If you considered the time as 20 minutes to kill, what was so much more important that you were kept from? If you used your twenty minutes, do you feel like something was accomplished? If you wasted the time, is there cause for guilt or anger over such unproductive behavior? If you spent the time well, perhaps it could be considered an investment in yourself. Examine your reactions. Twenty minutes isn’t much. Your perception is all. The difference is subtle but important.
What if…you had those twenty minutes every day, a few times a week, or a couple of times a month? Could that small amount of time enrich your personal life? Is it valuable enough to you to want those minutes on a regular basis? How could you find the time? You don’t find it. You take it. What if…
Some might read—a book, magazine, old mail. Some might write—a journal, a letter (paper only!), or a list of things to do. Others might make music or draw. A few might take a nap, or daydream. Maybe you would do yoga or another form of exercise. How many would pace the house like a caged animal?
There is no correct answer to this “what if”. If you reflect on what you would have done, how you would have filled those 20 minutes, you might learn something important about yourself. Are you comfortable with quiet, with being alone? Do you need something to do? Were you at a loss to fill those long, long minutes or were you happy to have the opportunity to do something you haven’t had time for in ages?
Did the nap refresh you? What did you dream? Were those twenty minutes a ‘treat’ or a “time waster”? Did the time pass slowly or quickly? Was it terribly difficult to be without your electronic toys for even that short period? Were you glad to “get on with your life” or would you want to have those twenty minutes again?
If you considered the time as 20 minutes to kill, what was so much more important that you were kept from? If you used your twenty minutes, do you feel like something was accomplished? If you wasted the time, is there cause for guilt or anger over such unproductive behavior? If you spent the time well, perhaps it could be considered an investment in yourself. Examine your reactions. Twenty minutes isn’t much. Your perception is all. The difference is subtle but important.
What if…you had those twenty minutes every day, a few times a week, or a couple of times a month? Could that small amount of time enrich your personal life? Is it valuable enough to you to want those minutes on a regular basis? How could you find the time? You don’t find it. You take it. What if…
Monday, September 15, 2008
Citizenship 101: “Only the Educated Are Free”
An informed citizenry is the keystone of freedom. Far too many voters are content to read and/or hear only those political messages that suit their personal preferences. They too readily accept “spin”, innuendo, half-truths, and blatant mendacity as factual. Critical analysis seldom characterizes this electorate’s decision making process. This laxity does no service to the individual, or to the country.
One can hardly escape the charges, assertions, and derision that are presented to the American public during a major election. Outrageous statements are leveled at each opponent with the expectation that trace elements of the message will have a half life one hour beyond Election Day.
Epictetus warns “Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, ‘Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you.’” This sentiment is reinforced in the book UnSpun: finding facts in a world of disinformation by Brooks Jackson and Kathleen Hall Jamieson. The theme of this excellent book is that the “consumer” be skeptical of factual claims, that they demand and weigh evidence supporting those claims, and that they should maintain an open mind.
Educate yourself. This approach to “evidence” reprises what every librarian has been taught. Evaluate information according to criteria that require authoritative sources, confirmation, and objectivity. (See my blog entries “How to Evaluate Health Websites” dated March 11, 2007, and “How to Judge a Book by its Cover” dated February 3, 2007, for criteria used by information specialists.) Strategies like those in the Jackson book, as well as those practiced by good librarians, should be used to develop the habit of reflection any responsible citizen can utilize when making a political choice.
The responsible citizen should demand good value from those who wish to win his vote. I am including several websites that can help the voter determine the accuracy of political statements. In each case, the voter should visit the “About Us” portion of the website. Read the “Mission Statements.” Look at the Boards of Directors and Staff. If a claim is made for nonpartisanship, check it out. I have reviewed the sites that follow. They are quality choices.
Sites that verify political statements include FactCheck http://www.factcheck.org/. This site is the result of Jackson and Jamieson’s work for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Their stated mission is that “We are a nonpartisan, non-profit, 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.” (From “About FactCheck.org”) Use this site to determine the truth of political charges and counter-charges.
Project Vote Smart http://www.votesmart.org/ is a product of dedicated volunteers. It specializes in the unbiased research of candidate biographies and voting records. It records campaign contributions, issue positions, public statements, finance, and evaluations of candidates by competing special interest groups. The purpose of Project Vote Smart is “to strengthen the most essential component of democracy—access to information—even as it suffers from candidates and political parties, many who are now willing to manipulate information and deceive voters.” (From “About Project Vote Smart”)
OpenSecrets http://www.opensecrets.org/ is “nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter.” (From “Our Mission”) It’s chief focus is to inform citizens of the effect money has in politics. Essentially, OpenSecrets follows the money. On this site you can learn who and what entities are contributing to which candidate.
In this election two partisan fact check websites have appeared. These are Obama Fact Check http://www.obamafactcheck.com/ and McCain Fact Check http://www.mccainfactcheck.com/ These sites purport to offer “an objective resource to determine whether (a media claim about each candidates) is true or not. (From “About Us”)
Sites that offer subject specific evidence allow the responsible voter to dig into the issues. These can be divided into governmental and independent sources. I urge you to familiarize yourself with these resources. It is amazing what expertly researched material is available at no charge and without a subscription.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) http://www.gao.gov/ investigates how your tax dollars are being spent. The GAO is often referred to as the “congressional watchdog.” Information provided to Congress is “objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced.” (From “About GAO”) Current reports include studies on financial markets and housing, gasoline prices, immigration, and elections.
If you want the primary source for the legislative records of individual members of Congress, Thomas http://www.thomas.gov/ is the official site of record on roll call votes and legislative proposals. How did the candidate really vote?
The U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/ is a primary source for information about income, poverty, health insurance, and business economic data. Use this source for accurate numerical information when evaluating candidate’s claims.
The Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov/ is the prime statistical arm of the Department of Energy. This agency’s mission is “to provide policy-neutral data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.” (From “About EIA”) Resources available here include all current and proposed energy sources. Topical reports on energy uses, forecasts, and international energy information are available.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ collects statistical information on health topics that enable policy makers to “document the health status of the population and of important subgroups, identify disparities in health status and use of health care by (various) characteristics…provide information for making changes in public policies and programs, and evaluate the impact of health policies and programs.” (From “About NCHS”) The website is designed for quick and easy access to authoritative data to clarify the candidates’ proposals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/ is “the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.” (From “About BLS”) Information is impartial, timely and accurate. Subject areas include inflation, spending, employment, and unemployment. This is a primary source for labor and economic information.
The final governmental resource included is FedStats http://www.fedstats.gov/ This gateway resource provides access to more than 100 federal departments and agencies that provide information on essential topics. FedStats will enable you to quickly identify the governmental agency that collects the statistical data you wish to verify. There are various ways to find information on this resource: topical, subject areas, agencies, and a keyword search.
Truly objective, nonpartisan, private sector websites that address specific topics are not easy to find, but some do exist. The following are highly regarded nonideological resources. The information they make available to interested citizens, educators, policy makers, and business is the result of highly qualified experts who adhere to the highest of ethical standards.
Resources For the Future http://www.rff.org/ is a “nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research—rooted primarily in economics and other social science—on environmental, energy, and natural resource issues.” (From “About RFF”) Some of the topics this organization researches include pollution, land and water use, energy, climate, transportation, the natural world, and health. Its research includes testimony given before Congress and other regulatory agencies amongst its publications.
The Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/ is a “non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S. with a growing role in global health.” (From “About the Kaiser Family Foundation”) The Kaiser Foundation produces policy analyses on health care issues. Access to accurate research and studies on health care is free to all in order to insure that all interested parties have the same, accurate, and complete information upon which to base decisions.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics http://www.iie.com/ focuses on international economic policy. This private, nonpartisan research organization “has provided timely and objective analysis of, and concrete solutions to, a wide range of international economics problems.” (From “About the Institute”) This is reliable source for information about international monetary and finance issues. It emphasizes global macroeconomics and is an excellent source for research on NAFTA, international banking standards, monetary policy and world trade agreements.
The “gold standard” for information on U. S. tax policies is the Tax Policy Center http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/ It provides independent, timely analysis and factual data relating to tax policy for citizens, journalists, policy makers, and researchers. This nonpartisan center “combines top national experts in tax, expenditure, budget policy, and microsimulation modeling to concentrate on four overarching areas of tax policy that are critical to future debate: fair, simple and efficient taxation, social policy in the tax code, long term implication of tax and budget choices, and state tax issues.” (From “About Us Our Mission”) This is an excellent source for policy analysis and tax facts.
The privilege of citizenship in the United States requires that the individual voter take seriously her responsibilities when choosing representatives and leaders. That responsibility can only be discharged by an educated citizen. The websites listed herein can help to lead you out of the darkness of political “spin.” As Jules Michelet wrote in the mid-19th century, “What is the first part of politics? Education. The second? Education. And the third? Education.”
When in doubt, check it out.
Note: The quotations are cited from Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Sixteenth Edition. John Bartlett. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company c 1992. The first two are from Discourses Book 2 by Epictetus. The third is attributed to Jules Michelet in Le Peuple.
One can hardly escape the charges, assertions, and derision that are presented to the American public during a major election. Outrageous statements are leveled at each opponent with the expectation that trace elements of the message will have a half life one hour beyond Election Day.
Epictetus warns “Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, ‘Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you.’” This sentiment is reinforced in the book UnSpun: finding facts in a world of disinformation by Brooks Jackson and Kathleen Hall Jamieson. The theme of this excellent book is that the “consumer” be skeptical of factual claims, that they demand and weigh evidence supporting those claims, and that they should maintain an open mind.
Educate yourself. This approach to “evidence” reprises what every librarian has been taught. Evaluate information according to criteria that require authoritative sources, confirmation, and objectivity. (See my blog entries “How to Evaluate Health Websites” dated March 11, 2007, and “How to Judge a Book by its Cover” dated February 3, 2007, for criteria used by information specialists.) Strategies like those in the Jackson book, as well as those practiced by good librarians, should be used to develop the habit of reflection any responsible citizen can utilize when making a political choice.
The responsible citizen should demand good value from those who wish to win his vote. I am including several websites that can help the voter determine the accuracy of political statements. In each case, the voter should visit the “About Us” portion of the website. Read the “Mission Statements.” Look at the Boards of Directors and Staff. If a claim is made for nonpartisanship, check it out. I have reviewed the sites that follow. They are quality choices.
Sites that verify political statements include FactCheck http://www.factcheck.org/. This site is the result of Jackson and Jamieson’s work for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Their stated mission is that “We are a nonpartisan, non-profit, 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.” (From “About FactCheck.org”) Use this site to determine the truth of political charges and counter-charges.
Project Vote Smart http://www.votesmart.org/ is a product of dedicated volunteers. It specializes in the unbiased research of candidate biographies and voting records. It records campaign contributions, issue positions, public statements, finance, and evaluations of candidates by competing special interest groups. The purpose of Project Vote Smart is “to strengthen the most essential component of democracy—access to information—even as it suffers from candidates and political parties, many who are now willing to manipulate information and deceive voters.” (From “About Project Vote Smart”)
OpenSecrets http://www.opensecrets.org/ is “nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter.” (From “Our Mission”) It’s chief focus is to inform citizens of the effect money has in politics. Essentially, OpenSecrets follows the money. On this site you can learn who and what entities are contributing to which candidate.
In this election two partisan fact check websites have appeared. These are Obama Fact Check http://www.obamafactcheck.com/ and McCain Fact Check http://www.mccainfactcheck.com/ These sites purport to offer “an objective resource to determine whether (a media claim about each candidates) is true or not. (From “About Us”)
Sites that offer subject specific evidence allow the responsible voter to dig into the issues. These can be divided into governmental and independent sources. I urge you to familiarize yourself with these resources. It is amazing what expertly researched material is available at no charge and without a subscription.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) http://www.gao.gov/ investigates how your tax dollars are being spent. The GAO is often referred to as the “congressional watchdog.” Information provided to Congress is “objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced.” (From “About GAO”) Current reports include studies on financial markets and housing, gasoline prices, immigration, and elections.
If you want the primary source for the legislative records of individual members of Congress, Thomas http://www.thomas.gov/ is the official site of record on roll call votes and legislative proposals. How did the candidate really vote?
The U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/ is a primary source for information about income, poverty, health insurance, and business economic data. Use this source for accurate numerical information when evaluating candidate’s claims.
The Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov/ is the prime statistical arm of the Department of Energy. This agency’s mission is “to provide policy-neutral data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.” (From “About EIA”) Resources available here include all current and proposed energy sources. Topical reports on energy uses, forecasts, and international energy information are available.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ collects statistical information on health topics that enable policy makers to “document the health status of the population and of important subgroups, identify disparities in health status and use of health care by (various) characteristics…provide information for making changes in public policies and programs, and evaluate the impact of health policies and programs.” (From “About NCHS”) The website is designed for quick and easy access to authoritative data to clarify the candidates’ proposals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/ is “the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.” (From “About BLS”) Information is impartial, timely and accurate. Subject areas include inflation, spending, employment, and unemployment. This is a primary source for labor and economic information.
The final governmental resource included is FedStats http://www.fedstats.gov/ This gateway resource provides access to more than 100 federal departments and agencies that provide information on essential topics. FedStats will enable you to quickly identify the governmental agency that collects the statistical data you wish to verify. There are various ways to find information on this resource: topical, subject areas, agencies, and a keyword search.
Truly objective, nonpartisan, private sector websites that address specific topics are not easy to find, but some do exist. The following are highly regarded nonideological resources. The information they make available to interested citizens, educators, policy makers, and business is the result of highly qualified experts who adhere to the highest of ethical standards.
Resources For the Future http://www.rff.org/ is a “nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research—rooted primarily in economics and other social science—on environmental, energy, and natural resource issues.” (From “About RFF”) Some of the topics this organization researches include pollution, land and water use, energy, climate, transportation, the natural world, and health. Its research includes testimony given before Congress and other regulatory agencies amongst its publications.
The Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/ is a “non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S. with a growing role in global health.” (From “About the Kaiser Family Foundation”) The Kaiser Foundation produces policy analyses on health care issues. Access to accurate research and studies on health care is free to all in order to insure that all interested parties have the same, accurate, and complete information upon which to base decisions.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics http://www.iie.com/ focuses on international economic policy. This private, nonpartisan research organization “has provided timely and objective analysis of, and concrete solutions to, a wide range of international economics problems.” (From “About the Institute”) This is reliable source for information about international monetary and finance issues. It emphasizes global macroeconomics and is an excellent source for research on NAFTA, international banking standards, monetary policy and world trade agreements.
The “gold standard” for information on U. S. tax policies is the Tax Policy Center http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/ It provides independent, timely analysis and factual data relating to tax policy for citizens, journalists, policy makers, and researchers. This nonpartisan center “combines top national experts in tax, expenditure, budget policy, and microsimulation modeling to concentrate on four overarching areas of tax policy that are critical to future debate: fair, simple and efficient taxation, social policy in the tax code, long term implication of tax and budget choices, and state tax issues.” (From “About Us Our Mission”) This is an excellent source for policy analysis and tax facts.
The privilege of citizenship in the United States requires that the individual voter take seriously her responsibilities when choosing representatives and leaders. That responsibility can only be discharged by an educated citizen. The websites listed herein can help to lead you out of the darkness of political “spin.” As Jules Michelet wrote in the mid-19th century, “What is the first part of politics? Education. The second? Education. And the third? Education.”
When in doubt, check it out.
Note: The quotations are cited from Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Sixteenth Edition. John Bartlett. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company c 1992. The first two are from Discourses Book 2 by Epictetus. The third is attributed to Jules Michelet in Le Peuple.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Summer's End
The days are growing noticeably shorter and the nights deliciously cool. In a few days the neighborhood children will return to school. Quiet resettles the block. Leaves will soon begin to reveal their startling yellows and striking reds. Tomatoes are abundant; our bounty is shared with friends and neighbors. At the end of August the season’s memories are as savory as juicy, ripe strawberries.
The plants did well, critters not withstanding. Our apples are nearly ready for the picking, i.e. if we can beat the squirrels to them. We put the glider away yesterday. We need to start to think about autumn lawn fertilizer and replacing broken rakes. The end of summer is “such sweet sorrow.”
The economy and gasoline prices kept many of us close to home this summer. Fortunately for us family members were able to visit from California. Our granddaughters experienced running through lawn sprinklers—such an experience will never be possible in dry southern California. They were introduced to Midwestern flora and fauna. The younger child can easily recognize dragonflies and Queen Anne’s lace. Fireflies will light their dreams for months. The girls appreciate the delights of playing on the dunes and swimming in the warm, calm waters of Lake Michigan. Thunder and lightening were wondrous if somewhat scary.
On our own again, we launched our own boarder excursion into Wisconsin. If it weren’t for winter, Wisconsin would be a very nice place to live. In mid-August the Milwaukee area is host to several festivals. The Irish Fest on the lakeshore was terrific. We’ve attended many over the years and this year’s was one of the best. Celtic music, dance, and foods were in abundance; the currach races intensely fought; Irish dog breeds strutted their stuff; and, transport to the fest by the express County bus the best way to get there. Port Washington, just north of Milwaukee, hosted the Maritime Festival. Several tall ships were featured. They look so very lovely in full sail on the lake! Our “Cheese Head” neighbors really know how to celebrate summer.
As we drove back home, a nagging question recurs. We are always faced with this question when returning home. Why are the free roads in Wisconsin so much better than those in Illinois, where you are charged for the ‘privilege’ of using them? Illinois offers few viable options to its toll system. The fact that the Illinois toll road was undergoing construction doesn't really temper the problem. The expensive toll roads are usually crowded and the repairs won’t last long. Yes, “Cheese Heads” are taxed at a higher rate, but they seem to do so much more with what they receive. Wisconsin road rest stops are convenient, clean, and provide the tourist with useful information. Illinois' expensive “oases” are far apart and totally commercial. I imagine our perennial summer question will not be resolved. We actually know the answer, but don’t want to face up to it on such a beautiful summer day.
Summer is at an end. We enjoyed it. Now it is time to move on.
The plants did well, critters not withstanding. Our apples are nearly ready for the picking, i.e. if we can beat the squirrels to them. We put the glider away yesterday. We need to start to think about autumn lawn fertilizer and replacing broken rakes. The end of summer is “such sweet sorrow.”
The economy and gasoline prices kept many of us close to home this summer. Fortunately for us family members were able to visit from California. Our granddaughters experienced running through lawn sprinklers—such an experience will never be possible in dry southern California. They were introduced to Midwestern flora and fauna. The younger child can easily recognize dragonflies and Queen Anne’s lace. Fireflies will light their dreams for months. The girls appreciate the delights of playing on the dunes and swimming in the warm, calm waters of Lake Michigan. Thunder and lightening were wondrous if somewhat scary.
On our own again, we launched our own boarder excursion into Wisconsin. If it weren’t for winter, Wisconsin would be a very nice place to live. In mid-August the Milwaukee area is host to several festivals. The Irish Fest on the lakeshore was terrific. We’ve attended many over the years and this year’s was one of the best. Celtic music, dance, and foods were in abundance; the currach races intensely fought; Irish dog breeds strutted their stuff; and, transport to the fest by the express County bus the best way to get there. Port Washington, just north of Milwaukee, hosted the Maritime Festival. Several tall ships were featured. They look so very lovely in full sail on the lake! Our “Cheese Head” neighbors really know how to celebrate summer.
As we drove back home, a nagging question recurs. We are always faced with this question when returning home. Why are the free roads in Wisconsin so much better than those in Illinois, where you are charged for the ‘privilege’ of using them? Illinois offers few viable options to its toll system. The fact that the Illinois toll road was undergoing construction doesn't really temper the problem. The expensive toll roads are usually crowded and the repairs won’t last long. Yes, “Cheese Heads” are taxed at a higher rate, but they seem to do so much more with what they receive. Wisconsin road rest stops are convenient, clean, and provide the tourist with useful information. Illinois' expensive “oases” are far apart and totally commercial. I imagine our perennial summer question will not be resolved. We actually know the answer, but don’t want to face up to it on such a beautiful summer day.
Summer is at an end. We enjoyed it. Now it is time to move on.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
The Annual Festival of Genetic Affirmation: 50 Years Strong
The first Sunday in August fills the residents of a Wauconda subdivision with foreboding. Dozens of autos, filled with families, will descend on the old cottage. The cottage itself is an anomaly. It is more than 75 years old; the building with the attached lots reflects an historical time of summers spent “in the country.” Wauconda’s newer homes on smaller lots bespeak the modernity of the last quarter of the 20th century. The old cottage lives in a 30s movie. The building is deserted most of the year—another anomaly in this bedroom community.
But it is the sheer number of people who descend on the cottage that amazes. The first Sunday in August is the date of the annual Family Picnic. Hundreds of family members arrive to affirm their consanguinity and celebrate their Italian heritage. I refer to it as the Festival of Genetic Affirmation—an appellation bestowed with tongue in cheek as well as a great deal of pride.
This year commemorated 50 years of official Family Picnics, although family summer outings began decades earlier. The golden anniversary brought relatives from Germany, the East Coast, the West Coast, all over the Midwest, and across the street. The family picnic newsletter assumed gigantic proportions as memories and photos, some old as the cottage, were shared. A professional photographer was hired to document the event with “The Largest Family Picture Ever.” A website was established to view the 50th anniversary photos.
Cousins so numerous that it stymies the imagination share traditional Italian cuisine, old stories, kisses, and hugs. Each family member professes amazement over how children have grown. Each keeps unspoken how others are now so frail. The pleasure of each other’s company pervades every reunion. Additionally it is an occasion to remember family members no longer alive. Many are gone, but so very many others perpetuate the traditions.
The Family Picnic celebrates the four brothers and one cousin who left Calabria with nothing but hope, courage, and the willingness to work hard. My Grandfather, the oldest, arrived in 1904. Two years later a younger brother made the voyage. My Grandmother joined her husband in 1907. Others followed. Each brother and cousin came with the desire to become Americans, promising that their children would be free, educated, and have good lives.
The American dream was there to be earned with hard work. They worked hard. My Grandfather helped build the railroad west. He and my Grandmother owned grocery and fish stores that served their fellow immigrants. They worked to start a cartage company. Their family flourished. The old cottage reflected their success when it was purchased in 1939. It was a refuge from the city. Grandma finally had her own garden. The family swam, fished, played softball, and enjoyed the clean air. Family was everything.
The family worked hard and achieved the American dream my Grandfather promised in 1904. Subsequent generations renewed this dream for their children. Today great-great grandchildren begin families confident that even the youngest child will own that heritage. The Annual Festival of Genetic Affirmation assures the preservation and propagation of the promise of 1904. Every one of the successive generations honors the progenitors of their American dream on the first Sunday of August when they gather for food and fun at the old cottage. Grandfather would be proud.
But it is the sheer number of people who descend on the cottage that amazes. The first Sunday in August is the date of the annual Family Picnic. Hundreds of family members arrive to affirm their consanguinity and celebrate their Italian heritage. I refer to it as the Festival of Genetic Affirmation—an appellation bestowed with tongue in cheek as well as a great deal of pride.
This year commemorated 50 years of official Family Picnics, although family summer outings began decades earlier. The golden anniversary brought relatives from Germany, the East Coast, the West Coast, all over the Midwest, and across the street. The family picnic newsletter assumed gigantic proportions as memories and photos, some old as the cottage, were shared. A professional photographer was hired to document the event with “The Largest Family Picture Ever.” A website was established to view the 50th anniversary photos.
Cousins so numerous that it stymies the imagination share traditional Italian cuisine, old stories, kisses, and hugs. Each family member professes amazement over how children have grown. Each keeps unspoken how others are now so frail. The pleasure of each other’s company pervades every reunion. Additionally it is an occasion to remember family members no longer alive. Many are gone, but so very many others perpetuate the traditions.
The Family Picnic celebrates the four brothers and one cousin who left Calabria with nothing but hope, courage, and the willingness to work hard. My Grandfather, the oldest, arrived in 1904. Two years later a younger brother made the voyage. My Grandmother joined her husband in 1907. Others followed. Each brother and cousin came with the desire to become Americans, promising that their children would be free, educated, and have good lives.
The American dream was there to be earned with hard work. They worked hard. My Grandfather helped build the railroad west. He and my Grandmother owned grocery and fish stores that served their fellow immigrants. They worked to start a cartage company. Their family flourished. The old cottage reflected their success when it was purchased in 1939. It was a refuge from the city. Grandma finally had her own garden. The family swam, fished, played softball, and enjoyed the clean air. Family was everything.
The family worked hard and achieved the American dream my Grandfather promised in 1904. Subsequent generations renewed this dream for their children. Today great-great grandchildren begin families confident that even the youngest child will own that heritage. The Annual Festival of Genetic Affirmation assures the preservation and propagation of the promise of 1904. Every one of the successive generations honors the progenitors of their American dream on the first Sunday of August when they gather for food and fun at the old cottage. Grandfather would be proud.
[Note: Photograph taken on Labor Day 1945. Family celebrates Victory in World War II. Already some military members are home; others await de-mobilization.]
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
It's An Ill Wind...
There is an old adage that states “It’s an ill wind that blows no good.” It is generally understood to mean that no matter how bad something may be, some good can come of it for someone. The energy crisis and rising gasoline prices are certainly ill winds.
Concerned Environmentalists find good in the reduction of carbon emissions with some relief for the problem of global warming. People are driving less, no doubt about that; cleaner air (however slight) is a result.
Inventive Americans seek ways to economize. Gas-saving tips abound for those who must drive. We are told to avoid aggressive driving and to keep within the limit because these habits can decrease gas mileage as much as one third. Drivers are advised not to accelerate to beat yellow-turning-red lights. Abrupt acceleration reduces mileage efficiency too.
Entrepreneurship is rising to the challenge too. It is reported that the brothels in Nevada are offering a gas card incentives to its truck driving clientele. Others are stealing the used cooking oil restaurants have been begging recyclers to take for years. Suddenly stinking French fry oil is gold. Creative responses abound!
U.S. News and World Reports suggests ways to carpool, using websites like RideSearch and eRideShare. Who knows, one might relax on the way to work a few times a week while making friends! They also recommend a good tune-up. Clean engines are more efficient. Another suggestion is to reduce your horsepower. Cycle down to four-cylinders. These cost less so you save money; while you can claim the moral high ground of saving the planet. Win-win.
There is real interest in alternative vehicles. It’s about time! Welcome to the global community who seek ways to be friendlier to the earth, extending the old girl’s useful life with fewer greenhouse emissions. There are more people taking public transportation. This trend will reduce congestion on highways. Increased use of public transport is a mixed blessing to such systems. On the one hand they have been trying to increase rider-ship for years; on the other, their fuel costs are soaring.
My personal nominations for the benefits created by out-of-control gasoline inflation are admittedly tinted with schadenfreude. For years, large, outsized SUVs—and worse—have blocked my vision in parking lots; they have created dangerous driving on ice, snow, and slush; blinded me at night with their higher placed headlights and aggressive tailgating; hogged parking places. Now, the owners of those leviathans can’t get rid of them fast enough. Used car dealers don’t want them. Going prices for trade-ins are at rock bottom.
Airlines are clamping down on those who think their steamer trunks qualify as carry-on luggage. For years my regulation size case has had to fight for space while the greedy travelers shoved huge suitcases, life-sized stuffed toys, television sets, etc. in the overhead bins. Pay for them!
Finally, all those self-righteous health nuts who have lorded it over those of us less fit have become “just folks” now. I’m referring to those who, in the past, have donned ridiculous outfits, straighten their halos, and biked to work—because they are fitter and cared more about the earth, presumably. Move over; there are a lot of folks too poor to afford the sleek outfits out there biking to work because they can’t afford the gas. They’re too busy holding on to their brown bags to straighten the halo.
As I said, “It’s an ill wind…”
Concerned Environmentalists find good in the reduction of carbon emissions with some relief for the problem of global warming. People are driving less, no doubt about that; cleaner air (however slight) is a result.
Inventive Americans seek ways to economize. Gas-saving tips abound for those who must drive. We are told to avoid aggressive driving and to keep within the limit because these habits can decrease gas mileage as much as one third. Drivers are advised not to accelerate to beat yellow-turning-red lights. Abrupt acceleration reduces mileage efficiency too.
Entrepreneurship is rising to the challenge too. It is reported that the brothels in Nevada are offering a gas card incentives to its truck driving clientele. Others are stealing the used cooking oil restaurants have been begging recyclers to take for years. Suddenly stinking French fry oil is gold. Creative responses abound!
U.S. News and World Reports suggests ways to carpool, using websites like RideSearch and eRideShare. Who knows, one might relax on the way to work a few times a week while making friends! They also recommend a good tune-up. Clean engines are more efficient. Another suggestion is to reduce your horsepower. Cycle down to four-cylinders. These cost less so you save money; while you can claim the moral high ground of saving the planet. Win-win.
There is real interest in alternative vehicles. It’s about time! Welcome to the global community who seek ways to be friendlier to the earth, extending the old girl’s useful life with fewer greenhouse emissions. There are more people taking public transportation. This trend will reduce congestion on highways. Increased use of public transport is a mixed blessing to such systems. On the one hand they have been trying to increase rider-ship for years; on the other, their fuel costs are soaring.
My personal nominations for the benefits created by out-of-control gasoline inflation are admittedly tinted with schadenfreude. For years, large, outsized SUVs—and worse—have blocked my vision in parking lots; they have created dangerous driving on ice, snow, and slush; blinded me at night with their higher placed headlights and aggressive tailgating; hogged parking places. Now, the owners of those leviathans can’t get rid of them fast enough. Used car dealers don’t want them. Going prices for trade-ins are at rock bottom.
Airlines are clamping down on those who think their steamer trunks qualify as carry-on luggage. For years my regulation size case has had to fight for space while the greedy travelers shoved huge suitcases, life-sized stuffed toys, television sets, etc. in the overhead bins. Pay for them!
Finally, all those self-righteous health nuts who have lorded it over those of us less fit have become “just folks” now. I’m referring to those who, in the past, have donned ridiculous outfits, straighten their halos, and biked to work—because they are fitter and cared more about the earth, presumably. Move over; there are a lot of folks too poor to afford the sleek outfits out there biking to work because they can’t afford the gas. They’re too busy holding on to their brown bags to straighten the halo.
As I said, “It’s an ill wind…”
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Persistence of Error
The other day the old French round, French Cathedrals, was stuck in my head, the victim of some benign cognitive itch. There is a term for songs that you can’t get out of your mind; songs you mentally sing all day. The word is earworm, from the German Ohrwurm. Knowing the word is not the point however.
What I found when I searched the Internet for the few words I couldn’t recall was all too common—a variety of cathedral names, either incorrect or spelled “creatively.” In this particular instance Beaugency and the words after Notre Dame were up for grabs. [Incidentally my spell checker does not like the word Beaugency. It has offered the word “biogenic” as a replacement. Ah, but spell check’s a whole blog entry of its own.]
As a professional librarian I try to avoid giving any information source from wikipedia. Wikis are fun and can be a place to jump off when all else fails, but wikis are risky. Whether the errors come from a deliberate attempt to mislead or from an over-willing spirit, once the error appears, it persists in the electronic ether a very long time. Librarians like to find the most authoritative source possible. By authoritative we mean an expert source. If the only result GOOGLE can give is a wiki answer, the librarian needs to try a different approach—maybe a book. Of course there is also the possibility—fortunately very rare—that there is no answer. Yes, sometimes the answer does not exist. Making one up is not ethical.
Books can contain errors too. It’s a good idea to look at more than one source. Occasionally an authoritative source, for example, a journal article, may contain mistakes. I often suspect some of these errors are deliberate so those who plagiarize can be identified. Others may be typos, but these types of errors generally do not affect the correctness of the information in a reputable source.
Yes, people make innocent spelling errors. My Misspeller’s Dictionary has been heavily thumbed. Spelling may soon become an endangered skill. Instant messengers have a lexicon no dictionary could wish to include. But the problem is much deeper than shortcuts, spelling errors and typos. It goes way beyond “wikiinfo.” The ease and anonymity of Internet information creation fosters a culture of those who don’t really care about accuracy or truth. Contributor e-prints are raisons d’être. Information is egalitarian in its inception. Its creation is a World Wide Web right. Content, and more importantly, context, is not particularly important. After all, information begins with an “I.”
Equally important to the perpetuation of mistakes in today’s asynchronous and instantaneous media is the lack of critical evaluation. People are only too willing to believe what they read on the Internet, or hear around the water cooler for that matter. Evaluation is a skill that must be nutured. Questions must be asked. The information seeker needs to ask about the credentials of the source. Does this information jibe with what is already known? Is there some sort of “agenda” behind the information? Is the information seeker relying too much on a social consensus? How important is truth?
The persistence of misinformation is insidious. The lack of intellectual rigor will undermine the corpus of knowledge that has been painstakingly created over centuries. Mistakes are self perpetuating. Fundamental elements of knowledge that are built on the shifting sands of social affirmation will collapse eventually. I worry that those who will need to reconstruct reliable information, those who will need to organize that information into knowledge, will no longer have the intellectual tools necessary for the job.
If this happens, then the irony of the situation derives from the inception of the Internet itself. Back in the late 1960s, universities, government entities, and the defense establishment created a network through which accurate and timely information could be shared. The many “creative” versions of French cathedrals was not what they intended.
What I found when I searched the Internet for the few words I couldn’t recall was all too common—a variety of cathedral names, either incorrect or spelled “creatively.” In this particular instance Beaugency and the words after Notre Dame were up for grabs. [Incidentally my spell checker does not like the word Beaugency. It has offered the word “biogenic” as a replacement. Ah, but spell check’s a whole blog entry of its own.]
As a professional librarian I try to avoid giving any information source from wikipedia. Wikis are fun and can be a place to jump off when all else fails, but wikis are risky. Whether the errors come from a deliberate attempt to mislead or from an over-willing spirit, once the error appears, it persists in the electronic ether a very long time. Librarians like to find the most authoritative source possible. By authoritative we mean an expert source. If the only result GOOGLE can give is a wiki answer, the librarian needs to try a different approach—maybe a book. Of course there is also the possibility—fortunately very rare—that there is no answer. Yes, sometimes the answer does not exist. Making one up is not ethical.
Books can contain errors too. It’s a good idea to look at more than one source. Occasionally an authoritative source, for example, a journal article, may contain mistakes. I often suspect some of these errors are deliberate so those who plagiarize can be identified. Others may be typos, but these types of errors generally do not affect the correctness of the information in a reputable source.
Yes, people make innocent spelling errors. My Misspeller’s Dictionary has been heavily thumbed. Spelling may soon become an endangered skill. Instant messengers have a lexicon no dictionary could wish to include. But the problem is much deeper than shortcuts, spelling errors and typos. It goes way beyond “wikiinfo.” The ease and anonymity of Internet information creation fosters a culture of those who don’t really care about accuracy or truth. Contributor e-prints are raisons d’être. Information is egalitarian in its inception. Its creation is a World Wide Web right. Content, and more importantly, context, is not particularly important. After all, information begins with an “I.”
Equally important to the perpetuation of mistakes in today’s asynchronous and instantaneous media is the lack of critical evaluation. People are only too willing to believe what they read on the Internet, or hear around the water cooler for that matter. Evaluation is a skill that must be nutured. Questions must be asked. The information seeker needs to ask about the credentials of the source. Does this information jibe with what is already known? Is there some sort of “agenda” behind the information? Is the information seeker relying too much on a social consensus? How important is truth?
The persistence of misinformation is insidious. The lack of intellectual rigor will undermine the corpus of knowledge that has been painstakingly created over centuries. Mistakes are self perpetuating. Fundamental elements of knowledge that are built on the shifting sands of social affirmation will collapse eventually. I worry that those who will need to reconstruct reliable information, those who will need to organize that information into knowledge, will no longer have the intellectual tools necessary for the job.
If this happens, then the irony of the situation derives from the inception of the Internet itself. Back in the late 1960s, universities, government entities, and the defense establishment created a network through which accurate and timely information could be shared. The many “creative” versions of French cathedrals was not what they intended.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Being At-One With Nature
Each spring my peasant DNA demands expression. The primal need to get my hands into the loess of a garden urges me to plan a garden. There’s nothing like the smell of good soil; the feel of well turned dirt is incomparable! The sounds of birds building nests and tending their young fill my heart with delight. Life has returned to the Midwest. I am at-one with nature.
"The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
…
I spend hours of back breaking labor joyfully, kneeling in reverence to Mother Nature. The floral theme for the front yard is red and white this year. Nearly four dozen candy striped impatiens will greet visitors drawn to the Veranda which is surrounded by red and while striped geraniums and firecracker salvias. Soon baby rabbits will poke their heads out from the tell-tale holes we found in the front yard.
The back will host a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I have great hopes for the gladiolas. Sun exposure is perfect for the comestibles. Shady areas will feature forget-me-nots and the left over impatiens. Jolly dahlias will greet those who enter the yard. Peonies provide an early burst of color. The five-varieties-in-one apple tree already has delightful “baby apples.” Adding to the tree’s charm is a robin’s nest, carefully guarded by mom and pop red-breast.
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn:
All the plants are in. I can sit back and reap the benefits of my plans and toil. My husband has helped with the drudge work. He, however, is not as “at-one” with the seasons as I. The cause of his unease is the pesky squirrel.
My husband has a “thing” about squirrels. He hates them. We have a large red oak in the backyard that provides beauty and shade. Hubby insists that the squirrels use the tree to bombard him with acorns in the fall. Marksmen squirrels take turns dropping their missiles on his head. He wanted to have the tree cut down last year, but rationality prevailed.
The oak is perfect for aerie squirrel nests. Parent squirrels break off branches and tear leaves to make their cozy home. A high and comfortable platform where large branches diverge makes secure footing for their fledgling rodents. Three times this spring the man has risked life and limb to knock the nests down. He has fashioned a nest destroying pike from the extendable tree trimmer. He wields his pike with abandon while precariously perched on an extension ladder.
I expect to be made a widow over those squirrels. “What harm are they doing?” I ask. “After all the poor things have to live somewhere.” I urge him to relax, enjoy, and stop to smell the roses. I exhort him to be at-one with nature.
God’s in his heaven—
All’s right with the world." [Robert Browning’s Pippa Passes]
He should be more like me, attuned to the rhythms of the earth. He must learn to enjoy birdsong at dawn; listen for the twitter of baby robins with sweet anticipation; yearn for an early glimpse of those adorable baby bunnies.
Wait! From the front gutters a secret sparrow nest spills groundflood too near the foundation. Those d---d rabbits are eating my geraniums and salvias. Squirrels have been digging up the corms. All those hours on my knees! Husband, hand me your pike.
"The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
…
I spend hours of back breaking labor joyfully, kneeling in reverence to Mother Nature. The floral theme for the front yard is red and white this year. Nearly four dozen candy striped impatiens will greet visitors drawn to the Veranda which is surrounded by red and while striped geraniums and firecracker salvias. Soon baby rabbits will poke their heads out from the tell-tale holes we found in the front yard.
The back will host a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I have great hopes for the gladiolas. Sun exposure is perfect for the comestibles. Shady areas will feature forget-me-nots and the left over impatiens. Jolly dahlias will greet those who enter the yard. Peonies provide an early burst of color. The five-varieties-in-one apple tree already has delightful “baby apples.” Adding to the tree’s charm is a robin’s nest, carefully guarded by mom and pop red-breast.
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn:
All the plants are in. I can sit back and reap the benefits of my plans and toil. My husband has helped with the drudge work. He, however, is not as “at-one” with the seasons as I. The cause of his unease is the pesky squirrel.
My husband has a “thing” about squirrels. He hates them. We have a large red oak in the backyard that provides beauty and shade. Hubby insists that the squirrels use the tree to bombard him with acorns in the fall. Marksmen squirrels take turns dropping their missiles on his head. He wanted to have the tree cut down last year, but rationality prevailed.
The oak is perfect for aerie squirrel nests. Parent squirrels break off branches and tear leaves to make their cozy home. A high and comfortable platform where large branches diverge makes secure footing for their fledgling rodents. Three times this spring the man has risked life and limb to knock the nests down. He has fashioned a nest destroying pike from the extendable tree trimmer. He wields his pike with abandon while precariously perched on an extension ladder.
I expect to be made a widow over those squirrels. “What harm are they doing?” I ask. “After all the poor things have to live somewhere.” I urge him to relax, enjoy, and stop to smell the roses. I exhort him to be at-one with nature.
God’s in his heaven—
All’s right with the world." [Robert Browning’s Pippa Passes]
He should be more like me, attuned to the rhythms of the earth. He must learn to enjoy birdsong at dawn; listen for the twitter of baby robins with sweet anticipation; yearn for an early glimpse of those adorable baby bunnies.
Wait! From the front gutters a secret sparrow nest spills groundflood too near the foundation. Those d---d rabbits are eating my geraniums and salvias. Squirrels have been digging up the corms. All those hours on my knees! Husband, hand me your pike.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Italian Americans in Chicago
On Thursday, May 8, the Casa Italia in the Chicago suburb of Stone Park was the venue for the start of a three day conference dedicated to exploring the roots of the Italian American experience in the Chicago area. The official title of the conference was “Reconstructing Italians in Chicago: 25 Authors in Search of Roots and Branches.” It was both a celebration and a process of discovery.
Two of principal organizers were Dominic Candeloro and Fred L. Gardaphe, both professors of Italian American studies at their respective universities—University of Illinois at Chicago and New York’s SUNY. Their energy and enthusiasm was matched only by their hard work. Much of the success of the conference can be attributed to their vision, dedication, and sweat equity. Many other committed researchers and writers contributed to the success of the event.
The presentations were varied and my appreciation for my ancestors enlarged. Although I was able to attend only the first day, I was impressed by the energy exhibited. I learned a great deal that day, and, of course, ate well in the process. I would like to share some of the “epiphanies” I experienced.
Billy Lombardo is a spare and fierce young man. He is passionate about his writing, his family, and his Italian American heritage. Billy is gifted. After telling the audience about his Bridgeport neighborhood experiences, he read a portion of his book, The Logic of the Rose. WOW! What a magnificent command of language that man possesses. His book is a prose work well worth reading. His poetry must be fantastic.
The irony of early twentieth century do-gooders brought a smile to my face. Social workers and nutritionists tried in vain to eradicate the eating habits of southern Italians. They tried to replace their healthful diets of whole grains, olive oil, and vegetables with red meat and potatoes. Little could they have predicted that today’s Mediterranean Diet is lauded by the medical profession.
I had no idea that Italian American communities flourished beyond the near West Side of Chicago, near Taylor Street. There were so many neighborhoods with their churches and community organizations. There were too many neighborhoods to enable Italian Americans the political clout that the Irish and other immigrants have achieved. Several speakers indicated that this Chicago Diaspora within the larger Immigrant Diaspora was intentional. Italian American neighborhoods were gerrymandered to prevent political power accruing to this group. Chicago Italian Americans will never forgive Mayor Richard J. Daley’s theft of “Little Italy.” This vibrant neighborhood was sacrificed to the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Circle Campus.
Several of the speakers revealed the anguish they endured while struggling with academia in order to have the Italian American immigrant experience admitted as a field of legitimate study. Doctoral degrees were placed in peril just trying to get permission to explore the field. It remains difficult to this day. One must ask why our families’ experiences and the talent of Italian American writers are considered unworthy of scholarly study. The sting of rejection is a deep and extensive. It pervades our identity.
The stench of the Sopranos, the Godfather and the Black Hand lingers subliminally when others think of Italian Americans. It will never wash away. This stigma denigrates the accomplishment and generosity of the real Italian American. Will we always be different, sullied by the assumption that somewhere in each family tree lurks a Mafioso?
I have always been somewhat uncomfortable with my Italian American Heritage. My mother did not have Italian ancestry. I was the family’s first “half breed.” I never quite belonged. This separation deprived me of an appreciation of an important part of my identity. I have come to realize that my Italian American relatives were as vulnerable as I. Conferences like the one in Stone Park clarify memories. My Italian American heritage becomes a legitimate source of strength. Beneficial reconstruction of my roots was promoted by Thursday’s experiences. Wish you could have been there!
Two of principal organizers were Dominic Candeloro and Fred L. Gardaphe, both professors of Italian American studies at their respective universities—University of Illinois at Chicago and New York’s SUNY. Their energy and enthusiasm was matched only by their hard work. Much of the success of the conference can be attributed to their vision, dedication, and sweat equity. Many other committed researchers and writers contributed to the success of the event.
The presentations were varied and my appreciation for my ancestors enlarged. Although I was able to attend only the first day, I was impressed by the energy exhibited. I learned a great deal that day, and, of course, ate well in the process. I would like to share some of the “epiphanies” I experienced.
Billy Lombardo is a spare and fierce young man. He is passionate about his writing, his family, and his Italian American heritage. Billy is gifted. After telling the audience about his Bridgeport neighborhood experiences, he read a portion of his book, The Logic of the Rose. WOW! What a magnificent command of language that man possesses. His book is a prose work well worth reading. His poetry must be fantastic.
The irony of early twentieth century do-gooders brought a smile to my face. Social workers and nutritionists tried in vain to eradicate the eating habits of southern Italians. They tried to replace their healthful diets of whole grains, olive oil, and vegetables with red meat and potatoes. Little could they have predicted that today’s Mediterranean Diet is lauded by the medical profession.
I had no idea that Italian American communities flourished beyond the near West Side of Chicago, near Taylor Street. There were so many neighborhoods with their churches and community organizations. There were too many neighborhoods to enable Italian Americans the political clout that the Irish and other immigrants have achieved. Several speakers indicated that this Chicago Diaspora within the larger Immigrant Diaspora was intentional. Italian American neighborhoods were gerrymandered to prevent political power accruing to this group. Chicago Italian Americans will never forgive Mayor Richard J. Daley’s theft of “Little Italy.” This vibrant neighborhood was sacrificed to the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Circle Campus.
Several of the speakers revealed the anguish they endured while struggling with academia in order to have the Italian American immigrant experience admitted as a field of legitimate study. Doctoral degrees were placed in peril just trying to get permission to explore the field. It remains difficult to this day. One must ask why our families’ experiences and the talent of Italian American writers are considered unworthy of scholarly study. The sting of rejection is a deep and extensive. It pervades our identity.
The stench of the Sopranos, the Godfather and the Black Hand lingers subliminally when others think of Italian Americans. It will never wash away. This stigma denigrates the accomplishment and generosity of the real Italian American. Will we always be different, sullied by the assumption that somewhere in each family tree lurks a Mafioso?
I have always been somewhat uncomfortable with my Italian American Heritage. My mother did not have Italian ancestry. I was the family’s first “half breed.” I never quite belonged. This separation deprived me of an appreciation of an important part of my identity. I have come to realize that my Italian American relatives were as vulnerable as I. Conferences like the one in Stone Park clarify memories. My Italian American heritage becomes a legitimate source of strength. Beneficial reconstruction of my roots was promoted by Thursday’s experiences. Wish you could have been there!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dumping Dewey
Libraries are an important constituent element in a community’s identity. Librarians take seriously their responsibility to keep materials relevant and useful to their particular service populations. Libraries are service organizations. This is true no matter what type of library—public, academic, or special.
What portion of the community is served by a public library? Ideally that number should approach 100%. Outreach services provide the home bound with library materials. Schools have close relationships with public librarians so that assignments can be completed beyond the carefully husbanded resources of a school library. Best sellers are purchased in quantity so that library patrons will not need to wait long before they have a chance to read what’s “hot.” Videos and DVDs fly off the shelves. Patrons have already paid for these services through their taxes. What’s not to like?
Unfortunately, the average community serves less than a quarter of its population. Some of the non-library users are just not interested. Many more are uncomfortable in a library setting. Even those who regularly check out best sellers and movies may be unaware of other services available. I can’t estimate how many people told me that they had no idea the reference librarians would answer their questions (and for free). Others feel uncomfortable asking for help. They “feel stupid.”
No one should ever be made to “feel stupid” in a public library. No one should leave without getting what they came for, or advice on how to get it. When our library was testing the viability of having a roving reference feature each of us tried taking a laptop to the people using the library. I stationed myself at the top of the stairs and asked those who were leaving the building if they had found what they were looking for. It was amazing to learn how many had not.
When library patrons leave unsatisfied, the library has failed. The reasons behind that failure may be complex; part of the solution can be simple. Dump Dewey. There are two major classification systems used by libraries: the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and the Library of Congress System (LC). The latter is used most often by universities because it is more enumerative than Dewey which is widely used in public and school libraries. Dewey has a long history in library classification and is currently in its 22nd version.
[The Dewey Decimal Classification system is a proprietary entity; DDC22 is currently owned by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.]
LC employs about 21 main subject headings; DDC has ten. After an initial subject heading like “P” for Language and Literature, LC becomes very complicated, placing fictional works in the same “P” category as literary and language materials. Most public libraries learned long ago that placement of fictional works by author and genre worked well for its users.
The issue for public libraries arises when classifying non-fiction. Dewey often tends to aggregate too many different subjects within one of its ten divisions, known as the hundreds (“100s”). A breakdown by the “10s” becomes the only way to sort out topics. For example: the 700s are designated for “the Arts.” It is used for architecture, landscape design, photography, games, art, fashion, music, dance, sports, movies and TV, interior design and other “arts.” Sports are in the 790s; baseball is at 796.357. It is extremely difficult to browse the “700s” when you don’t understand its nuances and you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for! If you want on baseball injuries, you’re in the wrong section.
Dewey has been used in public libraries for decades. It has an internal consistency and logic that few fully appreciate. These features are often expressed in the replication of a number sequence or to the right of the decimal point. Decimal places are also assigned as a means to refine sub-sub-topics. For example: European History is classified in the 940s. Irish history is classified at 941.5. Travel to Europe falls in the 914s; travel to Ireland is 914.15; travel books about Dublin alone are at 914.1835. Many libraries classify biographies at 920 and 921. A science book about a physicist’s life in science might be classified with the DDC call number 530.92.
DDC has subtleties that are admirable. Too often, these subtleties create barriers for non-cognoscenti who are looking for a book. Health books can be found in the 610s, 362s, 646s, 100s, and even the 700s, depending on which aspect of health and medicine is emphasized. The library user wants a book, not a tour of the stacks!
Logic, consistency, and precision are highly valued by library catalogers who want to place materials in just the right spot. These qualities become ludicrous when overdone. Try searching for a book with a call number like 341.0097623941 Ab76. Believe me; this little old librarian lady with bifocals is going to have a hard time finding that book especially if it is on the bottom shelf! What of the casual library visitor?
[The Cutter letters and numbers that follow a call number like Ab76 usually refer to authors, but can refer to subjects and titles. Cutters reflect the holdings of a particular library—but we are not going there.]
Unfortunately the average library user does not visit their public library to admire the classification system. What they come for is to find something to read. Why do libraries have to make it so hard? Would Melville Dewey turn in his grave if libraries gave their users a break? Libraries need to take a page from the book store. KISS!*
Today’s information seeker is more accustomed to using keywords that are inclusive and straightforward. Surely subtlety can meld with simplicity to create a system both user-friendly and logical. Libraries should rethink classification and adapt organization of knowledge to the end user. The following example, which I’ll call the Direct Classification System, may not be the best solution but it’s a place to begin. New paradigms must be established to keep libraries relevant to the community’s needs.
First I would propose the creation of straightforward, commonsense keywords, not “official subject headings.” Primary keywords should take precedence over Dewey classification definitions. Keywords should be user-friendly and universally accessible to the public; inclusive without nit-picking. Sub-topic divisions—or secondary keywords—would reflect the topic’s most important aspects. More detailed classification using a modified Dewey could be used to reflect the cataloger’s art and logic within sub-divisions. Online catalogs would indicate placement by Primary and Secondary Keyword Areas before any number designations. This Direct Classification System might get the user to the target area faster.
Next, I would organize keyword areas broadly. Sub-divisions should intelligently incorporate the complete spectrum of materials that come under the commonsense main heading. If books deal with health put them all together. Mental illness and psychology/self help are currently in separate Dewey 100s sections. Books on family and children’s health are in the “domestic science” section but childhood diseases and autism are in “medical sciences” although both fall into the “600s” designated for “Technology.” Additionally, many libraries remain ambivalent about Audio/Visual materials. These need to be located on the same shelf as books that deal with the same topic. Why not place exercise DVDs next to the exercise books?
Finally keep the end user in mind at all times. Be flexible and open ended. Signage must be attractive, clear, and plentiful. Sections should be situated according to some recognizable plan, most commonly alphabetically, or a combination of alphabetical and related topics. If the user does not want to use the online catalog, the logic of this classification system will lead the user directly to the correct area and its sub-divisions. A simple and attractive explanation of each section and its sub-sections can be placed on the stack ends.
Direct Classification reflects a 21st century mind set that utilizes familiar keyword retrieval terms and graphics. As an example I will use Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Sixteenth Edition. Using the Library of Congress system it will be located at PN 6081. B27 (date), just before all the fiction in the “PRs.” Most public libraries will place it at 808.882 Bar. There are a lot of 808s. A “Dewey Free Zone” public library using the Direct Classification System would place it in “Writer’s Resources” (with nice graphic), followed by alphabetic subdivisions like “Grammar,” “Publishers,” and “Quotations.”
Which would you prefer?
*Keep It Simple,Stupid—in this case it’s the complex library classification system that qualifies most ironically as “stupid.”
What portion of the community is served by a public library? Ideally that number should approach 100%. Outreach services provide the home bound with library materials. Schools have close relationships with public librarians so that assignments can be completed beyond the carefully husbanded resources of a school library. Best sellers are purchased in quantity so that library patrons will not need to wait long before they have a chance to read what’s “hot.” Videos and DVDs fly off the shelves. Patrons have already paid for these services through their taxes. What’s not to like?
Unfortunately, the average community serves less than a quarter of its population. Some of the non-library users are just not interested. Many more are uncomfortable in a library setting. Even those who regularly check out best sellers and movies may be unaware of other services available. I can’t estimate how many people told me that they had no idea the reference librarians would answer their questions (and for free). Others feel uncomfortable asking for help. They “feel stupid.”
No one should ever be made to “feel stupid” in a public library. No one should leave without getting what they came for, or advice on how to get it. When our library was testing the viability of having a roving reference feature each of us tried taking a laptop to the people using the library. I stationed myself at the top of the stairs and asked those who were leaving the building if they had found what they were looking for. It was amazing to learn how many had not.
When library patrons leave unsatisfied, the library has failed. The reasons behind that failure may be complex; part of the solution can be simple. Dump Dewey. There are two major classification systems used by libraries: the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and the Library of Congress System (LC). The latter is used most often by universities because it is more enumerative than Dewey which is widely used in public and school libraries. Dewey has a long history in library classification and is currently in its 22nd version.
[The Dewey Decimal Classification system is a proprietary entity; DDC22 is currently owned by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.]
LC employs about 21 main subject headings; DDC has ten. After an initial subject heading like “P” for Language and Literature, LC becomes very complicated, placing fictional works in the same “P” category as literary and language materials. Most public libraries learned long ago that placement of fictional works by author and genre worked well for its users.
The issue for public libraries arises when classifying non-fiction. Dewey often tends to aggregate too many different subjects within one of its ten divisions, known as the hundreds (“100s”). A breakdown by the “10s” becomes the only way to sort out topics. For example: the 700s are designated for “the Arts.” It is used for architecture, landscape design, photography, games, art, fashion, music, dance, sports, movies and TV, interior design and other “arts.” Sports are in the 790s; baseball is at 796.357. It is extremely difficult to browse the “700s” when you don’t understand its nuances and you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for! If you want on baseball injuries, you’re in the wrong section.
Dewey has been used in public libraries for decades. It has an internal consistency and logic that few fully appreciate. These features are often expressed in the replication of a number sequence or to the right of the decimal point. Decimal places are also assigned as a means to refine sub-sub-topics. For example: European History is classified in the 940s. Irish history is classified at 941.5. Travel to Europe falls in the 914s; travel to Ireland is 914.15; travel books about Dublin alone are at 914.1835. Many libraries classify biographies at 920 and 921. A science book about a physicist’s life in science might be classified with the DDC call number 530.92.
DDC has subtleties that are admirable. Too often, these subtleties create barriers for non-cognoscenti who are looking for a book. Health books can be found in the 610s, 362s, 646s, 100s, and even the 700s, depending on which aspect of health and medicine is emphasized. The library user wants a book, not a tour of the stacks!
Logic, consistency, and precision are highly valued by library catalogers who want to place materials in just the right spot. These qualities become ludicrous when overdone. Try searching for a book with a call number like 341.0097623941 Ab76. Believe me; this little old librarian lady with bifocals is going to have a hard time finding that book especially if it is on the bottom shelf! What of the casual library visitor?
[The Cutter letters and numbers that follow a call number like Ab76 usually refer to authors, but can refer to subjects and titles. Cutters reflect the holdings of a particular library—but we are not going there.]
Unfortunately the average library user does not visit their public library to admire the classification system. What they come for is to find something to read. Why do libraries have to make it so hard? Would Melville Dewey turn in his grave if libraries gave their users a break? Libraries need to take a page from the book store. KISS!*
Today’s information seeker is more accustomed to using keywords that are inclusive and straightforward. Surely subtlety can meld with simplicity to create a system both user-friendly and logical. Libraries should rethink classification and adapt organization of knowledge to the end user. The following example, which I’ll call the Direct Classification System, may not be the best solution but it’s a place to begin. New paradigms must be established to keep libraries relevant to the community’s needs.
First I would propose the creation of straightforward, commonsense keywords, not “official subject headings.” Primary keywords should take precedence over Dewey classification definitions. Keywords should be user-friendly and universally accessible to the public; inclusive without nit-picking. Sub-topic divisions—or secondary keywords—would reflect the topic’s most important aspects. More detailed classification using a modified Dewey could be used to reflect the cataloger’s art and logic within sub-divisions. Online catalogs would indicate placement by Primary and Secondary Keyword Areas before any number designations. This Direct Classification System might get the user to the target area faster.
Next, I would organize keyword areas broadly. Sub-divisions should intelligently incorporate the complete spectrum of materials that come under the commonsense main heading. If books deal with health put them all together. Mental illness and psychology/self help are currently in separate Dewey 100s sections. Books on family and children’s health are in the “domestic science” section but childhood diseases and autism are in “medical sciences” although both fall into the “600s” designated for “Technology.” Additionally, many libraries remain ambivalent about Audio/Visual materials. These need to be located on the same shelf as books that deal with the same topic. Why not place exercise DVDs next to the exercise books?
Finally keep the end user in mind at all times. Be flexible and open ended. Signage must be attractive, clear, and plentiful. Sections should be situated according to some recognizable plan, most commonly alphabetically, or a combination of alphabetical and related topics. If the user does not want to use the online catalog, the logic of this classification system will lead the user directly to the correct area and its sub-divisions. A simple and attractive explanation of each section and its sub-sections can be placed on the stack ends.
Direct Classification reflects a 21st century mind set that utilizes familiar keyword retrieval terms and graphics. As an example I will use Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Sixteenth Edition. Using the Library of Congress system it will be located at PN 6081. B27 (date), just before all the fiction in the “PRs.” Most public libraries will place it at 808.882 Bar. There are a lot of 808s. A “Dewey Free Zone” public library using the Direct Classification System would place it in “Writer’s Resources” (with nice graphic), followed by alphabetic subdivisions like “Grammar,” “Publishers,” and “Quotations.”
Which would you prefer?
*Keep It Simple,Stupid—in this case it’s the complex library classification system that qualifies most ironically as “stupid.”
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
A Midwesterner Ponders Change
I’ve lived in the Midwest all my life. Midwesterners are hard-working, no-nonsense, and sensible people. We generally act only after careful deliberation, eschewing the flashy and trendy. We have deep roots. When I am faced with the possibility of relocating to southern California, my deliberations must proceed slowly in order to evaluate the consequences of that move. I’m no stranger to southern California. Long before part of our family moved there we found it a good place to visit. We have just returned from an extended visit. The question I must consider now is whether or not I want to live there.
Hands down, southern California has great weather—boring, but great. Most Midwesterners think it is uniformly warm, but it is not. Near the ocean, temperatures range between the 60s and low 70s during the day. Evenings require a light sweater. The water is very cool. Surfer movies lead one to assume a skimpy bathing suit and surfboard are all you need for the sport. Real life surfers wear wet suits to keep warm. (Incidentally, the Midwesterner wants to know when these surfers work and go to school.)
The desert—and southern California really is desert—can be very hot. Rainfall is quite modest. The green of late winter too quickly becomes brown and sere. There are deciduous trees, but the stunning colors of the upper Midwest never appear. Palm trees are messy and ugly. The flowers of California are multitudinous and magnificent. Californians just take their nice weather for granted; no Midwesterner would. I’m sure I would miss the variety and persistence of green trees and fields that is our reward for enduring winter.
Although the Great Madrid fault that produced the largest magnitude earthquake in the continental U. S. is located in the Midwest, it is generally benign. In California the threat of severe earthquake is taken for granted in much the same way as the nice weather. Personally, I prefer solid, un-shifting ground beneath my feet.
Other cataclysms Californians expect include wild fires. These are a serious, recurring, and potentially expensive threat. Dangerous winds from the desert feed the fires. In a few hours all that you posses can be destroyed. Life is precarious and one must be prepared to evacuate homes on very short notice. In the Midwest the most persistent threats are tornado and flood. These are every bit as destructive as wild fires and earthquake. Neither the west coast nor the Midwest has an advantage in this area.
What are some of the now and future problems each area needs to address? In southern California water and fuel are critical natural resources to consider. Southern California is vastly overbuilt. Drought conditions along the Colorado River and in the Southwest will require the rationing of water in southern California very soon. Water rights will take a commanding position as scarcity and agribusiness tighten the clamps on southern California’s water supply. Californians seem to be in a state of denial about a looming water crisis. It is real and needs to be addressed. Resolutions will be very costly.
Californians love their automobiles. Distance is measured in minutes, not miles. Californians spend a lot of time in their cars. Freeways are super sized and almost always at capacity. (Some of the nastiest drivers I’ve ever seen drive on those roads.) Gasoline prices were running about $3.65 as a minimum at Easter. Smog persists in the valleys despite emission regulations that are the toughest in the country. One will see some alternate fuel cars and many bio-fuel buses. One cannot fail to notice a plethora of very expensive cars that most Midwesterners would only view in a film. These status symbol cars require expensive fuels. Just how much will the Californian be willing to pay? The conspicuous consumption of their automobiles belies their vocal “save the planet” mantra. There is a disingenuous attitude most Midwesterners would spot a mile off, but that Californians fail to acknowledge.
The Midwest is not without its problems. There persists the feeling that the middle of America has past its heyday. Our population is aging; youngsters seek more exciting venues. Midwesterners have experienced a loss of manufacturing jobs, jobs that will never return. Transportation infrastructure desperately needs attention. Highways are insufficient; bridges and roads in disrepair. Travelers are advised to avoid Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Its problems are far beyond the need for new runways.
There emerges an undercurrent of sentiment that the Midwest is peripheral in today’s economy and culture. We have been passed over; we’re out of the loop. New Year’s Eve TV celebration coverage views its major cities as irrelevant. We are part of the rust belt and suffer psychologically from the loss of manufacturing, and meaning.
I am, of course, still skirting the real issues involved in a decision to move from my lifelong Midwestern home. Can I become a Californian? My views on southern California are entirely personal, idiosyncratic, and possibly unfair. However my perception of the southern California persona is critical to the decision making process. How much is vincible ignorance? Am I too old to change these opinions? Do I want to change them? Should I want to change them?
How do I perceive the average Californian? There is a superficiality I find discomforting. One of the first things I noticed is reinforced by watching the ads on TV. Image is all. Californians are conspicuous consumers. They are lean, and intolerant. There is nothing about the image that can’t be improved with a nip & tuck, a lift, a peel, fancy car, expensive—read, overpriced—home. TV ads show a populous obsessed with image. (One might expect that every Californian is just waiting to be discovered at the local Starbucks.) The appearance of prosperity and success passes for the real thing, but not all live the good life as you soon understand by perusing the re-sale and consignment stores that proliferate on the Pacific Coast Highway.
A Midwesterner’s expectations are more modest. Many of us may care more about the appearance of our lawns than our physiques. Maybe we’re genetically incapable of the hedonism of the southern Californian. Everything in California seems fast and shiny new. Cutting edge technology, bio-tech, impressive corporate headquarters abound. At the back of the Midwestern mind-set, is the fear that these, too, will pass away. The young may well embrace the edginess, but older Midwesterners proceed with caution. Somehow I can’t get past a discomforting sense that this “chic, tomorrow, and global” milieu might really be part of Disneyland. Something about California whispers ephemera.
Before I make the decision to uproot my life, these perceptions must be resolved through the lens of objectivity. It may be that it is too late for me to change so radically. There are private, family reasons in favor of such a move that I have not addressed herein. However I feel that it is important to determine whether or not I want to become a southern Californian apart from those reasons. How do I weigh family influences against personal prejudice? If family reasons for re-location ultimately prove transitory I might find myself stuck in a place I hate, financially poorer, and spiritually bereft. Resolution will take some time.
Hands down, southern California has great weather—boring, but great. Most Midwesterners think it is uniformly warm, but it is not. Near the ocean, temperatures range between the 60s and low 70s during the day. Evenings require a light sweater. The water is very cool. Surfer movies lead one to assume a skimpy bathing suit and surfboard are all you need for the sport. Real life surfers wear wet suits to keep warm. (Incidentally, the Midwesterner wants to know when these surfers work and go to school.)
The desert—and southern California really is desert—can be very hot. Rainfall is quite modest. The green of late winter too quickly becomes brown and sere. There are deciduous trees, but the stunning colors of the upper Midwest never appear. Palm trees are messy and ugly. The flowers of California are multitudinous and magnificent. Californians just take their nice weather for granted; no Midwesterner would. I’m sure I would miss the variety and persistence of green trees and fields that is our reward for enduring winter.
Although the Great Madrid fault that produced the largest magnitude earthquake in the continental U. S. is located in the Midwest, it is generally benign. In California the threat of severe earthquake is taken for granted in much the same way as the nice weather. Personally, I prefer solid, un-shifting ground beneath my feet.
Other cataclysms Californians expect include wild fires. These are a serious, recurring, and potentially expensive threat. Dangerous winds from the desert feed the fires. In a few hours all that you posses can be destroyed. Life is precarious and one must be prepared to evacuate homes on very short notice. In the Midwest the most persistent threats are tornado and flood. These are every bit as destructive as wild fires and earthquake. Neither the west coast nor the Midwest has an advantage in this area.
What are some of the now and future problems each area needs to address? In southern California water and fuel are critical natural resources to consider. Southern California is vastly overbuilt. Drought conditions along the Colorado River and in the Southwest will require the rationing of water in southern California very soon. Water rights will take a commanding position as scarcity and agribusiness tighten the clamps on southern California’s water supply. Californians seem to be in a state of denial about a looming water crisis. It is real and needs to be addressed. Resolutions will be very costly.
Californians love their automobiles. Distance is measured in minutes, not miles. Californians spend a lot of time in their cars. Freeways are super sized and almost always at capacity. (Some of the nastiest drivers I’ve ever seen drive on those roads.) Gasoline prices were running about $3.65 as a minimum at Easter. Smog persists in the valleys despite emission regulations that are the toughest in the country. One will see some alternate fuel cars and many bio-fuel buses. One cannot fail to notice a plethora of very expensive cars that most Midwesterners would only view in a film. These status symbol cars require expensive fuels. Just how much will the Californian be willing to pay? The conspicuous consumption of their automobiles belies their vocal “save the planet” mantra. There is a disingenuous attitude most Midwesterners would spot a mile off, but that Californians fail to acknowledge.
The Midwest is not without its problems. There persists the feeling that the middle of America has past its heyday. Our population is aging; youngsters seek more exciting venues. Midwesterners have experienced a loss of manufacturing jobs, jobs that will never return. Transportation infrastructure desperately needs attention. Highways are insufficient; bridges and roads in disrepair. Travelers are advised to avoid Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Its problems are far beyond the need for new runways.
There emerges an undercurrent of sentiment that the Midwest is peripheral in today’s economy and culture. We have been passed over; we’re out of the loop. New Year’s Eve TV celebration coverage views its major cities as irrelevant. We are part of the rust belt and suffer psychologically from the loss of manufacturing, and meaning.
I am, of course, still skirting the real issues involved in a decision to move from my lifelong Midwestern home. Can I become a Californian? My views on southern California are entirely personal, idiosyncratic, and possibly unfair. However my perception of the southern California persona is critical to the decision making process. How much is vincible ignorance? Am I too old to change these opinions? Do I want to change them? Should I want to change them?
How do I perceive the average Californian? There is a superficiality I find discomforting. One of the first things I noticed is reinforced by watching the ads on TV. Image is all. Californians are conspicuous consumers. They are lean, and intolerant. There is nothing about the image that can’t be improved with a nip & tuck, a lift, a peel, fancy car, expensive—read, overpriced—home. TV ads show a populous obsessed with image. (One might expect that every Californian is just waiting to be discovered at the local Starbucks.) The appearance of prosperity and success passes for the real thing, but not all live the good life as you soon understand by perusing the re-sale and consignment stores that proliferate on the Pacific Coast Highway.
A Midwesterner’s expectations are more modest. Many of us may care more about the appearance of our lawns than our physiques. Maybe we’re genetically incapable of the hedonism of the southern Californian. Everything in California seems fast and shiny new. Cutting edge technology, bio-tech, impressive corporate headquarters abound. At the back of the Midwestern mind-set, is the fear that these, too, will pass away. The young may well embrace the edginess, but older Midwesterners proceed with caution. Somehow I can’t get past a discomforting sense that this “chic, tomorrow, and global” milieu might really be part of Disneyland. Something about California whispers ephemera.
Before I make the decision to uproot my life, these perceptions must be resolved through the lens of objectivity. It may be that it is too late for me to change so radically. There are private, family reasons in favor of such a move that I have not addressed herein. However I feel that it is important to determine whether or not I want to become a southern Californian apart from those reasons. How do I weigh family influences against personal prejudice? If family reasons for re-location ultimately prove transitory I might find myself stuck in a place I hate, financially poorer, and spiritually bereft. Resolution will take some time.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
R.I.P. William F. Buckley, Jr.
One of my heroes has died. I never had the privilege of knowing Bill Buckley in person. I don't move in such august circles. I did have the pleasure of knowing him through his quick paced television program, Firing Line, and through The National Review and many of his books. Mr. Buckley helped frame my opinions and appreciation of modern American society.
There's a Country song that states, "She had me from 'Hello'." Of course, Buckley never trifled with such a simple greeting, but he captured me nevertheless. Buckley had style, verve, wit nonpareil, and panache. William F. Buckley, Jr. set the bar high. He was an unapologetic patrician and the modern political version of Socrates' gadfly. One could only aspire to a view over the bar, few cleared it.
In one of his books, Buckley wrote about the first time he saw the house that was to be his future home. The realtor brought him and his wife to a lovely home, but Buckley felt a certain unease. Finally he realized what was wrong. There were no books in the house. He soon remedied that. Throughout his life Buckley wrote more than 50 of his own to fill shelves abundant with the finest thoughts of the finest minds. Perhaps he could also be considered a modern day Montaigne too.
William F. Buckley Jr.'s most successful venture was his magazine, The National Review. I'm not sure everyone understood its raison d'etre. Naturally it was a forum for the best in conservative thought. It gained that excellence through the magazine's willingness to present divergent views on such topics as deficit spending and star wars technology. Those who think Mr. Buckley's media instrument closed minds are wrong, although I cannot say as much for the current publication. He thoroughly enjoyed the parry and thrust of intellectual exchange. His wit and good will mitigated a well-placed touche. As he tightened the web about an opponent, his eyes betrayed an amused "got ya!" Even Mr. Buckley's "enemies" spoke well of the man.
My condolence to his son, siblings, and grandchildren. If Aristotle's Happy Life can only be achieved at the end of the examined good life, then Bill Buckley is indeed very happy today.
There's a Country song that states, "She had me from 'Hello'." Of course, Buckley never trifled with such a simple greeting, but he captured me nevertheless. Buckley had style, verve, wit nonpareil, and panache. William F. Buckley, Jr. set the bar high. He was an unapologetic patrician and the modern political version of Socrates' gadfly. One could only aspire to a view over the bar, few cleared it.
In one of his books, Buckley wrote about the first time he saw the house that was to be his future home. The realtor brought him and his wife to a lovely home, but Buckley felt a certain unease. Finally he realized what was wrong. There were no books in the house. He soon remedied that. Throughout his life Buckley wrote more than 50 of his own to fill shelves abundant with the finest thoughts of the finest minds. Perhaps he could also be considered a modern day Montaigne too.
William F. Buckley Jr.'s most successful venture was his magazine, The National Review. I'm not sure everyone understood its raison d'etre. Naturally it was a forum for the best in conservative thought. It gained that excellence through the magazine's willingness to present divergent views on such topics as deficit spending and star wars technology. Those who think Mr. Buckley's media instrument closed minds are wrong, although I cannot say as much for the current publication. He thoroughly enjoyed the parry and thrust of intellectual exchange. His wit and good will mitigated a well-placed touche. As he tightened the web about an opponent, his eyes betrayed an amused "got ya!" Even Mr. Buckley's "enemies" spoke well of the man.
My condolence to his son, siblings, and grandchildren. If Aristotle's Happy Life can only be achieved at the end of the examined good life, then Bill Buckley is indeed very happy today.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Return of the Growlerie
It's been some time since I "vented" via the Growlerie. In case you don't recall the literary reference, the Growlerie comes from Charles Dicken's Bleak House. It was the place where the generous John Jarndyce went to rail against life's injustice and vent his anger with irritations major and minor. Herein find the first edition of 2008's irritations, major and minor.
Top of the list must be the winter weather in the Midwest/Great Lakes region. We've had snow, snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures, snow, snow, fog...ENOUGH ALREADY! Unfortunately a new "major snow event" is on it way. I do not live on the "wrong side of the lake" where the hardy thrive and the entrepreneural clean up with snow and ice fishing lovers. Yipes!
Silence is golden, but almost impossible to find anymore. In the grocery stores the shopper is bombarded with acid rock, hip-hop, and other annoying "music." It seems that the days of bland and canned tunes has given way to the teen age stock boy's top twenty radio stations. It makes one eager to get out of the store as soon as possible.
If you manage to ignore the terrible tunes, you must try to avoid the ubiquitious television screens placed in produce, meats, check out lines. I have not given them a glance--and will not-- but you can't avoid the noise. Ditto for hospital sitting areas, ER waiting rooms, and doctor's offices. The "one eyed god" is inescapable. It is hard to read or carry on a quiet conversation because everyone must attend this idol.
Close to the top is the word "change," the overused and misunderstood mantra of every political candidate running for office. Change who, what, where, when, why and how? Change one; change for the better; change for the worst; change for change sake; exchange...please.
The fourth estate is a necessary and integral part of a democratic society, except when the news media crosses the line and begins to create and/or shape news events. It has begun to shape public opinion, not report it. Several good presidential candidates suffered from the media's slant on the most newsworthy candidates. They did not get the exposure they were entitled to and thence were unable to present their suitability. Coverage and money rules--but that's for another Growlerie.
General news is too selective, with emphasis placed on the sensational. "If it bleeds, it leads" has proven itself a money making paradigm for news stations. Even the weather has succumbed, no longer showing temperature, but rather emphasizing "wind chill." It's so much more compelling to have a map full of sub zero temperatures than real ones.
Finally, school administrators bewail the lack of science and math teachers. College students seem to favor business, tech, and other better paying professions. It seems that, for the majority of students, math and science are too hard. [Oh my!] There are easier ways to make the grade. But, if the student does do well in math and the sciences, the dearth of qualified scientists and mathematicians guarantees a well paying job in business and research. Teaching is not lucrative, however rewarding. It's hard to get that science or math degree. Teaching is challenging and, frequently, discouraging work. It doesn't pay well. But the current lack of teachers in the sciences and math will become a self-fulfilling prophesy for failure in the future. There is way too much emphasis on making money and making a name for oneself. Perhaps our priorites need a bit of readjustment.
Now, that feels better. I think I'll get my shovel out and start to work on the driveway.
Top of the list must be the winter weather in the Midwest/Great Lakes region. We've had snow, snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures, snow, snow, fog...ENOUGH ALREADY! Unfortunately a new "major snow event" is on it way. I do not live on the "wrong side of the lake" where the hardy thrive and the entrepreneural clean up with snow and ice fishing lovers. Yipes!
Silence is golden, but almost impossible to find anymore. In the grocery stores the shopper is bombarded with acid rock, hip-hop, and other annoying "music." It seems that the days of bland and canned tunes has given way to the teen age stock boy's top twenty radio stations. It makes one eager to get out of the store as soon as possible.
If you manage to ignore the terrible tunes, you must try to avoid the ubiquitious television screens placed in produce, meats, check out lines. I have not given them a glance--and will not-- but you can't avoid the noise. Ditto for hospital sitting areas, ER waiting rooms, and doctor's offices. The "one eyed god" is inescapable. It is hard to read or carry on a quiet conversation because everyone must attend this idol.
Close to the top is the word "change," the overused and misunderstood mantra of every political candidate running for office. Change who, what, where, when, why and how? Change one; change for the better; change for the worst; change for change sake; exchange...please.
The fourth estate is a necessary and integral part of a democratic society, except when the news media crosses the line and begins to create and/or shape news events. It has begun to shape public opinion, not report it. Several good presidential candidates suffered from the media's slant on the most newsworthy candidates. They did not get the exposure they were entitled to and thence were unable to present their suitability. Coverage and money rules--but that's for another Growlerie.
General news is too selective, with emphasis placed on the sensational. "If it bleeds, it leads" has proven itself a money making paradigm for news stations. Even the weather has succumbed, no longer showing temperature, but rather emphasizing "wind chill." It's so much more compelling to have a map full of sub zero temperatures than real ones.
Finally, school administrators bewail the lack of science and math teachers. College students seem to favor business, tech, and other better paying professions. It seems that, for the majority of students, math and science are too hard. [Oh my!] There are easier ways to make the grade. But, if the student does do well in math and the sciences, the dearth of qualified scientists and mathematicians guarantees a well paying job in business and research. Teaching is not lucrative, however rewarding. It's hard to get that science or math degree. Teaching is challenging and, frequently, discouraging work. It doesn't pay well. But the current lack of teachers in the sciences and math will become a self-fulfilling prophesy for failure in the future. There is way too much emphasis on making money and making a name for oneself. Perhaps our priorites need a bit of readjustment.
Now, that feels better. I think I'll get my shovel out and start to work on the driveway.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tossing out the pages of a life
Although I have recently retired I have not been able to walk away completely from work. For the past several weeks, I’ve been reviewing the papers and clippings of two decades. I must be honest with you. I am a saver of comments, ideas, lists, etc. I find the world so interesting and varied that I clip, save, and file many items most people might not even want to read.
In the past weeks I have filled our large recycling bin several times over—tossing away many of the pages of my life. Saving things is a family trait that I need to guard against. My parents saved everything. When it became necessary to clear out their home it took months to complete. My father saved the note he received in 1932 that told him of the death of his music teacher. There was a receipt for a 1938 automobile. Every tuition receipt my high school issued was there—just in case they were going to rescind my diploma if proof of payment could not be documented forty years later! My father even saved blank pieces of paper he had trimmed from larger sheets.
This extreme form of saving is not a trait to emulate, but it must be admitted that each scrap of paper represented pieces of their lives. I am relieved to admit that I’m not quite as compulsive as my parents. To a librarian the notes, papers, and clippings saved are useful bits of information; although I bet my father thought that his were too. It has been hard to part with so many pieces of my life. There are some beauties amongst my clippings. However, after the rough cut, I will be able to exercise my penchant for organization. Classifying all those goodies will take time, but what fun!
In the interim, I will share with you some accumulated treasures. If any of you are old enough to remember Sydney Harris who wrote for the Chicago Daily News you might recall his occasional columns about what he found while looking up other things. These were some of his best work. Many of my scraps were discovered in a like manner. I hope you enjoy my walk through memory lane as much as I enjoyed Mr. Harris’s gems.
1) More than 2300 years ago Hippocrates observed that pain could be relieved by chewing on willow leaves. Willow leaves contain a form of aspirin. Miracle drug indeed.
2) The Irish Times and Poetry Ireland surveyed their readers to learn what poem was their favorite. The 1999 survey revealed that William Butler Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” topped the list. Yeats had 25 poems listed in the top 100.
3) I don’t know if you have as much trouble with the international symbols for clothing care, but, just in case here are what two of them mean: a circle with an “X” through it means do not dry clean and a square with three vertical lines inside means drip dry.
4) The first country to use finger prints to solve crimes was Argentina. That was in 1892. The Metropolitan Police Fingerprint Bureau of Scotland Yard was established on July 1, 1901. The Bureau was the brainchild of Sir Edward Henry who became interested in the science of dactylography. In 1900, Sir Henry authored a book entitled Classification and Uses of Fingerprints. He grouped the ridge patterns of fingerprints into three categories: loops, arches, and whorls. This classification is still used today.
5) Ataraxia was the goal of Epicurus. It encompasses the personal attainment of serenity, equanimity, and peace of mind.
6) Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru are better known as the See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil monkeys.
7) “The standard U.S. railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman War Chariot” which was wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses. [National Review, Jan. 24, 2000, “Notes and Asides”] How fun is that!!
More to follow…maybe.
In the past weeks I have filled our large recycling bin several times over—tossing away many of the pages of my life. Saving things is a family trait that I need to guard against. My parents saved everything. When it became necessary to clear out their home it took months to complete. My father saved the note he received in 1932 that told him of the death of his music teacher. There was a receipt for a 1938 automobile. Every tuition receipt my high school issued was there—just in case they were going to rescind my diploma if proof of payment could not be documented forty years later! My father even saved blank pieces of paper he had trimmed from larger sheets.
This extreme form of saving is not a trait to emulate, but it must be admitted that each scrap of paper represented pieces of their lives. I am relieved to admit that I’m not quite as compulsive as my parents. To a librarian the notes, papers, and clippings saved are useful bits of information; although I bet my father thought that his were too. It has been hard to part with so many pieces of my life. There are some beauties amongst my clippings. However, after the rough cut, I will be able to exercise my penchant for organization. Classifying all those goodies will take time, but what fun!
In the interim, I will share with you some accumulated treasures. If any of you are old enough to remember Sydney Harris who wrote for the Chicago Daily News you might recall his occasional columns about what he found while looking up other things. These were some of his best work. Many of my scraps were discovered in a like manner. I hope you enjoy my walk through memory lane as much as I enjoyed Mr. Harris’s gems.
1) More than 2300 years ago Hippocrates observed that pain could be relieved by chewing on willow leaves. Willow leaves contain a form of aspirin. Miracle drug indeed.
2) The Irish Times and Poetry Ireland surveyed their readers to learn what poem was their favorite. The 1999 survey revealed that William Butler Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” topped the list. Yeats had 25 poems listed in the top 100.
3) I don’t know if you have as much trouble with the international symbols for clothing care, but, just in case here are what two of them mean: a circle with an “X” through it means do not dry clean and a square with three vertical lines inside means drip dry.
4) The first country to use finger prints to solve crimes was Argentina. That was in 1892. The Metropolitan Police Fingerprint Bureau of Scotland Yard was established on July 1, 1901. The Bureau was the brainchild of Sir Edward Henry who became interested in the science of dactylography. In 1900, Sir Henry authored a book entitled Classification and Uses of Fingerprints. He grouped the ridge patterns of fingerprints into three categories: loops, arches, and whorls. This classification is still used today.
5) Ataraxia was the goal of Epicurus. It encompasses the personal attainment of serenity, equanimity, and peace of mind.
6) Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru are better known as the See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil monkeys.
7) “The standard U.S. railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman War Chariot” which was wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses. [National Review, Jan. 24, 2000, “Notes and Asides”] How fun is that!!
More to follow…maybe.
Monday, January 14, 2008
A Personal Philosophy of Public Librarianship
I’ve been retired a short time and felt it was time for me to share a few thoughts on being a public library reference librarian. When I began to work on my library masters degree I was sure that I wanted to go into academic libraries. Often I have considered health science/hospital librarianship because that area became my specialty. However, I remained a public librarian despite the dismissive attitude many professional librarians have towards the work public librarian do.
I must admit the work was not always the challenge our education promised. Nor does the public know that we continuously update that education. Occasionally lady librarians are addressed as “dolly,” “honey,” or “dear.” There are still those who are unaware that most librarians are techie geeks. Only a couple of years ago someone explained to me, in excruciating detail, all about “the Internet and GOOGLE.” Generally we ignore the unintended insults, smile, and say thank you for such useful information.
Little do our librarian colleagues in other information venues or the public at large appreciate the variety and pace that makes our jobs constantly interesting and continuously informative. So many different questions, requiring varied approaches, and so little time! It’s fun; it’s an opportunity; it’s addictive.
Public librarians not only need to know reference and reader’s advisory resources, they must keep current with the latest technologies and best sellers. Librarians must be resourceful, ingenious, and flexible. They must be psychologists, mind readers, and diplomats. They are teachers, sympathetic ears, and friends. We love doing it all.
What follows is a portion of a letter of thanks to the community I sent to local papers upon my retirement. It expresses the life of a public librarian who has established personal, long-term, relationships with library patrons. I will miss them, and I hope they will miss me too.
“Throughout the years many of you have shared your ideas on books, shown me photos of your grandchildren, and challenged my ingenuity to find answers to some tough questions. What a joy it has been to see a young teen grow into an adult who is beginning law or medical school. Teen or adult, you have trusted me with a wide range of questions, from serious health inquiries and journal searches to phone number requests and stock quotes from 1983. Each day I have learned something new from you.
Thank you for all those wonderful years and for the opportunity to serve the community in a setting that provides marvelous research tools. Thank you for your smiles, chats, and reading suggestions. I know the library will continue to provide for your needs. I will miss being a part of your future.”
I must admit the work was not always the challenge our education promised. Nor does the public know that we continuously update that education. Occasionally lady librarians are addressed as “dolly,” “honey,” or “dear.” There are still those who are unaware that most librarians are techie geeks. Only a couple of years ago someone explained to me, in excruciating detail, all about “the Internet and GOOGLE.” Generally we ignore the unintended insults, smile, and say thank you for such useful information.
Little do our librarian colleagues in other information venues or the public at large appreciate the variety and pace that makes our jobs constantly interesting and continuously informative. So many different questions, requiring varied approaches, and so little time! It’s fun; it’s an opportunity; it’s addictive.
Public librarians not only need to know reference and reader’s advisory resources, they must keep current with the latest technologies and best sellers. Librarians must be resourceful, ingenious, and flexible. They must be psychologists, mind readers, and diplomats. They are teachers, sympathetic ears, and friends. We love doing it all.
What follows is a portion of a letter of thanks to the community I sent to local papers upon my retirement. It expresses the life of a public librarian who has established personal, long-term, relationships with library patrons. I will miss them, and I hope they will miss me too.
“Throughout the years many of you have shared your ideas on books, shown me photos of your grandchildren, and challenged my ingenuity to find answers to some tough questions. What a joy it has been to see a young teen grow into an adult who is beginning law or medical school. Teen or adult, you have trusted me with a wide range of questions, from serious health inquiries and journal searches to phone number requests and stock quotes from 1983. Each day I have learned something new from you.
Thank you for all those wonderful years and for the opportunity to serve the community in a setting that provides marvelous research tools. Thank you for your smiles, chats, and reading suggestions. I know the library will continue to provide for your needs. I will miss being a part of your future.”
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Crossing the Threshold
The New Year brings major changes to my life. Last year I wrote about the liminality of this holiday and now find myself stepping over the threshold into an abyss. I have “officially” retired from a job that I loved, that was my life. Many people say that in retirement you can begin to live your dreams. I lived that dream for years. Wakefulness reveals the carapace of a life unlived. Retirement dawns in doubt.
Right now, that threshold resembles the event horizon of a black hole. Will I be sucked in to reach maximum density, or will I escape into the chaos of potentiality? Somehow I must turn my natural bent for ataxia into ataraxia. I could say that I have plans to do thus and such, but these are save-face responses. Be patient.
Adjustment takes time. Reflection cannot be rushed. Shall I “thence retire me to my Milan” [The Tempest, Act V. Scene i.] or will new paths tempt me? If the latter, I can only hope is that the road that chooses me is interesting if not long.
Right now, that threshold resembles the event horizon of a black hole. Will I be sucked in to reach maximum density, or will I escape into the chaos of potentiality? Somehow I must turn my natural bent for ataxia into ataraxia. I could say that I have plans to do thus and such, but these are save-face responses. Be patient.
Adjustment takes time. Reflection cannot be rushed. Shall I “thence retire me to my Milan” [The Tempest, Act V. Scene i.] or will new paths tempt me? If the latter, I can only hope is that the road that chooses me is interesting if not long.
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