RPS - 25

Having actually played a game of rock-paper-scissors last night, this morning I've been presented with the extreme version that includes 25 different gestures.

Oops

How'd you like to hear this happening while you're in the shower. My brother got to do just that this morning.

iPod flea

Just when you thought the iPod nano wasn't small enough...

Will You Go To Prom Withe Me? (And Dance and Dance and Dance...)

This video is just too funny for words.

Family Guy presents Stewie Live

You can tell Stewie what to do. Go ahead, do your worst.

Neil Gaiman on Denver

I'm realy hoping that he'll have more to say about his Denver visit than "socks".

Results from TypingMaster Online Test

Dear Michael Sauers,

Thank you for assessing your typing skills with the free TypingMaster Online Test - and welcome back to www.TypingTest.com.

Here are your full test results:

- Test Name: Strategic Alliances with Competitors - Date: 2005-09-28 12:37 - Test Time: 01:00 - Gross Speed: 59 WPM - Errors: 4 - Accuracy: 93%

- NET SPEED: 55 WPM

Neil Gaiman and Joss Wedon

In honor of my attendance at Neil Gaiman's Denver event last night, here's a Time Magazine interview with him and Joss Wedon.

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

I just got home from the Neil Gaiman reading/signing event. More than 700 people showed up and I was "lucky" enough to be #6 in line. Of course, in order to be #6 I had to show up seven hours in advance of the event. A complete set of photos can be found on KodakGallery.

Sushi Pictures

Fun with sushi.
for L

Training without students

O.k. I had students, at least 16 of them but, I couldn't see a single one of them. Yesterday I taught my first "live-online" class. i.e. I'm talking into a microphone and sending out PowerPoint slides to students all over the country who are logged into my HorizonWimba virtual classroom. I talked for a straight hour and ten minutes (no jokes please) and it was exhausting. I know I talk for work all the time but usually there are breaks in which I get to listen to student's questions. In this case I only received two, and they were submitted via text chat so I just worked in the answers while I was talking. The student evaluations don't go out until Monday but initial response to the session was positive. I'm still not sure I'm comfortable with teaching to a group that I can't see but I'm sure I'll get over it eventually.

Shock the monkey

Last night I was taken out for my birthday to see Wicked. If you ever get the chance, you must see this musical. The only other thing I'll say is: "Sir! There's a goat on the lamb!"

Ways To Mess With Your Colleagues

I'm surprised I found this one before my dad did.

Death to folders!

The article Death to folders! takes a look at the end of the "folder" concept on your computer and its inevitable replacement by search.

Batgirl

You do remember that Batgirl was a librarian by profession. Here's her history (videos included) from the perspecitve of the 60s Batman TV series.

Wireless Hotel Models

Steven Abram (a librarian who travels more than I do and all around swell guy) has some thoughts on comparing hotel WiFi and library WiFi:

"Despite these nightmares, I think there's much to learn for libraries from the hotel model. For example, when I use the hotel wireless they somehow highjack my preferred homepage settings and display local news, weather, and ads for other hotels in their chain. Hmmmm. How many libraries do this? Can we force a library homepage as recompense for providing wireless access in our spaces? Can we promote our services, localize information like weather and sports? Can we be so bold as to promote events in oter branches? Can we be so in their face as to blog library marketing?"

I've been talking about this one out loud to librarys for a while now. I guess I've never bothered to blog the issue. Hey, if you're offering free WiFi, why not send the patrons the library homepage when they connect? (Read his whole post, he's got some other thought-proviking insights as usual.)

Digital audio books in libraries and iPods

Michael Stevens' blog pointed me to this report from the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center in which the author, Thomas A. Peters, states:

"The fact that netLibrary's digital audio books are in the protected WMA file format, coupled with the fact that Apple iPods and most accessible devices (for example, the Book Port and the Book Courier) will not play the WMA file format, is unfortunate. One can only hope that soon both Apple and the manufacturers of accessible playback devices realize that supporting the playback of WMA content is in everyone’s best interest. "

Come on. This is never going to happen. You might as well try to convince Windows Media Player to play Apple's DRM-encrusted, proprietary AAC format. Here's a suggestion that might actually get some results. Get the vendors, netLibrary in this case, to offer downloads in both WMA and AAC. Give the users choice. Then everyone's happy.

TechnoLust

The Palm Treo 700w
via Engadget

Edwin A. Bemis Public Library

Edwin A. Bemis Public Library
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

This afternoon I visited the Bemis Public Library in Littleton, CO. It's just 16 miles SW of my home and this is the first time I've been there. It's an intersting and colorful building both inside and out. I was also able to get myself a library card which can view as part of my collection.

Error

Here's an interesting version of the PayPal homepage I received today.

It's been what? Two weeks?

Apple has released their first iTunes update since 5.0 was released exactly two weeks ago. I'm sure version 5.0.1.4 fixes "stuff" but I couldn't find any specific details on Apple's site. Best way to get it, select Help|Check for iTunes Updates in your copy of iTunes.

Writing assignments

A lot happened on the writing front today. I've been asked to contribute a chapter to a forthcoming book (tentatively titled A Day in the Life) about careers in LIS. I'll be writing about a "typical" day in my position. (This ought to be interesting...)

Later in the afternoon I was contacted by someone who's been helping me with The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz (no, I don't know when it'll be out yet) requesting that I write the forward to his Dean Koontz Encyclopedia. Considering Tim Powers will be writing the introduction, I was honored and accepted the assignment immediately.

Also, WebJunction has agreed to publish two more articles of mine. One on cleaning up Quicktime and another on how to create Firefox search extensions. I'll post links as soon as they're available.

Velocity by Dean Koontz

Velocity by Dean Koontz
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

Today I received my numbered limited edition of Dean Koontz's Velocity, published by Charnel House. More details available by clicking on the photo.

VisiCalc

Do you even rember VisiCalc? Do you rember the / commands? If so, did you know that it's available as a free download which you can run in a DOS window?

20 seconds of pure Doctor Who bliss

Two clips from The Power of the Daleks (Patrick Troughton's first story) have been discovered, nearly 40 years since they were last shown on TV. They are available for viewing on the BCC site.

T-shirt

What is Scientology?
No, seriously.

SmartUSB ready to go

Technology startup U3 is expected to announce Monday the release of USB drives based on its smart computing platform, which lets applications run directly off USB drives, independent of other storage devices.

Say it isn't so

There's to be no 'Q' in the next Bond film...

Wikipedia, Google & Librarians

The Paranoid Agnostic has this to say when it comes to comparing Wikipedia to Google:

"Wikipedia is like a librarian. Google is like asking an oracle. Librarians are professional information agents. Oracles are... freaky but cool. You can have a certain level of trust in the former but must constantly question the latter."

Avast, me hearties!

Don't forget your "avasts" and "arghs" today as it's Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Lies I learned in Library School

Deb sent me this one along with the comment "Maybe this sends the wrong message, I don't know, but it sure has merit." I leave it up to you. All comments appreciated.
Lies I learned in Library School

More bunnies!!!

Deb sent me the latest from Angry Alien: The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 30 seconds with bunnies. (Be sure to find the easter egg at the end.)

Just wrong

Pizza is not a food that should be eaten with utensils. However, if you insist you could use this fork/pizza wheel combination.
Thanks bro

IE7 fixes one XHTML problem

It seems that IE7 will properly handle the XML Prolog but not the “application/xml+xhtml” MIME type. Details at IEBlog

Presidential Humor

Q: What is George W. Bush's position on Roe v. Wade?

A: He doesn't give a damn how people get out of New Orleans.

Via SIVACRACY.NET

Susanna Clarke

Susanna Clarke
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

Susanna Clarke, author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was at The Tattered Cover Last Night. About 50 people showed up and all were entertained.

An update to the Paolini signing: the store gave out over 1000 tickets for a place in line (meaning at least 2000 people showed up,) and he signed books for more than five hours.

Karma Ghost

Here's a fun little flash movie: Karma Ghost.

IDN buffer overflow security issue

Firefox users: Here's the security patch you need to solve the IDN buffer overflow issue.
Thanks Rosario

Inbox Nirvana

I got in to the offic this morning, ate some wonderful zuchini bread and then tackled my inbox. 20 minutes later I ended up with something I'd not seen in years...

Judge: School Pledge Is Unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that the pledge of allegiance in school is unconstitutional due to the phrase "under god".

Time suck

You're a witch who has to navigate the forest and pick up little children. I'll let you figure out where you supposed to put the children to earn points...
Completely L's fault

Books for your pennies

It seems that the Coinstar machines are starting to offer Amazon.com giftcards, among other stores, in exchange for your change. If you choose a giftcard, Coinstar won't charge their usual 8.9%! Now, if they'd just start offering this service here in Denver...

E-mail error

I tried signing up to receive '24' news from the Fox site this morning. Here's what I received upon submitting my contact information:

Sorry Fox, but my e-mail address ends in ".info". It's not three letters, nor is it a two-letter country code. Yet, it's still valid. Check your validation scripts everyone. Non-two/three-letter domain names have been around for several years.

Firefox 1.5 beta 1 errors

Here's the new Firefox connection timeout error screen:

Good library news from New Orleans

Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 13:54:02 -0500
From: Irene Wainwright
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Some good news from New Orleans

New Orleans Public Library is delighted to be able to announce 
that the New Orleans City Archives, which we hold, is relatively 
safe.  Although the majority of our records (as well as the 19th 
and early 20th century records of the Orleans Parish civil and 
criminal courts) are housed in the basement of the Main Library, 
some 18 feet below sea level, the basement remained essentially 
dry.  Wayne Everard , our archvivist, and I were able to get 
access to the building yesterday, along with another NOPL staff 
member and a representative of Munters.  We discovered that the 
basement sustained NO FLOODING, although there is a very small 
amount of water in one area, possibly caused by sewer backup.  
This water caused no direct damage to records themselves.

The Main Library itself (across the plaza from city hall, about 
4 blocks from the Dome) came through almost unscathed.  Several 
windows blew out in the area of our Technology Center causing 
quite a bit of damage there, but the damage is confined to that 
closed in room.  There is also evidence of very minimal roof 
leakage on the first floor -- most of it missing the books.  On 
the whole, however, the Main Library is in excellent shape.  
Earlier reports that vandals had entered the building are 
incorrect. Our branch run van was looted and we believe another 
van was stolen from the parking lot, but it is clear that no 
one got into the building, either to vandalize or to shelter 
there.

The NOPL system itself has been hit hard -- probably about half 
of our 11 branch libraries are under water.  But these we can 
(and will) rebuild. The fact that the archives have survived 
leaves us almost delerious with relief.

We are working now to arrange for Munters to stabilize the Main 
Library building until we can all return and begin the rebuilding 
process.

We posted this news earlier to the ssacares site, where we will 
post additional information as it becomes available as well as 
photographs we took of the Library and the surrounding area.

Thank you all for your expressions of concern and offers of 
assistance. We are unbelievably lucky, and I think I now believe 
in miracles....

Irene Wainwright
Assistant Archivist, Louisiana Division/City Archives, 
New Orleans Public Library

Red Cross donation link

The Brian Alvey's Weblog shows you how to place the Red Cross link in the upper-right corner of your Web site.

Firefox 1.5 Beta 1

The first beta of Firefox 1.5 has been released. As a warning though, many of your extensions will not work in this version.

What's New in Firefox 1.5 Beta 1

• Automated update to streamline product upgrades.
• Faster browser navigation.
• Drag and drop for browser tabs.
• Improvements to popup blocking.
• Clear Private Data feature.
• Answers.com added to search engine list.
• Descriptive error pages, redesigned options menu, and RSS discovery.
• Better accessibility support.
• Report a broken Web site wizard.
• Better support for Mac OS X.

Christopher Paolini

These photos were taken at The Tattered Cover in Denver, CO on 11 September 2005. I don't have an official head count but I heard estimates of more than 700 people. (Not all of them were able to hear him speak.)

Impressive library design

My father sent me this photo of a library in Detroit. If anyone as any additional details please leave a comment.

More Firefox Search Plugins

Have you checked out my list of Firefox Search Plugins recently? I added several more including TVGuide, Bloglines, NPR and the iTunes Music Store.

iPod Woes: Day 9

FedEx just pulled up and dropped off my brand new replacement iPod; custom engraving included. Final judgement: 9 out of 10. (They lost a point for charging me the $32 to ship it.)

Fox finally gets something right

Thanks Rosario

Burton does Who

Yes, this is a joke courtesy of FARK.com

Apologies

...to the folks in New Orleans for the comments of one of my senators even though I didn't vote for him.

"U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., asked House Speaker Dennis Hastert not to send federal disaster aid to officials in Louisiana, calling state and local government there incompetent and corrupt."

Meanwhile, firefighters who have come in from Utah have been taking FEMA ordered sexual harassment seminars so they can be put to use handing out FEMA flyers.

And here is the heart wrenching interview with Charmaine Neville. (linked page contains link to launch video)

Turn Firefox into IE

Yes, you too can use Firefox and still keep the look and feel of IE.

Senator: "Bush is in denial"

From this Yahoo! News article:

[Congresswoman Nancy] Pelosi [D, CA], speaking at a news conference, said Brown had "absolutely no credentials" when Bush picked him to run FEMA.

She related that she urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Brown.

"He said, 'Why would I do that?'" Pelosi said.

"I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?'"

"Oblivious, in denial, dangerous," she added.

New Orleans slideshow

Here's a creative slideshow/video of the devistation in New Orleans set to the music of "American Pie" and "City of New Orleans". (Some of the image/lyric choices are of a political nature.)

FEMA Blocks Photos of New Orleans Dead

It looks like FEMA doesn't want the media to show photos of the dead in New Orleans. Maybe if people don't see the reality of the problem, FEMA won't get blamed any more...

iTunes 5

I'm sorry, but I just don't like the look of iTunes 5... (If I figure out exactly what I don't like I'll be sure to let you know.)

iTunes upgrade follow-up

It seems that just minutes later the Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes page is now working.

Apple Announcements

Today Steve Jobs announced that iTunes 5 is available. According to iTunes 4.9, it's not so you can only get it by going to the Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes page.

However, I couldn't download it using Firefox.

Switching over to IE, it seems the page is busted.

Jobs also announced the new iPod phone.

$1.7M Gift

As someone who visits the Axe library at PSU on a regular basis, I'm happy to hear about the$1.7 million gift they've just received to “enrich the library’s information resources through accessing electronic information systems…” Now, if they could just just a little of it to replace the orange carpeting... ;-)

Disney ownes Corman

Here's a match made in... Well, I'm just not sure where this match was made, but I'm guessing Hollywood...
Buena Vista Home Entertainment Acquires Rights to Extensive Roger Corman Library

LA State Library needs computers

-----Original Message-----
From: sol-l@solinet.net [mailto:sol-l@solinet.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 10:11 AM
To: sol-l@solinet.net
Subject: Louisiana needs computers

The State library of Louisiana has sent out this call for 
computer equipment...

If you are interested and able to send computers, here is 
the request from the Louisiana State Librarian, Rebecca 
Hamilton.

"To all--we are in desperate need of computers/printers.  
We are being inundated with evacuees needing to file FEMA 
applications, unemployment, search for loved ones, etc. 
and are coming into our public libraries to use the 
computers. Our libraries have greatly extended their hours 
to accommodate the people but they need additional computers 
and printers. If you can please put the word out that if 
anyone wants to help immediately, this is our greatest need."

The specs for the computers: 
* Pentium 3
* Windows 2000, prefer XP
* Laser printers if you can still get toner for them

Computers may be sent to:

State Library of Louisiana
701 North 4th Street
Baton Rouge, La.  70802-5232

If you are able to assist them by sending computers, 
please let Rebecca know via email: Rebecca Hamilton 
[rhamilton@crt.state.la.us] just to help them plan.  
This will help her know what to expect and also help 
us to know (if necessary) when to stop sending them 
there.  I am sure that we will hear from other states 
about similar needs.

iPod Woes: Day 8

An e-mail from Apple this morning informs me that my "service request has been completed and your product is on its way. Please allow two business days for delivery."

Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

I'm posting this on behalf of my best friend. Please help if you can.

Dear Friends and Family,

This October, I will be participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We'll be walking 60 miles over the course of 3 days.

Breast cancer has had a growing affect on my life and the lives of those around me in recent years and this is the best way I can find of supporting the fight against this devastating disease.

I'm asking everyone who can to donate 3 hours' salary to support a 3-day endeavor, but please support however you can. If you can't support financially, please pass this site along to others who may be able to. We are all in this together.

Thank you,
Laura

More on the 3-Day at www.the3day.org and my Fundraising HQ

For Sale - 1185 Florence St.

My house is up for sale. Check out this page for details and photos.

Differences of Opinion

In response to my recent post linking to a "visually stunning and emotionally moving" flash movie, a Mrs. H— (name withheld since I did not get her permission to post any of her words) e-mailed me over the weekend (instead of posting a comment on the blog for others to read) to complain about the banner and what she perceived to be my anti-war/troops opinions. I honestly found her comments lacking a coherent point (other that to point out that my opinions were wrong) so I declined to debate her via e-mail. It turns out that she surfed more of my site, found the site I run for author L.E. Modesitt, Jr. and decided to complain to him. I do not know exactly what she said to him but he was gracious enough to send me his response to her and gave me permission to post it here. I'll let his words stand on their own without additional comment from me.

Dear Mrs. H—:

Thank you for your email and your kind words about my work... and your concerns about Michael Sauers' home page.

Perhaps I've missed something, but when I checked out his home page a few moments ago, I could only find one banner site on it, which was dedicated to speaking out against President Bush's policies and speaking for a peaceful end to the situation in Iraq. As a former Navy search and rescue pilot who comes from a long military tradition [my grandfather was a Navy reservist in WWI; my father served in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns as a gunnery officer in WWII; I served as an amphibious boat officer and later as a search and rescue pilot during the Vietnam era; and my son is an Annapolis graduate who served two tours as an engineer aboard nuclear submarines, one of them during Desert Storm], I am very sensitive to anything that might be derogatory toward men and women in uniform. While Michael's banner feed is certainly not favorable toward President Bush and his advisors, I saw nothing derogatory in it toward our armed services. In fact, it seemed to me that the tone of the banner was more along the lines that those who died should not have died for the misrepresentations of the Administration. I'm certainly no liberal Democrat; I spent almost 20 years in Washington, D.C., much of it working for conservative Republicans, and I was a member of the Reagan administration as Director of Congressional Affairs and Legislation for the U.S. EPA. All that said, I have to agree with the tenor of the banner. This Administration has misled the American people and continues to do so.

I also agree with your implied point that our troops should never bear the brunt of public disfavor in the way in which they did during and after Vietnam. I don't see that banner doing that -- unless there is some other banner that I have missed.

On another point, Michael has maintained the Recluce site on his own time and money for years, often at times when few others in the internet community seemed all that interested in my work. So long as his statements -- and what he includes on his site -- are honest, straightforward, and not blatantly misleading [since we all tend to mislead somewhat in our zeal], I cannot see any reason to complain about his use of his First Amendment rights to state his views. If he were actually stating them on the Recluce site, that would be inappropriate, but he is not.

I understand your concerns, but I hope you understand my feeling that a mild objection to blind allegiance to a President who has clearly misled Americans is not out of place in this time. I cannot see this as an attempt to provoke hatred or demoralize our troops, especially not compared to what I saw and experienced during the Vietnam years.

We do not all agree, but when we cannot abide the right of another to disagree, that is when all we hold dear in liberty and freedom will soon be lost.

My best wishes to you and your family.

L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

"How Supreme Court Appointments Work"

The folks at HowStuffWorks.com has provided us with "How Supreme Court Appointments Work" for those who didn't take two semesters of constitutional law in college and/or forgot what they learned in their high school US Government class.

Third session of "Tech Terms" Web session added

The September 23rd and 30th sessions of the Tech Terms Web seminar has filled in less than 48 hours. Due to this overwhelming response, a third session has been scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 10am MDT.

* * *

Do you know what podcasting is? Or phishing and malware? If you want to learn what these and many other tech terms mean, you'll want to sign up for a free BCR Web Conference.

BCR's internet trainer, Michael Sauers, will be doing a one hour presentation on "Tech Terms: What’s Hot, What’s New, and What You’ve Got to Know." If you're not familiar with Wikis, RSS feeds, or BitTorrent, you will soon be hearing about them from your patrons. This presentation will make you more comfortable with these terms.

This free webinar is scheduled for Friday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Mountain time. Because a limited number of seats are available, registration is REQUIRED. To register, complete the online form available at http://www.bcr.org/training/workshops/register.html

Calypso Cascaes

Mary and I went and hiked up to Calypso Cascaes in the SE corner of Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday. The weather couldn't have been more perfect hovering around the low 70s the whole time we were there. (Link takes you to my photos.)

iPod woes: Day 4

I woke up this morning to an e-mail from Apple stating that my iPod had been received and that I'll be notified when repairs are complete.

The Oracle of Bacon

Need to cheat when it comes to Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Check out the Oracle of Bacon at the University of Virginia's Computer Science department.
Thanks Rosario

Lego church

This 7 feet by 5 1/2 feet by 30 inches Lego church has been making the e-mail rounds the past few days. Here's the original site for your visual entertainment and amazement.
Thanks L!

Annual Credit Report

Did you know that you are now entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit agencies. You can get them online at AnnualCreditReport.com. According to Equifax, I'm officially Michael Savers, a.k.a. Michael Sauers. A discrepancy report has been filed.

New Orleans Blows His Top On Radio

John Devorak has a link to an MP3 file of the New Orleans mayor loosing it on the radio in regards to how the federal government is responding to the disaster.

Trafic is moving in New Orleans

Granted, not much, but I've seen cars going by on this live webcam.

Free Seminar: "Tech Terms: What’s Hot, What’s New, and What You’ve Got to Know"

The September 23rd session of myTech Terms Web seminar has filled in less than 24 hours. Due to this overwhelming response, a second session has been scheduled for Friday, September 30th at 10am MDT. Those in non-BCR states are welcome to register but preference will be given to registrants from BCR member libraries.

* * *

Do you know what podcasting is? Or phishing and malware? If you want to learn what these and many other tech terms mean, you'll want to sign up for a free BCR Web Conference.

BCR's internet trainer, Michael Sauers, will be doing a one hour presentation on "Tech Terms: What’s Hot, What’s New, and What You’ve Got to Know." If you're not familiar with Wikis, RSS feeds, or BitTorrent, you will soon be hearing about them from your patrons. This presentation will make you more comfortable with these terms.

This free webinar is scheduled for Friday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Mountain time. Because a limited number of seats are available, registration is REQUIRED. To register, complete the online form available at http://www.bcr.org/training/workshops/register.html

More New Orleans librarians needing assistance

I work at New Orleans Public Library and am safely in Lafayette LA. 
No idea what the status of our libraries are.

Our mailserver is gone, and staff evacuated in all directions. I am 
trying to locate their alternate email addresses to check their 
status and work towards towards our library's and city's future.

What I need: if you know (or are) anyone that works for NOPL 
AND know an alternate email for them, send it to me.

Our defunct mailserver address is @gno.lib.la.us
Please do NOT send me those. They are dead ends...

Please: no sympathy messages for now to my email account; 
later but not now.

Thanks.....

Tony Barnes, New Orleans Public Library
tbarnes56@yahoo.com

Gas prices

I filled up yesterday morning for $2.57/gallon. This morning on the way to work that station has raised it's price to $2.65/gallon. On the way home at 6pm, the brice had gone up to $2.75/gallon. (And this is for the "cheap" gas.)

Hurricane Katrina library help

--------------- Forwarded Message --------------

I've created a new Yahoo! group to begin to help 
organize librarians, archivists, curators, systems, 
IT, and preservation professionals into contact 
with their colleagues and friends in Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and along the Gulf Coast.

There are thousands of information professionals 
and repositories that have been devistated by 
Hurricane Katrina. Several of the most valuable 
historical collections in have more than likely 
suffered catastrophic destruction. More than 
likely, some of the America's most vital 
historical artifacts, records, and documents 
have probably been lost. Clean-up will take a 
lot of manpower, muscle, and knowledge. Libraries 
may need to be completely gutted, whole records 
collections may need to be sorted, dried, and 
reprocessed.

But paper, paint, architecture, digital 
technologies, and metalwork, as anyone who works 
in information knows, is finite and nowhere near 
as valuable as a single human life.

There are going to be numerous professionals and 
paraprofessionals, and their families, who may 
be without power, phone service, or vital 
necessities. There will undoubtably be students 
at the L-Schools at Southern Miss and LSU (both 
of which have a lot of distance students from 
NOLA) who have lost much of what they own.

The Katrina Recovery Effort will require, more 
than likely, a lot of fresh bodies and resources 
to help. This is a way for librarians to help, 
even if its just for moral support. People will 
need to find out about missing colleagues, 
updates on the storm from on the ground, and may 
need to solicit volunteer clean-up workers. If 
someone has some vacation/release time saved up, 
please feel free to donate some time. This is a 
new endeavor, so I'm hoping I-Pros around the 
country will be willing to donate any support 
they can.

For more information, please e-mail me. Feel 
free to e-mail this post to professionals in 
your neck of the woods or hotlink.

Jason W. Jackson (LSU SLIS, 2004)
Acting Special Projects Officer
University Libraries
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
513.529.1690

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/geauxlibrary/
geauxlibrary-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
RSS Feed

Bush's handle is broken

photo via
The Huffington Post

HoustonChronicle.com - Bush: 'Zero tolerance' for looters, price gouging: "President Bush today called for 'zero tolerance' of looters and price gougers exploiting the chaos of Katrina's aftermath, saying Americans must take personal responsibility for keeping order in the wake of a terrible disaster. 'We've got to get a handle on the situation,' Bush told ABC's 'Good Morning America.'"

iPod woes: Day 2

The box arrived. I opened it, packed up my iPod as instructed and even resealed the box with the enclosed packing tape. DHL will be picking it up by 5pm

Or not...

Apple Cancels 30-Day Mac Mini Promo
via BetaNews