“Because they’ve thought about it.” But the times they are a-changing, and if the world wars of the 20th century began to erode religious faith in the west, then the proliferation of the world wide web has only exacerbated that process. “Religions have depended on the relative isolation and ignorance of their flocks, forever, and this […]
“Lifetime of Reading Slows Cognitive Decline” “Habitual participation in cognitively stimulating pursuits over a lifetime might substantially increase the efficiency of some cognitive systems,” writes a research team led by neuropsychologist Robert Wilson of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. This efficiency apparently counteracts the often-devastating effects of nervous system diseases. Wilson and his colleagues describe a study […]
A great commencement address to a group of baby librarians by Dorothea Salo… Now, graduates, I want you to remember that misbehaving comes in all sizes. I’ve been talking about great big misbehaviors, but depending on what the policies are like where you work, giving a homeless person a library card, waiving a fine for […]
Reddit has a recurring feature where notable (and not-so-notable) people can show up for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) interactive chat session. [2013-08-26 – Update: This probably isn’t too surprising but there’s some strong evidence that many celebrity AMA’s – including the Ethan Hawke one listed below – are actually done by a PR person, […]
An interesting article about the ways that Facebook affects our thinking… We learn to see the present as a “future past” and focus on how we will document, and self-document, even as the events are transpiring around us. And what happens? It distracts us. In the process of tweeting, posting a Facebook status, choosing the right […]
Google Poetics Book spine poetry (Google Images) Invented Poetry Forms
…is to say nothing at all. Let me explain what I mean… For the past couple weeks, I’ve walked Pace to a park near our house every evening. One of his classmates lives across from the park and is usually there playing already and, depending on the night, they could be the only two kids […]
Hip hop isn’t always known for its sensitivity around issues of misogyny and homophobia so this song, written in support of efforts to legalize same sex marriage in Washington State, is a welcome change… “Same Love” – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Went to TEDxRegina yesterday and honestly, my thoughts on the afternoon, with a couple exceptions, are pretty much the same as my thoughts on the inaugural one in 2012. Perhaps because I usually cherry-pick the best TEDTalks when watching online, both years I’ve gone in expecting all TEDx talks will be stellar too. But honestly, […]
Went to TEDxRegina last year and am excited to be going again this year. Plus, unlike last year when I went on my own time, this year my employer is funding me plus a few other colleagues to attend. Yay! That is *exactly* what I was saying last year about how libraries need to ensure […]
