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Five Non-Library Blogs I Read

This meme was going around awhile back but I never picked up on it.  But apparently a couple days ago was “Blog Day” where…

…on August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will
post recommendations of 5 new Blogs, preferably Blogs that are
different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this
day, blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering
new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new
bloggers.

I mostly read blogs of people I know, former classmates and things connected to my interests such as libraries and technology-related blogs.  So I doubt there will be anything too surprising here.  But anyhow…

1. JeromeMartin.ca – “A Journal of Photography, Publishing, Music, Technology and Travel”
– Jerome is the publisher of Spotted Cow Press in Edmonton. I met him during one of our annual Tri-Province Publisher's Forums when I worked for the Saskatchewan Publishers Group.  He's into many of the same things I am – technology, books & publishing plus he's originally from Saskatchewan – so I always find something of interest to me in his well-written blog.  (Interesting coincidence – his daughter was finishing at FIMS the semester I started.  I didn't find this out until later and we never met in person but I found that she has a blog too.  She's a librarian at the University of Windsor, I believe.)

2. Giant Political Mouse
– a lefty blog mostly concerned with Saskatchewan politics.  I wonder if Saskatchewan has the most political-related blogs per capita in the country.  It sometimes feels like it.

3. The Rude Pundit
– another political blog, this one focused on the US.  “Rude” doesn't quite do justice to this blogger's writing style – if foul language and/or discussion of the gimp that Karl Rove keeps in the White House basement offends you, don't say I didn't warn you!

4. The Lefsetz Letter
– lots of good commentary on the current state of the music business by a blogger I discovered watching “The Hour” with George Alphabet.  Has the extra ranty goodness of RANDOM ANGRY CAPITALIZATION!

5. Carpe Diem Chris
When FIMS PhD student, Chris Dixon died earlier this summer, I wrote about my connection to him and about how news of his passing affected me more than I thought it would have.  Later, I was sent an e-mail by his wife (who he'd married less than a year earlier) which said that she'd started a blog to commemorate Chris' life. 

I've written a lot about how I'm intrigued by the concept of “Digital Footprints” and this is another manifestation – how, prior to the digital age, grief and mourning was a private act but now, it is something that is public, not just for family and friends but anybody who happens to hit the “Random” button on Blogger at the right time. 

Sandra writes about this new development herself:

This morning's G&M had an interesting story entitled The Modern Way of Mourning
which discusses changes in North American mourning – from private to
public – as embodied in things such as roadside memorials for accident
victims and Facebook tributes. I too am a participant in this change by
creating this blog in memory of Chris where friends and family can
share stories and grief. I must admit that I am still conflicted by
this decision to “let it all hang out”.


Is this a good or a bad thing?  Unsurprisingly if you've read this blog for very long, I think this is (potentially) a great thing – if done right.  What is right?  Hard to say as the line will be different for everyone.  But I think memorial blogs/web sites shouldn't be too maudlin, they shouldn't make the deceased into a flawless, perfect creature and it shouldn't be abandoned after one or two posts. 

The posts that Sandra has made so far have been a perfect embodiment of what I think a memorial blog should be.  By including old photos and anecdotes from friends and family as well as her own personal thoughts and insights, I feel like I know Chris in a way that I probably never would've otherwise, even if we'd known each other for years.  The posts so far have been, by turn, fun, heart-warming and crushingly sad. 

It's beyond obvious to say that it's unfortunate that somebody has to die to get this level of insight about them.  But just as the name of that blog implies, it's also a reminder to all of us to seize the day.

Posted 03 September 2007 § Blog § List § Main Page § Meme ‡ Comments (4) °

Friday Late Link – IBM Doesn't Track Employee Holidays (Aug 31, 2007)

This week’s post is a bit late because apparently there is something
called “real life” that happens “outside”, occasionally in places where
there are no “Internets.” Whodathunkit?

Anyhew, I recently
came across an article which noted that most conservative of
corporations, Big Blue itself, IBM, apparently has had a policy since
the mid-1990’s where they don’t track employee holiday time. For anyone in their organization. Period.

It’s
every worker’s dream: take as much vacation time as you want, on short
notice, and don’t worry about your boss calling you on it. Cut out
early, make it a long weekend, string two weeks together — as you like.
No need to call in sick on a Friday so you can disappear for a fishing
trip. Just go; nobody’s keeping track…Instead, for the past few years,
employees at all levels have made informal arrangements with their
direct supervisors, guided mainly by their ability to get their work
done on time. Many people post their vacation plans on electronic
calendars that colleagues can view online, and they leave word about
how they can be reached in a pinch.

The article does mention that this often lead to a
situation where people blur the lines between work and home even
further. At IBM, employees actually end up working more than they
otherwise might have due the peer pressure inherent in such a driven
work culture.

The article also notes that companies that
implement similar policies are often technology-based which means that
employees can easily work from outside the office and that this type of
arrangement won’t work in any sector (retail, food services, etc.)
where set hours are required.

So maybe “make your own
holiday schedule” would work for library management. But it likely
wouldn’t for front-line staff. Or would it? Hmmm…

Posted 02 September 2007 § FridayFunLink § Jobs § Main Page § Work ‡ Comments (0) °

My First Kiss

(He's a charmer, just like his old man. )
Posted 29 August 2007 § Baby § Humour § Main Page § Photo ‡ Comments (0) °

I'm Still Trying To Figure Out This Reading Thing

Posted 29 August 2007 § Baby § Main Page § Photo § PopCulture ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Mother Teresa Was An Atheist…

…for the last 50 years of her life!

(I can't help but add a slightly snarky, “Well, I guess that means there's hope for everyone!” )

On a related note, for someone whose very name is synonymous with sainthood, er, she wasn't.

Posted 28 August 2007 § Main Page ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

A Really Boring Stream of Consciousness Entry

I've had lots of links, pics and videos lately so why not a rollicking ramble through things happening recently in my life for a change?

Pace
…is a drool monster and we figure he's starting teething.  He's 15.3 lbs at 3 months and wearing clothes that are sized for a 6-9 month old.  He sleeps 5-6 hours at a time which is the best thing EVER.  He's a lot more alert and human now – playing with his hands, focusing on faces for extended periods.  Oh, and he's giggling and laughing up a storm and I can't help but wonder why, from an evolutionary standpoint, didn't babies develop the ability to laugh and smile at birth instead of needing a couple months for it to happen?  I'd be much more likely to save a happy baby than one who cries and bawls non-stop.  That's just asking to be left for the wolves.   Speaking of danger, Pace went for a boat ride today.  He lived.

Shea
…is loving being a mom and living in Weyburn with her parents during the week.  As you can tell by Pace's weight, breastfeeding is going exceptionally well.  Her Facebook addiction is only growing stronger. 

Work
It's hard to believe I'm about to begin my sixth month of an 18-month contract already.  Mostly because of Pace, this summer has flown quicker than any I can remember.  I've said before that I won't write too much about my work but I will mention that I'm dealing with everything from kids with head lice to regulations governing regional library boundaries and all points in between.

Garage Sales
Shea and I love going to garage sales but haven't all summer, again, for obvious reasons.  But this weekend, we went Thursday night in Weyburn, Friday night on the way into Regina and then all day Saturday with Shea's brother and his girlfriend.  I bought a crapload of books (as usual).  Pace also got a Spiderman doll and an electric guitar toy that I already find annoying, even though I was the one who bought it for him.  Best rule for garage sales?  Put up balloons people!

A Tale of Two BBQ's
Shea had her end-of-summer work BBQ last night and I had mine this afternoon at Nickel Lake Regional Park just outside of Weyburn.  Both were good but Shea's was better in a way because she hadn't seen many of her co-workers since starting her maternity leave and many hadn't met Pace yet (who was a total angel for three hours.)  Mine was better because we had steak instead of burgers.

Television
What's that?  Seriously, the only TV I watch lately is the news at noon and at 6pm (because Shea's parents do) plus the occasional episode of The Daily Show.  That's it.  We do try to rent and watch a movie or two every weekend though whether we can get through them is always up to Pace.

Books
I do get to do some reading done though probably not up to my usual book per week average.  I've just started Sixpence House about an American couple who move to Hay-on-Wye, a Welsh town with 1500 people and 40 bookstores.  Very good so far.  I also read The Starfish and the Spider about the concept of leaderless organizations which was also really good.  In fact, it's a shock to be a guy who all of a sudden reads and enjoys
management books having spent a lifetime as the guy who would probably
make fun of those who do so.

I guess that's it.  Later…

Posted 27 August 2007 § Baby § Main Page § PopCulture § Shea § Work ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

The Social Duty of the Library

I got this off the PLG listserv.  There's lots of talk in libraryland about what the future of libraries will be so I thought I'd pass along one person's tongue-in-cheek (?) take on the question…

There was a time when we were mere purveyors of books and periodicals and related media -- and, by extension, of ideas and viewpoints --  and the "go to" people for finding information and referrals to just about anything that might come up.

Thankfully (and partly thanks to the wide availability of online material and search engines), those days are behind us forever, and  
we can now focus on our long-neglected social responsibilities.

Every librarian, as a steward of the public trust, has a duty to eliminate race and income inequity, promote diversity, and serve the needs of downtrodden and oppressed people everywhere who do not have voices with which to speak.  Every librarian, as an employee of government, has a duty to be an agent of social change, fulfilling  
the role of government as repairer of wrongs and nurturer and caretaker of its citizens.

At my library, we, too, struggled with balancing the high cost of books and periodicals with the cost of the social services we wished to provide. Every year was another balancing act that left no one particularly happy.

Then we had our epiphany.

In the digital age, books and periodicals are irrelevant, and viewpoints and ideas are dead.  These things are emphatically NOT what our patrons want or need.

They want computers and games.  They want food.  In some cases, they want and need beds and showers.  Above all, they want our help, and I do not mean help to find a copy of Tale of Two Cities.

So we got rid of our books and periodicals.

Every one of them.

I am now happy to say that we offer a wide array of social services unimpeded by the worn-out, tattered cultural baggage of bourgeoise society.

We have on-staff, onsite social workers and psychiatric therapists.   

We offer space for lawyers working pro bono.  There is space for weekly visits from county health services staff and space for child  
protective services functions.  We can treat people with substance abuse problems.  We can shelter anyone needing respite from abusive  
relationships, and we can shelter the homeless, thanks to generous contributions of bedding from local furniture retailers.

We were able to greatly expand the restrooms and add full showers to those facilities.  We have expanded the coffee shop to a full-service cafeteria, with free or reduced-cost meals (eligibility certified by the former reference librarians). We have partnered with local second-
hand stores to provide a full line of clothing and shoes.

All these services -- and many more I haven't even mentioned -- were made possible by the simple expedient of eliminating the books and periodicals!  Remember that you save not only the cost of the items and subscriptions, but the considerable cost of cataloging and looking after them!

We are entering a new and exciting phase of librarianship in which we truly help people in need -- even offering them the good parenting  
they never had -- and move beyond the narrow viewpoint of merely freely offering access to the word in all its forms.

It is a brave, new world!

And we are free of books, and the inordinate amount of tending they took, forever!

-- Joe Schallan
     New Phoenix, Arizona
Posted 26 August 2007 § Humour § Library § Main Page ‡ Comments (0) °

Friday Fun Link – ALA Rural Librarianship Salary Survey (August 24, 2007)

The ALA recently released a survey of rural librarians with all kinds of interesting, enlightening and downright depressing comments and statistics.

As someone who willingly chose to work in a rural library as my first job over a city position, this survey also hits close to home
(although I do believe that the situation in Canada for salaries and
working conditions is much better than in the US for the most part.)

(via the always jam-packed ALA weekly e-newsletter which, unfortunately isn’t online)

Posted 25 August 2007 § FridayFunLink § Jobs § Library § Main Page ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Pachelbel Bedtime, Pachelbel Rant, Pachelbel Rock

A couple variations on Pachelbel's Canon…

Posted 24 August 2007 § Baby § Main Page § PopCulture § Video ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

I Scooped Newsweek

Of course, that's the equivalent of saying you beat your grandfather in the 100 metre dash but still…they're just getting around to a cover story on the latest trend in cyberspace, Facebook while my article for CLA's Feliciter on the very same topic came out a couple months ago (though it wasn't a cover story either so I guess it's really a tie in some ways.)  

Anyhow, since CLA has recently approved an open access policy that frees up most of their intellectual property including the full contents of all the but the most recent issue of Feliciter, I thought I'd post the article here now (it's not on the CLA web site yet as the redesign is still ongoing.)


Facing Off With Facebook: E-mail For the 21st Century

By: Jason Hammond 
(https://headtale.com)

I have exactly 159 friends
online.  This includes 78 from the
University of Western Ontario where I attended library school, 28 from my home
province, 12 friends of friends, a former CLA President, the current CLA
Treasurer, and an assortment of others that defy easy classification. 

            And how do
I know these numbers and relationships with such precision?  I’m a member of the social networking web
site, Facebook (www.facebook.com).  You may have heard the term “social
networking” but might not be sure what it means.  Don’t worry – neither do most people as it’s a fairly new
technology (and I’m including myself in the list of people who are still trying
to figure out what it is exactly.)

            But if
you’re not sure what social networking is, one easy way to think of it is as
“e-mail for the 21st century.” 
In fact, a colleague at a University of Western Ontario library told me:
“It’s crazy – the students log-in to check their e-mail then immediately log-in
to Facebook.   Except they log-out of
their e-mail but stay on Facebook for as long as they’re on the computer.”

What’s the appeal?  Social networking sites such as Facebook
allow you to add friends and colleagues to your network, post pictures and
biographical tidbits about yourself, leave private or public messages for other
people and join groups on pretty much any topic you can imagine.  There’s an unofficial CLA group which has 36
members when I started writing this article, 74 when I submitted it a couple
weeks later, and hopefully one more by the time you finish reading! 

Once you’ve built a network of
friends, Facebook has a “News Feed” feature that displays your friends’
activity every time you log-in.  This
article isn’t nearly long enough for a discussion of the changing view of
privacy in the Internet age.  But I will
mention that of the great strengths of Facebook is that it gives you a high
level of control over who sees which parts of your information.  With this said, it’s important to remember
that the default setting is that anyone in your network can see your
profile.  So if you join the “University
of Toronto” network or the “Winnipeg” network, anybody from those groups can
see your profile unless you change your privacy setting.

So is it worth it for you to
join?  If you’re reading this, I’m
guessing there’s a pretty good chance that you’re not a twenty-year old college
student who’s looking to post pictures of last weekend’s beer drinking
exploits.  But, contrary to stereotypes,
that’s not what social networking sites like Facebook are about anyhow (okay,
maybe MySpace is but that’s a different article entirely!)

Facebook, and other social networking
sites like it, are yet another tool, like your phone, your e-mail and your
instant messaging client, to stay in contact with your colleagues and your
friends as well as to meet new people. 
It costs nothing to join so why not sign-up, explore the site a bit and
see what all the hype is about?  Add a
few friends.  If you’re concerned that
you won’t find anyone you know, ask a colleague to join at the same time.  Or join the CLA group and be surprised at
how many people you already know who are on the site.

Once you’ve established your
network, the appeal of this new form of communication will become clear.  Although I’m sure you would never let
yourself get hooked like those crazy college kids at UWO’s Weldon library, you
might find yourself logging in every day or two (or even a few times per day)
to see what’s happening and what your friends are up to, just like you do with
your e-mail already. 

If you have any thoughts on
Facebook, I’d love to hear from you at <jason@hammond.net>. Or better
yet, leave me a message on Facebook after you join!

Further Reading: Why I Registered on Facebook., 
By: Lemeul, John, Chronicle of Higher Education, 00095982, 9/1/2006, Vol. 53,
Issue 2

Next Issue: “Finding Your
Space on MySpace”

(Editor's note: The MySpace article was bumped for post-conference coverage but will hopefully be in an upcoming Feliciter.)

—

Jason Hammond is a recent
MLIS graduate, the new Branch Supervisor with the Southeast Regional Library in
Saskatchewan and a close, personal friend of “Naked Gun” star, Leslie Nielsen
(or at least somebody claiming to be him on Facebook.)   


Posted 22 August 2007 § Internet § Main Page ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: