Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Reading the article above made me think about working with our Technical Services department and what we have done or at least tried to do in this area. The Hancock County Public Library certainly isn’t cutting edge but we do listen to what the patrons ask for and most of the staff is open to change and realize that there are things out there that they need to be aware of as librarians.
The first step into ebooks was a 2004 beta test with our automation vendor and a company they were working with to provide this service. At that point in time there were few readers on the market and the ebooks were in PDF format and could only be viewed on a computer. The ebooks we were working with could be transferred to a PDA or smartphone but the process was very cumbersome.
Our first shot at ebooks wasn’t a disaster but it was pretty close. The process was difficult for patrons to use. They were limited to viewing on their computers and in 2004 laptops were still rather expensive compared to desktops and it would be another 5 years before laptop or notebook computer sales would outpace desktop sales. PDAs and smartphones have also changed dramatically in that time as well.
The major issue we faced with ebooks was DRM (Digital Right Management). They want to make sure that the material is not copied and a checkout time needed to be imposed and that was all done with Adobe Reader and DRM. We ended up with a few hundred ebooks and even after a decent marketing campaign and the use of the ebooks in programs such as children’s storytime, they never really took off. We had a few users but after a while we started to have issues with the ebook vendor and versions of Adobe Reader. At first it was safe to tell patrons to make sure they have the newest version of Reader but then the vendor started to have issues with Adobe Reader as updates to the program were made. This made it tough for patrons to use the ebooks and difficult for us to support.
For our patrons it seemed to be a service that wasn’t quite where it needed to be. As we struggled with ebooks we looked into downloadable audiobook services but as the article says, it came down to some services were for iPods only and others for Windows media compatible players. We also purchased a subscription to Tumblebooks (http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp) for the children’s department. This product shows the book online but also reads to the child and they can follow along and many books contain animations. It is all web based and very easy to use. It has been a big hit with the kids.
We tried downloadable video (MyLibraryDV) but that ended up going under and we also tried the Playaways (http://www.playawaylibrary.com/index.cfm). This product was mentioned in the article and it sounded great at first. However, the units did not hold up well and after only a few checkouts many were damaged. We also had to keep batteries in the units and many patrons complained of the sound quality.
Over the last 12 months we have received more comments and requests for downloadable audiobooks and ebooks than ever before. As they article states, and I think is very true, advancements in mobile devices (think iPhone launch) as well as the connections, speeds and available content was a “perfect storm. At first it was downloadable audiobooks but with the release of the Kindle and apps to read ebooks on many phones iPods came more requests. Amazon, Apple and other vendors made it so easy for people to purchase material they wanted to know why they couldn’t do it at their library, of course that is another story.
From our standpoint how could we offer downloadable audiobooks and ebooks to patrons when there was no one stop shop that would work with iPods and Windows devices. It seemed to be an ever changing mess when it came to DRM, downloadable content, and device compatibility. The time between the story was published and today OverDrive announced that they could work with iPods, Windows Media players and they also offered ebooks. We had been looking at OverDrive and similar service providers for about 2 years and in the beginning there was always the compatibility issue but also a cost issue. The services were expensive and possibly difficult to justify in the current economic environment.
As with everything else technology related, service or products get better and prices come down. We would be able to go with OverDrive and have enough money to build a solid beginning collection. My main concern is ease of use and the amount of staff time needed to support this service. After talking to a few libraries that offer the same service, I found out that they had not had a lot of issues with users and their devices. What first came to mind was our original ebook disaster. I heard about the same thing from all of the libraries about the service. There user interface was easy to use and the patrons already had experience transferring material to their devices already and this was a very similar process. Another issue they did bring up was the catalog records and linking to the download site. It can be done, they provide help, and it just takes staff time to get it done.
After a soft launch and weeks of staff training and testing both the audiobooks and ebooks are really working out. The patrons that have used the service are happy and we have had very few reported issues. This allows patrons to check out downloadable material and we don’t have to worry about overdues, lost, stolen or damaged material. The selectors are happy and things are going well. The only problem now is dividing money between different formats.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
I struggled at first to get more information to make a list that I thought would actually be used. After I talked to the Librarian that teaches most of the computer classes I thought about a computer book list for the first time. We talked again and we both felt that it would be a useful and we could use a list or partial list a few different ways.
I started with the most frequently asked technology questions and I also ran some reports to get some numbers. After some more discussion I felt I could focus on five categories from this section and cover topics that are frequently requested but sometimes difficult to point the patron in the right direction. I would concentrate on books for beginners in Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), home computer networking, and web page creation/design.
I was told it could be difficult to find a book in these categories, especially networking and web design for beginners that would not be over their head. Someone suggested a shelf topper but after some thought I felt a tri-fold would be best. I also thought we might be able to reuse the content on the Reference section of the web page.
The next part was to explore Microsoft Office and similar products. Some books are for specific applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel where some other are an overview of the Office Suite. To determine the applications to concentrate on I went from patron requests as well as the most frequently checked out material. The books what were overviews were used in the tri-fold and the books on specific applications would be included in the handouts for the classes the Library offers on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
To create this list I first checked the Library catalog to see what we had on the shelf. I sorted through the books and determined which would fit the categories that I select and then I sorted out the books that were not geared for beginners. I also used web resources such as amazon.com, Baker and Taylor and some publishers’ websites to research what other items were available. During the process I found a few items that were not available at the Library and I noted that they would be good to have in the collection. The Librarian I worked with was also the selector for this section and we were able to purchase a few items.
After looking at the list it may seem strange that I would include older versions of Microsoft Office products but after going through this process I found it was necessary. Just because there is a new version doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone or even some people will upgrade. In a lot of cases the new features in the most current version will not help the users already do or want to do.
In classes and at the Reference desk it was very common to have a patron request a book on an older version of Office. In many cases someone gave a computer to a patron and it had an older version of Office or they do not want to pay for the newest version. Most of the time the patron’s needs do not require the latest greatest version of Office or even Microsoft Office it at all. We have a number of patrons that use OpenOffice because it is free.
Overall, I learned a lot by doing this and realized how helpful this type of project can be. I ended up with a list of about 25 books in 6 different categories. The Microsoft Office and Open Office titles should be incorporated in the handouts for the computer classes offered at the Library starting in May and a brochure with Office, networking, and web page and site building titles for beginners will be available at the Information desk. The tri-fold also includes information about web based tutorials (customguide.com) and computer classes the Library offers.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
While I was waiting in line (only about 45 minutes) the day of the release I was looking forward to see how a device like this would fit into a mid to large size Library like the one where I work. There are two versions of the iPad. One is a WiFi only model and one has WiFi and ATT 3G access built in (Paid service). We have the WiFi only model. The 3G model comes out at the end of April. Both versions come in three different capacities (16GB, 32GB and 64GB). My last thought while standing in line…….What’s up with the name? Poor effort Steve Jobs.
The iPad at first sight seems big since I've used an iPod Touch for so long. It has a 9.7 inch diagonal screen and weighs about 1.5 pounds. I’ve used the iPod Touch as a PDA for about a year and I really like it and I can just slip it in my pocket and go. That isn’t going to happen with the iPad. It has an aluminum back that is much better than the iPod Touch metal back that shows every fingerprint and scratch. The screen is beautiful and the touch is very responsive. As for the “Fingerprint-resistant coating……Not so much. Accelerometer that changes the orientation of the screen works very well and the speaker sounds pretty good for a relatively small device. This seems like a gigantic iPod Touch. The buttons are almost exactly the same and uses the same cable to sync. My initial impression is it looks really good if nothing else.
After using the iPad for a few days the bigger screen is nice. The iPad is running a version of the iPhone Operating System specifically for the device. Using Safari on the iPad to browse the web is much better with the bigger screen. The touchscreen browsing is the same but the larger screen allows you to see full pages and is much easier to use. There is still the issue with the browser not supporting Adobe flash. This is a drawback for me but not a deal breaker. Existing iPod and iPhone Apps will work but they display in a window the size of the iPhone/Touch. There is a button in the lower right hand corner of the screen in these Apps that allow you to double the size of the window which almost fills the screen but this can make some things blurry. The Apps Store works exactly the same and there are many Apps designed for the iPad.
How can I see this used in my Library? Well, I can see this device used in a few different ways and I will concentrate on the Reference department since we have used the Touch and the iPad (in a very limited way) in that department. First, the web browsing is much better as mentioned before and the Library website and catalog display well on the screen and are easy to read. The size of the device makes it easy to carry into the stacks or while helping a patron on the floor away from a desk. You also have access to other reference related resources that are web based. Our staff has used our online databases and other online resources. This can be handy when you need access to information quickly and you are working with a patron away from a desk.
Many tools that the Reference Librarians use have Apps available and a lot have been free. Those include Wikipedia, IMDb, dictionary, thesaurus, Google, and Maps and Atlas Apps. The local newspaper is also available online and works wells in the iPad browser. The mail Apps can be set up for their individual staff e-mail accounts or if it is a shared device the general Reference e-mail account can be configured. We have a Microsoft Exchange E-mail environment and the Apple devices all support this type of system. It also includes Calendar and Contacts. This is all done over the WiFi connection and no syncing with a computer is necessary to update Mail, Calendar or Contact items. This could allow the Reference staff to keep all important contact information that is located on a rolodex (I know it’s old school but I’m working on them to change it) in Outlook and access it with the iPad or Touch.
One item that is new on the iPad is iBooks and the iBookstore. This is Apple’s online bookstore and the App is free. It is similar to the Kindle Apps but I think has a little more visual appeal. Also iBook is in color and you can read the books easily in a dimly lit environment. This is only a plus if your Reader doesn’t have a backlight. I have both the Kindle Apps and the iBooks installed and I have purchased books from both vendors (Classics and some other books are free). I prefer iBooks but right now the Kindle store has a much better selection. Most books are $9.99 to $14.99.
We are currently going live with OverDrive and we have been testing both audiobooks and ebooks. The audio books from OverDrive are iPad compatible and the process is very easy. I recommend trying it out if your local Library offers this service. I know IMCPL does. The ebooks are not compatible with any Apple mobile device so we have a Sony reader that is used for training and to let the staff try out the service. I have used other devices on display in stores but it had been awhile since I have looked at anything other than the iPad/Touch. As a comparison I downloaded a book to the Sony Reader and it was ok but I was disappointed after using the iPad. I would rather read on the iPad any day but I can’t use the Library’s OverDrive service to get eBooks.
I have an iPad set up with my Mail, Calendar and Contacts via WiFi and you can also set iTunes to sync your Internet favorites and Notes from Outlook. I purchased the iWorks products for the iPad, Pages (Word), Numbers (Excel), and Keynote (PowerPoint). I have used Pages and Numbers but I haven’t used Keynote yet. You don’t get a fully functioning word processor or spreadsheet program but they are both very capable programs and I haven’t had too many issues with either App. In pages you can change the format to PDF or Word when sending the document.
The keyboard is just ok in my opinion. I wouldn’t want to try to type long notes or write any papers. You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard to it and this makes the iWork Apps much better to use. Unlike the Touch you can’t really hold it in your hands and type with your thumbs even when the screen is in a portrait orientation. Landscape makes the keyboard wider but not really wide enough to fit two hands on and type like a real keyboard. I found myself hunting and pecking with two hands. Manageable but not fast or easy but the ability to connect a keyboard is a nice feature. I’m typing this on the iPad right now with a keyboard attached.
Other Apps that I thought were cool but not necessarily work related were Pandora, USA Today, Netflix, and WinAdmin. Pandora works just like on a computer or iPhone/Touch. Streams music allows you to create custom channels. An operating system update was just announced yesterday (April 8th) that will allow multitasking. This will make Apps like Pandora much better on these devices because you can leave it running in the background and do other things on the device. Right now, you either run Pandora or you are doing something else. This update is supposed to be available for the iPhone/Touch in the summer and for the iPad in the fall.
USA Today has an App specifically for the iPad that is laid out just like the USA Today paper edition. Very cool and easy to use. There are many news Apps out there but I thought the design of this was very nice. Librarians can stay up to date on current events with a number of Apps available through the App Store. Netflix was by far the coolest App in my opinion. If you have a Netflix account (around $9 a month for the cheapest subscription) you can stream any of the Movies or TV shows available instantly through Netflix (over 17,000 titles).
The most important App to me was the remote desktop App WinAdmin. This App allows you to connect to your Windows desktop PC and use it like you were sitting in front of it. This is how we manage most of our servers and is a handy App for System Admins or other users that would like to connect to their desktop remotely. You have to enable Remote Desktop on your Windows PC.
Overall, I think this is a great device. Where does it fit in? I think that depends on what you do. It can change the way you do things and give you access to information on the go. It is not going to replace anything but when used as a companion device it can be very useful. I took this and my notebook computer to a number of meetings that I usually only bring the notebook computer and I didn’t even get the notebook out. I was able to easily access the information I needed for all of the meetings and class on Thursday night without needing to get the notebook out. I would rather take this to any meeting or class in place of a computer or paper notepad and I have been able to get 8+ hours of battery life with fairly heavy use.
The downsides are no file server connections, printing is difficult, and getting files on and off of the device can be a pain. After I started using the iPad I found a few things that I could do with it or it helped me with that I didn’t initially think about. That is what we found with the iPod touch in the Reference department and I think that is what we will find with other devices such as this as well.
An advantage (and there are just as many drawbacks) to using mobile devices at a service desk at a public Library is the patrons are going bring in and use the same devices for Internet access and other Library services. This gives the staff hands on use and knowledge of new devices and makes them more comfortable working with patrons with similar devices. Can you get every new device that comes out? Absolutely not, but you can pick and explore devices without rolling out the device for every department or staff member in a department. For example, after using the Palm devices jumping to the iPod Touch was not difficult and now moving to an iPad or similar tablet device has a shorter learning curve.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
I looked around the library and waited a few minutes until she was free. I approached the desk and she made eye contact with me and asked if she could help me. I explained to her that I was looking for a good book to read and that I was a little intimidated by the amount of authors and books and I needed a little guidance to find something that I might enjoy.
After explaining to her I needed help finding a good book, she said "Let's see what we can do" and asked what types of books I had enjoyed in the past. I told her that I had been mostly a non-fiction reader but I had just started reading fiction and I would like another fiction book to read. She asked what types of books I had enjoyed in the past again and I told her that I had just finished Marine One by James Huston and I really liked it but I wasn't sure about his other books.
After telling her I enjoyed Marine One she said she wasn't really familiar with that author and started looking in their catalog for him. She asked what I liked about the book and I told her it was a political thriller and I liked the political aspects of the book. She told me the other books the library had by the Huston and I said that I would like to try a different author.
Once I told her that I wanted to try a different author she continued to work in their catalog and did not find the information that she wanted. She then pulled a book out from behind the desk and started looking through a book. I couldn't tell what book it was so I asked what she was looking at and she said a book of genres and authors. She didn't find what she was looking for in the book so we went out to the stacks and she started to point out some authors that she knew of that she thought I might enjoy.
We walked into the stacks and she said that she thought of two authors that might work for political thrillers. As we were walking she said that her favorite genre was fantasy and she wasn't very familiar with the type of book that I was looking for but she said a lot of the books she had seen were military or military/political but we would probably be able to look at the titles and covers and get a good idea of the book.
She took me to books by Vince Flynn and we looked at a few of the books. She then took me to books by Tom Clancy and Stephen Coonts. She said that would give me a good start and to come and see her at the desk if I needed anything else. I told her I would start looking and I thanked her for her help.
Overall, I was pleased with the session. I had read and heard of a few other secret shopper experiences that were pretty bad. She spent about 10 minutes of her time helping me. She also seemed more than happy to help me and she didn't just sit behind the desk. She got up and took me into the stacks and pointed out some authors that might fit what I was looking for. She also told me to let her know if I had other questions or needed additional help and that made me feel more comfortable approaching her again if I had other questions.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner (September 24th, 2002)
In his second book about an “evil” car (Christine), Steven King tells the story of a Pennsylvania State Police Troop and their experience with an abandoned old Buick.
The Pennsylvania State Police of Troop D in rural Pennsylvania have kept a secret from the rest of the world since 1979. Troopers Ennis Rafferty and Curtis Wilcox respond to a call from a gas station not far from their barracks about an abandoned Buick Roadmaster. After arriving on the scene both troopers realize something isn’t right about this car. The driver has disappeared and the car is towed to the barracks. Just a few hours later Trooper Ennis Rafferty disappears.
The troop hides the car back in shed B for over 20 years. Through that time the troop experiences the power of the car but over the years the strange activity is less frequent. That is, until Trooper Curtis Wilcox is killed in a gruesome auto accident during a routine traffic stop and his son begins to hang around the barracks. He discovers what is hiding in shed B and stirs up the old Buick.
The 356 pages of this book seemed to be mostly filler. The book, good in parts, is a mediocre story of gloom and despair with an unsatisfying ending.
Title: W.A.R. - The unauthorized biography of William Axl Rose
Author: Mick Wall
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st Edition (February 5th, 2008)
I love Guns N Roses and I don't care who knows! As soon as I saw this book I had to have it and I actually buy very few books. William Bailey aka Axl Rose is from Lafayette, Indiana as is another original member of GNR, Jeff Isabel aka Izzy Stradlin. I grew up listening to their music and I have always followed the band. A band that was at one time labeled "The Most Dangerous Band in the World". Fights, arrests, death, drugs, and sex are all covered in this book. It is the story of a young boy in Indiana that becomes the biggest rock star in the world.
The author is Mick Wall, he has been a rock journalist since 1977 and did have unprecedented access to the band at the peak of their fame. He has written other books about Guns and Roses and other bands of the same era. There was a falling out between Axl Rose and Wall was mentioned in the song "Get in the ring".
This book is as much about the band as it was about Axl but it does have sections devoted to the infamous front man. The book mostly covers the formation of the original lineup to the breakup of Axl and Slash which for all purposes ended Guns and Roses. Rose actually owns the Guns and Roses name and has continued on after a reclusive six years after the initial split of Slash from the band. He has continues to play with others under the name Guns and Roses. This book was published just before Axl's much hyped and overdue album "Chinese Democracy" was released and includes some information about the album. An album that took over 15 years and 13 million dollars to make!
This is a good book if you do not already know much about the band. There is not a lot of new information in this book and almost all of the information is pulled from the sources listed at the back of the book. What is new is the biased opinions and comments of the author throughout the book that become old very quickly. If you followed the band or Axl you would probably know most of this information from previous stories, articles or books.
Once upon a time, Axl Rose was the biggest rock star in the world. Now he is a seen as a reclusive figure that shut himself out from the world in his mansion and rarely comes out or is seen in public for long periods of time. It is said that he is bi-polar and he has been prescribed medicine for his mental disorders. Axl Rose is a person that hast turned into more of a myth than a person. A lot of people close to Axl have said "Axl likes to do what he likes to do no matter what time of the day or night it is". When the author asked one person during the band's peak how that made him different from any other rock star, they said "You'll find out". That is what this book attempts to explain.
Author: Louis L’Amour
Publisher: Bantam (1953)
It’s the 1870’s and Hondo Lane is a scout for the US Army. He is scouting the Apaches led by Chief Vittoro in southeastern Arizona. Hondo is a mystery man and a loner, traveling alone except for his mangy wild dog, Sam. While out on a scouting mission he comes across a ranch in a small valley. It is here Hondo meets Angie Lowe and her six year old son, Johnny. Hondo can tell that the man of the ranch has been gone for long time even though Angie tries to conceal the fact. Hondo stays the night and does a few small jobs around the ranch before heading back to the fort for his duties.
During Hondo’s stay Angie is drawn to his strength and Johnny looks up to him because his father has been missing in his life. When Hondo returns to the fort he has a run in with Ed Lowe. Not long after the run in Hondo discovers that Ed is Angie’s husband and he is a no good gambler that has all but deserted his family at the ranch. With an Indian war on the horizon Hondo decides to ride back to the ranch to check on Angie and Johnny.
On his journey back to the ranch Hondo comes across Ed Lowe. At first Hondo saves Ed’s life during an Indian attack and then Ed turns on Hondo and Hondo is forced to kill him. He is then captured by the Apache, tortured, and then through an odd twist of fate is reunited with Angie and Johnny after Vittoro learns of the time Hondo has spent living with other Apaches. Hondo learns when he was gone that Chief Vittoro has made Johnny his blood brother and how Hondo must help raise the boy in the ways of the Apache. Hondo and the Apache know a war is imminent forcing Hondo to decide what to do.
To me this is a classic western. The unsettled western frontier, good guys, bad guys and lots of gun play. We have Hondo who is a tough and honest man, Angie who is a good hardworking woman, a no good gambling husband and as always, there are dangerous Indians. There is no gray area for the characters in the book. They are clearly good or bad. Of course, the good guys win and the bad guys die.
I have read a lot of comments about Louis L’Amour’s writing talent or lack of talent. From what I have read about him this is his first full length novel. This book was made into a movie by the same name starring John Wayne. The plot was very straightforward and he wasted no words telling the story.
The story was full of action and fast paced. There was a lot of gun play and death but no graphic details. The romance between Angie and Hondo could appeal to fans of that genre but women may find this story offensive because it is implied a woman needs a man to survive. Native Americans may find also be offended because they are portrayed as savages, however, the story also shows the Apache as very noble and brave.
This book was a quick read and kept my attention. It had everything I think a western fan would want in this genre. When I think westerns, I think of John Wayne. The cover of the book had a quote from him and he says “Best western novel I have ever read” and when it comes to westerns I don't want to argue with the Duke.


Transformation Through Archives℠
Greetings! My name is Joyce LeeAnn Joseph and I am a certified archivist, an interdisciplinary artist, and the founder of Archival Alchemy®. Since I was a little girl, I have organized and taken care of my precious belongings. I’m driven by the process of letting the past inform the present in order to transmute the future. Looking back does not have to be motivated by nostalgia, it can be an interrogation or a reclamation. An invocation of our ancestors. Old documents collecting dust in storage rooms can be reused to advance a purpose. My intention is to share this practice with others through the services I offer.
Archival Alchemy looks forward to supporting cultural institutions, community archives, artists, television and film companies, and private individuals and families. I deliver tailored services for each project based on the specific needs of every client or collaborator.
I provide traditional archival services to support the development, management, and preservation of physical and digital collections. I can advise best practices, teach basic archiving skills, and complete archival processing tasks.
I’m excited about alternative ways to revive and interpret collections. I can assist the production of documentaries by conducting archival research and helping with the licensing process for selected materials. I can also curate archive-related events.
Furthermore, Archival Alchemy will produce innovative artistic projects that portray the transformative power of archives. When presented, these projects can intersect and enhance the initiatives of an organization. I’m currently developing a multimedia and performance project that explores the idea of embodying archives while examining the meaning of home.
Please contact me about rates, availability, and ways to offer your support. I can work remotely or on-site, across the nation or around the world. To follow Archival Alchemy’s projects, please connect with me on social media!
I received a master’s degree in Library and Information Science with an Archives Certificate from Pratt Institute; I hold a Digital Archives Specialist Certificate from the Society of American Archivists; and I am a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists. I have worked for the Weeksville Heritage Center, the Associated Press Corporate Archives, and The New York Public Library. In 2011, I self-published my first archival text, somethymes grief goes for a walk. In 2013, I co-curated The Finding Aid: Black Women at the Intersection of Art and Archiving event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. I have been a Create Change fellow with The Laundromat Project, a member of the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics’ EMERGENYC cohort, and an associate artist during the Betty’s Daughter Arts Collaborative’s Body Ecology intensive. In 2017, I founded Archival Alchemy® in New York City. This letter written by Jean Hines, a librarian and friend, inspired the name of my business.


'Oli means joy in Hawaiian. These paintings were created to illustrate a childrenís book, Finding 'Oli *. From 2008 into 2010, my friend Anita and I snorkeled with this endangered hawksbill turtle in Makena, Maui. We knew where to find her, and she seemed to recognize us as we approached, ready to take a little excursion together. One day Anita discovered a lump on 'Oliís neck and reported it to the authorities in Oahu. We were delighted that their concern for this rare turtle was serious enough to bring the director of turtle research to Maui. Fewer than 20 hawksbills have been spotted in Maui waters. With Anitaís help, 'Oli was located and she willingly allowed herself to be carried to shore. She then flew with her rescuer to Oahu where she was examined by a turtle specialist who found that she had a large abscess on her neck. He drained it and placed her on antibiotics. Five days later she was returned to her ocean home on Maui. Every day the following month Anita searched for 'Oli with no success. We were very concerned for her. Then one day, I knew that we would find 'Oli. We discovered her far beyond the reef which had formerly been her home territory. I was so touched to see that this little turtle (about 6 years old) had expanded her horizons as a result of her trip to the big city. It was a wonderful story of love, help and survival which I had to celebrate through the arts.
*(the book is looking for a publisher)
ABOUT Finding 'Oli .
You are invited to read Finding 'Oli here on my website. The story has been beautifully crafted from my initial manuscript by my sister-in-law, Margaret Monto. It follows the true story described above and is filled with information about this critically endangered turtle along with etiquette for the respect of the sea and its creatures. NOAA, the Hawaii Wildlife Fund and USFW have all played a part in the story and were intimately involved with 'Oli. I accompanied my friend Anita Wintner (the namesake of this story) on many sightings of 'Oli and have used her hundreds of photographs as the basis for my watercolor illustrations. Anita is the co-founder of the Snorkel Bob Foundation which supports the protection of the reef and its creatures. The story is primarily for middle readers. I believe this book will spread joy as well as valuable information.


David Warrell, Herbert Gilles, editors. Essential Malariology. 4th edition. London: Hodder Arnold, 2002. ISBN: 0340740647
This concise text provides an overview of the wide-ranging field of malariology. It includes readable introductory chapters on the basic sciences; practical information on the diagnosis and clinical manifestations of malaria in various patient groups (including children, pregnant women, adults); a comprehensive guide to pharmacology and treatment of malaria, and a review of the current status in malaria vaccine development.
Irwin W. Sherman. Molecular Approaches to Malaria. 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1555813305
Molecular Approaches to Malaria provides an overview of the rapid and significant developments that have occurred in malaria research, including the 2002 genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum and its mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae. An important resource for molecular biologists, biochemists, cell biologists, chemists, pathologists, parasitologists, entomologists, and immunologists, Molecular Approaches to Malaria is a single reference source that will serve to update teachers, investigators, and public health officials on the status of malaria research.
Written by an international group of bench scientists who are leaders in the field, the book opens with a clearly written introduction to Plasmodium molecular biology, followed by several chapters on its genetics and evolution. The remaining five sections examine the intricate host-parasite relationship through comprehensive coverage of invasion and gamete formation; growth and metabolism; immune invasion; protection mechanisms; and the malaria vector.


Brewster, B and Broughton, F. 1999. Last Night A Dj Saved My Life: The History Of The Disc Jockey. Kent: Headline Book Publishing. This books provides an interesting history of EDM by looking at its earliest roots; disco, hip-hop, reggae, garage, house and techno. Very interesting information that I couldn’t find in any other book or online source.
Butler, M. 2006. Unlocking The Groove: Rhythm, Meter, And Musical Design In Electronic Dance Music. Indiana University Press. Butler attempts to better define the house beat by mainly analyzing its rhythm and practical use – on the dance floor. It also studies the effects of the social culture on the evolution of genres of music.
Coryat, K. 2008. Guerrilla Home Recording: How To Get Great Sound From Any Studio. 2nd ed. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Books. For the purpose of my project it was not entirely relevant because the main focus is recording bands – not electronic music. However it does contain a lot of useful information on mixing and is a good resource book for looking back to as a basic guide. This book would help amateur producers establish a foundation of music production knowledge which they could then build on. It explains how to set up your studio, recording using MIDI, recording and processing techniques and covers many other aspects of the production process.
Frank, J. 2009. Technology’s influence on music. Future Hit DNA. Nashville: Future Hit Inc. Frank describes his experiences in the music industry as head of music programming at Yahoo Music and SVP of music strategy at CMT. He discusses specific aspects of successful popular songs including The Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabee’, Nirvana’s ‘Smells like teen spirit’. He also tries to define why certain artists or groups such as Shakira or Ricky Martin have huge success followed by mediocre sales on succeeding albums. I did not think that his book offers a huge insight into the ‘D.N.A’ of a successful track but highlights what he considers factors that had substantial influence on their success. These factors are too broad and the focal point is on marketing so they do not directly apply to this project, however provide a broad background to the subject of studying popular music.
Hewitt, M. 2008. Music Theory For Computer Musicians. Florence: Course Technology. This works effectively in tandem with Snoman’s ‘Dance Music Manual’. As opposed to Snoman’s study of the production side of EDM, Hewitt looks at the musical side by providing the scaelic rules that most producers use (whether consciously or sub-conciously). Hewitt also discusses the production side which is insightful for any electronic musicians wanting to learn the basics.
Katz, B. 2007. Mastering Audio: The Art And The Science. 2nd ed. Oxford: Focal Press. This book is one of the most highly acclaimed books on mastering audio. Katz takes an in-depth look at the mastering process and provides an insight into how to shape audio at the final stage effectively.
Owsinski, B. 2006. The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook . 2nd ed. USA: Artistpro Publishing. This book is great for producers like me who have all the basic knowledge of sound production and mixing but are looking to enhance their mixing skills. I found that a lot of the techniques he wrote about were what I typically would have thought but it clarified all my uncertainty and also provided explanations for why the techniques are used. It is a very interesting book and covers a lot of the history of mixing as well as modern techniques.
Snoman, R. 2009. Dance Music Manual. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. This is a look at specific examples of electronic dance music production methods. Snoman identifies common techniques and synthesizer syntax’s used by professionals, however he does not document his experiences applying these approaches to new tracks in practice. Thus he hasn’t tried and tested the productions under different contexts to understand to justify claims that it is a step-by-step guide to producing popular music. It provides the reader with a good basic understanding to programming EDM, however it does not answer my question; can you write a guide to producing popular EDM.


Please join us for the NLP Seminar on Monday 11/14 at 3:30pm in 202 South Hall. All are welcome!
Speaker: David Jurgens (Stanford)
Title: Citation Classification for Behavioral Analysis of a Scientific Field
Citations are an important indicator of the state of a scientific field, reflecting how authors frame their work, and influencing uptake by future scholars. However, our understanding of citation behavior has been limited to small-scale manual citation analysis. We perform the largest behavioral study of citations to date, analyzing how citations are both framed and taken up by scholars in one entire field: natural language processing. We introduce a new dataset of nearly 2,000 citations annotated for function and centrality, and use it to develop a state-of-the-art classifier and label the entire ACL Reference Corpus. We then study how citations are framed by authors and use both papers and online traces to track how citations are followed by readers. We demonstrate that authors are sensitive to discourse structure and publication venue when citing, that online readers follow temporal links to previous and future work rather than methodological links, and that how a paper cites related work is predictive of its citation count. Finally, we use changes in citation roles to show that the field of NLP is undergoing a significant increase in consensus.
- Collins, Randall. “Why the social sciences won’t become high-consensus, rapid-discovery science (Links to an external site.).” Sociological forum. Vol. 9. No. 2. Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers, 1994.
- Teufel, Simone, Advaith Siddharthan, and Dan Tidhar. “Automatic classification of citation function (Links to an external site.).” EMNLP 2006


The goal of our group "Lebendige Geschichte 1939-49"
(Living History 1939-49) is the vital examination of the Second World War
and the postwar period in Germany. We work together in close cooperation
with "The Netherlands 1940-1945" (Dutch Study- and Living History Group).
Living History is the attempt to recreate the
living experience of historical epochs. It has the goal of making the chosen
time-span understandable through one’s own dedicated re-creation, and making
the same era comprehensible to others by using clear techniques obvious
to everyone. In this manner, the concept of Living History offers many
and diverse opportunities for comprehensive learning experiences and newly
realized ways of imagining the past.
World War II was one of the most decisive events
of the Twentieth Century. The war unleashed by Germany had global consequences
that largely shaped our society today.
The war revealed in many shocking ways what
actions people were capable of, and how immeasurable human suffering could
be caused by a conflict waged within the age of weapons of mass destruction.
||This war reduced much of Europe to piles of
rubble and forced a complete rebuilding in its wake, but the war also offered
the chance to learn from wartime experiences.
Germany above all had to master the difficult
challenge of using its “Zero Hour” of total defeat as a positive start
to a New Beginning, in which it also had to learn how to cope with the
inherited legacy of its National Socialist past.
Although this time period was so important
for the current essence and conception of our society, it has been so suppressed
that even today it remains a taboo subject in many areas, which only gradually
becomes evident. In our opinion, a comprehensible and critical examination
of this era is necessary because historical disinterest, as well as superficial
knowledge or mistaken information, creates an ideal breeding ground for
extreme rightwing and antidemocratic ideas.
Copyright © 2006 LG3949.de


I recently had the pleasure of reading Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges. It was unlike anything else I have ever read.
If I were compare Borges to any other writer, I think the closest match would be Kurt Vonnegut. Not because they have a similar genre, or wrote on the same themes, but because they are both authors who have a voice and style that is wholly their own.
The comparison to Vonnegut is still kind of shaky. Fictions was translated into English in the 1960’s, making it appear as though the two writers were contemporaries. Really, Borges first wrote this collection of short stories in the 1940’s, beating Vonnegut by almost three decades. If I were to compare Borges to any artist (artist being a term that includes writers, painters/visual artists, musicians, and actors) the best match that comes to mind is Salvador Dali. Both of their bodies of work were bizarre and visceral, simultaneously simple and complicated with a rich undercurrent of thought and meaning.
Borges writing was very high concept. I could summarize many of Fictions’ short stories in a sentence or two. But I often found myself reading through several times in order to fully understand them. They were deeply nuanced, even with the handicap of being translated from Spanish. I should note here that this collection does not read like a translation. It is beautifully written and engaging. I thought at first that Borges was the one who translated his work himself and was shocked to find that it was translated by the very talented Andrew Hurley.
I definitely recommend this read. It’s kind of dense, but I got a lot of enjoyment combing through the words and considering the ideas Borges was illustrating. Here are a few of my favorite stories:
The Circular Ruins: A man attempts to dream a human into existence.
Funes, His Memory: A paralyzed man is cursed to remember every detail of every moment of his life.
The Secret Miracle: A writer about to be put to death finishes his magnum opus through divine intervention.
Three Versions of Judas: A religious scholar considers the notion that Judas may not be as bad as he is made out to be.
My summaries hardly do these stories justice. Often, there is a twist ending. Really, it’s the way these stories are presented to the reader that make them so damn entertaining. Borges had a style that was all his own; he would communicate works of fiction as fact, sounding more like a critic than a story teller. Definitely one of the most remarkable writers I’ve read in recent memory. If you’ve got time, definitely give him a look.


Adopted People, Recommended Books & Movies
Did You Know? The following people were adopted:
1. BABE RUTHHe and his sister were sent to the orphanage at a young age. The good news? It was there that he met Brother Matthias who taught and encouraged him to play baseball. A talent scout became his legal guardian, and Ruth spent 22 record-breaking seasons playing ball. He eventually became one of America’s greatest baseball players … as well as an adoptive dad.
2. ELEANOR ROOSEVELTBy age 15, Roosevelt was a double orphan who was then adopted by her grandmother. Roosevelt would grow up to be the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, as well as a United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She has been called the “First Lady of the World” in tribute to her human rights achievements.
3. STEVE JOBSSurrendered and adopted shortly after birth, Jobs was a successful entrepreneur who became the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. He has personally been linked to the technological revolution that has swept the world.
4. MELISSA GILBERTAfter being adopted as a baby, Gilbert went on to star as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1984.
5. JOHN HANCOCKRaised by extended family after the death of his father, Hancock became a prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. His signature is so well-recognized on the Declaration of Independence that the term “John Hancock” has become a synonym in the U.S. for signature.
6. MICHAEL OHERAdopted at age 17 after spending years in various foster homes, Oher went on to play offensive lineman for the Ole Miss Rebels and then was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He is the one about which The Blind Side was written and eventually made into an Academy Award-winning movie.
7. NELSON MANDELARaised by a tribe chief after his father’s death (when Mandela was 9 years old), he grew up to be the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. He is known as a revolutionary, a politician, and a philanthropist.
8. LEO TOLSTOYRaised by extended family after the death of his parents, Tolstoy grew up to be a famous Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, and philosopher whose works are still widely read and appreciated today.
9. NANCY REAGANAfter her parents separated, Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins) lived with an aunt and uncle during much of her upbringing. Eventually she moved back with her mom and took her stepfather’s last name, “Davis.” In addition to serving as one of the most beloved First Ladies, Reagan started the well-known “Just Say No” drug awareness campaign.
10. DAVE THOMASBorn in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to a young unmarried woman he never knew, Thomas was adopted at 6 weeks old. At age 5, when his (adoptive) mother died, Thomas moved in with his grandmother. Thomas grew up to become the founder and CEO of the Wendy’s restaurant chain, where Thomas used his platform to advocate often and generously for adoption.
11. EDGAR ALLAN POEBorn Edgar Poe in 1809, Poe’s father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died the following year. Considered an orphan, he was sent to live with the Allan family in Virginia who raised him to adulthood. He became an American writer known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his mysteries. He is is considered the inventor of detective fiction.
12. GERALD FORDLeslie Lynch King Jr. was only 16 days old when his parents went their separate ways. A couple years later, King’s mother remarried and they changed Leslie Lynch King Jr.’s name to Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., in honor of his stepfather (whom Ford says played a wonderful role in his life). Ford went on to be the 38th President of the United States.
13. SIMONE BILESAfter spending time in and out of foster care, Biles was adopted by her grandparents who helped her pursue her dream to reach the olympics. An American gymnast, Biles became the 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault, and floor gold medalist. As an integral part of the “Final Five,” she became the most decorated American gymnast with nineteen Olympic and World Championship medals.
14. JAMES GORDON MACARTHURJames Gordon MacArthur (December 8, 1937 – October 28, 2010) was an American actor and recording artist. Born in Los Angeles, MacArthur was the adopted son of playwright Charles MacArthur and his wife, actress Helen Hayes. He grew up in Nyack, New York, along with his elder sister, the MacArthurs’ biological daughter Mary, who died of polio in 1949. He was educated at Allen-Stevenson School in New York, and later at the Solebury School in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he starred in basketball, football, and baseball. He had a long career in both movies and television, and his early work was predominantly insupporting roles in films. Later, he had a starring role as Danny “Danno” Williams, the r eliable second-in-command of the fictional Hawaii State Police in the long-running television series Hawaii Five-O.
1) One book that is great reading for anyone interested in adoption, or with an adoption experience….
After Sorrow, Comes Joy
by Cherie Clark (founder of IMH)
It’s a great book! You can find it easily online at Amazon.com or at CherieClark.com.
2) The Power of the Powerless by Cristopher de Vinck ISBN 0-310-48691-2: A heart-warming story about a young handicapped boy and his family
3) Candy Bomber: A story about the Berlin airlifts in 1948 “Chocolate Pilot” By Michael O Tunnell. ISBN 9781580893374
The following movies, though not related to adoption, are beautiful movies offering insights into different facets of India and Indians. Do watch them!
1) Born into Brothels (documentary) 2004; Director: Zana Briski
2) The Namesake, 2007; Director: Mira Nair
3) Slumdog Millionaire, 2008; Director: Danny Boyle
4) Million Dollar Arm, 2014; Director: Craig Gillespie
5) Lion, 2016; Director Garth Davis
I am happy to report that we are now a 501C(3) non-profit organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service, which means that all your donations are tax deductible! I would like to thank everyone who has helped us accomplish this goal!
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to our organization, please make a check made payable to Children are Angels from Heaven and send it to
Raymond C. O’Brien, President,
16 Bower Street, W. Medford, MA 02155.
Thanks, again for your help!


So the topic all summer to this sweet little boy was all about Magic Treehouse Books. I think maybe he was just slightly obsessed, but my goodness, who can blame a boy for getting lost in his books. He wanted to spend every penny that he earned on them (even though he is supposed to be saving his money for a laptop) and every time we went to Target or even close to Barnes and Noble he would beg me to go buy more. I even took him to the library to check out some books from there and he said it wasn't the same because he wanted to keep them. I am so thankful for his eagerness to learn and to get lost in his books. I have always told him that if you can read, it will get you farther than anything else in life! Love him!
5 years ago


400 years of low notes –
The double bass: It’s history, important makers, and bassists
in classical music and jazz.
Written by Jonas Lohse.
Hardcover, 240 pages, four-color printing throughout. The many photos and illustrations allow for a deep look into the world of the double bass and transform this book into a captivating and entertaining lecture for every bassist and music lover.
English Version translated by Martin Wind.
The Double Bass Book is available at all German booksellers as well as at a growing number of international booksellers and online stores.
If you do not find the book in your local bookstore, pls order directly from the publisher.
“Mr. Lohse’s The Double Bass Book is a fantastic and most impressive labor of love with articulate precision. It will be a beautiful addition to any library. Thank you.“
Rufus Reid (jazz bassist/composer)
“The Double Bass Book provides the complete story of the Double Bass in jazz and classical music. Hundreds of photos, stories about the great players and luthiers, and in-depth research make this book a must-have for all bass players and music fans.”
John Goldsby (bassist Cologne Radio Big Band, author)
“A very nicely done hardcover book, printed on good paper and haptically, visually, graphically and in terms of content a pleasure, if you are interested in the great instrument with the low notes. (...) Many photos, illustrations and graphics give a detailed insight into the subject, and here even long-time professionals can certainly learn a lot about their instrument and its history. I had not expected that the topic offers so much.(...) Brilliant!”
Lothar Trampert (Gitarre & Bass Magazine, volume 1-2019)
”The book is terrific! Very informative and yet not only for specialists. Entertaining and serious. Just the right amount of information for someone like me who is only interested in bass building in a basic way and leaves the rest to the professionals.”
André Nendza (bassist)
“Jonas Lohse's carefully researched book is a real treasure trove, not only but especially for double bassists. The richly illustrated book is easy and fluent to read, even for non-specialists, and provides context without straying too far from the actual topic. Lohse explains without lecturing, and many of the photos encourage to listen to classical as well as current recordings, to focus on this deepest sound of the band as well as the orchestra, which drives, grounds, unfolds harmonic as well as rhythmic effects and always retains something dance-like.”
Wolfram Knauer (Jazzinstitut Darmstadt/Germany)
“This book is not just a technical book. It is much more than that and is written in such an exciting way that you will hardly want to put it down. At the same time, the most complicated procedures are simply explained and presented in a way that is easy to understand, even for a non-professional, with first-class photos and graphics. There is nothing comparable on the market about the double bass and Jonas Lohse has made a respectable masterpiece with this work.”
Giorgio Pianzola (bass luthier; Bern/Switzerland)
“In the double bass scene Jonas Lohse is a well-known personality. Now Jonas brings out a comprehensive overview of the double bass in a 220-page book. From the history of the double bass to details about construction and setup to info about important bassists, including nice anecdotes - every page is entertaining and offers a lot of new things even for experienced professionals. By the way, the fact that the graphic design has been realized extremely carefully and tastefully contributes significantly to the reading pleasure. The amazing selection of photos and historical images is also a testament to meticulous research work. This book is simply fun!”
Hervé Jeanne (Bass Professor Magazine, volume 5-2018)
“The composition of the individual topics is particularly successful, as there is actually something for everyone. Starting with a short introduction to the history of the instrument with its different tunings, shapes and sizes, one learns a lot of interesting facts about double bass construction and material. In addition, Lohse has made the book interesting for both amateurs and professionals as well as for classical and jazz players. In addition to an overview of the most important classical and jazz double basses, the book also contains information on the correct setup and sound improvement. A graphically appealing, informative work for all lovers of the double bass.”
Uli Schneider (European String Teachers Association’s magazine, volume 81/March 2019)
from the early instruments of the 16th centuty to the electric bass
tone woods and construction
in Europe and the U.S.A.
Jazz history and formative bassists
EUB, electric bass, pickups and amps for the double bass
fingerboard, bridge and soundpost
looking on basses made by Gasparo da Saló, Maggini, Ceruti, Stadelmann, Lott et al.
This fold-out fingerboard chart in A4 size not only offers an overview of the position of the notes on the double bass fingerboard, but also other handy charts:
Double Bass Poster
This poster is a great resource for every bassist: it shows the notes on the fingerboard, the notation and positions in original 1:1 scale. It also features an illustrated timeline of the double bass’ history, with important bassists and makers from the 16th to 20th century.
size: DIN A1 long (42 cm width, 119 cm length), high-quality printing on 250g/m2 paper, with glossy UV varnish. Shipping as a tube (without folds) in a small parcel from www.kontrabass-atelier.de


Jon Chandler is a three-time winner of the prestigious Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Linwood, his moody examination of Doc Holliday’s life won the Spur for Best Song, as did his tribute to Wyoming’s Hole in the Wall country, Morning Star Moon. His novel The Spanish Peaks received the WWA’s Medicine Pipe Bearer Award (Spur Award) and he was named True West Magazine’s Best Western Musician. Wyoming Wind, A Novel of Tom Horn, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. A seventh-generation Coloradan, Jon’s music and stories reflect his heritage, and his 11 CDs, two novels, three non-fiction works and myriad short stories and nonfiction articles are collected by western lifestyle aficionados worldwide. 10-9-21, Jon Chandler Live! Is his latest recording, released in 2022, while Homage, a highly praised collection of cover songs that have influenced his writing and singing was released in 2021. He is at work on a new recording, I’m Still Here. Chandler has travelled throughout the country performing at concert venues, honky-tonks, nightclubs, cowboy poetry gatherings and music festivals, and has appeared everywhere from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to the Congressional Earth Day Reception in Washington D.C. He is most recently honored with the Branding Iron Award by the Friends of the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall, California. Jon's Website
Jon Chandler is part Wallace Stegner, part Jack Schaefer. He’s part Bruce Springsteen, and part Rambling Jack Elliott. He’s part William F. Cody, and part Cole Younger. Yet he’s distinctively original, a poet laureate of the American West of past, present and future."
- Johnny D. Boggs
The Los Angeles Daily News dubbed Denver native Jon Chandler the “...best western songsmith since Ian Tyson,” A review of Jon Chandler’s iconic CD WESTERNS includes the phrase, “Chandler’s music is literate and literary.” That about covers it. There’s not an ounce of stereotypical Gene ‘n Roy retro-cowpoke, Lazy Z Chuckwagon faux-western schtick in his music, voice or prose. Chandler writes and sings of the historic and contemporary West - not particularly cowboy songs and stories, although they tend to show up with frequency. His songs owe more to Larry McMurtry, Elmer Kelton, Robert Service and Mark Twain than they do to anyone in a band that ends with Wranglers or Ramblers. Simply put, his music and his writing are reflections of his heritage. A seventh-generation Coloradan, his novels, songs and poems
"It was a pleasure to see Jon and his ensemble of first-rate musicians on the Lakewood Cultural Center Stage. Jon’s talent goes beyond his extraordinary way with words and deeply moving melodies; Jon is an artist in the truest sense of the word."
- Lakewood Cultural Center
"He walks onstage and it is like pouring cream for a bunch of cats. The audience is slurping up everything he gives them and if they were any happier they’d be purring.” - Doris Daley
"The first time I saw you perform was in Jackson, Wyoming a couple of years ago. The performance was indescribably moving! Thank you for making great music with words that describe what we hold in our souls."
- Debra Brandsrub


organization(NGO) is made up of volunteers for whom a book is much
more than a decorative piece over a coffee table. Their team work,
a non-profit effort, is centered in the gathering of funds from a
variety of schools (K - 12), editorial companies, and other
organizations to distribute books in less favored countries of
the world. Their mark has been felt in many regions worldwide
where children now can learn to read all of those stories that
have comforted us in our childhood.
Those stories helped us to broaden our perspectives form our realities and allowed us to learn better ways to communicate. We learned, produced, imagined, ... we just grew up with their lessons! And now, Books for the World is giving the same chance to children around the world!
The simple conclusion would be that for an underdeveloped region or a developing country, in order to face the future with hope, it becomes imperative to possess the option to know and learn its past and future potential. Thus, to develop a library is a gift beyond help. It is evident then that there is a direct connection between knowledge and development. Books for the World aims to shorten the gap between the two.
Books for the World has sent library materials to the
If you would be interested in donating a book or in helping with a donation, you could contact:
Libros Para El Mundo
Carretas 14 - 7D
28012, Madrid, SPAIN
Tel. 34 - 1 - 522 - 6211
Fax 34 - 1 - 523 - 42368
This space has been sponsored by CyberSpain, in its series of A Hand to the World Program.
© COPYRIGHT CYBERSPAIN: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
DESIGN AND PUBLICATION LAYOUT
2019 - Present
Design and layout
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, hosted at the University of Manitoba, commissioned us to design the layout for the National Residential School Memorial Register, the collection of names of each child who died at residential school.
Given the very sombre and painful nature of the book’s contents, we felt the design and image choices needed to keep the focus on the subject matter, honouring and acknowledging the children who did not return home to their families.
The first Register was published in September 2019, and work by the Centre continues with further review of residential school records to find and add missing student names to the memorial, ensuring each child is remembered, honoured and acknowledged.


- This is a very good introduction to Thelema located at the US Grand Lodge.
- Liber AL vel Legis, The Book of the Law, is the foundation of all our work.
- The Stelé of Revealing is the central eidolon of Thelema.
- Duty: “A note on the chief rules of practical conduct to be observed by those who accept the Law of Thelema.”— This paper outlines the relationship and obligations between a Thelemite: (1) to him/herself, (2) to his/her community at large, and to the Universe in general.
- The Soldier and the Hunchback: ! and ? is an essay on Scientific skepticism and the process of gaining knowledge that is so important in our Work.
- Liber Porta Lucis — The Book of the Portal of Light. Those who are ready to see may their eyes be open. Those who are ready to hear, may their ears be open.
© Ordo Templi Orientis – Website issues may be referred to the Webmaster.


Six Local Creatives Get an April HUG
Every month, Charlotte Is Creative (CIC) awards $250 HUG (Helpful Unfettered Gifts) microgrants to help Charlotte-area creatives move a community-facing project or initiative forward.
In April, CIC awarded six $250 microgrant HUGs, which vary from community initiatives to music and book publishing to performance art. Half of the grants went to projects whose main focus was on providing a service to youth.
The creatives and organizations getting April HUGs are:
Promising Pages (Kelly Cates)
Promising Pages has a goal of donating 25,000 diverse books to children by the end of this school year. The group has already collected 10,000 books and is shifting their focus to buying the rest of the books from local independent bookstores. Their HUG grant will be used to buy books and go toward their goal of raising $3,000.
More on Promising Pages
Money Magnets Club (Alexandra Arrington)
Money Magnets Club partners with local banks to help kids open savings accounts. They are looking for creative entrepreneurs to mentor students. Interested families should check out the Charlotte Library’s web page for more information.
More about Money Magnets Club
Charlotte Concert Band (John Taylor)
Charlotte Concert Band will use the HUG grant to upgrade their video editing software and purchase music from a composer for a virtual concert this spring with the Wingate University Choral Program.
More on Charlotte Concert Band:
Nathan Davis – Musician
Nathan Davis will use the HUG grant to cover studio time for his most recent recording project. He has 16 tracks to record between now and the end of September. Songs will be posted to his social media sites when completed. Davis wrote an editorial for The Biscuit about how COVID-19 has changed his focus on the business-strategy behind his music career.
More on Nathan Davis
The Dilworth Players (Wes Curry)
This HUG will provide a scholarship for a child who attends Dilworth Drama Day Camp, part of Dilworth United Methodist Church Outreach. This is the first year The Dilworth Players will host a summer camp for youth.
More on The Dilworth Players Club
Melissa Wineman, Artist
Melissa Wineman will apply her HUG to covering publishing costs for a book about Charlotte. She has written and illustrated the book, including a map children can follow to learn about current and past Queen City landmarks.
More on Melissa Wineman
Give a HUG. Get a HUG.
The HUG Microgrant is sponsored by T. Reid & Co., NoDa Brewing, Google Fiber and individual donations. If you’re interested in donating a HUG or applying for one yourself, click here.


photo credit: Ian Cron
Ian is back at it–he just released his second book Jesus, My Father, The CIA and Me: A Memoir of Sorts. Again, click the title to get yourself a copy.
I had the privilege of spending a half hour with Ian and his wife Anne baking in a parking lot one block off a street festival in Delray Beach a few weeks ago. Having known and loved these guys since I was in diapers, I always try to take the opportunity to see them when I can–even if it finds us in unexpected places. At the end of our incredibly illuminating conversation, Ian offered me a pre-release copy of the Memoir. It is such an honor that he would do this, and it’s a treat to recommend it to you.
Though he states outright that some of his stories may be slightly less than accurate, I found myself defending my own memories of childhood–my only argument for relativism is found in my own personal ‘take’ on what happened, when and how, and how my experiences shaped me as a person. Some of my closest friends and family claim that I have a flair for the over-dramatic, but hey, this is how I remember what happened–who are you to tell me how I perceived it all?
That said, Ian’s Memoir is less a chronology of his journey and more like wading in a reflection pool. His writing truly transports. I felt like I was there when he lit the pile of powder he emptied from the road flares for all the neigborhood boys’ amusement; when he hid beneath the altar at 5AM in the church because he was awakened too early; when he tackled his drunk father in the easy chair; when he blew his VW Bug motor and jumped out before it stopped on the way to a Steve Miller Band show; and when his 8 year old son taught him and other grown men how to be courageous.
Ian’s counselor Dan captures the tremendous implicit value of this book on page 200:
“I spoke for two hours. ‘Sorry for rambling,’ I said. Dan uncrossed his legs. ‘I want to sit quietly for a moment to honor the story you’ve just told. It was sacred,’ he said, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.”
Ian’s book reaffirms to us that our stories are sacred. That is to say that our lives are sacred. Regardless of the path, pleasant or horrifying, we each have a catalog of stories, unique and sacred. We add immeasurable richness to each other’s lives by retelling our stories. And Ian is a master storyteller.
Get this book and read it tonight. Fight the urge to find some deep theological meaning in all of it (it’s definitely there) and just enjoy listening to good stories.
Perhaps I’ve been reading a lot of books lately filled with statistics and case studies, but I found this book to be incredibly refreshing and energizing. It’s full of hope and everything that tries to stand in the way of hope. Just like my story. Just like your story.
Thanks, Ian! Can’t wait for the next one!


To meet the increasing demands of eBook readers, the epub conversion services have over the recent past become very popular with freelance writers, publishers and authors. This is due to the efficiency of using this service. This service is able to sufficiently handle both eBooks and various other printed books. If you already have a book on giving away free xbox live codes that has already been converted to an eBook, you will have to search for a publisher who will publish it for your targeted e-readers. The ePub is a modern publishing technology that has been received very well in the book publishing market. It is loved due to the fact that it offers them with latest compatible formats and standards that can easily be read on Linux and MAC computers and even on Windows.
If you do not have enough funds to publish your book, you can search for publishers who offer free eBook publishing to their existing customers. The publisher will first convert your magazines, document, journals, novels, manuscripts, fiction and non fiction into the digital format before the actual publishing. The benefit of dealing with the publishers is that they work with quality control checkers, in house editors and proof readers all who are skilled and qualified professionals.


Since working at Oxford University Press (Cary, NC) I have had the opportunity to check books out of our company library. Recently I picked up the book Introduction to the Philosophy of Science: Cutting Nature at Its Seams. The author is Robert Klee; he is professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ithaca College.
The book centers on the debate between realism and anti-realism. Klee leans towards realism (as he says in the last chapter), but fairly represents the anti-realist position. The book is written as an intro to Philosophy should. He makes the subject matter understandable even when introducing difficult subjects, such as Positivism’s language of mathematical logic.
The really interesting thing is that Klee represents the epistemological problems in scientific theorizing not by an appeal to physics, but immunology. Much of the current debate between realist and anti-realist comes from debates over the proper interpretation of quantum mechanics, but Klee shows that many of the epistemological problems exists in the life sciences also.
I have not finished reading the book yet, but half way through I am more than pleased.


Benchmarks for educators who teach Louisiana History
Hidden History LLC has adopted specific benchmarks to supplement the State of Louisiana’s Social Studies benchmarks for elementary and high schools.
HH provides resources for educators in the form of lesson plans, presentations and tours to enhance the educational enrichment for pupils and students. Below are the specific benchmarks for grades 5 – 8 for the State of Louisiana as well as the specific benchmarks offered by HH. Your inquiries are welcomed.
HH provides an introduction to Louisiana history that is generally suppressed from the school textbooks of public and private schools. This includes history that is not included in the standards established for the state of Louisiana. It is for this reason that HH believes that the current educational standards for the state of Louisiana need serious reform. The following reflects HH standards, benchmarks and general learning outcomes that HH strives to achieve:
A. Focus: Examines the suppressed story of the Africans, the victims of enslavement, the struggle for change, and the social conditions of French, Spanish colonial Louisiana, the role of the Corps d’ Afrique in the Civil War, the Black Reconstruction government and their white allies, the Counterrevolution during Reconstruction, the Jim Crow period and the Modern Civil Rights movement. Students get introduced to their ancestors’ role in changing Louisiana and the United States.
B. Standard: Students develop a positive sense of self worth as they learn their history in this community, state and country.


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Use this dialog box to browse the Hyper-V deployment and select subclient content or define subclient filters. This dialog box provides hierarchical views of Hyper-V entities. Select one of the following options to browse Hyper-V:
Select this option to view all Hyper-V virtual machines.
Select any virtual machine or template to include it in the subclient. or filter it from the subclient.
Select this option to view hosts, clusters, and their child objects. Expand any object to view its child objects.
Select any object to include the object into the subclient or filter it from the subclient. When you select any object, all of its child objects are automatically selected.
Select this option to view all of the volumes in a Hyper-V cluster or server. Expand any Hyper-V server or cluster shared volume to view all of the volumes in it.
Select any volume to add all of the virtual machines in the volume into the subclient or to filter the virtual machines from the subclient. When you select any host, all of the volumes on the host are automatically selected. When you select a Cluster Shared Volume, all of the volumes in it are automatically selected.
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Leadership Disconnect: The Growing Chasm Between Leaders and Their People
One pandemic; two radically different working experiences. Our research shows us that the gap between the views of senior leaders and the people they lead has grown into a worrisome chasm. This deep disconnect between leaders and their talent could have a crippling impact on organizations and their future business plans, impacting satisfaction, motivation and performance.
SEP 09, 2021
Download the full report
Resetting Normal: Defining a New Era of Working
Disconnected Leaders: Bridging the Growing Chasm Between Leaders and Their People


Last Friday I successfully defended my thesis at Guelph. The room was full with lots of friends, students and faculty and everything went fairly smoothly. It definitely feels great to be done after almost two years building up to this. Today I finished the final revisions and submitted all of the copies with an insane amount of paperwork to Grad Program Services. Two to three weeks from now I should get my final bound copy of my thesis and it should soon be available online and in libraries :). For anyone interested in reading it, email me and I can send you a pdf copy.


Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789 - 1909Last update: January 22, 2010
Carlos A. Diaz
Title Page | Preface to the Third Edition | Abbreviations & Explanations
Table of Contents | Introduction | First 14 Congresses | Congressional Tables
American State Papers | U.S. Serial Set
War Department Papers, 1784 - 1800
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Wednesday 17 September 2014
Preparation for Book #2: Gathering notes
Book #2 is set in Oceania: the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Even when a novel is set in the real world, world-building applies and mine relies heavily on notes and photographs I've taken during my travels.
Unfortunately, the ones for Book #2 were made at least three years ago (+ a few stories from a trip ten years ago). All of them are now scattered and mixed up with other stuff, across numerous files on a laptop which is breathing its last, and all over the Internet. My first long and grueling task is to bring them together and sort them out. When I'm done, I expect to have 20,000 to 25,000 words, none of which will be usable directly, but most of which will eventually get recycled into the story.


By Jacques Brosse
Read Online or Download Alexandra David-Neel (Espaces libres) (French Edition) PDF
Similar adventurer & explorer biographies books
Frank Xavier retreated to the East Coast to rehabilitate himself and an previous Cape dwelling house. He found a paralyzed chestnut stallion who were swept off Sable Island and beached on a mysterious island. Frank meets Kate Sutherland, a healer, who launches a plan to resuscitate the pony with an elixir made up of a protracted misplaced treasure, however the elixir has an odd after impact.
This is often the tale of the fifty-year event of 1 man's capturing and wasteland schooling and the way it developed into what it's this present day. It begun in 1958 at the south shore of manhattan, complicated via Upstate big apple, North Carolina, Georgia, Alaska, California, Africa, New Zealand, and, at present, again to California.
In 1936, Quentin younger, a 22-year-old chinese language American, led American socialite Ruth Harkness on a 1,500-mile day trip into the distant mountains of Sichuan. Braving warlords and primitive tribes, the duo captured an enormous panda and taken it again alive, the 1st time a stay panda were noticeable by way of the Western international.
Ich wusste zwar, dass es einen Eiger gab, doch eine Nordwand kannte ich nicht, schreibt Carina Harrer, deren Mann Heinrich immerhin der Erstbesteiger dieser Nordwand conflict. Carina kam aus einer bürgerlichen, musisch geprägten Welt, Heinrich Harrer warfare Naturmensch und Wissenschaftler. Dieses interessante Spannungsverhältnis ermöglichte eine glückliche Ehe.
Extra resources for Alexandra David-Neel (Espaces libres) (French Edition)
Alexandra David-Neel (Espaces libres) (French Edition) by Jacques Brosse


If you have been watching the TV series to accompany the book you will be inspired to try many of the recipes you have seen the Hairy Bikers' baking.
I made a Scandinavian Tea Ring, and as the Hairy Bikers' say, it tastes as good as it looks. This tea ring is made with a sweet bread dough, rolled out, spread with a cinnamon infused butter containing ground and flaked almonds, glace cherries, candied peel (I used sultanas), rolled up as you would a swiss roll and then baked. After baking, the ring is decorated with glace cherries, flaked almonds and icing - delicious.
The book covers both sweet and savoury baking with recipes from Norway to Spain. There are recipes for biscuits, breads and rolls, cakes, puddings, sweet tarts, savoury bakes, pies, tarts and snacks.
Limoncello Babas from Italy, Hazelnut and Chocolate Vacherin from France, Lazybones Buns from the Low Countries, Black Forest Gateau from Germany and Grandma Bonka's Apple Streudel from Austria are just a few of the recipes which will inspire us to get busy in the kitchen.
This isn't just another baking book, but one which you will turn to time and time again. The book is a source of inspiration for everyday baking and baking to impress friends and family. There are recipes for the beginner through to the more experienced. The recipe is accompanied by a stunning photograph of the finished dish and every chapter has a collage of photographs taken during their tour.
The Hairy Bikers' provide a fascinating insight into some of the beautiful baking across Europe and I will use this book many times. My husband already has his eye on the Black Forest Gateau......
Thank you Waterstones for the review copy.


The Colorado Genealogical Society was formed in 1924 to:
- Promote an interest in genealogy by encouraging, educating and instructing members and the public in the art and practice of genealogical research;
- Maintain and evaluate genealogical standards by stressing the knowledgeable use of sources and the importance of complete and accurately recorded research;
- Locate, preserve and index public and private genealogical records and to make such records or the information in them available to members and the general public;
- Assist and support the genealogical community in Colorado, including researchers, fellow societies, libraries and archives;
- Publish genealogical and historical information in a quarterly journal known as The Colorado Genealogist, in the CGS Newsletter and in other appropriate publications;
- Create, when deemed appropriate and necessary by the membership, Special Interest Groups to further these objectives.


After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality, that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles without “a single synagogue or sword” to leave those nets a second time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now live.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
The First Great Commandment


The Boogie was happy when she woke up yesterday morning. She never asked for the binkie. She pressed close to me murmuring delightedly, "Honeyhoneyhoney" as she snuggled her head on my shoulder, then popped up again asking, "Wha'yadoin'?" This is our daily routine. It never gets old to me.
She was sweet and obliging as we ran errands in the morning. By the time we got home with a car load of groceries she was winding down. "Honey," she whined, "I tired. I wanna take a nappies." I put her in bed and she cried and called for me for an hour. I went in once to talk to her. I went in a second time to change her diaper and give her some books we just got from the library (new books = distraction, right?) That worked for all of five minutes. I went in again to take away the books and talk to her. She hiccuped through her tears, "Sing a little song?" so I sang to her and stroked her hair and she closed her eyes and was asleep just like that.
At bedtime we were mentally prepared for many more tears. We went through the usual bedtime routine and left. She called for me, without crying, and after a little bit I went back in. "Honey!" she exclaimed, "I hungry."
"No, you're not hungry," I told her. "You just had a snack. It's time to go to sleep." I tucked her in with her burpies and her blankie and a doll and a stuffed monkey and her cup, and left.
She didn't make another sound. Not a peep! She just went to sleep! Thank you, Lord!


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Real Name: Jacklyn "Jackie" Harrington
Case: Lost Sister
Location: Hartwick, New York
Date: August 3, 1934
Details: Sixty-two-year-old Wilson "Bill" Purinton (formerly Harrington) is a retired businessman from New Hampshire who is searching for his long-lost sister, Jackie. In 1934, the Harrington family lived in Hartwick, New York; they were struggling to survive the Great Depression. Six of the Harrington children stayed at home alone during the day while their parents were at work. On August 3, 1934, the Harrington children had a birthday party for Bill and his younger sister, Jackie. That afternoon, however, their lives were changed forever.
Neighbors had felt that the four younger children were being neglected. They reported the Harringtons to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The social workers arrived while the parents were working and the birthday party was in progress. After the celebration was finished, the social workers took the four youngest children away, while the two oldest children were left behind.
Bill, then eight, was the oldest of the four. The social workers told him that he was going on a "trip". He was excited until he realized that he would not be returning home. He, Jackie, and two other siblings were put up for adoption. All four were placed with different families in New York.
Bill lived with his adopted family until his teenage years, in which he then joined the military and went off to serve in the Second World War. When World War II ended, Bill began searching for his siblings and his parents. He made no progress until 1976, when he wrote to the records clerk in Hartwick, New York. Just as the clerk was replying to Bill's letter, a visitor arrived and gave the clerk an address for Bill's older sister Wanda. She gave him a cautious reply, telling him to call her if he wanted more information about the family. The two were reunited soon after.
Within a year, Bill was able to track down all of his siblings, except two: Jackie and Ed. Also, in 1977, he was able to locate his mother in California, but sadly she passed away before he was able to reunite with her. He also learned that his father died in 1955.
In 1980, a New York Children's Aid Society researcher was able to locate a phone number for Bill's brother Ed, now named Ed Orvis. On Christmas Eve, the two siblings talked to each other on the phone for the first time in over forty years. By the fall of 1988, Bill was able to locate and reunite with all of his siblings, except for Jackie. Bill and his siblings are still searching for Jackie.
The family has a few clues that may lead them to Jackie. She was adopted by the Frank Breeding family of New York City. They moved to Spokane, Washington in 1936. She graduated from Central Valley High School in Veradale, Washington around 1943. She trained as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in 1944. In November 1946, she married Ed Roper. In 1949, she divorced him and moved to either Utah or Montana.
Extra Notes: This segment was featured as part of the February 1, 1989 episode.
Results: Solved. Several tips came in from the broadcast, most from people who claimed to have known and gone to school with Jackie in the 1940s and 1950s. Some claimed that she had married and adopted two children, and that one had since died. However, the tipsters did not know of Jackie's present whereabouts.
A local historian, Anita Harrison, learned about Bill's search through the Unsolved Mysteries broadcast and tried to help in his search. Then, surprisingly, in September 1997, Jackie Purinton herself came to Anita. A family that Jackie was visiting in Hartwick knew about Bill's search through Unsolved Mysteries and knew that Anita had been looking for Jackie. The family sent Jackie to her. Anita got in contact with Bill again and within a few days Jackie and her husband were reunited with Bill and his wife. In 2000, she was reunited with the rest of her long-lost siblings: Betty, Mary, Wanda, Shirley, and Ed.
Sadly, Bill passed away in 2008; he was eighty-two. Wanda passed away in 2016 at the age of 95.


Today I attended the Virtual Lab on Lecture Alternatives put on by DoIT Academic Technology. We had a fascinating discussion on tips, tools, and techniques for engaging students in an online environment at all instructor skill levels. I got to hear from instructors who are currently trying different methods and from instructional design staff who are supporting courses. We filled out a lovely Activity Sheet together as the discussion went on through a collaborative Google Document which will make a great resource for me to return to in the future!
My favorite part of the discussion, (which you can watch if you join the Canvas course and follow the instructions at canvas.wisc.edu/enroll/GPT8NL), was when we discussed narration over PowerPoint versus a podcast, audio only format. Students could listen to the podcast anywhere! Are figures important to understanding the concept? Include figures, videos, and other links in a transcript so students can listen and/or read and follow links to bonus content. Remember, providing as many ways for learners to consume content as you can is a key part of Universal Design for Learning.
We asked and discussed a lot of questions about Lecture Alternatives, and I do encourage you to check it out (join the Canvas course at canvas.wisc.edu/enroll/GPT8NL) but here were the top takeaways from the session.
Top 5 Takeaways
- Create small chunks: break lectures into 5-7 minute sections with active learning, application opportunities, and knowledge checks between them has long been suggested in face-to-face teaching because of the benefits to learning. For Remote teaching, it’s even more important because smaller (2-5min) chunks are easier to download and view for those with unreliable internet access. Embed small videos in Canvas quiz question fields for graded comprehension checks.
- Incorporate outside resources with expert presentations and/or educational videos. Consider the plethora of resources available through UW Libraries and the internet more broadly before you re-create everything new, there is a lot of good information out there already; you just have to locate it and provide access (or have your students curate it!)
- Provide alternatives wherever possible. Be considerate of learners’ different levels of access to high speed internet. If you conduct live courses, record (and chunk!) them for students who can’t attend. Supplement videos with readings.
- Show your personality in audio and video you add to Canvas. Humor, self-disclosure and sharing your experiences and stories helps students connect with the content and with the instructor. (And let, but don’t require, students show theirs!)
- Try new ways to utilize video. Provide demonstrations, walkthroughs, and virtual tours. Create asynchronous weekly videos guiding students through the course content, clarifying assignments, and summarizing the main points. Video while walking!
Final thought: The Virtual Labs are fantastic and a great source for resources on all the topics instructors need right now. There are a whole bunch more of them: https://instructionalcontinuity.wisc.edu/events/Read the full article at: https://instructionalcontinuity.wisc.edu/events/


[etherlab-users] DC question: "Failed to get reference clock time: Input/Output error"?
gavinl at compacsort.com
Sun Jan 15 22:45:16 CET 2017
On 14 January 2017 06:02, quoth Jiarui Lian:
> I tried to synchronize master clock to a reference-slave-EK1100 (due to
> Master clock jitter):
> * Based on the example of "examples/rtai_rtdm_dc".
> * I modified the example, since I am using RT-Preempt instead of RTAI.
> * But I got error: "Failed to get reference clock time: Input/Output
> --- (And I found that the error message comes from function
> Graeme and Tommaso have some discussions on this issue before, but not
> sure if it is solved:
This error is normal when using the user-mode library -- it takes a few
cycles for the master to locate and init the reference clock and the API
will return EIO or ENXIO during this time. It should eventually stop doing
that (if a ref clock is indeed found), but in the meantime the user mode
library prints error messages to stderr.
ef9461a8204a0/ (default branch) removes this logging to avoid the spam.
Alternately you could implement a "spin up time" where you don't try to sync
the master clock for the first few cycles (or until the slaves are all
configured and the network is stable), although this might complicate your
More information about the Etherlab-users