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Politics & Controversy

Standards Cage Match

I prefaced my point about how the standards we choose in libraries isolate us from the larger stream of progress driving development outside libraries with the note that I was sure to get hanged for it. It’s true. I commented that there were over 140,00 registered Amazon API developers and 365 public OpenSearch targets (hey […] » about 1000 words

Exxpose Exxon

ExxonMobil’s 2005 profits of $36.13 billion are apparently the largest ever recorded by any corporation in America. To celebrate, the folks at SaveOurEnvironment.org put together this funny short: ExxposeExxon. The movie makes some good points, but let’s face it, high oil prices encourage conservation and research on alternative energy technologies. exxon, exxpose exxon, movie, cartoon, […] » about 100 words

Is J. K. Rowling Carolyn Keene’s Sister?

I said previously that I drop my journalistic standards on Fridays. Today is no exception.

Background, from Mysterynet:

Carolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people — both men and women — over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.

Story, from Jens of Norway:

A sort of well-known movie director in Norway wrote an article in a norwegian newspaper (Aftenposten) today, stating that she thinks that J.K. Rowling does not really exist. That the woman we see on pictures and read about is none other than a paid actor and should be nominated for Oscar.

She links J.K. Rowling to the story of Carolyn Keene. [link added]

Wikipedia is rich with information about Rowling and the Harry Potter series, including the detail that “as of 2005, Rowling has written the last chapter of the seventh book.” But could these books have been ghosted?

As If Retro Fashion Didn’t Already Go Far Enough

I guess I can see why people might be willing to throw down $4000 or more for these fancy Northstar refrigerators, I mean, they remind rich young people of their grandma’s house, with fresh-baked cookies and a big glass of milk to dunk them in. I’ve gotta admit, I almost got suckered too. But why […] » about 100 words

Casey Bisson

When You Need To Talk To Customer Support

It’s good to know Hard to Find 800 Numbers.com is there when you need it. Here are the top five:

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  HTF#
</td>

<td width="86">
  Who
</td>

<td width="136">
  Notes
</td>

<td>
  800-201-7575<br /> <br /> 877-251-0696<br /> <br /> 866-348-2492<br /> 206-266-2992
</td>

<td>
  Cust. service<br /> <br /> Seller support<br /> <br /> Rebate status Local or int’l
</td>

<td>
  24/7<br /> <br /> "<br /> " ( Press 0 to bypass menu) <br /> "
</td>

<td>
  888-749-3229<br /> 800-322-9266
</td>

<td>
  Cust. service<br /> "
</td>

<td>
  6:30a-5:30p<br /> M-F (Pacific)
</td>

<td>
  888-215-5506<br /> 888-221-1161
</td>

<td>
  Cust. service<br /> "
</td>

<td>
  6a-12midnight (Central) <br /> 7 days/wk
</td>

<td>
  408-349-3300<br /> 408-349-5151
</td>

<td>
  Corporate hq <br /> Billing cust. svc.
</td>

<td>
  8a-5p M-F (Pacific) <br /> "
</td>

<td>
  800-426-9400</p> 
  
  <p>
    800-936-5700</td> 
    
    <td>
      Sales<br /> Tech support:<br /> Personal support:
    </td>
    
    <td>
      6a-6p M-F (Pacific)<br /> Option 2 <br /> 5a-9p M-F<br /> 6a-3p Sat/Sun
    </td></tr> </table> 
    
    <p>
      
    </p>

Radical, Militant Librarian

The ALA’s Intellectual Freedom folks came up with this Radical, Militant Librarian button (which I found in Library Mistress’ photostream): In recognition of the efforts of librarians to help raise awareness of the overreaching aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is offering librarians an opportunity […] » about 200 words

Highways

Think now of the US interstate highway system. Like the internet that followed, the highway system was the subject of much hype and conjecture. Most notably, Norman Bel Geddes’ -designed General Motors Futurama exhibit at the 1939 New York Word’s Fair. In it we saw magical highways connecting our cities, and whisking motorists from New […] » about 300 words

Political Blogging Protected By FEC

Way back near the end of 2005, Lot 49 reported that the Federal Election Commission had basically ruled that bloggers are journalists:

The Federal Election Commission today issued an advisory opinion that finds the Fired Up network of blogs qualifies for the “press exemption” to federal campaign finance laws. The press exemption, as defined by Congress, is meant to assure “the unfettered right of the newspapers, TV networks, and other media to cover and comment on political campaigns.” The full ruling is available at the FEC site. A noteworthy passage: “…an entity otherwise eligible for the press exception would not lose its eligibility merely because of a lack of objectivity…” (emphasis added)

So, yeah, it’s double-edged, I mean that last line is basically the Fox News Channel exemption, but it also gives those bloggers who consider themselves citizen journalists a leg to stand on.

And the folks in that camp should be happy to have the Electronic Frontier Foundation‘s help. As Donna Wentworth says, Bloggers: You Have a Right to Remain Vocal.

Nevada Considers Atomic Testing License Plate, Again

The first license plate to remember Nevada’s history as the host of the US’s nuclear testing grounds drew criticism for featuring a mushroom cloud (see the plate on the right, above). Now it appears folks are at it again, this time with a plate that depicts the site’s area and includes the classic illustration of […] » about 100 words

Last Minute Gift Idea

My friend Joe loved his chickens, though a fox did them in this last fall. He’d planned to leave the coop empty for the winter and start fresh in the spring, but his surfing lead him to mail order chickens (adoption card pictured above). So…what better a gift for a friend than a chicken by […] » about 100 words

The War On Christmas

I like Christmas as much as anybody (well, anybody who likes Christmas), but I’m a “happy holidays” guy. Why? because Christmas and the holidays aren’t about me, they’re about the way we spread happiness and joy to others, no matter how they celebrate. So while I quietly hope for my own merry Christmas, I resist […] » about 100 words

A Patron’s Perspective On Library 2.0

My friend Joe Monninger is perhaps a library’s favorite patron. He’s an avid reader who depends on his public library for books and audiobooks and DVDs, and as a writer and professor he depends on the services of the university library. But he doesn’t work in libraries, and though he listens patiently to my work […] » about 1300 words

Bush Joke

I wish I could admit the provenance of the following, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Here goes:

Donald Rumsfeld is briefing president Bush: “Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed.”

“Oh no!” exclaims the president, “that’s terrible!”

His staff is stunned at this unprecedented display of emotion, watching as Bush sits, head in hands.

Finally, he looks up and asks, “How many is a brazillion?”

GAO Report Confirms Election Fraud

This should be no surprise — especially to those who’ve been appropriately concerned about electronic voting machines: Lyn Davis Lear is reporting on a GAO report that concluded the 2004 election was fraudulent and a Diebold insider is blowing the whistle (via Engadget). What does the report confirm? Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman summarize: Some […] » about 500 words

Who’s Afraid Of Wikipedia?

Arguments about Wikipedia‘s value and authority will rage for quite a while, but it’s interesting to see where the lines are being drawn. On the one had we’ve got a 12 year-old pointing out errors in Encyclopaedia Britannica (via Many2Many) and now on the other side we’ve got John Seigenthaler, a former editorial page editor […] » about 500 words

A Library For All Peoples

In a Washington Post column last week, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington proposed A Library for The New World:

[T]he time may be right for our country’s delegation to consider introducing to the [UNESCO] a proposal for the cooperative building of a World Digital Library. This would offer the promise of bringing people closer together by celebrating the depth and uniqueness of different cultures in a single global undertaking.

And in this time of war and strife, what makes such a proposal so important?

Libraries are inherently islands of freedom and antidotes to fanaticism. They are temples of pluralism where books that contradict one another stand peacefully side by side just as intellectual antagonists work peacefully next to each other in reading rooms.

And I can’t think of a better message to start the holidays with.

Dance Dance Revolution, NYC

I caught the following story on NPR’s All Things Considered (RealAudio stream) last night: New York is known for its vibrant nightlife, yet in many bars and restaurants it’s illegal to dance. Now, a law professor is challenging the “Cabaret Laws,” claiming they violate a dancer’s right of free expression. The city says dancing by […] » about 300 words

Virtual Economies

I’m not much of a gamer, but Matt got me following video game law with curious interest. And now, via ArsTechnica, I’ve learned of crazy things going on in role playing game economies. To some, the only surprise in Jon Jacobs’s US$100,000 purchase of in-game real estate is that nobody thought of it sooner. The […] » about 300 words

This Car Climbed Hubbert Peak

This is probably the perfect bumper sticker for your neighbor’s SUV, at least until your neighbor comes over with the perfect chainsaw for your front door (yeah, try to run from that in Birkenstocks). But seriously, shouldn’t somebody tell these people that the world is running out of oil? bumper sticker, declining oil reserves, energy, […] » about 100 words

Decision Death Spiral

Scott Berkun, the author of The Art of Project Management just blogged about the data death spiral: Whenever data is misused as the only means for making decisions, a death spiral begins. The lust for data overwhelms all sensibilities. Cowardly decision makers howl in glee at reams of unnecessary data, while bright people sit handcuffed […] » about 400 words

What’s In A Web Search?

Sometimes the answer isn’t as interesting as the question. Consider this note from Yahoo Buzz:

On Sunday, the day before the nomination became official, [searches for] Alito sprang up a sudden 320%.

Did searches for Alito spike on tips White House staffers, or were White House Staffers vetting their nominee via the search engines?

Attack Of The Blogs (Yeah)!

Online reaction to the Forbes cover story Attack of the Blogs has been quick and strong, and given the doom and gloom language, it’s not surprising: Blogs started a few years ago as a simple way for people to keep online diaries. Suddenly they are the ultimate vehicle for brand-bashing, personal attacks, political extremism and […] » about 400 words

 
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