In the Christian year, this is the first day of Lent. The beginning of the 40 days before Easter when Christians reflect on their humanity, their fallen and broken nature, the nature that is ultimately redeemed by Jesus. Ash Wednesday is appropriately preceeded by Fat Tuesday (also known as Shrove Tuesday) - the day of excess celebrated most vividly in Latin cultures via Mardi Gras. Northern Europeans celebrate Fat Tuesday with the Pancake Supper!
Where can you find information about Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Lent, Easter, etc? I did a Google search on each topic and found many a site willing to share. Some sites had a clear 'authority' - the Vatican for example. Yet, I wanted something I could cite without digging through the About Us to find the author.
GALILEO offers cite-able sources- Ebsco's Religion and Philosophy "includes more than 300 full-text journals covering topics such as world religions, major denominations, biblical studies, religious history, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of language, moral philosophy, and the history of philosophy."
I'm looking for facts about Lent, etc - Encyclopedia Brittanica or Credo Reference offer access to 'facts'. Yes, yes, I know about Wikipedia but even they note " anyone can edit it". Credo and Britannica offer me credible, vetted information (yes, I've read the Nature article showing Britannica had almost as many errors as Wikipedia and the refutation).
Easy is not always the surest route to the best information.....Lent offers a time to reflect on what 'easy' gets us....get the password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
How do I find thee?
Thank you Jeff Mallett, creator of Frazz.
22 Feb 2009
I smiled. Yes, print is one way to find the information.
-kls
22 Feb 2009
I smiled. Yes, print is one way to find the information.
-kls
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Those who don't know
history are destined to repeat it - said Edmund Burke
Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week in 1926. He wrote 'Observances of Negro History Week,' which appeared in the volume 11, number 2 issue of the 'Journal of Negro History.'
Where could I find that article?
A Google search led me to HighBeam.com which has the article but requires my registering for a free trial (and then charging me a monthly fee).
You know I'm sending you to GALILEO - where our Georgia tax dollars are at work (get the password for home use from your Georgia librarian). There you'll find the History Reference Center an Ebsco product.
GALILEO
...Databases A-Z, select H
.....Scroll to History Reference Center
.......Type in Negro History week
.........Select 'Observances of Negro History Week'(on my search it was the 4th article)notice it is a pdf file- you'll see the article as it was in the journal
You can create an Alert for the Black History Bulletin "A peer-reviewed publication written to provide those who instruct our youth with innovative materials, which teach Black history and conform to national history standards." Ebsco will send you links to the latest articles posted from Black History Bulletin.
Make learning history a year round effort!
Keeping in mind Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it - Edmund Burke
-kls
Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week in 1926. He wrote 'Observances of Negro History Week,' which appeared in the volume 11, number 2 issue of the 'Journal of Negro History.'
Where could I find that article?
A Google search led me to HighBeam.com which has the article but requires my registering for a free trial (and then charging me a monthly fee).
You know I'm sending you to GALILEO - where our Georgia tax dollars are at work (get the password for home use from your Georgia librarian). There you'll find the History Reference Center an Ebsco product.
GALILEO
...Databases A-Z, select H
.....Scroll to History Reference Center
.......Type in Negro History week
.........Select 'Observances of Negro History Week'(on my search it was the 4th article)notice it is a pdf file- you'll see the article as it was in the journal
Reprints the article 'Observances of Negro History Week,' by Carter G. Woodson, which appeared in the volume 11, number 2 issue of the 'Journal of Negro History.'
You can create an Alert for the Black History Bulletin "A peer-reviewed publication written to provide those who instruct our youth with innovative materials, which teach Black history and conform to national history standards." Ebsco will send you links to the latest articles posted from Black History Bulletin.
Make learning history a year round effort!
Keeping in mind Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it - Edmund Burke
-kls
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Answers to Presidential Trivia
Here are the answers to our Presidents' Day Trivia. Let's see how you did.
1. This man was the shortest President to date, standing in at 5'4".
Answer: James Madison, our 4th President.
2. This President was the first to die in office, setting a record for the shortest term of office to date, a whole month.
Answer: William Henry Harrison, our 9th President. Harrison did not wear a coat during his inaugural address, given on a cold, yucky day, and proceeded to give the longest such address in history. He got sick the next day and died soon after.
3. Technically counting as two Presidents, this man was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms of office.
Answer: Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President. Cleveland was defeated for reelection by Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He then returned in 1892 and was elected again.
4. This President came from a historically prominent American family, had a grandfather who was President before him, and was elected to one term by winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote.
Answer: Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President. Harrison's grandfather was William Henry Harrison. He defeated Grover Cleveland in the electoral college in 1888, but lost a rematch to Cleveland in 1892.
5. 'Accidental' President who became the longest lived President to date. He outlived the second longest lived President, Ronald Reagan, by 45 days and died at the age of 93 years and 165 days.
Answer: Gerald Ford, the 38th President. Ford remains the only President to have never been elected to either the Presidency or Vice-Presidency. He was appointed to be Vice-President under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution following the resignation of Vice-President Spiro Agnew. When President Richard Nixon later resigned, Ford became President. He lost the campaign to win a term as President in his own right in 1976 to former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
6. The President who was the youngest age, at 42, when he was first inaugurated President.
Answer: Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President. Roosevelt was the younger man to ever become President. He was sworn in upon the assassination of President William McKinley. John F. Kennedy has the youngest age upon being elected President. Theodore Roosevelt was older than Kennedy's election age when he won a term in his own right in 1904.
7. The only President to date who was born outside of the continental United States.
Answer: Barack Obama, the 44th President. Obama was born in Hawaii, which along with Alaska, is not one of the 48 continental United States.
8. This President had the rotten luck to see the Roaring Twenties come crashing to an end just after taking office, but lived longer after he was President than any man to date.
Answer: Herbert Hoover, the 31st President. Hoover saw the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression shortly after taking office in 1929. He was defeated for reelection in 1932 by Franklin Roosevelt, and many blamed him for the Depression for years after. Hoover lived for thirty one years after leaving office.
9. The only President who is buried in the District of Columbia. His final resting place is in the National Cathedral.
Answer: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President. Wilson is buried in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
10. The only President to die in the 18th century.
Answer: George Washington, the 1st President. Washington died December 14th, 1799.
How did you do?
Number Correct:
0-failed run for city council
1-2-made it to the state legislature
3-4-won statewide office
5-6-elected to the House of Representatives
7-8-elected governor
9-US Senate
10-Presidential
JWF
1. This man was the shortest President to date, standing in at 5'4".
Answer: James Madison, our 4th President.
2. This President was the first to die in office, setting a record for the shortest term of office to date, a whole month.
Answer: William Henry Harrison, our 9th President. Harrison did not wear a coat during his inaugural address, given on a cold, yucky day, and proceeded to give the longest such address in history. He got sick the next day and died soon after.
3. Technically counting as two Presidents, this man was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms of office.
Answer: Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President. Cleveland was defeated for reelection by Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He then returned in 1892 and was elected again.
4. This President came from a historically prominent American family, had a grandfather who was President before him, and was elected to one term by winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote.
Answer: Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President. Harrison's grandfather was William Henry Harrison. He defeated Grover Cleveland in the electoral college in 1888, but lost a rematch to Cleveland in 1892.
5. 'Accidental' President who became the longest lived President to date. He outlived the second longest lived President, Ronald Reagan, by 45 days and died at the age of 93 years and 165 days.
Answer: Gerald Ford, the 38th President. Ford remains the only President to have never been elected to either the Presidency or Vice-Presidency. He was appointed to be Vice-President under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution following the resignation of Vice-President Spiro Agnew. When President Richard Nixon later resigned, Ford became President. He lost the campaign to win a term as President in his own right in 1976 to former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
6. The President who was the youngest age, at 42, when he was first inaugurated President.
Answer: Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President. Roosevelt was the younger man to ever become President. He was sworn in upon the assassination of President William McKinley. John F. Kennedy has the youngest age upon being elected President. Theodore Roosevelt was older than Kennedy's election age when he won a term in his own right in 1904.
7. The only President to date who was born outside of the continental United States.
Answer: Barack Obama, the 44th President. Obama was born in Hawaii, which along with Alaska, is not one of the 48 continental United States.
8. This President had the rotten luck to see the Roaring Twenties come crashing to an end just after taking office, but lived longer after he was President than any man to date.
Answer: Herbert Hoover, the 31st President. Hoover saw the 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great Depression shortly after taking office in 1929. He was defeated for reelection in 1932 by Franklin Roosevelt, and many blamed him for the Depression for years after. Hoover lived for thirty one years after leaving office.
9. The only President who is buried in the District of Columbia. His final resting place is in the National Cathedral.
Answer: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President. Wilson is buried in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
10. The only President to die in the 18th century.
Answer: George Washington, the 1st President. Washington died December 14th, 1799.
How did you do?
Number Correct:
0-failed run for city council
1-2-made it to the state legislature
3-4-won statewide office
5-6-elected to the House of Representatives
7-8-elected governor
9-US Senate
10-Presidential
JWF
Monday, February 16, 2009
President's Day
In honor of President's Day, here is a bit of Presidential trivia. Answers to be posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. See if you can identify the President referred to by each statement/question.
Remember, you may want to use Galileo to try and find the answers. Get the password from your Georgia librarian.
1. This man was the shortest President to date, standing in at 5'4".
2. This President was the first to die in office, setting the record for the shortest term of office to date, a whole month.
3. Technically counting as two Presidents, this man was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms of office.
4. This President came from a historically prominent American family, had a grandfather who was President before him, and was elected to one term by winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote.
5. 'Accidental' President who became the longest lived President to date. He outlived the second longest lived President, Ronald Reagan, by 45 days and died at the age of 93 years and 165 days.
6. The President who was the youngest age, at 42, when he was first inaugurated President.
7. The only President to date who was born outside of the continental United States.
8. This President had the rotten luck to see the Roaring Twenties come crashing to an end just after taking office, but lived longer after he was President than any man to date.
9. The only President who is buried in the District of Columbia. His final resting place is in the National Cathedral.
10. The only President to die in the 18th century.
JWF
Remember, you may want to use Galileo to try and find the answers. Get the password from your Georgia librarian.
1. This man was the shortest President to date, standing in at 5'4".
2. This President was the first to die in office, setting the record for the shortest term of office to date, a whole month.
3. Technically counting as two Presidents, this man was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms of office.
4. This President came from a historically prominent American family, had a grandfather who was President before him, and was elected to one term by winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote.
5. 'Accidental' President who became the longest lived President to date. He outlived the second longest lived President, Ronald Reagan, by 45 days and died at the age of 93 years and 165 days.
6. The President who was the youngest age, at 42, when he was first inaugurated President.
7. The only President to date who was born outside of the continental United States.
8. This President had the rotten luck to see the Roaring Twenties come crashing to an end just after taking office, but lived longer after he was President than any man to date.
9. The only President who is buried in the District of Columbia. His final resting place is in the National Cathedral.
10. The only President to die in the 18th century.
JWF
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Birthday Charlie Darwin!
It's easy for me to remember that February 12th is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. My mother's birthday is also on February 12th. I guess you could say that I think of the day as my mother's birthday, and it also happens to be Lincoln's birthday.
Old Abe Charles Darwin, the naturalist responsible for the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. Darwin has had an indirect influence on my life. My hometown is Dayton, Tennessee. Dayton was the site of one of the several 'trials of the century,' the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. The trial was a test case to challenge a Tennessee law banning the teaching of evolution. The trial became the biggest event in Dayton's history, and subsequently gave the town the nickname of 'Monkeytown,' as many a huckster and tonic salesman descended upon the town, selling shaved chimps as the missing link. The trial attracted the likes of WGN radio, Clarence Darrow, and William Jennings Bryan. The liberal arts college in Dayton, Bryan College, was named for Bryan.
Note: to view some of the links in this post, you may need to get the current Galileo password. You can get the password from your Georgia librarian.
Happy Birthday Mom!
JWF
Old Abe Charles Darwin, the naturalist responsible for the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. Darwin has had an indirect influence on my life. My hometown is Dayton, Tennessee. Dayton was the site of one of the several 'trials of the century,' the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. The trial was a test case to challenge a Tennessee law banning the teaching of evolution. The trial became the biggest event in Dayton's history, and subsequently gave the town the nickname of 'Monkeytown,' as many a huckster and tonic salesman descended upon the town, selling shaved chimps as the missing link. The trial attracted the likes of WGN radio, Clarence Darrow, and William Jennings Bryan. The liberal arts college in Dayton, Bryan College, was named for Bryan.
Note: to view some of the links in this post, you may need to get the current Galileo password. You can get the password from your Georgia librarian.
Happy Birthday Mom!
JWF
As long as we're talking about Lincoln
Lincoln's birthday celebration brings to mind the Civil War, which brings to mind Veterans, which brings me to Ancestry.com adding records (I feel like a Laura Numeroff story "If you give a librarian ....").
Today's Genealogy Insider by Diane Haddad noted the addition of a number of resources to Ancestry. The one that caught my eye pertains to Georgia.
You may access Heritage Quest at home with your public library GALILEO password - yes the public library offers slightly different resources in GALILEO - ask your public librarian)
-kls
Today's Genealogy Insider by Diane Haddad noted the addition of a number of resources to Ancestry. The one that caught my eye pertains to Georgia.
Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia includes more than 60,000 records documenting pension applications Confederate soldiers and their widows filed in Georgia. (Search these free on the Georgia State Archives Web site.)
You may access Heritage Quest at home with your public library GALILEO password - yes the public library offers slightly different resources in GALILEO - ask your public librarian)
-kls
Happy Birthday, Mr. L
I wonder if Abe had any idea the impact he would make on history when he was a boy, a young man, or even as a middle aged President? It seems 'everyone' is running specials, writing articles, and blogging about the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.
Britannica has been blogging about Mr. Lincoln for a few days. They posted a YouTube that someone compiled of 'all' the pictures of Mr. Lincoln! Fascinating.
I went to GALILEO and selected Lexis Nexis Academic to look through the transcripts.
...I typed "Abraham Lincoln" in quotes
......Limited my search to TV and Radio Broadcast transcripts
........Limited my search to the previous week
110 results were displayed. Read all about it - using Lexis Nexis Academic in GALILEO.
-kls
You may get the password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
Britannica has been blogging about Mr. Lincoln for a few days. They posted a YouTube that someone compiled of 'all' the pictures of Mr. Lincoln! Fascinating.
I went to GALILEO and selected Lexis Nexis Academic to look through the transcripts.
...I typed "Abraham Lincoln" in quotes
......Limited my search to TV and Radio Broadcast transcripts
........Limited my search to the previous week
110 results were displayed. Read all about it - using Lexis Nexis Academic in GALILEO.
-kls
You may get the password to use GALILEO from your Georgia librarian.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Learning new things
Research Strategies : Finding your Way through the information Fog [Z 710 .B23 2008] by William B. Badke has arrived.
The book is at the circulation desk where the librarians are reading and learning. My favorite quote so far is found on page 13 - "Not all information is equal."
Trying to teach anyone that 'good enough' may not be really 'good enough' is hard. Google and Wikipedia are so easy to find - using the library resources that are protected by passwords sometimes 'feels' quite difficult.
I shared with one class the true story- a student called the library last week and said "I've spent hours on Google and can't find an article for my class". Biting my tongue, I asked "Did you look in GALILEO"....OH
I'm hoping Mr. Badke has a hint or tip that we can share to help students remember to use the library databases!
-kls
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Cards Are Shuffled
In a recent post, I noted that the Arizona (by way of St. Louis and Chicago) Cardinals won the NFL title in 1947. A diligent reader posted a reply stating that the Cardinals also won the NFL championship in 1925. This may depend upon who you ask, especially if they live in Pennsylvania. A summary of the situation can be found here.
Apparently, back in 1925, there were no playoffs. The championship was awarded to the team with the best record. That normally would have gone to the Pottsville Maroons of Pennsylvania, who finished with the best record in the league that year (similar to many soccer leagues). The Maroons also won a convincing victory over the Cardinals in Chicago during the season. However, the Maroons then went on to play a Notre Dam All-Star team in a non-league game. As a result, in part because the game was played in Philadelphia and violated the rights of another team in the league, the league stripped the Maroons of the trophy and awarded the championship to the Cardinals. According to some sources, the Cardinals refused to accept the championship.
Attempts have been made by Maroons fans over the years to have the championship restored to Pottsville. Pottsville fans claim that these attempts have been thwarted over the years by the Bidwell family, longtime owners of the Cardinals (although not in 1925), who want to see the Cardinals remain recognized as the 1925 champs.
It should be noted that the website of the Pro Football Hall of Fame notes that the Cardinals are the 1925 champions, without an asterisk next to their name.
JWF
Apparently, back in 1925, there were no playoffs. The championship was awarded to the team with the best record. That normally would have gone to the Pottsville Maroons of Pennsylvania, who finished with the best record in the league that year (similar to many soccer leagues). The Maroons also won a convincing victory over the Cardinals in Chicago during the season. However, the Maroons then went on to play a Notre Dam All-Star team in a non-league game. As a result, in part because the game was played in Philadelphia and violated the rights of another team in the league, the league stripped the Maroons of the trophy and awarded the championship to the Cardinals. According to some sources, the Cardinals refused to accept the championship.
Attempts have been made by Maroons fans over the years to have the championship restored to Pottsville. Pottsville fans claim that these attempts have been thwarted over the years by the Bidwell family, longtime owners of the Cardinals (although not in 1925), who want to see the Cardinals remain recognized as the 1925 champs.
It should be noted that the website of the Pro Football Hall of Fame notes that the Cardinals are the 1925 champions, without an asterisk next to their name.
JWF
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Pollock
January 29th is the birthday of the late American painter Jackson Pollock. Pollock is noted for his unique style of painting, particularly the paint drop method he used primarily in the fifties. Many of his works from this time period are simply noted with a number and a date. Pollock's paintings sell for millions of dollars.
Google adapted its logo today to resemble one of Pollock's paintings to celebrate his birthday. A sample of Pollock's paintings and a biography are available in the Galileo database Oxford Art Online. Simply do a search, or an advanced search for 'pollock' or 'Jackson Pollock.' Remember, you will need a password to use Galileo off-campus. Contact the library to get the current Galileo password, or your local Georgia librarian.
JWF
Google adapted its logo today to resemble one of Pollock's paintings to celebrate his birthday. A sample of Pollock's paintings and a biography are available in the Galileo database Oxford Art Online. Simply do a search, or an advanced search for 'pollock' or 'Jackson Pollock.' Remember, you will need a password to use Galileo off-campus. Contact the library to get the current Galileo password, or your local Georgia librarian.
JWF
Haunted Libraries in the South
Hello,
Encyclopedia Britannica recently did a series of Blog entries on 'haunted libraries' in the United States. They broke that same list down by region, including a list of 'haunted' libraries in the south (although one wonders if Texas is still truly a southern state), as well as a list of international haunts.
Interestingly, Britannica was unable to find any haunted Georgia libraries. One library that is supposedly haunted is in Tennessee, the Hoskins Library at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The Hoskins Library was the main academic library for many years until it was converted to a special collections library in the 1980's.
Encyclopedia Britannica is always doing many fine blog entries on history, society, politics, and health, among other subjects. Remember that North Metro Tech students can access Britannica through Galileo. Please contact the library if you need the current Galileo password.
JWF
Encyclopedia Britannica recently did a series of Blog entries on 'haunted libraries' in the United States. They broke that same list down by region, including a list of 'haunted' libraries in the south (although one wonders if Texas is still truly a southern state), as well as a list of international haunts.
Interestingly, Britannica was unable to find any haunted Georgia libraries. One library that is supposedly haunted is in Tennessee, the Hoskins Library at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The Hoskins Library was the main academic library for many years until it was converted to a special collections library in the 1980's.
Encyclopedia Britannica is always doing many fine blog entries on history, society, politics, and health, among other subjects. Remember that North Metro Tech students can access Britannica through Galileo. Please contact the library if you need the current Galileo password.
JWF
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
And the winners are
For librarians and bibliophiles - the mid-winter meeting of ALA holds a particular pleasure - the announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott winners- along with others of note.
I no longer keep up with the Newbery but I do avidly await the Caldecott announcement to build up the Early Childhood collection. Yes, I've ordered the winner.
This year someone (sorry I can't remember who) noted the 2009 Newbery winner was available online as Neil Gaiman read aloud the The Graveyard Book over a 9 day book tour trip in October 2008. Delightfully the author has an easy voice to listen to and great expression as well.
I admit it starts off a bit gruesome for my taste but as I continued to listen I was drawn into the story. Mr. Gaiman has a very expressive voice (and an expressive face).
In GALILEO , Novelist K-8 has a book talk and several reviews to help one push this book!
Yes, get the password from your Georgia librarian to access Novelist through GALILEO.
-kls
I no longer keep up with the Newbery but I do avidly await the Caldecott announcement to build up the Early Childhood collection. Yes, I've ordered the winner.
This year someone (sorry I can't remember who) noted the 2009 Newbery winner was available online as Neil Gaiman read aloud the The Graveyard Book over a 9 day book tour trip in October 2008. Delightfully the author has an easy voice to listen to and great expression as well.
I admit it starts off a bit gruesome for my taste but as I continued to listen I was drawn into the story. Mr. Gaiman has a very expressive voice (and an expressive face).
In GALILEO , Novelist K-8 has a book talk and several reviews to help one push this book!
Yes, get the password from your Georgia librarian to access Novelist through GALILEO.
-kls
RIP Rabbit writer
Hat tip to Titus One Nine for RIP John Updike.
I started looking for verification. I did a Google search, figuring there might be a news story. First on the results list was Wikipedia and they had the death date listed. I looked for a newsy source, skimmed fan sites which did not yet list the death date. In a box I saw the Bloomberg site. I read their news story on John Updike.
Now I'm curious- how fast will other sources update the information. Was the updated Wikipedia a fluke?
Went to GALILEO and looked in Encyclopedia Britannica for John Updike - not updated yet (3:10 EST). How long will it take? Should I send in an edit comment?
Many times the bloggers are ahead of the curve but we need to verify the information with other sources. There's that carpenters adage - measure twice, cut once- which can be translated to check your sources!
-kls
I started looking for verification. I did a Google search, figuring there might be a news story. First on the results list was Wikipedia and they had the death date listed. I looked for a newsy source, skimmed fan sites which did not yet list the death date. In a box I saw the Bloomberg site. I read their news story on John Updike.
Now I'm curious- how fast will other sources update the information. Was the updated Wikipedia a fluke?
Went to GALILEO and looked in Encyclopedia Britannica for John Updike - not updated yet (3:10 EST). How long will it take? Should I send in an edit comment?
Many times the bloggers are ahead of the curve but we need to verify the information with other sources. There's that carpenters adage - measure twice, cut once- which can be translated to check your sources!
-kls
Monday, January 26, 2009
Happy Australia Day!
Today, January 26th, is celebrated as a holiday called Australia Day in the nation continent of Australia. January 26th, 1788 was the date of the arrival of the First Fleet ,a collection of eleven British ships under the command of Governor Arthur Phillip, at what is Port Jackson/Sydney Cove/Sydney Harbour near the present day site of the Sydney Opera House . This marked the establishment of a permanent British presence on the eastern coast of the Australian continent and also began the series of events that led to the creation of the modern day state of Australia. Of interest is the fact that many of the colonists aboard the First Fleet were convicts.
The national holiday is also used to reveal the awarding of the Australian of the Year Award. The 1988 holiday was significant in that it marked the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet.
JWF
The national holiday is also used to reveal the awarding of the Australian of the Year Award. The 1988 holiday was significant in that it marked the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet.
JWF
EB clarifies itself
Encyclopedia Britannica has a blog that covers a variety of topics. They must be hearing that folks aren't thrilled with the idea of EB turning into Wikipedia.
Britannica.com : new features
That's good to hear!
-kls
Britannica.com : new features
A “Suggest Edit” button allows a user to edit any section of an article and submit the changes to Britannica’s editors. Edits submitted by readers are suggestions to our editors that must be reviewed and approved by them before they’re posted. We’re eager for editorial suggestions from our readers, and we’ll review and act on them as quickly as we can, but no one can actually change a Britannica article except our editors.
That's good to hear!
-kls
Math on Sunday
The comics on Sunday, January 25, had a math pattern -
First there is Luann by Greg Evans
Then Foxtrot by Bill Arnend.
Math has never been my favorite subject. It is so rigid, so black and white, so right and wrong- so precise. It's easier to mush around in the Social Sciences. Yet, I ,along with LuAnn and Paige, - use math daily. I'm grateful that I was 'forced' to memorize the multiplication tables as I figure out how much several items will cost. I value being made to practice adding and subtracting in my head, quickly - as I look at a restaurant bill to see if it's correct. I appreciate being able to quickly figure percentages when faced with how much tip to leave.
We have several books in the Q's to help our students brush up on their math skills as they prepare for various standardized tests.
GALILEO has a search link for math. You may search Academic Search Complete - National Science Digital Library -
Research Library (at ProQuest) - and Science and Technology Collection - plus adding other databases.
Math is for everyday use!
-kls
First there is Luann by Greg Evans
Then Foxtrot by Bill Arnend.
Math has never been my favorite subject. It is so rigid, so black and white, so right and wrong- so precise. It's easier to mush around in the Social Sciences. Yet, I ,along with LuAnn and Paige, - use math daily. I'm grateful that I was 'forced' to memorize the multiplication tables as I figure out how much several items will cost. I value being made to practice adding and subtracting in my head, quickly - as I look at a restaurant bill to see if it's correct. I appreciate being able to quickly figure percentages when faced with how much tip to leave.
We have several books in the Q's to help our students brush up on their math skills as they prepare for various standardized tests.
GALILEO has a search link for math. You may search Academic Search Complete - National Science Digital Library -
Research Library (at ProQuest) - and Science and Technology Collection - plus adding other databases.
Math is for everyday use!
-kls
Friday, January 23, 2009
Britannica to Look Like Wikipedia
Greetings,
A librarian at Chattahoochee Technical College set us the following link about Britannica attempting to model itself after Wikipedia by allowing users some ability to edit and add content.
Note: To access Britannica off-campus, you may need to get the current Galileo password from your local Georgia public and/or college librarian.
Britannica to Allow User Edits Like Wikipedia
Britannica is making a mistake with this one.
Britannica is attempting, whether they admit it or not, to become another Wikipedia. They should rather focus on what makes them unique from Wikipedia, which is existing as an authoritative, academic , online encyclopedia. Rather than try to copy Wikipedia, Britannica needs to strengthen what I feel are its weaknesses as compared to Wikipedia. These would include what I feel are poorer interfaces, layouts, and graphics when compared to Wikipedia.
Also, I don’t see how their new user-added feature will entice patrons away from Wikipedia. First, Britannica has it articles written by experts in a field. I find it hard to digest that Britannica will have a Classics expert on call 24/7 to vet a user submitted entry on the Alexander the Great article. Also, one appeal of the user edit feature in Wikipedia is that you can see your edits instantly, not twenty minutes later.
Wikipedia, because of its nature, is much more exhaustive than Britannica. You can find articles in Wikipedia on the novel adaptations of the different Star Trek television series. You won’t find that on Britannica. And you shouldn’t find that on Britannica , if Britannica continues to promote itself as an academic source.
Despite its level of acceptance by many of our younger patrons, Wikipedia is best viewed as a pop culture/quick reference resource, that has to be taken with a grain of salt. Britannica should recognize this and not try to copy them, but rather should play to its own strengths and increase its viability as an academic and referenced alternative.
I liken this situation to the current state of affairs at General Motors. One of their few bright spots the last decade has been Cadillac. They made the decision to make the line unique from Buick and other GM lines, and play to Cadillac’s strengths as a high end luxury line with lots of features. One area GM failed was its half-hearted attempts to copy Japanese/Korean successes in smaller cars without giving the same level of quality and fuel efficiency that the imports offered.
This is akin to Pepsi changing it can color to red and white because Coke is selling more product.
JWF
A librarian at Chattahoochee Technical College set us the following link about Britannica attempting to model itself after Wikipedia by allowing users some ability to edit and add content.
Note: To access Britannica off-campus, you may need to get the current Galileo password from your local Georgia public and/or college librarian.
Britannica to Allow User Edits Like Wikipedia
Britannica is making a mistake with this one.
Britannica is attempting, whether they admit it or not, to become another Wikipedia. They should rather focus on what makes them unique from Wikipedia, which is existing as an authoritative, academic , online encyclopedia. Rather than try to copy Wikipedia, Britannica needs to strengthen what I feel are its weaknesses as compared to Wikipedia. These would include what I feel are poorer interfaces, layouts, and graphics when compared to Wikipedia.
Also, I don’t see how their new user-added feature will entice patrons away from Wikipedia. First, Britannica has it articles written by experts in a field. I find it hard to digest that Britannica will have a Classics expert on call 24/7 to vet a user submitted entry on the Alexander the Great article. Also, one appeal of the user edit feature in Wikipedia is that you can see your edits instantly, not twenty minutes later.
Wikipedia, because of its nature, is much more exhaustive than Britannica. You can find articles in Wikipedia on the novel adaptations of the different Star Trek television series. You won’t find that on Britannica. And you shouldn’t find that on Britannica , if Britannica continues to promote itself as an academic source.
Despite its level of acceptance by many of our younger patrons, Wikipedia is best viewed as a pop culture/quick reference resource, that has to be taken with a grain of salt. Britannica should recognize this and not try to copy them, but rather should play to its own strengths and increase its viability as an academic and referenced alternative.
I liken this situation to the current state of affairs at General Motors. One of their few bright spots the last decade has been Cadillac. They made the decision to make the line unique from Buick and other GM lines, and play to Cadillac’s strengths as a high end luxury line with lots of features. One area GM failed was its half-hearted attempts to copy Japanese/Korean successes in smaller cars without giving the same level of quality and fuel efficiency that the imports offered.
This is akin to Pepsi changing it can color to red and white because Coke is selling more product.
JWF
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
From way up high
A bit of news posted in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on 14 Jan 2009. Google Earth and the Museo Nacional del Prado in Spain have joined to put art into Google Earth.
Open up Google Earth (you may need to install it on your computer but it didn't take me long to do that). When you search for Museo del Prado, click on the museum, 14 pictures appear, click on a picture and read about the painting. Fascinating!
I noticed in my glance at a Google Earth page, a mention of Shakespeare. When I went back after loading Google Earth, I couldn't find the entry. I was able to find the Google Earth Blog reference for Shakespeare. Many places mentioned by Shakespeare are noted on Google Earth. Click on a picture of Shakespeare and zoom in to see what the location looks like today.
Fascinating! It does remind me of my foray into Second Life - flying over the land- setting down to visit.
I've added the Google Earth Blog story to delicious and tagged it for ENG 193 and Humanities 191.
-kls
Open up Google Earth (you may need to install it on your computer but it didn't take me long to do that). When you search for Museo del Prado, click on the museum, 14 pictures appear, click on a picture and read about the painting. Fascinating!
I noticed in my glance at a Google Earth page, a mention of Shakespeare. When I went back after loading Google Earth, I couldn't find the entry. I was able to find the Google Earth Blog reference for Shakespeare. Many places mentioned by Shakespeare are noted on Google Earth. Click on a picture of Shakespeare and zoom in to see what the location looks like today.
Fascinating! It does remind me of my foray into Second Life - flying over the land- setting down to visit.
I've added the Google Earth Blog story to delicious and tagged it for ENG 193 and Humanities 191.
-kls
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Feeding the info tiger
Really Simple Syndication is one way to get the news and commentary delivered to your desktop.
This morning I read on Titus One Nine the news about the WhiteHouse.gov site. The Obama team had their first blog posting at 12:01. Fast, very fast. I've created a feed to my Bloglines because I find it easier to check Bloglines than to go from site to site checking for a new post.
Various vendors in GALILEO offer RSS feeds for searches and publications. I like getting the latest publication delivered to my desktop (quicker than theUS Mail, cheaper than a print subscription. RSS really is simple.
Yes, the password to access GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
This morning I read on Titus One Nine the news about the WhiteHouse.gov site. The Obama team had their first blog posting at 12:01. Fast, very fast. I've created a feed to my Bloglines because I find it easier to check Bloglines than to go from site to site checking for a new post.
Various vendors in GALILEO offer RSS feeds for searches and publications. I like getting the latest publication delivered to my desktop (quicker than theUS Mail, cheaper than a print subscription. RSS really is simple.
Yes, the password to access GALILEO is available from your Georgia librarian.
-kls
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