I have to work on the 4th of July! That is definitely a change from the past. But more importantly, I won’t have any BBQ. I really don’t know how I’ll survive the holiday. I’ve also bookmarked a ton of interesting reading and language stories but this school and work thing has been a challenge. For the first time in two months I’ve actually cleaned my apartment (don’t vomit, please. It really wasn’t that bad.) I thought I’d celebrate this ... Read Full Story

I’ve been rare busy this summer.  A full school schedule and an internship have left little time for posting.  Still, I’d like to announce that I’m working on publishing a scholarly article, which is awesome and I’m generally beefing up my resume.  In the meantime, I am still looking for interesting “get-your-book-red” type news.  Here’s a neat video with Neil Gaiman discussing his Coraline and possible further Hollywood ventures.  One of the most int... Read Full Story

As a future librarian, I’ve heard the Wikipedia warnings a million times, coupled with a desire to embrace Wikipedia for what it is: a very useful way to get introduced to lots of topics.  But nothing quite brings misinformation into the spotlight than a big journalism mess.  Apparently, a sociology student put up a quote he wrote in the style of a famous dead guy and journalists were quoting it to high heaven… without verifying it.    And that’s not Wikipedia’s fault ... Read Full Story

I’ve been reading a book on Frank Lloyd Wright for an internship I’m doin. ‘m not terribly knowledgeable about architecture, but I love the interior spaces he managed to create by “braking the box” as they say, as well as his use of natural light.  However, besides the fact that I enjoy his spaces, I’m liking him less and less with each page, it’s raised some interesting questions.  First is one on bias.  I’ve always heard that women are harder ... Read Full Story

I’m gradually trying to learn design for my interest in web development. I figure that I can learn the coding (I’m already familiar with HTML/CSS; I really want to learn flash) but I find design to be an important but, alas, elusive aspect. Where should I place graphics? When should I place [...] Read Full Story

I’m always fiddling around on the internet when I should be working, but you all reap the benefit. I’ve found some great online toys for library geeks and book lovers. Check these out if you haven’t already: created using AmaztypeAmaztype: This great toy generates a movie of continuously piling media by an author, musician, director, or actor. So a search for “Jane Austen” under books, would make a picture of the name “Jane Austen” made entirely of... Read Full Story

I just did a user instruction session and I created my own book trailer for The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Harper. I’ve always loved this book and thought it should have been made into a movie. Book trailers would make a great book report project. more about "My Book Trailer", posted with vodpod Read Full Story

You know, a lot of times, people in train stations either feel very blah or even sometimes like crap.  You go to the train station to go to work or go home from work and you don’t think about having an extraordinary day. You think about the same old things day in and day out.  That is why this viral video about the Sound of Music stunt in a train station is so very, very awesome.  The people who witnessed this went about the day with a smile on their faces because some great people took... Read Full Story

That’s the sort of word that would have really stumped me in a spelling bee. I’ve looked at it from time to time and been intrigued by it.  How does one spell out Mrs?  Where did it come from?  What is it an abbreviation for?  I remember looking it up once and I believe the information said that it was short for a french word.  However, those fantastic folks at Interesting Thing of the Day beg to differ.  They cite that The basic distinction between “Miss” and “Mrs.” harks back t... Read Full Story

Etymology always seems like such a scholarly pursuit.  You can almost imagine a bunch of scholars sitting down around a table and deciding what the language will sound like, what the words will be.  But language is very organic and grows and changes every time a people hear a new word in another language or decide to make one up to describe something.  So it’s no surprise that many words, especially in a language like English, would be from misheard words in other language or misnomers ... Read Full Story