Fun video :)

Students and faculty of the University of Washington's Information School (and Nancy Pearl!) do their version of Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face':


Thanks, Jessamyn West.

Ah, great movements sometimes hit snags

Life of Brian by Monty Python is, in the humble opinion of this Classics geek, one of the funniest movies ever (although Monty Python and the Holy Grail is up there, too, I prefer Life of Brian, and not just for the full frontal nudity.)

It makes all those years of studying ancient history and languages worth it just to get all the jokes. I've embedded the link to the 'Romans Go Home' segment before. This one is of the zealots' planning session. Several YouTubers have likened it to a Tea Party meeting. :)

Dennis Hopper on art

It's good to see someone who appreciates art not just for the investment, or air of sophistication that can be derived from collection, but really, because he likes art and finds in it inspiration that can be applied to his own life. Dennis Hopper is best known for the film Easy Rider, something I've never seen but was very much iconic in my mother and father's generation. The actor and director died today of advanced prostate cancer. I only saw two of his films--True Grit and Speed--but I certainly knew the name. (Believe it or not, I have neither seen Rebel Without a Cause or Apocalypse Now, both major motion pictures and true classics. That's something I should probably change.)

Here's more on his life, and death:
Dennis Hopper's influential career came full-circle

Privatisation of education and the great capitalist experiment

A very interesting post about the need for core skills and how they got lost in the technology-laden curriculum of an experimental school.

In Philadelphia, Microsoft 'School of The Future' Is A Disaster For The Kids. Why The Rush To Privatize?

It's well worth a read. Again, thanks Buffy for sharing.

Interesting ticker

This is making the rounds. Thanks to Buffy for sharing. It's neat to compare the various interactions and uses of mobile devices and the Internet. Plus there's the sheer amount of sharing of content that is going on. It's just another reason to make sure our patrons have information literacy, as Steve points out on his blog, as it becomes increasingly important to connect through technology.

Comforting volunteers

Special lady for each Arlington soldier: Volunteers honor troops and make sure none is buried alone

Joyce Johnson remembers the drums beating slowly as she walked with her girls from the Old Post Chapel, behind the horse-drawn caisson carrying the flag-draped casket of her husband.

She remembers struggling to maintain her composure as she stared at his freshly dug grave, trying not to dwell on the terrible sight in the distance — the gaping hole in the Pentagon where he had so proudly worked.

The three-volley salute. Taps. The chaplain handing her a perfectly folded flag. The blur of tributes.

And then a lady stepped forward, a stranger, dressed not in uniform but in a simple dark suit. She whispered a few words and pressed two cards into Johnson's hands.

"If there is anything you need ..."

What a wonderful thing to do for the grieving, and for those who otherwise would otherwise be buried alone, without anyone to attend their last rite of service.

A grim milestone indeed

Texan is GI death 1,000 in Afghan war: 'He always wanted to die for his country,' brother says

The 1,000th American serviceman killed in Afghanistan had already fallen once to a hidden explosive, driving his Humvee over a bomb in Iraq in 2007. The blast punched the dashboard radio into his face and broke his leg in two places.

Marine Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht didn't survive his second encounter with a bomb this week. The death of the 24-year-old Texan born on the Fourth of July marks a grim milestone in the Afghanistan war.

Leicht, who spent two painful years recovering from the Iraq blast, was killed Thursday when he stepped on a land mine in Helmand province that ripped off his right arm. He had written letters from his hospital bed begging to be put back on the front lines, and died less than a month into that desperately sought second tour.

To his family, I hope the fact that he lived and died as he wanted to brings you comfort. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Stuck in my head all day

Yes, one more Joan Baez version of a traditional song. Bear with me, I'm on a folk song kick.

Tell your story of becoming and being a librarian!

Check out Librarian Origins, the survey, at:

http://ix.lt/LibOrigin

Whether you're a first-year circ clerk or a retired library administrator, Librarian Origin Stories wonders how you joined our merry guild. It's a worldwide exploration of the experiences and backgrounds of all who work to keep these wonderful places humming.

You can be as private as you want; the online survey offers several flavors of anonymity. And if you like, you can request results when you finish the short questionnaire.

I took (and enjoyed) the survey...how about you?

An advocate speaks out

You might remember me telling you I'd checked out This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Marilyn Johnson, the author, expresses her opinion on the cutbacks in the Queensborough library system in this video. According to Terry Balliard, of LISNews:

If the plan goes through, many branches would be closed outright or kept open less than half of the week. More than 400 library employees, some in the system since 2000, have been given layoff notices, effective in mid-August. Johnson learned first-hand how bad things were when she spoke to Queens Library employees on May 25. Later that day, a rally was held at City Hall, during which the police kept hundreds of library supporters waiting on the sidewalk, and let them in five at a time.

This sort of thing is happening all around the country. Ironically, in trying oeconomic times libraries (and librarians) are needed more than ever, but cities and counties do not seem to think of that when trying to find ways to trim budgets. Instead, they see libraries as an easy mark. Who would miss books, after all? Yes, libraries are about books, but they are about so much more. I wish more executives and councils realised that.

Thanks, Ms Johnson, for your support. Now, how about the rest of us? What can we do to save our libraries?