On videogame programmes in academia. One of the more interesting articles. Includes Carnegie Mellon, other unis. Response and reception from industry.
"Just imagine that a movie studio showed up at a cinema school and said, 'You know, we need three times as many directors and screenwriters as we are able to get now.' That's where we are."
Video Games Are Their Major, So Don't Call Them Slackers
By SETH SCHIESEL
Published: November 22, 2005
Oh, and Kakiseni had a funny article of Jit Murad and another comedian slanging each other - they both have shows running at the same time.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Monday, November 21, 2005
More of the same on Google's plan to digitize library books, but with a few more details - seems no one knows HOW they are actually doing the large scale - massive new technology or massive number of workers to flip pages? And the fact that Harvard Library director was previously with the university press (publisher).
At Harvard, a Man, a Plan and a Scanner
By KATIE HAFNER
Published: November 21, 2005
Altho' Google does have a stated plan to organize all human knowledge, I was still a bit surprised upon discovering that well, it looks like they are trying to do just that. Was preparing slides for an information literacy workshop, and under search tools for different types of resources, you could put a Google engine for every one - Books: Google Print. Articles: Google Scholar. Web sites: Google search engine. Voila. All they need is a subject directory as well.
At Harvard, a Man, a Plan and a Scanner
By KATIE HAFNER
Published: November 21, 2005
Altho' Google does have a stated plan to organize all human knowledge, I was still a bit surprised upon discovering that well, it looks like they are trying to do just that. Was preparing slides for an information literacy workshop, and under search tools for different types of resources, you could put a Google engine for every one - Books: Google Print. Articles: Google Scholar. Web sites: Google search engine. Voila. All they need is a subject directory as well.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
On African women, "...who somehow manage to carry that entire continent on their backs."
Waiting for Their Moment in the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman
By HELENE COOPER
Published: November 16, 2005, NYTimes
In other news, while Malaysia groans about quality and meritocracy, the U.S. asks about content. Reform School, Contd.
How to reinvent higher education.
Updated Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005, at 6:53 AM ET, Slate.com
A young Afghan from California writes about Yale and community college. He also has a book published - "Come back to Afghanistan".
And finally, something about U.S. presidential libraries:
All the Presidents' Papers
How do presidential libraries decide which records to release?By Daniel Engber
Posted Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005, at 6:51 PM ET
Waiting for Their Moment in the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman
By HELENE COOPER
Published: November 16, 2005, NYTimes
In other news, while Malaysia groans about quality and meritocracy, the U.S. asks about content. Reform School, Contd.
How to reinvent higher education.
Updated Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005, at 6:53 AM ET, Slate.com
A young Afghan from California writes about Yale and community college. He also has a book published - "Come back to Afghanistan".
And finally, something about U.S. presidential libraries:
All the Presidents' Papers
How do presidential libraries decide which records to release?By Daniel Engber
Posted Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005, at 6:51 PM ET
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Today's haul from the NYTimes (why are we still all reading it, tho' we're gone from college and half a world away?)
Librarians and Who's Who:
Who Are You? Why Are You Here?
By WILLIAM L. HAMILTON
Published: November 13, 2005
Nice article about this "reference"
On Casa Amadeo:
Honoring Pop and His Palace of Latin Soul in the Bronx
By MANNY FERNANDEZ
Published: November 14, 2005
Librarians and Who's Who:
Who Are You? Why Are You Here?
By WILLIAM L. HAMILTON
Published: November 13, 2005
Nice article about this "reference"
On Casa Amadeo:
Honoring Pop and His Palace of Latin Soul in the Bronx
By MANNY FERNANDEZ
Published: November 14, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
I was cataloging (expanded) a book today, which appeared to be a tough customer. Could not find the record in any of the usual places - Library of Congress, British Library, OhioLink, NLB, NLA - with any of the usual clauses - title, author, author/title. There was an earlier edition cataloged at NUS, which appeared to be where the assistant had copied the record from.
The first subject heading given for this first ed. was "Knowledge, Sociology of". Epistemology, in other words. However it did not look quite right for the item I had.
Finally I look at the book itself more carefully. The blurb on the back cover tipped me off - aiyah, it's related to writing! Reading the Preface again a bit more carefully showed this to be true. For composition students. You'd be hard pressed to tell from the table of contents, tho' now I think about it, these are authors that writers love - Gloria Anzaldua, Bell Hooks, Walter Mosley - or at least, I first heard about them in a teaching of writing class. Jane Tompkins and Nancy Sommers were there too, tho' others like Thomas Kuhn and Sherry Turkle tended to throw you off the scent.
In any case, then it was a simple matter of assigning 808.0427 and College readers, because that's where all the readings for writers go. Yes, it is about different types of academic disciplines, but in any case, our library doesn't really have stuff like that, and it will be better off and more likely found with its fellows in the composition section.
The first subject heading given for this first ed. was "Knowledge, Sociology of". Epistemology, in other words. However it did not look quite right for the item I had.
Finally I look at the book itself more carefully. The blurb on the back cover tipped me off - aiyah, it's related to writing! Reading the Preface again a bit more carefully showed this to be true. For composition students. You'd be hard pressed to tell from the table of contents, tho' now I think about it, these are authors that writers love - Gloria Anzaldua, Bell Hooks, Walter Mosley - or at least, I first heard about them in a teaching of writing class. Jane Tompkins and Nancy Sommers were there too, tho' others like Thomas Kuhn and Sherry Turkle tended to throw you off the scent.
In any case, then it was a simple matter of assigning 808.0427 and College readers, because that's where all the readings for writers go. Yes, it is about different types of academic disciplines, but in any case, our library doesn't really have stuff like that, and it will be better off and more likely found with its fellows in the composition section.
If it doesn't exist, can it be endangered?
Everyone loves a mythical lake monster. And no, this isn't about Nessie.
Hunting Season Opens for Mythical Creature
By KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writer Fri Nov 11,12:35 AM ET
I did a bit of inquiry, and found that there is a pseudo-science (at least, it sounds like one) called cryptozoology - the study of hidden creatures. I don't see why it couldn't be a true science or discipline, in a sense - after all, scientific expeditions to trawl Loch Ness, etc. have been carried out (and haven't found anything I think). It would be a mixture of history, anthropology, and natural science for most creatures. The problem is probably most of those who subscribe to this cryptozoology would be of the non-scientific kind (which is ok for them, but detrimental to being taken seriously by skeptics).
In any case, a good site for those interested in such things is the PBS site for a NOVA programme:
NOVA Online: The Beast of the Loch Ness
There's a write-up on "fantastic creatures" in general, including those which were eventually found, and a great 3-pager on Nessie, including a treatment of the "surgeon's photo" which is supposed to be a hoax, and the sonar-equipped expeditions to find the creature.
The episode for television follows a 1997 sonar expedition.
Everyone loves a mythical lake monster. And no, this isn't about Nessie.
Hunting Season Opens for Mythical Creature
By KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writer Fri Nov 11,12:35 AM ET
I did a bit of inquiry, and found that there is a pseudo-science (at least, it sounds like one) called cryptozoology - the study of hidden creatures. I don't see why it couldn't be a true science or discipline, in a sense - after all, scientific expeditions to trawl Loch Ness, etc. have been carried out (and haven't found anything I think). It would be a mixture of history, anthropology, and natural science for most creatures. The problem is probably most of those who subscribe to this cryptozoology would be of the non-scientific kind (which is ok for them, but detrimental to being taken seriously by skeptics).
In any case, a good site for those interested in such things is the PBS site for a NOVA programme:
NOVA Online: The Beast of the Loch Ness
There's a write-up on "fantastic creatures" in general, including those which were eventually found, and a great 3-pager on Nessie, including a treatment of the "surgeon's photo" which is supposed to be a hoax, and the sonar-equipped expeditions to find the creature.
The episode for television follows a 1997 sonar expedition.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Marjorie Williams, reporter. "The Woman at the Washington Zoo."
Articles on her life and her book from the NYTimes (After a Death by Cancer, a Reporter's Life Force Glows in New Book By TODD S. PURDUM Published: November 8, 2005) and Slate.com (Marjorie Williams: A journalist who made feminism matter.By Meghan O'Rourke Posted Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005)
"Marjorie Williams, a writer for The Washington Post and Vanity Fair and one of the most penetrating and original journalists of her generation..." (NYTimes). Her husband is a senior writer at Slate.
While we're at it, Slate has a nice diary feature on "Book Hunting in Britain". Day 3 includes a visit to Chatsworth House and the present-day Duchess of Devonshire, one of 6 Mitford sisters, and Day 4 is called March of the Penguins and is about the Penguin press and a bookseller from an "undercover literary family"- his parents worked for M16 - in London who started collecting Penguins before they were considered of collectible value (and exhibited, for instance, at the Victoria and Albert.
The writer makes a snide remark at, or merely an observation of, the V&A: "In America, we have self-storage. In Britain, they have the Victoria & Albert Museum..."
Articles on her life and her book from the NYTimes (After a Death by Cancer, a Reporter's Life Force Glows in New Book By TODD S. PURDUM Published: November 8, 2005) and Slate.com (Marjorie Williams: A journalist who made feminism matter.By Meghan O'Rourke Posted Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005)
"Marjorie Williams, a writer for The Washington Post and Vanity Fair and one of the most penetrating and original journalists of her generation..." (NYTimes). Her husband is a senior writer at Slate.
While we're at it, Slate has a nice diary feature on "Book Hunting in Britain". Day 3 includes a visit to Chatsworth House and the present-day Duchess of Devonshire, one of 6 Mitford sisters, and Day 4 is called March of the Penguins and is about the Penguin press and a bookseller from an "undercover literary family"- his parents worked for M16 - in London who started collecting Penguins before they were considered of collectible value (and exhibited, for instance, at the Victoria and Albert.
The writer makes a snide remark at, or merely an observation of, the V&A: "In America, we have self-storage. In Britain, they have the Victoria & Albert Museum..."
4% of survey respondents (presumably working adults in the U.S.?) said they checked their email in the bathroom! (See quote below).
In other news, Star In.Tech yesterday reported on broadband penetration in Malaysia - results of an MCMC survey ("Household Use of the Internet survey 2005") on reasons for non-adoption. Highest two reasons were: 1) did not see the need/satisfied with dial-up & 2) not aware of broadband. Only 3rd was price (which is my reason. For the amount of usage at my house, I'm waiting for the price to come down).
Where art thou, broadband users?
BY EDWIN YAPP Wed Nov 9 2005 thestar.com.my/Thur in the print edition
Quote from the NYTimes email story:
"In a recent survey by America Online and Opinion Research Corporation, 41 percent of the respondents said they checked their e-mail in the morning before going to work. More than 25 percent said they had never gone more than a few days without checking e-mail, with 60 percent saying they check it on vacation. Four percent looked at e-mail in the bathroom."
Got 2 Extra Hours for Your E-Mail?
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Published: November 10, 2005
In other news, Star In.Tech yesterday reported on broadband penetration in Malaysia - results of an MCMC survey ("Household Use of the Internet survey 2005") on reasons for non-adoption. Highest two reasons were: 1) did not see the need/satisfied with dial-up & 2) not aware of broadband. Only 3rd was price (which is my reason. For the amount of usage at my house, I'm waiting for the price to come down).
Where art thou, broadband users?
BY EDWIN YAPP Wed Nov 9 2005 thestar.com.my/Thur in the print edition
Quote from the NYTimes email story:
"In a recent survey by America Online and Opinion Research Corporation, 41 percent of the respondents said they checked their e-mail in the morning before going to work. More than 25 percent said they had never gone more than a few days without checking e-mail, with 60 percent saying they check it on vacation. Four percent looked at e-mail in the bathroom."
Got 2 Extra Hours for Your E-Mail?
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Published: November 10, 2005
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Had lunch today, and then it started to pour. So I ordered a cup of teh tarik and sat back to wait for it to stop.
Back at the office (library): a fantastic - well, at least I found it quite funny, esp. below - writeup on Mawi, the phenom who may or may not actually be able to sing. I haven't heard him myself so I can't say. Nevertheless, I particularly like this writer's descriptions of different types of singers, esp. "penyanyi kayu" (the wooden singer)...
"Kalau dulu, industri muzik mempunyai label-label tertentu untuk penyanyi-penyanyi yang ada di pasaran, seperti penyanyi “penyanyi piring hitam” yang hanya sedap didengar di radio tapi hancur kalau membuat persembahan “live” dan terpaksa membuat persembahan “lipsynch”; “penyanyi majalah” yang sering menghiasi majalah kerana kecantikan dan ketampanannya; “penyanyi back-up” yang mempunyai suara yang menakjubkan tapi tidak mempunyai wajah yang menawan; “penyanyi kayu” yang hanya berdiri tegak menyampaikan lagunya; “penyanyi kelab malam” yang versatile dalam persembahannya; dan “penghibur” yang boleh menyanyi, menari dan berkomunikasi dengan audien."
I also thought this was hilarious:
"Apa sebenarnya yang membuatkan manusia di bumi Malaysia ini tergila-gilakan Mawi? Apakah kerana senyumannya yang selamba, mata kuyunya, hidungnya yang mancung mencakuk, keningnya yang lebat, kulitnya yang keputihan, rambutnya yang pendek mencacak, atau suaranya yang parau kejantanan? Mungkin itulah yang membuatkan banyak perempuan menjadi gila, hingga sanggup mengejar Mawi sampai masuk ke dalam masjid dengan “hotpants” sewaktu Mawi pulang ke Johor."
Read the whole thing, plus comments from the rakyat, on Kakiseni:
Hari-hari Mawi
Adakah artis itu milik masyarakat, badan korporat, parti politik atau diri sendirinya?
by Zulkifli Mohamad 27-10-2005
Back at the office (library): a fantastic - well, at least I found it quite funny, esp. below - writeup on Mawi, the phenom who may or may not actually be able to sing. I haven't heard him myself so I can't say. Nevertheless, I particularly like this writer's descriptions of different types of singers, esp. "penyanyi kayu" (the wooden singer)...
"Kalau dulu, industri muzik mempunyai label-label tertentu untuk penyanyi-penyanyi yang ada di pasaran, seperti penyanyi “penyanyi piring hitam” yang hanya sedap didengar di radio tapi hancur kalau membuat persembahan “live” dan terpaksa membuat persembahan “lipsynch”; “penyanyi majalah” yang sering menghiasi majalah kerana kecantikan dan ketampanannya; “penyanyi back-up” yang mempunyai suara yang menakjubkan tapi tidak mempunyai wajah yang menawan; “penyanyi kayu” yang hanya berdiri tegak menyampaikan lagunya; “penyanyi kelab malam” yang versatile dalam persembahannya; dan “penghibur” yang boleh menyanyi, menari dan berkomunikasi dengan audien."
I also thought this was hilarious:
"Apa sebenarnya yang membuatkan manusia di bumi Malaysia ini tergila-gilakan Mawi? Apakah kerana senyumannya yang selamba, mata kuyunya, hidungnya yang mancung mencakuk, keningnya yang lebat, kulitnya yang keputihan, rambutnya yang pendek mencacak, atau suaranya yang parau kejantanan? Mungkin itulah yang membuatkan banyak perempuan menjadi gila, hingga sanggup mengejar Mawi sampai masuk ke dalam masjid dengan “hotpants” sewaktu Mawi pulang ke Johor."
Read the whole thing, plus comments from the rakyat, on Kakiseni:
Hari-hari Mawi
Adakah artis itu milik masyarakat, badan korporat, parti politik atau diri sendirinya?
by Zulkifli Mohamad 27-10-2005
A guy donates software (matching gift programme with his IT company) to Shakespeare festival; it helps them operate. Lights, inventory, communication... use your job knowhow and give a hand to your hobbies!
Of course the librarian interest part is partly in organization:
"Now costume designers can look at images online rather than rifling through racks; costume inventories are so precise that if an understudy jumps into a role at the last minute, the software knows if the correct size costume is on hand."
In Oregon, Brushing Up Their Shakespeare, Helped Along by Software
By KATIE HAFNER
Published: November 8, 2005
Of course the librarian interest part is partly in organization:
"Now costume designers can look at images online rather than rifling through racks; costume inventories are so precise that if an understudy jumps into a role at the last minute, the software knows if the correct size costume is on hand."
In Oregon, Brushing Up Their Shakespeare, Helped Along by Software
By KATIE HAFNER
Published: November 8, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
Looking into the free stuff again. Directory of open access journals:
http://www.doaj.org/
The DOAJ also covers PLoS (Public Library of Science) and BioMedCentral journals. Others? Will have to do a proper search at some point.
http://www.doaj.org/
The DOAJ also covers PLoS (Public Library of Science) and BioMedCentral journals. Others? Will have to do a proper search at some point.
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