Wikipedia Loves Libraries

I've been a terrible blogger, but I do still get on the computer and read about information sometimes. Today I ran across this concept: the Wikipedia Loves Libraries Editathon. Yes, I know that Wikipedia is not the best resource for information and yes, I like everyone else, visit it frequently. The solution--help make it better. If I were less lazy, I'd organize an Editathon as no one, at least as of this morning, has one happening here in Austin. Well, maybe next year. Meanwhile, here you can read more about it.

Photo selected in contest!

Today I found out my photograph of our horses was chosen in the first group of pictures in a contest on Pioneer Woman's blog. Check it out here:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2011/03/your-horse-photos-group-1/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pwphotography+%28Pioneer+Woman+Photography%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

It is of two horses in a clump of cedar trees and is about midway down the page. I'm credited as jmp8107. Its a real unusual picture and I didn't do any retouching or anything. It was just snapped at random when we were out cutting down a Christmas tree in our back pasture.

Parents Photo Faves

I know I'm biased, but I've entered my little girl's picture in a contest at Parents' Magazine. If you think she's cute, click the link below and vote for her! Come on, you know you want to...
Parents Photo Faves

Mary Page's Baptism

Our little girl has finally been brought into the flock. She was baptized on Oct 30, 2010 at Chatfield in her mother's own baptismal gown. We are so pleased!

My Cutie Kewpie Doll!

Time has flown! Last week our daughter turned eight months old. Although infants change a lot over the course of their babyhood, one thing has remained consistent: she has ALWAYS resembled a classic Kewpie doll! However, at this time she particularly echoes the doll because of her size and shape. Judge for yourself--she even has the little topknot curl!

Oddly funny or funnily odd?

Found today: online comic strip "Hark! A Vagrant" by Canadian historian-turned-humorist Kate Beaton. Sometimes headscratchingly funny. Where else can you read illustrated humor featuring Nicola Tesla, Robert Peel, and the Headless Horseman all in one place?

I LOVE this sort of thing!

The Times Online has a link to this fantastic website that posts global information on a world map. Check out International Number Ones (Because Everyone is Good at Something). Spoiler Alert: the US is number one in Serial Killers.

Slimer Revisted at the NY Public Library

For all you folks that remember the '80s with a little fondness, the group Improv Everywhere has restaged "Ghostbusters" at the NY Public library. Lots of pictures and some memories!

Edible Book Festival!

Though they began this festival after my graduation from the program, as an alumna of the UT Graduate School of Library & Information Science (now known as the iSchool), I still follow some of the quirkier events. The Edible Book Festival is one of them. What a way to eat your words! Some look truly appetizing. Others, just clever. Nonetheless, they make great browsing! Check it out!

Librarians After My Own Heart

Having not worked in a public library for almost 10 years, I am thankful that I don't have to deal with the not so fun aspects of library work (angry ranters, disgusting mess cleanup). However I've truly missed the serendipitous encounters with odd books. Two librarians in Michigan can help fill that void with their blog “Awful Library Books.” For anyone who thinks all books are sacrosanct, remember, sometimes you’ve just gotta toss the trash to make room for treasure. Yes, bad books do exist.

Op-Ed Contributor - A Library to Last Forever - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Contributor - A Library to Last Forever - NYTimes.com

Librarians show their wild side| KXAN.com

Librarians show their wild side| KXAN.com

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Bamboozling Ourselves (Part 1) - Errol Morris Blog - NYTimes.com

Today the Extraordinaire shares a fascinating NY Times series written by filmmaker Errol Morris about art forgery, aesthetic shift, and how we perceive the past. Bamboozling Ourselves (Part 1) - Errol Morris Blog - NYTimes.com

The Extraordinarie's Extraordinary Adventures at the Doctor's Office

Most of the Informatician Extraordinaire's time of late has been taken up with recovering from a bout of bronchitis-turned-to-pneumonia. Though she has returned to work, today's installment of the continuing saga includes another round of antibiotics. Folks, this is week FOUR! Fortunately, swine-flu seems to not be in the picture. Meanwhile, this information manager is managing to stumble home and into bed. Maybe next week will offer a little less medical drama...

Dewey Decimalize Yourself!

For those of you who have nothing better to do (that's none of you, right?) check out this nifty, funny site wherein you can get yourself classified according to Melville Dewey's Great Classification System.

Jennifer Payne's Dewey Decimal Section:

879 Literatures of other Italic languages



Class:
800 Literature


Contains:
Literature, criticism, analysis of classic writing and mythology.



What it says about you:
You're a global, worldly person who wants to make a big impact with your actions. You have a lot to tell people and you're good at making unique observations about everyday experiences. You can notice and remember details that other people think aren't important.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

Results may vary, but are likely fun!

I want to buy a paper doll (part 1)

Librarians are collectors by nature. Its not "do you collect" but "what do you collect." Frequently it is books, but some of us branch out to other treasures. The Extraordinaire has many obsessions, high among them: paper dolls.

Lately she's been admiring the growing number of websites devoted to creating, collecting, and trading these little gems. eBay is a fantastic source too, but the Extraordinaire is always tempted to add to her collection. Look but don't touch (thy credit card) is the mantra she should be following. It's amazing the prices commanded by these little pieces of paper! Fortunately, many are "reasonable," though the Extraordinaire suggests that readers get familiar with the market before jumping in.

A few sites of interest:

Original Paper Doll Artists Guild
http://www.opdag.com/

Paper Doll Review
http://www.paperdollreview.com/catalog/index.php

Paper Dolls.com
http://www.paperdolls.com/

Paper Doll Game for the Fashionista
http://www.paperdollheaven.com/en/

Next: The Extraordinaire's Paper Dolls

Seeing Green

The color green has been on The Extraordinaire's mind a lot lately. Yes, it was recently St. Patrick's Day in all its glory; the world is also in a financial crisis that threatens to trickle down to yours truly as well as others in her circle; global warming continues to make the news too. However, what has taken her mind off of these pressing issues is her recent foray into Martha Stewart-ship and a dinner party given for an out of town friend to celebrate a recent engagement.

Never mind about the food, the table looked FANTASTIC!

Green tablecloth, green Bordallo Pinheiro pottery from Portugal with silver chargers, and a grapevine hanging from the chandelier.

There's a commercial out there where a woman whose Southern accent is thicker than even that of The Extraordinaire's mother (and that's pretty darn Southern) who remarks "I can't cook, but I sure can set a cute table." Fortunately for the guests, the cooking that night was pretty good, but for once there was a feast for the eyes.

Yes this is bragging, but, well, sometimes you've just got to show off and with my track record, this may be the only time such a thing is worthy of sharing!

Another Book-thingy for Organizing Your Reads

As yet another example of how the Extraordinaire is behind the times, yet quickly catching up: yesterday, finally, the facebook application VisualBookshelf appeared onto the radar. A recent joiner of online social networks, Yours Truly has become quite the adapter, albeit a late one, of various add-ons and other nifty services. VisualBookshelf is the latest.

Disappointed that LibraryThing was not so easily integrated into her service of choice, The Extraordinaire discovered that several friends were using something else as part of their Facebook accounts. Fortunately, because the she is, indeed, an Infomatician, ISBNs to thousands of her collection were easily acquired. Though still in the process of updating, the collection has grown and now even includes some of her reviews. Now her friends on Facebook can marvel at the breadth and absurdity of her bookshelves. Hopefully she'll have an opportunity to learn what other people think of the books they've read. Check out her library shelves and she'll happily take a look at yours...

Maple syrup at Pastoral Symphony Farm!

Pastoral Symphony Farm: It's syrup season!

Hear ye, hear ye! For those inclined towards natural sweeteners, the lovely folk at Pastoral Symphony Farm are giving away a pint of homemade maple syrup. All the Extraordinaire need do is remind those down in the part of the country where maple trees don't work properly how expensive maple syrup is in the stores and how insipid it tastes. Fresh syrup, though, is a delight. Enter at your own risk, for the Extraordinare may well come after your prize!

999 Challenge - Can the Informatician Extraordinaire Meet or Exceed Expectations?

Considering the Extraordinaire's Library Collection, you would think she reads books all day. Alas, her time is broken up between commuting to work, cooking dinner, then trying to sleep. Nonetheless, she does try to turn a few pages every morning while trying to wake up and before turning out the light after midnight. Although she doesn't much care to have lots of books imposed on her "must read" list, she is intrigued by a concours by her favorite online book cataloging tool LibraryThing. Called the 999 Challenge, the idea is to read nine different books in nine different genres (categories to you non-bibliothequers) by 09/09/2009. Hmmm..I wonder if I can include magazines in the count...