If You’re in Juneau, Check out WWII

If you’re looking for a fun time on February 1st, why not check this out?

PRESS RELEASE

The Alaska State Library’s Historical Collections is proud to present “Alaska at War!” its latest exhibition of images from their photographic collection.
This exhibit of newly-revealed images witnesses the Alaskan people and places affected by the [...]

Mercury, Not Like the Moon

When the first several days worth of Mercury pictures from the Messenger probe were released from JPL, I had to admit to a little disappoint. Mercury seemed rather moonlike, even the part we hadn’t seen yet.
Turns out I was just impatient.  The January 30, 2008 status report tells a different story:
“MESSENGER has shown that Mercury [...]

Limits of Full Text Searching

There are people out there who don’t see the point of cataloging or adding metadata to resources. They think that full text searching provides all the access anyone really needs.
As you likely know from the title of this blog, I beg to differ. But more than just differing, I like to offer examples where better [...]

Explore Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Culture and History

Sometimes it takes the Internet to become aware of what is in your own town. Such is the case with the new blog from the Sealaska Heritage Institute. I knew about the institute, which is coming to be known as an excellent resource for Alaska Native history and culture. But I didn’t know that the [...]

President Bush Doesn’t Need Permission Slip for Gitmo

Recently, the mainstream media have uncritically quoted President Bush, Secretary of State Rice and other officials as saying they wish the United States could close down our prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, but we can’t until other nations agree to take the remaining prisoners. In addition to taking the remaining prisons, it’s been reported that [...]

Watching Your Car in Utah

While researching online state government services for the databases wiki I coordinate, I came across an interesting service in Utah called Watch Your Car. The “How it Works” page tells you what you need to know:
The goal of the [...]

One Police Force, One Book

In librarianship, a concept called “one book, one city” has become popular. The idea is to get a whole town reading and discussing the same book. I’m a little dubious on the concept, but if it helps people read and enjoy books, I guess that’s ok.
According to the 13th Floor blog from Governing Magazine, the [...]

Religion of Peace: First your foreskins, then your lives!

As a Christian, I believe it is important for fellow believers to fully own their scripture, warts and all. So, every once in awhile, hopefully more often than last year, I will highlight Bible passages that I think would make nonbelievers say “Yeah, right. A religion of peace!”
To make it into this occasional series, [...]

Gaming: Even NASA is Doing It

I saw a BBC Technology article about how NASA is looking for a contractor to build an online multiplayer environment for gaming to simulate NASA missions for students. Their formal three page “Request for Information” can be found at http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/mmo/.
Still think gaming is a fad? If you thought so? I’m still not much for computer [...]

Roosevelt Was Right: Fear vs. Terrorism

Security consultant and author Bruce Schneier recently highlighted a new study that shows an elevated heart attack risk for people fearful and stressed about terrorism.
He quotes from a New York Times article about a report published in the Archives of General Psychiatry:
After controlling for various factors (age, obesity, smoking, other ailments and stressful life events), [...]