Curse on Book Thieves

For him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him.

Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted.

Let him languish in pain crying out for mercy, & let there be no surcease to his agony till he sing in dissolution.

Let bookworms gnaw his entrails ...
when at last he goeth to his final punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him forever.

- monastery of San Pedro in Barcelona (probably a hoax from early 20th century... but I still like it).

E-Books and future of libraries

Still digesting the post from Tim Spaulding on the threat of E-Books and libraries. While E-Books have been around for over a decade, they are now starting to gain traction as better readers come out. Tim brings up some wonderful issues to think about, and I really wonder where libraries will fall in this mess.

I researched the history of public libraries in America while at UNC-Chapel Hill. Most libraries came about from the influence of women's reading groups and the funding of Carnegie Libraries. After they became staples in so many communities, other communities wanted their own, and things grew from there. The whole idea was based on the ability to lend materials to one another. This new digital age of text bypasses that ability, unless people clamor for that ability again (within some sort of reason to protect the rights of the writer... the heck with the publishers).

Another side issue that Tim and I discussed at our WVLA conference... after several beers was the future of publishing books and what format writing will take. We already have tweets, and the idea of a novel or book length is completely a creation of the modern printing and publishing industry. Think about serial writers like Dickens. Couldn't writers move towards that avenue, or something completely different?


In the issues that Tim brings up, I can't help but think the real issue in the future won't be ownership, but some sort of lease to access. This is akin to what our library has now with its Netlibrary E-Audiobook collection. We don't "own" the books, we just pay for annual access to them.

Creative process.

Listened to the cool story on NPR about Chris Walla and J. Robbins creating a song called "Mercury." It was fascinating listening to these two talented artists work out making a song together in two days without knowing each other beforehand. Take a listen and see what you think. Chris Walla & J. Robbins on NPR

Facebook Malware - beware

I haven't come across this malware, but reputable sites like Adobe, Kaspersky Lab, and PCWorld are warning people about Malicious Hackers Use Facebook Wall for Malware Attack . The attack usually comes in the form of a free video link on your wall from a friend. When you click on it, you get an offer to upgrade Adobe.

Kaspersky Lab states the following:

The worm creates a range of commentaries to friends' accounts. Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b, which targets Facebook users, creates spam messages and sends them to the infected users' friends via the Facebook site. The messages and comments include texts such as Paris Hilton Tosses Dwarf On The Street; Examiners Caught Downloading Grades From The Internet; Hello; You must see it!!! LOL. My friend catched you on hidden cam; Is it really celebrity? Funny Moments and many others.

Messages and comments on MySpace and Facebook include links to http://youtube.[skip].pl. If the user clicks on this link, s/he is redirected to http://youtube.[skip].ru, a site which purportedly contains a video clip. If the user tries to watch it, a message appears saying that s/he needs the latest version of Flash Player in order to watch the clip. However, instead of the latest version of Flash Player, a file called codecsetup.exe is downloaded to the victim machine; this file is also a network worm. The result is that users who have come to the site via Facebook will have the MySpace worm downloaded to their machines, and vice versa.

What really matters

Just finished reading Seth Godin's latest post on what really matters. He writes from the marketing side, but hit the nail straight on.

When we are looking to products, services, work and so many other things to fill our lives, what we are really looking for is someone to go with us. To be there, so we don't have to face the world alone. As people we can reach out to those around us and let them know we are with them. More important, is to let them know that God is there with them. A real friend that won't let them down or ever leave them in the dark alone.

As John Lennon said "All we need is Love." So go out there and spread a little love today.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog directed by Joss Whedon of Firefly was my first experience with Hulu and quite enjoyable. Dr. Horrible's made me laugh and think that the internet is allowing us to find entertainment that can appeal to smaller (maybe larger) groups that would enjoy this type of fair.

Summary: Aspiring super-villain Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris a.k.a. Doogie Howser and How I Met Your Mother) wants to join the Evil League of Evil and win the girl of his dreams, but his nemesis, Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion a.k.a. Firefly ), stops him at every turn in this three-part musical.

Wikipedia article on show.

Laugh out loud and enjoy the tunes.

"A Grief Observed" - upon Dad's death.

"A Grief Observed" - upon Dad's death.

This is an email sent to Mom on 7/27/2008.

Mom,

Got your message.

Just started reading C. S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed". Pick it up Mom. I have known about the book for some time, but never read it since I didn't have any real sense of grief / bereavement in my life until now. This is more of a collection of notes that Lewis wrote down in response to his grief and loss of his wife. I know a little of the story of their life together, and this book does give more information about it, but the real meat is his troubles, thoughts and problems in losing his wife. I don't understand everything that he has written here, but some of it is already coming too close to home.

He talks about the vanity of his sorrow. I don't understand people that try and comfort me with words like "Dad is in a better place." I don't worry about Dad at all. He has always been in God's hands and who could ask for anything better? I am vain. I'm upset at being separated from him. Death is final. There is no returning to a conversation or being with Dad. Hear his laugh. Experience him in any way. All we have is memories that begin to fade and change as we go over them. Ultimately our own memories of him are our own and not him anymore. God I miss him.

Lewis talks about the memories and that brings me to the other solace that we often say. We have our memories of him. Like I said, those are so faulty. You know that memories are tricky. You and I have memories of things and people in our lives, but those are constructs of our minds and not that actual person. They never truly live up to the living person that is now gone. I can't experience him. I can't try and know him anymore. He is just gone.

The last thing is hardest and that is that we will never be where we were. He has gone on and is in a separate world from us. When we also enter that world, we won't be the same. We won't be father and son. We won't go golfing, enjoy a game of cards, a joke, good food and beer. None of those things that we did and said with each other can be lived again. This does sadden me because I will miss his vitality and joy for life. I can live life more like he did, but it is a poor substitute.

This is getting a little sad and depressing, but I need to let it out. I hope you don't mind. I do have a hard time with some of the comforting words, but others do know where we are and their thoughts and prayers do mean a lot. I am selfish right now with my loss, but I also have a great love for God and Dad and know that everything is for the best. God is taking care of Dad and Dad is truly enjoying his new being wherever he is.

I love you Mom.

Brian E. Raitz
wvlibrarydude@yahoo.com