News

Spam anniversary

zzshupinga — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:30:49 -0500

Spam e-mail turned 30 just a few days ago and this article tells us the history of spam. It's an interesting read and well worth the time just to see who the 1st spammer was. Also check out this cool site of spam poetry, that's right poems created from spam.

PCs For Seniors

Great Western Dragon — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:59:52 -0500

The BBC reports that Microsoft UK is developing a computer aimed at seniors.

The device will have a simple interface and come bundled with software which they feel might be of use to senior citizens. Software ideas include prescription management and photo organization software. Another interesting point: The computer will also include software that helps train the user in standard tasks like getting online and using the internet safely, an idea which could well serve public library computers.

Microsoft US, in conjunction with HP, already makes a computer targeted toward seniors.

Flickr and Tags

zzshupinga — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:19:27 -0500

An interesting post from Webware on the use of tags with the Flickr/Library of Congress project. The post is on a presentation given at the Web 2.0 expo.

The Right-to-Quiet Movement: Shouting down excess noise

Blake — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:08:55 -0500

The Interesting Thing Of The Day Blog takes a look at "The Right-to-Quiet Movement" the Right to Quiet Society, one of numerous organizations dedicated to the promotion of quiet. There is in fact a rather large and diverse anti-noise pollution movement afoot. Typically the anti-noise groups focus on the second type of noise, citing extensive research on noise-related health concerns: hearing damage from extended exposure to high levels of sound, sleep loss, psychological trauma, and increased stress levels resulting in high blood pressure, aggressive behavior, and even suicide. But there is also a significant drive to reduce background noises, because even though they may not result in hearing loss, the cumulative long-term effect of low-volume but persistent unwanted sounds can have significant impact on one’s mental health and stress level.

Twittering For Help

Great Western Dragon — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:08:53 -0500

A while back, on this very site, a sort of debate flourished about Twitter. Does it matter? Is it useful? I like it. I don't. It's crap. It's great.

And so the discussion continues.

However, a journalism student from UC Berkeley found Twitter to be of real use when he was swept up by Egyptian police while filming a protest. By tapping out one single word on his phone (ARRESTED) he alerted a network of friends and family to his situation.

Mercury News has the story.

Copyright in today's world

zzshupinga — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:39:22 -0500

This is a podcast from the "Real Deal," where they discuss copyright with Colette Vogele, attorney, Fellow at Stanford's Center for Internet and Society. They discuss some of the concerns people have over copyright in today's world with the internet, downloads, mashups, etc.

Tragedy In Salt Lake City Library

Great Western Dragon — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:02:13 -0500

Yesterday an unidentified woman climbed to the third story balcony of the Salt Lake City Public Library. Then, she jumped off.

Police investigators are calling her death an apparent suicide. Since the library was open, others in the library witnessed her fall. No one else was injured.

Library addition has walls of dirt

Anonymous Patron — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:12:26 -0500

Beth writes Here's a story I heard on the radio this afternoon. The Sublette County Library in Pinedale, WY is building an addition and the walls are made of dirt!

Oldest human voice recording!

zzshupinga — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:43:28 -0500

We all hear growing up that the first recording of a human voice is Thomas Edison's "Mary had a little lamb." However, this may not be true. Audio historian David Giovannoni, has discovered a recording that predates Edison's by 17 years. Parisian inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville used a phonautograph to create this artifacts.

Three Former Library Workers Arrested In Kickback Scheme

Great Western Dragon — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:02:40 -0500

A few former employees of the Sacramento Public Library find themselves in trouble with the law and face charges ranging from grand theft to conflict-of-interest.

Prosecutors allege that a company owned by the employees overbilled the library for routine maintenance work, receiving a kickback in the US$90,000 range.