In Kyuquot
We're in Kyuquot now, and we spent the day relaxing after a very long journey out here. Yesterday went like this: up at 5:20 to pack the car, ferry at 7:45, Nanimo at 9:45, lunch in Campbell River, Woss around 2:00, Fair harbour at 4:00 Kyuquot at 4:30. The fishing starts Monday.
 Gone fishing... Back in a week!
Wired cites Wikipedia
One of the sites I check almost daily is Wired. A lot of the content is old news to me because I subscribe to the dead tree publication, but they have some fantastic blogs, particularly Game|Life, and Geek Dad. Today on the front page I came across this: July 10, 1997: Neanderthal DNA Suggests a Separate, Unequal Being. Interesting, yes; blog worthy, not really... Except for the attribution at the bottom of the article: "Source: Associated Press, Wikipedia." I think this is the first time I've seen Wikipedia listed as a source in a reputable publication. I'm know there are plenty of academics and (even) librarians wailing, railing and generally gnashing their teeth right now, but I say "Bravo!" I use Wikipedia on a daily basis, often to quickly familiarize myself with a topic as I conduct a reference interview, if the topic is obscure, or to double check a fact found elsewhere. Like information from any other source, you evaluate, and move on. It's not like Britannica is perfect either. In any case, leaving the well-worn arguments aside, whatever you think about Wikipedia, I can almost guarantee that no matter how great your library, your resources can't touch Wikipedia for information about the new Battlestar Galactica or Gabriel Gonzaga (can't wait to see the show he puts on with Coture). The other day I heard one of my senior colleagues admit, as if confessing a sin, "I love Wikipedia." I admit it too... and look, no guilt. Labels: Wikipedia
Craig's list
Lately we've been cleaning out our storage locker and selling some of our stuff on Craig's List. We listed some items last weekend and have had responses come in in dribs and drabs. Heather mentioned this to a friend who uses Craig's List more than us, and they made an interesting observation: if you post on the weekend you get far fewer results than if you post during a week day, presumably because people are surfing Craig's List at work. There an interesting economics (freakonomics) paper in there somewhere... Labels: Craig's list
Early Literacy
I know that all parents think that their children are exceptional, but my son, at the age of 14 months, has started reading himself to bed. Okay, so maybe he's not "reading," but he is looking at books and turning the pages. I'd like to take credit, but the teachers in the family outnumber the librarians two to one... but we all work together.  Labels: Early literacy
Trying something new...
Up until now this has been a semi anonymous blog that I used when I had thoughts about librarianship. Today, however, I rehosted SamuraiLibrarian on my own doman, RyanVernon.ca. While I still plan on blogging things that interest me as a librarian, I also plan on including more personal content, as with my previous two posts. I'll also be writing about my other interest, things like computers, video games and martial arts.  Speaking of martial arts, the place I train these days, CMA / Crossfit Langley, has an interesting blog. Check out this picture from last week. I'm the one pulling up into a head stand at the back of the right-hand row.
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