Spellbound!

Want a way to while away* the time? Try Free Rice. It's fun and it's educational and it's ADDICTIVE! Besides it will improve your vocabulary and spelling.

"The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry)." Thanks to Kate Haviland for the link.

*And while we are at it, did you know there are forty synonyms for the expression 'while away the time"? Moby Thesaurus has words for "while away the time":
beguile the time, burn daylight, buy time, consume time, dabble,
diddle, doodle, drown care, footle, fribble, fritter away time,
have a ball, have fun, keep time, kill time, laugh it up,
live it up, look for time, loosen up, lose time, measure time,
occupy time, pass the time, pass time, piddle, potter, put in time,
putter, race against time, relax, spend time, summer, take time,
take up time, trifle, use time, waste time, weekend, winter,
work against time

Unique Gifts From Around the World

I have found the National Geographic sponsored site, Novica.com, to be a great source of gifts. Many of the gifts I've purchased come completely or uniquely wrapped - very special packaging touches and personal cards from the artist. The shipping from places like Thailand and Bali seems to be more reasonably priced than within this country and it is very fast and on time. Among other things I've purchased have been the three beaded silk shawls my daughters wore as maids of honor in my wedding this past year.

Check out the necklaces, bags and briefcases, handmade apparel and others and sort by price if you'd like. A great option for gift buying to support aristry around the world.

Why Not Your Library?

As the years go by as a orofessional librarian I keep less books in my home. Oh, yes, they look great and decorating with books is a real art. I've been very proud of my collections in the past, having actual 'libraries', rooms devoted to books and reading, in my own homes. I've even cataloged them using the ReaderCat barcode scanner. However, these days most of my books are long-gone in favor of never moving books again! It just doesn't make that much sense to me to hang on when reciprocal borrowing from Massachusetts libraries is so easy.

Then again ... perhaps I would need that certain book at 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning? Not me. Or perhaps I am just jealous, not having the space in my life that I once had. I don't think so.

However, that said ... if you want to read about a couple who did organize and catalog their home collection, it is an interesting example of

Home Library, Extreme Style!

Fun With Elves

Two of the best sites for this holiday are ElfYourself and ScroogeYourself brought to you by OfficeMax. This fun software can create a great online greeting using photos you have right on your computer. Play with it and create with it. I've ScroogedMyself and you can get right to the task yourself!

Gifts With Panache

Warning: Some political humor involved! Salon.com has published this year's gift guide and the suggestions are loads of fun - even if you aren't buying or giving. For a quick peek at some of the cleverest:
Check out the

Great Revolutionaries finger puppet set or the Sticky Notes or Freudian Slippers at The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild

or a

Double Shot Travel French Press Mug for adventurous coffee lovers from Liquid Planet

or

Go Green with a continual supply of recycled toothbrushes from Recycline

Listening In

"lively and revealing conversations to more readers than our radio signal reaches ... [and] with the generous and visionary support of The Leo S. Guthman Fund of Chicago, [OpenBooks] is able to provide free downloadable Open Books audio files Open Books Radio is home to a substantial archive of author interviews, a collection that will continue to grow as we add new shows each month. Visit our Interviews page for a list of the writers appearing on Open Books."

Too Many Books, Too Little Space

The British Library's collection is growing every year, just as our Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Libraries who are 'copyright houses' are weighed down with that responsibility. Read the article in The Guardian to learn just how much space is needed to house books that no one is currently reading.

Reinventing the Book?

"The book, just turns out to be an incredible device."

says Jeff Bezos, 43, the CEO of Internet commerce giant Amazon.com. Read the article in Newsweek. From Library Link Of the Day Bezos believes the concept of perfection can be improved upon. Do you?

Sci Fi and Fantasy and Cups of Tea

Nancy Pearl and I are on the same page - science fiction and fantasy are not our genre. However, Nancy has picked a half dozen must-reads and you can listen to the NPR podcast, or read the reviews. From the I Love Libraries.org newsletter.

Star Images

The top 100 images from the Hubble Telescope can be found at Space Telescope.org

"The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured the sharpest view yet of the most famous of all planetary nebulae: the Ring Nebula (M57). In this October 1998 image, the telescope has looked down a barrel of gas cast off by a dying star thousands of years ago. This photo reveals elongated dark clumps of material embedded in the gas at the edge of the nebula; the dying central star floating in a blue haze of hot gas. The nebula is about a light-year in diameter and is located some 2, 000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Lyra."

"Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man"

One of the best uses of tube time is viewing the Up Series. By now the original series (Seven-Up) has gone thirty-five years beyond its original filming. In 1964 director Michael Apted filmed fourteen seven-year olds (in England) and provided us with an inside view of their lives. He followed it with 7 Plus Seven in 1971, 21-Up in 1978, 28-Up in 1985, 35-Up in 1992, 42-Up in 1999 and 49-Up in 2006. It is an intriguing series and one that hooked me in 1999. Watch the whole thing - you'll be mesmerized. It runs for many hours - plan the whole week to watch it.

From Amazon.com

Starting in 1964 with Seven Up, The UP Series has explored this Jesuit maxim of "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man." The original concept was to interview 14 children from diverse backgrounds from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future. Every seven years, renowned director Michael Apted, a researcher for Seven Up, has been back to talk to them, examining the progression of their lives.
From cab driver Tony to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan and the heart-breaking Neil, as they turn 49 more life-changing decisions and surprising developments are revealed.

Glasswing

I had to share this photograph of a glasswing butterfly from South America. Simply gorgeous. Click for more photos.


And here: Art in Hand

Missed the Debate?

If you missed the Democratic debate last Tuesday night, you can watch it through the NY Times link here for a time. The buffering is great and you can read the transcript as you watch. Also remember to catch up on all Election 2008 news go to Road to 2008.com or perhaps Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 is more your cup of tea. It's a humorous look at the 2008 Presidential race.

Daylight Moving Time

Two books written about the 'daylight savings' insanity are Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau and Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Timeby Michael Downing.