February 2004 Archives

Technically, this is my second time in Texas. Chris and I changed planes in Houston on our way to Mexico a few years ago. But I don't really think visiting the airport counts as having been someplace. You just can't get a feel for somewhere from the airport.

So I am in Austin, Texas. Sitting on the 23rd floor of the new Austin Hilton. The IA Summit starts tomorrow morning. I didn't sign up for any of the preconference seminars this year. Today is going to be a day for me. The welcome reception starts at 6 tonight. And the Argus Alumni are getting together for our traditional reunion dinner afterwards. I can't wait to see everyone. I miss them all so much. I ran into Keith as I was checking into the hotel last night.

But until then, I'm on my own. And I'm looking forward to it. I did some poking around on the web before I got here (there's a surprise) and I discovered that the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is just a few miles from the hotel. There is also a cross-stitch store nearby that I plan to visit. It should be a good day.

Assuming, of course, I get myself fed and out of the hotel. It's almost 10 already! Eeep! Silly Central Standard Time.

Welcome Grace May Berlingo!

My brother and his wife are now the proud parents of a wonderful little girl. At 10:49 pm EST on Feburary 25, Grace made her way into the world. From what I hear, Mom is doing very well. Grace's big brother Nicholas is very excited and thinks she's pretty neat. At least at this point. :) I am so happy for them! Over joyed in fact.

I was lucky enough to be in CT when Nick was born. I got to hold him when he was only 40 minutes old. I won't get to see Grace until I go back to CT the end of May. It's a little hard being so far away from all the excitement. I can't wait to see her. My mother has promised to email me photos. I'll post some here when I get them.

Same-sex couples can finally get married. This makes me so proud and happy to live in the San Francisco Bay area.

I think this is a wonderful thing. I don't know how people can think that two men or two women who love each other and want to declare it publically and make a commitment to each other for life somehow has an impact on man/woman marriage. One has nothing to do with the other.

Congratulations to the 2600+ couples who have tied the knot in the past few days. I wish you all years of happiness, joy, and love.

This is so way cool. It makes me tingly just to think about it. The New York Public Library has put together software and a book on how to create and manage your own home library. *drool*drool*drool*

Now, my books are already organized (no surprise there). Fiction is on one bookshelf, alphabetically ordered by author. I try to keep an author's works in chronological order by publication date, but that doesn't always happen. Then there are the other bookshelves of non-fiction and literary anthologies and poetry. While the organizational scheme doesn't follow Dewey or LCC, it is arranged by subject. You can find all ancient Greek texts together, all poetry together, all travel together, all IA and UX books together, and so on.

Now, what really gets me jazzed is the database software. I know how to do the cataloging. I wonder if it has an XML/HTML port to the web? I've often thought about getting my home library (of books, CDs, and DVDs) up on the web. Yes, I know no one else in the world would care.

This really makes me want to dig out a copy of AACR2 and get cracking. God, I'm SUCH a geek.

Thanks to Peter Van Dijck for sharing World66. It's a travel site that is written by ordinary folks who share their insights and experiences in the places they've visited.

But the really cool thing is that you can tell it all the countries you have visited and it will generate a map for you showing where you've been. I've only been to 10 countries so far in my life, or 4% of what is out there.

My map of US states I've been to (or through) is a little more impressive. Texas will be officially added at the end of the month when I go to the IA Summit in Austin. That makes the total 38 or 74% of the states.

I still have a lot of traveling left to do.

I just saw this over at Rebecca's Pocket. CBS refused to air an anti-Bush ad during the SuperBowl, while allowing ads from the White House. Does that seem like balanced and equal time for both sides to you?

From MoveOn.com "During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it. This is not a partisan issue. It's critical that our media institutions be fair and open to all speakers. CBS is setting a dangerous precedent, and unless we speak up, the pattern may continue. Watch the ad and join the call for CBS to air ads which address issues of public importance today."

What gets me even more, is that the ad is well done. It's visually impactful. There's no slandering or distortion of the truth. Future generations are the ones that are going to be paying off the huge deficit he is running up. I don't know how anyone can argue against that.

*sigh*