A Bloy and his Blog

Last Spring, my library signed on to AskAway, a virtual reference service. AskAway is the Wisconsin division of the QuestionPoint consortia, which provides virtual reference (via online chat) throughout the United States. That means our patrons can get reference help from a librarian, 24 hours a day, even on holidays. In turn, some of our librarians spend an hour or so per week answering virtual reference questions from patrons all over the country.

It’s been an interesting experience providing online reference help. When I first started, it was a little unnerving and overwhelming (much like the first few times I was working at the reference desk in the real world). But just like that other reference situation, those feelings fade with experience.

read the rest of: On being a virtual librarian

So my stereo receiver was suffering the effects of old age, I had some Christmas money in my pocket, and it was time for a new one. After browsing some online product reviews, I had a some specific models to look for. I went to a few electronics stores and found one of the recommended receivers, at a good price. I brought it home and begun the monumental task of unplugging all the components, speakers, antennas, from my old receiver and plugging them in the new one.

I got to the cassette deck. There are a lot of places to plug things in to the back of my new receiver, but where were the ones for the tape deck? There were none. The receiver had no input or output receptacles for a tape deck. That was something I needed to look for while I was shopping??

read the rest of: Death of the cassette

I have finally entered the digital photography age and bought a digital camera — a Sony DSC-P73. I’ve been playing around with it for a few days, but today was the first time I hooked it up to my computer. I must say, it is the coolest thing I’ve experienced since burning my own CDs. About an hour ago I went hiking around the nature center near my house and took the camera along for its first “in-the-field” tests. I just got home 15 minutes ago and here I am uploading pictures for my blog.

read the rest of: First digital pictures

When I was at the grocery store today I heard someone’s cell phone ringing using Bach’s Fugue in D minor as the ring tone. I got to thinking about all the cell phones out there that use compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. I wonder what those composers would think if they could hear the music they created being played with those tinny, annoying, electronic tones. I can just hear them now… “Who’s cell phone is that?? I can’t stand that song now! Turn it off!”

Or in Beethoven’s case: “What? There using Fur Elise on that thing? Thank goodness I’m deaf.”

I’ve been using e-mail on a regular basis since about 1993. I realized today what an essential part of my life it is. Because of a credit card mix-up, the regular payment to my hosting company for this domain got canceled. Admittedly, the mix-up was my fault (I neglected to update them on the new expiration date of my card). Anyway… because of that, my domain was essentially shut off all day today. It was then I found out how frustrating it is to not have access to my e-mail. It’s amazing how we can take technology for granted.

As you can see, my domain is back in business. However, I know e-mails I should have received have been lost in the cyberspace abyss. If any of you reading this sent me an e-mail today, you might want to send it again to make sure I got it.