The Library has new Computers

The guys from IT imaged them yesterday and today I set up all my new computers. There are 10 total, which leaves a few in the study rooms still 5 years old, but nothing is older than that anymore. I am hoping to get photos up here soon. The students have already remarked on how much faster they are.

Ignore Rice and Try Wild Potatoes

In the July 11, 2008 Science Journal, there are two articles which struck me as odd. And a good reason to eat potatoes. First off was "Arsenic and Paddy Rice" which was a scary article about the large amounts of inorganic arsenic finding its way into the watery rice fields and then into our food supply. They are working on a solution to reduce the amount to within acceptable limits, but in the meantime, you can eat potatoes. "Celebrating Spuds" is an article and accompanying photograph about the large and varied wild potatoes. They come in a variety of shapes and colors. I wonder if they have different flavors, too.

Weekend plans

If you don't know what to do tomorrow, I have two suggestions: go to the farmers' market at the fairgrounds for some fresh produce and baked goods. Also, I hear Fern Canyon is lovely this time of year. Or find one of the other hundreds of trails here in Del Norte county. Hope to see you out there!

Blue skies and light breezes

It looks so pleasant through my windows here. Definitely a "go play outside" day. But not if you are working. or taking a class. Then it is a "stay inside and finish what you need to do" day. But for all you kids and retirees out there, I encourage you go go have fun. It should be like this all week. We hope.

Banks then and now.

In This week's Newseek, we are struck by two photos placed in Juxtoposition. They were shot 70 years apart, but they are eerily similar. Click here.
The photos are of people lining up, hoping to get some of their money out of a failing bank. I am not a financial guru or even an accountant, so I do not fully understand all the things that went wrong, I just hope someone knows how to fix it.

New computer carrels

We got three new computer carrels today. They are sturdy and match our current decor. They also have privacy panels so you can write a paper without feeling like your neighbor is peering over your shoulder. I hope to include photos in a few days.

New books on nursing and literature

We got several new books today: Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management and Later works by Richard Wright.

We had a rush in the library today between 12 and 3pm. Every computer was full, quite unusual for a Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Plants in the hot seat

I read an interesting article and part of the accompanying report online which brings up the question of the survivability of plants in an increasingly warm world. Plants can't migrate, so they are at more risk than most animals. It remind me of the increasing intersest in locally endagnered native plants like the darlingtonia californica (see the stories here and here)

Extinction

I have been catching up on a backlog of some journals our Biology teacher and photographer Bob Mize donates to the library after he has finished reading them. World Watch had a number of interesting articles about endangered animals facing extinction without us knowing it. The tiger has had a dramatic decrease in numbers across the species. Also a number of unusual animals are fading before we even get a chance to understand them. These include the saiga antelope and the slender loris. They are both on the watch list of an organization from the Zoological Society of London. Their website (http://www.edgeofexistence.org/) helps us to understand more about the 564 animals facing extinction. Go check it out. Some of the species I did not know even existed.

changing of the terms

Our early summer term has ended and today is the first day of our late summer term. I have papers to hand back to Psych 33 and right now the front desk has Psych 1, but that may change.

The fire that was burning near Highway 199 over the weekend is under control. The fire meant no Gasquet River Raft Races on Saturday. But that means you did not miss it, since they have rescheduled it for this Saturday instead.

The bookstore is open today thru Thursday, so if you need to buy books for this term, now is your chance.

Millenial Makeover wrap-up

I think in some senses Mr. Hinograd is an optimist. He has great hopes, backed by some historical patterns, that the upcoming generation of voters will take on political problems with a new perspective. According to him, they favor environmental causes, strengthening the middle class, and introducing changes into the healthcare system. He bases these conclusions on the tendency toward groups the Millennials have shown already. They have a clear sense of fairness and playing nice. They are the most colorblind generation of Americans ever and they want things to be equitable for people economically, socially, etc. Millenials also prefer an individualized approach: they are used to being able to change their MySpace pages to fit their personalities. This could change the way we administer public schools.

If you have enjoyed my sporadic reviews of this book, it is now available to check out here in the library. If you found a book you want to tell the CR community about, let me know. I am not opposed to guest reviews on this blog.

Fireworks in the Fog

For anyone who was within 30 feet of the fireworks on Friday, the view was great. For everyone else, fog obscured most of it. When we went down to the park to see the city fireworks, all we could see were ghostly jelly fish floaty in the sky and then disappearing. It was a neat effect, but I did not bring a camera.

Several classes are finishing up and a number of students are signing up for classes starting in July. Good luck with everything. I hope you get good grades and the classes you want.

If you are looking for a elective this fall, try creative writing :poetry. It is only offered once a year.

Happy 4th of July

Tomorrow, that is. The whole campus is closed for the holiday. But we will all be back Monday. See you then.

How bugs mate

Although it is not perfect in its depiction (see comments on the site itself) a new series of short films attempts to show some of the hows of bug reproduction. Written by and starring Isabella Rossellini, Green Porno is produced by the Sundance Channel. It would probably raise more questions than answers for the elementary set, but as college students I think you can all handle a woman dressed as a bug pretending to mate with a similarly dressed cardboard cutout.

Fun and Fascinating.

If you like that, come on in and read the reference book "Insects : their natural history and diversity : with a photographic guide to insects of eastern North America" here in the library.

New President at the College of the Redwoods

Today is our new president's first day. Read all about it in a newspaper article here.


If you have art from the art show or papers given to Letko or tests taken from Owen, please come to the library and pick them up. I am going to start a round of calling the art owners again, but that is not as much fun as finishing a book about the changing political system.