So after discovering Shakerag Hollow here in Sewanee last spring, Bets and I decided to try it again this weekend. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint.
And the flowers were just amazing.
Indy had a great time:
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Go now! My presentation is live…I’m not entirely happy with the presentation (I produced multiple screencasts resolutions, and they only linked to one) but overall, I think it’s pretty good.
If anyone needs other resolutions, or a stand alone download of the screencasts, I’m going to put links in the comments of the HigherEd BlogCon post.
Does anyone out there have any experience getting a small run of something manufactured? I’m talking small, plastic or foam, less than 1000 pieces. Could be easily formed, one piece, nothing complex…just an injection model of some sort.
I have another $1000000 idea, and am interested in seeing the cost of experimenting with it. Thoughts?
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HigherEd BlogCon…again
Just a reminder to anyone that cares: My presentation for HigherEd BlogCon goes live tomorrow! I’d love to hear from anyone who makes it through the whole thing…it took a ton of work to put together. I know that there are some problems with the timing on some of the screencast, but I don’t think anything actually effects the meaning behind the cast.
I’ll be available on the HigherEd BlogCon site tomorrow, answering questions in the comments section of the blog.
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Microsoft Academic Live Search
Today, Microsoft launched their answer to Google Scholar: Microsoft Academic Live Search. It’s an interesting product, but clearly young. Google Scholar is much larger (Academic Live currently only indexes a few scientific sources), and seems to have more integration with libraries. But the interface for Academic Live is much better, from a librarian’s point of view. Here’s a quick roundup of the important differences:
- Academic Live allows sorting of results…Google Scholar only sorts by relevance
- Academic Live has a much better interface, and allows customization of what you see…Google Scholar does not
- Academic Live has built in support for citation managers like EndNote…Google Scholar doesn’t
- Academic Live does a very poor job of letting you know if a paper is available freely, or via library subscription…Google Scholar is far ahead in this area
In all, it’s nice to see some competition, even if it is from the evil empire. Librarians will definitely have to keep an eye on this, and see how we can integrate it into our search strategies. Things I’d like to see:
- RSS feeds for common searches…Google does it for News, why not Scholar?
- Live Bibliography: using GreaseMonkey or some other client side script, enable an automatic search of information in a bibliography of a paper…being able to look at a bibliography, and link out of it to another Google Scholar search would be amazing
Last thought: in the FAQ, Microsoft Academic Live suggests that if a library is interested in getting their OpenURL resolver attached to Academic Live, they contact their link resolver company. This strikes me as a completely unrealistic expectation. We’re supposed to drop our provider a line, and then expect them to provide Microsoft with our IP range? Seems easier to do it the Google way, and have each school contact Google if they want listing.
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HigherEd BlogCon
Just a heads up that the Library & Information Resources Section of HigherEd BlogCon is going on this week, with yours truly being featured on Friday. There’s more going on than I can keep up with, but the sheer amount of good stuff is going to keep me busy for weeks. That’s the amazing thing about a virtual conference…it’s all there, whenever you want to come back to it. Archival of the conference for future visitation, blog format for interactivity and feedback, no travel necessary…I’m beginning to think it might be superior to a traditional, live conference experience in a lot of ways.
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My last two weeks
…in pictures.
My view at Wrestlemania 22.
The UTC Reference Team on Beale St. in Memphis, TN.
Driving back from Memphis through the worst storm system in years. Over 40 tornadoes, winds over 60 MPH, hail in places the size of baseballs…and we were driving home. This was the scene during one part of our drive….a sudden hail storm left this in its wake.
And finally, fishing with Dad on Tim’s Ford and Guntersville Lakes.
I’m ready for some quiet time at home.
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Still travelling
This week has been a complete blur. From my trip to Chicago, I was home for one day, and then me and the rest of the UTC reference crew headed off to Memphis to the Tennessee Library Association/Southeast Library Association joint conference. Thus far the conference has been less than useful…I’ll ruminate over the difficulties of legendarily introverted librarians giving presentations at some other time. For now, let me just say that the sessions have been not particularly informative.
Our presentation is tomorrow, and tonight there is a reception at the Memphis Rock and Soul museum. But first, there will be ribs!
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Going away
For the next several days, I will be off to Chicago, to enjoy the company of friends, judge the Raw Deal World Championship, and watch grown men roll around half naked.
I’m going to see Wrestlemania while in Chi-town.
I understand that most people think this is silly. Let’s just say that I enjoy the deconstruction of storytelling, while maintaining the tropes present in classical narrative forms. It’s self-referential, and wonderfully postmodern in its technique. Plus, HHH is so going to pwn Cena it’s not even funny.
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Eating words….
Just when you thought you’d seen everything, the Interweb brings you another stunning example of the odd.
This gentleman is determined to eat the entire works of Neil Gaiman. I do mean eat. Yes, the literal books.
There truly are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of….