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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

Eliza’s big day out



IMG_1405.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

Eliza is 2 months old today! I had to take her to a departmental meeting, unfortunately. And then we got stuck in the elevator on the way out. No, I’m not kidding. She could sense that I was freaking out, I think, so she cried a lot but eventually I was able to rock her to sleep in her car seat while we waited for help. I lost track of how long we were in there (probably not long), but it felt like forever. I’m not really claustrophobic, but it was really hot in there, and by the end of the experience, my nerves were totally shot. All things considered, Eliza and I did okay at keeping our cool, though. A memorable outing to say the least…and I’ll never get on that elevator again, with or without her.

Categories
Library Issues Technology

Autonomous Self-Checkout Idea

Here’s an idea I had today that I wanted to get down so I don’t forget it…autonomous self-checkout with cell phones. Here’s the idea:

You write a web-service that logs the customer into their account from their cell phone browser, and then takes over the camera on their cell. They point the camera at a bar code on the book in question, and you software looks it up in the catalog and checks it out to the patron.

The difficult part for the library is how to enable the deactivation of the security strips that most of us use…ideally, the security system would be tied to the catalog, and would know when a book was checked out and when it wasn’t, and alarm only as appropriate.

This would take library staff completely out of the checkout process (which self-checkout already does) but would ALSO take any specialized equipment out, and allow for nearly complete patron autonomy in the stacks.

The interesting thing is, I’m pretty sure that all of this is possible with current open source software. Certainly there would need to be some development, but I don’t think anything would have to be completely written from scratch…maybe connectors that transfer data from one system to the other.

Thoughts? Is this being done anywhere? Or did I actually have an original thought?

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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

Kickin’ it old school



IMG_1357.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

Eliza is loving her new crib toy. It plays music and animal sounds when you kick it. She’s just starting to kick a lot, so this toy is perfect. I don’t know that she’s doing it on purpose, but it makes her quite happy, regardless. We got it because Eliza’s little friend Jace loved this same toy when he was smaller. We noticed how great it was when we visited his mom and dad, Tacia and Loren, in Durham, NC.

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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

ElizaCast No. 1

Video thumbnail. Click to play
Click to Play

Just the first in the videos of Eliza. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures!
Categories
Brand_New_World Friends

Welcome to Conrad Ferguson Thomas!

Eliza had yet another friend come into the world…welcome Conrad Ferguson Thomas!

We can’t wait to meet him!

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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

Jenica Booties!




IMG_1323.JPG

Originally uploaded by griffey

Look guys, I’m wearing Jenica Booties!

Thanks to Jenica for the great knitted booties…they are adorable, and Eliza loves kicking them off. đŸ™‚

Categories
Brand_New_World Friends

Eliza’s new friend

Eliza has a new friend: Amelia Anne Gunnels, born 2/7/08 (less than 8 weeks after Eliza!). Welcome to the world, Amelia! Eliza (and I) can’t wait to meet you. And huge congrats to mommy, daddy, and big brother. A trip to Atlanta is in order this Spring, for sure!

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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

First walk



IMG_1207.JPG, originally uploaded by griffey.

Because it was unseasonably warm, Eliza took her first walk yesterday afternoon! She seemed to enjoy it, but she was a little shocked by the sunlight (our house tends to be dark, due to an unfortunate lack of windows). Jason, Eliza, Indy, and I all walked down Lake ODonnell Road for a few minutes, and it was amazing how such a simple act made me so happy.

Categories
Gaming

Happy Mardi Gras!




JasoninMask

Originally uploaded by griffey.

Mardi Gras is a really special time for Betsy and I. During our undergrad days, we made a yearly pilgrimage with some of our best friends down to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras, watching the parades and generally acting silly. Years later, it was where and when we decided to get married, eloping to New Orleans and getting married in the New Orleans Parish courthouse on Lundi Gras of 2001.

It’s a great holiday, and to everyone: Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

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Brand_New_World Uncategorized

Stuffy baby nose

Lately, Eliza has a seriously stuffy nose when she wakes up in the mornings. The doctor has suggested saline drops in her nose and a humidifier in her room. So Jason is making a pit stop on the way home tonight. It’s the saddest thing in the world to hear her struggling to breathe while she drinks from her bottle. But hopefully she’ll be better in the morning. She doesn’t have a fever or anything, so it’s just normal baby stuff. But it’s still tough to listen to and not be able to help!