February 2005

Excellent digital library from NYPL.

Lest we forget: Triumph over slavery

I think this month is Black History month. I can never remember whether it’s January or February. At any rate, we shouldn’t have to designate a mere month to remembering the history of African American culture and the atrocities they have endured. I find the subject of slavery to be especially unpleasant to think about but these things must never be to far from our minds. Let us also remember that we have not been completely truimphant over slavery. It still exists in many parts of the world.

Antislavery.org
Sudan Activism
Amnesty International
Free the slaves (tsunami victims)
Coalition against Slavery in Mauritania and the Sudan

I went in for a Colonoscopy today - not a bad experience overall - thought it would be worse. The nurse gave me three shots of something, the next thing I know it’s 4pm and I’m lying in my bed. The doctor is waiting for the biopsy results, but he’s almost certain that I have Crohn’s Disease - an inflammation of the intestines. There’s no cure (whoopee!) but following a careful diet can help reduce symptoms. I say if I gotta have a lifetime illness this is the one to have - low-fat, high fiber diet - I’ll be damn healthy that’s for sure.
I also have ulcer colitis something or other - basically I have 6 ulcers in my large intestines, I’m taking some medication for that. Well at least the big mystery is solved, it feels better knowing that it’s something and I’m not just stressing out over something.

Spring semester started two weeks ago. I’m only taking one class, Information Literacy with Dr. Brown. It’s a big class. So far, the only people I know is Diama and Clair. In fact, several of the friends I have made since starting graduate school are leaving after this semester.
Diama was also on the Sante Fe trip that I took last summer. While talking with her one day I discovered that she grew up as an army brat and actually spent a greater part of her childhood in Aberdeen, Scotland, the same place I lived until I was ten. Actually, she didn’t live in Aberdeen but just north of the city somewhere, I think. Her father was stationed at the military base, a place which I remember well because our school used to have an annual BQ there and we used to fish in the stream and hoard their grocery store for American candy. Clair is also a really neat person. She works as a GA and has this wonderful motherly quality about her. She’s always bringing me books to read and always remembers to print out extra copies of our handouts in case some of us forget to print and bring our own.
As for the class, it’s still too soon to tell what’s in store. I find the topic fascinitating and have already chosen a focus for my paper, which is going to be on Information Literacy initiatives in the US versus Abroad. For the past few months I’ve been reading a blog written by three librarians in Britain, which focuses on Information Literacy in Britain and other places in Europe. I also found a lit review that provides a good bibliography to work from.
We’re hoping to tear down the walls in our kitchen this weekend, and replace them with new sheet rock. I’ve also decide that, although the blue is a beautiful color, it’s a little to loud for the room so I think we’re going to choose another one that is a bit lighter. The one we have now looks great during the day, but at night, there’s something almost sickening about it. Unfortunately the flourescent lighting in there is not very flattering to any color.

I came across a rather disturbing article today. Apparently some web hosting firms have started to pull the plug on Iranian blogs because they’re afraid the US government will accuse them of supporting the “axis of evil”.