In ordering computer books for the library I was looking forward to the arrival of Chris Seibold’s Big Book of Apple Hacks. I didn’t really find much in there to improve my MacBook – which I already love as is. I usually refer to the lifehacker website once a week for a steady diet of updates and funstuffz on the computer. I had not, however, come across goPod.

In an effort to stave off lawsuits for bleeding ears syndrome due to high volumes of iPods – Apple set the volume to 9. goPod sets it back to 11 – which is good for me when I want to blast it in my car or hook it up to the stereo. So here’s an arbitrary link to the goPod website – where downloading and installation is easy-peasy.

(Amazon affiliate links aren’t very wordpress friendly. Had to redraft this several times to stop it from blowing up the front page – wish there was some php amazon code.)

I’ve helped to keep score at Battle of the Books the past two years. The competition is fierce and the air is electric. This is the reaction after one of the questions — they reacted this way each time.

In terms of recorded history, the emergence of sushi as a culinary delight in the United States is still a relatively recent phenomenon. Sushi’s surging popularity has propelled it from hot spot metropolitan sake bars into local grocery store cooling bins. The story of sushi, however, reaches back much further than the freshest milk.

In The Zen of Fish, Trevor Corson carefully wraps morsels of history and humor into bite sized chapters that taken together tell “the story of sushi, from samurai to supermarket.” From the procurement of the freshest ingredients in the early morning fish markets to the fostering and attentive care given by each chef to their personal set of knives, Corson prepares a delicious and enlightening tome. The author’s mastery of description spices the mind with the dancelike movements of sushi chefs as they prepare meals for the enthusiastic sake toasting guests lining the Hama Hermosa bar in Hermosa Beach, California. During the morning hours, the back room of the restaurant plays host to the California Sushi Academy, where we follow the trials of aspiring sushi chefs through a semester of training at the hands of their demanding instructor, Zoran. Most prominent among these characters is Kate, whose spunk and wit will have you rooting for her as an underdog amongst a handful of finely captured characters, each with their own substory.

A wonderful read that will unearth the foodie in you, The Zen of Fish entertains and educates.

Grrrrrrrin. Jessamyn West and Me at MLA 2007, originally uploaded by Kevin Yezbick.

Ahhh yes. Many chins – milliseconds. Look how happy I am! The funny thing is – Seestore managed to steal my sunshine when Jessamyn said – “Of course I know who you are, your sister used to have dreadlocks…”

Point Seestore.

Just got back from the Michigan Library Association annual conference – and if there’s one thing I’ve learned – it’s that I’m not being heard – or I’m not being loud enough – or I’m not communicating my message in the right way.

Many of the presentations I saw – all insightful and wonderful – could very easily be implemented at my library. Many of the issues that were being dealt with concerning the reorganization of the association – could also be placed atop my library.

Why haven’t I been blogging? Fear of repurcussions?

Hell yeah. The chilling effect.

I found it flattering when Jessamyn asked if I was the annoyedlibrarian.. If only. Though I’ve thought about going out incognito of late – my reaching out through the social spheres enabled me to establish some link with some stranger with what I consider some strong creds. Some deal eh?

I don’t know. A librarian can’t really afford to manage multiple sites at once…or can he? I mean – the Annoyed Librarian is a free site – but isn’t it nice to have your own domain? I mean — sure – I could create a free domain and rant for many a year without giving myself up — but would I?

No. It is not I.

I am not loquacious or ironic enough. Instead I will let my words stumble and languish here — until I finally start up my new as yet to be revealed beta spectaculoroso site.

But damn – Jessamyn West?

Do you recognize that name? You should — it happened here: googlebooks.

Next stop Parker Posey!

It’s ALL HAPPENING. ha. ha. ha
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Meanwhile, back home, Mel and Avery are beginning to forge a different kind of bond in their relationship. When Nina returns she senses something amiss as the once strong trio has become more akin to a lopsided duet. Finding herself struggling with the realities of the new situation, Nina turns to Steve, whose once comforting and frequent emails slowly begin to wane. It isn’t long before all three girls must begin to examine their relationships with their own selves to understand their relationships with each other.

The Bermudez Triangle is a page turning novel of discovery, relationships, the pain of heartbreak and the glory of friendship.

The Farmington Community Library hosts several book discussions a year for which we purchase several copies of the considered book. What do we do with those extra copies?

We keep em!

Then we let interested parties host their own book discussions and assist them by handing out folders complete with author information as well as discussion questions gathered from multiple resources.

I took this picture the other day for use in a little screencast promo we’re putting together…I’ll point to it when it’s done — so that’s all I gotta say about that.

Staff day is now yesterday – and we managed to turn it into some good times. As you may have noted from my twitter feed – we went to the Library Sports Pub & Grill afterwards and had a little afterparty – and then I came home to my new MacBook.

Today it’s off to the 3:55 Tigers game vs. the New York Mets — and I’ll be sitting in the Tiger’s Den for the first time with pops. Can’t wait to try out the new camera there and see what kind of quality shots I can get.

Soon will come the attempts at installing Ubuntu – and the next stress item on the list is creating the Blogs & Beyond class for the library. Also – updating the resume for two recently posted positions in Georgia.

Lunch time.

Tomorrow is also the arrival of the new Macbook — which ought to help tremendously in terms of comfortable writing spaces. This lappy before me is whirring away right now and can’t seem to handle all the little externals I’m throwing into the mix. Having a modern machine may make tasks a little less tasklike and provide for more memorable moments – untethered by the cords that now surround.

Tomorrow is only two minutes away – so to bed I go.

Lots of fussiness in those listservs…