CGHS Library

Put on Your Party Hats

Emily Dickinson’s 178th birthday is today. You can read any of 597 poems online at Bartleby.com, but — sadly — without annotation.  

Physics Degree

While in the library this last Tuesday, I happened to bring up the subject of technology to the House.  She proceeded to tell me a story about a videodisc player she bought circa 1987. I had no idea what a videodisc is, so she went on to explain that it’s essentially a giant, record-sized cd.  Right off the bat, this image strikes me as both preposterous and hilarious.

             House tells me how this particular piece of very expensive equipment was obsolete something like six minutes after she paid for it.  This riveting conversation segued into another technology-themed opus of conversational skills as House began to rant hysterically about how cell phones and television remotes are far too complicated, and that they should not require a Physics degree to use.

            Call me an opportunist, but I felt this a good time to point out several things. House doesn’t even own a TV, let alone an overly complicated remote, and she doesn’t have a cell phone either.  The reasoning behind not owning such devices of convenience is to the House, a very simple thing.  “I don’t have a Physics degree!” 

            A Physics degree? 

“Actually” I began, “I programmed my remote so that I can just bark out the equations at it, and it responds accordingly.  E equals m c squared quantity n over k x to the third root, gets me channel three every time.”  

            Some older denizens of the planet just cannot seem to comprehend the simplicity of this, no matter how much time they spend using the remote.  My father, for instance, spends hours watching football on our basement TV, yet he can’t figure out how to switch from dvd mode back to television.  No matter how many times I do it for him; no matter how many times I tell him to watch, learn, pay attention, he always winds up calling me back down to the basement to do it again.  “Scooooooooooot!” I hear from my mother, relaying the message for my dad.  “Dad needs you to fix the TV for him!” 

Sigh.  The TV is not broken.  He just doesn’t know how to use it, and apparently refuses to learn, or even to try to learn.  So, I switch from dvd mode back to television mode again, and I tell him to watch, to learn, but I know I’ll be back, switching it over for him again next weekend. 

He should get a Physics degree.

-Scott

Rachel's Tears

Rachel's Tears - The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott

Rachel Scott was a typical teenage girl who was incredibly dedicated to following and serving Christ. Though she was mocked for her beliefs, at times doubted her faith, and constantly struggled with personal issues every teenager faces, she remained faithful to God. Then on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School, she was killed for that faith.

"We need to...kick start a revolution. We need to get a chain reaction going here!"
-ERIC HARRIS, Columbine Shooter

"I have this theory that if on person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same"
-RACHEL SCOTT, Columbine Victim

The amazing thing about these two statements is the fact that they were both made at the same time, in March of 1999, just one month before the tragedy.  Darrell Scott, Rachel's father, writes, "It was as though these two teenagers laid down a double challenge to their entire generation."
Rachel Scott believed that she could make a difference. She targeted three groups of young people at Columbine High School: the handicapped, those picked on by others, and those new to her school. Her weapons of choice were honesty, compassion, and kindness. Rachel's death amplified her deeds and started a ripple effect that has been felt around the world.

Uncyclopedia

Uncyclopedia is the content free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.  That's right.  This is not serious. Citing it as a source for your Junior English paper would not be wise.  Though I found this wiki a little awkward to navigate, that's probably because I was expecting it to make some kind of logical sense.  No fear.  It does not.  . . . make any logical sense, that is.  

Ancient Rome

"The glory that was Rome is to rise again. Visitors will once more be able to visit the Colosseum and the Forum of Rome as they were in 320 AD, this time on a computer screen in 3D.

The realisation of the ancient city in Google Earth lets viewers stand in the centre of the Colosseum, trace the footsteps of the gladiators in the Ludus Magnus and fly under the Arch of Constantine.

The computer model, a collection of more than 6,700 buildings, depicts Rome in the year 320 AD. Then, under the emperor Constantine I, the city boasted more than a million inhabitants –- making it the largest metropolis in the world. It was not until Victorian London that another city surpassed it."

If this fascinates you, you might also be interested in Google 3D Warehouse.

Funk-a-delic

So, Mr. Travis L. was in the library recently listening to "Hey, Mr. DJ" by the Backstreet Boys, and he instructed me to say, "That song is as funk-a-delic as you are, Travis" which I proceeded to do because, really, who could resist?

Realizing what I had done, I rushed out of the library for lunch.  Steven G. was out in the hall wandering around like he does, and I said, "I just said, 'funk-a-delic.'"  Steven was momentarily speechless, but he must have recovered enough to walk into the library and say something to Travis because when I gathered the courage to return to the library, Travis tried to charge me $5 for the unauthorized use of the word, "funk-a-delic."

So, just in case you didn't know, using the word "funk-a-delic" without going through the proper channels may result in a lawsuit for copyright infringement.  

By the way, I plan never to say, "funk-a-delic" ever again. I am adamant about this.

Oh, and I have since been informed that while the Back Street Boys are not "funk-a-delic," the Sugar Hill Gang IS.

-mh

Best Illustration Ever

The clock struck 1 and — yikes! From “Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears.”

Stuff You Should Know Without the U. S. Government Telling You

Turns out Americans don't get enough exercise.  Do tell.  Not only THAT, but if you are an inactive teen, you are at risk for more mental and behavioral problems.

"In adolescents, physical inactivity is associated with emotional and behavioral problems, suggests a Finnish study of more than 7,000 teenagers who took part in a survey that assessed their levels of physical activity and mental and emotional health.

Boys who reported less than one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week had more symptoms of anxiety, withdrawal and depression than boys who were more active. Inactive girls had similar problems, and were more likely than inactive boys to also report sleep problems and rule-breaking behaviors.

Both inactive boys and girls were more likely than active peers to have social and attention problems.

'Adolescence is already a complicated and sometimes difficult stage of life -- emotionally, mentally and physically,' study author Marko T. Kantomaa said in an American College of Sports Medicine news release.

'Compounding that with negative mental and emotional effects brought on by physical inactivity does not help young people ease into adulthood. Physical activity could be a highly effective and relatively easy way to help that transition and could, in addition, lead to establishment of lifelong healthy habits,' Kantomaa said."

List Overkill

As you make your list for Santa, you might want to refer to Mashable's 40 Great Resources for Making Lists.  Using these 40 mobile and web-based tools, you can create wish lists and checklists.

I think I'll stick with my three legal pads in various states of use and  the real life sticky note. Honestly, does everything have to be web-based?

Cause for Outrage

While poking around on The List Universe, I found the Top 10 Most Overrated Bands guaranteed to make you say, "I always thought that band was overrated." or "I love that band!" perhaps at the very same time.