A friend in one of my classes suggested this podcast and so far I'm in love.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
enjoy!
random uni student
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Mythological Card Catalog
I've heard far far too many times from my grandmother how much she enjoyed using card catalogs. My impression is that she thinks they are still used in libraries...Gram's a bit behind the times. We all get nostalgic about tools and skills no longer used, however I'm pretty sure most of us can agree that this is not one of those things. Granted, I wasn't around when card catalogs were in use, but I'm very glad I wasn't...I'm a fan of catalog search software.
random uni student
random uni student
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Social Media and the Long-Form Census
A great point from ACANADEMICS blog concerning the long-form census debate...
"Perhaps census questions change every year, and perhaps I missed the census that asked more "intrusive" questions. I can understand why some people would not want to divulge this kind of private information, but in the age of Twitter and Facebook (dont' even get me started on foursquare) it seems reasonable to suggest that the general population is okay (and by "okay" I mean "eager") to share information. We've even had to assign an acronym (TMI) to ask people to stop. Facebook is worth hundreds of millions of dollars because each and every one of us wants others to know where we are, what we're doing, and how we feel. "
The whole blog post can be found here.
Cheers,
random uni student
"Perhaps census questions change every year, and perhaps I missed the census that asked more "intrusive" questions. I can understand why some people would not want to divulge this kind of private information, but in the age of Twitter and Facebook (dont' even get me started on foursquare) it seems reasonable to suggest that the general population is okay (and by "okay" I mean "eager") to share information. We've even had to assign an acronym (TMI) to ask people to stop. Facebook is worth hundreds of millions of dollars because each and every one of us wants others to know where we are, what we're doing, and how we feel. "
The whole blog post can be found here.
Cheers,
random uni student
Monday, July 19, 2010
Technology killed the history star?
In response to an article by Sir. Keith Thomas about his working methods as a historian. I've been sitting on this for quite some time but, honestly, I'm bored in my poli-sci class so I'm zoning out and writing this. Historians, by nature and necessity, must be organized in their work. The evolution of a historian, or in my case a history student, is in part predicated on the evolution of the processes and methods by which one assembles, organizes and tracks information. I worry, however, that the rapid change in technology (specifically software and new forms of reading ie. electronic books, online journals, excell, word, Kindle et al. etc.) may disrupt this evolutionary process by which research skills are honed in that a researcher must constantly adapt to the new technology and indeed re-invent their research techniques to fit the new technology.
That's all, don't have more time to put anymore detail into it, but perhaps it's something to muse on.
Cheers,
random university student
That's all, don't have more time to put anymore detail into it, but perhaps it's something to muse on.
Cheers,
random university student
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
1891 Canadian Census Free Online for Canada Day Weekend
Gleaned from Chris Moore's blog...
"Christopher Moore's History News"
The 1891 Canadian Census is open on ancestry.com free of charge for the Canada Day Weekend...
1891 Census Temporarily Available for Free
I know I'll be taking advantage of this to track down the records of some family members information for posterity's sake. Perhaps my grandmother will like copies...
Happy hunting!
Random uni student
"Christopher Moore's History News"
The 1891 Canadian Census is open on ancestry.com free of charge for the Canada Day Weekend...
1891 Census Temporarily Available for Free
I know I'll be taking advantage of this to track down the records of some family members information for posterity's sake. Perhaps my grandmother will like copies...
Happy hunting!
Random uni student
Monday, June 28, 2010
Dusty bookshelves? I think not....well....maybe.
Interesting article out of the Huffington Post on the importance of funding public libraries. Surprising stats.
Opportunity and Access: The Power of Today's Public Libraries
I worked in a library (in southern Ontario) for a few years and I can anecdotally (a word??) attest to the findings in the article. It is vitally important that public libraries provide a place where people, who may not have access to the internet or the money to buy books, are able to actively participate in our information age. I also witnessed quite often just the free public space that libraries offered (coupled with access to the internet) being used as a haven for kids and teens who had a less than ideal home life. In these cases, like teachers in a small way*, library staff become key figures and influences in some of these peoples lives. Another note on the use of the internet in libraries is by elderly people. When working at my local library I had the opportunity to teach seniors (and even sometimes middle aged people) how to use a computer and the internet. This training became vitally important in more than a few people's lives; indeed I was able to witness some heart touching connections between generations are older people actively sought to take part in the world of their kids and grandkids. To cut budgets from libraries endangers cutting a whole swath of the population out of OUR information age.*
The link was found through a daily link subscription. Library Link of the Day . It's become very useful :)
Cheers,
random uni student
* Most teachers fill this role far more substantially than any library staff could. I certainly don't wish to take away from the good work and influence of our teachers.
*Noted that there are other places to access free internet, such as employment offices, but these are not as numerous as libraries and often the mandate of these sites is to use internet access for job searching.
Update: Found this article as well, it fits nicely to the theme...Libraries and Librarians Are Endangered Species: What You Can Do to Help
Opportunity and Access: The Power of Today's Public Libraries
I worked in a library (in southern Ontario) for a few years and I can anecdotally (a word??) attest to the findings in the article. It is vitally important that public libraries provide a place where people, who may not have access to the internet or the money to buy books, are able to actively participate in our information age. I also witnessed quite often just the free public space that libraries offered (coupled with access to the internet) being used as a haven for kids and teens who had a less than ideal home life. In these cases, like teachers in a small way*, library staff become key figures and influences in some of these peoples lives. Another note on the use of the internet in libraries is by elderly people. When working at my local library I had the opportunity to teach seniors (and even sometimes middle aged people) how to use a computer and the internet. This training became vitally important in more than a few people's lives; indeed I was able to witness some heart touching connections between generations are older people actively sought to take part in the world of their kids and grandkids. To cut budgets from libraries endangers cutting a whole swath of the population out of OUR information age.*
The link was found through a daily link subscription. Library Link of the Day . It's become very useful :)
Cheers,
random uni student
* Most teachers fill this role far more substantially than any library staff could. I certainly don't wish to take away from the good work and influence of our teachers.
*Noted that there are other places to access free internet, such as employment offices, but these are not as numerous as libraries and often the mandate of these sites is to use internet access for job searching.
Update: Found this article as well, it fits nicely to the theme...Libraries and Librarians Are Endangered Species: What You Can Do to Help
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Turning a new page...it's about time.
An interesting article...
"Gay-Themed Youth Literature Takes Off"
Article sent by Library Link of the Day
Cheers,
random uni student
"Gay-Themed Youth Literature Takes Off"
Article sent by Library Link of the Day
Cheers,
random uni student
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bathroom Graffiti Project
Two things:
One, lately there's been some discussion amongst people I know about the anonymity of internet and how it allows people to say what they want without fear of consequences. This same principle applies for bathroom stall graffiti and messages, which have always fascinated me - especially when conversations are carried on. There's everything from Bible quotes to racist comments and from philosophical sayings to fart jokes...there's quite a variety of thoughtful ponderings, shocking confessions,rude comments exchanges, toilet humour (pun INTENDED!)etc. Why is it that the walls of a public toilet offer us a secluded solace where we fear little to no consequences for what we write?
Two, I've often pondered how interesting it would be to undertake a project of documenting and analyzing messages and conversations that one finds on bathroom stalls and above urinals.
Well...look's like someone's already thought of the idea...
http://www.graffitiproject.com/
and also...
http://www.thewritingsonthestall.com/
Enjoy!
random uni student
One, lately there's been some discussion amongst people I know about the anonymity of internet and how it allows people to say what they want without fear of consequences. This same principle applies for bathroom stall graffiti and messages, which have always fascinated me - especially when conversations are carried on. There's everything from Bible quotes to racist comments and from philosophical sayings to fart jokes...there's quite a variety of thoughtful ponderings, shocking confessions,rude comments exchanges, toilet humour (pun INTENDED!)etc. Why is it that the walls of a public toilet offer us a secluded solace where we fear little to no consequences for what we write?
Two, I've often pondered how interesting it would be to undertake a project of documenting and analyzing messages and conversations that one finds on bathroom stalls and above urinals.
Well...look's like someone's already thought of the idea...
http://www.graffitiproject.com/
and also...
http://www.thewritingsonthestall.com/
Enjoy!
random uni student
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Help!? Book Decisions!
So, as usual I have way too many books on my to-read list and I've decided to throw a few out there and let my readers (all 4 of you I'm sure) to choose my next read for me. Please post your choice via a comment. I'll read the one with the most votes and then write a general review when I'm finished. Also, when I get it and see how dense it is I'll post choices for a timeline for me to finish it that everyone can vote on as well.
Indecisive much? I think yes.
1. Breaking the spell : religion as a natural phenomenon
Daniel C. Dennett.2006.
2.National dreams : myth, memory, and Canadian history
Daniel Francis.1997.
3.The ascent of money : a financial history of the world
Niall Ferguson.2008.
4.The Aryan Jesus : Christian theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany
Susannah Heschel.2008.
5.Private history in public : exhibition and the settings of everyday life
Tammy S. Gordon. 2010.
6.Boys in the pits : child labour in coal mines
Robert McIntosh. 2000.
7.Kiss the kids for dad, don't forget to write : the wartime letters of George Timmins, 1916-18.
edited by Y.A. Bennett. 2009.
8.Canadas of the mind : the making and unmaking of Canadian nationalisms in the twentieth century. edited by Norman Hillmer and Adam Chapnick.2007
9. The Lord for the body : religion, medicine, and Protestant faith healing in Canada, 1880-1930. James Opp. 2005.
10. Books on fire : the destruction of libraries throughout history / Lucien X. Polastron ; translated by Jon E. Graham.2007.
Cheers,
Random Uni Student
Indecisive much? I think yes.
1. Breaking the spell : religion as a natural phenomenon
Daniel C. Dennett.2006.
2.National dreams : myth, memory, and Canadian history
Daniel Francis.1997.
3.The ascent of money : a financial history of the world
Niall Ferguson.2008.
4.The Aryan Jesus : Christian theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany
Susannah Heschel.2008.
5.Private history in public : exhibition and the settings of everyday life
Tammy S. Gordon. 2010.
6.Boys in the pits : child labour in coal mines
Robert McIntosh. 2000.
7.Kiss the kids for dad, don't forget to write : the wartime letters of George Timmins, 1916-18.
edited by Y.A. Bennett. 2009.
8.Canadas of the mind : the making and unmaking of Canadian nationalisms in the twentieth century. edited by Norman Hillmer and Adam Chapnick.2007
9. The Lord for the body : religion, medicine, and Protestant faith healing in Canada, 1880-1930. James Opp. 2005.
10. Books on fire : the destruction of libraries throughout history / Lucien X. Polastron ; translated by Jon E. Graham.2007.
Cheers,
Random Uni Student
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tommy Douglas Docs...
Hi everyone,
Just a quick post. Here are a couple documentaries on Tommy Douglas that I enjoy. Both docs contain some great speech clips.
Tommy Douglas: Keep of the Flame - National Film Board of Canada 1986
http://www.nfb.ca/film/tommy_douglas_keeper_of_the_flame/
The Premiers: Tommy Douglas -CPAC 2009?
Steps: (because for some reason the link wasn't working)
www.cpac.ca
Select Program (drop down menu)
The Premiers
Tommy Douglas
CBC Archives: Tommy Douglas and the NDP - 1935-2001
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/parties_leaders/topics/851/
Sometimes being idealistic can be a good thing...
Cheers,
a random uni student
Just a quick post. Here are a couple documentaries on Tommy Douglas that I enjoy. Both docs contain some great speech clips.
Tommy Douglas: Keep of the Flame - National Film Board of Canada 1986
http://www.nfb.ca/film/tommy_douglas_keeper_of_the_flame/
The Premiers: Tommy Douglas -CPAC 2009?
Steps: (because for some reason the link wasn't working)
www.cpac.ca
Select Program (drop down menu)
The Premiers
Tommy Douglas
CBC Archives: Tommy Douglas and the NDP - 1935-2001
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/parties_leaders/topics/851/
Sometimes being idealistic can be a good thing...
Cheers,
a random uni student
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