Category Archives: …and other stuff

miscellaneous postings by Lawrence R. Spencer

...and other stuff, LIVES

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

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The public library system is one of the best ideas ever created to ensure a free, egalitarian society. 

“In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and his friends, sometimes called “the Junto”, operated the Library Company of Philadelphia partly as a means to settle arguments and partly as a means to advance themselves through sharing information. Franklin’s subscription library allowed members to buy “shares” and combined funds were used to buy more books; in return, members could borrow books and use the library. Today, the Library Company continues to exist as a nonprofit, independent research library.

Recently, a general change in attitude regarding libraries has become apparent, especially in younger generations. Students now enter college with a much different idea regarding libraries and how to go about finding information they need. A study of around 2,000 American college students showed that 93% felt that finding information online “made more sense” than going to the actual library. Furthermore, 83% stated they were frequently unable to get the information they needed due to library hours and another 75% said they just didn’t have time to go to the library.

This study follows a trend found elsewhere in the nation during this current economic recession. More people are relying on their public libraries during tough economic times. It really underscores the importance of public libraries, especially when the economy declines and unemployment rises.” The study looked to measure the increases in six categories from June 2008 until November 2008 in comparison to previous years. The categories considered were attendance (patron visits), circulation (material checkouts), virtual visits, reference transactions, percent of time public Internet computers are in use, and number of public internet computer users. The percent increases from the previous year are as follows:

  • Attendance (patron visits): 7.5%
  • Circulation (material checkouts): 11.22%
  • Virtual visits (such as to a library Web page): 20.21%
  • Reference transactions: 4.41%
  • Percent of time public Internet computers are in use: 9.74%
  • Number of public Internet computer users: 13.77%.

As can be seen from this data, all aspects of library use have significantly increased compared to the previous year.

Unfortunately, as library usage grows during a recession, the ability to fund public libraries declines.

(Source:  Wikipedia.org)

CARTOONS

ANIMATED SATURDAYS

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I’m starting a new feature on LawrenceRSpencer.com.  I’m calling it “ANIMATED SATURDAYS”.  When I started in the computer industry in 1982 the hottest phenomenon in graphics was the Amiga PC.  (Whatever happened to that?)  Anyway, until the advent of You Tube and the whole video craze, FaceBook, Tweets, Flash, animation, 3-D movies and all the other techno-explosions that keep happening every day, a simple ANIMATED GIF file was a pretty cool thing.  Of course, today, it’s “old” and “uncool”.  But, I think the people who take the time to edit them together and post them should be honored for their industry and tongue-in-cheek artistry.  After all, it is an image.  Just think of it as a very, very short video clip!  Enjoy.

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THE TAO

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THE TAO

Tao or Dao is a concept signifying ‘way’, ‘path’, ‘route’, or sometimes more loosely, ‘doctrine’ or ‘principle’, or as a verb, speak.  Within these contexts Tao signifies the primordial essence or fundamental nature of existence. Tao is thus “eternally nameless”, or Immortal Spiritual Beings, and to be distinguished from the countless ‘named’ things which are considered to be its manifestations, as the space, energy and forms of, and within, the physical universe, and other universes.

The Tao Te Ching, Daodejing, or Dao De Jing (道德經: 道 dào “way”; 德 dé “virtue”; 經 jīng “classic” or “text”) is simply referred to as the Laozi. According to tradition, it was written around 6th century BC by the sage Laozi (or Lao Tzu, “Old Master”), a record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court, by whose name the text is known in China. The text’s true authorship and date of composition or compilation are still debated, although the oldest excavated text dates back to the late 4th century BC.

Many different translations, versions and interpretations of The Tao have been produced through the past 2,500 years, or so, since the original appearance.  Like any “religion”, the “opinions” and “interpretations” of “priests” MODIFY and INTRODUCE FASLE IDEAS into the original.  Therefore, I suggest that anyone who wished to sincerely study The Tao as a Body of Wisdom, study many difference translations in order to DECIDE FOR YOURSELF what is “true” or not.  

Here is a link to a website containing many different translations, and COMPARISONS between translations.