Life, Music, Politics – ACTION! Take One…Is it spam?

Okay, I’m not quite sure what I’m doing but I just love SellaBand.com…Lots of changes, yes. Lots of music getting into the airwaves – for sure. Yes, if you click on the link below, I read that there is a remote possibility that I, Shirley J Rhodes, may receive, ummm, money? What a concept!

Now, for my spam – take one, click:

http://club.sellaband.com/clickin.html?ref=22284-1-2

(And, let’s see where this takes us…smiles)

Here’s my very first example – not related to the above, ummm, spam:

<object width=”291″ height=”400″>
<param name=”allowScriptAccess” value=”sameDomain” />
<param name=”movie” value=”shop.swf” />
<param name=”quality” value=”high” />
<param name=”FlashVars” value=”believer=freetobeme_pride” />
<embed flashvars=”believer=freetobeme_pride” src=”http://www.sellaband.com/static/tools/shop/shop.swf” quality=”high” width=”291″ height=”400″ />
</object>

For educational purposes – I believe this is an excellent Tertiary* Source for Digital Libraries, with a twist!

Related reference, sortof – but, explains the link to the resource and why it would make an interesting case study in digital libraries, i.e. the way that the marketing structure is setup, at this moment:

American Psychological Association (APA):

Tertiary. (n.d.). WordNet® 3.0. Retrieved June 23, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Tertiary

From a Yahoo story – “High Court sides with Guantanamo detention…”

Referenced Source Yahooo Bookmark: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_guantanamo

And, a quote that makes so much sense to me today, than yesterday – my awareness level is fluctuating with the sense of justice – and, that’s okay.

A headline, an endorsement, a decision – the Supreme Court’s decision stands, until it won’t…

We read, we think, we listen – we try to balance our emotions with reason. Today, I am proud to be an American.

Within moments, I edit the post – but, my blog on this subject remains the same, at this moment in time.  It is with sorrow that injustice occurs – it is with processes that we find a way to beat the system – for fairness – justice is not blind; I think it is the best we can do – and, keep on fighting for rights that we already have been promised by our constitution in the USA – remember, terrorism is real.  So is the process.

Related Source – The Cell Tour vlog (I consider this (MA):  http://celltour.amnesty.org/?tr=y&auid=3740912

Hope this makes you think.   I know it did me – again.  Still proud t be an American.

Near and dear to every Adult Educator and / or Librarian – Read on…

Many Adults Left Behind
http://librarian.lishost.org/?p=1095

A new analysis of state policies and enrollment patterns is trying to
put more focus on adult learners. “Adult Learning in Focus,” released
Friday by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, prepared
in collaboration with the National Center for Higher Education
Management Systems, argues that many state policies may discourage
those older than traditional college age from obtaining any higher
education. This group of students, the report argues, is particularly
in need of higher education to get good jobs, and these students´
states depend on having more highly trained workers.

The report is a mix of data showing the large share of the adult
population lacking any higher education degree, and information about
various policies that might encourage more degree attainment. Of
particular importance, the report notes, are policies that affect
community colleges and part-time students, as adult students are more
likely than their traditionally aged counterparts to enroll part
time, and to enroll in two-year institutions.

Librarian >>Blog Archive >> Blogger Reference Source:  http://librarian.lishost.org/?p=1095

Referral Source:  http://www.cael.org/

Trackback:  http://librarian.lishost.org/?p=1095

RSS Feed:  http://librarian.lishost.org/?feed=rss2&p=1095

Amnesty International Online Library – USA Org site and more!

A few thoughts during my brew (See references below):

I’m reviewing (loosely) my personal observations of experiencing online concert of another independent supporter of Amensty International – Second Life Music Performer and Philanthropist, davecorbett Darwin. First thought: Hello, Avatar!

Second, Third and Fourth impressions (I try to make all the shows I can inworld):

Listening, experiencing and participating in a virtual world live performance is difficult to explain, if you haven’t been there. Neither is the message that is freely shared in song, verse, discussion and awareness presentation of basic human needs left unintended that ’shines’ as pure, true, and earnest. “At This Point of Time” (see lyrics below). Not the best songwriting effort from the Artist/Activist/Avatar – no. The best of all, in my opinion, “Wot A Lot Of Fussin” – that noted; experiencing “At This Point of Time” is a celebration of human spirit, love, and unity. Extraordinary, if you learn to listen. It took me at several looks to experience the fullness, and I hope I never tire of the message.

The downloads are free – what the hell. Love life, learn, and celebrate today with Dave Corbett and friends!

Stay informed:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/activist-toolkit/online-library/page.do?id=1101335&n1=4&n2=63&n3=130

Oodles of information, and you may be involved, on many levels…”Action for Human Rights. Hope for Humanity.” Reference Source: http://www.amnestyusa.org

Other referenced sites:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/1032775/6da7e7a1/sharin

http://davecorbettdarwin.com/default.aspx

http://davecorbettdarwin.com/sitemap.aspx

Personal Review of http://davecorbettdarwin.com/atthispointintime.aspx (All rights reserved):

AT THIS POINT IN TIME

ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WAKE TO LOVE YOU
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS RISE AND SHINE
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS STOP THINKING
ABOUT THE POWERS THAT BE
ARE DOING TO MANKIND

chorus
AT THIS POINT IN TIME THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON
AT THIS POINT IN TIME REFLECT ON THE PAST
AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS
WE COULD BUILD A LOVE TO EVERLAST

SEE THAT GUY WAITING AT THE STATION

DOESN`T REALLY KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO
SO HE CHECKS IT WITH THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK AT THE
INFORMATION
JUST LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID
I DON`T KNOW

Interesting link to an “Internet Newspaper” – Popular Quotables!

I like the Huffington Post website…and, I found a terrific blogger, and a very current item of interest – Roin Tyler blogs on a ruling from a plaintiff:

My Reaction to the California Marriage Ruling — As the Plaintiff

2 Comments | Posted May 26, 2008 | 03:56 PM (EST)

---

There is no such thing as same-sex marriage, because after marriage, sex is never the same.

Thoughts before my brew..”Literacy Before Laptops?”(?)

First the referenced site:

http://www.hhptf.org/

And, quoted from above referenced site 05.19.08 EST:

One view of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program and its changing fortunes:

There has been far more outrage online over the news that the OLPC may switch to Windows from its version of the free Linux operating system than over the discovery that hardly any of the laptops, originally to be deployed in no quantities smaller than 1m a country, will ever reach the poorest children.

The collapse of the scheme illuminates the utter falsity of the hope that technology alone can lift people out of poverty. Knowledge may, but the technology that spreads knowledge best is literacy, not laptops.

Firstly, excellent online resource for librarians, and others interested in the materials presented.  Secondly, the title of these postings – “Hunger, Homelessness & Porverty Task Force” from an ALA Round Table Discussion, gives me a moment to reflect on exactly what is being presented in this post.  One distinction to keep in mind is that the OPLC is not a catalog system…it is a program called One Laptop Per Child.

Having noted that…a personal observation.  Yesterday I found an excellent resource for teaching English that was straight-forward, to the point, and presented well.  As an example of excellence, the TESOL program identified all of the key issues – for their program.

I thought to myself – wow, they have it going on.  Sortof.  But, it is “scoped”, organized, and a better practice than many on a “global” level.  The groundfloor of my research has opened up and I think of these things, as I type.  And, I’m left with one thought – we can’t eat laptops; conversely, it is unseemly to eat the TESOL worker…lol.

Now, I think I’ll make a pot of a strong brew and continue with my experiential project…It’s got the makings of a very inexpensive way to introduce a, well, you have to join the group to know that…God Bless America.

One more time, as I raise my hand in my mind – yes, Literacy before laptops makes sense, but we have ways in ProLiteracy methods that can maximize this potential – fuck the agenda, and get back to basics – we’ve got technology on all levels – that’s the issue.  How do we share this…by sharing information with experts and coming to agreements that are not based on big money agendas, but appreciating all the money that does flow into the efforts.

Every volunteer will tell you – they love their job (most of the time…giggles)…and, the “tags” are teasers!

Repost from my personal email: Amnesty International USA

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
A cyclone devastated the lives of over a million Myanmar residents. However, the government of Myanmar is slow to help pick up the pieces.
Urge the government of Myanmar to cooperate with the international community in the distribution of humanitarian aid.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=356

Reference Source:  http://www.amnestyusa.org/emails/myanmar.htm
Dear Supporter,

We’ve been closely watching the devastation in Myanmar caused by Cyclone Nargis for nearly a week now. Despite the disaster, Myanmar’s government keeps the country on lockdown. Only a handful of flights offering assistance have been allowed in. Relatively few resources like food, water, medicine, blankets and tents have been given out. Call on the government of Myanmar to distribute humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Call on the government of Myanmar to distribute humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=356

Our hearts go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy. The cyclone has killed thousands of people and more than a million have been displaced from their homes. Myanmar’s government must work with international relief efforts to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis by:

-granting access to humanitarian aid workers into Myanmar by easing visa restrictions and customs procedures
-allowing professional relief workers to offer assistance without restriction or interference
-establishing clear and transparent guidelines for delivering aid that are based on need; not race, gender, national or social origin, political opinion, or religion
The people of Myanmar must focus on putting their lives back together. Tell the government of Myanmar to help pick up the pieces — ensure that cyclone victims receive humanitarian aid.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=356
Sincerely,

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our interactive online help system
http://www.mycusthelp.com/amnestyusa/

Subscribe to our RSS feeds
http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.do?n=12

Blogging, Sharing and Copyright…A few thoughts and an example

Referenced Source:  http://photogafrica.blogspot.com/

Issues:

Blogging, Intellectual Freedom, Author’s Rights, Learning Examples,Tagging Labels,Captions,Tags,Metatags,Use of Posts

Just a few thoughts and an example from on of my Facebook and MySpace friends, Dave Donelson, author and ‘photoblogger’…

From a real-life traveler, Dave Donelson gives a brilliant personal glimpse into the lives of women and children through the lens of a camera…Although the pictures are copyrighted, of course, the use for the sharing is simple – to learn more about ourselves and our world around us – either through fictional, anecdotal, or real-life accounts in blogs, posts, and yes, books!

If you want the whole story and love reading about an author and their work – read, read, read!

PhotogAfrica is a blog well worth the looksee…and, now for some coffee – lol.

On a side note, if I every write a book – it will be titled, a few thoughts before my brew – giggles.

“Second Life Musician Joins The Help” – Donations Request.

Second Life (SL) musicians and live performers are awesome at rising to a call for help. Read this excerpt:

Second Life’s Cylindrian Rutabaga, Grace Buford in real life, a well known and highly written about musician in Virtual Spaces, has just informed me she’s looking into potentially putting on an online event to help support the The Austin 80. I’ll keep everyone informed as to where it goes but I wanted to show that help can be made in many ways to help The Austin 80 get what they need, by spreading awareness, by telling and emailing your friends, ect ect. Let’s get this done people, it won’t take much.

Grace, thank you for your kindness, your generosity and your help.

For more information on the The Austin 80, please see the first post on this blog.

http://theaustin80.com/2008/03/16/hello-world/

Requests for help in Burma is not a new development, certainly not to human rights bloggers…but, the “wish list” for items is the first I’ve seen with information on how to help – and, is located on the above-referenced cite and at the bottom of this post – I’m going to put in a quoted message here, but please read more at the links given and the blogs cited – at the end of this blogging message, is an address to send items:

“Yes, there are about 81 people, all in one apartment complex on Rutland. There are also a few from the same “batch” from the refugee camp, who landed in a complex on Burton, which is off east Riverside Drive, but I don’t go there much and it is less than 20 people, including children. However, i have included their needs in this list you asked for. They are babies to elderly, and of Christian, Moslem, and Buddhist religion (the bulk are Christian).

No one has a car.

Most of them do not have a phone yet because of the expense, although some do.
NO ONE HAS A COMPUTER. If they had computers, just about any computers, they could communicate with their monk out on Hwy 71, and their refugee relatives in other countries. The kids could do their schoolwork, and the parents could do the ESL CDs I bring them from Half-Price Books, and the kids could do the learning games I have brought them against the day when they might have a computer. The kids cannot use the school computers before or after school easily at the middle or high school because they ride the bus, which gets them there just before school, and leaves right after school. IF I COULD GET THEM ANY ONE THING ON THIS WHOLE LIST, IT WOULD BE THIS.
In the group on Rutland, 37 are children under 18. None of the teenagers have a good calculator for school use. Imagine school nowadays without a calculator — I used one in high school in the 70’s (thte TI-40 — weren’t they a godsend??)!

Not everyone who needs a bike has one, and nobody has a bike patch repair kit or bike pump or tools to fix a flat.

There are several babies in diapers, which are very expensive and not covered by food stamps of course, and a lady due to deliver pretty soon. They don’t have proper carseats that I know of, and need infant and toddler. I know they don’t have cars, but when volunteers drive them, the baby has to be in a carseat.

Not everybody has socks or sufficient underwear because when I do clothing drives nobody gives these items — because they wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s!
The new people need umbrellas because they walk or ride the bus everywhere.
They need spoons, ricecookers, coffeemakers, mugs, and kitchen towels. They also need dishwashing liquid and laundry soap, bar soap, shampoo, and maybe some conditioner. And they need skin lotion if possible because they are used to living in a warmer, moister environment (I know, here are some folks who will like Austin’s summers!)
Not everybody has a toothbrush. I know in one family they share one. Others don’t have any now. Not everyone has a brush or comb, and some of the ladies and girls would like something to hold their straight black hair away from their face (like barrettes or ponytail holders or scrunchies or clips) but they are so expensive.

I have been taking them books every week, courtesy of Half-Price Books, for a couple of months now, but nobody has a bookshelf that I have seen and so these are beginning to get in the way. The reason this is bad is because they tend to be picked up and piled with the other “junk” the children have strewn on the floor and piled somewhere, making them less accessible and appealing for the next time. If anyone has any old bookshelves, telephone standa, bedside stands with a shelf, magazine rack — anything whch would help keep the books out and in easy sight and reach — I hope I can get it to them. Needless to say, the kids who look at their books the most are coming along the best in English.
Some of the apartments can use some more light, such as from a floor lamp, because a floor lamp doesn’t need to have an existing piece of furniture to be set upon.

None of the rest require any comment and I will try my best guess at the number needed to help out both the large group I see many times a week and the few at the south location. Well, okay, one comment, I have been inside each home many times and I know who is sharing bath towels, who has no toothbrushes, who is pregnant, etc.:

pitchers(8)
cookiesheets(6)
cutting boards(12)
very sharp knives for dicing(32)
bowls(40)
sponges(64)
rice(unlimited, they eat it 3 meals/day)
small mixing bowls(20)
medium mixing bowls(20)
large mixing bowls(20)
plates (200, no need to match the design)
cleaning brushes(35)
scouring powder(20)
manual can openers (20)
potholders (40)
teakettle(if one happens to come in, bring it, but don’t go buy — I know who drinks tea)

bath towels(80)
hand towels(40)
washcloths(80)
bathmats(14)
soap dishes(5)
toothbrushes(200)
toothbrush holders(12)
toilet brush set(20)
bathroom trashcans(8)
all-purpose cleaner(Lysol, Pine-sol, etc.)(20)
shower curtain liners(3)
small baby diapers(under 10 lbs.)
large baby diapers(20+ lbs.)
toothpaste(20)

pencils(many)
pens(dozens)
scissors, adult(12)
manual pencil sharpeners(8)
soccer ball, size 4*
soccer ball, size 5*
American football, small*
American football, full-size*
basketball, full-size*
tennis shoes, all sizesclothing infant – age 18, girl and boy
educational toys, birth-toddler (they have a couple already)
bicycles, teenage/youth(4)

irons(2)(most of them were lucky to receive irons a short while ago!!)
ironing board, probably small is best(5)
coffee tables(3)
end tables(3)
bicycles, adult(4)
bus passes
gift cards to Wal-mart
gift-cards to H-E-B
“Vietnamese”-style brooms from MT Supermarket (these are terrific, try one)(5)
mops(16)
buckets for use with mop(16)
vacuums(14)(they have never had to contend with carpet before and hate it!!)
telephones(10)
phone cards(10)

*NOT A NECESSARY — JUST FOR FUN

The address to ship stuff:
12411 Turtleback Lane
Austin, TX 78727

If you have specific questions for Elaine, you can contact her at: borntohelp@earthlink.net
But please do not spam her, she’s a senior citizen and can only manage so much.

Thank you Grace, for all you do – I hope this posting helps, as well.

Shirley J Rhodes, MLS