Last week I talked about my own method for managing my personal information, which for the most part consists of purging and a filing both electronically and physically. Our instructor asked us this week to think about our methods and think about what kind of task manager works well and what doesn't, or in my case what would need to be there to get me interested in trying it.

  There might be task managers that would work well but I don't have any desire to search them out. For the most part I don't have to do lists and I don't map out tasks or projects. I will admit that I have to at work and for that I use meeting maker (which is what the department uses) and it works okay. My problem is I forget to turn the thing on or check it regularly. My meeting schedule is pretty light so I can keep most of it in my head. What I really use it for is to let others in my department know when I won't be there, so they can schedule meetings accordingly. If my schedule did increase then I would use it more and make an effort to interact with it more often.

  I've never been a big list maker. Sure for birthday or Christmas wish lists, but it always seems like such a chore. Not something that gets me excited. Although I do have lists of books that appear interesting and I have a file in my filing cabinet where I keep the written list. I have a document at work that I note down books of interest as they pass across my desk, and occasionally I will look at it. But I have so many unread books now that I don't feel the need to search out more just now. A bit of a book overload.

  Thinking about my family, my first reaction is that we were never big list makers, but the longer I think about it the more I think my Mom may make lists of things to do although we never had the honey-do lists, and I hadn't even heard the term until about 5 years ago. I don't think my sisters make lists although I could be wrong. It just never seemed to be a priority.

  That is not to say that I don't ever make lists. When school has been particularly hectic, with a lot of assignments being due in a very short amount of time, or some big projects, I will list out in my student planner events that I would like to accomplish each day. Not that they all get done but it gives me an idea of where I am at and what needs to be done when. As soon as the quarter is over however, I lose the planner and go back to normal. I suppose it seems strange to many, I've never thought about it before. Most of the time I keep a running timeline in my head, with a notation now and then on particular times and dates, such as vet appointments.

  The other thing I've been thinking about these past few days, and this relates directly to the assignment by my instructor, is my lack of interest in technology. My first inclination is to attribute it to growing up in a time when computers were room sized contraptions that read punchcards and my favorite video game was pong (I had a lot of fun with that). But looking at my Dad who has a PDA and is always looking at the newest and greatest in computers, I don't think that's quite it. Although perhaps it does play in it a little bit. Computers just don't excite me that much and when I interact with technology it is with a very specific purpose in mind. I have a kindle, which I got so that I could have a lot of books available to me while traveling in Europe, about 3 years ago. A second generation and I still have it, although I don't use it as much as I did. I still prefer paper for the most part.

  I got an ipad because I liked the video quality and I was hoping it could allow me to read pdfs. The app I got only works so-so and except for a mean game of Shang-hai or spider solitaire, or a video from itunes, I don't use that much either. I definitely have no desire to upgrade past the first generation. Perhaps the item I use the most, and will continue to do so after I graduate is my ipod. I can listen to my music or audiobooks and it keeps me quite happy. It's a classic model and again I have no desire to try a new version. When I find something that works for me I tend to stay put.

  My other problem with technology is that I use it, to some extent, for work. After staring at a computer screen for 8 hours, the last thing I want to do is stare at it some more. I will go browse news sites to see what's being talked about, check email and facebook occasionally, but that's it. I have gone entire weekends without even looking at my computer and I found those to be the most relaxing. One of the beauties of working with a physical planner is that I can look at it anytime and anyplace, provided I have it of course. It doesn't cost me anything and the amount of time to open it and find the right week is negligible, especially as it involves an actual physical activity. It seems much more user friendly and after the cost of the item it's free and I don't have to worry about losing my work or not being able to access because of a software upgrade.

  An electronic management system would not work for me as I find having to open the computer, find the software, open it up and then check or update to be onerous and I resent the time it takes, when I could be doing. When I do go for something electronic I prize no frills, consistent usability above all else. I don't care how many different kinds of fonts or colors you can use, or these cool bells and whistles on the side. I want something functional and solid that won't change suddenly.

  My perfect task management would be me actually filing papers when I get them, and keeping on top of things more than a program or system, where I have to constantly make notes of what to do rather than just doing it.

  

I'm taking a class this quarter on personal information management. So far it's been quite interesting although not quite what I thought it would be. My take on personal information, especially in this digital age, is very reserved bordering on paranoid. I get very nervous of having any information out there for the general public or for marketers and the idea of personalized marketing creeps me out. A genuine case of the heebie jeebies, just thinking about it. The reports of employers demanding facebook passwords or that potential employees log on so that they can be viewed without privacy restrictions, only makes me trust digital management even less.

So I took this class with a strong focus on privacy and intellectual freedom. Turns out that while this is important, this is not quite what the class is about. Instead we are reading articles on topics such as what might be in the future of personal management, such as a camera on a necklace that takes pictures wherever you go, or some kind of device that records pictures, moments, places on a continual basis. So that your whole life can be documented.

I can understand that there are many people who might like that. A certain quality that makes them connected digitally with others in a way I never would be. Personally, I look at these imaginings and I see a theme of "Life will be better (easier) with this handy device (program) for organizing all your information and keeping you connected all the time to friends and family" It reminds me of futureland at Disneyland, where Science would make our future brighter and better, with more leisure time. As it is I still have a flip phone and have to remind my family that I do not text and don't have a plan that allows texts. I have no desire to get a smart phone either. I have a 2nd generation Kindle (no longer made) and as long as it keeps going, I'll keep using it. My ipad is a 1st generation and I have no desire or inclination to upgrade. I like some electronics but I don't feel the need to get something new or upgraded all the time. 

I feel the same way about my personal management. If I have something that works and works well, I have absolutely no desire to find something new. It works, I'm comfortable with it and I don't want to spend (waste) time trying to learn something new or transferring everything I have to something new. I guess when it comes to technology, especially personal information management I'm a bit of a troglodyte.

Of course I do manage my personal information, and depending on the format, I handle it in different ways. I have 3 different email accounts for three different purposes. I have a work/school account that only handles work/school related stuff and some emails from my boyfriend now and again. I have an account strictly to use when signing up for some kind of web service or contact information, so if my info gets sold it doesn't clutter up my third account which is what I use to connect with friends and family. It might seem clunky but it works pretty well for me. I try and keep emails in folders or delete things I don't need/want. I am currently in a decluttering aspect and so if I don't need something it goes. I hate to have to wade through things and even though a search function can help with that, I still don't like having all that garbage hanging around. I find it depressing and bothersome.

I still have a lot of paper and if I want to save something truly important I will print it out and file it. I don't trust electronic stuff to always be there. It only takes one bad server or corrupted disk and it could be all gone. If I don't have a physical copy in my hands it doesn't feel like I really have it. For paper I do the same thing and regularly cull files and through away or recycle anything no longer needed. 

I have never been a big one for to do lists, although with these last 2 quarters of school, being so busy, I have taken to writing down homework and to do items in school calendar. Just to make sure I don't drop anything of importance. At work there is a program called meeting maker which we have to use to keep track of meetings etc. Although I keep forgetting to turn it on in the morning.

That's pretty much the extent of my personal management style. Mostly paper, in files (or piles), and a regular culling to try and reduce what I own. 

A recurring theme in my fiction genres class was the question on whether or not we should get rid of genres in libraries. My instructor, Nancy Pearl, believes that genre grouping acts as barriers to readers. That readers will not generally move into other sections in pursuit of a new book. She makes some good arguments for this concept, and I can see where she's coming from. However, I don't agree completely. 

I think that getting rid of genre grouping would make it much more difficult for people to find books. There are so many books available that without some kind of mapping and grouping system, people would quickly become overwhelmed and may give up entirely.

We had a guest speaker from Mercer Island Books, whose name escapes me at the moment, who talked about genres as well. He had some really nice thoughts on genres being gateways rather than walls. The more I thought about this the more I liked it. Genres can allow for smaller more manageable book groupings. This smaller group might be easier for people to then dip in their toes and try something new.

In the beginning of the quarter Nancy also talked about people who may have stayed in a genre for most of their lives and they turn around one day and notice another genre on the shelves behind them, and their world opens up.

This, I think, is where the Librarians job comes in. It is our job to assist in people finding that gateway into something new. As I listened to Nancy and our guest speaker, I wondered about ways that we can assist people in navigating these gateways. 

One suggestion I heard last year for making lesser known books more interesting was to have a cart labeled books your neighbors have read and then placing returned books here for people to peruse.  I was thinking about something similar but a book display that would incorporate several genres around a central theme.

As my friends know I have a love of Yellowstone, so I thought about a display that would include some good non-fiction titles, including the science behind the volcano, along with a history of how the park came to be created, perhaps a history of Indians in the Yellowstone region, and a book about Death in Yellowstone. But there are also many fiction books that could be placed here. Mystery/thrillers that take place in the park, perhaps some romances that feature this area as a setting, and I'm sure there is a western or two that also has the park as a setting. This is just one example of what can be done.

Themes such as banned books, of course can be quite popular, animals that are characters in the books such as Bunnicula, the rabbits from Watership Down, The Velveteen Rabbit, and maybe romances where the character raises rabbits or is a pets shop owner etc.

The hope being that if an underlying interest could be found to pair books together, it would allow people with that interest to find books that treat this subject in unique ways and offer a gateway into a new place.

The same thing could be done for doorways such as language, character, setting, or story. You could even get the patrons involved and have a way for them to make suggestions of themes or angles. 

I don't think genres should be gotten rid of completely. They allow for people to interact with new books without being overwhelmed. They offer a safe and known place from which to test the broader collection. To help our patrons who might be willing to branch out, we should try and come up with new strategies that will help our patrons do this, without throwing them into a new and strange world without a map or a known quantity to guide them, such as familiar troupes or elements. We should also help patrons see beyond the worst elements of a genre, which often determines people's perception, and see the gems that are available.

For a class I'm taking we have been required to write journal entries about our reading experiences etc as we made our journey through the books we picked.

Now, as the class is ending and only one more journal post to go, I find that I will miss the exercise greatly. It was an excellent way to examine my thoughts and feelings as I read and as a result I think I gained a deeper relationship with the book.

So even though an entry is not due for class this week, I am going to blog about my experiences over the past two weeks and talk about what I'm reading.

My goal is to do this weekly to document my journey with my books. Normally we have to give an annotation, sort of a summary in 25-35 words or less and also do a reader's advisory, suggesting 3 books that someone reading the book being discussed might also like.

This week, since I am still reading the books I am going to forgo annotation, but I will try and revisit when I finish the books and complete these two exercises.

So here goes....

In class Nancy Pearl suggested that I try a book, "In the Woods" by Tana French. She further specified that I was to read it, rather than listen to the audiobook. Audiobooks are sometimes my preferred method, especially if the reader is good, and there are accents. One of the best I've heard so far is Mark Hammer's performance of the Dave Robicheaux books by James Lee Burke. He performs the cajun accent in its many varied forms and even reproduces how it sounds in French. Amazing.

But, I digress. So I picked up a used copy at a local used books store and started in. Mind you I am in the middle of Fall Quarter of my last year in the iSchool. I work full time and am taking 8 credits, about 3/4 time. I'm a busy girl. The class is not scheduled to meet again for 3 weeks so we have time to read a Science Fiction novel and a Fantasy novel, write our journal entries, and prepare to booktalk our selections.

The books I have chosen are Foundation by Isaac Asimov, because I don't generally care for that particular kind of book. I figured I'd give it a try though because even if I'm not wild about it, it does give me some experience with it and if a patron who really likes books like this wants help finding more books to read, I can have a better chance of helping them. So the book is 300+ pages but reads fast. No problem.

The other book I have chosen is "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. I will talk about it in my next post, for now it is good to know that it is over 700 pages long. On top of this I have html homework that is not too hard but definitely a time sink, a collection development class with several papers due, and a networking class with deliverables each week. It's safe to say that my time is limited.

And yet, I can't put this book down. I am happy to miss the van pool in the mornings because it means I get to ride the bus, where I can read my book because it's lighted. I read it all the way home again during the evening commute. I even stay up past my bedtime to get in a few more pages. I'm about halfway through, and the mystery just keeps getting deeper and more intriguing. So far it has been an excellent suggestion and a book advisory win.

The story itself is about a Dublin homicide detective trying to solve a mysterious murder of a little girl. To complicate matters he himself was involved in an incident 20 years ago in the same place. He and his two friends disappeared one summer afternoon, he was found later that night with a torn shirt and shoes full of blood, but his friends where never found. As the author weaves these two tales together through first person narrative we come to know the man Adam Ryan as a complex and ultimately believable character, and we care what happened to him so long ago.

I don't normally read for language. My favorites aspects of a story is the character development, the story, and the setting. For audiobooks I like regional accents. I enjoy fantasy such as George R.R. Martin with his exceptionally strong character development and the medieval flavor of his books. I like magical, scary books about Faerie. I like my historical or contemporary fiction to have a strong dose of place, so that if I go there I can almost see the characters there with me, seeing the same sites. Language has never been something I seek. I like it well enough but it's not how I usually choose my books.

This book though, has a lyrical, flowing narrative that I have found fascinating and breathtaking. I have a small tin of bookdarts I bought several years ago and I find as I look at the book, that it is littered with shiny glints of gold, silver, and copper as I mark passages that evoke questions and conversation with the book.

In one instance, the character is mentioning the first few lines of a Roman Catholic hymn. I used to be a practicing Roman Catholic and reading those lines brought me back to the sounds and smells of the church where I used to sing this hymn. And I began to wonder how this book would be read or engaged with by an Irish Catholic. I think the imagery and the language may have a profound effect as they understand their culture, their political environment, etc. in ways I never can as an American growing up and living in the States.

Other passages float up to me now. A children's clapping song I used to sing in elementary school. My experiences as I tried to fit in in Junior High and HIgh School. The moodiness of Ireland in the fall. So many ways to engage with this book. And, I think, it's all because of the power of the language. Even though I haven't finished the story yet, I have bought the next book in the series. I hope it's as good as the first.

So far a truly exceptional book that also has a well-constructed plot line and complex character development.

I must admit I have bought and downloaded the audio version, but I won't listen until I finish the print book. The book is well worth several readings and I desperately want to hear the Irish accent if it is used in the audio.

I recently read an article posted on CNN titled "Humans vs. automated search: Why people power is cool again". It outlines how the algorithmic search engines, such as Google or Bing, now give users a lot of links to webpages that are useless. Content farms are creating webpages and tagging them with popular search terms in order to increase their hit rate. It is seen as spam by many and is leading to a call for some kind of fix or new way to search. 

A partial solution is offered which suggests some kind of human interface be implemented. Anything from curation of the web, a different kind of search engine, or even less of an algorithmic, phrase match, model and more staff involvement emphasizing credibility of websites. The author himself believes that Facebook and Twitter will be the way to go as people share links with each other. Becoming curators without consciously trying.

I believe there may be another way; the reference interview as practiced by librarians. Traditionally face-to-face, technological advances give us new ways to conduct the interview and help users better understand and articulate their information needs. Today reference interviews can be conducted by phone, email, chat, or even twitter. But these types of services are only currently available in the libraries.

Part of the problem with the algorithmic search engine is that automated phrase matching is the goal. Often people do not have their information needs articulated enough to be able to create a search that will give meaningful results. I think there is room to create a number of services that will aid the user in defining and clarifying their needs in order to get more useful results.

The search box page, should stay the same. Allow people to enter the search however they wish. Sometimes they are only lookinf for a specific website and this is sufficient. A link asking the user if they found what they were looking for should be at the top of the results. The user can click on this receive a choice of: a link to the advanced search option; a link to an automated interview of some kind, much like Ask Jenn on Alaskaair.com where users can refine their search through drop-down boxes of subject headings, Boolean connectors, etc.; or a third option of a live reference interview with a trained librarian conducted in an  Adobe Connect meeting  room. Both Google and Microsoft employ librarians and it would be a great way to further discover what people are looking for and allow librarians to expand their skills.

Adobe Connect has many advantages including synchronous audible conversation, a whiteboard for posting links or search strategies, and the ability to record the session for later reference. The audible conversation allows for both the Librarian and the user to use verbal cues not available in text. It also allows for the transmission of more complex ideas faster and easier for both parties. The whiteboard can be used to post links or conduct searches that participants can see and interact with. The chat box on the side allows for users to write out questions if they don't feel comfortable articulating them, and the sessions can be recorded and saved. Allowing users to refer back to it should they need to.

I was in an exploration program last year in Munich. So I went early and spent a week in France and then 3 weeks in Munich. What I found surprising then was the ease with which I travelled. Not that it was always easy and after a few days in Southern France I was throwing myhands up like a native andlamenting on how nothing worked. I was looking forward to getting to Germany where everything works. But I was impressed with my ability to understand and communicate in French. I wasn't fluent but I could more or less read a menu, ask for directions, and make myself understood.

In Germany it was little harder. My German was not as good and so I understood even less. But after three weeks I could sort of read a menu, ask for directions, and make myself understood. Enough to send a package home, and panic about a passport that I had forgotten at security.

This year traveling for a week in Great Britain, a week in France, and a week in Germany; I had a fairly easy time. I had a harder time with getting German back but was still able to navigate and read a menu. There is a theme here.

I thought I was a good traveler. I was experienced, I was ready to try new things. As the overnight train pulled into Amsterdam I was all excited. Listening to Lady GaGa, thank you Trent, and other upbeat music. Then I got off the train in Amsterdam.

It was loud, it was crowded, and I did not understand the language. I had two heavy bags because of food, whiskey, and Calvados and I was completely lost. It was quite the shock to the system. Not helped by the fact that I was hungry and I did not understand what any of the food was. Because of my onion sensitivity I have to be careful about food and strange food always gives me pause.

I knew I had to get tickets to get back to Paris, I was just dropping off my bags, so I headed to the ticket counter and found to my shocked surprise that the rail pass that worked so well in France and Germany did not work quite so well in the Netherlands. A ticket would have cost me 60 Euros. Ouch! I could however take the local trains, not pay a thing, and get to Paris in 8 hours. Choices, Choices. I opted for the free train ride,but first to drop off my bags with Trent and Melinda.

No problem, I thought. I'll just grab a taxi because public transit when you are tired and have too much heavy baggage is problematic. I thought the taxi would be 10 Euros. Not quite, try 25. Another ouch, luckily I had just that amount. But, its still better than trying to figure out trams. The taxi drops me off in the middle of the street. So I muscle my bags up onto the sidewalk and thread my way very carefully between parked bikes, scared I might knock one over or dent it. Get to the door and then have trouble figuring out which of the two doors is correct. They are both locked. But I see Melinda and Trent so I have hope. Almost there.

The lady from check-in opens the door and I get my bags inside. Feeling a little silly for having so much. Then comes the real shock. The stairs. Or should I say twisty ladder? Come to find out that Melinda and Trent are staying across the street and on the fourth floor. Which means 4 flights of those damned twisty stair ladders. And I am feeling even more embarrassed and discombobulated with the weight of the bags etc. But we manage, with Trent helping me up the stairs. He jokes about using the block and tackle for getting the bags back down, which is funny but at that point I was tired, hungry, and thoroughly overwhelmed.I just wanted to crawl in a corner and hide.

I still had enough time to make my train though so I quickly packed a backpack, and headed out to figure out trams back to the station. No way am I using the taxi unless absolutely necessary. I made it to the station, and by now I am starving. So I look at all my food options and braved an Albert Heijn and a bakery shop for water and a weird tomato paste meat sandwich. I wasn't sure but I was hoping there would be no onions. There wasn't, but it ended up giving me heart-burn for the rest of the day. I was less than impressed with my first food foray.

The day just continued on interesting. There was some kind of incident on the tracks so no trains between Den Haag and Amsterdam were running. I had to take a train to Rotterdam then catch a connecting train from there. I luckily chose an earlier train and made it to Rotterdam. Now I was thouroghly confused. Rotterdam had not been in my plans.

I finally figured out which track I was supposed to be at, made it on the train, and a little way outside of the station, the train stopped. An announcement came on that we were experiencing trouble and to please be patient. By this time it was 2 something in the afternoon, I was tired and not feeling well, so I did the only sensible thing I could think of. I took a nap. Eventually the train started to move and we made it to the station in time for me to make the rest of my connections. I was sooo happy to be back in France. I could read menus. I could talk to the concierge. I could ask for directions. I could eat food that was familiar.

It was hard to go back to Amsterdam, but the reprieve helped. Eventually I figured out what was good to eat. Having the best butter cream of mushroom soup, and a flan(?) with berries ever on the first night back. I eventually learned to puzzle out a menu and became more comfortable generally. But that first day in Amsterdam taught me that I travel much better in countries that I have been in before, or where I speak the language. It was almost too much of a culture shock. Who would have thought that chaotic, crazy France would seem like a paradise or even better like coming home.

I have had a very busy weekend and I am now relaxing in the hotel and catching up on more schoolwork. Several months before we arrived in the Netherlands, our instructor had several suggestions for places to visit on our last weekend. Several members had expressed an interest in visiting Bruges. Lots of canals, medieval buildings, and Belgium chocolate. I really wanted to go but as it turned out it was little too expensive for me. I could have done it but would have spent the last week worrying and fussing about money. Soo I opted to stay in Rotterdam and take several day trips around the Netherlands.

It worked out beautifully. There were several museums and buildings I wanted to see and I would not have been able to do so this last week. Every night is booked with some sort of group type activity. So I took the opportunity provided and got to visit most of the things I wanted to.

I started the weekend with a trip to Den Haag on Friday to see the Escher museum. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! I really enjoy his work and I can spend hours looking at a tesselation or the waterfall drawing. So I spent a very enjoyable few hours walking around and looking at drawings. They even let us take pictures as long as it is for personal use and no flash. Fair enough, they are excellent wallpaper.

I wasn't ready to go back to Rotterdam afterwards so in spite of the rain I chose to visit another museum. This one, the mauritshuis, had a lot of excellent painings from the 1400s on. They even had some Holbein. I got to see the picture of JAne Seymour and the portrait of King Henry's hawk master, That was really cool. I also got to see several Rembrandt paintings and the Girl with a Pearl Earring. These were all housed in an old palace so the ambience of the rooms just added to it all.

I chose to visit Harlaam the next day because I read in the guide book about a church that had one of the best organs in Europe and Handel and Mozartboth have played on it. Plus there was a museum with a lot of paintings by Dutch masters from the 1600s.

As it turned out it was monument day and every monument was open and free for everyone. I started with the Grote Kerk and the Organ. It was beautiful and even though it was protestent, it was still a church and I felt better for visiting. The entire floor was covered with gravestones which took a bit of getting used to. But I visited Frans Hals grave and had a cup of coffee and wafflestroofel (sp?) at their coffee corner when I needed a moment to sit.

I next headed to the Frans Hals museum. It was every bit as cool as promised. The paintings were wonderful but the museum was not too large so I didn't feel too overwhelmed. They even had some really cool artifacts, like bed curtains that had been brought over to America probably in the 16 or 1700s and preserved for all that time in an oak chest. They are the only ones like it still surviving. And there was an organ (very small) that was made by the son of the man who built the large one at the great church.

After all this I was feeling very hungry so it was off to a french fry place that had been recommended where I discovered I like a small amount of fries and I don't like mayonnaise. I next stopped at a cafe and had a local brew, Jopen (Koyt), and watched the world go by. I was ready to head back to Rotterdam but got lost and spent an hour wandering around trying to find myway back to the station.

That is one thing I will not miss. My newness factor has been reached and Iam ready to be home in familair places. Where its easy to ask for directions if I need it and there aren't a lopt of tiny winding streets that don't seem to have a name on the map. But I have learned that I am pretty resourceful and I can get it figured out eventually.

I lucked out in Harlaam. There was a sign for an archealogical museum that was located in the foundations of a building in the square near the big church, so since it was free I went to take a look. OMG!!!!!!!!! They had an exhibit from one ofthe leather archeaology experts. I saw original and replicated shoes, scabbards, and pouches. It blew my mind.That find made up for any and all petty annoyances I have experienced over the past month and a half.

Today I went to Utrecht and saw the surviving sections of a cathedral that was partly destroed by a hurricane in the 1600s. I chose not to climb the 112m tower. I didn't want to pay 8 Euros andI really am not that big a fan of heights. So I kept my feet on the ground and spent time wandering around. I had tea and a special rum raisin cake made just for the church tea shop.I searched out other churches but most were closed, and I visited the water tower. It looks sort of like a medieval tower.

I also went to another museum that has a lot of artifacts and art from Christianity, mostly Catholic, and saw an unbeleivable Gold exhibit. Lots of gold and not all of it religious. I also got to see a book that was produced somewhere around 85o AD. Very nice.

So now I am back in my room, tired, happy, and ready to not see a museum for at least another day. :)
I am amazed at the art that is available here and how much the Netherlands encourages its people to go see it. There is a program called the Museumkaarte, that is basically a year long membership for 44 Euros and gets you into most museums in the Netherlands. Plus individual towns hold a monument day twice a year and encourage people to visit museums and monuments for free.

When I get back home I want to try and visit our local museums more often. They are such a treasure trove, and just wandering around looking at stuff is a lot of fun.

On Thursday we met with Andrea Schanhords for the second time and discussed visualizing interfaces to knowledge. It was a very enjoyable lecture. Last year when I took the classification theory course with Allyson Carlyle there was a reading that discussed ways to visualize classification.

The most common way to visualize a classification system is a tree. A general subject branches out into smaller and smaller subcategories. The problem with this is that most subjects don't tamely go into one little slot. And, more importantly, classification is something that we as people make up using our own personal and cultural filters. There are no real boundaries and lines except for what we create orselves. Plus subjects are often combined to form new areas of study. So then how is something classified, especially if it is only one or two items covering that combination.

What really struck me in that class was that ultimately everything is connected. And that is exactly what Andrea was showing us through a lot of different maps and other visualizations of the sciences. In a way they are like one of the metaorphoses by Escher which starts out with words and changes from one thing to another until finally its back where it started.

There was an amazing map of the Sciences and citations that showed this interconnectivity beautifully. Unfortunately this class hasn't reallly shown a more accurate view of classification but it did give me some new perspectives to use as filters.

During our break she had several knowledge visualization posters on the walls for us to look at. One of them was a wonderful representation of wikipedia, tyracking the amount of changes to a category. Unsurprisingly Adolf Hitlerand Jesus were the top two. The third was a surprise though, October 2003.We could not figure out what world shaking event happened then. I checked Wikipedia later and discovered that there doesn't seem to be one event. Raather there were several that together made sense: Roy was injured byhis tiger, the FBI admitted to tapping the Philladelphia mayor, the governor of CCAlifornia was recalled, and Rush Limbaugh admitted a drug addiction to pain killers. And this was all within the first 2 weeks of the month. I didn't get any further but I wouldn't be surprised if there was more later on.

I didn't realize wikipedia grouped events occuring in the same monthtogether. It made me curious about other months. It is neat to see a sort of time capsule of events and cultures in small sections of time. I look forward to poking around some more to see other time periods.

During my travels I have discovered that visiting cathedrals is one of my most enjoyable past times. I love the feeling of enetering a building that was built between 500 and 1000 years ago. I love touching the stones and imagining all the people who have stood there before me and I am continuously surprised that the sounds and smells are at once so familair despite being half way across the world. There is a peace that enters me as I step through the door and let my eyes rise to follow the lines of the ribbed vaults, up to the gallery and on to the ceiling so far overhead.

I admit to having become a little spoiled by my time in France. Normandy in particular, is a very rich area and is full of cathedrals. Most are gothic and have large windows with lots of light and orderly row of flying buttresses outside to help support the large windows and high arches that were an attempt by our forebearers to touch God and receive a bit of grace.

The Netherlands have been an amazing experience so far. The people I have met have been kind and hospitable and tolerent. But what I miss in this predominantly protestant country are the grand churches and cathedrals. Tomorrow I will go to Utrecht to see the the remains of a gothis cathedral that was severly damaged by a hurricane in 1647. I am really looking forward to seeing it.

The thing I noticed in Amsterdam and all around the Netherlands is that their churches are locked and gated. Entry into the church is only allowed at certain times of the day for worship, or its open for people to pay a fee to enter and look around, such as the New Church cathedral in Amsterdam. It does seem to be a common theme in all protestant churches, to charge an entry fee unless you are there for services. I saw it in Germany and England. But I have never before seen churches that are closed to any who might be in need.

In some ways I can understand. With the decriminalization of Marjuana and other drugs, there is an increased number of junkies who have no place to go and would likely enter the church and cause damage or steal to get their next fix. But it seems a little backwards somehow. A country that allows for people to be as they are and allows for people to engage in vices is not able to have an institution available for those same people which are the ones the Christians would most like to save.

Looking at gated locked churches and smelling pot seems a reversal of world order somehow and is sad to see perience. I think I prefer a place where churches can be open and enjoyed or used by those in need. Granted the churches are rarely open all the time anymore, anywhere but at least they are open during the day and in the case of catholic churches often free.