I write letters.

"I think you may be the last person in America still writing letters."
--Kimberly Todd Wade

I write letters to friends.

Why do I hand write letters in the age of email, Facebook, and Twitter?

I can convey more with my handwriting.

My writing conveys my thoughts by including words that I might cross out, underline, or highlight.

I think faster when I write. I can think faster than I type.

Paper and a pen/pencil can be carried and used almost anywhere.

I send postcards too.

I like the idea that my words can travel.

Boo library books. Yay personal book ownership.

Let me explain. I am a big fan of library books. I work in an academic library. I used to work in a public library.

On of the problems that I have with library books is the concept of sharing popular reading.

This even occurred when I was working in a public library, so it is not just limited to my academic library. However, I wanted to relate a story about a library book that I was recently interrupted from reading.

I read a review in the Washington Post about Townie: A memoir by Andre Dubus III.

At first I was excited to see that we had this book at the academic library. Usually new popular reading books, especially those that are hyped/reviewed in the Washington Post, are already checked out of our library before I can check them out; if they are ordered at all.

I checked out the library book and started reading it immediately. It is 387 pages, so I wanted to get started right away.

No sooner did I start to read it that there was a recall placed on the book. A recall means that the library book was requested by another patron. Therefore, the book needed to be returned in a few days or I would accrue heavier than normal fines.

I didn’t want to get into a recall war with another patron. I saw this at the public library, where patrons would recall a book that had just been recalled from them.

I returned the library book a little dismayed that I could not read it then.

This is why I usually buy popular reading materials.

Luckily this book is on sale at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

For now I am reading something else. Now I am reading Divine Creatures: Animal mummies of ancient Egypt. I may get back to Townie: A memoir, either as a library book or a personal purchase.

The future of media services

Train ride to Philadelphia

The Amtrak train ride to Philadelphia was not as smooth as the train rides that I have had in Japan and the train ride through the Chunnel from England to France.

Edward Keller, Photographer

Edward Keller, Photographer

Usage is Print with electronic

Circulation up to 100,000

World distribution rights

Title: Cultural Anthropology by Barbara Miller

Homeless children in Vietnam

Haitian migrant worker

Palm Sunday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

I still have my photographs published from adventures taken many years ago. Vietnam in 1995 and Haiti in 1996.

Past adventures

Back in 2005, wrestling an alligator at Gatorland during their Trainer for a Day Program.

Back in 1995, taking pictures in Vietnam for my Master's thesis in Anthropology.

I have been going through some old photographs and videos of my past adventures for use in some projects that I am working on at the moment.

Multi-purpose wipe tablets

In previous posts, I mentioned how I am always looking for non-liquid items to take on carry-on luggage. For example, I found toothpaste tablets.

My sister knows that I always carry wet-wipes when I travel. So a wipe that is also a tablet is a double bonus.

My sister found these multi-purpose wipes. Just add water and you can use them.

People waiting in the pouring rain for a cupcake at Georgetown Cupcake

Would you stand in a line in the pouring rain for a cupcake?

These people would.

Pocket wash products that are TSA compliant

At REI, I picked up Sea to Summit's Pocket Laundry Wash, Body Wash, and Shampoo.

With the liquid restrictions for airplane carry-on luggage, I am always on the look out for products that enable travelers to carry onto the airplane their basic necessities and still stay within TSA guidelines.

Sea to Summit pocket products allow users to carry solid versions of liquid products in their carry-on luggage.

Toothpaste tablet

With the liquid restrictions for airplane carry-on luggage, I am always on the look out for products that enable travelers to carry onto the airplane their basic necessities and still stay within TSA guidelines.

Archtek Toothpaste Tablets allow users to carry solid toothpaste in their carry-on luggage. All you do is chew, brush, and rinse.

Why a four-year-old child could understand this report.

Minister of Finance: Here is the Treasury Department's report, sir. I hope you'll find it clear.
Rufus T. Firefly: Clear? Huh. Why a four-year-old child could understand this report.
[to Bob Roland]
Rufus T. Firefly: Run out and find me a four-year-old child, I can't make head or tail of it.