Large Bonsai

The sign "LARGE BONSAI" made me think of JUMBO SHRIMP.

Are there suppose to be large bonsai? Just because a plant is in a shallow bowl with gravel, a small amount of turf and a rock with a saying on it, does that make it a bonsai?

These are just small plants in shallow bowls. Some of them may look like fake bonsai in that they are made to look like they have had their growth stunted, but that is the type of plant that it is (See the leafy plant in between the two palms.

According to Wikipedia, bonsai literally translates to plantings in tray. So if we take the definition of bonsai literally then these are bonsai, but there is none of the bonsai aesthetics in the growing of these plants.

Also, the sign says "easy care." Isn't the point of the bonsai to make an art form of cultivating and caring for the plant? In other words, the care and cultivation of a bonsai should take some effort and concern.

Recycled Newspaper Vase

I bought this for $3 at the Arlington Civitans first Saturday of the month flea market.

This was the first flea market of the season which runs from April to November.

I have found this item on-line, but it looks like it is sold out.

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.

Investigating Shelfari

I am looking into the potential of the Shelfari widget on my blog.

I want to see how I can move books around based on different conditions such as ratings and date added.

I have a Chubby.

A Chubby Purple Power Grape Soda that is. This is an interesting name for a soda, especially when there is an obesity problem with children in the United States.

Chubby soda is a product of Trinidad & Tobago.

If you want, you can join the Chubby Kids Club and visit Chubbyland.

Shelfari widget added to my blog

I just added the Shelfari widget to the right side of my blog.

This will be used to showcase books written by people that I know and books that I am reading or have read.

Envisioning the Media Commons

Forgot my digital camera

In Harrisonburg, VA...I am a media guy. I forgot to bring one thing. What do you think that is? Clue in the title.

Dancing on the METRO bus

The METRO buses almost never follow their printed schedule and it gets frustrating every day trying to get into work. This morning, the 7:17AM bus never showed up. The 7:29AM bus showed up at 7:23AM and sat. The bus supervisor at Ballston had the 7:29AM bus become the now late 7:17 bus. Almost everyone, except me, crammed into the 7:29AM/7:17AM bus that left at 7:25AM. I waited four minutes for the 7:29AM that left at 7:32AM. It had four people including me. The 7:29AM bus was so empty that I was dancing in the aisle. The bus driver probably thought I was crazy, but I didn't care. I told myself that the next time the buses messed up their schedule and I got on a near empty bus during the morning rush hour that I would dance in the aisle. BEST. MORNING. COMMUTE. EVER.

I case you are wondering, I had the camera in the back empty seat. The bus was stopped at a traffic light. The camera fell over when the light turned green and the bus started moving.

This is why we are going to require training for the 3-Light Kit

The coils got blown out of the bulb by the force of the blast.

This is what happens when the oil from a fingerprint is on the outside of a bulb when it heats up.

Good thing I had just readjusted the Protective Screen that was on the light incorrectly before I turned on the light.

Heavy Metal Trumpet??!!??

Photographing my boss's son in our Production Studio. I encouraged him to do a fun heavy metal pose during the shoot.

His mother/my boss approved.

Maple at Galaxy Hut

POP: The Genius of Andy Warhol

Finished reading POP: The Genius of Andy Warhol...now I am ready for a trip to The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

On a Skype video conference call with NYU Abu Dhabi.

This is the cleanest and most organized my cubicle has ever been. Just kidding (about the cubicle).

Librarian for Hire!

Well, it's official! This was part of my name badge at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Conference. I have the Masters in Library and Information Studies degree and I am actively looking for a job in libraries...so, now I changed my blog title from "The Adventures of Library Assistant Ed" to "The Adventures of Ed the Librarian."

My suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego

I got upgraded to a suite for free at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego for the 2010 ALA Midwinter Conference.

Beaded sneakers at the National Museum of the American Indian

Rattlesnake (shot)

Swamp Water

Wild Dinners Available

Gator Toes

New Call of the Wild Appetizers

They've got yak!

Pirate Duck at Golden Corral

Me at bowling with Pirate Duck on my head

My mother bowling

My nephew at a Jaguars versus Redskins game in Jacksonville

My brother-in-law with Pirate Duck fly to see relatives

Bite Me on Christmas

My nephew's dog, tired after a long Christmas.

My nephew waiting for the bus on a cold winter's day.

Gingerbread Lauinger Library

Doing my best "Godzilla attacks Tokyo" impression.

Computer theft flyer

The handwritten notes says: "If the person who took my computer comes back you can keep it, I just need my research. Please."

It is finals time at the University. Prime time for thefts. Students leave there belongings unattended even though we post signs telling patrons to keep an eye on their stuff.

Fried Pickles at the Continental Bar in Arlington, VA

Gravity demo at the Natural History Museum in London

Did they really need the "exhibit under repair" sign? Couldn't they have said...Gravity, feel it. Or Gravity, it's affecting you now.


The other aspects of the exhibit had their own physical manifestations.

Saving water with your poop

Demonstration of how animals save water by the consistency of their poop at the Natural History Museum in London.