Arriving Somewhere

SMART-1, a satellite launched by the European Space Agency is preparing to make a crash landing into the Moon. There is a chance of an explosion and maybe even a debris plume that will be visible from the western hemisphere of Earth.

SMART-1 Prepares for Lunar Crash Landing

The trick is in the timing. SMART-1 will approach the crash site at a very low angle of trajectory and since the Moon’s topography is not known with enough detail it is possible that SMART-1 could hit an unknown peak and crash early. The crash site is an area known as Lacus Excellentiae.

• Nominal crash time will occur on September 3 at 1:41am EDT (10:41pm PDT)
• If it crashes on the previous orbit, it will occur on September 2 at 8:36pm EDT.

To keep up with developments and get specific coordinates of the crash site see the official ESA website: http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=98

Technorati tags: astronomy, Smart1, moon

Since the birth of my daughter Aliyah 3 months ago K and I have been reevaluating our immediate future plans. We’ve decided that I will only take one class per semester, instead of two as I have been. This means that my graduation will be delayed one year to May, 2008 – and we will be here in the DC area for 2 more years.

Fortunately I have a great job where I’m getting valuable experience, so even though I won’t be a “professional” librarian for another two years the delay shouldn’t hurt my career.

I’ve signed up for a class with a new professor called “User Interface Design and Evaluation”. While its not a subject I am super interested in, I am ecstatic that a systems/tech related class is finally being offered. Now if I could only get them to offer those networking or programming classes that are in the courses catalog…

I am constantly amazed by the people who seem to have no idea how to use a library – much less MPOW’s library. Today I was giving basic instruction to a patron who is completing his dissertation in education. Mind, I said he was COMPLETING it. He said he just wanted to see some other dissertations to see how they had been put together. I have to wonder, how has he done all of his research if not at a library? I suppose he could have used a different library for his research, but the concept of the OPAC (online public access catalog) and journal databases seemed totally new to him.

Well, at least he was willing to learn. Unlike some people who simply want me to hand them the book or article and refuse to learn how to search for themselves.

A few weeks ago I mentioned an interview I had with a Washington Times reporter. Well, her article “E-books unplugged” hit the streets Thursday.

My statements appear near the end of the article.

Its hard not to be a little disappointed that after speaking to her for a solid half-hour only a few lines were used in the article… but I suppose thats just my ego speaking. At least I don’t sound like a total idiot. You never know when your words will be taken out of context.

[update: Aug 25] My school has a link on the main web site about the article with the caption “SLIS Grad Student Discusses E-books in Washington Times“.

[update: Oct 3] List of blogs discussing the article:
Tower of E-Babel Mentioned in Washington Times
Who’s Moving My E-book?
Technology Nobody Uses: Are you buying it just to be cutting edge?
E-books Unplugged

Technorati tags: ebooks, library science

DC Council member Marion Barry provides an endless source of entertainment. Here’s a picture of a poster I saw on U Street back in February – when he was in trouble for not paying his taxes AND testing positive for marijuana and cocaine.

Free DC! *** Free Barry!

Don’t worry, he didn’t go to jail.

Technorati tags: Marion Barry

At 8:39am, while I was driving to work this morning I received a text message from Alert DC that read:

The threat level on all domestic flights has risen to code orange in the United States, due to arrest made in th

In the what? I never received the rest of the message. A few minutes later I notice cars in front of me making U-turns in the middle of Michigan Ave. I continued as far as I could to see what was going on, Michigan Ave. is completely blocked of by police cars at Quincy Ave in NE. I couldn’t tell what had happened but there didn’t seem to be much commotion so I assume it was mostly over, although I did count 3 MPD cars, 2 ambulances and 2 large fire trucks. Totally unrelated to the domestic threat level, I’m sure, but it was unnerving to receive that message and only a few minutes later be confronted by flashing red/blue lights.