Friday, June 20, 2008

Thank You, Steve Cisler  

I just learned, via LJ Hotline, that Steve Cisler died recently. I was stunned to read it because like so many, my relationship with Steve spanned my awareness and involvement with the Internet, and thanks to the Internet, we stayed in touch sporadically, emailing every so often, sometimes with a gap of a few years in between.

I learned so much from Steve. He was probably the first person to help me understand what the Internet might do for libraries, and how it might affect me as a librarian. Everything I could say sounds trite because so many have said it better, but that doesn't make my thoughts any less sincere.

I remember talking with Steve after he attended a meeting with a group of Luddites. He mentioned that he was thinking of going offline for awhile. As I recall he did, and I remember thinking how brave this was since life is now inextricably intwined in being online all the time. I guess it was just another example of his foresight, wisdom and spirit of adventure.

Thank you, Steve. I think the world is definitely a better place because you were in it.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Eddie Vedder, Chris McCandless, and Lars  

We're in Portland for the week. Ilana graduated from Evergreen so we used it as an excuse to fly out to see friends and enjoy the Northwest. I'm hoping also to maybe read a whole book.

One thing I hate about my life right now is that I'm too crazed to read more than about one book every two weeks, so I always hope it's a winner. This week's finish was a big one, and I love how I got into it.

I wanted to see "Into the Wild" for a long time. My guilty pleasure is ordering the entertainment DVDs for the library, so naturally it was on the list. When it arrived, I didn't have time to watch it, but Abe did and said it was devastatingly, heartbreakingly beautiful and sad.

I think I must have been in the library catalog to put another hold on the film when I noticed that we own the soundtrack to Into the Wild. I requested it. I love Eddie Vedder. I think he has an incredible voice and I love the poetry of his music. This work stunned me. I can't stop listening to it. Sometimes I listen to one song over and over. The music is riveting. So much so that I decided to read the book by Jon Krakauer. Same thing. It too was "can't put it down." He captured the individuality, idealism, foolishness and beauty of the life of Chris McCandless that must help his mother get through her days. It's a wonderful read.

I know the film will make this experience the trifecta, a perfect synergy of genius. It's Sean Penn, how can it be otherwise?

Speaking of perfection, we watched Lars and the Real Girl a few weeks ago. It's a perfect movie. I love to laugh and cry and be moved. It did all three. It's so beautiful we watched it again with friends. It's one of those movies that if we actually behaved the way the people in the film do, the world would truly be a better place. And wouldn't that be wonderful?