Sean, my god. I'm so incredibly sorry this is happening, and all my wishes go to a hopeful resolution.

Kristin, I'm a little bit of a techno-addict myself, in my own little way. IMDB, Google, Yahoo search, as well as specific subject searches make up most of my day. I'm often accused--by my family! of being too impatient and expectant of immediate gratification to actually think and attempt to remember things, rather than fingers flying on a keyboard to look up the answer nownownow! So I get the smartboard in the classroom thing, I do.

But I can't help mentioning that one of the things my best teachers gave me was how to research. Not just where to find information I needed, but how to follow a trail of interconnected information, from source to source. Libraries are still gold mines of info, and I'd hate to see the skills of physical research lost in the shift to electronics. Is that hidebound of me? Maybe. But I can't quite believe the need for being able to sift through physical media for information that ties together, that tracks through layers and years of periodicals, books, and articles is going to go away any time soon.

I could be wrong. We may be able to do it all electronically. I do know for me, learning the hunt, the mechanics, the expectations, and the prospecting was far more valuable than the information I found on any subject.

Kristin, thanks for sharing your viewpoint. It's hard for me to picture how computers are really used in the classroom so that was a new angle on the issue I hadn't really contemplated before.

And those Smartboards sound fab.

(But Bev's points about research do make me want to go to a library and dig in.)

the hunt is still there -- if you are relying on Google - you aren't doing research. Most of he easily available stuff is pretty shallow -- you need to learn the world of databases -- and he cheap way to that world is thru your public library

Sean, I'm so sorry.

Sean, I'm so sorry. Keeping you and S in my thoughts.

But I can't help mentioning that one of the things my best teachers gave me was how to research. Not just where to find information I needed, but how to follow a trail of interconnected information, from source to source.

Oh, but we still teach this! We just don't need to do it physically anymore. The Library of Congress is digital--scanned, original documents and all--and God bless it. Like beth says:

the hunt is still there -- if you are relying on Google - you aren't doing research. Most of he easily available stuff is pretty shallow -- you need to learn the world of databases -- and he cheap way to that world is thru your public library

My job requires research all of the time. Deep, complicated, interconnected, academic research, and I do it all through the school's library databases. It's incredibly freeing. The students do learn the value of physical research in terms of archeology and such, but regular research is all so much easier than it was. In fact, I've found that the students are able go a lot further in their search (once they learn how to make their research substantive, as Beth says) because the logistics are so much faster.

And I am a bibliophile, don't get me wrong--I love the feel and touch of books and will always love them and hug them and call them George, but I am so glad I have a quicker way to sift through until I can get to the good stuff.

Side note: I do think it depends on what you're studying--if you're looking at primary texts as a specialist, there is likely a real reason to see the originals. I'm mostly referring to easily replicated sources here...and to each his or her own!

ETA: Beth, I meant to say that this cracked me the hell up:

I work in a library . I love the library .But please let no one ever have to go thru the hell of the reader's guide to periodic literature. Tech save us.

Oh no! Sean!!! {{{{ }}}}} All the ~ma and then some for S and you. Please, if you need someone to talk with, even for distraction purposes, you got my number!

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That digital board thingie looks HOT! Dude! I wanna be a teacher just to use that!

I actually watched the RNC thingie on the tele a bit. Just her speech at the end there, I caught it just after her "intro" stuff. She had a couple good zingers, so I could see her playing that "VP attack dog" position well. But I was screaming at the tele a few times with her references to Obama.

I have to say, it has been my position that I think a Governor would be a better President than a Senator, as they do have the Executive experience. However, the Shrub has TOTALLY ruined that theory. I think Palin will be a force to keep an eye on over the next few weeks. Do not underestimate her people.

And a small side rant. Why. WHY! WHY?!? Why do they have to add 'gate' to the end of every scandal??? Watergate was the name of the hotel. Trooper-gate??? Sounds stupid. I wonder if the QED has added gate as a suffix defined as political scandal or something. Uggg.

ND, I forgot to pdf print and e-mail for you earlier. Sorry about that. Had to get to the DMV for my drivers license. But they are insent to you now. But, I am now officially a Texan! Both car and Drivers License. In 2-4 weeks, we shall see just how bad my picture is.

Okay, Sean -- there are *really good* drugs for sepsis. The cardiologist is right in that it's a fucking serious situation, but there are "big-gun" antibiotics that are used in sepsis, and they're good at getting it under control.

I know that knowledge is not much (or any) comfort right now, but, while it IS as serious as it gets, there's some powerful shit available to fight it, and that's going to help her very, VERY much.

If my thoughts and prayers have any power, she has those, too. As do you.

Insomnia? Or is it my sleep patterns just totally out of whack. Either way. It's 3am and I'm not tired. I need to get a reading light for my bed. Reading might be better than computer stuff.

Also, facebook is annoying me right now. Trying to catch up on 2 weeks of "requests" and the thing keeps reloading the home page. Ugg. I think I'll try to sleep again.

(((((Sean)))))