Book Review: All is Calmish

Niro Feliciano, All is Calmish: how to feel less frantic and more festive during the holidays. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2025.  ISBN: 9781506498348. 

Genre: self-help

Subgenre: seasonal, personal essay

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus 

 

This is basically a self-help book to help you cope with the stress of the holidays.  For many, the holidays season is anything but merry and bright. The author, a psychotherapist you may have seen on the Today Show, offers strategies to help you survive and be well, or at least feel better in the season.

The book starts with a note to the reader. Author then offers 31 chapters, and ends the book with a list of "Ten Ideas to Keep the Holidays Simple and Memorable." The book overall follows a simple formula in the chapters: a story from the author, lessons to draw from the story, and some small exercise or practice to help or encourage mindfulness. 

The stories vary in quality. Some are interesting and relatable. Others to be honest feel like a privileged person complaining about champagne problems. There is a lack of consistency. On the positive, you don't have to read all the stories. This book is one you can skim and read a bit here or there. 

I will note there is quite a bit of Christian religion in the text. Part of it I am sure is a reflection of the publisher, a self-described Christian publishing house. I mention this in part because I have seen other reviewers mention it and because the author does lay the Christianity on the thick side. This may be fine for the devout, less so for other readers. 

Overall, the book just feels OK. Some of the stories are good, others are so-so, and a few honestly I could not care less. Some of it feels too sweet, treacly even. I'd consider this as highly optional for public libraries and a skip for academic libraries. It could've had potential, but the substance was not there. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

 

This book qualifies for the 2026 Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge. 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Be More Vader

Christian Blauvelt, Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side. New York: DK Publishing, 2018. ISBN: 9781465477361. 

Genre: Star Wars

Subgenre: business, work, advice

Format: small hardback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library  

Note: Turns out DK is owned by PRH, so this book would've fallen under my publishers' boycott. However, it falls under the "oops exception." Also, since it was a library book, I did not spend money on it.   

This small book is in essence a career advice book with Darth Vader as the model of rising to power. If you are stuck in a rut at work, and you want to get ahead, ask "What would Vader do?"

At 63 pages, this slim volume offers a good amount of advice. The book is arranged in five parts: 

• Starting Out.
• Getting Established. 
• Seeking Promotion.
• Working with Colleagues.
• Becoming a Leader. 

Every section features an entry with a bit of advice. Each entry features a photo from a scene in one of the films, a quote from a film, the advice, and a short explanation. Photos are in color. Theme aside, the career advice is practical. These are tips you can use in your career to improve and climb that ladder. Some advice examples include: 

• Find a mentor.
• Refine your negotiation skills.
• Insist on proper recognition.
• Lead by example. 
• Give credit where credit is due.

The book combines serious, basic, and practical advice with some light dark humor.  It is a very easy read, and you can probably read it in one sitting. 

This book can be a good gift for a young Star Wars fan, maybe even for a school or college graduate starting out. I do recommend it for libraries. The copy I borrowed was shelved in the business section, but you could shelve it with other Star Wars books. 

I greatly enjoyed this one. The book is no big deal, so to speak, but it is a light, practical, and humorous at times guide to success from one of the great strong leaders from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. So I am giving it the full 5 out of 5 stars.  

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Booknote: Tongue Tied

Stella Harris, Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink, and Relationships. Jersey City, NJ: Cleis Press, 2018. ISBN: 9781627782661.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: communications, sex education, BDSM, kink, fetish, advice
Format: Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC)
Source: Provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Find the book in a library near you using WorldCat (link to record).
Buy it directly from the publisher (link to their record, which also includes a video trailer for the book).

It took me a good while to get through the book because the author offers a lot, and I found myself at times pausing to think and reflect on some point the author made. The book is labeled as a guide for communication in sex, kink, and relationships, but many of its lessons are applicable to life in general and there may even be a lesson or two you can take to your workplace. The book is 283 pages long, but the author packs a lot of good material in that small amount of pages. This book could have probably been longer, but the author manages to keep things concise.

The book is arranged as follows:

• Short introduction.
• 12 chapters on topics such as how to talk, safer sex, difficult conversations, and nurturing.
• Odds and ends. This is a list of resources including websites, books, porn, erotica, safer sex details, and supplies. 
• A glossary of terms. 

The book is well written and very accessible. Many guides to kink and sex tend to be written assuming readers are full time kinksters and/or highly knowledgeable. Finding good, honest, accessible resources for beginners and/or those curious and wanting to learn is not easy. Ms. Harris' book definitely fills that need. In addition, she does not condescend nor talk down to readers. She writes with a plain, nurturing, and reassuring way. I did think that at times she could be a bit too optimistic; after all, there may be moments when communication will not work or someone is just not willing to do something, and someone else has to decide whether to stay or move on. That certainly is a part of life as well, but at least she also gives advice on how to handle rejections because we all will face those sooner or later. As a reader, I felt at times that Harris made it sound like things will be honky dory with good communication. I am not as optimistic, but I see she at least acknowledges somewhat that things may go south. Aside from that, this is a very solid book.

The book provides plenty of good advice and information. That materials is supported by her knowledgeable expertise and a good amount of sources that the reader can seek out for verification and to learn more. She also draws on her personal experience at times to illustrate important points and issues. A strength of this book is that it explains things in clear and simple language; it often reads as if you are having a plain, honest, and well informed conversation with an expert who is willing to be open and accessible; many other experts fail in that regard.

Additionally, the book offers plenty of tools and exercises to help you reflect and develop your communication and intimacy skills. Exercises vary in requirements and form so there are things for all types of learners. For example, as a writer I work with a journal, so having journal prompts to help me reflect and learn was something I appreciated.

Overall, whether you are single or in relationship, whatever your orientation or expression may be, you are beginning your journey or well along the way, we can all learn about better communication in and out of the bedroom (or the dungeon, or whatever other setting). We all want better sex, but you can't get what you want without asking and seeking it out. This book teaches you not only what to ask but how to ask so you do not settle for less. A key message from the book is to take responsibility for your desires. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

I highly recommend this book. It is one I would definitely add to my personal shelf, and it is one I am happy to share with the Better Half.

5 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes. As I have mentioned in other reviews, this part of the blog post is additional reading notes and thoughts I had about the material as I was reading it. Feel free to keep reading or not as you feel moved. It's me engaging a little further with the text and/or things from the book I really want to remember or feel are important.

Harris had the good fortune of accessing the kink community early on in life. Though she makes it sound a bit easy-- she was lucky as she says in her acknowledgements-- to find the right people, people who were "open minded and contributed to my education" early on. So as I read on, it sounded like either she was a bit naive or in a bubble when she went into the "real world." She writes:

"That was the norm for me for so long [good open and clear honest communication] that when I was finally out of school and in an office environment, I was utterly baffled by the complete lack of communication skills people demonstrated. People were passive-aggressive and manipulative. People didn't speak to each other directly but instead complained  about coworkers behind their backs. It was unbearable" (viii). 

My reaction to reading that passage was a blend of "really?", "no shit, Sherlock," and "what cave have you been living in?" Seriously, fuckery in the workplace, most any workplace, is pretty much a built in feature. That she was shocked  about it made me wonder. However, if nothing else, she did put lessons to work and created this book, which may even help you and me better navigate our workplaces too in addition to our bedrooms. On a final note about this, I did also say to myself as I read that if she thinks an office is bad, she needs to spend a decade in academia. Faculty are often seriously mean, passive aggressive, manipulative assholes (of both genders and all orientations) and rampant egotism to boot. Who knows? She could get a sequel book from the experience or use academia as illustrations of what not to do and how not to communicate.


On how to read the book. You can read this book cover to cover; I did to write the review. You can also or instead skim and find what you need. Harris writes,

"You'll either skim it or read it cover to cover now, when you're first picking it up and then later you'll use it as a reference when you're addressing a particular issue or new relationship" (xv). 

And,

"Some tools don't speak to you until you need them" (xv). 

Ain't that the truth? The example that comes to mind now are Tarot and oracle card decks. When people ask me why I have various decks, it's because they speak to me at different points of need, different expressions, different moods.

Also, you can use the book alone or with a partner or partners:

"The other difference could be whether you read this alone or with a partner. Again, either is fine. Some of the exercises call for self-reflection, and others can be done with a partner, in or out of the bedroom" (xv).

Key points, additional, in using the book:

"So use the tools in this book (and others) to improve your communication skills, not to control the behavior of others" (xx).

And,

"I hope you'll find some of the tools and exercises in this book helpful. But keep in mind that you can choose what's useful to you and leave the rest" (xx).

Like life in general, change is a constant here too:

"When it comes to anything to do with  sex or relationships, you can't just have one conversation and be done with it. People change, situations change, and issues will always come up. So it's helpful to understand that many things will be a work in progress, that you may address more than one time" (23). 

This is stuff we are  not taught. Boy, is that ever true. Harris states,

"Sex is perhaps the most complex activity we're expected to know how to do without ever being taught. Or at least without being taught well. Not only is good information generally missing from school curricula, but we're surrounded by misinformation" (25). 

Tell me about it. As a young man growing up within repressive Catholicism, I barely got any sex education. My parents never provided any (good parents as they were overall and otherwise), and what little I got in school (Catholic school by the way) in that one session was a shame laced disgrace that was not even complete. I've had to spend my adult life unlearning and then relearning things I should have been taught plus then learning new things. In retrospect, a big reason I became a teacher and then a librarian is because I did not want anyone else to go through the ignorance desert and misinformation obstacles I did. Books like this did not exist when I came of age, and if they had existed, no one would have allowed me to even know it was out there. Again, part of why I became a librarian: if you need a book like this, I'll be happy to hand it to you, even if it's done under the table.

Another strength in this book is defining the terms. A good sex educator, and teachers in general, do this. Harris does it. So many so-called educators and gurus do not.

Harris acknowledges she offers a lot of information, which again is part of why it took me a while to fully read this book:

"There's a lot of information here, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Give yourself permission to read one section at a time, or to take breaks as needed. And when you'r ready, take notes on two or three things you'll try incorporating into conversations or your sex the next chance you get" (115).

Holiday Post 2015: Traditions, Manners and Other Miscellany

The holidays are finally here. As I write this, we are four days away from Christmas Day. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Festivus, the Winter Solstice, some other celebration, or none at all, I hope this is a time for peace and rest for you out there. This year, we ran a bit late putting up our Christmas tree, which we did last night. The coquito did get made a bit earlier this week, so we are enjoying that just fine.

By the way, coquito, the traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink, is fairly easy to make, and there are many recipes out there. We choose a version without eggs, but the basics are rum, condensed milk, coconut cream or coconut milk (depends how much coconut flavor you like and how thick you want it to turn out), and some cinnamon to garnish. From there, it can vary. Some folks like adding nutmeg or some other holiday spices when they blend it. Other recipes ask for condensed and evaporated milk. For rum, naturally Puerto Rican rum is preferable, especially white rum, but hey if what you got is dark rum from some other island, hey, rock on. My best advice is to run a search on Google and find a recipe you like, try it out. If you are really curious, leave me a comment, and I will tell you mine. By the way, this is something you drink out of a shot glass; you don't chug it.

Celebrating the Holidays

As I have mentioned before, in our household we are very easy going about the holidays. We are not church goers. For us, resting and spending time at home with family after a long year of work is what matters. Our daughter is home for college, so she gets to rest after an arduous semester. We open presents, snack, have some coquito, then later a nice meal. Since I will be spending time with the family, this week I will be featuring some posts with links and interesting things I have found to amuse you while I am gone. As always, comments are welcome.

• Now for many folks, I understand that the holidays can be a time of stress. Putting up the tree and dealing with some details around the house can be hard. So here are 15 tips and tricks to help out from better ways to put up the tree if you use a natural tree to using a piece of bread to sweep up glass from the floor. The last tip about wrapping the whole tree, if you have a fake tree, does not work as well for us since we have limited space. We store ours in a large tub. Story via Mental Floss.
• Money can also be a source of stress during the holiday season. Many people consider the usual: gifts, food for the feast, so on. But they often fail to consider other additional costs of the holiday that may not appear so evident. So via Wise Bread, here are "13 Holiday Season Costs Everyone Always Forgets About." 
• And speaking of costs, it seems the items on the traditional 12 Days of Christmas song are a bit more pricier this year, according to PNC's Christmas Price Index. A hat tip to The Week.
• Our pets, for those of us who have pets, are part of our families, and we do our best to include them in our celebrations. However, you want to make sure your pets remain safe and happy, and this is a time of year where it is very likely they might eat something or mess with something that could be bad for them. To help out with that, here are some tips on holiday pet dangers to avoid, via Wise Bread. For example, those nice poinsettias a lot of people like can be toxic to pets if they gnaw on them.
• This is the time of year when many people feel generous. One way to express that generosity is giving to charity. But do you know how to vet a charity or nonprofit to make sure your money goes to where it does the most good? Via ProPublica, here is "How to Vet Nonprofits Before You Give."
• Apps are popular these days for folks who use their smartphones. If you are one of those folks, you may be interested in one or more of these apps to help you get things done over the holidays. Via Mental Floss.
• If you are traveling and you are staying at someone else's house, here are few reminders on do's and don'ts of being a house guest from The Art of Manliness.
• Now, you may do your best to mind your manners when you go visit your relatives for the holiday, but chances are you got a cranky right winger Uncle Bob who worships Trump and Rush. You may be tempted to tell him to go eff himself, but instead, Robert Reich gives you some ideas so you can at least have a conversation armed with facts.

Christmas cards, not so ordinary decor, and other odds and ends

Let's have a look at some quirky stuff.

• Just for fun, here are some amusing holiday cards via the blog from Shoplet.
• Really, really like Christmas? Here are some decorations for those hardcore folks. Via BuzzFeed.
• Ugly sweaters are still a tradition for some, and here are a few of them. Via COED.
• Are you a man proud of his beard? Have a hard time caring for it? Want to groom it better? Or maybe make a nice gift for the bearded man in your life? Why not some homemade holiday beard oil? Art of Manliness has a few recipes for that. 
• Here is one more homemade gift you might consider: making Christmas stockings from old shirts. Grist has an article on that. 
• And it seems with the march of time, gift giving for the holidays is more much commercialized and manufactured. No real surprise there. Story via USA Today.

Stay tuned for other holiday posts this week where I will look at gifts, what the hell happened in 2015, and of course, books and reading. Enjoy your week and holidays.

Booknote: 101 Things I Learned in Culinary School

Louis Eguaras and Matthew Frederick, 101 Things I Learned in Culinary School. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-446-55030-7.


Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: cookery, quotations, trivia
Format: small hardcover
Source: My local public library. 

This was a very nice and simple book of cooking concepts that everyone should know. From how to boil water to what different types of knives do to explanations of how cooks at restaurants do things, you can learn a lot from this book. There is a lot of useful information here. The book is simply arranged into 101 short topics, one topic per page with a second page for a small illustration.  You get about 202 pages in the book. The book also includes some humor, quotes, statistics, and other trivia. There are no frills here, but it is a good book for any kitchen.

I am giving it four out of five stars.


Here are some favorite quotes from the book I wanted to remember:

• "The universe is in order when your station is set up the way you like it." -- Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential (2000). 
• "Cooking is the oldest, most basic, and most universal human application of physical and chemical changes to natural chemicals." -- Arthur E. Grosser, The Cookbook Decoder, Culinary Alchemy Explained.
• "Everything in moderation, including moderation." -- Julia Child (1912-2004). 
• "Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." -- Conrad Hilton, hotel executive. 
• "Anybody can make you enjoy the first bite of a dish, but only a real chef can make you enjoy the last." -- Francois Minot, French chef and restaurant consultant (1936-) .

Booknote: Madame Alexandra's Rules of Business

Claude Roessiger,  Madama Alexandra's Rules of Business: The Enduring Principles of Business Success. Nevablu, LLC, 2013. ISBN: 9780989673907 (link to book website).

Genre: Nonfiction (hybrid)
Subgenre: Business
Format: E-book (but it is also available in paperback)

Madame Alexandra Borodinskaya ran a very highly regarded maison close in 19th-century Paris. She was very successful, and she eventually retired to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Turns out she was also a savvy real estate investor.  Years later, she wrote an account of her business rules, and thanks to Claude Roessiger you can now read this account and learn a thing or two about business and getting ahead in the world. So the story goes in this book that is a bit fiction and a bit nonfiction.

The book is organized into 15 thematic chapters with topics ranging from "House Rules of Business" to "On Integrity." Each chapter gives a rule followed by Madame's illustration of the rule via an explanation, a story, and/or a personal anecdote. A foreword serves to provide some context for the book.

Madame Alexandra could really teach a thing or two about how to care for customers and how to carry oneself with integrity, class, and good manners. Her politics, especially at the end of the book when she is corresponding with relatives, do lean over to a libertarian bent (as we would define such term today); this was a bit of a turn off for me, though not totally surprising given her social position. However, much of the advice here is solid and people today can learn from it. The prose can be a little dry at times, and she can get a bit long winded in writing at times.

In the end, I liked the book well enough, so I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

As noted above, I have included the link to the book's official website, where you can even Ask Madame to ponder and expound on today's business world. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MAlexandraRules.

Book could be of interest to public libraries, especially if they already collect other business books geared to general readers or readers looking for something unique in their business books. In others words, if they want more than the usual book written by some modern business guru. For academic libraries, I could consider the book optional for academic libraries. I certainly can see some business professor picking it up as a supplemental text for a class.

Disclosure note: I read this as a review copy from NetGalley provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. There, we have appeased The Man once more.

* * *

I did jot down some quotes I wanted to remember, along with some comments and thoughts about them along the way.

"Always maintain sufficient funds that you may support yourself in a moment of distress, that you may seize an opportunity, and that your banker may remain your servant and not become your oppressor" (16). 

Sadly today, given the bad economy and common worker exploitation, folks are lucky if they have the often suggested three months of funds for an emergency.

"The entire flow of life is change. Do not resist it; be its agent" (21). 

Not bad advice, although one some people, including a few overeager librarians, tend to take a little too literal. That's when you get change for the sake of change. What she is saying is to be adaptable.

On integrity:

"Right is right and wrong is wrong. We all know this as we all know which is which. What distinguishes a man of integrity is that he acts upon this knowledge" (22). 

That statement should be branded everywhere. Integrity is really that simple. There is right, and there is wrong, period. I may not be wealthy or have much, but I do strive to maintain my reputation for integrity.

This next one goes to what more workplaces, including libraries, should do:

"Hire employees of character and intelligence only" (22). 

This should be obvious, but it rarely is. As I've said before elsewhere, managers support what they are willing to tolerate:

"An owner who behaves without honor will soon find that his employees do the same" (23). 

On reputation:

"A good reputation is years in the making and only painstakingly acquired. A poor reputation is the fruit of a single ill-considered night and is almost impossible to be rid of" (24). 

On appearances: A lot of worthless men and women in high dress with famous family names are out there:

"Therefore be on your guard and do not allow appearances to deceive you; the worth of a man is neither his family's name nor in his dress" (26). 

The next is an important concept that I wish more people and businesses really lived by:

"If an error has occurred for which you are responsible-- and if it is within your establishment, you are obligatorily responsible-- accept the responsibility fully and promptly" (29). 

And this certainly applies today, now amplified by social media. I wonder what Madama Alexandra would make of social media. I am sure savvy as she was she would want to take advantage of it, though on the other hand, for the establishment she ran where discretion was paramount, maybe it is not a good idea for her. But I am sure she would monitor social media for mentions of her place of business at least:

"Word of mouth is better advertisement than a bill upon every street corner" (47). 

The next item is a nice principle, though some places like public libraries do not have that option. I do wonder if that well be a good thing in business. True, we can quote libraries' ideals of openness, so on, but let us be blunt: some "clients" we really can do without. I am sure some public librarians who have dealt with their latest difficult (to put it mildy) patron will concur, but I would bet a few other librarians could get their panties or briefs in a bunch for me saying what many think (or say under a pseudonym):

"Do not accept everyone as a client and let it be known" (48).

On charity:

"Leave room in your heart to bestow charity and kindness from your success, but expect no thanks in return" (70). 

And last this is one of the quotes I found problematic in that sort of libertarian bent. Over time, we have seen the whole self-interest thing is just not true and has turned out to be the cause of many woes:

". . . the world operates best from the self-interest of man. . . " (78). 

The problem is more often than not self-interest simply becomes selfish greed, as we see today in such times of deep poverty and income inequality, caused more often than not by that selfish interest and greed.

Holiday Post 2013: Traditions and other seasonal miscellany

We continue our series of holiday posts here at The Itinerant Librarian. Today we look at some traditions, trivia, and other curious and miscellaneous things about Christmas and the holiday season. From some safety tips if you are serving food to a look back at Christmas past, I hope my four readers will find things here to amuse, entertain, and maybe learn a thing or two. Remember to stay tuned as later in the week we'll do our book edition of the holiday posts followed by the end of year "what the heck happened?" edition. So, let's have a look at a few traditions and trivia.

Some trivia and things to know

• The folks at the U.S. Census Bureau have put a nice list of facts about the 2013 holiday season.  For example, did you know that the U.S. Postal Service expects do deliver nearly 15 billion pieces of mail betwee Thanksgiving and New Year's Day?
• From Pew Research, learn how Americans celebrate Christmas then and now.  One of the highlights from the survey: "Among the religiously unaffiliated, 87% say they celebrate Christmas, including 68% who view Christmas as more of a cultural holiday."
• Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve has been a tradition in our home for a while now. No matter our ages, we still enjoy firing up the computer and keep track of Santa as he goes on his journey. Learn how to do so as well with information from Kids.gov, including link to the Norad Santa Tracker.
• NORAD has a tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his Christmas Eve journey to bring gifts to children around the world. Find out how this tradition got started in this article from Mental Floss. 
• Unfortunately, there are always some people doing things to ruin Christmas for others. This includes low lifes who break into houses and steal Christmas presents from the houses. In West Midlands, UK, they made a public service announcement to warn people to make sure houses are locked at night and presents not put out til as close to Christmas as possible. They got creative with it. They made a PSA with Legos. Via COED magazine.
• Would you like to learn how to be one of Santa's impersonator helpers this holiday? If you think you can wear the red suit and be the jolly old man or be his Mrs. Claus, you could attend one of the "11 Workshops Offered by the International University of Santa Claus." Via Mental Floss blog. Here is also the direct link to the school if you are interested in learning more.
• The price of the items in the "12 Days of Christmas" has gone up to $114,000. According to the PNC analysts, that is a big increase from a year ago. Story via NPR. 
• Christmas is not the only holiday this time of year. It came in early this year, but Hanukkah is widely celebrated by our Jewish friends. We usually see decorations in green and red, but learn "why are blue and white the Hanukkah colors." Via Mental Floss blog.
• Gaining weight during the holidays is a common concern. To help out, here are "12 Ways to Avoid Gaining Weight Over the Holidays." Via Dumb Little Man.

The tree and decorations 

• The usual Christmas ornaments a bit too boring? Maybe you want to spice up your tree a bit with "12 X-Rated Pornaments." Via Nerve.com.  Here are a few more via Incredible Things.

Christmas cards

• Sending Christmas cards out is a popular tradition. We do send out cards at home. However, we do try to pick out something nice and simple. However, some people do send out some interesting things, such as these cards that the best you can say about them is "WTF?" Via BuzzFeed. 
• I think it's a wonderful thing when people choose to send homemade cards. However, not all efforts result in beautiful and sweet cards. These may be "12 Wonderful Homemade Christmas Cards," but they seem more "WTF" than anything else. You decide. Via Mental Floss. 
• Then there are the folks who send cards with sexual innuendos. This may be a bit risque for some readers. Via Nerve.com, here we have "10 Amazingly Raunchy Holiday Cards."
• Now, some folks go all out and send more than just a card. They send out holiday letters. These are the end of year letters they send out to family with all sorts of details of their family lives during the past year. Some people can write them well. Others we just cringe when we read them. To help you write a good holiday letter, if you feel so moved, here is a piece on "How (and Why) to Write Compelling Holiday Letters." There are some good tips here. Via Writing Through Life blog.

Food, drink, and entertaining

• Throwing a holiday party? Here are some tips on how to do so via Dumb Little Man. 
• Now, whether you are having a party or just a little get together, food is important. You want to make sure that you serve food safely. Here is some information on "how to prepare holiday meals safely" from USA.gov.
• Ah, Christmas dinner in the old days. Via Mental Floss, we get some highlights of a Christmas menu from 1660. If you thought you had it tough putting a meal together, take a look at this. "The earliest known published Christmas menu includes pork, beef, goose, lark, pheasant, venison, oysters, swan, woodcock, and 'a kid with a pudding in his belly, to name just a few." 
• Eggnog is always a popular drink. Here is some trivia about eggnog from Mental Floss blog. It may be "Way More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Eggnog." 
• Christmas cookies are always a popular treat. At home, our daughter always bakes a batch of cookies for Santa and the rest of us. A warm homemade cookie is certainly one of the nice pleasures of the holidays Some people decorate them and make them in different shapes and forms. For instance, here are "24 Glittery Christmas Cookies That Will Fill You With Joy" via BuzzFeed. Links to recipes are included.
• Want to enjoy some vodka during the holidays, but plain old vodka is just too boring? Maybe you want to make your own flavor infused vodka. For some ideas, here are "the 12 Vodkas of Christmas." Links to recipes included. Via BuzzFeed. If the alcohol does not do you in, I am sure the added sugar in some of these probably will. 
• Want to have a more classic holiday drink? The Art of Manliness has "5 Holiday Cocktails to Warm your Spirit." Among the basics here is how to make hot buttered rum. These are drinks that "are traditionally served warm, to warm the body and the spirit during the cold and dark days of the year."
• Here are a few more contemporary cocktail recipes, via Drinkhacker. 
• If you have a lot of people over for the holidays, maybe a punch bowl may be a good option. Here are "28 Huge Bowls of Holiday Booze to Help You Appreciate Your Family." Family can be a stress factor during the holidays. Maybe a little spiked punch will make things go a little easier Via BuzzFeed. Recipe links are included. 

Music and singing

• I wonder how many people these days still buy a Christmas music CD or album. I still remember LP's, and those could have some very interesting or curious covers. Let's go down memory lane a bit with a gallery of "the 25 Strangest Christmas Album Covers of all Time." I think "of all time" is a bit ambitious, but there are some curious gems here. A few are positively and humorously disturbing. Via COED Magazine.
• Now, just because you are an atheist, it does not mean you do not like Christmas or carols. Via Greta Christina's blog, here are "10 Christmas Carols Even An Atheist Could Love." Don't be alarmed. They are mostly secular songs that I think most of us can enjoy just fine regardless of creed or lack of it.
• Now not everyone likes "traditional" Christmas carols. Maybe you'd consider this set of "Alternative Holiday Songs." It includes some YouTube videos so you can sing along. Via Esquire magazine. 
• Some people like their Christmas songs with a bit of an edge. So, for those folks, you can listen to "Christmas Songs--the 10 Most (Delightfully) Offensive Ones." Via Addicting Info.

Dressing for the holidays

• For many, wearing an ugly holiday sweater is a tradition and point of pride. So, to inspire those folks, here are "15 Fantastically Ugly Holiday Sweaters." Via Mental Floss blog.  
• OK, so you got your sweater? Oh, now you want to dress up your dog? How nice. Well, you could try this doggy reindeer sweater. Via Incredible Things. 

Miscellaneous things

• It seems Santa likes to take a smoke now and then, or used to before we learned more about the  bad effects of tobacco. I always cigarette advertising interesting, and holiday advertising is no exception. Here are "16 Vintage Tobacco Advertisements featuring Santa Claus." Back then, Santa, among other things, wanted a smoke that would guard against throat scratch. If he only knew back then. The list even includes some pipe tobacco ads. Does anyone even smoke pipes anymore, at least in public anyways? Via BuzzFeed.

Photo credit: Image from "Midweek Moodboard #19" posted at She Hearts the High Street.

Holiday Post 2013: Shopping, gifts, and stuff edition

Deng Coy Miel, Cagle Cartoons, Singapore

We've almost made it to the end of 2013. At The Itinerant Librarian, that means it is time for our series of holiday posts where I scour the web to find all sorts of amusing things (well, a lot amusing just to me) and share them with my four readers. I am starting with the shopping post because it seems we have been on holiday shopping season pretty much since the summer. We can certainly say the merchants were already riling up people for Christmas season shopping before Halloween. That is definitely a sign that the economy is bad when the retailers keep pushing the Christmas season back hoping to get a few more suckers to spend a bit more money on a lot of stuff that they probably do not need. I have said it before, and I will say it again, Christmas season starts the day after Thanksgiving, not before Halloween. Anyhow, I am just one librarian.

For many folks, I am sure they are done with the shopping, but if you are still doing last minute stuff, I suppose if you pay more, you can get quick delivery if you shop online, or you can brave the stores filled with other procrastinators by now. Hey! It does not have to be procrastinators. Given the state of the economy, some of us do have to wait until a paycheck arrives so some shopping can be done, or the shopping is done in s staggered way (you get some things now, wait for the next check, get some more, you get the idea). Anyhow, if you need some ideas, maybe some of these links might help. That, or we can just laugh together and gaze in wonder at the things some people choose to spend money on.

So, without further ado, let's see what kind of interesting and crazy stuff folks out there are suggesting for Christmas presents. As usual, the snark is mine.

But before we get to the gifts. . . .

Some advice and useful information

These links are for some tips, pieces of advice, and other information that I hope gift shoppers will find useful and informative. After all, I would not be a good librarian if I did not provide something constructive in addition to the entertainment.

• Make sure you do your best to keep your personal information safe as you shop whether you shop in person or online. The linked post from USA.gov also includes a link to a Homeland Security page with more tips for cybersecurity. In light of the recent Target fuck up where they basically let hackers waltz in and steal a lot of personal data from customers, we consumers need to be alert, informed and vigilant. In other words, we have to do the stuff that companies like Target should be doing on a routine basis. By the way, I am not saying we totally trust companies neither, but notice when one of these messes happens, their first advice is to check your bank statements, so on and be alert. Yea, the stuff they neglected to do themselves. Can we say irony?
• Shopping online? In addition to the above, here are some things you want to know before you hit your favorite online retailer. This post from USA.gov also features a link to the Consumer Action Handbook, which can be downloaded for free, and can give you information on how to "get help with consumer purchases, problems and complaints."
• And one more from USA.gov: A reminder that there is helpful information available if you are buying toys for children. This post features a link to a document of toy safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The U.S. government overall puts a lot of good information out. For me as a librarian, it is always a good source to use and share. Besides, it's your tax dollars at work, so be informed. 
• Are you one of those people who just loves to use their smartphone for shopping? Via Dumb Little Man, here is a list of "12 Great Holiday Shopping Apps That Can Save You Time and Money." A small issue is there are no links. You get the names of the apps, and it is up to you to look them up on your device whether it is Android or Apple. You may find something of interest here. If you do, feel free to come back, comment, and let us know. 
• If you are concerned that you would like to buy "Made in the USA," something I can certainly appreciate, then you may want to read Mother Jones. The magazine has a small piece with hints on what to look for in "7 Simple Tips for Guilt-Free Holiday Shopping." 
• Now, not everyone is able to afford the fine lavish gifts and presents we are about to highlight. Does that mean they are left out of the season of giving? Far from it. There are other ways in which you can give a little something to your fellow human beings as well as our furry friends. Also via Dumb Little Man, here are "10 Great Ways to Share Others Over the Holidays." Because it should not be all about the size of your wallet or how much loot you get or give this holiday. The only tip I might have an issue with is the one about adopting a pet from a shelter. No, I am not say to not adopt from a shelter. Our two cats were adopted from a shelter. But I do have concerns with people who may bring a pet home over the holidays as a gift, only for the pet to be neglected or forgotten once the holiday has passed. Go adopt when you feel ready and able to make the commitment. Sure, it could be during this season, but if you are doing it just to put a cute puppy or other animal under a Christmas tree with a bow, you are probably doing it wrong. Overall, this article has some great suggestions to help you make this holiday season a bit brighter for others, especially others who might not be able to have a good season otherwise.

Gifts, presents, and things

Part of the reason I enjoy making this post is to see some of the crazy stuff people offer up for gifts. Some of them are just funny. Others are just ridiculous, and then  you have some where you need the budget of a couple of small nations to buy them.

Gifts for the manly man in your life

We always get the lists of gifts for men. Thing about these lists is that they can go either way at times. I am sure there are some outdoor enthusiast women out there, but apparently, unless you are so manly that women get pregnant from you just walking by, ladies can forget about some of these gifts. So, let's have a peek at what is suggested for guys.

• Esquire magazine naturally has something for the man who "spends a lot of time outside. With knives."Actually, the list does feature one of those knife tools that claims to do almost everything. It's so good that it is described as "the nuclear submarine of survival equipment, up to and including the stealth. . . . " But does it make your chest hairs grow? From this list, you can also do things like adopt a sled dog. 
• Naturally, The Art of Manliness has their holiday guide up. 

Do women get any gifts? 

I did scour for lists for women's gifts, but I did not come across as many this year as last year. I am willing to grant I did not look in the right places, or maybe there weren't as many.

• I thought this was an interesting list. These are some "Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Feminist," via The (Seattle) Stranger. According to the author, it "includes lots of good, reasonably-priced gifts for the progressive women in your life."There are some practical things here, which I do not think a woman has to label herself as feminist to appreciate, but if she does, odds are good some of these would be welcomed. The list features books, some local interest items, and even suggestions if you prefer to give to charity.
• Esquire of all places has a gift list for girls, and it is a list of stuff that is NOT pink. Leave it to a thoughtful father to come up with a list of stuff for a girl that "loves science, tech, movies, art, plants, robots, bikes, and Katniss Everdeen (who would never be caught in pink). . . . " Let's be honest, as the author writes, "her mom and her grandparents and aunts and uncles will buy her even more of that shit. And that's fine." You the father can be the thoughtful man in the life of your daughter and buy her something cool. I know. My daughter does not go for pink neither. When it came to Happy Meals, for instance, it was the boys' option because it came with Hot Wheels in it; she could not care less about the pink mini Barbie or whatever other pink thing they forced girls to take. I am sure she too would love a high end bad ass compound bow. 
• Have a real bad ass, gun loving mama in your life? Maybe you could get her some bullet bracelets. Yea, they are made from real ammunition. She will be the talk of the town at the shooting range.  Via Boing Boing.
• Ms. Magazine offers a nice article on empowering toys and dolls for girls, and it includes links to some places where to find them.

Geeky and/or gifts for writers and other literary types

This is where I put gifts for geeks, writers, and maybe even librarians. Not books. We will have a post for books later on this week. Some of the things here are the things I would definitely not mind getting. 

• Via The Advocate, some gift ideas for travelers. I was cool with some of the ideas until they suggested the hovercraft. It is not just any old hovercraft. This puppy "meets United States Coast Guard standards for reliable hovering over water. Comes with a hefty price tag and its own trailer. $58,000." If you buy one of these for one of your friends, please contact us at this blog and let us know how do we get on your Christmas list. We'd like to be your friend.
• Incredible Things has a list of gifts that are not for noobs. I thought the Star Trek TNG uniform hoodie was very neat. 
• Got a Doctor Who fan to shop for? Well, here are the "Top 10 Doctor Who Holiday Gifts." Game of Thrones fan? Got you covered too. Both links via Buzzy Mag.
• Need more ideas for the science fiction or fantasy fan? Kirkus Reviews has some ideas.
• Need some ideas for a bookish teen or tween? We all know it can be hard to shop for young people, but Book Riot offers some nice suggestions to keep them reading. 
• If you have a writer, especially a fountain pen enthusiast, in your life, Ink Noveau has "4 Great Gift Ideas for Anyone New to the Fountain Pen Hobby."
• BuzzFeed has a list of gifts for the book and literature lovers in your life who already have plenty of books. Sure, another book is the easy option. Maybe one of these will do the trick instead this year. 
• Viva Snail Mail has a small list of suggestions for those who like stationery and/or sending and receiving correspondence. One suggestion is to get them a nice set of stamps. In the U.S., the USPS puts out stamps for just about any topic and interest. These days, they even make Harry Potter stamps.
• I like journal books, and they certainly make a good gift if you ever want to get me anything. Now, whether for someone else or me, if you feel a bit more brave, you can attempt to make a handmade journal notebook. Via BuzzFeed.
• The Millions has a list of gifts that they claim writers will actually use. One of the suggestions is a nice bathrobe. Read on to learn why. Item 7 on this list is certainly one I can agree upon: coffee, booze, and other stimulants. As they write, "find out what your friend likes to drink and buy a really nice version of that thing." I'll say it does not have to be alcohol. A nice coffee or tea, especially if you know they themselves might not spring for more than Folgers, would likely be welcomed.
• Let's not forget the film buffs. BuzzFeed has some ideas for film buffs. One thing is true: "about your averaged film buff: if they want a movie they will buy it for themselves." I am not a big film buff, but I do like some films. I certainly prefer if you give me the cash or gift card and let me go pick out a movie or tv serial I like. So, get them some other nice things instead.
• And finally for this segment, don't think I forgot librarians. Hack Lib School has a librarian gift guide. Whether for a librarian or a library school students, odds are good you might find something for them here. Personally, I prefer to go with stuff that is not so obvious (for librarians), but many other librarians do like gifts that somehow reflect the profession.

Gifts for the pets

There is always going to be at least one list of suggestions for your pets. Hey, pets are family too, so give them some love too.

• BuzzFeed has a list of "21 Gifts You Need to Get Your Pet This Holiday Season." Included in the list is a suggestion for a subscription to a dog toy of the month club. Now your pet can enjoy a gift every month of the year.

Food and Drink

• The Advocate has a list of gifts for those who indulge that features food and drink items. Among things on the list you can make the Game of Thrones fan in your life happy with some beers inspired by the show (assuming they do drink). Your friend or family member a fan of Sons of Anarchy instead? Someone has made cigars inspired by the show. You are too lazy to bake cookies, or you just don't have the time? As long as you got your credit card handy, you can find a company to send you a tin of cookies.
• If you have a beer enthusiast or maybe a home brewer, then this list of "10 Crafty Gifts for the Beerologist on Your List" may have something for them. Via Wired.
• Maybe you would prefer to make food and treats for your family and friends. BuzzFeed has a list, with links to recipes, of food gifts you can make and put in jars. 
• Now if you if you want to lay down some serious moolah and get someone some high end booze, Liquor.com has a "High-Roller Gift Guide 2013." You won't find any two-buck chuck here. These bottles are "for that truly special person in your life." I have special people in my life, but they are not getting a $1600 bottle of Japanese whiskey from me.

The stuff I was not sure where to list it

• Now, there are all sorts of wonderful gifts out there. Then there are those gifts. You know which ones I am talking about. The hideous or totally useless things some people insist on giving that you have to grit your teeth, smile, then hide it in a closet for it to never be seen again. So, with a little humor, here is a list of "25 Things No One Wants for Christmas," via Holy Taco. Consider this a little PSA.  Actually, the bathrobe suggestion on the list could work if you happen to know the person does need one (that may require a bit of intimate knowledge though, so probably not the gift for your boss). Also, apparently writers use bathrobes (see link above).
• Calendars. I do like nice calendars, and I try to put something nice in my office in the library every year. Need some calendar suggestions? Mental Floss has a list of "9 Odd and Awesome 2014 Calendars." For the inked librarians and people who love them, there is a calendar of tattooed librarians. The post includes links to other calendars too.
• As I said at the beginning of this post, some gift lists out there assume that you are so rich that you can light cigars with $100 bills. Via New York Magazine, they ask "How Rich Do These Magazine Editors Think We Are?" Some of these lists actually include items that are "price upon request." As J.P. Morgan is attributed to have said, if you have to ask how much it costs, you cannot afford it. Now, if you want to go all out, you can give someone a Virgin Galactic Suborbital Spaceflight priced at a measly $250,000; this was suggested in Vogue magazine.
• Subscription boxes seem to be gaining popularity. Those are the services where, for a subscription fee, they send you a box of stuff once a month. You can often pick for how long the service goes from a couple of months to a year. These days you can find a box for just about any interest out there. Prices do vary from about 20 bucks or so a month to at least a couple of hundred bucks depending on what you get. Via BuzzFeed, here is a list of 13 subscription boxes. For the article, people in the comments are suggesting other box services not listed, so a peek may be worth a look. For instance, for the geek in your life, a suggestion was Nerdblock. If this topic interests you, there is a whole website devoted to helping you find the right subscription box (www.findsubscriptionboxes.com).
• If you are just totally out of ideas, some canned air from around the world may be an option. Seriously, people do this? Looks to me like you are paying for a cute can. Via Incredible Things. 
• And if you got someone real specific or narrowly focused, Mental Floss has suggestions that are very specific.  
• Getting back to serious for a moment, GradHacker blog has a nice series of post on gifts for graduate students. If anyone needs good, solid, useful gifts, it is grad students. You can start with the post on personal gifts, then look over gifts in technology and gifts to help your grad be a bit more professional.  What I like about this series is that these are simple, practical gift ideas that not many people think of, yet graduate students can really use. Trust me. I was a graduate student once. I wish someone would have been thoughtful enough to give me some of the things mentioned when I was in grad school.
• Finally for this segment, maybe you prefer to shop on the basis of values like products being fairly traded or maybe some profits going to help others. If that is the case, here is a list of "29 Online Gift Stores That Benefit Nonprofits." Consider this a little help if you want to shop a bit more ethically. However, if you prefer to make a donation or maybe do something like donate a heifer (via Heifer International), here is a list to "19 Holiday Gift Programs." Both links via Nonprofit Tech for Good blog.

The Adult Section

As usual, if this is not your thing, if you offend easily, you are religious, have issues, etc., then you can stop reading now. Otherwise, go right along.

• Good Vibrations has put together their staff's picks of best sex toys of 2013. The only issue I tend to have with sex toys (and I say this in general, not specific to any one retailer) is that if they are cheap, they are pretty much crap, and the really good ones tend to require the GNP of a small country. I understand the idea of "you get what you pay for" and making small investments, but often unless you are well heeled, good stuff is out of range for those of us of modest means who like to get freaky now and then. Yea, I know, first world problem I am sure some of you are saying. However, once in a while you do find something in a modest range. That aside, from this list, the magic wand would be the item I think the Better Half would appreciate adding to our small but well selected collection. 
• Nerve.com has a list of sex toys for couples. I always find it nice when you find things that can be shared. From this list, I admit I was amused by the Clone-A-Willy. This is. . . well, just click the link and read the post. On serious note, there are some nice items here, but let's be honest, part of the fun of sex toys is finding the one that makes you giggle, maybe go, "really? people do that?" You've got to keep life interesting. 
• Need some advice on how to buy a sex toy for your loved one? Epiphora comes to the rescue with a sex toy gift-giving guide. 

Thank you for reading. As always, comments (as long as they are well-behaved and civil) are welcome. Stay tuned this week as we continue our series of holiday posts. Plus, remember, if you choose to indulge, especially alcohol, please do so in moderation. Also, if you chose to drink, and you had a bit much, please do not drive. Get a ride. Call a cab (if you plan ahead, program one or two phone numbers of cab companies into your phone so you have them handy for later). Ask to crash on someone's couch. Just do not become part of the holiday tragedy statistics. Let's keep it all fun and safe.

Have a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Holidays.

Signs the Economy is Bad, November 22, 2013

Welcome to another edition of "Signs the Economy is Bad" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is the semi-regular (as in when I have time and/or feel like doing it) feature where I scour the Internet in search of the oh so subtle hints that the economy is bad. Sure, pundits may say things are getting better, but what do they know? And to show not all is bad, once in a while we look at how good the uber rich have it. 

This week has not been a good week for corporations. From companies that were once mighty and are now on death watch to companies just doing stupid shit, it has been a rough week for them. So let's see what the hell has happened recently.

From Cagle Cartoons

• The big story this week is Walmart basically being an asshole of a company. You mean again? Walmart being an exploitative and greedy employer is not new, so this story should not be shocking. It is widely known that Walmart basically does not pay their workers a living wage (hell, they barely pay them a wage), so their workers have to end up using social net services like food stamps and Medicaid. Tax payers basically subsidize Walmart's workforce (you know, that would be you and me. See this story from CNN/Money for an illustration of the point). So naturally, national attention flared up when some Walmart store in Cleveland, Ohio had a food drive (via Bill Moyers). Who was the food drive for? Its own underpaid workers. From the Moyers link, “'Please Donate Food Items Here, so Associates in Need Can Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner,' read signs affixed to the tablecloths." That right there probably says all that needs to be said on the predatory exploitation of Walmart when it comes to its workers. It does not get any more shameless than that. Of course, not that people seem to care since they do like their low prices. Those low prices do come with a price, and that is not a low price at all. Me? I avoid shopping at Walmart as much as possible, and I urge others to shop elsewhere as well. We do not believe in enabling this exploitation in this joint. 
• McDonald's, another exploitative corporation, is once again in hot water for giving financial and personal advice to their poor workers (via NBC News). Yes, they are literally poor given Mickey D's is, very much like Walmart, another company that pays low forcing its workers to use the social safety nets. In fact, they are known for actively encouraging this (via Bill Moyers). However, some folks do not think Mickey D's tips go far enough. The folks at Holy Taco have added some items to the list of tips for McDonald's workers, have a look.
• J.C. Penney's and Abercrombie and Fitch are faring badly as well. This past week we got a report that they are at risk of getting kicked out of the S&P 500 (via BuzzFeed). They are just not as cool or hip anymore to be in the "the index tracks the 500 biggest corporations by market value traded on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ"  
• Heck, things are so bad, you can't even whack it for some cash. The sperm selling business is down (via Vice). Why you may ask? Well, the answer is "the financial recession has made sperm donating a competitive business. Sperm donation applications have doubled while the number of women looking for insemination has dropped." It seems to be a case of supply and demand. 
• Poverty is often a very personal experience. There are degrees of poverty. Also, poverty is not just a lifestyle choice or just making poor decisions. And it is not all about "personal responsibility" like conservatives love to rail on in blaming the poor. The blogger at Killer Martinis tells us "Why I Make Terrible Decisions, or Poverty Thoughts." If you do not read anything else in my blog today, read this.  If nothing else, just for a little bit of humanity.
• Are you down on your luck, maybe alcoholic, and you are a nuisance publicly? Well, in the Netherlands, they got a job for you (via Times Live). Get some beer and a little dinero for helping to keep parks clean. Maybe not a perfect solution, but it is certainly a constructive and practical one. And like most decent ideas, one you will not see in the U.S. any time soon. 
• As we often point out, the economy is not bad for everyone. The one-percenters are certainly doing fine all over the place. In China, a cake millionaire has six castles (via Times of India). And I bet that, unlike certain American politician and his houses, he remembers where his castles are. 
• Illustration of how, when you are rich, you can have choices. Want to leave the U.S.? If you have enough money, you could buy citizenship in another country. For example, for $865,000, you can buy Maltese citizenship (via Slate).
• Now there is also the issue of underground economies and not so ethical economies. For the not so ethical, things are getting hard, so they need new ways to supplement the income. For example, in Kenya, which apparently is notorious for rampant corrupt cops, the cops are now using cellphones and mobile technology to process and receive their bribes (via Balancing Act Africa). 

Reading about the reading life, October 18, 2013

Here is this week's collection of stories about reading and the reading life for this week. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary.

• I am not sure that tossing in a few books a nice looking room can really be called a library. These seem to be more reading rooms. However, at least in one case, there is a lending program arranged with a publisher (Penguin) for some kind of book lending. Does that make it a library? Maybe. I will let readers decide on this story: "Hotels Add Libraries as Amenity to Keep Guests Inside." In the end, like much anything else, it is about making a little (or a lot more) extra money. Via The New York Times.
• This article, "Ebooks v. Cigarettes," asks us an interesting question: how much do we spend on our books and reading? I will admit I have never really sat down to calculate how much I spend on books, though I can say I borrow a lot from libraries (my academic library where I work as well as my local public library). However, I also buy books, especially things I know libraries might not have, like certain graphic novels, erotica, and other more rare things. I think I may have to try to keep track for a while of what I spend on reading to see how I come out. On an additional note, this is the year I have gotten to use my iPad to read, although I pretty much read free items on it; I don't buy e-books. The e-books I do read I either get as review copies from NetGalley or Edelweiss, or I borrow from my local public library on Overdrive. I will probably write more on that later. I found the story on Salon.
• Via Kaizen Reading, an article on "9 Reasons to Keep a Reading Journal." For folks who would like to keep better track of their reading, this may be a good idea. I think it may work for students and researchers as well. I have kept track of most of what I've read in my personal journal, and now I supplement that tracking online. But I have done it as part of my personal journal; I don't have separate reading notebooks, which is something I have considered. I am not sure I am ready to have more than one notebook. I like having my journal where I can write anything in it from notes to quotes to reading notes. For now, that works for me. 
• Via Kaizen Journaling, here is "How to Keep an Effective Travel Journal." This is certainly something I would like to do better. I do often write in my personal journal when I travel, though I am not always consistent. I also usually include postcards, ticket stubs, and other small mementos of my journeys, which I attach to pages in the journal to go along with my writing; this is something the blogger suggests.
• This item is a bit older. Via Fine Books and Collections blog, highlights of the 2012 report on most coveted out-of-print books. I did try to see if BookFinder.com (link to their report), who does the list, had an update for this year, but apparently not (at least not as of this writing). What can I say? I always find trivia like that interesting, specially given that Madonna's Sex book has remained at the top of this list for a decade or so, not bad for a book many derided then and try to forget now. I guess sex always sells.

Photo credit: From Flickr user joanneteh_32. Used by terms of Creative Commons license.

Booknote: The Essentials of Business Etiquette

Barbara Pachter, The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Your Way to Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. ISBN: 9780071811262.

Genre: Nonfiction
Subgenre: Business ethics, business networking and behavior, etiquette

I will start by saying that even though this book is targeted at business people, or seems to focus on business culture, that this is a book that anyone can use. I definitely think it is overall a very good book to give to a new college graduate as a present. For those coming out of library school and going into the job market, it would be a good book as well to have. The strength of Pachter's book is that it covers a lot of ground, but it is also accessible and easy to read.

Ms. Pachter has put together a guide answering both common etiquette questions as well as tackling some not some commonly known situations. She looks at behaviors when out in the job market, how to carry yourself, how to take care of your image and appearance (online and offline), and how to network with others. She covers the basics from how to give a handshake to who pays the bill during a business lunch. She presents a bit over 100 questions and answers in an easy to read format. In addition, there are additional insights throughout the book that expand on some of the lessons. There is advice on how act and appear professional as well as how to do good presentations (a skill that candidates for academic librarian jobs often need). The parts about your online presence are very valuable. In this day and age, how you carry yourself online is extremely important. That is a lesson that cannot be hammered enough into people given the many news headlines of people doing both faux pas and major screw ups in social media. Read this book to learn, or remind yourself, of what to do and not to do.

As I mentioned, this is a very easy book to read. You can do as I did and read it cover to cover, or you can browse and look for the parts that interest you or issues that you wish to learn more. Do not into your first job interview unarmed. Get this book and learn how to perform well in that first job interview. Even if you do not get that job offer, the advice here will help you make a good impression. which is always important. But if you do get the job offer, you can get tips and advice for doing well in the job, building rapport (even if you are a big introvert like I am), getting along with others, and carrying yourself as a professional.

The book would make a good selection for libraries, academic and public, with business collections. This is the kind of book that you want to keep on the career advice shelf. I am ordering it for our library. This is one I definitely recommend.

If you ask me, I can give this 5 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure note: This review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley as an electronic advanced reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. There, we have appeased The Man once more. The book, as of this writing, is scheduled for release on August 2, 2013.

Holiday Post 2011: Traditions and basics

I continue my semi-serious series of holiday posts for 2011. Today I am looking at some of the traditions and basics related to Christmas and the holiday season in general. These are mostly links to things I find amusing or a little thought provoking that relate to the season and its traditions.

Some thoughts on the so-called War on Christmas

This has become a theme in recent years, thanks in large part to loudmouthed right wing conservatives who like to wear their religion on their sleeves and play the victim card during the holidays. The fact that Fox News keeps enabling this nonsense does not help neither.

• John Scalzi offers some interesting and thought provoking commentary in his post "Reminder: Tis the Season Not to be an Ass." I do agree with most of what he says, but I still think he may be a bit too passive. Let's be honest, given how some of those religious conservatives behave to those who may choose a different tradition, or none at all, once in a while, saying “take the symbols you cherish and shove them right up your ass" may be in order. They sure as hell do it to us, so I say turnaround is only fair. Personally, I would wish everyone would be civilized, but there are few moments when one has to stand up and fight fire with fire. These fake War on Christmas Christians (TM) behave like bullies, and bullies only learn when you toss it right back at them. At any rate, the post is worth reading because at the end of the day the season is more than just both sides behaving, well, like asses.  In the end, I live by a very simple philosophy, live and let live.
• Via the Texas Freedom Network, a look at "The Right's 'Plastic Indignation' over Christmas."  The whole thing is worth reading, but here is a choice quote: "To say that Christians, particularly the conservative, evangelical, Republican kind, are oppressed is to insinuate that the Dallas Cowboys play in a cardboard shack."
• This year, unfortunately, we are headed into an election year, and the campaigning has started early. Not even Santa is safe. The War on Christmas means that new candidates are rising to replace the jolly incumbent of the North Pole. Found at AdWeek, the video pokes good fun at both the War on Christmas and those pesky election ads. 

The Christmas Tree and the Ornaments

• Via Christmas Tree Market, here is a very nice infographic with a visual history of the Christmas tree. 
• Christmas lights are an important part of the season. Not only do we decorate the tree with lights, a lot of people often put a lot of work to put up lights on their houses. You have to buy them someplace. Via Retail Hell Underground, here is a vintage ad for Gay Christmas Lights.
• You have to put ornaments on the Christmas tree. Most people go with those cute balls, or maybe they buy something fancy from Hallmark. But why do with the usual when you can put one of these "Monstrous Christmas Tree Ornaments"? Via Dangerous Minds. 
• Want more offbeat ornaments? Topless Robot presents "10 More Nerdy, Shameless Christmas Ornaments."  
• And even more tree ornaments. Now, these are "21 Upsetting Christmas Tree Ornaments." From really tacky to a little risque to just plain wrong, odds are good there is something here that will piss someone off. And what better way to have a holiday gathering than these conversation starters that have the potential to stir even more drama?  Actually, there are one or two I would not mind putting on our tree. Via BuzzFeed.
• How about decorating your cubicle or office? The Shoplet blog has some ideas for "a Cubicle Christmas."  All you need are some supplies and a little imagination.
• Duck tape (or duct tape) is pretty much something that works for just about anything. It is a versatile staple. You can even use it to make a tape wreath and a Christmas tree. Via Shoplet blog. 
• You know that somebody will burn down a Christmas tree, by accident or ignorance or neglect. There will likely be at least one news story related to someone who overloaded the electrical outlets or put a flame near a tree, resulting in some home burning down. Don't be that dumbass. Make sure things are safe. It is why we get to see some of those PSA's (public service announcements) about Christmas tree safety. Here is a sampling of those ads. Yes, they can be funny, but there is a serious point to be made.  Via The Daily Beast.
• More tree safety advice, this time from Reader's Digest.

The Big Man, a.k.a. Santa Claus

An item or two about the jolly fellow in the red suit.

• Via Smithsonian, they had a vote on which Santa depiction is most scary. This has a pretty interesting image collection worth a look.
• Kids always (if they celebrate Christmas) write letters to Santa. Have a look at a child's letter from 1911 versus a letter from 2011. Things have really changed. And here is a gallery with a few more sample children's letters to Santa. Both via BuzzFeed.

The Music

Yes, music is an important part of the holiday season.

• Dangerous Minds shares an alternative music mix suggestion. The actual music list, by dj, writer and Voodoo practitioner Stephen Grasso, can be found here: "A Voodoo Christmas in South Northwood." Hey, a list that features Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera can't be bad. 
• Now if you prefer more traditional music, here are "the 19 Best Secular Christmas Songs." We are talking Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Eartha Kitt. Via BuzzFeed. 
• Getting a little chilly? The Calgary Philharmonic Chorus offers some tips on staying warm. Via BuzzFeed. 
• Via Nerve.com, here are "Five Christmas Songs That Don't Suck." They also include a nice Spotify song list.  Besides, I am sure some folks out there have had the same thought the folks at Nerve.com have had: "Christmas music is absurd. What if every holiday was celebrated with music dedicated to it that began a month in advance, played in all major stores and public places?" Yes, we get the bombardment nice and early, and it keeps getting worse. So, listen to something different for a change. 

Greeting Cards

I hope everyone got their holiday greeting cards out by now.

• Ad agencies, like many businesses, make holiday greetings that serve not just as a wish of goodwill for the holidays but as promotional tools. Some are good, others not so much. Here are the "Best and Worst Agency Holiday Cards of 2011." Via AdWeek. 
• Via Mashable, here are "12 Fun Holiday Cards for Geeky Season's Greetings." I think the geek in your life will appreciate these. 

The Parties and gatherings

• For many people, getting invited to Christmas parties is a big deal or at least a common occurrence. I would not know as I am not that popular, haha. Now, you may get invited to an event that you do not really share. By this I mean, you could get invited to a Christmas party with a lot of religious Christian elements, and you don't believe in nor celebrate Christmas (you celebrate something else, celebrate Christmas in a more secular way, or nothing at all). Yet, you feel the polite need to attend. I don't think this gets considered very often, so I found this advice on "How to Attend a Holiday Party When the Holiday's Not Yours" helpful. Via Jezebel. 
• Are you going to an office or workplace party? Via Grub Street, "how drunk can you get at your office Christmas party?" This is applicable to place where the workplace may be cool enough to actually have some alcohol on premises.  In other words, not applicable to my workplace. 
• This is not really a Christmas piece, but I think it is worth a look. Whether you are eating out or at home, table manners are important. Here are some reminders on "How to Be Polite at the Table" from Reader's Digest. 

Food and drinks

Whether you go to a party, host one yourself, or are just going to spend some quiet time at home, odds are good there will be some good food and drinks. Here are some ideas and things of interest related to eating and drinking. Remember that if you choose to drink alcohol, please do so in moderation.

• The Intoxicated Zodiac blog has some offerings of cocktail recipes for the 12 days of Christmas based on your zodiac sign. I have to admit this is an interesting and different take on the usual holiday cocktails. The Capricorn cocktail (my sign) does seem a bit heavy on the sweetness (it uses molasses), but hey, I am willing to try anything once. The Better Half is a Libra, and her cocktail does look perfect. 
• Liquor.com offers some cocktail suggestions and some links for various cookie and treat recipes. Hey, you need to have something to go with those drinks.  They also offer some helpful tips for making eggnog.
• Drinkhacker offers some rum recipes, including a recipe for Coquito, which they label as the "Puerto Rican eggnog." I suppose that is a close description. If you have never tried coquito, find a Puerto Rican friend to make you some, or try the recipe provided. You probably want to be a bit more generous with the rum than the recipe calls for, especially if you are serving it to Puerto Rican friends. We like our coquito very loaded. 
• Here is a recipe if you wish to make prime rib for the holiday dinner. However, it does come from Holy Taco, so naturally, it also goes over how the dinner scene itself might go.  You know this is not the usual recipe when one of the ingredients includes "an almost inhuman level of tolerance for your family’s inane bullshit." Sounds like Christmas gathering at some folks' homes I know.

Reflection and thought(fulness)

The holiday season is one that invites reflection. Whether you are religious or secular, this time of year is often one that invites people to take stock of the past year and reflect on what may come ahead. Also, this is a time of year to be thoughtful of others.

• Via the Anecdote blog, "May your Festive Season Be Filled With Stories." Here are some small questions and prompts to help you out a bit as your reflect. There is some stuff here for Christmas and some for the New Year's celebration. 
• This I found interesting, and I hope it may be useful to some folks if they face this situation. From Salon, "How to talk to someone with cancer." I think much of the advice is very good when dealing with any terminal or grave disease or health condition situation.  
• The holidays can be a time of stress, and there can be unique sitations. Reader's Digest has some "Commonsense Advice for the Holidays." Some very curious situations here with suggestions on how to be thoughtful and considerate. 

Other Traditions and Items of Interest

Yes, Virginia, there are other celebrations going on during this time of year besides the predominant Christmas as envisioned by the Christians (who to be honest, stole it from the pagans anyhow). In addition, I am putting here anything else that does not fit in the categories above.

• As of this writing, our Jewish friends are in the midst of celebrating Hanukkah, sometimes also spelled out as Chanukah. Here is a "Gentile's Guide to Chanukah" so you can get a basic idea of what that holiday means and its significance. It's a bit serious and a bit light in the tone, but it does get the basic information across. Via Addicting Info. 
• A bit more on Hanukkah. Mental Floss blog answers the question "Why do Jews Eat Potato Pancakes During Hanukkah?" Recipe is also included.
• Even more on Hanukkah, some gentle reminders for everyone else, from Reader's Digest. For example, please do not call it "the Jewish Christmas."
• USA.gov has a feature with various holiday tips from flying and going through airport security to healthy eating to dealing with your holiday lights.  A hat tip to Lori's blog.
• Most if not all college students are gone by now for the holiday break. Hopefully, they remembered to winterize their lives before they left. This article offers some reminders and tips of things to do before leaving campus. Very useful advice. Via Inside Higher Ed.
• And this is from last year, but it is still cute. What if Mary, Joseph, and the Three Wise Men all had online social media? Video from YouTube. 
• I thought this was interesting and worth a look. A radical homemaker reclaims Christmas.  So, is her family and her a pain in the ass (using her own words) or is this kind of more aware observance something viable others may consider? I will let my three readers decide. Via Yes Magazine. 
• Many of our African American friends will be celebrating Kwanzaa during this time. Learn a bit more with this primer. Via BeliefNet. 
• Our Pagan friends may be celebrating Yule, a.k.a. the Winter Solstice. I have to admit that finding some information on this to share with my readers was not easy. Search engines, particularly Google, show a slight (ok, more than slight) prejudice and tend to present more negative pieces about Pagans (the "expose," why Paganism is bad, Christianity is good variety of nonsense). But I have a few things to help folks learn a bit more about what our Pagan friends are up to this time of year. In addition to looking in BeliefNet, learn a bit about Winter Solstice here at Circle Sanctuary. And here is another article from Wicca.com. By the way, please keep in mind Paganism does take various forms, Wicca practice being one of those forms (though depending who you ask, Wiccans may say they are different from pagans. Pagans overall are a very diverse group). Now, being a pagan at this time of year, especially in the U.S., where Christmas (the Christian version or the secular version) are so predominant can be hard on our Pagan friends. To help them out, here is a small guide from WikiHow on "How to Celebrate Holidays as a Pagan Around Non Pagans." The article has some useful, practical advice.
• Here we have "109 Cats Celebrating Christmas." Why? Hey, anything gets cuter if you put cats in it, regardless of where you stand on people dressing up their pets. Via BuzzFeed. The photo I used for this post comes from this gallery. 

Regardless of what form your celebration takes, I would like to take this moment to wish friends and family, near and far, a happy and safe holiday. Whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Festivus (which is today), or just mellowing out with some eggnog and Christmas music, may you have some peace and rest.