By Steve Hurley, Posted on September 5, 2022

I was saddened to find out about the recent death, at the age of 92, of Frank Drake, one of the pioneers of SETI. One of the things he is most famous for is the equation bearing his name which estimates the number of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy, the Drake equation.

As a tribute to him I have reposted the blog post on this topic I wrote, back in 2014.

Revised Original post

The Earth is one of eight planets which orbit the Sun. The Sun is an ordinary star among the 100 billion or so stars in our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way itself is an average-size galaxy. To me one of the most fascinating questions is :

How likely is it that there are other intelligent civilizations within our galaxy ?

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: https://explainingscience.org/2022/09/05/frank-drake-and-the-drake-equation/#like-5475

Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Libraries, Memories & History, Politics

From book stacks to psychosis and food stamps, librarians confront a new workplace | Salon.com

September 8, 2022 DrWeb

As America’s social safety net decays, librarians are feeling less safe doing their jobs

By Rachel Scheier, Published August 24, 2022 8:15AM (EDT)

**Stack Of Books On Table In Library (Getty Images/Rachan Panya/EyeEm)**

For nearly two decades, Lisa Dunseth loved her job at San Francisco’s main public library, particularly her final seven years in the rare books department.

But like many librarians, she saw plenty of chaos. Patrons racked by untreated mental illness or high on drugs sometimes spit on library staffers or overdosed in the bathrooms. She remembers a co-worker being punched in the face on his way back from a lunch break. One afternoon in 2017, a man jumped to his death from the library’s fifth-floor balcony.

Dunseth retired the following year at age 61, making an early exit from a nearly 40-year career.

“The public library should be a sanctuary for everyone,” she said. The problem was she and many of her colleagues no longer felt safe doing their jobs.

Via: Library Link of the Day, http://www.tk421.net/librarylink/ (archive, rss, subscribe options)

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: https://www.salon.com/2022/08/24/from-book-stacks-to-psychosis-and-stamps-librarians-confront-a-new-workplace_partner/

Arts & Humanities, Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Libraries, Television

C-SPAN’s Book TV: Live Festival Coverage and Tote Bags | National Book Festival | Library of Congress

September 8, 2022 DrWeb

September 2, 2022 by Brett Zongker

*Sharon Robinson visits the stage of C-SPAN’s Book TV at the National Book Festival, August 31, 2019. Photo by Edmond Joe*

Books will bring C-SPAN’s Book TV back together with us this year at the Library of Congress National Book Festival. And yes, festival friends, they will offer free tote bags once again this year to help you carry all those books at the Washington Convention Center.

After two years of virtual coverage because of the pandemic, Book TV is back for the 22^nd straight year to provide live, uninterrupted coverage of the National Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 3.

“As we celebrate this year’s National Book Festival with the theme ‘Books Bring Us Together,’ the Library of Congress’ partnership with C-SPAN’s Book TV will bring together readers across the country, allowing them to enjoy our exciting lineup of authors. We’re proud to join with C-SPAN to extend the reach of the Library of Congress National Book Festival once again so that book lovers from coast to coast can experience this celebration of reading,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

Check out the new C-SPAN tote bags you can pick up on your way into the festival!

Source: https://blogs.loc.gov/national-book-festival/2022/09/c-spans-book-tv-live-festival-coverage-and-tote-bags/

Arts & Humanities, Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Libraries, Politics, Science & Health, Web & Technology

Is Your School Facing a Book Challenge? These Online Resources May Help | Education Week

September 8, 2022 DrWeb

By Ileana Najarro — September 01, 2022

Amanda Darrow, the director of youth, family, and education programs at the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, poses with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents in recent weeks.
Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

Book challenges, restrictions, and outright bans on materials in K-12 classrooms and school libraries are popping up more and more across the country these days.

Though such challenges are a perennial problem, school districts have seen an uptick in requests to ban books about LGBTQ characters, race, and racism. A PEN America report found that 2 million students in 86 school districts across the country have had their access to books restricted this past school year. And the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom is now getting reports of at least two—and sometimes three or four—book challenges a day, when in the past they would get that many cases per week, said the office’s director, Deborah Caldwell-Stone.

Some educators have been successful in overturning such efforts by supporting students eager to push back, a balancing act requiring them to observe constitutional boundaries about student protests and First Amendment rights. Yet many now teach in states where pushback to book challenges can be even trickier, thanks to new laws that more broadly restrict how topics such as race and gender are discussed in school.

Source: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/is-your-school-facing-a-book-challenge-these-online-resources-may-help/2022/09

Current Affairs, Politics, Television, Times They Are A-Changing

Biden attacks Trump and his Republican supporters as a threat to democracy : NPR

September 7, 2022 DrWeb

By Frank Ordonez, Updated September 1, 20229:31 PM ET

President Joe Biden speaks outside Independence Hall on Sept. 1, in Philadelphia.
Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden on Thursday warned Americans that democracy is under attack from a faction of the Republican party led by former President Donald Trump, and called on Democrats, mainstream Republicans and independents to “speak up, speak out, get engaged — vote, vote, vote.”

In a rare prime time speech, Biden attacked his predecessor, saying that “too much of what’s happening in our country today isn’t normal.” The speech came just two months ahead of midterm congressional elections, where Democrats are fighting to keep their slim majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Biden said the Republican party is “dominated, driven, intimidated by Donald Trump” and his supporters, calling it “a threat to this country.”

Source: Biden attacks Trump and his Republican supporters as a threat to democracy : NP

Current Affairs, Food & Drink, Science & Health, Travel

Amtrak Is Restarting One of Its Most Scenic Routes Just in Time for Fall Getaways | Condé Nast Traveler

September 7, 2022 DrWeb

The Amtrak Cascades, which winds through the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest, has been paused since 2020.

By Jessica Puckett, August 31, 2022

*View of the coastline outside Seattle Unsplash*

For the first time in more than two years, Amtrak is resuming service on one of its most scenic routes: The Amtrak Cascades route, which runs from Oregon to Vancouver and weaves through some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful natural formations along the way.

The Cascade route was first paused in spring 2020, as travel between the U.S. and Canadian borders shut down due to the pandemic. Now, tickets are on sale again for the route’s relaunch on September 26. When the route first resumes, Amtrak will operate one daily roundtrip between Seattle and Vancouver, stopping at five cities in Washington state along the way: Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham. (Normally the full route runs from Eugene, Oregon, up to Vancouver.)

Source: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/amtrak-restarts-cascades-route-service

https://countingdownto.com/?c=5257339

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Monthly Archives: September 2022

Frank Drake and the Drake equation – Explaining Science | Blog

From book stacks to psychosis and food stamps, librarians confront a new workplace | Salon.com

As America’s social safety net decays, librarians are feeling less safe doing their jobs

C-SPAN’s Book TV: Live Festival Coverage and Tote Bags | National Book Festival | Library of Congress

Is Your School Facing a Book Challenge? These Online Resources May Help | Education Week

Biden attacks Trump and his Republican supporters as a threat to democracy : NPR

Amtrak Is Restarting One of Its Most Scenic Routes Just in Time for Fall Getaways | Condé Nast Traveler

The Amtrak Cascades, which winds through the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest, has been paused since 2020.

all things library and life.. from a librarian

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As America’s social safety net decays, librarians are feeling less safe doing their jobs

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The Amtrak Cascades, which winds through the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest, has been paused since 2020.

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all things library and life.. from a librarian