3 October 2019, 14:26 | Updated: 3 October 2019, 16:06

Sorry, but we have no choice but to stan.

Sadly, receiving a dick pic you absolutely did not ask for is a regular occurrence for a lot of women. Astudy publishedin The Journal of Sex Research found that men actually think women like their unsolicited nudes and that they send them in hope that they'll receive something sexual back YIKES.

Faye Kinley, a trans woman from Glasgow, knows a lot about this topic because since she came out as trans, she has been hit with a barrage of unwanted dick pics. But when a random man decided to send her an explicit snap after finding her phone number online, she had the perfect response.

READ MORE: People are now "cockfishing" thanks to iPhone 11 Pro camera wide lens

Basically, the guy messaged her saying "hey girl you are so sexy" alongside his unsolicited dick pic, which had a croissant placed over it to keep it PG. Faye returned his gesture by sending back a nude photo of her own.

"This random guy somehow got my number off here and sent me a dick pic," she tweeted. "And I guess he didnt appreciate it when I sent a picture of mine back. Worked like a charm."

He responded: "What the hell? Why would you send me that? I'm blocking your number now. Bye. Delete this conversation."

Although Faye said the initial post got her banned from Facebook, it was a viral hit on Twitter and has been "Liked" almost 300,000 times.

See original here:
This trans woman has gone viral after her perfect response to an unsolicited dick pic - PopBuzz

To fellow comic Bo Burnham, she is the most influential/imitated comedian of a generation a millennial Lenny Bruce. As anyone who saw her Edinburgh fringe debut last year will know, Kate Berlant is the real deal a silly/clever impro-comic majoring in how identity and ego are performed in the too-much-information age. And yet here she is arriving in London for a short standup run, to zero name recognition and minimal fanfare.

That may change: after roles in Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 2018 hit Sorry to Bother You, she now has a TV sketch show in development with sidekick John Early. Telly connoisseurs will identify Early as a star of hipster comedy-thriller Search Party, in which Berlant also appeared. The duo have posted a series of hilarious videos online skewering as Search Party did the smart, shallow and self-absorbed millennial way of being. But their TV projects have yet to escape in-development gridlock, obliging Berlants genius to remain, for a little while longer, a secret shared by comedy lovers alone.

But thats fine by her, she tells me, on the phone from LA. (Shes a Santa Monica native.) When I do a show and people turn up, that means more to me than anything, says the 32-year-old. Live performance is my favourite thing. Pause. That being said, please hire me for film or TV if theres anyone reading this.

In the past, shes been bullish in response to TV commissioners complaint that her and Earlys slippery brand of humour is too weird. So were supposed to try to make something that appeals to everyone, and by doing so make something that appeals to no one? We firmly reject all of that. Today, she doesnt accept the premise. I dont think what Im doing is niche. I cant stop making faces or crossing my eyes. Im embarrassingly lowbrow at times. Earlier in her career, her ambition was to be the new Jim Carrey.

The truth is that her comedy scrambles lowbrow and highbrow, as it does the distinction between the real Berlant and the character she may or may not be playing. On stage, she presents as a precious, preening comedian-cum-savant, hypersensitive to the atmosphere in the room and to every teensy indication of her own fabulousness. She barely seems to have any actual material, save for her stream-of-consciousness commentary on the gig and her experience of it. The vibe is: its our privilege to be in her presence the more so when the show devolves into (of all things) a demonstration of her psychic powers.

The clairvoyancy act, Berlant reports, is sometimes effective to a spooky degree: I think theres a connection between being psychic and improvising. Theyre both about following intuition and not trying to overthink things. But finally, its just a joke and an excuse, she says, to be more herself onstage. Most comics, I venture, dont need that much artifice just to reveal their own voice. But Berlant distrusts authenticity in comedy: Performance is always not you, I would argue. She will accept though that her stage persona is an extrapolation of the most annoying parts of myself, including my boredom with the idea of the self-deprecating comedian. Im more like: I very much want attention, thats why Im doing this. I just exaggerate how desperately I want to be seen.

Alongside that, she says, I wanted to confuse my legibility onstage. Is it a character, or a real person? Why is the language I use falling apart? Why indeed? Because it reflects the post-internet language that derives from half-reading a million articles, from hearing opinions regurgitated in a couple of sentences. That fragmented access to information that we all have. Berlant on stage is a person cobbled together from internet fragments. Wellness culture, corporate feminism, academic jargon: its all in there. Im playing a person so steeped in the cultural critiques that Im obliterated. Theres so much commentary on myself that I cease to really exist.

You could blame her time at NYU, where she did a masters in the cultural anthropology of comedy, and acquired a fascination with the performance of knowledge. Or you could blame the fact that her dad is the artist Tony Berlant, renowned for his collages of found metal objects which might just have inspired the provoking juxtapositions in his daughters comedy.

But youd have to admit that, just as it can be read through an art-intellectual lens, so Berlants comedy can simply be enjoyed for its ridiculousness and flamboyant liveness. Shes so totally in the moment, says her mentor Sarah Silverman. Berlant says: I have tremendous respect for comics who have their 60-minute act scripted in advance. But for me, it feels dead if I dont keep it open, and keep myself in a place of terror.

Maybe thats not wise for my mental state. But in performance, I just find it impossible to not acknowledge whats actually going on in the moment. At the core of her comedy so self-aware, so aware of the contexts is a hyper-awareness of the essential weirdness of performance, says Berlant, the brutality of the expectation of doing comedy. And how inherently bizarre that encounter is.

Kate Berlant is at Soho theatre, London, 7-12 October.

More here:
Kate Berlant: 'There's a connection between being psychic and improv' - The Guardian

The weather has dropped half of one degree, announcing to all Dallas residents that fall has arrived. Luckily, those who dont follow football can fight off some of that seasonal depression with one of the best comedy show seasons that Dallas has hosted in a long time. As always, comedy is subjective to each persons taste, so if you really hate one of these recommendations, please leave a comment and well be sure to send a letter to that comedian letting them know they dont need to come anymore.

From arenas to comedy clubs, we have narrowed down some of the best comedy shows to see this fall. Be warned, there will be a two drink minimum required to read the entire list.

Mark NormandOct. 4-6Addison Improv4980 Belt Line Road, No. 250 (Far North Dallas)$20-$30

Mark Normand has quietly been amassing a following with his quick one-liners and approachable demeanor. Imagine the kind of jokes your uncle would tell at Thanksgiving; now further imagine they were actually funny, and youll get a good idea of Normands style. Hes becoming a fixture on television, appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbertand virtually any show Comedy Central produces. Hes probably even been on South Park. The Addison Improv will be a good fit for his energy, and with tickets starting at $20, it's a value deal for a name like his thats on the rise.

Eric Andre: Legalize Everything Tour 9 p.m., Oct. 10Majestic Theatre1925 Elm St. (downtown)$25 and up

The only thing predictable about Eric Andre is that nothing about his show will be predictable. The actor and comedian is bringing his unhinged brand of comedy to the Majestic Theatre for one night. Probably still best known for his run on Adult Swims The Eric Andre Show, the multifaceted performer was featured in this summers live action remake of The Lion King, on which he lent his voice to the hyena Azizi. Andre is an immensely talented performer who effortlessly pushes the comfort zone of an audience to both squirm and laugh in tandem, so buy a ticket and squirm with others.

Miranda Sings7 p.m.,Oct. 15Majestic Theatre 1925 Elm St. (downtown)$75 and up

Is the character Miranda Sings, brought to life by YouTube star Colleen Ballinger, meant for children or adults? You decide when Balinger smears on red lipstick and steps on the Majestic Theatre stage to share a revue of songs only the way Miranda can. (That is to say: poorly.) The fan base always come out strong forBallinger'soddball creation, thanks to the Miranda Sings YouTube channel and two seasons of Haters Back Off on Netflix, so even though the show is on a Tuesday, expect these tickets to not last long.

Cristela Alonzo7 p.m., Oct. 18Granada Theater3524 Greenville Ave. (Lower Greenville)$30 and up

Hometown hero Cristela Alonzo is returning for one night to make the audience in the Granada Theater laugh. Honest, charming and, of course, hilarious, Alonzo has become one of the top comedy stars in the last decade. Work on ABC sitcom Cristelaand her voice talents on Cars 3 have made her a household name, but where Alonzo still shines the brightest is in stand-up comedy. Her stop in Dallas is part of her My Affordable Care Act tour, in which she will also be promoting her new book Music to My Years.

Nate Bargatze7 and 10 p.m.,Oct. 25Majestic Theatre 1925 Elm St. (downtown)$35 and up

Quiet, low key and an absolute killer onstage, Nate Bargatze is doing two shows at the Majestic near the end of October. Bargatze is one of those rare comics who can isolate the funny in absolutely everything we see as normal and unexciting. He's a storyteller with traces of comedy legend Bob Newhart in his performer DNA, setting a pace that would otherwise appear slow if it didnt yield so many hard, genuine laughs from the audience. Go check out his latest Netflix special, The Tennessee Kid, to get a taste of his unique style. Youll be glad you did.

Dane Cook7 p.m., Oct. 26The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory300 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving$75 and up

Those who remember Myspace fondly can look back on a time when Dane Cook was king of all things comedy. While he may not be selling out arenas anymore, the fast-paced delivery and puffed-out-chest bravado of Cook are still present in an act loved by fans who never abandoned him. Theres also an appeal present in his shows to see what the voice of the dial-up generation has to say about our current state, as Cook's social observations were one of his calling cards to crowds of Smirnoff Ice-holding college kids. Cook was always an artist who possessed raw talent as a storyteller, and now armed with an older viewpoint and acute self-awareness this could very well be an excellent night of stand-up.

Bill BellamyNov. 1-3Arlington Improv309 Curtis Mathes Way, No. 147, Arlington$25.00 and up

If the television set was your de facto babysitter in the '90s, youll remember Bill Bellamy as a recurring smiling face. Bellamy was launched into the public eye thanks to HBOs Def Comedy Jam and as one of the first VJs on MTV. (Ask your parents.) You might not see the actor and comedian on your screen as much now, but hes consistently kept his stage act sharp touring around the country.

Tim Dillon 8:30 p.m., Nov. 14-16Hyenas Fort Worth425 Commerce St., Fort Worth$15 and up

Its very likely that you dont know the name Tim Dillon. Change that now, and be one of the people who said you knew him before he became famous. The New York-based comedian is one of the most white-hot talents in stand-up right now with his ability to provide a fresh take on even the most tired comedy tropes that comics refuse to let die. Hes appeared on Netflix as part of the The Comedy Lineup and you can listen to him weekly on his podcast Tim Dillon Is Going to Hell. If this list had to be whittled down to one comic to see this fall, Dillon would be the prime selection without a second of hesitation. Rolling Stone named him as one of the Ten Comics You Need to Know, and you really do.

Joe Rogan8 p.m., Nov. 15American Airlines Center2500 Victory Ave., Dallas$65 and up

It would have been crazy not that long ago to think that Joe Rogan would, very likely, sell out the American Airlines Center if he decided to do a show there. The NewsRadio and BattleBots alum got into the podcasting space before anyone even knew to call it a podcast, and now Rogan has one of the largest internet presences in the world, with his show, The Joe Rogan Experience, which hasmillions of weekly listeners. Sometimes decisive, but always provocative, Rogan is sure to spark as much debate as laughs throughout AAC in November.

Original post:
The Best Upcoming Comedy Shows in North Texas - Dallas Observer

With service to more than 2 million people, The Seattle Public Library and King County Library System share a central mission: Providing universal access to information and ideas.

In our increasingly digital age, we cannot fulfill that mission without providing access to digital materials, including e-books and e-audiobooks. Together, our two library systems checked out more than 7 million digital books to patrons last year, making us among the leading public libraries in the world for digital lending.

Our ability to connect our patrons to digital materials, however, is threatened. On Nov. 1, Macmillan Publishing, one of the countrys biggest publishers, is launching a library e-book embargo, meaning that for the first eight weeks after publication, public libraries no matter their size may purchase just one copy of a new e-book.

Macmillanbooks recently or soon to be published include Me, by Elton John, Permanent Record, by Edward Snowden, and We Are the Weather, by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Macmillans plan will have a serious impact on library users, especially those with the fewest resources and the most barriers. Readers with disabilities, such as poor vision and dyslexia, for example, are especially reliant on e-books. For library users who count on us to provide them with the latest books and materials, it means that wait periods will be the longest just when demand is the highest.

Macmillans policy is part of a growing trend among the nations biggest publishers to charge public libraries higher prices for e-books and e-audiobooks and to restrict their access. Its rationale is that they lose sales of electronic books to libraries as customers forego buying and instead borrow.

However, studies and common sense suggest the opposite, that libraries are an essential part of the publishing ecosystem that promotes books, reading and learning. One study compiled by the Panorama Project showed that 50% of all library users report purchasing books by an author they were introduced to in the library. Patrons try out books with us and then go back and purchase their favorites for their personal libraries and as gifts.

There are an estimated 116,867 libraries in the United States. As more and more people choose to read on their tablets and phones, we join libraries across the country in asking Macmillan to reverse its policy so that we can continue to meet readers needs both online and in print. Tens of thousands of readers have already added their names to a petition launched by the American Library Association at eBooksForAll.org.

Whether you are a cardholder with the Seattle Public Library, the King County Library System or any of the other 60 public library systems in Washington state, we encourage you to stand with us and work toward a more just outcome for the greater reading community.

You can make your voice heard on this issue by emailing Macmillan and asking it to change its policy: elending.feedback@macmillan.com, or providing feedback using the Twitter hashtag #eBooksForAll.

As always, and especially during this time, we hope that you will continue to support your local libraries and our mission. More importantly, use this time to browse our shelves and online catalog. We are certain that you will uncover new authors, find old favorites and understand the role libraries play in providing you access to your educational, informational and reading interests.

Marcellus Turner is executive director and chief librarian of The Seattle Public Library.

Lisa G. Rosenblum is executive director of the King County Library System.

See original here:
Publishers e-book restrictions and pricing hurt library users in Seattle, King County and beyond - Seattle Times

Oct 03, 2019 Kate Hill Arts, Cazenovia Republican, Entertainment, Library News, News

This month, the New Woodstock Free Library launched Tuesday Night Out a new adult program series held each Tuesday at 7 p.m. The free programs are designed to encourage adults of all ages to interact with others, make new friends and engage in enjoyable, stress-reducing activities. (Submitted)

Staff Writer

On Oct. 1, the New Woodstock Free Library launched Tuesday Night Out a new adult program series held each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Each week, the library will present a different free activity designed to encourage community members to relax, have fun and meet new people.

According to Heather Elia, the series organizer and facilitator, the weekly programs will continue indefinitely as long as there is sufficient interest.

Elia is a New Woodstock resident and a masters student in library and information science at Syracuse Universitys School of Information Studies.

I approached [Library Manager] Renee Beardsley about hosting this series of events because I thought there might be a community need for people to get out of the house once a week to interact with others, make new friends, and engage in some enjoyable, stress-reducing activities, Elia said. Ive been inspired by my coursework and exposure to what other public libraries are doing in their communities . . . I [wanted] to introduce these sorts of free, fun activities to my own community, and the library is the perfect place because its free and open to everyone.

Elia designed the first five programs based on ideas gathered from other public libraries and her own interests.

Preference was given to activities that were easy and inexpensive to organize and that with the exception of the book group did not require special preparation or extended commitment.

According to Elia, suggestions for future Tuesday activities are strongly encouraged.

Its really about what community members are interested in, she said. Thats how the series will be guided going forward.

The program series kicked off with a coloring session in the librarys main room.

Adult coloring books have become a nationwide trend, due in large part to research suggesting that coloring has the potential to reduce anxiety, create focus and bring about increased mindfulness.

During the session, participants had the opportunity to get creative, relax and enjoy each others company.

The library will host four additional programs this month.

Sign-up is not required, unless otherwise noted.

During the second program, participants will choose from the librarys diverse collection of board and card games.

The first monthly meeting will focus on the novel The Other Einstein (2016) by Marie Benedict.

Told through letters, the story follows Albert Einsteins first wife, Mileva Mitza Mari a brilliant physicist in her own right, whose accomplishments were obscured by her husbands shadow.

Library Manager Renee Beardsley will lead the session.

Call 315-662-3134 or email newwoodstock@midyork.org to reserve a copy of the book.

Community members are invited to bring along their favorite cups or mugs from home and relax over a hot cup of tea and lively conversation.

A selection of caffeinated and decaffeinated teas will be provided.

Unlike a traditional book club, this event will offer participants the chance to discuss anything and everything they have been reading, as well as books they are looking forward to.

Community members are also invited to volunteer to lead future sessions.

Located at 2106 Main St., the New Woodstock Free Library is open Monday 1 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday 1to 5 p.m.; Wednesday 1to 5 p.m. and 7to 9 p.m.; Thursday 1to 5 p.m.; Friday 1to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.to 1 p.m.

For more information on the Tuesday Night Out program series, contact Library Manager Renee Beardsley at 315-662-3134 or email Heather Elia at heatherelia@twc.com.

Read the rest here:
Spend Tuesday Night Out at New Woodstock Library - Eagle News Online

When my husband retired last fall, we discovered that our new reduced income left us unable to afford newspaper subscriptions.

Bad timing.

With the upcoming elections, we wanted to remain as deeply informed as possible on national news and politics, which for us includes reading whats sometimes called a legacy newspaper. Having recently moved from Pennsylvania to the Pacific Northwest, we also wanted to read local news to learn about our new community.

These days. you can often read only a limited number of free articles online in major national, and many local, legacy papers before you hit a paywall. So frustrating. But I also started wondering: What does it mean for democracy if people who have low, or even no, income are blocked from reading independent journalism?

With a library card, which can be obtained for free, if you have access to a home computer or smartphone, you can access newspaper databases remotely.

At this point I should say that I am all for journalists getting paid for their work, and all for newspapers making enough money to stay in business. I believe that the free presss role as government watchdog and guardian of our rights is crucial. Sadly, due to lack of advertising and other factors, almost 1,800 newspapers closed between 2004 and 2018, according to a recent study. So I am happy that the paywall model has allowed some of those newspapers that remain to continue.

But the possibility that perhaps not everyone has access to the free press still concerned me. I went looking for answers.

In the heyday of print newspapers, most particularly in the 20th century, news was easily available and basically inescapable. Newspapers were everywhere: on coffee tables in homes, offices and waiting rooms, for sale with visible headlines on newsstands in cities or in news boxes on suburban corners. Commuters on public transportation generously or carelessly left papers behind for the next person to pick up.

Most importantly, you could walk into any public library and find a plethora of different newspapers hanging on wooden poles or stacked in labeled racks. Anyone could read these papers for free, no library card required.

Back then, this was the classic solution to reading newspapers when you couldnt afford to buy them. Unfortunately, just as the number of print newspaper titles in the country has declined, so, too, has the number of print newspaper titles in libraries.

What you will find in libraries today is an abundance of computers that are available for the public to use for free. For the longest time, I assumed any attempt to read a newspaper on one of those computers would hit a paywall, just as on my home computer.

I was wrong.

Newspapers can be accessed online without hitting a paywall and without needing a library card on those free public-access computers, as long as you are physically in the library building, according to Kirk Blankenship, electronic resources librarian for Seattle Public Libraries.

It turns out that, as newspapers started going online, libraries began purchasing digital newspapers from database companies. Libraries pay these companies for the databases that seem best for the populations they serve.

Patricia Kelly-Evans, a reference librarian at the Montgomery County-Norristown (Pa.) Public Library, told me Libraries strive to meet their communities needs while performing their own budgetary balancing acts. They make decisions based on pricing models, patron feedback and usage statistics.

Blankenship estimates Seattle Libraries spend about $60,000 a year on databases.

But have the database companies compensated the newspapers for the use of their content?

Yes, according to Lisa Wilson, news product management lead at ProQuest, a database company often used in public libraries.

ProQuest works with publishers to license news content for products like US Newsstream. When libraries purchase these products from ProQuest, they make them available to their patrons at no cost, Wilson explained via email.

So it turns out libraries are still the solution for reading newspapers on a regular basis for free.

US Newsstream is a database that gives access to U.S. news content from the 1980s to the present. In my library, a US Newsstream sub-database called US Major Dailies lets patrons read The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Other newspapers are available in other databases or sub-databases, either from ProQuest or another database company such as NewsBank. Want to read your former hometown newspaper? Chances are you can.

Why do libraries provide this public service?

Providing access to information and removing barriers is a primary tenet of libraries, Blankenship said.

Stanley Seivert, associate librarian at the main Central Branch of the Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis, echoed this sentiment: A major function of libraries is to make information available. Newspapers are just one more source of information.

It gets even better. With a library card, which can be obtained for free, if you have access to a home computer or smartphone, you can access newspaper databases remotely. This means you can read newspapers online from home and other places.

Many libraries let you sign up for a library card through their website, but I recommend signing up for one in-person. This will allow you to talk directly to a librarian about the publications you want to read and be shown the exact path and even shortcuts for doing so.

Your librarys database may be different as well. The Seattle Public Libraries use PressReader, which gives readers an actual page view of current newspapers going back 60 days in essence, a virtual newspaper. My librarys database gives readers a text-only list of headlines.

I currently read The New York Times remotely through my local library site. You can start reading newspapers that interest you by going on your librarys website and then to Online Library. From there, youll see a resource list, where you can find newspapers and search for the particular edition you want. Whatever steps your library requires will quickly become familiar.

Once you come to a list of headlines, you can scroll through and click on whichever headline interests you to read the full article. Or you can save it to a file, email it to yourselfor print it out to read later. You can also have the article read aloud in English or have it translated in print to 20 other languages!

My husband and I are now saving enough so we can buy our own print subscriptions in the near future. Meanwhile, we recently treated ourselves to a paper issue of the Sunday New York Times, and spent a long lovely morning reading it, just like in the old days.

It was nice to have a paper on the coffee table again.

Next Avenue brings you stories that are inspiring and change lives. We know that because we hear it from our readers every single day. One reader says,

"Every time I read a post, I feel like I'm able to take a single, clear lesson away from it, which is why I think it's so great."

Your generous donation will help us continue to bring you the information you care about. What story will you help make possible?

Next Avenue - 2019. All rights reserved.

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How to Read Newspapers on a Budget - Next Avenue

By Alex Leggatt

Durham Universitys Bill Bryson Library will now remain open 24/7 throughout the whole of term time, beginning at the start of next term.

Saul Cahill, Ex-Student Unions Undergraduate Academic Officer, made the announcement in July through the SU website.

He described campaign[ing] for a library that was open 24/7 throughout the entirety of term time as one of his key pledges following his election to the role last year.

Cahill said that he was thrilled to announce the policy: During my election campaign, students talked to me about the added flexibility that extended opening hours could provide, as well as the benefits to students who worked or have caring responsibilities.

I am confident that these extra opening hours will deliver a library that is there for students when they need it, but wont pressure students into feeling like they need it for longer than they do. Most of all, I hope this extra flexibility will prove useful to you over the rest of your studies!

The policy, first proposed by Stuart Goldie (Science Postgraduate Faculty Rep), was passed following a year-long campaign.

Following ongoing work with the Library, Security and Estates & Buildings in Epiphany term 2019, the policy was trialled during exam period in Easter term and reviewed.

The initial SU assembly noted that there was a growing trend among UK universities to offer full time 24/7 library access, with numerous campaigns attempting to lobby for 24/7 library access in recent years.

However, the assembly also noted that students were under increasing pressure to perform well at university, with an FOI request revealing that 1141 undergraduates (8.5% of the student body) were being seen by University counsellors in the academic year from October 2016 July 2017.

The SU recognised that actively lobbying the University to spend funds facilitating all hours working may contribute to the growing problems with student mental health.

The assembly thus required suitable evidence to support the motion, and resolved to investigate the pros and cons of library 24/7 opening, research which Mr Cahill was mandated to undertake.

The research included analysing three years worth of data from the University Library, which found that there was a demand for 24/7 opening outside of what is currently available.

The analysis also found that there was very little difference in library usage between the last week of ordinary opening hours in Epiphany Term and the following week when the library is open 24/7.

This suggested that the main cause of increased library use was pressure from assessments rather than opening hours. Cahill revealed that the University Library will be working alongside library security to monitor students wellbeing in the library, as well as working with the SU to promote healthy study habits through the Revise Wise campaign.

The university introduced 200 new study spaces and a new cafe in February earlier this year, to address complaints that there were not enough library seats for the number of students using the library.

Image by @durhamuni via Twitter

Read the rest here:
Bill Bryson Library to now remain open 24/7 - Palatinate

Dishonored 2

Arkanes Dishonored 2 has just been added to Xbox Game Pass, the subscription-based service that gives you access to more than 100 games for about $10 a month. (For $15 a month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also grants you access to a library of PC games, as well as Xbox Live Gold.) Dishonored 2 will take up about 55 gigabytes of hard-drive space, which is fairly average these days, and is certainly worth a look. It holds a score of 88 on Metacritic, and took home more than 100 game-of-the-year awards in 2016.

The Dishonored sequel joins a nice selection of other Bethesda titles in the services console library. Currently, Xbox Game Pass includes 2016s Doom, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Oblivion, Prey, Rage, The Elder Scrolls Online, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus. Outside of Bethesda, Game Pass also has such gems as the Batman: Arkham trilogy, Forza Horizon 4, a ton of Gears of War and Halo offerings, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid V, Minecraft, Quantum Break, Superhot, and so on. Its a treasure trove right now.

Given the number of playtime hours you can easily squeeze out of something like Fallout 4, ESO, or Oblivion, theres really no better time to take Game Pass for a test driveespecially with Obsidians The Outer Worlds just around the corner.

Here is the original post:
Dishonored 2 Joins Other Bethesda Hits In The Xbox Game Pass Library - Forbes

The British Library, London. (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

A new project of the British Library, entitled Discovering Sacred Texts, has begun uploading images of manuscripts and early printed versions of some of the worlds most sacred religious texts, including dozens of Jewish works.

One of the earliest surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible from the 10th century is among the collection, as well as important printed versions of the Bible from the 16th century; a rare manuscript of the Talmud which survived the book burnings of medieval Europe; the first complete printed text of the Mishna from 15th century Naples, and other texts.

One of the jewels of the collection are fragments of the First Gaster Bible, dating from the 10th century and likely produced in Egypt.

The fragments held by the British Library come from the Ketuvim, or Writings, section of the Hebrew Bible and include portions sections from the Books of Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel and Ruth.

Images available on the British Librarys online exhibition demonstrate the beauty of the original manuscript with its gold embellishments of scrolls, spirals, foliage, interwoven buds, palmettes and golden chains, executed in an Islamic-style typical of the age and location.

Another special item available on the online collection is a manuscript of two tractates from the Babylonian Talmud dating from 1290, including 102 folio pages.

As the collection notes, manuscripts of the Talmud were frequently condemned by Christian leaders, leading to mass burnings of many such manuscripts during the medieval era, such as in Paris in 1242.

Very few Talmudic manuscripts survived this period as a result.

Another remarkable item which is part of the Discovering Sacred Texts online collection is a manuscript of Maimonides renowned work of Jewish thought and philosophy The Guide for the Perplexed, written by the revered rabbi in 1190.

The British Librarys Hebrew manuscript, produced in Spain, dates from 1325 and is decorated with around 200 colorful illuminations and decorative embellishments.

The project was supported by Dangoor Education since its inception and by Allchurches Trust, alongside other funders.

I am delighted to be involved in such an important and innovative project which will bring to the public for the first time some of the worlds oldest and most sacred texts, said David Dangoor, head of Dangoor Education. These texts form the bedrock of our human civilization, and when compared and contrasted by their viewers, will demonstrate that our sacred texts all speak a similar language of humanity, compassion and the norms of a fair and equitable society. They all have much to teach us and it is extremely welcome that they are now more accessible.

A curated selection of the collection items representing these faiths will be on physical display in the British Librarys free, permanent Treasures Gallery to coincide with the launch of Discovering Sacred Texts.

This site gives free access to an incredible range of texts, videos and curated articles relating to some of the worlds major faiths, which we hope will provide an invaluable tool for students, teachers and lifelong learners all over the world, Alex Whitfield, head of learning at the British Library, commented.

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Rare Jewish texts showcased in British Library online collection - The Jerusalem Post

OpenAthens unveils new embeddable version of organisation discovery service Wayfinder

Single sign-on provider OpenAthens has announced the launch of its new embeddable version of Wayfinder organisational discovery service.

Committed to empowering library users spanning a wide range of industries, whether they are a PhD student, a hospital clinician or a research scientist, OpenAthens has created Wayfinder to simplify and support access to online resources.

It enables users to rely on a single secure login to access all the online resources their organisation subscribes to they simply enter their home organisation or email address into the search bar to login.

The service is now available as a tool or overlay that can be embedded in any publisher or librarys website as well as in hosted form.

David Orrell, software architect at OpenAthens demonstrated the discovery service at the recent REFEDS 40th meeting in June to representatives from other identity federations around the world.

Wayfinder was developed in response to a growing need for easier access to valuable content with many publishers losing revenue on subscriptions as frustrated users move away from legitimate sites to free pirate sites.

The organisation discovery service encompasses many of the recommendations from the Resource Access for the 21st Century (RA21) initiative, a two-year project looking at how to create a seamless user experience for access to online resources.

NISO and STM-led RA21 has worked hard towards resolving some of the fundamental issues associated with accessing online content via federated single sign-on.

The OpenAthens team collaborated with the initiative to inform the pilot work on improving the user journey and developed organisation discovery service Wayfinder alongside the project using agile methods and user-centred design.

With Wayfinder, a users search automatically covers all known identity federations a publisher is a member of, without the user needing to be aware of them. This means learners and researchers can log in securely just once to all the multiple online resources that their organisations subscribe to, with their user privacy preserved.

OpenAthens e-resource manager Adam Snook said:

Wayfinder makes it quick and easy for users to access all their subscribed content online. Until now, the battle to protect valuable content from misuse has often resulted in lengthy complicated processes for accessing content which drives users away from legitimate sites and means they resort to using stolen content on pirate sites just to save time.

We must design these digital content systems with the users needs at their core if publishers and libraries are to remain relevant and keep their resources available to as wide an audience as possible. Wayfinder is a great example of where user-centred design produces something that works for everyone, facilitating access while offering security and protection.

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Our team of developers will continue to work on refining Wayfinder to make it available to as many organisations as possible.

OpenAthens will be at the Frankfurt Book Fair on 16-18 October 2019 where members of the sales team will be on hand to discuss this latest version of Wayfinder. Find the team in hall 4.2 in the International Library Centre.

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If libraries are to remain relevant they must design digital content systems with the user's needs at their core - FE News