Monday, January 26, 2009

Reading Ahead

Everyone wishes he/she could read another person’s mind at one point or another. But how many consider reading another person’s body instead? Here are some sites to help you out with that…

Body Language for Business Communication (University of Northern Iowa)

This site offers clues as to what certain actions and expressions mean. This is useful for reading other people, as well as for making sure that other people are reading you correctly.

Facial Expressions: What’s in a Face? (American Psychological Association)

This article discusses the art (and somewhat science) of reading facial expressions.

The Gestural Origins of Language (American Scientist)

This article talks about the origin of non-verbal communication, as well as how it has changed throughout history.

Human Nonverbal Communication (Bellarmine University)

This site links to several articles on the subject.

Now…it’s important to remember that body language isn’t always 100% accurate. Crossed arms could mean that the person is closed off from you (doesn’t like you or the topic, etc.)…or it could just mean that he/she is cold. While this information is interesting and has some merit, it shouldn’t be used in excess—i.e. in lieu of what the person actually tells you.

Bunny Burnstein

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration 2009

Today is a very historic day; today, this country inaugurates its first black president, Mr. Barack Obama. Today is also an historic day for me and my family, as my grandmother turns 100 today. But in honor of the inauguration, I’m posting some sites about past inaugurations…as wells as sites about today’s event.

Inauguration Day 2009 (District of Columbia site)

Offers information about the inauguration and the new President and Vice President.

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (U.S. Senate)

Click on the History tab to find some interesting information about past inaugurations.

Armed Forces Inaugural Committee

For those interested in the military aspect of the inauguration, including parades.

National Park Service 2009 Inauguration Brochure

A lovely and interesting brochure on the history of the Inauguration.

Bunny Burnstein

Monday, January 12, 2009

To a Healthy New Year

FACULTY POSITIONS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY

Since this is the time of year for resolutions and the occasional cold or flu, I thought it might be handy to point out some great (and free) health databases. Disclaimer: It is never a good idea to diagnose/treat yourself. These sites are not a substitute for a doctor’s care. Use these sites wisely.

HealthFinder
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

This site offers tips for healthy living, as well as personal health tools. It includes activity and menu planners, health calculators, quizzes to test your health habits, and an A-Z listing of various diseases/conditions. If you need more information on a condition, this site links to other reliable sites like the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

This site also helps you find doctors and hospitals near you. And the site can also be used in Spanish.

MedlinePlus
(U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health)

This site is great for finding information on various ailments, prescriptions, and health topics. It also offers a medical encyclopedia, a dictionary, and a directory. This information can also be viewed in over 40 languages.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
(National Institutes of Health)

This site is great for finding information on ailments and health, as well as information about pursuing a career in the medical field. More importantly, this site links to other reputable sites on a variety of topics. It also includes online exhibitions and digital projects.

Bunny Burnstein

Thursday, January 1, 2009

January Blog Spotlight: Beyond The Job

Articles, job-hunting advice, professional development opportunities, and other news and ideas on how to further your library career.

This blog, compiled by Sarah Johnson and Rachel Singer Gordon, is one of my favorite blogs. So, when I decided to start a monthly blog spotlight for 2009 (a chance for all of you to see what blogs I enjoy reading the most), I had to start with Beyond the Job.

Beyond the Job is a great resource for librarians. Whether you want to take a professional development course or you are looking for career advice, this blog is the place for you. It also includes information on scholarships, writing opportunities, or conferences.

I enjoy reading this blog, and I hope you will, too! Happy New Year! I hope to be back on schedule by the end of this week!

Bunny Burnstein