Windows 98, We Hardly Knew Ye

Moore’s Law observes that computer processors double in complexity about every 18 months. If there were a Software Updates Law, well, let’s just say that updates are more frequent than that. If you take an evolutionary stance — a survival of the fittest software versus a virus-rich environment — it makes sense that software updates are issued as frequently as the virus threat changes.

For software companies, there is a cost to creating updates for older products to meet the challenge of new threats. Long story short, on July 11, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 98 or Windows Me. (The clock is ticking for those of you still using Windows XP SP1.)

Because Microsoft products are so ubiquitous, other software publishers may follow suit in dropping support for these older operating systems. In the meantime, if most of your computer use is internet surfing and emailing, then it’s a good idea to check the update settings for:

• operating system
• internet browser
• virus scanner
• adware/spyware sweeper
• firewall

It goes without saying that if you’re missing the last three things on the list, you are surfing at your own risk. Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of free options out there. Visit a shareware/freeware site such as download.com and keep your computer protected.

“Life cycle” support timelines for all Microsoft products
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect.
 

It is a sport unknown in most of the United States, but in many other countries, nothing comes close to the frenzy, fervor, passion, and love for football.
Oh, wait, I mean soccer.

Every four years the ultimate championship event is played, the World Cup becomes all consuming for millions.

FIFA World Cup by the Numbers:

Did You Know FIFA Is Larger Than the UN?
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was formed in 1904 as soccer’s governing body. Countries join FIFA to compete at an international level. Number of countries in FIFA? 207. Number of countries in the United Nations? 191.

2006 World Cup:
Beginning on June 9, 32 teams consisting of 736 players will play 64 matches in 12 German cities over a 4 week period. The FIFA World Cup will attract over a billion viewers, and be closely followed by many more. 3,500,000 fans will be lucky enough to watch in person.

6 teams playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup are playing for their first time, including four teams from Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, a first for that continent.

World Cup History:
Only seven teams have won the World Cup since 1930, representing only two continents (Europe and South America). Brazil is not only the defending champion, but the leader in titles won, at five. Germany and Italy follow with three championships each. Uruguay and Argentina have both won twice. Finally France and England have each won one time.

Don’t Believe the Popularity?
The 2004 Super Bowl was watched by 95 million viewers, barely shy of the 2004 Olympics closing ceremony that was watched by 96 million viewers. That same year, the European Championship final (yes, soccer) was watched by 153 million people. And the final of the 2002 World Cup? A whopping 218 million people! This year’s final expects to draw even more viewers.

Will you be watching the championship on July 9?

Check out more soccer information at your library this summer!

Soccerhead: An Accidental Journey into the Heart of the American Game
Jim Haner
796.33407 HANER

The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup
edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey
796.33466 THINKING

The World Cup: The Ultimate Guide to the Greatest Sports Spectacle in the World
Fernando Fiore, translated from the Spanish by Ezra E. Fitz
796.33466 FIORE

National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer
Stefan Szymanski, Andrew Zimbalist
338.47796 SZYMANSKI

Play Soccer
Catherine Saunders
JUVENILE 796.334 SAUNDERS

Really Bend It Like Beckham: David Beckham's Soccer Skills
JUVENILE DVD 796.334 REALLY
 

Open Sesame Access

Technology’s hallmark is that it increases efficiency and reduces cost. Since 2002, the Directory of Open Access Journals has leveraged technology “to increase the visibility and ease of use of open access scientific and scholarly journals thereby promoting their increased usage and impact.” By lowering costs for the scholar-subscriber, the DOAJ effectively challenges the monolithic academic publishing industry while maintaining high standards. The sling in this David’s hand is not just the cost factor, but the breadth and quality of coverage. Currently, the DOAJ indexes 2280 journals and over 100,000 articles.

The DOAJ welcomes publications from across all disciplines and languages, such as:

• Didaskalia: Ancient Theatre Today — devoted to the study of Greek and Roman drama, dance, and music in contemporary settings
• Outskirts: Feminisms Along the Edge — a feminist cultural studies journal
• Erasmus Law and Economics Review — seeks to increase dialogue between lawyers, academics and economists
• Atmósfera — the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México’s journal of meteorology and climatology

You Get What You Don’t Pay For

Has the DOAJ achieved its aim of increasing the impact of open access journals? Science publisher Thomson Scientific annually issues an “impact factor” list that formulates journals’ influence based on how many times they are cited in other studies. One open access journal, Public Library of Science: Biology, quickly took the number one spot in the area of general biology for 2004 — an impressive achievement, considering that PLoS Biology started publication only in late 2003. Besides the obvious advantage of reduced costs of production and delivery to the subscriber, open access publishing also enables a greater degree of niche publishing. A field of study that a print publisher may regard as too small a market (i.e.. nonprofitable) can survive and thrive in the OA environment.

Research by the People, for the People

The open access movement is starting to make waves in the halls of government, too. With bipartisan support, Senator Joe Lieberman (D.-CT) introduced the American Center for Cures Act of 2005 (S.2104). A key requirement of the bill is that any federally funded research in medical sciences that is published in a journal must also be deposited with the National Library of Medicine for free online distribution through PubMed. Currently, authors’ works are submitted to PubMed under a voluntary system. Considering that the largest federal grant-making agency is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it makes sense that the impact of federally funded research could be strengthened if the barriers of cost to the subscriber were removed.

Our databases are available at your library branch or from your home computer.
 

FEATURED Staff Recommendation

Cresencia Huff (Literacy Program Coordinator, Little Read Wagon) recommends:

Currently Reading:
Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation by John Phillip Santos, So B. It by Sarah Weeks

Favorite Picture Books:
Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto, Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood

Favorite Fiction Books:
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, La Casa de los Espíritus by Isabel Allende

Most Recently Read Non-Fiction Books:
Life-size Dinosaurs by David Bergen, Step-by-Step Kitchen & Bath Projects by Steve Cory

FEATURED Service

Your Ticket to San Antonio Arts & Culture!

This summer, the San Antonio Public Library, in partnership with the San Antonio Children’s Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Southwest School of Art and Craft, is providing San Antonio residents and their families with a unique opportunity to explore these renowned cultural institutions absolutely free!

With the Explore More Pass, You Can: wander galleries and marvel at both ancient and modern art, enclose yourself in a giant bubble, journey back to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth, and admire works by local artists and artisans!

For more information, visit the Explore More website.

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