Following up on my recent post, Free eBooks / Manuals, which reviewed very nice texts which could be downloaded from FreeLoadPress, you also need to visit WikiBooks. This wiki is still in its early stages, but their is starting to be some nice content, and an increasing number of books are available in downloadable pdf … and like all thinks from the WikiMedia Foundation, they’re free! Here are some nice examples:

• For faster access: Right Click and Save to Disk!
• Chess
• Chinese Mandarin
• European History
• FireFox
• French
• German
• Physics
• United Kingdom Constitution and Government
• US History

Here are some other good WikiBook links:

• Books in PDF: Link #1 | Link #2 (duplicative with some unique titles)
• Books of the month (as voted by Wikipedians)

In this connected virtual world, I still keep my old (and my Dad’s) National Geographic Society magazines in my garage. Reading an article from the 1950’s on a cold Winter’s evening is still fun … even better than browsing a web site! However, life moves forward …

Last night, I renewed my subscription to National Geographic. I discovered that I have personally been a member for 25 years (with National Geo … you are a member, not a subscriber). Oh well, here are some National Geographic web links. I may read the physical, but also like the virtual!

National Geographic Society

• Home Page
• Online Video Archive / Webcasts
• LochNess Video
• Wikipedia Entry

PopTech is one of the two conferences I would most like to attend, but it is too expensive (the other conference is Wikimania). IT conversations has made a significant number of the presentations available via podcast. The presentors are some of the top thought leaders from around the world today … you will challenge your mind if you listen to even two of this great series.

• PopTech 2005 Podcasts

I still miss Maple, our cat of almost 17 years, but Cyrus is showing he belongs in our family. Meet Cyrus, the mouser. Perhaps my family needs to give our mice icon tails?!

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The content below is copied from my old MSN blog (May 15, 2006)
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Maple – My Friend

16 and 1/2 years ago … our family brought home a orange tabby cat from the animal shelter. As the Autumn leaves were bright orange, we named our new kitten Maple!

Over the years Maple and I have read many good books together … me with my with my legs propped up on the couch … Maple asleep on my chest.  Maple even greeted the arrival of my youngest son, Erik, sixteen years ago.

Tomorrow, I will end Maple's life at our veterinarian. Afterwards, Maple and I will drive 200 miles to northern Minnesota. In the woods next to Northstar Lake, Maple and I will say our final good-byes.  I will bury my good friend.

The attached photographs were taken two weeks ago up at Northstar Lake.

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Update on May 19th

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Thank you for everyone's kind comments … sent privately. I'm posting a few more photos, ranging from that Autumn day 16 and 1/2 years ago when Maple joined the family, to Maple's last day and beautiful grave site in the woods of Northern Minnesota.

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A comment from my 22 year old daughter …

to think that he used to be able to back me into a corner…

…now he will rest in the most beautiful corner up at the cabin.

bye, bye "blubber butt"
              "mappes"
              "maple kitty"

~Karen

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Creative Thinking? Open Minded Thinking? No matter who you are you should spend some time with Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith". In this podcast from Poptech 2005, he discusses how religious and ideological intolerance is hurting the idea generation process.

• The Future of Ideas Podcast

Over the Labor Day Weekend, I had the honor to host Danish relatives in my home. Little did our extended family know last year, that both our countries … the United States and Denmark, would be victims of closed minded thinking. However, before you think the only issue involved is terrorism, please consider the current American political scene. What ever became up open minded, civil discussion? Do we even have a close/narrow mindedness in our coporations which limits innovation and growth?