The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.4 percent in September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 14. This advance followed a 0.4-percent rise in August and a 0.2-percent increase in July. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 0.5 percent in September, and the crude goods index fell 0.5 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 4.0 percent for the 12 months ended September 2010, their eleventh straight year-over-year rise. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf Reduce print to 100% for ease in reading.

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed new rules that would require mobile service providers to provide usage alerts and related information that will assist consumers in avoiding unexpected charges on their bills. The proposed rules would empower consumers with simple alerts and easy-to-find tools and information so they can make smart decisions about their mobile plans. The record thus far indicates that mobile “bill shock” -- an unexpected increase in the monthly mobile bill -- is a growing challenge for the surveyed consumers, and that current tools could be improved. According to an April-May 2010 FCC survey, 30 million Americans -- one in six mobile users -- have experienced bill shock. More than half those consumers saw an increase of $50 or more, but many were not alerted by their provider before they incurred the charges. http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1014/DOC-302192A1.pdf Reduce print to 100% for ease in reading.

According to a 2010 R. R. Bowker study, 764,448 self-published and micro-niche titles came out in 2009. That’s more than twice the number—288,355—of traditional books published that year. And that’s just books. The publishing work of “regular people” can also reasonably be said to encompass some substantial portion of 234 million Web sites, 126 million blogs, 4 billion pictures on Flickr and the 1 billion+ videos served up every day on YouTube. In which case, the technology of personal publishing is now somewhere between “ubiquitous” and “pervasive.” Xerox is largely credited with establishing the on-demand printing industry when, in 1990, the company introduced the Docutech Production Publisher. Its 135-page-per-minute, black and white, xerographic print engine and attached finisher module was arguably the first, fully integrated “print-on-demand” publishing system. Since then, POD technologies have fueled a range of new book-creation and publishing opportunities. Other POD companies include Lulu, Blurb, QooP, TheBookPatch, Trafford Publishing, NetPublications, Outskirts Press and Amazon’s Booksurge. One opportunity for libraries to become publishers is with equipment like the Espresso Book Machine (EBM). There are 30 machines in operation, mostly in the higher education field, with another 30 to be added by the end of 2010. There are now 10 libraries using the EBM, including libraries in Canada, Australia and Egypt. The New Orleans Public Library, the University of Michigan, the University of Utah and the University of Pittsburgh are using the machine in the following ways: expanding the selection of public domain, out-of-print and backlist titles available on demand; establishing a university bookstore press ‘Classics’ line; producing custom course materials (publisher, course packs); supporting university and local library archiving efforts. The Espresso Book Machine also has the ability to connect with other print-on-demand equipment and other content providers, including publishers, content aggregators, libraries, university presses and self-publishing sites, to build a vast network where users can search and discover content. The books can be ordered and produced on-site and integrated with a library Web site so that users can order books remotely via the Internet. http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/016/1.htm Thanks, Julie for this article.

Another hoax "An interesting fact about October 2010. This October has 5 Fridays 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays all in one month. This happens once in every 823 years. These are money bags. Paste it on your status and money will appear in 4 days. Based on Chinese fengshui. Whoever stops this will experience none. its worth a try! " Deja vu? The same hokum went around a couple of months ago, except that version said: "This August has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, all in one month. This happens once in every 823 years." Fact: In any 31-day month, whatever days of the week the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fall on will occur a total of five times. If a month starts with Friday-Saturday-Sunday, it will have a total of 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. If it starts with Sunday-Monday-Tuesday, it will have a total of 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, and 5 Tuesdays. http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010/10/13/hoax-an-interesting-fact-about-oct-2010.htm

On October 13, a federal appeals court found that the estate of Elaine Steinbeck, the Nobel laureate’s third wife, doesn’t owe a fiduciary duty under a 1983 agreement with his sons over rights to several of his works. The decision allows Elaine Steinbeck’s estate to retain authority over the famous author’s later works, such as Cannery Row, The Pearl, East of Eden, and Travels With Charley. Thomas Steinbeck, one of two sons from John Steinbeck’s second marriage, and the daughter of Thomas Steinbeck’s brother John Steinbeck IV had claimed in part that the estate, as well as the literary agent for his works, breached their fiduciary duties under the agreement, claiming it created an agency relationship under New York law. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s March 2009 decision dismissing the case. It was the second lawsuit in long-running litigation between the sons and their heirs and Elaine Steinbeck’s estate over John Steinbeck’s works. “The 1983 agreement increased the Steinbeck sons’ shares in certain copyright revenue, from one-quarter to one-third each, and, in return, conferred upon Elaine Steinbeck ‘the complete power and authority to negotiate, authorize and take action with respect to the exploitation and/or termination rights in the works of John Steinbeck” in which the sons had renewal or termination rights,” the circuit found. “This language is unambiguous and forecloses any argument that the parties intended the Steinbeck sons to retain control over Elaine Steinbeck’s exercise of the authority conferred upon her, as would be necessary to create an agency relationship.” http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/10/15/battle-over-steinbeck-works-ends-in-favor-of-third-wife-elaine/?mod=djemlawblog_h

Last night I heard Tristan and Isolde, with Celtic harp and dialogue. Tristan (sometimes called Tristram), the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall, was a symbol of all the virtues of chivalry, including bravery and honor. Some accounts also claim that he was a brilliant harp player. According to the most detailed versions of this legend, the king of Ireland sent a champion named Morholt to demand tribute from Cornwall, and Tristan fought Morholt in single combat. Read a summary of the story at: http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Tr-Wa/Tristan-and-Isolde.html

Q: When I took bacteriology in college, I had the understanding that all eggs were sterile and that salmonella could only enter the egg through a crack that occurred when or after the egg was laid. Recently, however, an article hinted that the salmonella was already in the egg because the chicken was the carrier. Would you please clarify?
A: "Salmonella bacteria are found in the intestinal tracts of animals, birds, reptiles, insects and humans," said Cari Randall, spokeswoman for the Egg Safety Center, part of the American Egg Board. "Salmonella may be found on the outside of the eggshell before the egg is washed or it may be found inside the egg if the hen was infected. It is estimated that one egg in 20,000 eggs may contain salmonella, which is a 0.005 percent contamination rate. Eggs contain natural anti-microbial substances in the egg white, and all eggs from commercial producers are washed and sanitized before they are packed. Egg recipes properly prepared in individual servings and promptly eaten are rarely a problem. Inadequate refrigeration, improper handling and insufficient cooking are all factors that have contributed to disease outbreaks. Salmonella is destroyed by heat. Eggs that have been handled and cooked properly should not cause human illness." American Egg Board.
http://www.thecourier.com/Opinion/columns/2010/Oct/JU/ar_JU_101810.asp?d=101810,2010,Oct,18&c=c_13