These chair-bookcases make my librarian spidey senses tingle.
I’ll take six for the Periodicals section of my mum’s library, and one for the UI books in my office.
Link via Popgadget, which is a rad blog, btw
My entire family watches YouTube on Thanksgiving
So here’s what my family of first and second-generation geeks does on Thanksgiving once the stuffing has been consumed:
- Made up names for our imaginary bands using the Metal Band Name Generator
- Created personalized Simpson’s and South Park characters (my dad and I are below)
- Watched a YouTube recording of the Simpson’s voice actors on Inside the Actor’s Studio
- Hooked up our respective mp3 players and swapped music
- Traded names of our favorite podcasts
- Argued about digital camera features
- Argued about library policy
- Updated the firmware on our laptop
- Ate spanokopeta using a recipe off of epicurious.com
New Librarian Gifts! Happy Festivus!
Yeah. I couldn’t resist. You know how we’ve had all of this discussion lately about, er… attractive librarians and the Halloween costumes that celebrate them? So I was thinking, what would REALLY bring those reluctant readers in to the library?
Imagine a neon sign buzzing, zapping and blinking: “Librarians! Librarians! Librarians!” The library lights up outside with lurid pinks and greens. Imagine the untapped audiences of potential patrons! Imagine the circulation statistics! Imagine the improved wages once people start tipping.
Of course, a sign like this might keep away the homeschoolers, but you can’t make everyone happy, right?
Right. Hope you enjoy these ever-so-tasteful librarian t-shirts, heat-printed on a black cotton shirt.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! If you’re in town, stop by for spanokopeta and yamfries!
Mouse! In the house!
Caterwauling at five AM, running and thumping. The cats have found a mouse, but don’t know what to do with it. The mouse is golfball-sized and terrified. Plover has trapped it in the fireplace and taps it gently with his paw. I grab a plastic bowl and prepare to clap it over the mouse. He makes a desperate escape into the cupboard. I apologize to the cat for mistrusting him. He’s been scratching at this cupboard for several days. The mouse is gone. The cats stare for awhile, then curl up in a ball together on the couch, grooming each other in congratulatory triumph at their splendid adventure.
Life by the numbers
1 edited post
2 jobs (one main, one side)
3 hubcaps remaining on my urban assault vehicle
4 weeks to hire a java programmer before Rob leaves for parentville
5 months of backpay to go with my promotion
6 days until we cook Thanksgiving spanokopeta with tzadziki
7 issues of The Ultimate X-Men by Brian K. Vaughan left to read
8 thank yous to write this weekend (thank you!)
9 fingers I’m not holding up to the haters out there.
10 minutes until I fall asleep on this keyboard
Surge protectors for the L33t
Good design can make anything wonderful. Even something as dreary as surge protectors. I came across these in my e-travels.
Belkin Clamp-On Surge Protector
I do grow so weary of crawling under my desk every day and messing up my chic outfit. No, I’m not reenacting scenes from Secretary. I work in a digital library. Gordian knots of power cables are part of my life.
But checkitout: this surge protector has a clamp on it so you can attach it to your desk, or another convenient surface. Finally, I can unplug the router with dignity.
The Power Squid is my friend. He is a squid-shaped surge protector. Instead of forcing you into unaccommodating rows, his noodely appendages absorb plugs of all shapes and sizes.
I plan on getting three of him: one for each office, and one for that damned outlet by the kitchen that only half-works, yet is so conveniently placed.
The Power Strip Liberator will save you from huge annoying black bricks that take over your power strip. Instead of letting those monsters take over three entire outlets, plug them into this doohickey and let ’em loom menacingly somewhere else.
Desk Set
Did you know that Katherine Hepburn and Spenser Tracey were in a Librarian movie together? Did you even know there were librarian movies? It’s called Desk Set, and we’re about halfway through watching it.
Desk Set somewhat unintentionally gives an interesting window into professional life for women in the late 1950’s. Apparently it involved lots of sexual harassment, patronization, and powerlessness. Oh, and trivia questions. Which is pretty cool.
We spend about ten minutes listening to Katherine Hepburn show off her black belt in historical and literary fact before her boyfriend (also her boss) lovingly tells her how stupid she is. In spite of the anachronisms, Hepburn’s character exudes competence, and it’s wonderful to watch a woman on film being unabashedly smart.
Like most pre-1980’s movies, it’s long and kind of slow. We got a bit bored, and will probably finish it later tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing the IBM “electronic brain” that is supposed to replace the reference department. I suspect it will involve lots of reel-to-reel tapes, blinking lights, and miraculous natural language processors.
Stay tuned.
Election
Oog. I have a CNN hangover.