fruity me

I'm in the Virgin Islands right now, so maybe I can be a rum cake instead. Yes, that sounds good.

You Are a Fruitcake

People pretend you're sweet and precious, but they know how weird you really are!

What Holiday Food Are You?

the (in)famous Gulfport Public Library

So Howard Troxler (St Pete Times) has found a worthy subject yet again: the computer situation at the Gulfport Public Library.

While I cringed reading the first few paragraphs, I'm really glad this was written. Sometimes those of us with our own gadgets and super speed access in our backyards and bathrooms forget that others are stuck with the library machines, a waiting list, and 4 different people (perhaps) peeking at the screen. But that really is their only Internet access, and they need that for a variety of critical activities (apply for Food Stamps or a job, maybe renew a driver's license, anyone?). And while libraries try very hard to accomodate everyone, libraries are operating with severely limited resources.

If our libraries are to seriously meet the access needs of everyone left in our society's wake, library funding needs to increase enormously. And until we're ready for that, there are going to be waiting lists, time limits, and some creep sitting 4 inches away.

What amazes me is that the people complaining about this, in my experience, are most often the ones who have good access at home but want to check their email while running errands or waiting for their kids. Seriously, people, it's free and they don't make you buy a soy-free venti lattamochachino. Find someone else to take out your holiday spirit on.

And props to Troxler. This is a huge issue in every library I know of, and like most issues related to libraries and information access, needs way more publicity.

All caffeinated with no place I want to go..

So,

1 presentation later today + 1 final project due friday = miserable week

Being awake at ridiculous hours may be the first step, but it's apparently not the only step. I somehow got stuck playing in photoshop (had to obtain it for the friday-final-project), brain refusing to do anything resembling school. Arguably better than sudoku, or maybe not.

Pointless to be up, but here I am. I've lived through so many last weeks of so many semesters, and it never seems to go any more smoothly.

Like I said, here I am:

Florida critters and the holidays

An article from the Orlando Sentinel about leaving appropriate goodies for our local wildlife during this holiday season:

Deck the backyard with holiday joy (11/25/06)

gobble gobble turkey day

You Are The Stuffing

You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together. People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

4 days later

4 days after the election, and things are sort of returning to normal. It's funny how they do that.

Yesterday we took Bandit to our new favorite park, Sawgrass Lake. It has hills! Elevation! And of course, lots and lots and lots of squirrels. And the humans had a coffee-and-cannoli picnic, obtained from Mazzaro's, which incidentally has become an even more incredible place than before.

Today I'm going to work on cleaning up my study space (no, I won't show you a picture). And then I might even spend some time studying. Possibly at Java Nirvana, which now has wireless.

And I'm reading:

State of Denial (Bob Woodward)

Fragile Things (Neil Gaiman)

and Destined for Destiny: The Unauthorized Autobiography of George W. Bush, which is an absolute riot created by the wonderful and brilliant folks who bring us the Weekly Radio Address.

And now, I'm off to awaken the pancake-maker.

Stumbling through the election?

We just got home after several hours sitting outside our local polling place with a "Samm Simpson for Congress" sign. Especially here in Florida, one is obviously concerned about things going smoothly (or not). So far there's no sense of the magnitude, but there have been problems in a few states today. For a few tidbits of information, if you're as impatient and fidgety today as we are, take a look at:

VoteTrustUSA

or

VotersUnite! - News

or my favorite concept,

VotersUnite! - Election Problem Log - 2006

And I'll assume you've already voted, or are planning to. If not, I hope you have a damn good reason.

Let's keep our fingers crossed, my fellow humans.

Politi-Quiz

You Are 92% Democrat

You are a card carrying Democrat, and a pretty far left one at that! There's no chance anyone would ever mistake you for a Republican.

How Democrat Are You?

Bush vs. Muslim Brotherhood

Watch as the Bush administration shoots itself in the foot once again... And proves its commitment to 'democratizing' the Middle East.

"State of Denial" - Stephen Glain - The Nation

"Terrorism" yani e?

The latest on where all those Homeland Security dollars are not going:

FBI Agents Still Lacking Arabic Skills (washingtonpost.com)

This one speaks for itself, or should anyway. And we're talking about the FBI, not Rumsfled's crew or the CIA. The FBI is the only agency that might actually stand a chance in hell of hiring any Arabic-speakers. The FBI should have been out for the last 5 years at least, looking for anyone who could say khara convincingly. They should have even called people like me, if nothing else worked. (And no, I'm not interested, and you really don't want me anyway).

Starting bloodshed and drama in other people's countries will make bad guys go away, but hiring a few Arabic-speakers to look for all those bad-guy-cells-among-us is too difficult? This war-on-terror being a front for other things, however, it makes perfect sense. I wonder if any Houston-based companies have any Arabic-speakers working for them? Or maybe Wolfowitz's friends could find some. The FBI should try asking around.

Doh!

The end of a revolution?

TIME Magazine's cover story this week is "End of the Revolution", by Karen Tumulty. The Great Republican Rampage is clearly faltering at the moment. But this article puts the whole thing in a (slightly) longer-term historical context.

I was born during Reagan's first year in office and wore anti-Newt shirts in high school. This is my lifetime. And if 'the revolution' is really over, I say we celebrate.

Naked folk, support your local library!!

Now that's community dedication to the library. (From BBC)

Librarians do Halloween

You too can be a librarian, for Halloween!! Librarian Avengers discovered costumes being sold by Target, of all places.

It's very accurate. Really, all librarians look like that, I promise.

You reap what you sow...

It's been said a thousand times before, in hundreds of ways, but as a country, we seem to be blind to this fact. If I have a field, and I spend a few billion $$$ on farm machinery, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides (organic), I'm probably going to grow some crops sometime. Why else buy all the stuff, right? So, substitute a few billion or trillion $$$ on bombs, tanks, planes, depleted uranium, etc, and the only obvious outcome is that I'm going to make war sometime. Truman warned, beware the military-industrial complex. War is a self-fulfilling prophesy, in that if you keep it onhand as your strongest bargaining tool, with more invested in weaponry than in any other options, weapons are your tools of choice when the time comes to resolve a conflict. I just can't stand to hear someone trying to make some 'sanctity of life' argument against funding stem cell research while voting to increase spending on war in the next breath. What exactly do they think those depleted uranium bullets and cluster bombs are being bought for???

artsy whatnot

Hah!

You Are Surrealism

Dreamy and idealistic, you've created a world that is all your own. It's very likely that you've either dabbled in drugs or are naturally trippy. You are always trying to push beyond the boundaries of your culture and society. You believe that art, love, and freedom can change the world.

What Art Movement Are You?

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week
Originally uploaded by drinkgoodtea.

The Banned Books Week display at the Gulfport Library. This display has been my project for the last while, I'm feeling extra proud of it. I think that one's first book display is some sort of a milestone, at least in a library-world career. Woo hoo!!

There are more pictures on Flickr, the display spreads over two desks and is kinda hard to capture all at once. And if you're reading this and you're in the area, stop by and take a look. The display will be up for at least another week or two. Read banned books, yo!

Results of the Quiz Carey Gave Me

You Are 32% Capitalist, 68% Socialist

You tend to be quite wary of businesses, especially big business. While you know that corporations have their place, you tend to support small, locally owned shops. As far as the rich go, you think they're usually corrupt and immoral.

Are You a Socialist or Capitalist?

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Wow. I don't know that I've ever tried to place myself so precisely on this particular line, but there we are...

So is this why I feel like a space alien lost in America sometimes?

I know this is a hideously simplistic little quiz, but I'm really curious where the people I know, or even the 'average American' (not the same thing at all) land on this scale. Hmmm.

You Are 8% Capitalist, 92% Socialist

You see a lot of injustice in the world, and you'd like to see it fixed. As far as you're concerned, all the wrong people have the power. You're strongly in favor of the redistribution of wealth - and more protection for the average person.

Are You a Socialist or Capitalist?

karma shwarma

You Have Fantastic Karma

You are a kind, sensitive, and giving person. And all your good deeds will pay off - if they haven't already. But you're not so concerned with what you get in return anyway. You have an innate caring nature - and nothing can change that!

How's Your Karma?

Now if I just had some motivation...

You Are Incredibly Logical

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic You think rationally, clearly, and quickly. A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!

How Logical Are You?

"politics" and what-not

I would hope so...

I don't think I like Dean as mascot though.

You Are a Liberal for Life

You've got a bleeding heart - and you're proud of it. For you, liberal means being compassionate, pro-government, and anti-business. You believe in equality for every person, and you consider yourself universally empathetic. Helping others is not just political for you ... it's very personal too.

What's Your Political Persuasion?

My Inglesh

I swear there's a bug in this. See if you can get over 80% on the vocabulary stuff.

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 100% Spelling: 100% Punctuation: 80% Vocabulary: 80%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

Bandit goes Kangaroo

Bandit goes Kangaroo
Originally uploaded by drinkgoodtea.

Bandit's favorite pose, when he's trying to look extra cute for some reason (i.e. he wants something)...

Swimmy swimmy (but not in the red tide)

Your Element Is Water

A bit of a contradiction, you can seem both lighthearted and serious. That's because you're good at going with the flow - but you also are deep. Highly intuitive, you tune in to people's emotions and moods easily. You are able to tap into deep emotional connections and connect with others. You prefer a smooth, harmonious life - but you can navigate your way around waves. You have a knack for getting people to get along and making life a little more peaceful.

What's Your Element?

planets and such...

You Are From Jupiter

You are exuberantly curious - and you love to explore newness. Enthusiastic and optimistic, you get a kick out of stimulating intellectual discussions. Foreign cultures and languages fascinate you. You love the outdoors, animals, and freedom. Chances are you tend to exaggerate, so try to keep a lid on that. If you do, you'll continue to be known for your confidence, generosity, and sense of justice.

What Planet Are You From?

Hurricane Ernie

Best luck to all as this creature approaches...

And let us all maintain a healthy sense of humor.

Fish Tank Again

Fish Tank
Originally uploaded by drinkgoodtea.

And more of it...

Fish Tank

Fish Tank
Originally uploaded by drinkgoodtea.

This is it...

Semester starts in 2 days..

So I finally got my work schedule cut back, and I've messed around with my courses so I've got a relatively un-scary batch now. I'm now feeling slightly less like running away. I still can't convince myself to like grad school, actually I still passionately hate this use of 2 good years, but for now I'm not feeling like hiding under the spare bed. So that's something.

So far the psyching-myself-for-school, end of summer process seems to include:

-Buying 3 brightly-colored notebooks, in a smaller size than my usual, in hopes I will take them with me when I go out and about.

-Buying assorted non-cook or microwave-cook edibles, so I can feed my stomach while my mind doesn't want to worry about food.

-Cleaning up the chaotic office space a little. The stacks of books must replace the jigsaw puzzle on the coffee table.

-Setting up a fish tank in my office (pictures later, soon). FrankFiction is taking this project very seriously. I had no idea a fish tank was this much work. I'm not sure it usually is, unless you're a marine science person currently employed and bored in the food service industry.

-Considering doing something different to my fur. Altho maybe not this weird, I do have to face work on Monday morning...

Your Hair Should Be Orange

Expressive, deep, and one of a kind. You pull off "weird" well - hardly anyone notices.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

The first late night ramblings...

Words wasted on the worried woman and the warring worker,
both wishing for the answer
but deaf when it comes.
And if they fall, will it hurt any less because they looked the other way?
They will blame those who tried to warn.
Ask why no one acted.
Though they were standing on our fingers the whole time.
Makes it hard to act, alone, without a hand...

Depleted uranium for breakfast

If it glows green, we must all be careful...

Ahlawi has posted a disturbing article on exposure to depleted uranium in Iraq.

Not only are we sending our own troops to wallow in this stuff, we're sprinkling it all over other people's countries too. A garnish to last til the end of time...Ick.

The US has way too much advanced know-how for its own good. If we don't blow up the entire earth while trying to get the bad guys, we'll just steep in radioactive funk instead.


(blinky image by inatizzy)

Speaking truth to power

George Galloway on Sky News

More of us need to be saying these things out loud. I'm becoming increasingly convinced, we all need to get a hell of a lot louder. The status quo is hard of hearing.

American Lie

American Lie
Originally uploaded by ernieattorney.

This one speaks for itself...

The best blogquiz ever...

Take this!!

Your Travel Profile:

You Are Extremely Well Traveled in the Southern United States (100%) You Are Extremely Well Traveled in the Northeastern United States (86%) You Are Very Well Traveled in the Middle East (75%) You Are Well Traveled in Eastern Europe (60%) You Are Well Traveled in Western Europe (57%) You Are Well Traveled in Africa (50%) You Are Well Traveled in the Midwestern United States (50%) You Are Well Traveled in the United Kingdom (50%) You Are Well Traveled in Southern Europe (47%) You Are Well Traveled in the Western United States (42%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Asia (21%) You Are Mostly Untraveled in Latin America (7%) You Are Untraveled in Australia (0%) You Are Untraveled in Canada (0%) You Are Untraveled in New Zealand (0%) You Are Untraveled in Scandinavia (0%)

How Well Traveled Are You?

a superior me

Your Rising Sign is Virgo

Well put-together and elegant, you sometimes seem standoffish. And truth be told, sometimes you do feel superior to those around you. A bit shy and introverted, you tend to stay quiet - even if you're feeling social. At parties, you can seem like you're very serious while you're having fun. You clever and ingenious, with an alert and active mind. Good at facts and figures, you excel at logical and mathematical tasks.

What's Your Rising Sign?

Survey says:

You Are Best Described By...

Under the Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika Hokusai

What Famous Work of Art Are You?

Aaaaah!!

You Are Best Described By...

The Scream By Edvard Munch

What Famous Work of Art Are You?

New team member

A great big welcome to FireAntLibrary's new team member, FrankFiction.

Team Bush vs. MySpace

The newest front in the Team Bush crusade against information and thought:

Social-Networking Sites (aka Operation Die-MySpace-Die)

Go read it for yourself. This is so absurd, it really should be self-explanatory and self-incriminating. Congressmembers might need to read it twice.

My dandelife

Ok, it's there. Not much in the way of stories yet, but I put the major points on the timeline, so now I'll go back and flesh them out. Mmm.

Carey's Dandelife

my life, your life, dandelife

So, I've found something new and fun:

dandelife

It seems to go down a lot, but interesting nonetheless. Once I get it to work right I'll post a link to mine.

Playground atrocities once more

So Israeli warplanes have bombed and essentially destroyed the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building. In addition to running amok in Lebanon.

What on earth is wrong with these people? What makes them think that this sort of behavior will result in anyone wanting to negotiate or compromise with them?

Never mind, they don't think that, they're not stupid. They just know they can get away with it, and are confident that the rest of the world will continue to accept absurd excuses for their violent outbursts.

Children like this are called bullies. Sometimes these children can't get away with it. But we hold certain nations and the adults who control them to much lower standards of social interaction.

JFK?

You Are Most Like John F. Kennedy

You live a fairy tale life that most people envy. And while you may have a few dark secrets, few people know them.

What Modern US President Are You Most Like?

Ian the Infected

I think I got Frank's instead..

Your Pirate Name Is...

Mad Ian the Infected

What's Your Pirate Name?

That's me!

Beth Farmer leading the iBorrow workshop
Originally uploaded by sylvar.

Found this on Flickr. That's me in the purple. This was during a library paraprofessionals workshop day at St Petersburg College in May.

The much-anticipated go-live of iBorrow, our new interlibrary loan system, is now pushed back to 6/19/2006. Should be interesting..

Mmmm coffeee

Not exactly surprising. I spend half my time at a coffee shop on the beach. A coffee shop that's also an ice cream shop and bookstore. And Frank works there, an added plus..

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Works for me

You Should Travel to Cambodia

While you might not go all Angelina Jolie and adopt a baby... You can still appreciate Cambodia's rich history and deserted beaches.

What Asian Country Should You Visit?

I can't wait to wear my party hat!

323....4
Originally uploaded by littlelakey.

Just a reminder, this Thursday (7/6/2006) IS my birthday, and I want lots of presents and celebratory activities...

Props to the Flickrite I stole the pic from, I love it!

Summer Berry Pie

Summer Berry Pie
Originally uploaded by glynnish.

Found this wonderful picture on Flickr. Gotta love this. Mmmm.

This post is dedicated to Frank, my own berry monster...

Happy Fourth..

Gumbo, po-boys, and water lines

Gumbo, po-boys, and water lines
Originally uploaded by drinkgoodtea.

I just got back from New Orleans on Thursday. I was there for a week attending the American Library Association's Annual Conference, the city's first major convention since Katrina. I got to volunteer with the New Orleans Public Library, see several old friends (from my high school days in New Orleans), and see some of Hurricane Katrina's damage 10 months later. It was horrifying to see the damage, but I was truly amazed at the positive, hopeful spirits of New Orleanians. The city will bounce back and be better than ever, this is very clear...

Olives mmm..

You Are A Martini

You are the kind of drinker who appreciates a nice hard drink. And for you, only quality alcohol. You don't waste your time on the cheap stuff. Obviously, you're usually found with a martini in your hand. But sometimes you mix it up with a gin and tonic. And you'd never, ever consider one of those flavored martinis. They're hardly a drink!

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Welcome librarians - Shh!, DDC, Bookmark

Welcome librarians - Shh!, DDC, Bookmark
Originally uploaded by K Jane.

A bar 'menu' found by K Jane in New Orleans...

Gotta love it!

Volunteering in New Orleans

Waing for deployment...
Originally uploaded by ALA TechSource.

Here we are at the ALA Annual Conference yesterday, waiting to head out on our buses to volunteer with the New Orleans Public Library. I'm just right of the photo's center, with my black bag strap across my yellow shirt...

Blue skies after Alberto

After a noisy, windy, rainy night, we woke up to blue skies this morning. The clouds are still a weird brownish-grey color, and there's still a lot of wind, but the sky is blue. Weird.

Went down to Pass-a-Grille beach with Courtney this morning. The water was covering much of what is normally beach, and waves were crashing all over (not our usual bathtub Gulf at all). What sand wasn't under water was covered in washed-up shells. Found much nicer shells than usual.

On the eve of Alberto

So Alberto is on its way. Our sky looks nasty and ominous. The hours of rain finally stopped late this afternoon, but the world still has that super-silent sense about it as everyone waits for the worst still to come. I would have thought after watching the horrible hurricane season last year I would be more inclined to run around preparing. Instead I find myself grumpily trying to ignore the whole business. Actually, everyone I know seems grumpy right now. Maybe people haven't emotionally recovered enough from last year to rationally accept another active season. I'm glued to my computer but avoiding weather reports, F is making a cake and picking lichees off the neighbor's tree before the wind gets them, and our two houseguests are both napping. We're all being argumentative and almost stepping on each other. Four people and three dogs (Bandit and the two we're dogsitting) cooped up in a small house seems to be overkill.

That Amsterdam museum trip might still be on...

Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant. You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

Birthday

Today I'm posting birthday wishes to Frank, so here's to another great year...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

2 days to Hurricane Season

NOAA has officially predicted a "Very Active 2006 North Atlantic Hurricane Season". Go ahead, run out and buy water for 50 people. Or at least make sure you own a flashlight.

Alternatively, like some I know, you could take this chance to move to a geographic area not threatened by hurricanes on a weekly basis for almost half the year.

I do know that after last year, most of us will never see tropical storm season quite the same way again. I don't have to use the excuse that getting older is calming or sobering my thoughts. Last year scared the *&#%@$! out of me, and I saw the lives of several close friends massively changed. While having hurricane parties in the face of worry can be therapeutic, the whole thing will have a bitter taste this year...

Bloody mary me

This is a little ridiculous, but I do like bloody marys, so I guess it's okay... Seriously though, I have less time to drink than anyone I know. I can't think of the last time I actually went out seriously drinking. It was a long time ago...

You Are a Bloody Mary

You're a fairly serious drinker, who's experimented a lot with different drinks. You're a drunk, but a stable drunk. You don't ever let your drinking get out of control.

What Mixed Drink Are You?

Only child

So that's a little scary.. The gadget knows me!

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated. At work and school, you do best when you're organizing. When you love someone, you tend to worry about them. In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic. Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management. You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

The Birth Order Predictor