The SCOTUS ruling yesterday? It is a perfect example of that brilliant part of our much beloved Constitution the founders of this great nation had the forethought to include: Balance of Power. The Executive Branch has been acting as if every thing they do is above reproach. Monitor your phone calls? Sure! It's in the name of keeping America safe. Checking bank accounts? You bet if we can prevent a terrorist attack. Look at your library records? Ignore the Geneva Conventions? Detain individuals without charging them with a crime? Guess what: for now the party is ov-ah. I'm not stupid enough to believe they aren't capable of coming up with a way of circumventing this ruling, but for the first time in 6 years the administration is being held accountable for their policy of expanding the powers of the Executive Branch. Not only will the administration not be allowed to hold their "military commission" trials, it appears as if they are going to be forced to actually follow the Geneva Conventions in regards to their interrogation techniques. Here is Steven's majority opinion for all ye brave enough to wade through the legal jargon. Yesterday was a good day for America.
Unfortunately, it was not such a good day for me. I awoke with a dull ache in my arm that extended from my wrist to my shoulder blade. A pinched nerve in my elbow is being blamed. As is anxiety and stress. I'm back at work today and have quickly realized that every single thing I do for my job hurts. Typing this post? Hurts. Shelving books, checking people out, desensitizing their books..you name it, it hurts. Heat seems to help as does the strong hands of a young man, but I'm not sure how long this is going to go on and it is preventing me from running.
AND this morning I found out that after almost a year of wanting to see Dylan in concert he is indeed coming to Grand Rapids. AND it's the kick-off for his fall tour. AND it's the night before my first half marathon of the season so I can't go. What exactly do you think the chances are that I'd actually want to go, that he'd be playing Comstock Park again, and that it would happen to be the one night all summer that I absolutely positively cannot go?
A brazilian to one?
Friday, June 30, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
i'm addicted to pbs
When one is used to staying up until, oh, 2 or 3 am, and then one dramatically changes one's lifestyle wherein one must rise early to greet the morn with vigorous exercise (or at least shuffling one's feet to the sounds of whatever wretched music is playing on the radio) one would think it would not be a challenge to sleep soundly. One would think. But nay that is not the scenario I find myself in currently. Two nights of sobriety and two nights of early to bed-ness and I have yet to awake refreshed. Either I'm going to get injured or I'm going to finally be able to fall asleep. I'm optimistic the latter will be the case.
Debbie, Debbie, Debbie I understand that you are up for re-election this year and that being the case you seem to be voting a tad bit erratically (immigration anyone?), but voting FOR a constitutional amendment banning flag burning? You aren't going to win over the Republicans. It's just not gonna happen. And, in fact, for some of us teetering on the fringes of the Democratic party we might go shopping for a new candidate (and you thought the Democrats and Republicans were scary? Check out the two 3rd party candidates' sites Brett McAtee for the Constitution Party and Leonard Schwartz for the Libertarians -my favorite from Schwartz: "In Vermont, no one needs a permit to carry a concealed pistol. Vermont doesn't waste people's time and money processing useless paperwork. Only North Dakota has a lower violent crime rate than Vermont." And that would be because not many people actually live there!) I'm about ready to do something so unbelievably lame even I can't believe it, but here it is:
"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center-stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the land of the free."
Anyone want to guess where I got that?
I'd like to applaud the Surgeon General for not presenting new scientific data but rather providing an analysis of research from the past and coming up with the same conclusion any rational, semi-intelligent, somewhat conscious individual who can read would come to: secondhand smoke is bad.
Last night I watched Frontline/World. I know it's replaying on WGVU and I'd strongly urge people to see it. I was mostly interested because I had recently read an article in The New Yorker about Zimbabwe. Ready for a few startling statistics?
Debbie, Debbie, Debbie I understand that you are up for re-election this year and that being the case you seem to be voting a tad bit erratically (immigration anyone?), but voting FOR a constitutional amendment banning flag burning? You aren't going to win over the Republicans. It's just not gonna happen. And, in fact, for some of us teetering on the fringes of the Democratic party we might go shopping for a new candidate (and you thought the Democrats and Republicans were scary? Check out the two 3rd party candidates' sites Brett McAtee for the Constitution Party and Leonard Schwartz for the Libertarians -my favorite from Schwartz: "In Vermont, no one needs a permit to carry a concealed pistol. Vermont doesn't waste people's time and money processing useless paperwork. Only North Dakota has a lower violent crime rate than Vermont." And that would be because not many people actually live there!) I'm about ready to do something so unbelievably lame even I can't believe it, but here it is:
"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center-stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the land of the free."
Anyone want to guess where I got that?
I'd like to applaud the Surgeon General for not presenting new scientific data but rather providing an analysis of research from the past and coming up with the same conclusion any rational, semi-intelligent, somewhat conscious individual who can read would come to: secondhand smoke is bad.
Last night I watched Frontline/World. I know it's replaying on WGVU and I'd strongly urge people to see it. I was mostly interested because I had recently read an article in The New Yorker about Zimbabwe. Ready for a few startling statistics?
- Life expectancy has declined in the last 2 decades from 62 years to 38 years
- Inflation is over 1000% and 70% of the population is unemployed
The site has a pretty good overview of the history with extensive links. I still can't believe that Mugabe--a man who came to power as an opposition leader, a man ready to liberate his people from oppression has become the oppressor. It's startling and shocking. He was supposed to be the hope and future for Zimbabwe and has only become yet another evil dictator who is power-hungry and looking out for his own interests.
There is something BAD going on in Gaza and Syria right now but it's too soon to tell what's happening. How the United States can even consider itself remotely impartial considering we are banking Israel is beyond me. Scary stuff. The last thing we need over there is Israel getting all up in the Palestinian's grill, but that looks like what is going to go down.
I'm considering going for a run after work despite not getting out of here until 9pm. The weather should be near perfect and maybe the run will actually tire me out a little allowing me a respite from my insomnia. I took today off to recover from the past 2 days of too much/too fast, but I'm feeling a little restless-in-the-legs. It sounds like a great idea while I sit upon my bottom at the Information Desk. Methinks I'll arrive home and have conflicting thoughts.
We'll just have to see.
Monday, June 26, 2006
i'm glad someone had a blissed out weekend
A wedding reception, a graduation party, and a birthday party occupied my entire weekend. I find myself yet again at the beginning of a week more tired than I was when I ended my last week.
It was a lovely wedding reception. The food was delicious-especially the squash with the unindentifiable spice--the wine was really good and the company was delightful. Despite Berghoef's best efforts, I was not shipped off to Gitmo nor did I even speak to the Congressman. In fact, I stopped someone else from dragging him out onto the patio for a throwdown with some voting and non-voting youth. Adding to the excitement of the evening was the news that a new teacher got her first job at one of the top 100 high schools in the country (that would be Black River High School right here in Holland, Michigan) and an introduction to the infamous Glick who gets cred for not only driving back to the other side of the state at 3:30am but also hunting up these pictures of Amy Irving and posting them brazenly on a MySpace account.
Saturday was spent alternatively sleeping and eating. I almost said nay to the festivities of Saturday night but was wisely ordered to make some good, strong coffee, take a shower and just enjoy the ride. I'm glad that I did. The drive really was lovely albeit confusing. The party had been in full swing for hours before our arrival so it was perfectly relaxing. The usual number of dogs and adorable children were present as were the usual number of just straight up cool grown-up people with interesting stories and laid-back attitudes. A keg of Founders, a warm fire, a calm lake, some fireworks (except for the seizure-inducing one), and a pontoon boat...I thought I had died and gone to a heaven designed just for me.
On the way into the Grandest of Rapids we checked in at the Reynolds Birthday Extravaganza which we were assured was still raging. Raging indeed! I cannot believe I was not a witness to A. Punches thrown B. Someone falling off a balcony C. A broken rib D. Officers of the law showing up to tell a bunch of drunken philosophers to shut up. Did I mention that there were all of 6 of us there at that time? By the time we were 4 it was getting fairly late-ish and the womenfolk were all kinds of sober. I do look forward to some falafel in the future.
On the drive home I allowed myself to acknowledge the full extent of my hunger and suggested a--wait for it--trip to Denny's. Woo-hoo. Not only have they completely re-done the Holland Denny's in an attractive fashion, the service was impeccable and the fries delicious. No regrets, baby. No regrets.
I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing Friday night. Please, I beg of you, don't call me and tell me you're going to be in town for the night and need a place to stay. Or even that you just want to grab a beer somewhere and catch up . Or that it won't be late. Or that you miss me. We didn't used to be nearly this social and despite the good times I have been enjoying I really need to recharge my mojo. Trust me: you won't be sorry.
Oh yeah and can anyone say BRILLIANT POLITICAL MOVE BY THE REPUBLICANS? Sorry but I think they win this one. They managed to make the Democrats looks weak on Iraq and yet will still get the much needed bump for the withdrawal. And just last week I wondered what the hell they were doing putting Iraq front and center. Mr. Rove: I bow before your evil, shrewd, brilliant ways.
It was a lovely wedding reception. The food was delicious-especially the squash with the unindentifiable spice--the wine was really good and the company was delightful. Despite Berghoef's best efforts, I was not shipped off to Gitmo nor did I even speak to the Congressman. In fact, I stopped someone else from dragging him out onto the patio for a throwdown with some voting and non-voting youth. Adding to the excitement of the evening was the news that a new teacher got her first job at one of the top 100 high schools in the country (that would be Black River High School right here in Holland, Michigan) and an introduction to the infamous Glick who gets cred for not only driving back to the other side of the state at 3:30am but also hunting up these pictures of Amy Irving and posting them brazenly on a MySpace account.
Saturday was spent alternatively sleeping and eating. I almost said nay to the festivities of Saturday night but was wisely ordered to make some good, strong coffee, take a shower and just enjoy the ride. I'm glad that I did. The drive really was lovely albeit confusing. The party had been in full swing for hours before our arrival so it was perfectly relaxing. The usual number of dogs and adorable children were present as were the usual number of just straight up cool grown-up people with interesting stories and laid-back attitudes. A keg of Founders, a warm fire, a calm lake, some fireworks (except for the seizure-inducing one), and a pontoon boat...I thought I had died and gone to a heaven designed just for me.
On the way into the Grandest of Rapids we checked in at the Reynolds Birthday Extravaganza which we were assured was still raging. Raging indeed! I cannot believe I was not a witness to A. Punches thrown B. Someone falling off a balcony C. A broken rib D. Officers of the law showing up to tell a bunch of drunken philosophers to shut up. Did I mention that there were all of 6 of us there at that time? By the time we were 4 it was getting fairly late-ish and the womenfolk were all kinds of sober. I do look forward to some falafel in the future.
On the drive home I allowed myself to acknowledge the full extent of my hunger and suggested a--wait for it--trip to Denny's. Woo-hoo. Not only have they completely re-done the Holland Denny's in an attractive fashion, the service was impeccable and the fries delicious. No regrets, baby. No regrets.
I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing Friday night. Please, I beg of you, don't call me and tell me you're going to be in town for the night and need a place to stay. Or even that you just want to grab a beer somewhere and catch up . Or that it won't be late. Or that you miss me. We didn't used to be nearly this social and despite the good times I have been enjoying I really need to recharge my mojo. Trust me: you won't be sorry.
Oh yeah and can anyone say BRILLIANT POLITICAL MOVE BY THE REPUBLICANS? Sorry but I think they win this one. They managed to make the Democrats looks weak on Iraq and yet will still get the much needed bump for the withdrawal. And just last week I wondered what the hell they were doing putting Iraq front and center. Mr. Rove: I bow before your evil, shrewd, brilliant ways.
Friday, June 23, 2006
i'm going to be on my best behavior. i promise.
Seems like there's a case of the major anxieties going around. I worked myself into such a frenzy I literally made myself sick. I've decided it's time to just calm.down. It's summer. And not only is it summer it's supposed to be the Summer Erin Does What She Wants When She Wants.
I took me some initiative yesterday and post-run I went for a hike in the Dunes. Sitting in the super-secret spot watching the blood-red sun set was a nice way to end the day. What was nicer was later in the evening, sitting on the futon, reading Simic:
Summer In The Country
One shows me how to lie down in a field of clover.
Another how to slip my hand under her Sunday skirt.
Another how to kiss with a mouth full of blackberries.
Another how to catch fireflies in a jar after dark.
Here is a stable with a single black mare
and the proof of God's existence riding in a red
nightgown.
Devil's child--or whatever she was.
Having the nerve to ask me to go get her a whip.
-from Night Picnic
Okay that was not one of the ones read last night.
But Lord.
That's just good poetry.
In approximately 2 hours or so I should be washed, dressed, primped, and pretty ready to hit up 'Till Midnight (don't talk to me about the extra 'l' in 'Till...I hate it. It's just dumb) for what I hope will be a lovely evening surrounded by strangers. There will be someone else's parents and various church-folk and a plethora of acquaintances from high school and college and a U.S. Representative who recently said that he did indeed find WMD's in Iraq.
I can't wait to ask him about it.
I took me some initiative yesterday and post-run I went for a hike in the Dunes. Sitting in the super-secret spot watching the blood-red sun set was a nice way to end the day. What was nicer was later in the evening, sitting on the futon, reading Simic:
Summer In The Country
One shows me how to lie down in a field of clover.
Another how to slip my hand under her Sunday skirt.
Another how to kiss with a mouth full of blackberries.
Another how to catch fireflies in a jar after dark.
Here is a stable with a single black mare
and the proof of God's existence riding in a red
nightgown.
Devil's child--or whatever she was.
Having the nerve to ask me to go get her a whip.
-from Night Picnic
Okay that was not one of the ones read last night.
But Lord.
That's just good poetry.
In approximately 2 hours or so I should be washed, dressed, primped, and pretty ready to hit up 'Till Midnight (don't talk to me about the extra 'l' in 'Till...I hate it. It's just dumb) for what I hope will be a lovely evening surrounded by strangers. There will be someone else's parents and various church-folk and a plethora of acquaintances from high school and college and a U.S. Representative who recently said that he did indeed find WMD's in Iraq.
I can't wait to ask him about it.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
someone will get it
I wonder if the GOP's tactic of "embracing the war" is actually going to work. These guys are so good at turning things around and distracting the voting public it might be a successful strategery. Here's the plan:
- hammer away at the Democrats' plan of withdrawal meaning that thousands of troops have died for naught
- an "Islamo-fascist empire" would spring up and use the vacuum we create by leaving to take over Iraq
- the U.S. would have it's most stunning defeat since Vietnam
Here's the counter-attack:
- you were the one's who killed American servicemen by invading a sovereign nation that posed no threat to our country
- how long will the threat of something I'm pretty sure you made up last? Forever? I mean, you intend us to leave sometime, right? We're not just going to do that whole imperialist puppet thing that has been so wildly successful in places like Latin and South America, are we? Your longterm plan of wiping out tyranny is a joke. As long as humans exist, so does tyranny.
- we're going to stay and continue losing Americans because of our ego. The irony that they are using Vietnam as a reason for staying is stunning. Just. stunning.
And this article in the Post about the shrinking middle-class neighborhoods should come as no surprise to anyone given that the middle-class has been shrinking for years. Ugly McMansions and declining, crime-ridden neighborhoods are in the not so distant future. Unfortunately, given the major changes in what jobs drive our economy and the inevitability of many being left behind due to lack of education it does us no good to wish things were like they used to be. Nothing is going to be like it used to be. There is no way to go back in time and get our middle-class jobs back. They're gone to Asia and Mexico. The good ol' U.S. of A. is in for an unsteady and uncertain future.
Can you tell I started The World is Flat?
My self-education continues as I didn't bring the above book to work today to read during lunch. I may have mentioned this one before, but I picked up The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies, and Nations. It's all folksonomied out which I can dig.
My early morning run did not happen due to unforeseen circumstances. I came up with a brilliant solution though: I'm running home! I brought my running stuff (forgot my watch, but after this week that's aok with me) and am just going to change here, leave my stuff in a locker, and run home. I'll have to add on a little bit but I thought it an ingenious move. I have to get home anyway and this is a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone solution.
Efficiency is my middle name.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
i hate to say it but that's what you get for ignoring the geneva conventions
What?! Me go 2 days without posting?!!?
I think not.
But it's going to be quick and personal as I'm too tired and busy to get all political and outraged right now.
Meat
I ate some. Last night. Before anyone gets too excited, it was a complete accident that was rectified after one hefty bite of a hamburger. I'm happy to report that despite my recent cravings for deliciousness like pork tenderloin and barbequed anything, I was pretty repulsed. Ground beef has a weird texture. Sort of...springy and...fatty...and chewy...and just vile. Vegetarianism is for me.
Running
In a non-human feat, I cut 4 minutes and 45 seconds off last week's time on my 3 mile run. I'm definitely not back up to speed as I regained 2 1/2 minutes today on that same run, but dang me. The more you do something the better you get. Tomorrow morning is going to be a test when I attempt to get out of bed at 6:00, run without the normal 1/2 a pot of coffee, get back in time to make a big breakfast, gather some lunch, and either hop on my bike or trudge the 2 miles to the library. Woo. Hoo. I can't wait.
Reading
I have a ton to do. A ton. I took someone's advice and am reading We Were the Mulvaney's in an attempt to no longer despise Joyce Carol Oates which I'm happy to say I am enjoying despite it's density. I just acquired a 7-day copy of The World is Flat that I'm really excited to delve into. And sitting on my desk right now are 2 OCLC publications: The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition and Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources that are certainly not required but I'm pretty psyched about checking out. I also have a plethora of suggested reading from librarians who host gaming events that I probably won't be able to stomach reading entirely, but will definitely skim.
Everything else is ambling along. I spend the majority of my evenings proclaiming how tired I am. I've been advised to stop feeling as though my job is anything more than just that so I'm working on letting that go. I realized that I'm not taking full advantage of the wonder known as summer in Western Michigan so that's gotta become a priority. My communication skills regarding boundaries have gotten a little rusty so I'm practicing angering people with my inability to say no and then blaming them for not being able to read my mind. And I'm still neglecting people I'd like to see due to the world insisting on only having 24 hours in a day.
Huh.
Did you just tell me that I was acting like I was "carrying the burdens of the universe?"
If only the burdens of the universe involved the petty little things that make up my life.
Not to be dramatic or anything.
I think not.
But it's going to be quick and personal as I'm too tired and busy to get all political and outraged right now.
Meat
I ate some. Last night. Before anyone gets too excited, it was a complete accident that was rectified after one hefty bite of a hamburger. I'm happy to report that despite my recent cravings for deliciousness like pork tenderloin and barbequed anything, I was pretty repulsed. Ground beef has a weird texture. Sort of...springy and...fatty...and chewy...and just vile. Vegetarianism is for me.
Running
In a non-human feat, I cut 4 minutes and 45 seconds off last week's time on my 3 mile run. I'm definitely not back up to speed as I regained 2 1/2 minutes today on that same run, but dang me. The more you do something the better you get. Tomorrow morning is going to be a test when I attempt to get out of bed at 6:00, run without the normal 1/2 a pot of coffee, get back in time to make a big breakfast, gather some lunch, and either hop on my bike or trudge the 2 miles to the library. Woo. Hoo. I can't wait.
Reading
I have a ton to do. A ton. I took someone's advice and am reading We Were the Mulvaney's in an attempt to no longer despise Joyce Carol Oates which I'm happy to say I am enjoying despite it's density. I just acquired a 7-day copy of The World is Flat that I'm really excited to delve into. And sitting on my desk right now are 2 OCLC publications: The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition and Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources that are certainly not required but I'm pretty psyched about checking out. I also have a plethora of suggested reading from librarians who host gaming events that I probably won't be able to stomach reading entirely, but will definitely skim.
Everything else is ambling along. I spend the majority of my evenings proclaiming how tired I am. I've been advised to stop feeling as though my job is anything more than just that so I'm working on letting that go. I realized that I'm not taking full advantage of the wonder known as summer in Western Michigan so that's gotta become a priority. My communication skills regarding boundaries have gotten a little rusty so I'm practicing angering people with my inability to say no and then blaming them for not being able to read my mind. And I'm still neglecting people I'd like to see due to the world insisting on only having 24 hours in a day.
Huh.
Did you just tell me that I was acting like I was "carrying the burdens of the universe?"
If only the burdens of the universe involved the petty little things that make up my life.
Not to be dramatic or anything.
Monday, June 19, 2006
i'd run myself, but...well...you know...
Michigan Future, Inc.'s New Agenda for Michigan was mentioned on Michigan Public Radio yesterday.
I'm so on top of things.
And, yes, I continue to pat myself on the back.
Whadda weekend! Saturday post-work began with watching a man wax poetic about his car and then actually wax his car. I offered to help, but certainly didn't want to get in between the very strong bond between man and car which I understand is similar to that of lovers. Saturday night was Sandbarring with Raleigh, Kevdek, and Xtina. Much pinball, much erotic photohunt, much good conversation, and much scotch was had though someone was distracted by an attractive but vapid object of affection. Thankfully I still got in some quality time on Sunday. I'm here to testify! Get thee to The Saz for brunch else I fear it may not last! The food is excellent and the bartender makes the best bloody mary I've had in a long time (and she's hot!). My driver arrived a wee bit late to whisk me away to a family gathering that was laid back and relaxing. Of course the normal assortment of adorable children and cute dogs were present. A quick trip to Shakedown and we were on our way home to watch mind-numbing television for the evening.
I'm starting to seriously question my ability to vote for Granholm this fall. I'm sick and tired of playing the lesser of two evils game and I just don't know if she's got the balls to do what really needs to be done in this state. The economic situation is not going to improve if she continues on this course. It's going to take someone who's willing to take a hit in the polls and put forth a long-term economic plan to turn things around. I know it's early. I know that she has yet to really launch her campaign. I'm just starting to look. The filing deadline for third party candidates isn't until July 20th.
Anyone interested?
I'm so on top of things.
And, yes, I continue to pat myself on the back.
Whadda weekend! Saturday post-work began with watching a man wax poetic about his car and then actually wax his car. I offered to help, but certainly didn't want to get in between the very strong bond between man and car which I understand is similar to that of lovers. Saturday night was Sandbarring with Raleigh, Kevdek, and Xtina. Much pinball, much erotic photohunt, much good conversation, and much scotch was had though someone was distracted by an attractive but vapid object of affection. Thankfully I still got in some quality time on Sunday. I'm here to testify! Get thee to The Saz for brunch else I fear it may not last! The food is excellent and the bartender makes the best bloody mary I've had in a long time (and she's hot!). My driver arrived a wee bit late to whisk me away to a family gathering that was laid back and relaxing. Of course the normal assortment of adorable children and cute dogs were present. A quick trip to Shakedown and we were on our way home to watch mind-numbing television for the evening.
I'm starting to seriously question my ability to vote for Granholm this fall. I'm sick and tired of playing the lesser of two evils game and I just don't know if she's got the balls to do what really needs to be done in this state. The economic situation is not going to improve if she continues on this course. It's going to take someone who's willing to take a hit in the polls and put forth a long-term economic plan to turn things around. I know it's early. I know that she has yet to really launch her campaign. I'm just starting to look. The filing deadline for third party candidates isn't until July 20th.
Anyone interested?
Saturday, June 17, 2006
so verbose i didn't even proof it
Last night was chock full o' news watching for me. It started with Off the Record, moved on to the networks, and ended back at PBS for 2 hours of news programming. I just stumbled across Off the Record last week and I love love love it. It's a Michigan roundtable news show in the vein of Washington Week with Gwen Ifill (oh yeah, I watched that too last night). One of their guests was Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future, Inc, a non-partisan, non-profit organization searching for ways for the Michigan economy to succeed in the Information Age. Dang me. I've been saying that I wished someone would come up with some creative and different ideas to move this economy into the future. Mr. Glazer wooed me with his New Agenda for Michigan (pdf)--it's pretty wild and there's no way to pay for the programs without tax increases and who the hell's going to call for that in the middle of an election year, but it's an innovative and long-term plan that legislators should start looking at. It's becoming imperative for Michigan to stop looking to the past for answers to our economic problems. Manufacturing is dead and attempting to find other automakers to take over plants is a band-aid on the gaping economic wound. Knowledge-based enterprises are the future in a global economy. And Michiganders need to start realizing that the economic strategy for the past 12 years of cutting taxes doesn't work. "...the states that are above the national average in both per capita income and share of employment earnings from high-pay, knowledge-based industries are not characterized by low taxes. If anything they tend to be more high-tax than low (pg.19 of New Agenda for Michigan)." I printed out a copy of the report to read at home (seriously, I need to get a computer!) and I urge people interested in saving Michigan to read it. It's not perfect, but it's a really great start.
News Hour was pretty entertaining too. They did a piece on Congressional races in 2006 and focused on a suburb of Pittsburgh? Philadelphia? Some Pennsylvania city...and it was hilarious to watch 3 incumbent Republicans all say "I'm not with the President. I'm not against the President. I'm looking out for my constituents. Sometimes I agree with him and sometimes I don't" and then hear the 3 Democrats all say "They're going to say they don't align themselves with the President but they've voted with him 80% of the time." I watched politicians say absolutely nothing. The president's approval rating is down. Of COURSE Republicans are going to distance themselves and of COURSE Democrats are going to try and put them in bed together. The most interesting aspect of the piece was how clear it was that being an incumbent this year is bad and that challengers definitely have the upper-hand. The Shields and Brooks debate over Gitmo and the really stupid, pointless, and blatantly political House vote on Iraq was pretty entertaining too. Shields started off on the debate in the House (which was hilarious to watch too. No real debate here, people, just a bunch of finger-pointing and screaming and what makes it even better is that it's symbolic so we just wasted 2 days of our already very short legislative session doing absolutely nothing!) and said it was a move by Republicans to capitalize on the best week the administration has had in over a year. I love it when Brooks-the conservative voice-comes back with "Uh, yeah. That's pretty much what happened." This is not to say that David Brooks doesn't have teeth. I usually end up feeling like Shields is a pansy-ass Democratic talking head who's just out there towing the party line and Brooks actually THINKS before he speaks.
See there? I just said I respected the Republican more.
Washington Week makes me feel like I'm an insider. There was a big discussion on the non-story of Karl Rove not getting indicted which ended with 5 journalists all saying they wish they could take bets on who did leak Valerie Plame's name and yet know they'll never find out the truth. I'm definitely not surprised with the Rove decision. The man is so evil and devious and brilliant and underhanded there was no way he'd actually get indicted. I think the only way to combat Rove in the mid-terms is to get local. He's going to have control over the national issues (though they really only have the don't-cut-and-run-in-Iraq going for them and maybe immigration) so if we focus locally I think we have a better shot. Quite honestly it all comes down to what's happening on the ground in Iraq during the latter half of October anyway.
Post-news watching I settled in with a glass of wine and my big stack of Library 2.0 literature. It's such an interesting movement mostly because it's really intuitive. Best serving patrons is definitely not a new concept, but I think with the advent of new technologies libraries are definitely in danger of becoming irrelevant. There is some criticism that the recent focus on teen programming in libraries has detracted from the more traditional library services. Old people can still come and check out their books, but it's about time we start looking towards our future taxpayers and give them reason to value the library. Library 2.0 fits into that goal. This is one of my favorite definitions from Sarah Houghton:
"Library 2.0 simply means making your library's space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives...to make the library a destination and not an afterthought."
At my library I'd bet there are some who believe we're already on our way. "We've got a coffee shop! We've got wireless access! We have a website!" We also have a majority of staff who are terrified of Word let alone our ILS. Our programming for teens is beyond old school. Our website is still free thereby limiting our options. Our P.R. is lackluster when it's even utilized. Our customer service model seems to primarily stem from an Us verses Them mindset wherein the patron is the enemy. We aren't thinking ahead at all. We're stuck in the traditional library model and until there's some new blood I don't think we're going to move forward.
Why I'm going to Library School
By: Erin
News Hour was pretty entertaining too. They did a piece on Congressional races in 2006 and focused on a suburb of Pittsburgh? Philadelphia? Some Pennsylvania city...and it was hilarious to watch 3 incumbent Republicans all say "I'm not with the President. I'm not against the President. I'm looking out for my constituents. Sometimes I agree with him and sometimes I don't" and then hear the 3 Democrats all say "They're going to say they don't align themselves with the President but they've voted with him 80% of the time." I watched politicians say absolutely nothing. The president's approval rating is down. Of COURSE Republicans are going to distance themselves and of COURSE Democrats are going to try and put them in bed together. The most interesting aspect of the piece was how clear it was that being an incumbent this year is bad and that challengers definitely have the upper-hand. The Shields and Brooks debate over Gitmo and the really stupid, pointless, and blatantly political House vote on Iraq was pretty entertaining too. Shields started off on the debate in the House (which was hilarious to watch too. No real debate here, people, just a bunch of finger-pointing and screaming and what makes it even better is that it's symbolic so we just wasted 2 days of our already very short legislative session doing absolutely nothing!) and said it was a move by Republicans to capitalize on the best week the administration has had in over a year. I love it when Brooks-the conservative voice-comes back with "Uh, yeah. That's pretty much what happened." This is not to say that David Brooks doesn't have teeth. I usually end up feeling like Shields is a pansy-ass Democratic talking head who's just out there towing the party line and Brooks actually THINKS before he speaks.
See there? I just said I respected the Republican more.
Washington Week makes me feel like I'm an insider. There was a big discussion on the non-story of Karl Rove not getting indicted which ended with 5 journalists all saying they wish they could take bets on who did leak Valerie Plame's name and yet know they'll never find out the truth. I'm definitely not surprised with the Rove decision. The man is so evil and devious and brilliant and underhanded there was no way he'd actually get indicted. I think the only way to combat Rove in the mid-terms is to get local. He's going to have control over the national issues (though they really only have the don't-cut-and-run-in-Iraq going for them and maybe immigration) so if we focus locally I think we have a better shot. Quite honestly it all comes down to what's happening on the ground in Iraq during the latter half of October anyway.
Post-news watching I settled in with a glass of wine and my big stack of Library 2.0 literature. It's such an interesting movement mostly because it's really intuitive. Best serving patrons is definitely not a new concept, but I think with the advent of new technologies libraries are definitely in danger of becoming irrelevant. There is some criticism that the recent focus on teen programming in libraries has detracted from the more traditional library services. Old people can still come and check out their books, but it's about time we start looking towards our future taxpayers and give them reason to value the library. Library 2.0 fits into that goal. This is one of my favorite definitions from Sarah Houghton:
"Library 2.0 simply means making your library's space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives...to make the library a destination and not an afterthought."
At my library I'd bet there are some who believe we're already on our way. "We've got a coffee shop! We've got wireless access! We have a website!" We also have a majority of staff who are terrified of Word let alone our ILS. Our programming for teens is beyond old school. Our website is still free thereby limiting our options. Our P.R. is lackluster when it's even utilized. Our customer service model seems to primarily stem from an Us verses Them mindset wherein the patron is the enemy. We aren't thinking ahead at all. We're stuck in the traditional library model and until there's some new blood I don't think we're going to move forward.
Why I'm going to Library School
By: Erin
Thursday, June 15, 2006
rock me mamma like a south-bound train
A perfectly geekalicious day for me at the library.
It started off fantastically well with a hastily drunk pot of coffee which aided in powering my bike ride to work. The first 2 hours were grand until I was smacked in the face with some co-workers from hell. I was blindly raging to the point of quitting. Thankfully the knowledge that I was going to Leaf and Bean for lunch kept me from doing so. I returned to my desk and went directly to Squidoo. That particular link is to the Library 2.0 Reading List. I printed up the majority of the articles in order to take them home and peruse them at my leisure. I then spent the remainder of my time off desk looking for weapons in the upcoming battle over whether or not we're going to be hosting a DDR and/or MarioKart tournament. From gaminginlibraries.org to the gaming section of the Library Success Wiki I managed to collect a hefty stack of pro-gaming artillery. Thanks to the copious amounts of blog-reading I've been doing this week I also stumbled across Pandora, a pretty cool music site based on the Music Genome Project, and Writely which you can't sign up for now because the all-powerful, all-knowing Google has acquired it and there's tweaking going on. Regardless, it's a pretty neat-o, right up my ally, user-based tagging site that makes me hot to just think about.
I'm ready to go home. The skies are starting to look a little darkish which doesn't bode well for the bike ride home. Nor does the searing pain in my hamstring area that has left me gimping around all day. I'm pretty sure it's the running though rumor has it I fell down the stairs last night. I'm confident that didn't actually happen. I just seemed intoxicated. I was actually just that stinking tired.
By the way, not yelling at Conservatives who refuse to see the difference between political systems and economic systems is an impossibility.
capitalism is to socialism
as
democracy is to communism
I'm right.
You're wrong.
(Can you tell that today I lurve Wikipedia?)
It started off fantastically well with a hastily drunk pot of coffee which aided in powering my bike ride to work. The first 2 hours were grand until I was smacked in the face with some co-workers from hell. I was blindly raging to the point of quitting. Thankfully the knowledge that I was going to Leaf and Bean for lunch kept me from doing so. I returned to my desk and went directly to Squidoo. That particular link is to the Library 2.0 Reading List. I printed up the majority of the articles in order to take them home and peruse them at my leisure. I then spent the remainder of my time off desk looking for weapons in the upcoming battle over whether or not we're going to be hosting a DDR and/or MarioKart tournament. From gaminginlibraries.org to the gaming section of the Library Success Wiki I managed to collect a hefty stack of pro-gaming artillery. Thanks to the copious amounts of blog-reading I've been doing this week I also stumbled across Pandora, a pretty cool music site based on the Music Genome Project, and Writely which you can't sign up for now because the all-powerful, all-knowing Google has acquired it and there's tweaking going on. Regardless, it's a pretty neat-o, right up my ally, user-based tagging site that makes me hot to just think about.
I'm ready to go home. The skies are starting to look a little darkish which doesn't bode well for the bike ride home. Nor does the searing pain in my hamstring area that has left me gimping around all day. I'm pretty sure it's the running though rumor has it I fell down the stairs last night. I'm confident that didn't actually happen. I just seemed intoxicated. I was actually just that stinking tired.
By the way, not yelling at Conservatives who refuse to see the difference between political systems and economic systems is an impossibility.
capitalism is to socialism
as
democracy is to communism
I'm right.
You're wrong.
(Can you tell that today I lurve Wikipedia?)
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
i used to think maybe you loved me, now i know that it's true
10 miles of running and 8 miles of walking in 3 days makes Erin a very tired girl. And yet looking at 18 miles in 3 days as opposed to that 26.2 miles in however-many-hours-it's-going-to-take-me-in-one-shot, I've got miles and miles to go. It's definitely getting easier and more fun though my 10 year old tape player has officially died leaving me with freshly taped copies of the Flaming Lips, Beck, and Wilco and no way to enjoy them whilst running. The radio is getting old very fast.
Yesterday on my way to work I was catcalled by a car full of just-graduated highschool boys as I was walking to work jamming out to Katrina and the Waves lil' ditty "Walking on Sunshine." I wanted to stop and point out to them just how pathetic the entire charade was. I am a 31 year old woman without a car walking to work enjoying bad 80s music of my youth that was popular before they were born. Clearly I'm a fan of the younger men, but honestly, that's just vile.
"Our military will stay on the offensive," Mr. Bush said. "We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi and bring them to justice."
"You know," he said, "right after September the 11th, I knew that some would forget the dangers we face, some would hope that the world would be what it's not: a peaceful place where people wouldn't want to do harm to those of us who love freedom. I vowed that day, after September the 11th, to do everything I could to protect the American people. And I was able to make that claim because there were people such as yourselves, who are willing to be on the front line in the war on terror."
Unbelievable. Despite overwhelming evidence that 9/11 and Iraq were in no way shape or form connected and despite the current presence of al-Quada in Iraq being the direct result of the U.S. invasion...Americans need to justify to themselves why we're over there in the first place and I suppose his rhetoric is enough to keep people placated. It's easier to believe we're "widening liberty in the world" than it is to face the reality that we've needlessly lost 2497 Americans since the beginning of the war.
This weekend is shaping up to be a hot one, to quote everyone's favorite Santana/Rob Thomas song. I'm actually looking forward to working on Saturday as at least I'll be in airconditioning. The rest of the weekend you can bet I'll be languishing on my futon between 2 strategically placed fans sweating.
It's gonna be great.
Yesterday on my way to work I was catcalled by a car full of just-graduated highschool boys as I was walking to work jamming out to Katrina and the Waves lil' ditty "Walking on Sunshine." I wanted to stop and point out to them just how pathetic the entire charade was. I am a 31 year old woman without a car walking to work enjoying bad 80s music of my youth that was popular before they were born. Clearly I'm a fan of the younger men, but honestly, that's just vile.
"Our military will stay on the offensive," Mr. Bush said. "We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi and bring them to justice."
"You know," he said, "right after September the 11th, I knew that some would forget the dangers we face, some would hope that the world would be what it's not: a peaceful place where people wouldn't want to do harm to those of us who love freedom. I vowed that day, after September the 11th, to do everything I could to protect the American people. And I was able to make that claim because there were people such as yourselves, who are willing to be on the front line in the war on terror."
Unbelievable. Despite overwhelming evidence that 9/11 and Iraq were in no way shape or form connected and despite the current presence of al-Quada in Iraq being the direct result of the U.S. invasion...Americans need to justify to themselves why we're over there in the first place and I suppose his rhetoric is enough to keep people placated. It's easier to believe we're "widening liberty in the world" than it is to face the reality that we've needlessly lost 2497 Americans since the beginning of the war.
This weekend is shaping up to be a hot one, to quote everyone's favorite Santana/Rob Thomas song. I'm actually looking forward to working on Saturday as at least I'll be in airconditioning. The rest of the weekend you can bet I'll be languishing on my futon between 2 strategically placed fans sweating.
It's gonna be great.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
so a deadbeat, an idealist, and a working guy walk into a bar
Last night me and my boys went down to the Sandbar for a change of scenery and had another one of those "huh, now that's interesting" conversations. Jenny vs Dick was the topic at hand. This is made even more timely given the latest poll that came out today giving DeVos an 8 point lead over my woman (don't you love that headline: "DeVos apparently leading Granholm in latest poll." Apparently the AP can't believe it either.)
I certainly don't want to be accused of misquoting anyone, but the main thrust of the conversation centered around a statement proclaiming that Granholm has done nothing for this state. She set out with an objective of bringing more jobs to Michigan and has essentially failed. The education system is a monumental disaster. The economy is crumbling. This left the deadbeat musing over whether or not this statement is actually true. What has she done? Does anyone really know? Does anyone really care? Granholm failed is a popular sentiment these days and I'm left with very little artillery to fight back. So consider this a call to arms, all ye Democratic Party Faithfuls. Don't tell me why Dick is bad. I know why. He's a business man with no real plan, no real concrete ideas, no voting history to mock who you can bet your sweet ass is going to get elected and immediately start on the Legislate Morality bandwagon. I want to know why Jennifer is better. And I don't want to hear the typical party responses. Quite honestly given the current ad the party is running I'm starting to get worried about the campaign. That ad is just wretched and the Democratic Party of Michigan should be ashamed of itself for running such an amateur piece of poo. I'm starting to think a word-of-mouth campaign might be more effective than half-assed low production value hacked together ad anyway. A good jumping off point would be Jenny's site and Dick's site.
The most interesting aspect of the conversation, I think, was that the deadbeat had just said that one of the problems of discussing politics with people of differing viewpoints is that there is no common language. It dissolves into rhetoric and thoughtlessness so quickly. Each side spins their numbers, spews their soundbites, and feels triumphiant if the whole thing ends in a screaming match. That's how I ended up with all of those Republicans--it's hot to scream about foreign policy with someone who disagrees with you. I don't roll that way anymore. It's pointless and ineffective. I somehow manage to keep my head in the game and listen to people who disagree with me. The language is there. We just need to shut up long enough to hear it.
Of course, I still reserve the right to get shrill when discussing such things with people who agree with me.
I'm maturing.
I'm just moving a little slow.
I certainly don't want to be accused of misquoting anyone, but the main thrust of the conversation centered around a statement proclaiming that Granholm has done nothing for this state. She set out with an objective of bringing more jobs to Michigan and has essentially failed. The education system is a monumental disaster. The economy is crumbling. This left the deadbeat musing over whether or not this statement is actually true. What has she done? Does anyone really know? Does anyone really care? Granholm failed is a popular sentiment these days and I'm left with very little artillery to fight back. So consider this a call to arms, all ye Democratic Party Faithfuls. Don't tell me why Dick is bad. I know why. He's a business man with no real plan, no real concrete ideas, no voting history to mock who you can bet your sweet ass is going to get elected and immediately start on the Legislate Morality bandwagon. I want to know why Jennifer is better. And I don't want to hear the typical party responses. Quite honestly given the current ad the party is running I'm starting to get worried about the campaign. That ad is just wretched and the Democratic Party of Michigan should be ashamed of itself for running such an amateur piece of poo. I'm starting to think a word-of-mouth campaign might be more effective than half-assed low production value hacked together ad anyway. A good jumping off point would be Jenny's site and Dick's site.
The most interesting aspect of the conversation, I think, was that the deadbeat had just said that one of the problems of discussing politics with people of differing viewpoints is that there is no common language. It dissolves into rhetoric and thoughtlessness so quickly. Each side spins their numbers, spews their soundbites, and feels triumphiant if the whole thing ends in a screaming match. That's how I ended up with all of those Republicans--it's hot to scream about foreign policy with someone who disagrees with you. I don't roll that way anymore. It's pointless and ineffective. I somehow manage to keep my head in the game and listen to people who disagree with me. The language is there. We just need to shut up long enough to hear it.
Of course, I still reserve the right to get shrill when discussing such things with people who agree with me.
I'm maturing.
I'm just moving a little slow.
Monday, June 12, 2006
welcome back from vacation: it's the first day of the summer reading program!
My morning began with someone asking if I was going to be able to get to his job done today. It's moved on to chaos. We're beyond insane here today. There are lines and lines of children with armloads of picture books who all need to be registered for library cards. I got to sit at the short desk (read: desk at which the majority of kids under the age of 8 prefer to use) which meant that I got to engage in numerous conversations with topics ranging from tractors to Magic Tree House books to dinosaurs to princesses to kitties to Captain Underpants to monsters to horses to gross science experiments to the merits of Ramona and Her Mother verses Ramona and Her Father. I honestly cannot think of a better way to ease back into work than getting to interact with hoards of kids who are all excited about reading this summer.
Today,
today I love my job.
My vacation was amazing. And illuminating. I did everything I thought I would including lounging around in pajamas drinking sludge-y delicious coffee and running with my Dad (who, incidentally, reminded me just how hard running is. Marathon training starts in earnest today. Help. Me.) I am truly blessed with the best parents in the world.
So, I'm back. And re-energized. Ready to take on some new challenges. Get myself back on a schedule and introduce some structure in my life. I really did have a life-altering vacation. I was forced to reconsider some opinions I have held for years. I was smacked in the face with the reality that I don't have no clue what the ding-dang I'm talkin' about most of the time. Not only do I no longer despise Hemingway, I'm actually looking forward to Old Man and the Sea. Instead of dismissing all religion as being evil mayhaps it's in my best interest to continue to read and learn and think about faith. America is an amazing poem even though it was written by the beatest of the Beats. Some Republicans are good and some Democrats are bad. Having opinions is fine and good, but I'm going to start trying to look at things from other angles.
I think I might be growing up, here, people.
Feel free to intervene.
Today,
today I love my job.
My vacation was amazing. And illuminating. I did everything I thought I would including lounging around in pajamas drinking sludge-y delicious coffee and running with my Dad (who, incidentally, reminded me just how hard running is. Marathon training starts in earnest today. Help. Me.) I am truly blessed with the best parents in the world.
So, I'm back. And re-energized. Ready to take on some new challenges. Get myself back on a schedule and introduce some structure in my life. I really did have a life-altering vacation. I was forced to reconsider some opinions I have held for years. I was smacked in the face with the reality that I don't have no clue what the ding-dang I'm talkin' about most of the time. Not only do I no longer despise Hemingway, I'm actually looking forward to Old Man and the Sea. Instead of dismissing all religion as being evil mayhaps it's in my best interest to continue to read and learn and think about faith. America is an amazing poem even though it was written by the beatest of the Beats. Some Republicans are good and some Democrats are bad. Having opinions is fine and good, but I'm going to start trying to look at things from other angles.
I think I might be growing up, here, people.
Feel free to intervene.
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