Back from conventioneering

OK, I have returned to my workaday world after participating in Computers in Libraries last week (so I wasn't really testifying before Congress - they're all too busy trying to get re-elected to listen to the likes of me anyways). There were lots of good sessions on neat new technologies. Plus all the boring ones were confined to one day, so I could skip out and go wander around the monuments and such. That World War II monument - they just kind of want us to feel like we went and saved the world, don't they?

Anyhow, probably the most thought-provoking talk was on the "new" web (or Web 2.0, if you want to use the parlance of hype) and how it ties in with libraries. Because libraries still matter, darn it! And we will matter even more in the brave new web world if we listen to people like the guy who wrote this paper. Plus his job title is "technology evangelist" - how can you not like that? I filled out my conference evaluation right before Paul Miller's talk, and under the area where it asked "what kind of topics would you like to see at future conferences," I basically described his presentation.

Also, the conference was held at the Washington Hilton, famous for something morbid. I had my own little "Assassination Vacation" moment.

Change of scenery

Hey kids - I've been summoned to Our Nation's Capital, so this will be all for a while. My inside-the-Beltway source tells me I'm about a week too early to see the cherry blossoms. Drat. Well, off I go to scold some politicians.

Funny on so many levels

I was walking to the bathroom in the library a little while ago, and I found a button on the ground. You know, a button, like you pin on to a shirt or backpack - the Brits call them badges, but we don't need no stinkin' badges! Ahem, now then. The button says "Vagina - does that make you uncomfortable?"

Cheerful vulgarity, fight against stigma, or advertisement for gynecological services?

Sports desk: the insanity of the third month

Yes, it is college basketball season. This is pretty much the only time of year that I pay attention to college sports. Overall I think they are a drain on university resources, but hey, who's counting? And no team has been more exciting to watch in the last week than Syracuse. They keep finding ways to win under tough circumstances. Good on them! It didn't look like they would even make it to the NCAA tournament, but surely they'll be selected now.

The dull fog

I hit my head last night. I was putting something down on the passenger seat of my car, and as I stood up straight and turned around, I nailed my head at the right temple on the corner of the open car door. It hurt a little at the time, but today I feel really pretty bad. It's still somewhat sore in that area, there's this weird pressure in my right ear, and I just feel kind of out of it. Blargh. On the other hand, I skipped down to the bathroom a while ago and felt like I was bouncing on a cloud!

Staving off boredom

So, guess who got stuck with reference desk duties on the last day of the winter quarter? Go on, guess! Yes, that's right, me. It's very quiet here today, even for a library.

But honestly, I haven't been up to much lately. I think I have a pretty good story for the comic I'm writing for the class I'm taking (remember that? Scroll down a bit, or check the January archives). OK, let me qualify that. By "good," I mean "workable for a 16 page story so I can have something to show by the end of class." Anyways, here it is. The main character is a young man who is just starting college. Alone in his new dorm room, he gets a visit from an unexpected ally - his old imaginary friend from childhood (I did decide to go with a woodchuck here). Then, after the imaginary friend gives him a pep talk, he meets a couple of his new neighbors and finds them to be friendly. I guess that's about as well as anyone could explain it. We'll see how it turns out (probably silly, but hopefully not embarassing).

And, just so this post won't be a total waste of your time, an alert reader (the mysterious Jorge) sent me what is being billed as a rough cut of the now infamous-before-it-even-exists "Snakes on a Plane." I learned two things watching this video: 1. Snakes, when cornered in airline environments, will attack your eyes, and 2. Making this video took dedication. Dedication that few, if any, of us have. (note: this one requires Flash Player v.8. Took me a while to figure that out, so I thought I'd save you the trouble)