Knives and fire...

20 years and one wall ago

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:39:21 GMT

A world watched as a nation reunited. THAT, my friends, was real hope and change.

Appropriate userpic for today :-D

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:54:38 GMT

Guy Fawkes was framed. It wasn't him, it was the Bomber in the Grassy Knoll.....

I mean, how could one bomb kill 3 people and be found intact on the carriage seat? Why were there several fuses all lined up in the Library? And what the hell does Col Mustard have to do with Nov 5th anyhow?

Poster offer

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:14:49 GMT

I have a poster with "I have always imagined Paradise to be a kind of library" with many library-related quotes on it (plus a "Depository Library" sticker I put on it). I took it home with me, but there's no place for it in the decorating Sarah and I plan for our place. I could include it with my therGoodwill donations, but there are too many Library folks on my Flist who might feel the same way Borges did when he said it...

Anybody want it? I can bring it to an event or mail it to you.

Hmm...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:39:37 GMT

- A very popular and enthusiastic Democrat President with grandiose ideas (and an enemies list)
- A Congress determined to carry out those grandiose ideas
- A complacent and arguably compliant media (some of whom are desperate to stay off that enemies list)
- An impending recession/depression
- A frightened populace looking to Washington for "hope"
- A lot of make-work jobs courtesy of the Federal Government to keep the illusion of productivity

So, am I talking about the 30's or this decade?

Before you answer, remember that the Great Depression officially ended thanks to World War 2, not The New Deal.

Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition.

Ded punkins

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:39:28 GMT

Since it's that time of year! I am cheating and using her LJ for the pics:
http://sarahbyrdd.livejournal.com/

Yes, that *is* the Chinese character for happiness :-D

De-lurking/random brain droppings

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:59:58 GMT

-Yesterday would've been my 14th wedding anniversary....and certain info gleaned from others' interaction with said ex-wfie have confirmed my reasons for getting divorced ;-D

-Since the layoff I've been cleaning the basement storage area and doing some serious weeding f non-essentials. Amazing how much has fallen into that category.

-Much has happened on the political front of late, but all I will say about that is people get the government they deserve. And the rest of us just laugh.

-No new visions of late (thankfully) but many confirmations of older ones. Keep preparing.

-Since I have found a local wifi spot to tide me over until the Internet Fairy visits my home in a few weeks, I can keep up with email. The Yale addy works, so drop me a line if you wish.

-Go Yankees!

Stuff!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:20:49 GMT

Brief update from my brother's computer, then it's back to the Stone Age ;-D

-Thanks to stonetimber and stefka for your hospitality on Friday night and Saturday morning. It was wonderful to finally get to your place and hang with you a while.

-Coronation kicked butt! In her first dayboard, janeelliot and crew did an amazing job and it was fun to work in a kitchen with her. darthmouse took on an uber-ambitious feast menu and despite her misgivings she too excelled at what she did. I would work in either of those ladies' kitchens any day! I hear tell of many shiny things being handed out that day too, but IMO that was a "front of the house" problem, and others have posted much concerning that. But many congrats are in order for those with the brandy-new shinies!

-Since this is my bro's computer, a shout-out for him: Should you need a professional photographer with 2 decades experience with all types of functions (including close to 1000 weddings under his belt!), his personal studio is now up and running. Contact him at carmine.paladino@att.net or 860-816-9150.

-Lastly, my dad and I were in the attic and what I thought was a cider press was in fact my grandfather's wine press. As in the one he used for years to make his wine, what I have called "Old Guinea Backyard". Pop, thank you for stowing it in such a way that 25 years afterwards, I can do my best to continue that tradition. It'll be a little while yet, but I'll let you know when I start crushing the grapes :-)

Re-lurking now!

That's all folks!

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:18:40 GMT

In a couple hours I'm outta here. Not sure when I'll be back online, so you'll have to muddle through without my words of wit and wisdom. Or maybe you'll cheer. Whatever; I won't be reading LJ to see it! :-D

See some of you at Coronation and other upcoming events!

Picket line memories...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:16:24 GMT

In saying goodbye to those friends of mine around the law school, I was reminded of the several strikes we've had. (3 while I was here...) Most of the closest friendships I have here outside of my office are those with whom I shared a picket line. And don't you believe it if someone were to tell how how quiet and gentle women are...the ones in my union are nasty!

-Bringing my dog Jack (the Best Dog Who Ever Lived) with me and having him barking along with our chanting
-Getting permission to bring a boatload of egg sandwiches to the picket line one day in lieu of walking
-Taking "orders" from some of the cops who watched over us and discreetly dropping their sandwiches into their laps where no one would see me do it...
-Hearing "George has something to say, and he doesn't need this megaphone", then getting to deliver a speech a la "Get Frankenstein and his monster" to rile the crowd, then immediately afterwards selling "torches and pitchforks" (matches and plastic forks) to raise bail money for those about to get arrested for blocking traffic. ("Can't have an angry mob without torches and pichforks!") I still have the box with the sign on it I sold them from :-D
-Wearing our silly hats one day because it was Mardi Gras
-Getting my "street cred" after being warned personlly by a cop to get out of the area when we were making noise. The cop was Tom Mullen (see previous post). "OMG! What did that cop say to you?"
-Calling scabs out by name!
-Posting a definition af a "scab" on posterboard in front of the Law School, and having it make the front page of the Yale Daily News
-Picketing an outspoken anti-union professor's class at the Law School, and personally handing him our flyer explaining why
-Handing out pots and pans from my van to the entire picket line so we could pound on them and make noise
-Conducting Yoga and stretching lessons to keep our blood flowing

And when it was all over, we'd go inside. Up to and including today I had lunch with the "union ladies" I had marched with :-)

The career that was

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:17:25 GMT

May 14, 1990 I began at this library, after starting at Yale officially on Sept. 11, 1989. I was working nights (but no weekends!), 3:30-Midnight. My boss and I butted heads a bit until we settled in. My first "official" act as an employee here was to call the Yale PD when a student came running up to me yelling that she saw someone rifle her purse and steal her wallet, and he's still in the library!!!!! Officer Tom Mullen (now plainclothes Lt. Mullen) was a rookie cop who responded. He and I grew closer since he tended to be night shift and I did have to call the YPD a couple more times.
In 1999 I started working days, Government Documents department. That was fun, and I had a room all to myself; my own little fiefdom!
2001 was a fateful year for many, and for me it was the year I was forcibly transferred from that job to the one I will be leaving on Monday. I fell into that department as "one of the girls". One man, 16 women. Guess who changed the water jug? (My desk was also closest to it. Coincidence?) During my time here, we've Beta-tested cataloguing and acquisitions software (several versions of the same AND several different types) before it went national; my work here is now recorded in law libraries nationwide. We have some procedures in place because I developed them.

In this library, I've done just about every job except for the MLS-required Librarian stuff. My dad taught me to be a Jack-of-All-Trades, and I think I've managed that here.

Onward and outward, and it ain't bragging if you *can* do it! :-D

Kaboom! :-D

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:11:25 GMT

Pearl Harbor, World Trade Center bombing pt 1, Oklahoma City, Columbine, 9/11, Katrina, other more recent tragedies. They all have one thing in common. After each one, it was said "SOMEBODY should have seen this coming".

There were signs for each of these things. Some things happened. In somce cases there were even people arrested beforehand that had knowledge, but nothing was done. In other words, SOMEBODY did see it coming.

What happens when SOMEBODY speaks out? They are ridiculed. They are called kooks, idiots, crazies. They are ignored. Even when there is clear evidence that something is afoot, nothing is done. And then when that something happens, the blame starts.

I'll make a general movie reference. Ever notice that in the movies it's always the crazy guy saying "We're doomed" who turns out to be the only one acting sane? Funny how that works out. Odd how Hollywood always seems to do that with such a character. But that's Hollywood, not real life.

In real life, those who are standing up for what they believe in are called crazy, unpatriotic, uncivil. It's not just the most current round of protests; it's been going on a while. The last holder of the Presidency was protested for his actions and those protestors were called those same things. That's the way it is when you are trapped inside the Liberal vs.Conservative box. I mean, as long as our guy wins, that's what matters, right?

Wrong.

You see, there are signs. Something is happening. Something is coming. It isn't because of Obama in the White House, and it's not because Bush was in the White House before him. They all played their roles perfectly. Somebody does see what's happening, and life is imitating art. The crazy people see it; the crazies from all political stripes.

But they are the only ones, because those in the box of Liberal vs Conservative can't see outside their box. And they are the "sane" and "civil" ones. Just ask them...

Ergo, I say "Your reality, Sir, is lies and balderdash and I am pleased to say I have no grasp of it whatsoever!"

And that's all have to say about that.

Happy Birthday, Jim

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:40:48 GMT

Today would've been Jim Henson's 73rd birthday. From the puppet that would become Kermit ("I choose brand X!") came a lasting vision that did not die with you.

Miss you, Jim.

Calling all schleppers!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:09 GMT

At least those available the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 20-22.

While Sarah and I will be moving stuff in small loads by car in the weekend prior to that date, some assistance will be required with some furniture. While a truck rental might be necessary, if anyone with a van (I feel funny asking that after owning one myself for 19 years!) wants to stop by we won't say no.

We're still working out the logistics, but help will be needed in both NYC and New Haven.

Thank you from both of us in advance.

There will be pizza.

EDIT: Crash space available in New Haven for them what needs it

Dang rev'nooers!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:37:42 GMT

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090924/D9ATL1BO0.html
Thoughts and prayers to the guy's family; he didn't deserve this.

Now watch this story grow legs. Nancy Pelosi will blame it on the "lack of civility" in the country. Keith Olbermann (ever notice he looks just like the Orbitz Hovercraft guy?) will make it numbers 1-10 in his countdown. Rachel Maddow will smirk about how, you know, *those people* in KY are...

Sigh.

If only this happened with Powerball!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:37:22 GMT

I have again won tickets from my local radio station, this time to go see Celtic Woman the day before Halloween! :-D

F**k the UN and the rules they rode in on

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:48:43 GMT

Any "governing body" that issues reams upon reams of useless powerless "resolutions" and allows Yasser Arafat to address them while wearing a sidearm and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at all is worthless. And isn't Khaddafi coming to pay a visit too? But that's OK; America is the biggest problem in this world, not *any* leader of a terrorist regime or an insane religious zealot. And wasn't Syria the chair of the "Human Rights Council" once? Vacuous bullshit.

BTW, the war in Afghanistan ( you know, where every leftist said we should have been in the first place?) is now being conducted under UN rules....and 4 of our soldiers were killed a couple weeks ago when their armor support request was DENIED under the new UN rules of engagement which do not allow armor (that's tanks, folks) to be used in populated areas. Anyone remember Somalia? Black Hawk Down was a real event, not a movie, and real soldiers died thanks to UN rules of engagement. But then, like now, the asshole-in-chief has a "D" next to his name so there will be no scrutiny.

Fuck the UN, fuck the politicians who kiss it's ass, and most of all fuck the spineless elitists who allow our soldiers to die needlessly, just so they can have "civil" discussions with madmen and terrorists.

EDIT: Thank you Mr. President for selling us out to the UN.

Makes me wonder...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:59:47 GMT

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/09/17/pelosi_chokes_up_warning_against_political_violence.html
“I have concerns about some of the language that is being used because I saw … I saw this myself in the late '70s in San Francisco,” Pelosi said, choking up and with tears forming in her eyes. “This kind of rhetoric is just, is really frightening and it created a climate in which we, violence took place and … I wish that we would all, again, curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements that are made.”

Wonder who this botox-brained bitch has in mind as committing this violence? And yes, I am saying that she and those who think like she does do indeed have a plan to deal with such violence.

too funny!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:15:22 GMT

So here it is, 8 official working days until my layoff, and I receive a 20yr appreciation certificate from the President of the University.

The fun never ends here! :-D

Jimmy Carter, Newsweek, Congress: STFU

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:32:49 GMT

You have gone from the best ex-President we've ever had to a partisan hack looking to collect donations for your museum from other partisan hacks. Or so it would seem by your latest comments that much of the criticism of this administration and those attending tea parties or protests is racist.

But of course I am blind to what is really going on since I am just a racist underneath it all. In fact, Newsweek says I was born that way: http://www.newsweek.com/id/214989.

BTW, this is called "Civility" in modern parlance. And civility is what Congress is all about, right? According to this, it is!
http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/house_comm_dec.htm
I quote:
As a guide for debate, it is permissible in debate to challenge the President on matters of policy. The difference is one between political criticism and personally offensive criticism. For example, a Member may assert in debate that an incumbent President is not worthy of re-election, but in doing so should not allude to personal misconduct. By extension, a Member may assert in debate that the House should conduct an inquiry, or that a President should not remain in office.

Under section 370 of the House Rules and Manual it has been held that a Member could:

refer to the government as “something hated, something oppressive.”
refer to the President as “using legislative or judicial pork.”
refer to a Presidential message as a “disgrace to the country.”
refer to unnamed officials as “our half-baked nitwits handling foreign affairs.”

Likewise, it has been held that a member could not:

call the President a “liar.”
call the President a “hypocrite.”
describe the President’s veto of a bill as “cowardly.”
charge that the President has been “intellectually dishonest.”
refer to the President as “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”
refer to alleged “sexual misconduct on the President’s part.”

I like that last one... I do note that many things are not prohibited, and I offer the following.
-As regards the government: "vampiric, totalitarian, offensive, disgusting, evil"
-In reference to the President (and not just the current one): "scumbag, Hitler, fascist, dictator, Marxist, Communist, prevaricator (they specified "liar", but not synonyms thereof!), brainless clueless moron, useful idiot, puppet, empty suit, slave to special interests"
-As regards unnamed officials and Congress as a whole, a geek reference suffices: "A wretched hive of scum and villainy"

Coronation request

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:50:32 GMT

If anyone who lives near a Wegman's is going to Coronation and can bring me some bacon fom there, it would be most appreciated.

Post or contact me directly so we can discuss specifics :-)

Thanks!

EDIT: Why Wegman's? Like yasmeanie said below, more meat, less fat. Actually, their 33% less fat brand is the best one. I blame janeelliot for getting me hooked on that stuff...

Controlled burn...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:32:13 GMT

OK, here goes..

Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bill the Cat. I don't care who the hell sits in the Oval Office: Politicians piss me off and sometimes Presidents are the worst since they are the titular heads of the political machine. For decades we have been treated to a never ending parade of bills, resolutions, plans and plots by our so-called representatives under the guise of "doing something". Yeah, that is ALWAYS a good idea.

How about doing the CORRECT thing? How about taking the time to look into the ACTUAL problems being faced by our country and find solutions to them. I mean REAL solutions, not what some politician says it is. A REAL solution, not what some President says it is. And solutions to REAL problems, not the problems we are spoon-fed by those who say "Trust us". Groucho Marx said it best: "Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"

These same politicians smile and lie and tell us anything they think we want to hear. That's called civility...

How about some ACTUAL civility, not the pretend bullshit politicians call for? Ted Kennedy was liked because he could leave his vitriol on the Senate floor and go socialize afterwards. THAT is not civility, that is LYING! That is living a phony life for phony reasons, and I am sick of DC and other government centers living life that way and telling us that is the best way to do things.

Van Jones came to the attention of the national media because he said "Republicans are assholes". Jim Wilson got into trouble because he stood up and called the President a liar. These people and others get into trouble because they spoke truth. Regardless of what you might feel about them personally or whether their actions were correct, they had the courage to speak up.

Courage is sadly lacking in politics. National politics is a field filled with lies, deceit, phoniness, and every other kind uncivil behavior, and yet we are told we need that kind of "civility" between opposing points of view.

Fuck that.

Give me an honest "You are a liar" or "Republicans (or Democrats!) are assholes" over "my esteemed colleague" any day; I refuse to hold any of those lying assholes in any esteem whatsoever.

Sigh...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:22:36 GMT

Tuesday night was a speech about personal responsibility. Regardless of my personal feelings about this President, he is influential and if his words motivate just a few kids to push themselves just a little harder to succeed, then I'll be pleased.

Last night was a speech about national health insurance, or more accurately how much we should just shut up and let the Government do what's best for us. Even more specifically how little has been accomplished towards that end because of "radio and cable hosts" and people lying about what is in the bills proposed. (Ignoring the fact that there is more than one bill and no one seems to know exactly what the hell is in any of them)

Think about this contrast: A President gives one speech to kids about how they should behave, then on the next night spends time telling the rest of the country how little responsibility he bears in the failure of his administration and Congress to pass the legislation he so obviously wants.

Mr. President, own this issue. For good or ill, own it. Man up and take responsibility for your own actions and what it is you want to do. Your party has the White House and both houses of Congress, so if you cannot get done what you want with that kind of majority, it's nobody's fault but your own.

Finally....the Presidency is a volunteer position. You ran for and won the office. For the sake of that Office, please stop whining about how difficult your job is and do it. It's unbecoming for the Most Powerful Man on Earth to act like Tonya Harding pointing to the laces of her skates.

And that's all I have to say about that.

DOH!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:44:48 GMT

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/When-Bush-spoke-to-students-Democrats-investigated-held-hearings-57694347.html

Shocked! Shocked I tell you!

"You didn't have to shout!"

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:47:52 GMT

So last night I was driving slowly down WIllow St. towards the highway when something large falls from the tree in front of me and lands with an audible SPLUT! on the ground. As I get closer I see it's a squirrel that apparently fallen off a branch and landed on it's head, but shook it off and scurried under my car to the side of the road.

OK, Universe, I got the message! What that message is, I have no idea but that has *got* to be some kind of omen! :-D

If you live in or will visit CT before June 30, 2010...

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:40:15 GMT

http://freshondeck.com/

Looks like a good idea!