reading books about books...

I'm going to be calm....really calm....about those stupid lazy fuckers in my class!!

Yet ANOTHER group presentation project where people don't want to contribute. At least this time 3 people in the group gave a damn enough to do their part in a timely manner. I am just really pissed off at the other two...

First, we have this uppity little biotch (a grade school teacher BTW) who never feels she has to contribute in any class I have been in with her. Every time someone else speaks she rolls her eyes like she's condemning them to the seventh layer of hell. She FINALLY posted her part of the presentation which was exactly 4 powerpoint slides consisting of about 5 typed words each - none of which show any sign of research or thought in anyway. When I am ruler of the universe she will be one of the first into the fire pit.

Second, we have this other girl who just posted her part this morning. What she did was very good, but here excuse for posting so late was that she has been unable to open Blackboard from her computer and she didn't know what her email addresses were.

1) If you have a problem with Blackboard, call fucking systems and have them fix the problem
2) YOU HAVE BEEN USING BLACKBOARD because I've seen your posts in other threads this semester, you lying fucker!!!!!!!1
3) One of the contributing members of the group emailed you LAST WEEK so you definately have her email address
4) Even if you lost her email you could look them up in the campus directory or call the instructor to get them.
5) You are a lazy lying cunt faced whore!!!!!!!!!!!

ARRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Nope, I'm calm! :)

indoctrinability - Word most likely never to be used by me.

After having one file sharing service shut down after another, Kazaa is on it's last warning...

Kazaa in Truwble!

This whole idea of a "3000" word list is total BULLSHIT! They are accusing Kazaa of copyright infringement - but they are claiming to own the rights to 3000 WORDS!! Which is the worst violator in this picture? Fucking hypocrites!

*frantically downloads fansubs from Kazaa before the inevitable happens*

One more day in the Dean's office, then a day off! This has been really stressful - the Dean is so severe! I get nervous just transfering a phone call to him, and I'm so afraid I'm going to cut someone off. I don't usually have a problem transfering calls, but these people calling are the library's major donors (those millionares who give us money so we'll name buildings after them, etc.). Yikes! On top of that I'm trying to concentrate on my own work - which isn't easy in an unfamiliar environment and without my barcode scanner! My student assistants have been gems though - just wonderful! They really deserve a good Chrissy present this year...

The Dean's assistant will be gone all next week on vacation - the budget officer will be out all next week because of knee surgery which leaves only a student assistant to watch the Dean's office ...so...

The dean's assistant and my Uber Boss came to my desk this afternoon and said "The Dean wants you to fill in his office for THREE DAYS!" I'm flattered he always picks me (I was a student assistant in that office for two and a half years...but that was a long time ago) but this is a really bad time... They are going to stick all of my software onto a laptop that I can carry around and do my work mobile-style, which is cool and all but I won't have my barcode scanner and my student assistants will have to be bouncing back and forwards all day. Seriously though, I am flattered that the old geezer thinks I'm up to it...but damn!

A couple of good things about this... I may have some quiet free time to work on those instructional guides, and I may get the know the Dean a little better...I mean "letter of reference" better! *evil smirk*

http://www.brainreactions.net/

Help people brainstorm - and let people help you!

This is VERY cool, and a wonderful way to collate ideas.

HuRRaH!

It's called the Bill of Rights...and it goes like this...

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution...

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...

I heard on NPR something about science publishers refusing to sell text books to Kansas school districts if the "Intelligent Design" theory passes today. Maybe publishers aren't the bunch of money grabbing good-for-nothings I thought they were...

The idea behind this - they don't want scientific theory being watered down with Christian beliefs and don't want their copyrighted work within a thousand miles of this situation.

I think this situation is going to sort itself out though. Apparently, anyy decision made today won't go into effect until 2007. If this thing does pass the conservative board members who are sitting there all smug today will be voted off tomorrow - and the decision will be overruled before 2007 swings around. Maybe, just maybe, Kansas will begin to creep out of the dark ages by then.

But this is already affecting the schools. Parents are pulling their kids out of public schools in record numbers just because of the threat of this whole mess - school districts are loosing students and less kids = less funding. I'd like to see in 5 years how many colleges have refused Kansas high school grads on the basis of this thing.

And what's really messed up? I went to Christian schools for 10 years - and they never NEVER ever thought about not teaching evolution as scientific fact. And now...the public schools are going to become more Christian and intollerant than the Christian schools are! WTF!?!

According to a CNN poll, 31% of people answered that they think the CIA should be allowed to torture prisoners of war (except they call them "Non-U.S. detainees"). WHAT THE FUCK!!! Aren't we fed that line of bullshit from childhood that the U.S. is supposed to be the country that everyone else looks up to? Isn't this the culturally advanced, be thou for the people, caring and compassionate U.S. of A? Does the Geneva Convention apply to everyone but US!!!

This is a country of fucking barbarians who are doing nothing but inciting a holy war - Jihad has nothing on a bunch of pissed off righteous Christians with machine guns!!

And next week the State of Kansas will vote on whether or not Creationism should be taught in PUBLIC schools instead of Evolution. Every heard of the Scopes trial? Yeah, it was during your Grandma's school days! We are the laughing fucking stock of the world! Screw everyone else and their beliefs, screw the constitution that this country was founded on. The Christians are going to do whatever the fuck they want regardless!

I'm so pissed off!

How neat! These wiley people can now avoid those long book holds and cut in line with this awsome Perl script. Will this be in wide use in time for the next Harry Potter? This will really set techies apart...

http://paranoidagnostic.net/2005/09/14/using-rss-and-z3950-to-find-books-your-library-doesnt-have-yet




Now where was this technology when I was writing my RSS paper last semester? Just goes to show that RSS innovations are literaly chagin every single day, and perhaps it is acually futile to even try and publish about them. The obsoletism of peer-reviewed journals really shows up in situations like these. And what is the best way to keep up with RSS technoloy?...RSS feeds!

"...cultivating cross-subfield accents - identifying affinities and openings that make strategic cooperation possible among the subfields - has been, and may continue to be, anthropology's distinctive disciplinary resource for addressing important scholarly and public issues." - Rena Lederman, Unchosen Grounds: cultivating cross-subfield accents for a public voice, in Unwrapping the Sacred Bundle: reflections on the disciplining of anthropology

Just change "Anthropology" with "Library and Information Science" and I think we're onto something :) !

I think I've found my thesis topic... A cross-subject analysis of theory bases, in both anthropology and LIS. One thing that has amazed me throughout my LIS theory classes is how similar they have been to my anthro theory classes. Why is that I wonder?...

-Both fields used classification heavily
-Both fields used a reflective of culture/societal trends to build upon theories
-Both fields are VERY cross-disciplinary, and therefore borrow theories, or reshape theories, from many other fields.

Cool!

I have 2 new student assistants, so that makes 3!! I usually just have two, but there is a funny story behind this.

I had a bunch of applicants, including two engineering grad students from India who already have quite a bit of library experience (especially in scanning and electronic documents which is a lot of what the job requires). Well, I had a REALLY hard time choosing between the two of them, and in the end I just picked one. He came in this morning to do the initial paperwork and everything was great.

I got back from lunch (great pizza!) and the student I had just hired was waiting outside the door. He said that as soon as he got home he had a voice mail offering him a GA position for 16 hours per week. As international students are restricted to working only 20 hours during the semester, he could only work for me for 4 hours a week. HOWEVER, the other student, the one I almost picked, was with him. He said "my friend here could work the other 6 hours for you." I was elated! I am so happy that I was able to give them both a job! So, now I have 3 students - which means twice the paperwork to fill out (a huge stack for international students), but they both seem really nice and are full of personality. Having more bodies in the office will make up for the absent boss too.

I need to go sign them up on the Blackboard module for library assistants!

It's been an odd day.

A guy from tech services came into our office right before I went to lunch and said "Why is your boss moving to cataloging?" We were like "Huh?"
So apparently, he is leaving ILL and they found him a job in cataloging. This not only gets him out of here where we are all miserable, but also gives him the chance to get some cataloging experience to make him more employable for his job search. It's only a 10 month appointment, so he still isn't here permanently. I hope he is happier there.

I applied for a continuing education grant today, so I may get up to another $750 to help cover my out of pocket expenses for summer classes. I can always use more money to pay off credit cards...

I haven't written in here for a while - but classes start next week so it's time to get focused.

I've already done some of my reading for the fall, but so far I only have a reading schedule for 1 class, so I don't know if what I'm reading will be needed soon, or if we'll use it later in the semester after I forget half of it ;)

A minor panick yesterday - I had a voice mail on my cell phone from the cashiers office, letting me know that they had received my payment form but I had checked "use scholarship money towards tuition payment" but they couldn't find any scholarship money in my file! She also said, rather forcefully, that payment is due on the 18th (today). Well, I called back this morning all worried and they told me that the money had gone through yesterday afternoon, after she had called me. Whew! They will also send me a check for the extra money on Monday! Yay!

Work is going well - I think we are all a lot happier right now, even though the boss situation still isn't sorted out. He keeps doing things and changing things without telling anybody, and he has practically shut off all communication with all of us now, not just me. His office is right across the hall from us, and his voice really carries. This morning I heard him dissing one of my office mates, and she had left the office only seconds before he started slamming her. I don't know if he knows his voice carries that far, but if she had overheard what he said she would have been really hurt. He's just nasty and I hope he leaves soon. Even though the assistant dean PROMISED he was leaving on the 2nd, we have our suspicions that he's going to be here a lot longer. Not like he doesn't act like he's already gone... I can't see him getting a job anywhere, sadly he is just that much of a loser that no one in their right mind would hire him - and I think he knows it, which is why he is always so mad at the world...and us.

Ooooo and my parents are coming here for Christmas! I have never hosted Christmas before, so this should be fun! Of course, I have no room for the all to stay here so they'll stay at a hotel, but just having Christmas in my little apartment will be so much fun. I love my apartment so much, and even though it's small I don't think I want to move to a bigger place!




(Boss is right outside my door right now bitching about the Dean. Maybe they won't have to wait until he leaves...giggle!)

This doesn't surprise me at all...

Kansas moves to stem role of evolution in teaching

Hmmmm....lets see how this will effect the rate of Kansans being accepted into out of state universities...
I hope someone is studying this!

During my last year of high school (the only year of high school spent in Kansas) our anatomy and physiology teacher asked the class how we can tell the difference between a male and female skeleton. One girl put up her hand and said "The female has an extra rib - because Adam had to give one up so God could create Eve."
Sounds funny - but it isn't! This poor girl BELIEVED that was true. You could probably have shown her an X-ray and she still wouldn't believe it. Ah, the folie en mass of the Bible Belt!
Sad thing is - that was the only year that I didn't spend at a reglious school. At the Anglican and Catholic schools I had been at previously they wouldn't have dreamed about teaching crap like that! Why? Because all they cared about was their graduation/college acceptance rates. What does THAT say about public schools?

Am I just getting older, or is customer service on a steady decline?

I appreciate good customer service - and it's such a simple thing to ask for. A customer service interaction is a social event between two people, and I expect that this interaction should be cordial and pleasant for both people involved. There is a duty on the part of the server and the customer to be respectful, attentive, and just plain human!

So why are so many people lacking human skills? Are we raising a society of animals? It seems that I have more negative customer service experiences than I have positive ones. Especially in my lunch break today...

I know that many customer service people have social grudges, and they often react to a person's appearance (sometimes even unknowingly). I am a white female, dressed in work clothes, on my lunch break... I don't see how I could possibly be prejudiced against. So, it must just be simply bad customer service skills that account for the appaling behavior that I encountered during my lunch break today...

First, I went to QuikTrip to get a drink. QT is the greatest gas station chain in the midwest - they are clean, have great food and drinks, and usually have a high level of customer service. I stood at the counter - and was ignored! I was suprised because the clerks usually do a great job of keeping track who came first, etc. This girl who was serving LOOKED AT ME and then proceeded to serve 3 PEOPLE who approached the desk after me! The other guy, who was at the other end of the counter, finally came to serve me when I started calling "HELLOOOO!" at them. I told him that I was feeling invisible, and he was very apologetic. She didn't say a word, but continued to ignore me. I have never met this girl before - but I was starting to wonder if maybe I stole her boyfriend in highschool or something... Totally bitter!

Next, I went to Borders to get my hubby some birthday gifts. Usually I get great service at Borders because they tend to hire older, more professional types of people (not the 18 year old girl with a grudge types). I was standing at the counter, and the two ladies (both in their 50's) were having a conversation. One of them walked towards a counter, while she was still talking to the other woman behind her back. I put my items on the counter and said "hello." She didn't respond to me, but while talking to her buddy checked out my items (or whatever they call it in stores! Giggle...I've worked in a library too long), scanned my card, and gave me a receipt. She never stopped talking and she never once acknowledged that I was there!! Old lady with a grudge perhaps?

Next time I walk into a store where the clerks are talking to each other, I'm not going to put my items down until they stop. I wonder if they'll ever notice I'm there.

I did encounter the height of rudeness at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago. Another 18 girl with a grudge, shirt hanging out, half chipped purple nail polish (get the picture?) was eating a box of Raisanettes while serving us!!! She kept having to stop what she was doing so she could hold the box up to her face and poor candy in her mouth - which she was munching on while she was serving us.

SOLUTION: Customer service classes STARTING IN GRADE SCHOOL! It doesn't matter what kind of job you have, whether you work in a car wash or if you are the CEO of a Forune 500 corporation - everyone is going to need to learn to interact cordially with the public. Teach them young and it might work it's way into a few ritalin soaked brains by the time they look for jobs!

Customers also need assistance with manners. I refuse to serve anyone else who comes into my office while on their cell phone. They play charades with me while they talk to someone else. Rude rude rude! Get off the phone and talk to me or you don't get your book!

Major pet peaves!

I'm happy with my grades...so far.

804 - 97%.
I got my RSS paper back this morning, and the instructor said that she would have changed some things about it (such as going into a more detailed explanation about the background/structure etc.). I totally agree with her - however, this paper was already twice as long as it needed to be, and by adding anything it would become three times too much. Maybe I bit off more than I could chew - and spat out a little too much. Overall - she liked the paper and said it could be 'publishable' (my word not hers...she's a grammar junkie, I'm a grammar flunkie) with a little work. Yay!

813 - 98%
As previously mentioned, the two points I lost for this class were utterly bogus. BUT the professor LOVED my virtual reference report. Yay!

818 - who the hell knows. Still no idea what's going on with this class. I'm bummed that I paid so much money to learn NOTHING. Other people in the class say "what does it matter how much you learned? She's an easy grader." *virtually slaps people upside the head*

On to the Fall...

Sigh...

I got a cryptic e-mail from one of my professors the other day - it said something like "I'm sorry about the way this assignment turned out - I certainly won't do it the same way in future."

OK...a little background info...

The assignment under scrutiny was to prepare a research guide for our darling University (the one I go to school at) in an assigned subject. My subject was history. We were given an outline for the one already prepared for Chemistry, and we were supposed to gather resources that would be useful to an entry level student in the assigned area and present it based on the Chemistry example. This assignment was not overseen by the professor but one of the reference librarians. We sent our first draft off to this librarian (we'll call her Librarian A - because I like to label things), and she sent our drafts back with comments, suggestions...you get the idea.

Halfway through the semester, Librarian A quits, and Librarian B takes over as overseer of this project. Librarian B did not see out first drafts, nor it seems did she see the Chemistry example.

My finished research guide was sent to Librarian B, before the due date, and was subsequently LOST!

A few days ago I get the aforementioned cryptic e-mail from the professor and I wonder "Well, what went wrong? Apart from my assignment getting mislaid, I thought this project was going smoothly?" HAH!

I FINALLY got my graded assignment back this afternoon... (it must have been found! Praise the Library Gods!)

Librarian B had criticized all of the changes that Librarian A had suggested I make!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On top of that - she didn't like the way I worded some parts of the assignment. They were "confusing."
However - I had cut and pasted the wording directly from the Chemistry example that the Reference faculty had already approved!

I got a 23 out of 25 for this assignment, and a 98 out of 100 for the class. Doesn't take a genius to see where I lost two points!

Since the professor has already acknowledged this mishap in her e-mail (which now makes perfect sense to me) I don't think I'll do anything further, except to bitch about it in my LiveJournal...

It's strange to not be done with the Summer semester yet and already be starting on the Fall - but there is nothing else I can do for this lingering Summer class until next week (or whenever the professor feels like actually doing some work). But, I have started on my fall work - mainly because the Fall semester starts in in like 2 WEEKS.

So...I have...

835 - Information Transfer in the Disciplines: which is a class that looks at the role of the faculty in a university library, and the relationships of information transfer situations at the faculty level. Sounds interesting - and I can already tell that this class will be more like my abstract undergrad Anthro classes than an LIS class, which I'm excited about.

844 - Database Design: this class should be a sinch - but the main project is to design a database for a non-profit or small company. It might be difficult to find someone willing to share company records with me to present to a class - and it's kind of strange that they ask this of us. I might ask my Dad if I can use his small business, but it may be a bit too small, and disorganized, since it's just his retirement project. We'll see.

839 - Networking for Libraries: another easy ride I hope. This class will probably be obsolete by the time I graduate, but at least I can put what I learn into some home use - especially the wireless networking.

Most of the class work is over by late November - so I might use Decemeber to look into theses ideas, or propose a practicum, or maybe just relax since hopefully we will be having the family Christmas here this year.

This 818 class has been one disaster after another.

The professor e-mails us this morning letting us know that her brother died and she won't be able to make it to class this weekend - starting TOMORROW!! This is the only time the class meets, and as it's the last weekend of the semester there is no other time we can meet. So is the class cancelled? Do we have a sub? Have we any f****** clue what's going on? Nope. The Dean is supposed to be letting us know what the situation is, but so far we haven't heard from her. I sent her an e-mail and got no response yet. I need to know TODAY so I can cancell my hotel reservations if the class is cancelled or I will be charged for a room anyway.

I know it must be tough having a brother die - but he died 5 days before she let us know. So, this could have been sorted out earlier and not left to this day before a class which most of us have to commute to. If they do cancell the class totally, what happens to the work we have already done for the class? And I will no longer be on schedule to graduate next December - I'll have to go for a whole other semester.

This totally sucks!



UPDATE: We heard from Dean this afternoon - this weekends class is cancelled, but the class itself is still on. When the professor gets back next week she is supposed to arrange times to meet with us. We aren't sure if this is in person (which will be pretty hard for most of us having to commute) or online. She still hasn't given us the details of our final assignment that she was supposed to give us last week - but she is going to modify the assignment now anyway. As we aren't going to finish this class before grades are due we will all get an incomplete for the class until we are finished with everything. I don't like it, but there it is. Of course, if the professor hadn't left everything to the last minute and ignored our pleas to find out about the class to begin with we wouldn't be in this situation anyway.