Genius

Our Question Point system received this comment today. Sheer genius.

i lost a half-hour of time this morning on the library internet computer(s) (at wallingford) due to your constantly malfunctioning microsoft network software. i would log on, see that i wasn’t going to get anywhere, and log off. i lost half an hour of my entitled time through this process. eventually i was able to get on, but saw that your system was now claiming that i only had 15 minutes left, when i KNOW i had a full 30 minutes! when i addressed the librarian at the northgate library about this this afternoon and requested either my entitled 30 minutes back, or at least the 15 minutes your system mysteriously took (stole) from my allotted hour, her response was, and i quote: “You use the computers at your own risk.” this is an extremely unhelpful response. and, basically, IT IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT!!! if i had done something on your computers that inconvenienced the library in some way, do you think you would turn around and then apply your own “too bad for you” attitude to yourselves?? #$#$# NO!!!! you’d be all over me, wouldn’t you, just like the facist bastards you really are. THESE ARE THE FACTS: I AM ENTITLED (YES, ENTITLED. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT WORD, THEN DON’T #*$#*$#$ PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH $#&%#% INTERNET COMPUTER TIME AS PART OF YOUR @#$##$#& SERVICES!!!) TO ONE HOUR COMPUTER USE PER DAY. THROUGH *NO* FAULT OF MY OWN WHATSOEVER, YOUR SYSTEM STOLE 45 MINUTES FROM THIS TIME. WHEN I ASKED FOR IT BACK, YOU REFUSED, AND TOLD ME THAT, BASICALLY, I WAS UP #$#$ CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE. DO YOU THINK THIS IS FAIR?? DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS SERVING THE COMMUNITY? DO YOU THINK THAT CLAIMING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE AND THEN TURNING AROUND AND DENYING THAT SERVICE AND THEN TELLING THE VICTIM THAT IT’S PRETTY MUCH HIS OWN #*$#$# PROBLEM IS A PROPER PART OF YOUR MISSION IN THIS CITY AND AN APPROPRIATE USE OF MY TAX DOLLARS?? AND WHY THE ##$#$ DON’T YOU STATE ANYTHING ABOUT USER RIGHTS IN YOUR #$*#$##$ INTERNET USE STATEMENT??? HOW COME IT’S ONLY ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PUNISH A USER AND DENY HIM/HER SERVICE FOR USING THE SYTEM INAPPROPRIATELY, BUT SAYS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE RIGHTS A USER HAS?? BECAUSE YOU DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE USER’S RIGHTS, YOU’RE ONLY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU CAN DO TO POLICE AND CONTROL AND REGULATE THEM, AND DENY THEM THEIR ALLOTTED TIME AT YOUR OWN WHIM, BUT THEN WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING THAT SCREWS THEM OVER, WELL, THAT’S JUST TOO BAD FOR THEM, ISN’T IT?? IF YOUR %#$%#$#&* COMPUTERS ARE GOING TO CONSTANTLY GO DOWN, WHY DO YOU EVEN HAVE THEM?? I DEMAND MY TIME BACK!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS!! I AM NOT A WEALTHY PERSON, I DON’T HAVE MY OWN COMPUTER, AND THIS RESOURCE IS ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS TO ME. YOU HAVE NO #$*#$#$# IDEA WHAT THIS RESOURCE MEANS TO PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE THEIR OWN COMPUTERS!!! I KNOW YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO A #$#$# THING ABOUT THIS, MUCH LESS EVEN BOTHER RESPONDING, SO HERE’S WHAT *I’M* GOING TO DO: (AND YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY WANT TO BOTHER READING THIS PART): I AM GOING TO BE A RUDE, SURLY, SLOPPY, ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE LIBRARY PATRON FOR THE NEXT MONTH, AND MAYBE EVEN LONGER THAN THAT!!!!!!!!! YEPPER, I WILL DELIBERATELY, IRRESPONSIBLY, INAPPROPRIATELY THROW PENCILS, NOTES, AND OLD HOLD SLIPS ON THE FLOOR. I WILL DELIBERATELY RETURN BOOKS TO THE SHELVES IN THE WRONG PLACES (HA HA, ENJOY!!). I WILL MAKE SNOTTY UNSOLICITED COMMENTS WITHIN HEARING RANGE OF LIBRARY STAFF AND OTHER PATRONS THAT DEMEAN SPLs MALFUNCTIONING COMPUTER SYSTEM AS WELL AS THEIR COMPLETELY UNHELPFUL ATTITUDE TOWARDS ITS THEFTS OF USER TIME. I WILL DISARRANGE FURNITURE. I WILL BEHAVE LIKE A PIG IN THE BATHROOM. I WILL DELIVER MEANINGLESS COMMENTS INTO THIN AIR IN A LOUD, DISRUPTIVE VOICE, JUST LIKE ALL THE IDIOTS WHO FLAUNT YOUR NO CELLPHONE POLICY DO WITH THEIR CONSTANT STUPID #$#$#$ CELLPHONE RINGTONES AND CONSTANT #$$%#$# STUPID CELLPHONE CONVERSATIONS (AND HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LAISSEZ-FAIRE ATTITUDE THERE, HUH? IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN THE SHOE’S ON THE OTHER FOOT, ISN’T IT, STALIN???) ALSO, SINCE YOU APPARENTLY THINK I’M SOME KIND OF LIAR WHO IS TRYING TO HOG EXTRA TIME OFF OTHER USERS, THEN I’LL GO RIGHT AHEAD AND BE ONE!! YEP! I AM GOING TO SIT RIGHT HERE AT THIS LIBRARY CATALOGUE WORKSTATION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS, DELIBERATELY DAWDLING MY WAY THROUGH PAGES OF INFORMATION I’M NOT EVEN REMOTELY INTERESTED IN, JUST TO KEEP ANYONE ELSE FROM BEING ABLE TO USE IT!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, HUH? YOU DON’T?? WELL, TOO #$#$# BAD!! I DIDN’T LIKE HAVING 45 MINUTES STOLEN OFF THE TIME I NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SEEK INFORMATION ABOUT A RESEARCH PROJECT I AM WORKING ON IN CONNECTION WITH MY PLANS TO RETURN TO COLLEGE, BUT YOU DIDN’T GIVE A #$$##$ ABOUT THAT, DID YOU?? YEP!! HERE I AM!! I’M GONNA SIT RIGHT HERE AT THIS CATALOGUE FOR THE NEXT FOUR HOURS, AND HOG UP ALL THAT SWEET RESOURCE TIME JUST FOR ME, ME, ME, EVEN THOUGH I DON’T EVEN WANT IT!! JUST TO PROVE THAT I REALLY AM THE LYING, SLEAZY, LOW-LIFE PIG THAT YOU APPRENTLY THINK I (AND ALL YOUR OTHER USERS TOO) AM!! YEP!! HOURS, BABY!! RIGHT HERE!! ALL FOR ME, ALL GODDAMN DAY LONG, AND MAYBE EVEN TOMORROW TOO!! HAVE A NICE DAY!!

Received: 2008/04/16 15:42:18 Updated: 2008/04/17 11:20:40

 

May 1, MAYDAY, PROTEST !!!!!

While headlines about Miley Who-the-hell-cares Cyrus’ bare shoulder, Britney’s breakdown, American Idol idiots and the Obama/Clinton catfight are all we hear about these days, let’s not forget people are still dying for NOTHING every day in Iraq. Where’s the outrage? Get out and help shut down the docks in Seattle…

WHEN: Thursday May 1 at Noon

WHERE: Jack Perry Memorial Park (between Pier 30 and Pacific Maritime Institute), Seattle

NO PEACE - NO WORK
End the war now - bring our troops home safely
Join workers from the Puget Sound in protesting the war on May 1, International Worker’s Day

The International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) has called for united labor action on International Workers Day, May 1, to demand an end to the war in and occupation of Iraq. The AFL-CIO, the Washington State Labor Council and a host of national and local unions have long called for an end to this war. The untold billions being spent on the war could instead be used to address our domestic needs. It is working people who pay the cost of the war - in some cases with our lives, but always with our sacrifices.

(Yes. It’s a little late on this posting but I just read my e-mail with the notice today… and I’ve decided I’m going to this protest if for no other reason than to make myself feel like I am not a true sheeple….)

UPDATE: Just got back from 2 hours at the protest and march. Wow! Wow….wow…..What a feeling… to march shoulder to shoulder with thousands of brawny, salt of the earth Longshoremen and other union members, students, grannies, kids, Obma supporters, Nader supporters, Socialists, Anarchists, Immigrants’ Rights groups, even waterfront tourists who joined in and, yes, even some LIBRARIANS… I carried my handmade “Libarains For Peace” poster and I must say I got a lot of attention all things considered. Not to mention it was a very bad hair day, no makeup so of course I had two interviews, one with KIRO and one with FOX.  Oh well.. war is ugly and so is this protester….  The Longshoremen successfully shut down the Port of Tacoma, The Port of Seattle as well as Everett….. And is was NOT an authorized walkout… these dudes walked off their jobs without pay…..  THIS is what the face of America looks like. (Photos to follow)

 

Boys 2 Men

Here’s the truth: I’ve been in love with #1 for over a year and it’s not done a lot for the state of my life. At first it was all very positive. Experiencing his zest for life and optimism was like finding water in the desert after a long unhappy marriage filled with negativity and despair. I lost weight, I had great sex, I bought all new underwear, I felt reborn. Then, as I have chronicled here ad infinitum, the honeymoon ended and #1 let it be known very forthrightly that he is not a one woman kind of guy and he never will be. He disappeared from my life, I fell apart. I couldn’t stand not having him in my life so I decided to accept him as he is and just deal. I still love him, but don’t really know what that means anyway. I think we’re very alike in the sense of being emotionally stifled, self centered, reckless, bad with money and unable to truly bond with anyone other than our children. We’re actually perfect for each other except for that age thing.

Then I meet #2. #2 is the total opposite of #1 on the emotional scale. He wants to bond in a big way. But I’m still attached to #1. #2 makes me laugh a lot and he wants to do things for me. At this point our relationship is pretty platonic. #2 has a medical condition (not a disease) that has been diagnosed as fatal within the next decade. #2 and I share a birthday as well, although he arrived on the planet 11 years later than me. This is the stuff movies are made of I’m sure. I’m just going to let this situation unfold.

What would I do if I was told I only had X number of years to live? Would I live like I do now? Hell no. But we all only have X number of years to live so isn’t there an implied obligation to live the life you want to live? Of course. These are not original thoughts I understand… I do have to look after my daughter and make sure she gets what she needs.. thus, I cannot quit my job and run off to Mexico with #2 at this point. When you add in the current social/political/economic conditions of this messed up country the question becomes even more crucial… what are we staying here for? Maybe I should just take my daughter and go somewhere where life can be better… but then I’d show up and what would really be different? You know the old saying.. no matter where I go I always seem to show up…. For now I am going to put one foot in front of the other. It’s all I can do right now.

Oh jesus fucking christ….. just as i’m writing this at the reference desk who walks in but this shameful one night stand i had last year during a night of heavy drinking and trying to purge #1 from my head….. oh jesus fucking christ… i’m going to be sick…. Bachelor Number Three!!! Vomitous…..

 

Is The End Near?

So I’ve read a few things lately about food shortages in the US, which really aren’t true, but the headlines want us to start panicking for some reason (hmmm… election year, fear mongering, etc.) On the other hand, a part of me believes we should be gravely concerned about the future of the economy here in the land of plenty…. So we are torn between our own cynicism about the news we get and the reality that the economy is tanking… but still we sheeple believe that Big Brother is going to take care of us.

And then there’s the crap hole of crap hole mothers that’s going on in the “god help us” dems little hell-hole… Let’s all lean over and lick our own butts shall we? If Hillary could she would, I’m sure. Just to show the gymnasts of the world how much of a working class ass licker not afraid to embrace scatology biatch she really is…  the Clinton machine is a ruthless, soulless, WMD ..

UPDATE: From AOL’s Finance Page Headlines this morning:

• 2 U.S. Retail Giants Ration Rice
• Panicked Buyers Stock Up
• More Food Rations in the U.S.?
• Woman Run Over for $100 in Gas
• Selling Gold Teeth for Big Bucks?
• Police Arrest 2 for Stealing Sperm

UPDATE 2:  Zogby over at the Huffington Post is soooo right about the Clintons… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/end-it-now_b_98265.html

 

E-CAVE

It’s dark in here, but come on in. . .

I’ll post links to some of my favorite dark and depressing web finds here from time to time. Let’s start with Mr. Darkness himself : Dennis Perrin. Always spot-on in his analysis….

 

I Love My Ratties, I figured out the meaning of life, and Obama rules

Wow. These girls are amazing. Personality, sweetness, hilarity… these girls are amazing. Did I just say that??? I never thought I could love rats so much - I’m a dog person.. but they are like extremely small dogs…. they come when you beckon (usually), they jump on your lap, they want to be with their humans. They’re crawling on me as I type this very blog. And they are so funny to watch… hunched up on their hind legs looking for the next adventure, yawning as they lie snuggled together in their hammock.. running around the house, Baby’s nose to Delilah’s tail…. endless entertainment…

Oh.. and then this came to me this morning…

I felt strangely happy today. Probably because the sun was actually out for a while. “Strange” because happy is not an emotional state I’ve experienced in quite a while.

This winter/so called spring has been really hard on a lot of people in my life. I don’t know if we can attribute it to Bush, global warming, the flu epidemic, the economy, Iraq, general malaise or what - but I would say it’s been a rough few months… and then it came to me:

We’re all just here to hold each other up. To help each other through the shit that life deals. That’s it, plain and simple. The meaning of life. It’s about the people you hold dear and being there for them. If we come across people who are not going to be there for us and help in the holding up, then we have to let them go or at least not count them as part of our primary landscape…

Male or female, friends, family or lovers…. we are only here to support and help each other … and we’re all a little crazy on some level. So we don’t need to beat ourselves up for our shortcomings because we all have them. The key is helping each other out.

I don’t know. It helped me crawl out of my hole. Maybe it will help you.

PS: And and then there was John Stewart asking Obama tonight: “If you win will you enslave the white race?” Now we all have to love that…..

 

White Men

From today’s Huffington Post:

“To put it bluntly, the next president will be elected by white men: the outcome of Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary will depend on whether they go for Hillary or Obama, and the outcome of the general election will depend on whether enough of them vote for McCain. A lot of them will: white men cannot be relied on, as all of us know who have spent a lifetime dating them. “

Amen sister….. amen….. 

 

Fuck Your Blog

I have nothing to say so I’m going away until I do. I’m pretty sure I’m in a depression. I’ve had bronchitis for a long time and I’m not getting a lot better. I can’t workout, don’t sleep too well, get tired really easily. All in all it’s a bit of a bummer. That and this goddamned Seattle weather… cold and rainy all the freaking time. It will pass and hopefully when it does I’ll have something to say and something to care about again. Here’s one little bit of hopeful news before I go: I talked to my 85 year old southern conservative (a/k/a a former racist, republican, southern baptist) mother today and she told me (again….it’s sticking!!!!) that she thinks Obama is the best of the 3 presidential hopefuls….. my god…..that is pretty amazing if you ask me…. cheers.

 

How I Entertain Myself at Work

Other than blogging, reading other people’s blogs, writing my dog’s blog, e-mailing my friends incessantly…

At 1minute 19 seconds… Tom really cuts loose. It’s worth the wait, believe me.

 

 

Doppelgangers

OK… right up front I’ll say sure, she’s a bit younger and thinner and a little hotter than I am, but plenty of people have told me I look a lot like Mary Louise Parker - indeed a Southern three-part name… she is in fact, from my own hometown!!! From IMDB…… “Southern-bred Mary-Louise Parker, from Fort Jackson, (which is in Columbia) South Carolina, was born on August 2, 1964, the youngest of the family’s brood. She showed potential in her teens and majored in acting in her college years, graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts” ….1964 huh? Hah! Not that much younger…….. in dog years…. or something……. ok, what about this one???

I accept the comparison as a true compliment. WEEDS is one of my favorite shows. I love the actors, the storyline, the dark humor and the sex - my god, Mary Louise and Romany Malco (Conrad) are hot…. But today, in an effort to save money, I canceled my HBO and Showtime subscriptions. Now, for Weeds, Entourage, Californication and other favorites I will have to wait for DVD release to satisfy my addiction. Hell, it’s only saving me about 22 dollars a month… I’m considering just getting rid of the cable altogether …. I watch way too much TV. And there’s plenty on regular network programming to keep me busy…

This was the theme of today after sinking into despair last night over finances: fix this situation. Somehow. I’ve been living beyond my means for a very long time, pretending I have money when I have none. Now my credit card is maxed out again and my savings account is gone. My safety nets have been yanked. This is what I know about myself - I am terrible with money. But I am also resilient and will manage to take care of myself and my daughter. And while I owe a ton of money, I always pay my bills on time and have an excellent credit score. For now.

But back to the fun part of this post. Who is your Doppelganger? Don’t be modest…… tell me…. I think T4 is a more handsome Martin Short, my friend Derrick is John C. O’Reilly, Elisabeth82 (in her before pics) looks like one of those models on this season of ANTM (Whitney), and my girl looks like the YOUNG (think Parent Trap) Lindsay Lohan…… but feel free to dispute these comparisons……