Librarian's Rant

Betsy just sent me the link to this great commentary by Anna Quindlen.

There are many ways in which this case has been divvied up in public. Spouse vs. parents. Liberals vs. conservatives. Secular vs. religious. But it is truly about that thing that defines free human beings: the right to self-determination instead of a one-size-fits-all approach in private matters, in those issues that take place in bedrooms and kitchens and hospices. It's a primal demand for a personal sense of control in the face of intrusive government, intrusive medicine and intrusive strangers who think holding a crucifix like a blunt instrument makes them righteous when it really only makes them sanctimonious."

I heard Ms. Quindlen speak at ALA (or was it PLA? mind like a steel sieve.) last year, and was very impressed. I've liked her work for years, but it was great to hear her.

According to CNN, he was given last rites last night, as he is terribly ill. This is by no means a definite end, but we have to face that he hasn't long. In that vein, I am clearly worried that a nasty fight will ensue to choose the next Pope. As pontiffs go, this one could have been a lot worse. Some of the current choices for successor certainly worry me. I'm not Catholic, but a decision of this magnitude can affect social policy for millions of people for decades to come, which will indirectly affect me. I hope it is weighed in that weighty light, and not in a reactionary way. We'll see.

I found this site, Peerflix, today. It's an interesting idea, I think. Sort of Netflix without the warehousing capabilities. Or a combo of Netflix and eBay. I was amused to see in their FAQ that "Peerflix is growing at an alarming rate." Why 'alarming'??

It's an interesting idea, as I say. I like the pay-as-you-go component. I wonder if they'll keep that up.

Premiered last Saturday in Britain. No US distributor as yet?? I'm also amused that it's being produced primarily by BBC Wales.

Take the Tardis tour. It's mega-sexy!

From Library Journal.

Now this is how to celebrate Bunny Day. Giant Chocolate Easter Eggs! Those crazy Belgians.

Clean, funny, bunny Flash.

Thanks, tr!

Okay, I just couldn't resist having some photos taken of the Peep my friend Laura sent me earlier.

My yellow Peeplet checks out the library, and contemplates his Peepmanity

Peeplet and friend ask a reference question.




Thanks to Michael for the photography!

A tad more Peep madness:

Amy K. found the Passion of the Peeps.

Last Peeps of the day. I swear. Probably.

Lord of the Peeps! (takeoff on LOTR, not the Michael Flately dancey thing)

Okay, so today it's been Peeps, Peeps, Peeps on my blog. I needed something to cheer me up, so that's where my head has been. So what happens? My buddy Laura sends me a stuffed Peep! It arrived via FedEx while I'm sitting on the ref desk. Whee!!! It's yellow and soft and adorable. Photos when I can (stupid digital camera can't be downloaded at work!).

Whee! Peeps!

Perusing (as I do this time of year) the Peeps at the Library research from Millikin University, I notice that they've hit the big time! From their website:

CBS's Rita Braver came to Staley Library with a Chicago CBS film crew on March 2 to record an Easter feature for CBS News Sunday Morning - namely, to interview Susan Avery and Jen Masciadrelli about their creation of that famed Peeps page! This will be part of an Easter Sunday story about the Peeps, including a visit to the Peeps factory and a look into the varied uses that people make of this curious little sugar and marshmallow creature.

Yay, Peeps!

PEEPS! You know, those little marshmallow chicky things. I find them foul to the taste, but it turns out you can have loads of fun with them. Some suggestions:

A Peeps topiary. (Thanks, Alison)

There's been a fair bit of research done on what makes Peeps, well, peep. Including the effects of smoking and alcohol on your average Peep.

They've had miraculous surgery performed on them.

They've even gone to the Library!

Just for fun: Luc: Monkey in America.

Click the boxes in the top left of the screen to make him spin, laugh, jump, sleep and more.

From The Des Moines Register, another example of schools pissing away the advantages they can give their students by having strong media centers. What the article doesn't mention is that this is just the latest in a long series of cutbacks in school librarians in the Des Moines area. When will they realize that they're shooting themselves in the proverbial foot? If standards and/or scores slip, they'll lose support and money. In this article, they quote my neighbor and fellow neighborhood activist:

During a budget forum this week in Des Moines, parent Sarah Bolten , president of Hanawalt Elementary School's Parent Teacher Association, told the board she would have to rethink options for her daughter if "volunteers would be running our library," among other things.