Tuesday, February 24, 2009
999 Challenge - Can the Informatician Extraordinaire Meet or Exceed Expectations?
Considering the Extraordinaire's Library Collection, you would think she reads books all day. Alas, her time is broken up between commuting to work, cooking dinner, then trying to sleep. Nonetheless, she does try to turn a few pages every morning while trying to wake up and before turning out the light after midnight. Although she doesn't much care to have lots of books imposed on her "must read" list, she is intrigued by a concours by her favorite online book cataloging tool LibraryThing. Called the 999 Challenge, the idea is to read nine different books in nine different genres (categories to you non-bibliothequers) by 09/09/2009. Hmmm..I wonder if I can include magazines in the count...
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
In the Wake of Disaster
As is implied in the subtitle of this blog, the Extraordinaire is in the employ of The People. In this case, those residing in the State of Texas. With a territory as big as it is, lots of things happen here. Sometimes they aren't nice things such as the big hurricane with the little name that blew onto the coast last year. The Extraordinaire's office happens to be in the business of controlling the beaches and those things that happen to be on them and so everyone's been busy responding to the aftermath of Ike. The devastation was such that Texas isn't responding alone and so the Federal government in the guise of FEMA is working within our cubicle real estate. They're also needing access to our electronic information and so yours truly has had a chance to work closely with them.
Now for someone originally from Louisiana with friends and relatives who survived Katrina, FEMA is truly a four letter word, but I have to say, the folk from the Fed are quite nice and willing to work in very crowded conditions. They're a plucky bunch from all over the United States.
What's the point of this diatribe? Well, the Extraordinaire wanted to pen a note saying how desperately Texas wants to get Galveston and other points coastal up and running and back in business. The fair port city on the Gulf has survived countless hurricanes, wars, epidemics, and other tragedies. It needs to be known once more for cruise ships, Mardi Gras, Dickens on the Strand, and tacky tacky shops on the pier. Although Government is often decried for its pork, waste, and inefficiency, the Extraordinaire just wanted readers to know that the people within do sometimes have a heart and even a soul...
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot gets extension on overdue library book
Just when the Extraordinaire was about to wonder whether it was worth going back to work in a regular library situation (the possibility is always out there), she reads an article that absolutely convinces her that YES, there are a few responsible library patrons out there! Don't misunderstand, though, the Extraordinaire couldn't care less about library fines as long as the books eventually get returned in circulatible condition. Obviously in this case, the book will not, but the hero of the moment actually contacted the library and let them know the situation. WOW! Better than shoving a waterlogged mess through the book drop one long holiday weekend. That, dear readers, is my Miracle on the Hudson...
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