Facing a New Year

Clearly, it has been a while since I updated my blog. A lot of things have changed this year. In a way, the changes that have taken place on my little part of planet Earth reflect the changes that are taking place in the U.S. as a whole. I moved from a secure job of five years to a new position that is in flux. I am no longer living with just my hubby and the cat. We moved back home to help my retired parents with living costs because social security is just not doing it and neither of my parents can go back to work and shouldn't have to. I am back in school for another masters' degree, my husband is in school, and my daughter is in her second year of school. My second degree is for computers and how they can be used for education. So like many people today, we are a multi-generational household working together to keep each other afloat. Clearly, the only thing that should truly matter is helping each other. There are so many things wrongs in today's society and with this country, but I will take this country over any other country as the best place to live. What people perceive as our weaknesses are truly our strengths. If we can just get past the corruption that exists in our current government, get back to what the Constitution and the Bill of Rights really say, and apply them to our every day governing lives, then this country can get back to being a shining example of freedom. Until we start looking past political parties, skin color, gender, and what tries to divide us and start looking at what brings us together, this country will continue to be stymied and unable to move past this intense period of ineptitude.

The Chaos of Life: Principle of Randomness

Well, me lovelies, it's been a while since I updated my blog, and I am procrastinating about this second paper I have to do before November 6th. I'd rather write some nonsense than actually work on my paper, so here goes. There are a couple of things on my mind so if this seems random, good. Randomness keeps life interesting. So anyway, I usually work on Fridays, and lately, I haven't really enjoyed them very much due to an over abundance of meetings...so, yesterday was like a breath of fresh air to me when I was allowed to go on a school visit to a local elementary school instead of attending a meeting! I got to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in ten years, introduce myself to some of the teachers, and best of all, I got to read to a kindergarten class as well as a second grade class. I had a ball, and I know the kids liked the stories, especially Chicken Cheeks,Michael Ian Black. I also found out that she is actively pursuing her doctorate, as well as looking for a career change into the technology field. She said that she thought I was a natural for her job. Cool, I think I could get some satisfaction from a job like in the future. It would mesh well with my current masters program, a computer science degree concentrating on information technology in education. I visited another school earlier this week for their PTO kick-off program where I read to some odd 65 kids and parents. I even got two thank you cards and a coupon for a free sweet tea. Nice. Southerners love our iced teas. My kitty is still available for adoption and is still living on our porch. He goes to see the kitty doctor on Tuesday to get his shots updated, fitted for a sweater for the cooler weather, get a flea bath, and get a kitty condo with some new toys. It looks like he's here for the duration, so I wanna make sure he is comfortable. Both my husband and my daughter are also in school, and school seems like a chore for all three of us this semester. I guess we're trying to settle in and just haven't settled down yet. However, I really do miss my friends in Pensacola, but I am glad I am home. Politics sucks and all politicians are lying, cheating, dishonest @$$wipes who should be replaced by new people every four years. I am an independent, and I firmly believe that the way this country is being run today is NOT what the Founding Fathers had in mind. I am glad that we have had the opportunity to have a man of color elected, but this man has done a piss poor job. I really believe we should elect a Native American, limit terms for everyone, eliminate salaries for millionaires like Obama and Biden, make them live with the same health care they want to foist on us, pay the same bills and taxes we do, eliminate life-time welfare families, put people to work even if it's digging ditches and then filling them in again, and get rid of ALL the lobbyists no matter WHAT their causes are...and stand up for ALL of soldiers and veterans. So, that's all that has come to mind lately. Hope you enjoyed reading. Until next time...

Karma, Isaac, and New Orleans

Good evening, gentle readers!I know it's been a while since I've written anything, so I thought what the hay; I have two unexpected days off, so I'll write something for my blog. What could more perfect than writing about the coming of Isaac to the only place on the New Orleans Gulf Coast---oh, wait, that's the Mississippi Gulf Coast-you all know where that's located, don't you? It's that Land Mass between Mobile, AL and New  Orleans, LA the only two important cities on the Gulf Coast, or at least that is what one is lead to believe when one watches the national media. Apparently, they don't know that there are civilized cities all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coast: there is Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, D'Iberville, Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, and here's the kicker for those who remember Katrina seven years ago Wednesday hitting Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Pearlington, Picayune, and then moving into Louisiana: Slidell and then New Orleans.

Now, you're probably reading this and saying, this chick has a chip on her shoulder about this. Well, you'd be right to a point. Yes, NOLA got a lot of damage after Katrina, but as a resident of the area and frequent visitor of the Big Sleazy-I mean the Big Easy-politics had A LOT to do with the city's problems-40 years of corruption and misappropriated funds leading to shabby upkeep on the levees leading to flooding when the levees broke. Add to this, the so-called mayor-who is currently under indictment and their so-called governor, who was not re-elected, who LET those poor people suffer instead of taking the necessary measures to bus them out of the city with the city buses that were JUST sitting there and refusing aid from Pres. Bush (say what you will about the man, but I was here the whole time and he visited the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Louisiana not two or three times, but a whopping six times...I also did not vote for the man-I voted for Darth Vader) when he offered it. Even after they got ALL the national media attention, of which there was no shortage, they bitched about the fact that they didn't get enough FEMA money...while from Mississippi, where Katrina blew away everything I grew up with and remembered, we settled down to work and rebuild without media attention. I think Karma is in play now because Isaac is on its way to-wait for it-New Orleans...so now, they can actually be truthful in their coverage--the new outlets that is...only here, on the local new stations Isaac is a Cat 1 hurricane, not a Cat 2 as ABC has reported. Also thanks to the Weather Channel's geographically challenged producers, Mobile Bay is actually in MS. The storm's bands are so strong, they've relocated Mobile Bay to another state. Anyway, there is a purpose for this rant...Hancock County Library System, where I currently work, is battening down for their share of the storm. While at work getting the main building situated for the coming deluge, the aforementioned irony dawned on me, and I wasn't the only one to have this epiphany; many of my co-workers, a few from the Crescent City, mentioned this in passing. So, there you have it, gentle readers, rants from the Land Mass between Mobile Bay, MS and New Orleans, LA; otherwise known as Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Ramblings from the Crack'd One

Well it's your friendly neigborhood, Crack'd Librarian is back at the writing of the blog and soooo much more. I'm here on the MS Gulf Coast, still living out of boxes and trying to settle in, and feeling my way around my new library system. Like other library systems, mine is facing budget cuts and trying to do as much if not more with less. I am now a Director level, but I found to my surprise that I am a dept. of one. I was hired for my experience and expertise in all things young adult: programming, volunteer opportunities, and building up teen sections for five branches. I am using some of the skills and knowledge that I attained last semester during Social Media to delve into managing the library's online teen presence on Facebook and of all things, Twitter.
I have stated before that I don't get Twitter, and that still holds true. I do get Facebook, although I don't like all of the recent changes they have instituted. But, I'm not going to harp on that here. I am going to bring to teachers and librarians' attention NetGalley.com. This site allows educators and others to get galley copies of the newest titles of different genre from publishers. So far, I have in my box thirteen different titles of different genre such as graphic novels, drama, mystery, and horror.

Class starts for again in a month, and I have decided that I definitely want to complete this degree in computers. It seems that is where the future is. Nothing beats the smell and feel of having a great book in your hands, except maybe the wonderful smell of a newborn baby, but unfortunately, libraries cannot stock the shelves with newborn babies; we're already having enough of a time keeping newer books on the shelves or in drastic cases, staying open. People need to wake up and realize that libraries are not just repositories for books; they are also places for people to get together and meet, learn, and network. A society that refuses to recognize the value of education (even self education) is doomed to ignorance. God help us when we value "Jersey Shore" and MTV over a good book.

Mother's Day, Moving, and Memories: 3 M Things

The first thing I want to say to anyone who stumbles upon this little corner of the WWW is celebrate Mother's Day with your moms, your grandmas, your kids, your aunties, and/or any woman who holds a special place in your lives.
Mom, I love you, and I am thankful for everything you have done for me over the years. I don't know how I would have survived without you. All my aunts, sisters, best female friends: you're all rocking women and glad to have you in my life. Thanks!

Now some news...I got a job a new job which I am starting on June 1st. I will be moving after being in the same place for five + years. It's hard. I have some great friends in my life here, some closer than family that I'll miss more than words can't express. It'll be strange not seeing them everyday.
But it's time to move on and upwards into a new phase of my life.

This brings me to my third M: Memories...I have some good, some bad, and some ugly memories from my time in this place. Every one of them have shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned what to do in uncertain situations, in certain situations, and in the heat of the moment: trust that One who is greater than anything or anyone has everything and everyone in His hands and He's got me. I like the thought expressed so well in the Bible "Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you." I also believe that our cares concern Him, no matter how big nor how small. So, I care about all my peeps here and that means He cares for you all, too.

The Crack'd Librarian wishes alla ya'll a great peaceful Mother's Special Day with Your Women and Let 'em Know It Day!

Library and Librarians Funding for the Future

Well, people, now that my class is over I am free to rant and rave about things besides the technological. Without further ado, here goes: the problems that are facing many libraries today, both large and small, have finally come to my little neck of the woods. We've suffered budget cuts practically the whole five years I've been here, but now the county which funds 72% of our budget has decided that the libraries located in the county-three of them-are not worth as much as the equestrian center...despite the fact that most of the users of the library system being county residents. So, if things don't change-meaning if people don't get their heads out of their asses and realize that libraries are NOT leisure services anymore-if they ever were-but are REALLY places where all sorts and classes of people come for various reasons-job applications and training, computer classes, students with reference questions, people without computers or Internet at home, people on public assistance of ANY kind come to fill out their forms because the people who are SUPPOSED to assist them tell them to "go to the liberry-they'll help you fill out the information. That's their job."
Librarians in recent years now have special training seminars and workshops we have to attend to learn to deal with the homeless, the mentally unstable who live in the libraries during operating hours; we have training in social services and what assistance we are allowed by law to give...and how to explain issues of privacy to the patron who doesn't know how to use a computer, let alone the Internet. We offer tax preparing assistance. Literacy training for adults and children...free Inter-library loans, movies, books, books on CD, music CDs, language and research databases, children's programs, teen programs (and sometimes free babysitting services because parents tend to leave their kids as young as 3 unattended in the Children's sections/rooms of public libraries), graphic novels for adults, teens, and kids, easy reader chapter books, school/day care visits, summer programs, computers for public use, printing (suggested donation-not a real fee for printing), scanning and faxing services, and a drive through window, plus meeting rooms for public use, and of course, drop boxes...these are just a few of the services my library branch offers. There are many more that libraries as organizations offer to the public for FREE or at a minimal fee...nothing over a $1.
Yet, politicians and their ILK are the first to cut libraries and their funding...and not their expense accounts, work cars, work cell phones, salaries that are too much for the LITTLE they do, and their office staff...we lose staff, yet we're expected to operate as if nothing is wrong--hours are cut, funds are cut, salaries are cut, merit based pay raises don't happen, benefits are cut...GIVE ME A FREAKIN BREAK...

The Death of the First Admentment

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120320001

The above mentioned article for the local newspaper has highlighted a serious threat to freedom of speech, not to mention serious invasion of privacy issues. In case you didn't click the aforementioned link, the article tells of recent moves in policy by some employers, especially those linked to government and local city governments, of asking potential employees or employees who have been on long leaves of absences to either log onto their social media or just plain asking for the Facebook user names and passwords.
First off, the ONLY way a company has ANY business of checking a person's communications is at work on the company's email. THAT is the only way I agree with monitoring of any forms of communication. For a company to demand a person's Facebook account is just plain wrong, but this goes not just for Facebook but for trying to invade their privacy as well. It's akin to coming to their houses and looking through their underwear drawer or reading their private journals. In this tight job market, where most people need a job and will do practically anything to get one, sacrificing your right to privacy or being able to feed your family is not a choice many people can make. And it ISN'T one people should have to make. Corporations and governments have enough power over us as it is; they shouldn't be allowed to monitor what we post to our peeps.

People need to get the head out of the sand, stand up for the rights our forefathers and mothers fought and sometimes died for, or they will be gone and this country will truly be dead. People thought Winston Churchill was a nut for warning about Hitler and Nazi Germany as far back as 1932. People were wrong. Let's hope this Crack'd Librarian is wrong...