What You Already Know

Summer 2009

2009-06-26T10:28:00.001-05:00

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Leadership

2009-04-09T14:05:00.002-05:00

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can put the resources in people's hands, but you can't make them connect the question to the answer.
You can outline, step by step, exactly what the truth of the situation is, based on the research and facts, but you can't make them believe you.

I sincerely believe that the easiest way to do something is ~~always~~ most likely the best way to do something. I see people wasting my time and theirs by making things much more difficult than they need to be. This was much more prevalent, of course, in the public sector, but I find it still happens every day in the corporate world.

What is the responsibility of us in the information sector in leading the world to do things more efficiently? Isn't the world better if everyone is more efficient at what they do (excepting criminals of any kind)? This is what the web is for- making things easier. This is what all technology has worked toward since the beginning of time.

If we can help people get more done in less time, why do they still insist on taking more time to get less done? When do we take the reigns and remove their choice for their own benefit?

When do we step in and say, "It's this aspect of your culture, or it's a better quality of life- pick!" ?

And one last thing that's bothered me for a long time-

Why is Coke in a can a 12 oz serving, but in a bottle its an 8 oz serving? It's the same Coke, right?

Prisoners of Biology

2009-03-06T11:15:00.003-06:00

I posted the following over 2.5 years ago. I still haven't found out too much to contradict it.

"OK, I've been thinking about this theory for a little while now. It's not too terribly fleshed out, but I think I've got my mind around the basics. I call it "One Choice Theory on Human Behavior". Here is goes:

Human beings are simply prisoners of biology. Everything we do is dictated by biology, regardless of any rationalizations. We do not choose to draw breath or eat or sleep. Sure, some of the time we think these things are choices, or we choose how to do them, but this is an illusion.

We, as animals, seek to procreate. This is our end goal. It is why we do the things we do. We eat and breathe to provide energy so that we can accomplish social goals in order to win a mate. We earn a living to procure social status and provide for our mate and offspring. This encompasses everything from crime to sport and gossip. They are all done to meet this end, though we rarely acknowledge that this applies to humans as well as the other animals. Nature and evolution have ensured our reproduction by making it and things related to it carry with them pleasure. There is pleasure in reproduction itself, pleasure in providing, in success, in winning, in securing a mate in a stable relationship etc. Even drawing breath has small pleasure, or at least a lack of displeasure. If any of these things were unpleasurable, we would simply not do them and the species would adapt around them or die. This is the trick. We do not actually choose to do any of these things, but the pleasure makes us desire them and we confuse desire for choice. We are simple programmed to do the things that feel good, or perhaps we think things feel good because we have to do them.

So, what is the "One Choice" named in the theory title? Here's the depressing part. The only choice we have (that may or may not be unique to humans, but I doubt it is) is to not do the things that we are programmed to find pleasurable. Our choice lies in our ability to not reproduce, to not eat, participate in social activities, succeed, even breathe. What is the end result of this choice? Simply the pride in knowing that we can conquer our animal natures and actually choose. We are not so hard-wired that we cannot go against our needs. I'm not sure of the biological benefit of this, except of course that the ones who make this choice will be drawn toward each other by the attraction of mutual independence. (Meaning that perhaps, in certain circumstances, this is not a choice either, but another means to the end... more of that later.*) The negative of this choice is that we are denied the very things that give us pleasure.

So, we can remain supplied with pleasurable activities and the positive feelings that arise from them, but know constantly that we are just well-cared-for prisoners, or we can buck the shackles of biology and make the choice to forsake pleasure for the simple pride of knowing that we chose.

Sorry to ruin everyone's day. I'm still working on it and will post more as I figure things out.

Spencer"

* I am more convinced now that this is simply another form of mate selection. Being able to attract people with your nonconformity is apparently a pretty powerful tool in some circles. Perhaps, then, there is even less choice than I thought.

Also, this theory does not address homosexuality and how it relates to the genetic and biological need to procreate. I haven't figured out the right way to phrase that one yet... I guess the best way is to say that every population has outliers.

A Solution to Health Care.

2009-02-18T12:18:00.003-06:00

Let’s say roughly half of the people registered to vote in 2004 (71mm people) think that medical coverage is a right that should be provided by the government. I think this problem can be solved simply by having these people donate to pay for it themselves.

Let’s see how this works- shall we. If each of these people gave $1 a month, that would be $852mm a year. It would take $156 per month from each of these people to raise the $133billion needed to insure the uninsured. In the US there is a median house hold income of $50,233 (2007 figures). Now, assume that each household has 2 people- making it a payment of $312/month/household. If this was taken pre-tax- that would leave hat household with $3,874 gross per month, or 92.5% of their current income.

This is, of course, an overestimation in the percentage of income taken, given that double income households actually make a higher median household income.

Now, if it was pre-taxed (or if the contribution was tax deductible) the household who contributes making the median annual income would pay $6,171 annually in taxes (with no other deductions). Before this contribution they would be paying $6,732. That change actually makes the cost of their annual contribution at $3,183 annually to provide insurance for the uninsured.

This is, of course, average. But, I am assuming that many of those who propose such government services also support progressive tax systems, than a sliding scale can be accommodated. 7.5% of your current income is all it could take to privately accomplish what the government cannot. (Also, please keep in mind that government traditionally does not get the same value per dollar as nonprofit organizations.)

This would raise enough money annually to relieve the cost of medical school for 953,000 doctors. This figure could also employ 532,000 doctors making an average of $250,000 a year.

Salary is 40.5% of hospital costs (http://www.solucient.com/articles/07_MTM_Solucient.pdf ). Let’s use Philadelphia’s Presbyterian Medical Center’s number of employees of 1350 for an example. (http://westphillydata.library.upenn.edu/west%20philly%20data%20top%2020%20businesss%20by%20employees.htm ) Now, if EVERY employee was a doctor making an average salary used above, the annual hospital costs of labor would be $337,500,000. Using this as 40.5% of hospital costs, the total annual cost of that hospital would be $833,333,333.33. When we divide that number into the whole, this money could annually fund 160 hospitals. That’s one hospital in each of the top 160 cities listed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population#Incorporated_places_over_100.2C000_population .

Of course, not every employee is a doctor, so this number could radically go up. Also, not every hospital would have this many employees. Now, the cost of managing such a large organization of hospitals would be large, which is why a nonprofit insurance agency with certain requirements for approval would be better.

Am I wrong here? Do my numbers not add up? If this is the case, why don’t the 50% of Americans who want such a system simply make it happen? Remember, these are annual costs, so this would be an ongoing figure. Perhaps there would be another level that would also cover all people contributing.

I guess my question is, why force the other half to foot the bill if they don’t want to when they can easily get it done if they quit complaining about it and just did it on their own. I think if they don’t do it, then it makes their motives suspect. Perhaps they don’t want this health care. Perhaps they really want to force other people to pay. I don’t know.

Please let me know if I’m wrong.

Explanation of #30

2009-02-03T13:49:00.002-06:00

Ok,

Michelle's comment has brought to the forefront a need to explain further number 30 in the previous post.

This statement, as it is, has never really settled well with me whenever I say it. For one thing, it is too blanket for my usual tastes. Two, it's not really what I mean.

So, here it goes; I'll break it down.

"90% of the world is stupid"- Stupid is possibly the wrong word here. I think inept fits better. Also, this is a situation specific claim. Therefore, in any given situation, 90% of people are inept at it. Take, for instance, explaining what you actually mean. I would fall in that 90%.

Now, "the problems arise from the 86% of them that don't know it." I believe this still to be true when one understands the first part of the statement as explained above. In this case, a problem arose from me not knowing how inept I was at explaining what I meant. Now, in this situation, I fall into the 4% of the 90% who can head off any problems by understanding that they are probably going to be in the wrong.

Does that help?

Inspired by a Facebook viral, but more!

2009-01-30T14:59:00.003-06:00

1. I took tennis and bowling in college.

2. I can't speak, read, or write Japanese anymore.

3. I like the way skunks smell.

4. I used to think it was impressive that I had a book still overdue from 1999, but now that I'm fully versed in the ways libraries work, I realize they don't even know they're missing it.

5. Freshly made flour tortillas are, perhaps, the perfect food.

6. I'm closed minded, but I don't think there's a problem with that because I'm right most of the time.

7. I don't notice a lot of things.

8. My son is the greatest human being ever born. This is provable scientifically.

9. I once had an ingrown toenail that is now the stuff of legend... an infamous kind of legend.

10. I like beer.

11. I have 3 dogs, with a total of 11 legs.

12. I participated in high school academic contests with hangovers.

13. I think the easiest way to do something is probably the best way to do something.

14. I play animal crossing... wow that's hard to admit.

15. I am not a good driver. In fact, I wish I never had to drive at all.

16. I'm not a very good writer either.

17. I have an opinion on just about everything, but that's only because I've thought about it already.

18. If there was a profession where people would pay me just to point out their faults (without offering any solutions) I would be the Frank Lloyd Wright of it.

19. I firmly believe that everyone peaks at some point and we shouldn't listen to the doom and gloom warnings of old people.

20. I am, and always have been, bad at spelling.

21. I went several years of my life without owning a vacuum cleaner. Don't worry, we've got one now. If you knew my wife, you would definitely know she married me in spite of my (ex) tendencies to slobbery.

22. My wedding day was HOT! It was good that there was a lot of beer. I think 95% of people there would agree on that.

23. I think my wedding is the best wedding I've ever been to.

24. Oh yeah, I'm pretty arrogant, but that's nothing new to anyone, really, is it?

25. I rarely know what day it is until I look at a calendar, and then I don't know what I've got scheduled for tomorrow.

26. I have attended 7 colleges and universities and have only 2 degrees.

27. I love low scoring baseball games- where every pitch and every swing, stolen base, or error can cost you the game.

28. I have worn cologne before, but I don't as a general rule now.

29. I like what Voltaire had to say, but I can't shake the feeling that if I was sent back in time- with a fluent understanding of period French- I would want to punch him in the face after about 5 minutes of conversation.

30. Not to offend, but I believe that 90% of the world population is stupid, but the problems arise from the 86% of them that don't know it.

Just a warning

2008-12-26T10:55:00.002-06:00

It is slow and nuanced. It is a weapon of language.

The slippery slope has an invisible tipping point. A is so close to B that it doesn't seem that bad. Next thing you know, you're looking over your shoulder at Z and you realize you are in (alphabetically) uncharted territory.

Watch Yours.

Chavez, Chavez, Chavez

2008-12-08T13:31:00.002-06:00

Chavez seems to have two things that he's got to deal with. How is he going to balance the 36% inflation and the mandatory belt tightening with his bid to become dictator for life?

How is going to blame us for this?

Watch out for this Wiley Fool. A military man knows that a military creates jobs when wars are manufactured. The price of oil goes up when a war is manufactured. Powerful leaders tend to stay in power when a war is manufactured.

My guess? Civil war, or close- using troops to aid his buddy in Bolivia. He (hopefully) won't move into Columbia, but he doesn't need to in order to solidify his power and squelch the opposition back home!

Wanderlust

2008-12-05T09:56:00.003-06:00

You know those Southwest Airlines commercials that ask you, "Wanna get away?" Well, yes. Generally I do. It's not that I don't like Texas. I really, really, do. I just want to get away. It's not my fault, anyway. It's genetic.

As a kid, I lived in five different houses before I started Kindergarten. That house lasted until the end of 3rd grade (why do Canadians say grade 3?). Then, there was a whirlwind of moving inbetween my 8th birthday (spent on a plane crossing the international date line, if I remember correctly) and my 12th birthday. There were really too many homes, and flights, and countries, and cities, and adventures to count here. Sure, there were some 4 month stays here and there, but that was about it. Then I settled down in La Porte for 6 whole years. Then, right after graduation, left and began again- though spending most of the next few year somwhere in Texas.

In college, my now wife and I, lived in the same place for a few years, but I got away to Japan for a semester. Now, we've been where we are in the metroplex for a while, and I'm feeling the urge.

I keep telling myself that I just haven't found the right place yet, but I've seen what happens when people never do. My dad's still got it bad, but is too physically limited to act on it. Biology has forced him to one place.

I don't want my son to get what I call "the disease" but I want to move. I feel like I need to move. I need to find a place I can stay. The problem is, I'm not sure what that will take.

John Irving

2008-11-17T11:53:00.002-06:00

Do you ever come across someone who is so good at something that it makes you realize how awful you would be at it? A person who just raised the bar so high that no matter how much you practice your Fosbury impersonation, you know you'll never pass over it?

John Irving is like that to me. I get a story in my head, and then I read one of his books and realize how much better the story would be in J.I. penned it. Then I get sad. Susanna Clarke also had this effect on me, albeit her repertoire is much more limited than Mr. Irving's.

I guess it's much like when I used to think I could play baseball well, until I played with people who could actually play well. Sure I tried to get better. I still love the game, and I can hit the hell out of a pitching machine, but I know if I took the field with someone with real talent, I would be tempted to put my bat back in the hall closet where it now resides full time.

Currently I am reading A Son of the Circus. Half way through and I think that every paragraph is as good as it could be, and they are all very good.

So, I guess I should thank John Irving for showing me what can be done with words, and curse him for bringing to light exactly how much better he is than I.

Woman jailed after 'killing' virtual husband

2008-10-23T13:01:00.000-05:00

From Yahoo news

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – A 43-year-old player in a virtual game world became so angry about her sudden divorce from her online husband that she logged on with his password and killed his digital persona, police said Thursday.

The woman, who has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his ID and password to log onto the popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in May, a police official in the northern city of Sapporo said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of department policy.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

The woman, a piano teacher, had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.

She has not yet been formally charged. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison or a fine up to $5,000.

Players in "Maple Story" create and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting monsters and other obstacles.

In virtual worlds, players often abandon their inhibitions, engaging in activity online that they would never do in the real world. For instance, sex with strangers is a common activity.

The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married to kill the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his online avatar was dead.

The woman was arrested Wednesday and taken 620 miles from her home in southern Miyazaki to be detained in Sapporo, where the man lives, the official said.

The police official said he did not know if she was married in the real world.

Bad online behavior is usually handled within the rules set up by online worlds, which can ban miscreants or take away their virtual possessions.

In recent years, virtual lives have had consequences in the real world.

When bad deeds lead to criminal charges, prosecutors have found a real-world activity to cite — as in this case, in which the woman was charged with inappropriate computer access.

In August, a woman was charged in Delaware with plotting the real-life abduction of a boyfriend she met through the virtual reality Web site "Second Life."

In Tokyo, a 16-year-old boy was charged with stealing the ID and password from a fellow player of an online game in order to swindle virtual currency worth $360,000.

Virtual games are popular in Japan, and "Second Life" has drawn a fair number of Japanese participants. They rank third by nationality among users, after Americans and Brazilians.

Personal Thinker

2008-09-04T12:42:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone. I've started a new company called Personal Thinker. It's a problem solving consulting company. Currently, we are open to pro bono work in order to build our reputation. We are also interested in other innovative thinkers to join our ranks as partners in the venture. Don't worry, no money is required to buy in, only the willingness to lend your opinions and thoughts to problems that offer no immediate payout.

Legacies

2008-08-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

Today is my son’s first birthday. This, of course, has forced me to take pause and evaluate the state of the world, and what I can do to improve it. Going around (and around) in my head is the only realistic thing I can do to change the world for the better- I must develop and record a complete secular moral code.

I have come, firmly, to the conclusion that morality without religion is no only possible, but necessary in order to positively advance global society. We have laws, yes, but these should not be confused with this concept of secular morality. Laws regulate the transactions between people and/or the state. Secular morality isn’t this. The rub comes in defining this morality. It could too easily degenerate into a monologue on the “World According to Spencer.” This brings rise to the first rule of secular morality- all statements included in the moral code must be objectively and logically reasoned.

The lack of logic in religious morality is, simply stated, unacceptable. However, the fact that these moral codes have been collected, written down, and preached, has allowed them to sustain for millennia. These, combined with the promise of an afterlife, are advantages that secular morality must address. It cannot address, due to its very nature, issues of afterlife; but secular morality can be collected, transcribed, and preached. This, I have concluded, is what MUST be done. This will be our legacy, our gift to future generations.

This is a movement. It is a revolution against subjective moral codes.

This Friday

2008-07-01T21:45:00.003-05:00

So, I was reading a blog post from my previouse place of employment and it got me thinking again about the problem I have with "Guns, Germs, and Steel."

Should we celebrate our freedom and values simply because of geographic determinism? Allow me to redefine the term. I don' t mean it this way really. I mean it more as geographic luck. An coincidence of birth. An imaginary boundary established by long forgotten treaties.

Were I not born in Texas would people tell me that I should hold different values or measures of success? If I was birthed a few hundred miles and a river away would I have to proclaim a loyalty to a different belief system? Or could I get away with simply relocating?

Where's the freedom in that? Where is the freedom in that? Where is the freedom in that?!

The Histories

2008-06-22T21:04:00.001-05:00

Yeah, that's right.

2008-06-09T21:24:00.003-05:00

So, I'm not so much of a "shades of gray" kind of guy. Yep, I see most things as black or white, even though it might make things more difficult. This is probably because I am a "slippery slope" kind of guy. Any you know what slope I think is pretty slick, not to mention steep? The cult of personality. Perhaps this is what sent a shiver down my spine this morning when I saw a car magnet bearing a photo likeness of the presumptive Democratic party nominee. Though it's not what I saw, take a look at the image for sale on zazzle .

I know (read "hope") that the Obama camp had anything to do with these items, but one can never be sure. Now, the McCainiacs have their own, and I'm by no way endorsing one party over the other, but I felt I should make mention of this. This is no gray area here.

Oh, and by the way, I have no solutions. I just feel a little creeped out . Anyone else think this isn't a good thing?

Best Mutt

2008-05-21T15:51:00.003-05:00

Ok,

I just have to brag that my dog Rufus (not the scottie) won the "Best Mutt" blue ribbon at Fido Fest 2008 in North Richland Hills. It having been on a Saturday, I realize he could not have won if I was still at the good ol' FWPL (where EVERYONE has to work saturdays... well, everyone that isn't at the big, important locations).

Anyway, there is just one location now, and it's still great. I'm pretty sure they're still looking for another librarian, also. Anyway, I was thinking about how organization impacts every aspect of our lives. Actually, it's more about how data, and how we organize it, leads to success and failure.

Think about it. Your bank account, your bills, your letters, your inbox, your shopping list. It's all about how you gather and organize data that can lift you up or hold you down. Data rules the world. I'm not sure exactly how data helped my dog win the Best Mutt award, but I just type it as I think it.

Some ground rules.

2008-04-29T20:33:00.003-05:00

So,

With my wife and son out of town for a couple of days I've finally been able to accomplish something great! I defeated all levels of sling fire!

Really though, I'm saddened by this and must eat myself back to feeling comfortable with my status as fat guy and not nerd guy. Anyway, the thing that spawned this post occured last night before my family left me.

So there we were, eatin' good in the neighborhood (because it was on my wife's way out of town) when our waitress comes up to the table and takes our drink order. Everything is going fine until she stops and says, "Do you mind if I get to know you a little better?" So I'm thinking that they're actually going to give us a survey before we even get our food, but it's much worse than that. "May I," she continues, "ask you your names?"

Ok, now every instinct in my body wants to scream at the girl "NO YOU MAY NOT. GET ME MY DAMNED DIET COKE!" but instead my wife and I look at each other and shrug. Usually I hate the fact that waitstaff are obligated to give me their name, but now they're asking for mine?! I told my wife that I was going to have business cards printed up to give to waiters and waitresses wherever we go that outline what I consider good service. I won't even speak to them, just hand them the card. They'll take it politely, thinking I'm deaf or something and thus fealing obligated to read it, and they won't know what hit them until after it was over. My wife said that would be rude, but I wonder how it would really impact our dining experiences. It would have the following rules written on it:

1) Do not ever sit down in the booth or at the table with me.

2) Do not tell me your name or ask me how I'm doing.

3) DO NOT ASK ME MY NAME

4) Be a silent server. I don't want to know you're there, I just want your job done.

5) Do not ask me if I need change when I pay with cash.

6) When you tell me the specials, quote prices. I'm not cheap, but I like to know how much I'm spending.

7) I cannot stress rule number 4 too much

It would be titled something like "7 ways to earn a better tip from me"

I know I'm leaving some things out, but the bottom line is I go out to eat to be served, not to make friends. This is what happens when you have people work for tips. Not only should this practice be outlawed, but eateries should realize that they can charge a bit more and pay their staff what they're worth, thus getting better staff who provide better service and attract repeat customers who don't mind spending a little more.

I know people who totally disagree with this, but they are wrong. No gray area here.

Peoples, and what's holding them back.

2008-04-17T14:09:00.003-05:00

I remember, as I was finishing up my undergraduate degree, one of my professors commenting that there was a time when religion was a major force for social and economic progress, but now it might be a weight around the neck of developing nations. (I'm paraphrasing because it's been a while.) The bottom line is he was right. I thought so at the time and I'm more convinced now than ever.

I think this needs no further explanation, but I will just ask anyone who disagrees to look at the prosperity of secular nations as compared to those governed by religious ideals. I think this is true locally as well as on the global scale. Now, I'm not condemning religion. I am only reiterating that separation of church and state is the best idea in the history of government.

My argument, however, is only related to this in the aspect that members of religions identify themselves as members of that specific group. Shiite, Sunni, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarian, Methodist, etc., are all ways people identify themselves. Here are some others that might be familar: republican, democrat, American, white, black, Jew, immigrant, native, Texan, New Yorker, Red Sox fan. I have no problem with these groups, or identifying yourself as being a member of one. No, my problem comes whenever people complain about things done to their people.

Did that make sense? In other words, I think one thing that oppresses a people is the individuals complaining about what is oppressing their people. This isn't the only thing to blame, surely, but it definitely doesn't help. Calling on all members of a group to rally around for justice for that group only prevents the members of that group from achieving what they could have otherwise. I feel like I'm rambling, but stay with me. I think I'll be able to get it out soon. Here it goes:

If all members of a group were to strive for what was best for them as individuals I believe this group as a whole would overcome oppression much faster than trying to rally the efforts of the individual to the needs of a group. There are times when the needs of the group and the best actions of the individual coincide, but there are all too often times when the individual sacrifices for the group unnecessarily. The individuals who do focus on themselves first of often berated by members of the group who complain that they "don't give enough back," and are called names and often ostracized. This leads individuals to focus too much on the group and no progress is made.

How often is progress made by a group as opposed to an individual? Please, let me know if you think I'm wrong. All I ask is that you explain your reasons.

Brain Fuzz!

2008-04-14T17:41:00.002-05:00

My brain has been in a fuzz for the past few days. I think it's the changing weather and the changing jobs. These last few weeks have been pretty hectic for me; I feel like I've been running everywhere for no reason whatsoever.

Part of this I blame on American Airlines. They cancled my return flight from Houston. That I wasn't too upset about. Cancellations happen, as everyone now knows. What really peaved me was the quality of the hotel they put me in, the $10 dinner voucher they provided, and their complaint department.
First, the hotel room was nasty. Plain and simple. It wasn't even at the airport, so I had to wake up early to catch a shuttle the next morning. Second, there were no places to eat within safe walking distance from the hotel, so I had to order food in. The only places that accepted the AA voucher had a minimum order of $12 to deliver! Third, I could check in 24 hours in advance via the internet, but they couldn't shoot me an e-mail that they'd canceled my flight?! At least then I could have kept the rental car for another day and not been stranded!

Ok, so I'm leaving the public library life behind on Thursday. I will now be a business librarian and researcher. It will be nice. I'm a little scared, but in a good way. I just hope I can get my brain shaved clean of fuzz before that happens!

I'm a copycat

2008-03-29T13:53:00.002-05:00

Ok,

So I copied a friend and put a musical playlist on my blog so that I can force you to listen to music that I like while you read the words that I typed.

How is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

2008-03-13T16:31:00.004-05:00

I know how a raven is like a writing desk: Neither one of them subsidize your lack of office supplies.

I'm going to quickly list things that I shouldn't have to do for you. Trust me, it's better if I don't.

I should not have to find you a passage to read for your church service, change the text size so you can read it, and delete the source it came from so you can hand it out without that web address.

I should not provide you with staples, paper, tape, scissors, or any other office or school supply that you forgot to bring with you today (and no, the library does not have poster board you can use!).

I should not find you a book of extremely detailed instructions on how to start and operate your specialized (obscure) small business.

I should not have to tell you that you will not get a free X box for clicking on the link.

I should not have to tell you what your password is.
I should not have to tell you how to make a fire, or do anything else on Runescape.

I should not have to proofread your resume, college scholarship essay, homework, grant application or divorce forms (or type them up for you) and make sure the formatting is correct.

I should not have to design your business/event flyer.

I should not have to teach your child math or help him with his homework.

I should not have to tell you what tax forms you need.

I should not have to tell you what divorce forms you need.

There are several other things I am borderline on. These include: show you how to change the layout of your myspace profile. Show you how to upload photos to myspace. Show you how to download music. Show you how to buy something on Ebay. Show you how to sell something on Ebay. Show you how to use Craig's List. Show you how to apply for a job online. And many more.
The reason I am borderline on these is that I know you probably need them and there is no immediate harm in them, but it's the future needs that scare me. If you need an e-mail address to apply for the job, it's pretty certain they're going to expect you to know how to check it. If you are going to sell something on Ebay, are you going to need a paypal account? Then what happens if you can't access that again? Do you see a trend.

What I can do is get you resources to show you how to do these things. They will require learning and time on your part. But then you won't ever have to ask anyone again.

Springing

2008-03-10T11:18:00.005-05:00

So, yesterday I mowed the yard for the first time on '08. Of course this made me sad that the recent snows were the end of winter. Really, though, it made me sad thinking of how many more time's I'll have to mow again before the grass resumes its hibernation.
It's not that I mind tending to the yard work... well, it's not that I mind tending to the yard work nearly as much as I used to. Something about when the grass you're trimming is your own, you don't mind the sweat so much. Is this just me? The mowing isn't what gets me anyway; it's the weed eating. I've purchased 3 weed eaters in 3 years and I haven't liked any of them. Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and go with gas: environment be damned.

Anyway, this was just to signal that spring has sprung and now things will be different again at work. We're getting a thousand calls a day about help in filing taxes (more than half of which seem to come from really old people wondering about the new rebates. "I haven't filed taxes since 1979," they say, "but I want that $300!"

We're gearing up for summer reading program, which will soon invade everything we do to one level or another. I'll just say right here that I don't get summer reading programs. I just don't. From what I can tell, these programs save money in education by keeping up reading levels during the summer months. Ok, let the ISD pay for it! I'm not a teacher!

Sorry, enough on that. A coworker of mine told me that she saw an article on social networking sites that benefit librarians, but that I probably knew all of them already. I didn't know all of them. Some I had recently discovered, like ning. However, one really caught my eye with a high level of interest. I've got a public page HERE, but it's the private page that really intrigues me. It's like a homepage from yahoo, only better. I can get what i want when I want it, and then share it if I want to with the world! They even call it my universe so I can feel really special. I have a feeling Warren Ellis needs to know about this! He probably already does.

How does this work for libraries? What if small libraries could use this Ginger application as their website? Delivering information on all topics without having to host anything or have any web guru on staff. What could be next?

Ok, so maybe that won't work for most places. But how about THIS vision of the library of the future: Everything is labeled with rfid tags and stored in no particular order. The stacks are open for browsing, but most browsing is done via virtual 3d model. In fact, when a book is searched for, instead of giving a Dewey call number the computer screen pops up a read blip on the 3D library projection, with directions of exactly where to find this book on the shelf. No more missing books. No more need for accurate shelving. Digital browsing (perhaps even mechanical pickers that grab books from their locations and deliver them to you), all from your hand held device! Now, the downside (?) is that when it's overdue they can track the book's tag to that spot under your bed where you lost it and send the pickers on a black ops mission to your house for timely recovery.

You might want to arm yourself in defense. These pickers can get pretty mean.

Blog of Controversy!

2008-03-01T11:08:00.003-06:00

It first became evident to me in “library school”, and now it is ever-present in my professional life. I must admit I feel like somewhat of a traitor and whistleblower in telling everyone about this, but here it goes.

Who can name what the number one duty of a librarian is? I can. I bet mine is different than yours. I should warn you: If you don’t want to know the real answer and be forced to face the truth that you have buried deep down so you won’t have to think about it, then you should not continue reading this blog.

The real, honest, and truthful number one duty of a librarian is to ensure that there are librarians and jobs to pay them. Ask any librarian and they are filled with excuses and reasons why their profession is vital to society. Hell, they can probably even regurgitate an argument for why we need to provide “Snakes on a Plane” to our patrons. We protect free speech and access to information. We facilitate education and societal enrichment. We preserve culture for reference and future study. All of these might be true, but it seems more and more to me that they are benevolent side effects to the real aim of the profession.

If all of these were the true reasons, it would be enough and we would also be responsible enough to understand that sacrifices must be made to ensure that we reach our aims. But it’s not. Instead we keep statistics, find ways to inflate them, and get rid of items that don’t facilitate their growth. Programs are held simply to increase the number of bodies that enter the library. Drives are held with marketing campaigns to increase membership whether or not the people actually ever come in the doors at all. All of this so we can show how much people like us and use us. All of this to justify our budgets and make sure the money will be there for us next year. All of this to make sure that we can keep on doing these same things in order to keep in getting more numbers in order to keep on requesting more money. Why else is funding and legislation a higher priority of the ALA than intellectual freedom?

Now, the argument can be made that these things are necessary to make sure that money is there enough to allow us to fulfill those “real reasons” I mentioned above. I don’t buy it. If that were the case then the reasons themselves would be argument enough. Why the constantly increasing need for positions and financing? Why all the money spent telling people how great we are? I’ve told you why: Because we want to keep getting paid.

Feel free to tell me how wrong I am; but limit the swearing in your personal insults please.

One small step for man...

2008-02-20T13:37:00.004-06:00

I recently answered a question on one of Woody Evans' blogs with this statement:
"I'm all about growing in leaps and bounds though; any other type of growth is just falling behind at this point for the profession."

Of course this got me to thinking.
For libraries, or perhaps any other profession, how much is wasted in growing incrementally? How many libraries purchased Betamax or Laserdisc media only to regret it sooner rather than later? I personally owned a portable minidisc player... and I'm just now coming to grips with the shame. The world is rife with digital media formats that can no longer be accessed because their technology is dead. So this makes me ask, when should we migrate? The cost of staying current is immense, but is it higher than never changing?

Is it just the fate of libraries to lag behind trends due to cost considerations? Is this what we've learned from 8 tracks and HDDVDs? And on that note, is it worth getting blue ray dvd players until they are as common as the old ones? Otherwise, don't we, by default, limit the patrons we serve to those who can afford the high end technologies?

So, which is better? To take technological risks and hope you guessed right, or to stick to your guns until the technology is so commonplace that your patrons demand it? In my opinion, this is much like everything else: a little mix of both is what is needed. Gamble occasionally on those things that would really provide a benefit (and cross your fingers hoping that others will follow suite), but also wait until other technologies have been thoroughly tested.
But how do we know which ones are worth the gamble? The same way the pros do- research.

And let me wrap up by reminding everyone of one thing: We should use technology to solve problems, not to make things shiny. (this of course, is professionally speaking. Personally, shiny is good enough.)