Feces @ Your Library/ Ain't No Stopping Us Now...

It's a two-fer or two mints in one. On Monday, I walked out of my work area and a horrible smell permeated the hall. No surprise as I'm not too far from the public restrooms and sometimes it just smells like urine/ass. The floors are rather mottled in coloration--think a calico cat. I looked down as I walked and saw something the size of a Baby Ruth that blended into the floor. Naahh--it couldn't be....sho'nuff! Feces! I returned to my office, called maintenance and told them in the most delicate way that they had a job to do. I learned later that the maintenance guy had to follow the "trail of tears" because Mr. Download let loose on the first floor, too! It brought back NYC memories of "shake, rattle, and roll" or as Paulie warned me, bums who couldn't or wouldn't find a bathroom who would let the solid byproduct roll down their pant legs. Many people think public libraries are so genteel. Considering that there are fewer and fewer resources for the indigent and/or mentally ill we get all kinds of crazy shit--quite literally!

Speaking of shit, newsflash Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain's running mate! If he wins, we could have our first female president by default! Palin is anti-choice, which means trouble for women in their childbearing years. Quite frankly, once again this is a contest between Giant Douche and Turd Sandwich. Neither candidate does anything for me--they're essentially the same. My protest vote goes to Cynthia McKinney
She won't win but I can actually support her.

Which leads me to the Obama speech last night at the DNC. The major networks had little/nothing to do with the convention, which really surprised me. I guess "Wife Swap" and the "Greatest American Dog" should take precedence over what happens in the political arena...anyway... While we were waiting for his appearance, music was played. "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" was on and the reactions were hi-fuckin'-larious! The camera panned to some of the whitest people EVER who either got down in a robotic way or didn't do anything. After awhile, synchronized flag waving in time to the song reigned supreme over the white folk. Meanwhile, various sista squirrelfriends and bruthamen were mouthing the words and shakin' their boo-tay, totally reprazentin'! Thank God! I realize the DNC is pretty soulless but jeez. They also played what I call the Paul Wellstone funeral theme..."Love Train". I say it's his funeral theme because when they had a funeral service for him, his wife and daughter who perished in a plane crash, they played the song over and over and over until everything was in place. Whenever I hear it, I think of Wellstone.

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Now playing: McFadden and Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
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I'm Getting to the Point Where...

The Buffalo Brewfest moved its annual event to the HSBC arena. All the other venues that they've used in the past have been too small and overcrowded. Ahh the arena...spreading out so far and wide. Not. They opted to use the hallway rather than the wide open space that the arena would have provided. I'd like to know who the brain surgeon was that decided to advertise the event on rock radio (which guaranteed frat boy mook douches would attend in droves) and then stuff everyone into a hallway. I felt like I was back in college at Goodbar getting that simulated birth canal feeling as I carefully navigate a crowd of drunks. My sinuses were acting up and the air conditioning was trumped by the sheer volume of people. All in all I tried some good beers e.g. McNeil's Scottish Ale (cask condition) from Flying Bison and Cascazilla from Ithaca Beer Company along with a few stouts and porters from vendors that I'd have to look up. We escaped to the upper level to get some air periodically. I'm trying not to be too much of a fuddy duddy but I'm at the point that where I'm less tolerant. My co-worker who I hung out with at this event lets his love of beer outweigh his hatred of crowds. He's older than I am so good for him. Anyway, when serving quality microbrews, allow participants to spread out and sit down if need be. Don't bother with a dj who plays shitty music. Make the event civilized and the frat boys will either get the idea or leave.

As someone who has to interact with the public, I'm getting to the point where I'm tired of people's bad manners and lack of consideration dominate. I'm in the middle of helping someone. Another patron interrupts to let me know that they're done with something and leaving it on the book truck next to my desk. They want to use my pen when we have free golf pencils for them to use and a machine that dispenses pens for 0.25. I tend to be on the Howard Hughes and Howard Stern side and don't like germy strangers touching my belongings. I buy my own pens and bring them to work because the office supply pens are lame.

Democracy Now reported on Trouble the Water ,which chronicles the Roberts before during and after Katrina. Kimberly and her husband Scott were 9th ward residents of New Orleans. Kimberly, an aspiring rapper, purchased a video camera off the street days before the storm and shot some amazing footage. They met the directors of Trouble while staying at a Red Cross shelter. They agreed to let the directors follow them as they rebuilt their lives. Kimberly's insider footage is powerful. The film opened in L.A. and N.Y. I hope it comes to Buffalo, I'd really like to see it. The Roberts tell how they tried to get shelter at a nearby military barracks but were turned away during the storm! Recalling Katrina puts my beer tasting complaints into perspective.

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Now playing: Louis Armstrong - Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
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There's a Bad Moon on the Rise...

Oy vey! What a day! Let me back track to say that my sinuses have been driving me crazy with all the rain that we've been getting over the last few days. I had a lot of ear pain since last Friday so I decided to try and see my doctor. I couldn't get in until today at 8:45am. Keep in mind that I was scheduled to close at work (12-8pm) and I didn't feel like wasting the gas and time to drive home and back from downtown. She diagnosed me with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Essentially short of moving there's not much I can do other than heavily medicate myself with allergy meds, ibuprofen, and mucinex.

I was at a local coffee shop by 9am. Back in the old days, I would've gone in and started working on something but after the layoff, I'm careful about staying overtime. Why bother when it doesn't count for anything? I had plenty to do for myself--a book I needed to read for a discussion group that I'll be hosting, planning a class that I'll teach in the the Spring, etc. I took to the back room of the coffee shop and proceeded to get comfortable when some toddlerish (4 or5 years old) crotch fruit came running back. Of course they decided to sit near me. Mom must've sent them ahead. Sure enough she and an older woman followed. Things quieted down once the feedbag was presented. I figured if they continue to behave, I could stay. Of course, mom's discussion of her artistic production and her advisor's recommendations were just a bit too much for the little darling. He fussed so he and his sister were sent to a nearby table. Just as he was getting to ready to leave, I leaned down to get something out of my bag when I heard a fart about two feet from my face. I jumped back and said, "Excuse you". He looked a bit puzzled and acted as if he didn't do anything. Thankfully, mom didn't catch my comment because I really couldn't tell her with a straight face that her kid just farted in my general direction. It was at that point that I decided to relocate. Between the chatter and the butt trumpet, my idyllic oasis just wasn't working out. Why do pretentious adults think that kids should hang out in coffee shops?

Work was uneventful until about 6pm. My co-worker reported that a crazy lady just started a negative discussion about Buffalonians and their attitude--nobody wants to help her no matter where she goes, they just call security and throw her out. Danger Will Robinson Danger! She went on to say that she's from Miami and that down there they also do the same. She proceeded to ask about Buffalo's history. He found answers but recommended that she check out another department. She was pushing her own wheelchair but did not want to travel down the hall. She wanted him to call the department on her behalf. Apparently, this brought the staff member in charge of the building into the matter. By the time she turned up at my desk (7pm) she wanted to make a complaint against that person. She said they stereotyped her by presuming that she was homeless. Just because she's Black doesn't mean she's homeless, etc. etc. I put my yoga training into practice by breathing deeply and listening. I offered her a comment form and discretely alerted the staff member in charge that this lady might show up at the administrative offices tomorrow.

Shortly before closing time she parked herself outside the bathroom door and asked the guard to get some spray for the ladies room because it smells bad in there. He refused and rightfully so. Maintenance is hard to contact after hours. He's a security guard not the tidy bowl man.

She came by my desk and asked if copies cost anything. I said that they did. She then wanted me to look up the NAACP in Buffalo and any other civil rights groups in the area--with 15 minutes to go--and giver her computer print outs. I offered to write the information down because we charge for those print outs. I didn't want to become her Internet jockey. I found the information and gave it to her but then she tried to interrupt a transaction between myself and another patron. I brushed her off and thankfully she didn't materialize when the closing announcement went off. I grabbed my shiznit and hit the door even though I had to water the toilet. I figured "fuck it" just get out of here and take care of biz at home. I try my best to be kind to the crazy and indigent but I get really irritated when they think the world owes them something. Librarians are fast becoming de facto social workers as the economy takes a serious crap. We are not trained as such and it's extremely stressful. "America Gone Wrong: A Slashed Safety Net Turns Libraries into Homeless Shelters," tells our plight.

As I ascended the highway, I looked at the dark grey sky and the bright patches mixed in to find a rainbow to the south and a full moon not far away--hence the difficult loony tune. As Buffalo's Harold Arlen once said, "Somewhere over the rainbow..."

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Now playing: Buddy Guy - It's A Jungle Out There
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'scusting!

As in de-scusting! Another local 30 something female who feels compelled to sniff out some fresh 14 year old fermunda cheese! First it was the South Buffalo charter school teacher and mother of three who made a suicide pact with a 14 year old boy. She's up on charges after being fired. Now it's some lame ass mother of four who lives in the projects and decided to revisit her misspent youth by posing as a 17 year old girl so she could meet a 14 year old guy. She was about 30 when they met and she got pregnant. He's now 16 and according to his step dad they share custody of the toddler with Ms. Predator. I'm sorry but when I was 30 something, a 14 year old was the last thing I was thinking about. They're usually smelly, unwashed and have peach fuzz and zits on their faces. Yuck!

Aside from the skeevy nature of this latest act, what gets me is that we taxpayers will foot the bill for her five (product of rape makes five) kids while this 32 year old does two years in jail. Here's my bet, she gets out and has more kids. Pig!

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Now playing: The 2 Live Crew - Me So Horny
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In the Name of the Children and in Order to Fight Terror...

I heard the toilet flush as I read this Buffalo News story about the ability of Customs Agents to confiscate your laptop, MP3 player, or phone without suspicion of wrongdoing. Nice!
What the article neglected to say is that print materials are subject to review! The details of the policy can be found here. It's five pages long. Apparently, this sort of scrutiny has been a "long-standing practice" according to the document. Terrorism, child p*rn, and intellectual property violations are a few of the reasons to essentially crawl into your electronic underpants and see if you have any dingleberries.
Let's break this down. Terrorism is probably the most common reason that people will give up their rights. The public has been brainwashed to be scared of a convenient bogeyman--one that our leadership pulls out whenever they sense people's resistance to new nonsense rules. Child p*rn is another reason. Let it be stated that I in no way endorse this material. Yes, I understand that there are horrible international rings that pass this garbage across borders. But I wish authorities would stop pretending that their overreaching investigations will completely and fully eradicate that scourge! Whenever a loss of a right happens, quite often "the children" are invoked to justify the loss. No one has a right to kiddie p*rn but our possessions should not be randomly searched without cause!! Watch this video where Cynthia "Can of Whoop Ass" McKinney gives it to Donald Rumsfeld over Dyncorp and its sexual abuse of women and little girls. Forgive my deliberate censorship of the word p*rn but I know that search engines have crawlers and I don't want a knock on my door because I'm exercising my First Amendment rights.
Anyway, the Intellectual Property violations aren't a life or death matter. So someone swipes a designer's logo and they're selling ripoffs as the real deal? Yes, that's wrong but no one will lose their life. There are other ways to investigate!

I have always been careful of what sort of reading material I have when I travel. I realize that the assclowns who take away our fingernail clippers and regular sized bottles of shampoo, etc. are indoctrinated to watch for "certain" kinds of print items. Your right to read is protected by the First Ammendment**except at border crossings into/out of the U.S.

For what little good it will do, I'll be on the blower/e-mail to my representatives to do something because this is re-godamndiculous! Even rollover Congressman Brian Higgins sees the overarching practices as wrong. That's got to tell you something.

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Now playing: David Bowie - This Is Not America
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