Cycho Librarian

William F. Buckley Jr. passed away this past Wednesday, and we're all a little worse off for it. As much as I despised the man and his politics, he at least provided some intellectualism to the ancient conservative-liberal debate that has been sorely lacking in recent memory. Frankly, it has been lacking through most of my lifetime. So I, as one untimely born, have had to watch his repartee through the glass of time. Only Buckley could take the nastiest of debates and make it sound like a cricket match. Can you imagine how different the debate would sound today if, instead of having to deal with the blathering of the likes of Hannity, O'Reilly, Robertson, and the entire Fox News network we could instead be told how imbecilic we liberals are in the dulcet tones of his old world New York accent? So I leave you with one of his greatest hits. I'm almost as sorry to see him go as I am glad that he's gone.

This is wrong on so many levels. It's so wrong I wish I could embed it, but I'm afraid you'll have to just click the link: Okay, aside from the fact that it's a marketing gimmick for Microsoft that looks like a children's book, and apparently you can actually get the book on Amazon, the book itself is just wrong on so many levels. I mean, did you notice that the one laptop is dead because the dog peed on it? Sadly, I think that it's most likely aimed at people like myself who appreciate the subversive humor, but the problem is that people like me can also see through the marketing. And I for one kinda resent being played to so blatantly. I'm also a little disappointed in the consumerism of it. "Here, you already have three computers in the house, why not get a server now too?" I've already got our computers networked, and while my wife sometimes complains that she has to turn on the upstairs computer to print anything, I don't really ...

Now this is an interesting concept... Okay, first I have to say how cool is that return system? Seriously, that's the sort of stuff those of us who run circulation dream about at night. Yes, I know I'm a pathetic nerd. Now on to the meat. Honestly, the first thought that crossed my mind was that I could think of two people who would probably sign on in a second. One of them would probably try to put on 3 different banners, the other would probably try to sign up as a Republican just to mess with people's heads. Being the intellectual East-coast liberal that I am, I thought this is a great idea. What's better than people sitting down in civil conversation, trying to get to know each other and understand each other? Then I remembered that I live in the U.S., and not Europe. If we tried this here, the Transvestite would probably wind up trying to strangle the Conservative with her pantyhose while the Gun Rights person reached for his AK-47. But seriously, this is ...

Sarah Gianna, born to Doug and Kristin on February 7th. 7 lbs. 8 oz., 20". (Looks like she didn't get the family heighth!) I'm an Uncle! (Don't worry guys, I won't spoil her too badly!)