Roger O Green

Library Poster Person

In lieu of actual content, an article that appeared in the October 2007 Albany Public Library BiblioTech newsletter, on the back page. This article, I understand, has been, or will be, copped in my neighborhood association newsletter:

Roger Green loves to use APL, and he does it from the comfort of his home or office. He is a librarian at the New York State Small Business Development Center and almost daily he uses the APL free databases that he accesses from his office computer with his library card. As a business librarian, he finds the various databases such as Reference USA, Business and Company Resource Center, and the Thomson Gale Legal Forms extremely helpful.

And Roger gives back to APL. As Vice-President of the Friends of the Albany Public Library, he promotes the library and helps create programming. He also created and runs the Friends of the APL blog.

Roger worked as a page for the Binghamton Public Library when he was a teenager. He assisted patrons using the microfilm machines and put away the items in the stacks, including the magazines. He might have glanced at some old issues of Psychology Today and Billboard a little too long before refiling them. “As wonderful as I found going to the library as a child, I’m even more appreciative that what the library usage is no longer limited by four walls,” he says.

Outside of work, Roger does visit the library frequently. He loves to bring his three-year old daughter Lydia to the library for story times and to borrow books and DVD’s. He’s impressed with the Youth services staff and the extent of the collection available for his daughter.

To find out more about the Friends of the APL go to the Friends’ blog at http://aplfriends.blogspot.com/. To find out more about Roger go to his blog at http://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062.

ROG

Shopping QUESTIONS

So how are you doing with that Christmas shopping? I happen not to be fond of shopping at any time of the year, but particularly now. If he didn’t live 800 miles away in Louisville, I’d probably hire Eddie to do my shopping for me, assuming he worked cheaply enough.

It doesn’t help that after watching The Story of Stuff!, a down-to-earth story of production, consumption and our future on the planet, I’m wary of buying much of anything.

1. What percentage of your shopping is done? Mine’s about 45% finished.

2. Where do you shop?

In box stores? Well, not in THE big box store, and generally I tend to avoid big stores like the plague.

At the mall? Rarely at Colonie Center. Never at the Pyramid Corporation’s Crossgates, even before this debacle that briefly made the national news:
The first Crossgates Mall Peace Walk was in 2002 when a group of folks from various groups entered the mall wearing shirts that said: Drop Toys Not Bombs, Don’t Attack Iraq and Peace on Earth! They were rounded up and escorted off the property under threat of arrest. Steve and Roger Downs heard about this and went into the mall to see if it could possibly be true. The rest is history. From Wikipedia: “At the dawn of the Iraq War in March 2003, the mall (Crossgates) became the center of a free speech controversy when Selkirk resident Stephen Downs was arrested refusing to take off an anti-war t-shirt that he had purchased in the mall. After many objections, the mall dropped the charges. Shortly thereafter, a large protest was held at the mall where many people came wearing anti-war attire.”
BTW: this year’s WEAR YOUR PEACE TEE SHIRTS Crossgates event will be Thursday, December 20
5:15 pm – press conference in the parking lot of the Cinema 18
5:45 pm – in the food court to hook up and to to meander and “shop”
6:15 pm – converge at the food court again to sing

I’ll go to the non-chains – in this area, today is Buy Local Day.

But I’m generally inclined to use mail order.

3. Are you spending more or less than last year? I think I’ll end up spending slightly less, but I’m not sure yet.
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I called to get my renewed credit card authorized using the automated system yesterday morning. After approving it, it asked if I wanted a PIN number – OK. But then it told me I couldn’t get a pin number at that time and that I needed to speak to a customer service rep. I gave my name to the human. THEN he tried to sell me some damn service I didn’t want. I told him that I needed to catch a bus in eight minutes, which happened to be true. Grrr!!
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Getting into the holiday spirit.
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From the Shake That Brain! Newsletter

TRUE STORY:

I recently took out $100 from my bank’s cash machine. Only when I got home I discovered that my cash card was missing. I called the bank and they explained that the cash machine had taken it back.
Taken it BACK???
Turns out that the bank was having problems with people using fraudulent bank cards. So they rigged the system to keep the card for 60 seconds while the inside optics scanned it for authenticity. Great solution? No. Because that same machine is designed to spit out your cash in less than 30 seconds. So what happens to a lot of people? They take their cash and leave their card behind — like me.
“No warning bell? No buzzer to let you know to not leave without your card?”
“Why would anyone need that? People know to wait for their cards.”
“Tell me: How many cards does each machine ‘take back’ on a daily basis?”
“Two or three.”
“So you solved the problem of fraudulent cash cards?”
“Absolutely!”
“And that other problem your solution created?”
“What problem is that?”
LESSON NOT LEARNED? When you “solve” a problem make sure your solution doesn’t leave a NEW problem in its place. In the case of my former bank, this is the difference between: “It’s all about me” and “It’s all about our customers.”

ROG

Perfect television

Friend Fred was telling me about rewatching the Dick van Dyke Show on DVD (DVD on DVD) when I came to the realization why it was the near perfect TV show. In addition to lasting five seasons (not too long, not too short, but JUST RIGHT – kinda like some fairy tale), and and a balance of home and work life, there was a balance of how many times the A story was the office and the B story was the home life, and vice versa. Because Rob Petrie was friends with his co-workers, they would sometimes come to his home. Because Laura Petrie was such a fine dancer, she’d occasionally show up in the work segment. Balance, I say. And did I mention that Richard Deacon, who played producer Mel Cooley, was from Binghamton, my hometown?

If I wasn’t so far behind on watching what I’ve recorded, I’d be coveting that DVD box set; I do have some individual episodes. As it is, Lydia’s sleeping pattern (taking FOREVER to get to bed, and then with her mother or me), and I’m so tired that the writer’s strike has had no effect on my viewing patterns yet. News programs are not affected. Aliens in America’s a repeat? GREAT! Pushing Daisies is pre-empted this week? SWELL! As it is, the DVR’s STILL hovering around 80% because I’m still recording a couple hours a day, with the news and JEOPARDY! And I’m watching about 40 minutes a day; even with the compression of the DVR, that’s about an hour’s worth of programming. (The Closer two-hour special this week is now in the queue.)

But the largest reason the DVR’s so full is that when I was packing to go to visit my mother in NC, I accidentally packed the remote control in my luggage! This means that over that nearly six day period, my wife couldn’t watch the two shows she watches that I don’t: ice skating and Dancing with the Stars. They’d get recorded, but could not be watched. I suggested that she might want to go to Time-Warner and get a new remote, but she declined. Practically the first thing I did when I got home from that trip was to check the DVR level – 97% full, zap the three shows I managed to see in Charlotte, which got it down to 92%, then whittle away at it subsequently.

So don’t tell my wife who won Dancing with the Stars; she doesn’t know yet. She picked Helio, Mel B., and Cameron in the final three, but was surprised to see Cameron leave. Now, *I* know who won; I read it in TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly, but I won’t spoil HER fun.
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Dorian’s Rules for Nerds. And other self-appointed critics.
ROG

C.I.A. Trashes Interrogation Tapes

Of course it did. Something rather Watergatesque about it all.

ROG

If I Had A Heart

Tosy posted this musical meme.

1. Put your music player on Shuffle

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT (this is in capital letters, so it is very serious).

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
“Tell Mama” – Etta James. Interesting and appropriate.

2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
“It Might As Well Be Spring” – Sarah Vaughn. Well, my birthday DOES foretell the vernal equinox.

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
“Wake Up, Little Susie” – Elton John. Oh, oh, we’re in trouble deep. All our friends are saying, “ooo, la la.”

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
“1990”-Temptations. Lessee, in 1990, I was 37, quite possibly my favorite age to be.

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
“Independence Day” – Ani DeFranco. I would like to think that’s true.

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
“It’s Summer” – Temptations. Not a sun worshipper, but I do prefer it to the winter.

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
“Smile” – Lily Allen. Aw, shucks.

8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
“My Favorite Things” – Andre 3000. well, not THINGS, but a nice sentiment, nonetheless.

9 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
“Me and Mr. Jones – Amy Winehouse. I wonder if it’s Dylan’s Mr. Jones.

10. WHAT IS 2+2?
“The Finale” from Next Stop Wonderland soundtrack. A fancy word for the Sum, I suppose.

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
“I Love You for Sentimental Reasons”- Sam Cooke. Another lovely sentiment.

12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“Supersonic” – J.J. Fad. Sure, why not?

13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
“Til the Cops Come Knockin'” Maxwell. Well, the way things are going…

14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
“20 Dollars” – Angie Stone. I think I’m worth more than that!

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“My Dearest Darling” – Etta James. Some of these are so right on.

16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
“God Bless Texas” – Brooks and Dunn. Then there are the occasional say what? responses.

17. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
“Number One Crush” – Garbage. Another appropriate notion.

18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
“Night Ride Home” Joni Mitchell. Spookily dead on.

19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
“Who Dares Wins” – the Streets. Well, not ENTIRELY clear, but appeals to my competitive streak.

20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
“Littlest Birds” Jolie Holland. I won’t think too much on that.

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
“This Love of Mine” – Dinah Washington. I must be really fond of my buds.

22. WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
“If I Had a Heart” – Joni Mitchell. Not to be confused with the Tin Man.
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Fred Hembeck is plugging his upcoming book again. Some of the readers don’t seem to understand that no Marvel and DC product means no Marvel Age or Daily Planet strips, e.g. It DOESN’T mean no Marvel and DC characters; it’ll have LOTS of Marvel and DC characters, complete with squiggles. In fact, if the book does well, it wouldn’t shock me if Marvel tried to put together the Hembeck Marvel stuff (Fantastic Four Roast, Hembeck Destroys the Universe), though those involve several other artists, and it might not be practical.
ROG