SemiConscious Dot Org

Back in Black
I hit the sack
I’ve been too long I’m glad to be back
Yes, I’m let loose
From the noose
That’s kept me hanging about
I’ve been looking at the sky
‘Cause it’s gettin’ me high
Forget the hearse ‘cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat’s Eyes
Abusin’ every one of them and running wild

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Aaron who worked in a public library in Maine and published a library blog. Two of them, in fact. One was a professional blog that contained book reviews, news on local events, helpful reference links, and information on library programs; the other, his personal blog, was a collection of pissy, foul-mouthed diatribes directed at any of the numerous aspects of life which he found annoying at any particular moment. These tirades generally aimed at one of two targets: stupid patrons in his library, or the gang of vindictive, lying, warmongering weasels infesting the White House.

Aaron didn’t like his boss much, and the dislike was mutual. He also yearned to return to the balmy environs of Seattle, where he had previously spent five years, and where he wouldn’t have to shovel nineteen feet of snow every winter. Therefore, he quit his job, packed up the car, and headed West.

And then his humble little library rant blog was invaded and taken over by a gang of religious lunatics.

(Ok, time to switch this story to the first person. Third person is exhausting.)

Shortly after relocating to Seattle, I changed career paths and moved from the public library world into a school library…whereupon I instantly lost all interest in blogging about library issues. In addition, the school where I now work is private, runs entirely on donations and grants, and caters exclusively to homeless families and their kids. Spending day after day around kids who have been beaten and battered by loved ones, and essentially abandoned by society, has had a twofold effect on me. On the one hand, it’s given me a whole new perspective on how lucky I really am, and how petty I’ve been to waste so much time brooding over my own “problems;” on the other hand, it’s filled me with even more fury at the people and institutions who run this society. When I think of the stupid, childish fratboy currently in charge of all our fates, and his hand-picked gang of thieves, liars, and killers, working overtime to piss on the Constitution and turn this country into a sad mockery of everything it once stood for…grrrrr…urge to rant…rising…

What? Sorry, off on a tangent again. I was talking about my old blog. Anyhoo, since last year, when Pope Horatio and his merry band of loonies turned my former site into a propaganda vehicle for their cult, I have returned to post on occasion, if for no other reason than to provide some counterweight to their deranged neocon blather. However, the increasing number of nonpolitical posts I contributed never really fit within the overall theme of the site, which seemed to get less and less focused the longer the situation continued. Therefore, I decided it was time to reclaim a space on this server for myself. While I will still rant about politics at the Book of Drivel (after all, Pope Horatio ain’t going anywhere, and someone has to keep him in check), posts having to do more with my life will probably end up here.

In addition, starting a second blog gives me an excellent excuse to try out Wordpress. The Book of Drivel uses Textpattern, which I like a lot and heartily recommend. I just thought it would be fun to compare the two, side by side. What can I say? I’m a geek. Hell, maybe I’ll start a third blog and install Movable Type. (Ok, maybe not. Money-grubbing bastards.)

In conclusion: I have no idea how much library-related content will actually get posted on this site, but I am a librarian, so maybe I’d better stop fighting it. Since this is the inaugural post (at least until I can figure out how to import my posts from the other blog), I should start things off on the right foot with a library-themed link:

Brown University Library owns a book made of human skin.

Fitting, isn’t it, that the library in question resides in the hometown of none other than H.P. Lovecraft.

You’re Welcome.

(Update: 1/11) I have noticed that this particular style/color scheme looks much better in Firefox than in Internet Explorer. Now, I could just be a putz and say “Tough titties, people. Dump that piece of crap IE and switch to a real browser.” But I wouldn’t do that, as I am a nice guy. Therefore, I installed a style sheet switcher so you can pick the color scheme that looks best to you. You’re welcome again.