Photographic Memories

So it's Friday and I'm in a fabulous mood. Or as they say in French, un mood très fabu. Sure, work is hectic at best, but it's gorgeous outside and I'm just unjustifiably chipper today.I renewed my driver's license today at lunch. I thought about doing it through the mail or over the web, but decided against it. I wanted a new photo and new height. My license has said that I'm 5'10” since I first got one, because ... well, that's how tall I was at 15. But I decided after 10 years, I deserve credit for those other two inches. So I updated my height to a full six feet and my address and voter's registration and all that mess. Pretty painless all in all. The woman at the bank yesterday reminded me that my license expires this month. I told her my plan was to renew it today in person so I could get a new picture. She looks at the photo and then looks at me and nods her head. “Yeah, you're face has ... matured ... since this photo,” tapping the backs of her fingers against the underside of her chin as she peruses the photo. And I'm thinking “what the hell is that supposed to mean?” while I'm nodding my head in agreement. The photo's only four years old (ironically from when I changed my name). I look basically the same. Ok, so I lost twenty pounds since this photo but this is a picture of my face, not my ass (where most of those pounds were riding). Bah. Meryn Cadell says, that when you change on the inside people can't tell from the outside. That it's just “me ... same old.” But I suppose I wanted to get a new photo as a new marker for myself. That even though you can't really tell from the outside, there is lots going on inside. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Have a great weekend, y'all. I'm hoping to spend some time on the beach myself once I get free of this joint.

Copyright Rant and Mini Patience

Patience I am not a librarian. I wear that non-label with pride. I do, however, have a bone to pick regarding one such academic oriented subject.As unfair as it may seem, you have to pay copyright for items that you borrow from other institutions. It's not that bad. Hell, it's not that hard. We have a nice system that tracks it all for you. But I'm continually amazed at the number of libraries I talk to who either “interpret” the “guidelines” to their advantage or just blatantly break the law. These are major research institutes. My consolation is that I have good blackmail material should any of these folks irritate me. One phone call to the Copyright Clearance Center and I could ruin their budgets for quite a while. Muahahaha. I would go into details about how you can't have each of your branch libraries generate their own copyright lists and still not charge each other, but it would bore you all to tears. And copyright is nothing to cry over. I just don't understand how people can just make up their own rules. Or more specifically, I don't understand how people can then ask me to make our software help make up their own rules. Bah. Otherwise, the exciting life of library software goes on. We've developed new components to revolutionize and integrate three different pieces of software and help these poor librarians multi-task a little better. And theoretically, if testing goes well, it's all ahead of schedule. We, collectively as a company, rock. I went by the Mini dealership again yesterday. Talked to my very cool saleman, Ernest (as in the Importance of Being...). He actually convinced me to wait for the 2003 year model if I want one. I was floored. Car salesmen are supposed to say “what do I have to do to get you to buy this car today.” I even gave him some flack over not asking me that. But he said that I have to be less American and more European. Americans want things immediately and Europeans understand that great things take time. He said if I wait just a few months, I'll get what I really want and be much happier. So strange to get such sage advice from a dude who sells cars. I told him I'm not a very patient person when it comes to things I want. But that I trust him to not steer me wrong (wow, no pun intended). He said I can come visit my car whenever I want and drive it and if it's really the car for me, it will be here once the 2003's are ready. I resisted the urge to get mad at him because that's always my first reaction when someone says something smart and true that I didn't think of or say first. But then I grinned and told him he was right. And I told him I would be back to visit soon.

DLand - Oooh ... Bonnet Stripes

It is against FAA regulations to use umbrellas on the runway in the rain due to the risk of being struck by lightning. Amazing. I had to run barefoot across the tarmac so as not to ruin my dress shoes. I'm sure that was against FAA regulations too (or just against good sense).That, and soldier boy in West Virginia made me take a swig of my Diet Mountain Dew that I carried through security to prove it is safe for consumption. Granted, it's Mountain Dew, so it has that kind of dangerous glow to it, but really ... please. I think I'm probably the most un-grumpy business traveler around these here parts, but even I had to shake my head in confusion. Brian the mechanic didn't fix my brakes while I was gone. So I'm cruising in the Big Blue Van (yes, Hitler's Revenge) tomorrow in hopes that he will finish them soon. I suspect he was working on Jeremy's poor car the past few days, though, so I forgive him and his slack brake maintenance. Yes, Jeremy, you are right. You have horrible luck when it comes to cars. I can't help but think that a Mini Cooper S has really nice brakes. And a four year maintenance plan. And bonnet stripes. Oooh, bonnet stripes. Must...resist...