Skip to content

Dear Hockey Gods – By Flashpoint

I don't hate the shootout as much as some people do.  I  actually have a much bigger problem with a scoring system that allows for some games to be worth 3 points and others 2  (if I was in charge, a win is 2 points, a loss is 0 points no matter when it happens, regulation or OT.  And If you win in the shootout, you get a single point, like a tie in the old system – showing that you earned something but not that it has the same value as a “real” win.) 

But I saw this on CalgaryPuck and thought it was worth passing along:

—

Dear Hockey Gods,



It's me. Flashpoint.


I know that you and I have had a tumultuous relationship. I care
for you, and you care for me, but I have said things, and you have done
things, that neither of us should be proud of. But let us put me
calling you “turdburgler” and you causing a 7 year playoff drought
behind us.



Something important is coming. A unique opportunity. A special event. A
chance to make a real difference in the hockey world. And I want to
choose my words for this prayer carefully, so I am writing them down
for all to see.



As you know, a couple seasons past, the NHL decided to introduce the
shootout. All real fans saw this for what it was – something occurring
in a hockey game that was not hockey. Much like a Bertuzzi punch from
behind, a Jordan Tootoo “he ran into my fist”, or the Edmonton Oilers,
the shootout is an abomination to behold, an affront to the game, and a
blight upon all that we hold dear.



Sadly, this has not been recognized universally yet. The media
considers it darling. They have embraced this child of soccer and the
IIHF in their highlight reels and statistical packages. It is easy for
them – quick to show, convenient in it's appeal, and requiring little
analysis from the oft challenged announcer. The NHL too defends the
shootout as a grand idea that keeps fans in their seats (as though
patrons pay on their way out of the building as well as in).



Even I have been tempted. You have seen fit of late to have Iginla
(blessed be his name, may his leaves never fall) and Tanguay (he of the
mighty Tong with which he batters Millions) score seemingly at will.
Kipprusoff (of the Flaming hair and smoking habit) and his joyous
rubberlike appendages have stopped all pucks and brought great
rejoicing to the C of Red in the extra frame.



But at the end it’s just candy. Tasting wonderful in the short term,
but eventually leading to diabetes and obesity. It hurts me when I
watch too much of it. It tempts me from what hockey should be –
physical, fast, determined, gritty, defensive, hard hitting, shot
blocking, bodychecking, clear the puck off the glass with your face,
goalie fighting, 2 on 1, pass across the crease, unleash the wicked
slapper, scoring on the rebound, hit em in their MIND hockey we have
all grown up with and love.



All because some say “it is only the regular season, so the shootout is fine”. As though the regular season didn’t matter as much as the playoffs.



Therefore, I now turn to you oh Hockey Gods. For you have seen fit to
place many teams in a mighty battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern
Conference. And two of the most popular of those teams, the Canadians
of Montreal, and the Leaves of Toronto (cursed be their playoff
fortune), will play next Saturday.



Oh Lords of Hockey – Make Toronto and Montreal play for the final playoff spot in that game.



And make them play evenly matched until time expires.



And have a shootout.



And then eliminate one of those teams from the playoffs.



On national TV in Canada.



While the media discuss how great the shootout is, and how “it doesn’t really matter because it isn’t used in the playoffs.”



And then let the debate about how a 5 on 5 win should be worth more
than a shootout win take hold in the cold heartland of hockey.



So say we all.

Flashpoint


p.s. Please also
try to limit the number of people who die in the ensuing riot where the
losing team burns down their own building. Unless it is Toronto. In
which case it is pretty much a mercy killing.

Posted 01 April 2007 § Humour § Main Page § Sports ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Your Next NDP Candidate in the Souris-Moose Mountain Constituency Is…

A couple months ago, I wrote about how I attended the local NDP association's AGM with Shea's uncle who's big with the NDP (he ran in the 2000 Federal election) during a visit to Weyburn.  During the meeting, one old-timer had leaned over and asked if I might be interested in running.  I told him I didn't live in Weyburn and that was that.  Or so I thought…

Well, last night, after the our library region's AGM, I bumped into the NDP association president at a restaurant.  I told him I was living in Weyburn now and he said, “We think the election's coming sooner rather than later and still need a candidate.  You interested?”  

Shea and I had talked about this jokingly after that first meeting but both agreed it would be an incredible opportunity.  The NDP has never won in this riding in six tries so it's a good chance learn about politics, get directly involved but without a lot of pressure (although I'm still going to try to win of course!) 

I've just accepted a new job as I mentioned in my last post but he said that I could work around this – campaigning in the evenings and on weekends.  A lot of the work is done by volunteers, and via things that don't need your direct attention like radio ads and direct mail pieces. 

I've already come up with the slogan I'm going to use.

Posted 01 April 2007 § Humour § Jobs § Main Page § Politics § Randomness § Saskatchewan ‡ Comments (10) °

And Now I Am A Librarian!

Well, after four interviews, three months of waiting, two offers, and one really big decision, I have
officially accepted an 18-month full-time temporary contract with Southeast Regional Library in
Weyburn, an hour south of Regina.

The other offer was a full-time permanent position with the Provincial
Library and it had a very strong appeal as well.  But in the end, I
decided to go for the one that felt like it would be the best fit for
who I am and what I want to do.  (My parents think I'm nuts to turn down
a FT perm government job.  They might be right!)

If you read my blog, you'll know that I'm a big fan of seeing events
come “full circle” and this is the ultimate example for me.  When I applied to UWO, my
Statement of Intent focused heavily on the impact of my hometown library in my life.  Now, one short year later, I'll be responsible for that branch (and 47 others around southeast Saskatchewan!) 

I start my position as Branch Supervisor, responsible for the small
branches in various communities around SE Saskatchewan on Monday April 2
(well,  I actually started today for their AGM.)  My area covers 75
000 people over an 18 000 square mile area.

I'm extremely excited about this opportunity – it's in public library
system which is my main area of interest, it's where Shea's parents live
so she can spend a lot of time with them during her mat leave year, and
I'll be able to do a huge range of things – programming, collection
development, IT, reference and more – that I'd be unlikely to get to do to that extent anywhere
else.

I am extremely proud of my rural roots and the chance to work in many communities I'm familiar with is a dream come true.  On top of that, the people who come out of SE Regional, including the current
head of Regina Public Library, have a strong reputation in the library
community so that was a deciding factor as well.

Oh, and I'm happy to report that the two jobs I didn't get offered went to FIMS classmates and if it wasn't meant for me to get those jobs, I'm happy to hear it was a couple people I know.  (I spent an enjoyable day yesterday showing one of my former classmates/new colleagues who is originally from Ontario around Regina.)

On that note, I am
officially inviting any and all of you to apply for jobs in
Saskatchewan.  Our streets aren't paved with gold like Alberta but the
straw that we use does have a similar colour!

Posted 01 April 2007 § Jobs § Library § LibrarySchool § Main Page § Work ‡ Comments (29) °

Friday Fun Link – Stupid Management Tricks at Circuit City (March 30, 2007)

There’s nothing fun about this week’s post but it’ll likely get your blood boiling. A recent MetaFilter post explained how Circuit City was losing too much money
so their brilliant idea to improve the bottom line was to fire their
top earning employees (3400 of them) and then offer to re-hire them at
a lower wage.

As always, some great discussion ensued including a link to a Fast Company story about how Wal-Mart is like the tiger that eats its own tale. By always demanding price cuts from suppliers, they end up eventually putting the suppliers out of business completely.

There
was a happy note in the discussion though – the John Lewis store group
in the UK who list maximizing employee “happiness” as the company goal,
announced that they were sharing 155 million pounds in profit among all 68 000 of their staff from the back room to the board room. That means an average bonus equivalent to nine weeks’ pay for most.

(via MetaFilter)

Posted 30 March 2007 § FridayFunLink § Main Page § Work ‡ Comments (0) °

A Response to Rory Litwin Re: Librarian Stereotypes

A librarian at LPL named Kevin Moore started a Facebook group called “No, I don't look like a librarian” and a few people uploaded humourous pictures of themselves in various “non-librarian” activities to illustrate the point. 

Rory Litwin, on his blog, Library Juice, posted this in response:

Yes, you do look like a librarian!
Regarding the Facebook
group, No, I don’t look like a librarian!…. Yes, you do look like a
librarian! I am not joining the group because I think really I do not
look unlike a librarian, and I think most of the people who joined that
group look like the librarians that they are. And there is nothing
wrong with that! We look smart! We are smart! We look approachable and
helpful! We are approachable and helpful!

Don’t be ashamed of what you are!! Embrace it!
Filed under: Web culture, The Profession by — Rory Litwin @ 8:19 pm

I like Rory Litwin, love his blog but think he sort of (well, completely) missed the humour in this group.  I mean, if you are a librarian then of course, you look like a librarian!  But so much of our profession is obsessed with THE STEREOTYPE so why not have some fun and play with it?  (as I did in my recent “Librarian Types” entry) 

Librarians drink alcohol and swear.  Librarians play guitar and go swing dancing.  Librarians lift weights and go rock climbing.  And librarians use technology to show others that they do all of these things.

I don't want to get into a flame war with Rory (because he's bigger than me and could kick my butt!)  But I think it's kinda funny that his sour-faced response is probably the most stereotypically librarian thing to happen around this whole non-event.   

Posted 30 March 2007 § Humour § Internet § Library § Main Page ‡ Comments (2) °

Why You're Not Getting Anything Done…

Here's something for everbody back at FIMS as the semester comes to a close…

(via Reddit)
Posted 29 March 2007 § Humour § Internet § LibrarySchool § Main Page § Photo ‡ Comments (6) °

Tommy Douglas on Librarians

One of the books I've got on the go right now is an oral history of Tommy Douglas called “Touched By Tommy: Stories of Hope and Humour About Canada's Most Loved Political Leader, T.C. Douglas”

I thought this anecdote about librarians was funny:

“Everyone was saying nice things about John Archer.  He was leaving the Legislative Library to go to Queen's University.  He was well liked and had been helpful to all Members of the Legislature.  As Tommy would say, they were pouring a gallon of syrup on a lone pancake. 
 
They were overdoing it; one backbencher on our side of the House said, “John Archer has been most helpful to me,” and went on and on.  At the conclusion, the member said, “Yes, I find if you want information, you go to the Library, if you want the right information, you go right to the horse's mouth.”

Quick as a flash, Tommy said, “I'm glad you got the right end of the horse!” 

There was no more syrup after that!

– Ed Whelan

This story is particularly apropros in light of the news that the BC Government is shutting down their Legislative Library: 

Tuesday March 27th retired British Columbia Legislative Librarian Joan A. Barton spoke movingly to forty members of the Victoria Librarians Association of the long history of the Legislative Library, now threatened with closure.  The library was established i 1863, with Dr. Helmkin's private collection at its core, as Thomas Jefferson's was for the Library of Congress.  (Dr. Helmkin was British Columbia's first doctor, who married a daughter of Sir James Douglas, the first governor.)

The Legislative Library is part of the national and international network of libraries which serve not only as sources of information, but as a repository of recorded knowledge in a way the ephemeral Internet does not.

Ms Barton urges that those outside British Columbia protest this closure, with most of the collection being boxed and stored.  It is important that the Premier and Speaker realize that this action is a blow to the reputation of the Province nationally and internationally.

Protests may be addressed to the Premier: 
Premier Hon. Gordon Campbell: <premier@gov.bc.ca> 

and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly:
Speaker Hon. Bill Barison: toll free number and feedback form
http://www.leg.bc.ca/speakers-message.htm

Those within British Columbia might wish to address their protests to their own Members of the Legislative Assembly:

http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm

It is particularly important that MLAs from the interior hear from
their constituents.

The local paper, The "Times Colonist"' reports on the story. 

(via CLA mailing list)
Posted 28 March 2007 § Humour § Library § Main Page § Politics § Saskatchewan ‡ Comments (2) °

Canadians Still Reading

See below for some happy-making stats from a recently released survey.  

Two questions occur though – how do they correct for the people who over-represent their reading habits?  (Even if asked anonymously, some might be inclined to say that they read more than they do.  What's the term for that?  Where you try to please the researcher or give them the answers they want to hear?) 

My other question – what's the impact of the Internet on traditional forms of reading?  This blurb ends by saying that magazine reading is down slightly and newspaper reading is down more substantially but doesn't speculate about the impact of the Internet on that (I didn't read the full report so maybe it's covered in there?) 

But anyhow, I
rarely pick up a print newspaper anymore and very infrequently buy a magazine either.  But I do read stories online from
CBC, Canoe, Globe and Mail, etc., I read online articles from Rolling Stone, MacLean's, Time plus numerous aggregators of all types of news in its most broad sense.  (NewsVine,
Google News, sites like MetaFilter, etc.)

On that note, did you hear Life magazine is ceasing publication but will continue as a web-only publication?

—
Canadians continue to support cultural activities



Reading

In 2005, as a leisure activity (not for paid work or studies):



* 86.7% of the population 15 or older read a newspaper (22.6 million Canadians);

* 78.2% read a magazine (20.4 million Canadians); and

* 66.6% read at least one book (17.4 million Canadians).



About four in 10 Canadians read at least one book each month in 2005.



The 17.4 million Canadians reading at least one book is slightly larger than the 15.9 million Canadians going to at least one movie at a theatre or drive-in.



Between 1992 and 2005, the rate of book reading remained stable, with two-thirds of the population reading at least one book in 1992, 1998 and 2005. The stability of book reading in Canada is in contrast to the findings of a recent American study entitled “Reading at Risk”. That report, prepared by Hill Strategies Research for the National Endowment for the Arts, showed that the proportion of Americans reading any type of book in their leisure time (not for work or school) decreased from 60.9% in 1992 to 56.6% in 2002.



In Canada, magazine reading decreased slightly and newspaper reading decreased more substantially between 1992 and 2005.

(From http://www.hillstrategies.com via Sask Writers mailing list)

Posted 28 March 2007 § Library § Main Page § PopCulture ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Summer 2007 – My Course Picks

The remainder of my cohort who are still at FIMS are trading info on our Yahoo! group about the courses that might be interesting/useful/fun for summer term and so I, of course, had to chime in with my thoughts.  Here's what I wrote to them:

—
Hey all,



If anybody's interested, I combed through the end-of-term evaluations
that are in a binder in the GRC and recorded the profs/courses that got
over a 6.0 out of 7.0 in their evaluations during the past year or so.



Of course, this shouldn't be the be all and end all of how you make your
choices but it might be a good starting point (or a tie breaker if
you've got a couple courses you can't decide between.) My personal
opinion is that the profs that get these marks are all but guaranteed to
give you a good experience.
The list is on my blog.



I took a quick look at the course list and here are some of my
recommendations (obviously with my public library bias firmly in place):



746 – Collection Development for Academic Libraries – Horoky (I took it,
it was excellent.  My only regret is that it didn't have more practical
assignments like Witten's does but I think the instructor  might be addressing this in
the upcoming session of her class.)



757 – Social Software – Etches-Johnson (heard from many that it was
excellent no matter your comfort level with technology.  Also, the
instruction was just named one of Library Journal's 2007 “Movers and
Shakers” so that's a good indicator of what she brings to her work.)



776 – Children's Materials – McKechnie – (I believe Lynne's proposal to
split children's lit into more than one course has been approved so this
will be specifically about children 0-7 years rather than children AND young adults 0-18 years as our course was
last summer.  At any rate, my personal opinion is that Lynne is the best
instructor at FIMS and you should take this course, even if you have no
interest in children's librarianship.  Seriously.  Plus you get a great
field trip to Toronto!)



561 – Conservation and Preservation – Spanner (if you're into this area,
I think his course has a good reputation.)



759 – Web Usability – Nickerson (like Lauralee said, an excellent prof.
 Good at teaching to the wide range of tech levels in the class.)


(Note: I heard through the grapevine that Gord mentioned me somehow during his course selection presentation.  I'm guessing it's because I use red links on my site – he hates that! )


And you know what?  I might even be inclined to take Jenn Pecoskie's
Reference Course.  Jenn and I had a really good talk right before
I left FIMS and based simply on that, I'd be willing to give her a
second chance.  Plus this course does sound really interesting.  

Posted 28 March 2007 § LibrarySchool § Main Page ‡ Comments (2) °

The Twelve Types of Library School Students

This is a post I started near the end of library school and meant to post during my furious last week of longish, library school-related entries.  But I never got it finished so I thought it would make a good 500th post for this blog instead. 

Yep, I’ve been at it just over a year and I’m averaging around a post and a half a day!  (But with a baby on the way, by this time next year, I’ll be lucky to be celebrating 600 posts. )

Disclaimers
1) Yes, I know these are stereotypes.  Yes, I know that you can be both an activist and a mouse.  Or a geek and an academic.  Or in reality, probably all library students have a bit of all of the following “types” in them.  What I’m trying to say is: this is for fun – put away the PC instincts for a minute and have a laugh!

2) I’m not specifically describing any specific person I knew at library school in these write-ups although I am combining many characteristics of many people.  Still, the standard novel’s disclaimer applies: “Any resemblance to people living or dead, is entirely coincidental.”

You can play along at home.  Pick the two or three types that best define you and add them to your business card, ie: Jason Hammond, “Mature Party Geek”

Now, on to the dumb stereotypes…

THE ACADEMIC

Summary: An overachiever who attends library school more for the “school” part than the “library” part.  Will be one of those rare souls who does all the assigned readings.  Upon completion, will immediately enter the PhD program believing that practical library experience is beneath them. 
Dress: Tweed, preferably with elbow patches.
Typical Quote: “I believe it was Foucault who observed that visual culture has a
genealogy that needs exploring and defining in the modern as well as postmodern period.”
Favourite Book: The Spectre of Marx: The State of the Debt, the Work of Mourning, and the New International – Jacques Derrida
Ideal Library Role: Future Library School Professor

 


THE ACTIVIST
Summary: Angry at everything, this person has a cause that they will gladly share with you (whether you ask or not.)
Dress: Tie-dye.  A bandanna is a distinct possibility as well.
Typical Quote: “I’m boycotting <fill in the blank> because <fill in the other blank>.”
Favourite Book: No Logo – Naomi Klein
Ideal Library Role: Community Outreach

 


THE AIMLESS
Summary: Comes to library school once they realise that their degree in 18th Century French Lit won’t get them a job much beyond Wal-Mart Greeter. 

Dress: Varies but they tend to wear the same thing everyday as decisions make their heads hurt.

Typical Quote: “I don’t know.  Maybe?”
Favourite Book: Nausea – Jean-Paul Sartre
Ideal Library Role: Academic librarian since they love being in school

 


THE BOOKWORM

Summary: Often confused with The Mouse (see below), The Bookworm is slightly different in that they aren’t necessarily shy, they’re just always reading – in class, on the bus, in the elevator between floors 1 and 2.
Dress: The absent-minded professor style – mismatched socks, uncombed hair, wrinkled shirt and pants.  No time for these details when there are books to read!
Typical Quote:  “Did you read <insert name of any book on Globe and Mail Fiction or Nonfiction Top Ten list>?  It was great!”

Favourite Book: Publisher’s catalogues.
Ideal Library Role: Acquisitions Librarian


THE ECCENTRIC

Summary: In
a world that attracts mildly eccentric personalities, the true library
school eccentric is a special case.  Freed from societal norms, they
indulge in such unique activities talking to themselves, talking to talking to computers in the lab, talking to books on the shelves. 
Dress: Outlandish – underwear on the outside, clothes inside out.  Random accessories of many colours.  A range of hats.

Typical Quote: “My cat talks to me.”
Favourite Book: The dictionary (working on reading it from cover to cover)
Ideal Library Role: Children’s Librarian (seriously)

 

 

THE ENTREPRENEUR
Summary: This person believes overdue fees are a good source of revenue for libraries, charging patrons for priority placement on holds is a better source of revenue and an in-house Starbucks would be the best source of revenue.  Likely ended up in library school after being rejected by an MBA program. 

Dress: Suit and tie, even on “Casual Fridays”

Typical Quote: “Why shouldn’t Coca Cola have naming rights to the children’s section?”
Favourite Book: How To Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
Ideal Library Role: Vendor rep or library consultant

 


THE GEEK

Summary: Obsessed with computers, not so much with social interaction (unless Facebook counts.)  
Dress: baggy comfortable clothes, often sweat pants or a mumu.  Shaving and haircuts optional.
Typical Quote:  “There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t.”

Favourite Book: The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
Ideal Library Role: Systems Librarian

(Another
disclaimer: I had a long debate with a colleague about whether I should
include this and the following sections as they’re not really “types”
and theoretically, the only two items on this page that possibly
violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  But again, this post is
just for fun, I’m completely aware that all of these entries are
trafficking in dumb stereotypes and I think it’s a shame that a guy who
spent so much time reading “Mad” magazine as a child would self-censor
now.  In fact, the bigger crime is that I wasn’t able to make these
sections a lot funnier so if you’re going to be offended by something,
be offended by that!)

THE HOMOSEXUAL
Summary: Librarianship is known as one of the most progressive, liberal professions on earth (slightly to the left of South American freedom fighter) and this is part of the reason library schools attract such a high percentage of gay students.
Dress: Pink for the men, plaid for the women.
Typical Quote: Female: “In a male-dominated society…”  Male: “In a male-dominated society…”
Favourite Book: The Importance of Being Ernest – Oscar Wilde
Ideal Library Role: Teen Services.




THE MALE
Summary: Men are a minority at library school, filling anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of the spots.  Yet, they are a majority in terms of library upper-level management positions (this stat is based on my sample size of the four upper level managers I know.  But I suspect it’s pretty accurate.)  Male library students, being more sensitive than typical men (we cry during the national anthem before Hockey Night in Canada), tend to feel sincerely guilty about this imbalance.
Dress: Jean, t-shirts, backwards ball cap. 
Typical Quote: (about men in library school) “If you’re a man in library school, it’s likely that you’re either gay, married or weird.  Possibly all three.”
Favourite Book: Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
Ideal Library Role: Reference (since so many men think they know everything anyhow)


THE MATURE STUDENT
Summary: Returns to school after a long absence of working and/or raising children.  Tends to sit at the front centre of the classroom and often believes the class is a personal dialogue between them and the professor. 

Dress: Librarian chic

Typical Quote: “Well, what I’ve found while working in the real world…”
Favourite Book: The Wealthy Barber – David Chilton
Ideal Library Role: Management (they’ve already got the experience!)


THE MOUSE

Summary: The librarian stereotype come to life.  Quiet.  Bookish.  Mousy.
Dress: Glasses on a chain.  Cardigan.  Sensible shoes.  Hair in a bun.
Typical Quote: “Shhh!”
Favourite Book: Fanny Hill (or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) –John Cleland  (the flip side of the mousy stereotype – the horny librarian within!)
Ideal Library Role: Cataloguing.


THE PARTY ANIMAL

Summary: Exuberant personality who believes it is their mission to personally change the traditional stereotype of librarians, mainly by consuming copious amounts of alcohol. 
Dress: Bar clothes, heavy make-up, styled hair, pack of cigarettes at the ready.
Typical Quote: “One more round! Class doesn’t start until 8:30 a.m.”
Favourite Book: Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
Ideal Library Role: Public Relations & Marketing

 

 

Here are a couple other links to sites with a similar theme:

Something Awful Forums – A brief summary of 99% of the people you will ever meet in college (Be forewarned – these descriptions are quite rude but also, dead on much of the time.)

Librarian Types

Posted 27 March 2007 § Baby § Humour § Library § LibrarySchool § List § Main Page § Photo ‡ Comments (12) °