Water World

Here's a nifty map that shows what any area in the world would look like if global sea levels increase by 0-14 meters. On this map, I have central Connecticut highlighted with a 10 meter rise:

http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=41.7959,-72.6746&z=6&m=10

Not too bad. Very few areas we're looking at for houses would be under water -- even though many of the major roadways would need new bridges. University of Hartford should be okay, too. (Harvard would be submerged.)

Sadly, I couldn't get the map to show the Providence area. I'm pretty sure that our current house would be underwater, though.

The Continuing Adventures of "That Dork From Harvard"

No, not Nick. Me.

So today I was all excited because I managed not to sign the time sheet where the director is supposed to sign -- I did that last week; very embarrassing -- so I thought I'd celebrate with some coffee.

I do like coffee. Gretchen bought me my own can and some powdered Creamola to take to work. I still need to get a coffee maker for my office. I'm actually thinking of getting an electric kettle and a simple drip coffee maker, maybe something like this.

So I grab my can of coffee and trot up to the break room. There I dose out the more-or-less proper amount of coffee and water and flip the switch. While I wait for the brew to finish, um, brewing, I scope out the cartoon clipping posted on the staff corkboard because hey, they're new to me. (Ha! Oh that Cathy!)

When I hear the coffee pot gurgling I turn around and OH MY DOG! I didn't close the lid of the machine and there's aborted coffee and grounds everywhere!

Luckily, I know how to clean up a coffee machine disaster. But still, what a dork!

Reincarnation

If such things are possible -- and I get to choose -- I think I'd like to come back in my next life as a house cat.

So long, Harvard!

It's been nice, but I'm moving on.

I've landed a nice job with some wonderful folks at the University of Hartford, working as the Head of Technical Services in their libraries. I start Wednesday.

I'm really excited to start the new job, even though I'll miss my cow-orkers here at Lamont. This also means I'll be moving at some point. I can commute by car for a while -- and actually, it's shorter than my current trek to Cambridge -- but we'll relocate as soon as feasible.

Tough Week For Celebs

With the passing of former President Gerald "Swine Flu" Ford and
singer James "Return Fire" Brown, looks like it's been a tough week
for celebrities.

Which reminds me, how's the appeal coming along, Saddam?

Kaka "the Fan Boy" Eeday

A visiting librarian from Japan came to our department today for a brief tour and discussion. While she was here, I got a confirmation on something that a friend had told me long ago.

It's true: "Ben" means "poop" in Japanese.

She took it all in stride, and I doubt she would have commented on it if I hadn't mentioned it first. However, she admitted that she initially expected me to look more Asian since "Ide" (pronounced "ee-day") is a fairly popular surname in Japan.

After the tour, we sat at my desk while she asked me a few more questions. She kept looking over my shoulder at my computer screen, and it wasn't until she was about to leave that she laughingly said why.

I had completely forgotten that, months ago, I'd changed the scrolling banner of my screen saver to say:

オタク

Which is Japanese for "geek" or "fan boy".

I'm so embarrassed.

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season today. Really, it was little more than slush from on high, but the kids dug it. Nicky built a snowman!



Notice all the green tracks in the lawn, showing where the snowballs had been rolled.



"All done, bored now."

That's the little snowman in the bottom left corner. It's camouflaged by all the yard debris stuck in the snow.

Sadly, the temperatures shot up right after these photos were taken, and Frosty is no more. Perhaps the detritus lives on as compost.

By the way, Gretchen made the scarves. Aren't they great?