(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

• I haven't been doing two of my classes, the metadata class and the website class. Both of them are highly technical and I just do not have the time necessary to devote to learn the skills. I'd come to the decision that I was going to drop a class and go part time, which would put me graduating a semester later than planned. However, Chris convinced me that rather than drop a class, I should simply switch classes to something easier. Yesterday I dropped the two technical classes and added "Public Libraries" and "References for Youth" instead. Both the classes seem very interesting and straightforward (and they both require that we read some literature which is awesome!) I feel much less burdened having made this change. The reason I decided on these two classes is because I've decided to change my focus from General to Youth Services. I feel really good about this change. When I began this journey I was convinced that I wanted to work in an academic setting but the further and further I progress, the more I realize that I want to work with kids. 
• For my Public Library class I am required to read a book off the NYT Best Sellers list, something in the top 15 of any category (sans Business). The stipulation is that we pick a genre that we normally don't read. I guess this pretty much limits me to self-help or economics-type nonfiction. Yuck. I could read a popular author, like James Patterson or Nicholas Sparks. Those are authors I generally avoid in my literary snobiness, although I have read and enjoyed their work in the past. But honestly when I read the list of best sellers, I'd be likely to read any of those books. I'm greatly tempted to cheat and read something I'm very interested in, such as Margaret Atwood's newest book. The kicker is also that everyone in the class has pick a different book, and our local public library has to carry it. As I'm joining the class two weeks late, I'm sure everyone has already chosen all the good ones.
• Chris and I went to the movies last night. We started out at "Whip it", but as it didn't grab our attention in the first few minutes, we decided to go see "Surrogates" instead. It was a nice slice of sci-fi pie. I did enjoy it but there were some unaddressed issues that I felt the film makers should have discusses. For example, if all the humans spent their whole lives laying there plugged in, why wasn't everyone fat? 

Comments

[mortuus.livejournal.com]

Were the humans laying there consuming many calories? Because my assumption isn't that they'd get fat but that they'd actually get gaunt just by the loss of muscle, assuming they're consuming calories sufficient to sustain them while non-mobile.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

It was an issue that wasn't even addressed in the whole film. They did show humans drinking water or alcohol occasionally, but eating wasn't shown. People got up to use the bathroom, and when their surrogates returned home they unplugged. So they weren't plugged in 24/7 (usually) but they didn't ever leave their homes either. I wondered about loss of muscle as well, but like I said, it wasn't addressed. Maybe I'm just picking at details, but I would have just liked to know more about that aspect of it.

[frizbeemom.livejournal.com]

I guess Chris is home right now? Or do you watch the movies together in different cities but at the same time? That'd be kinda cool too. ;)

I like your focus on youth services. Would that likely put you in a school setting or are there other choices as well?

I miss school. I can't add tuition and books to our budget right now, but my job is offering Mindleaders for free as a personal enrichment benefit, and now that I looked at them I see them have some awesome classes, so I am going to start doing those once per week. Yay for education, in whatever form. Glad you like your two new classes. :)

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Chris is home for the weekend!! But we do watch tv shows together via the computer. It's silly, I know but just a way to spend time together, lol. A youth services specialization will make me qualified for working in a public library in the children. Working in a school requires a media specialist certification, which in most states is a library degree as well as a teaching certificate. I'm glad to hear your going to be taking a class or two. This is one of the reasons I love library sciences. Neverending learning!!

[arrctic.livejournal.com]

but Metadata sounds *so* interesting! :(

Your new classes sound much more exciting. I'll be interested to see what book you end up going with from the NYT list. I think you should cook your way through Julia Child's book and blog about it. oh wait..

sorry to hear that Whip It wasn't better. hadn't even heard of Surrogates yet ...I'm so behind the times.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I originally signed up for Metadata because I'm trying to make myself more marketable. The job market for librarians right now is really tough because no one is retiring. Job listings for librarians with digital skills, metadata knowledge, etc. are much more frequent than youth services. But when it comes down to it, I know I'd love being a children's librarian so very much more.

I don't think Surrogates got nearly the advertising budget that it should have. I only saw one commercial for it and that was a trailer before another film.

I picked The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls for my bestseller choice. It is a memoir, #5 on the nonfiction list. Like I told themenow, I wasn't 100% honest in picking something I'd normally read because I really enjoy memoirs. But on the other hand, I almost always read fiction in my leisure time, so I did make a sacrifice sort of :)

[arrctic.livejournal.com]

You know, I was actually going to suggest The Glass Castle to you as it's been personally recommended a number of times to me before. I'll be interested in hearing what you think of it.

good call on following your heart. I understand what you're saying about the librarian job market, but really, having dealt with way too much metadata at work myself, you're saving yourself a lot of tedium and headaches.

[themenow.livejournal.com]

I want to know what book too. The NYT list is one of the lists we're choosing our books from in our book club.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

For my selection, I chose The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. If I was totally honest with myself and the assignment, I would have had to choose something different as I like to read memoirs quite a lot. This one caught my attention because it is about a girl who had to move a lot growing up. I entertained the idea of reading the Glenn Beck book because normally I would never, ever pick it up. But I just couldn't make myself do it :)

[themenow.livejournal.com]

The Glass Castle - let me know how it is. It sounds really interesting!