It seems to be a good time to pause, and re-post...

... How To Survive a Wank

The first rule of course is, stop. If that's possible at this point.

The new Seattle "Library"

wildernessguru and I visited the new multi-million-dollar Seattle Library.

Inside, it had that warehouse feel and bright colours of an IKEA store. There were high windows, letting lots of light. I would call that the only plus. The only entrance I saw was a revolving glass door.

The different sections of the library were named after various donors, so you had to ask the front desk where, say, periodicals section was. "Oh, that's the Mrs. Wealthy Widow room, next to Bill Gates hall..."

There were computers everywhere and hardly any books in sight. The bookshelves in the main atrium (which felt like a hotel lobby) were waist-high display cases. Many of the Seattle Public Library books have to be warehoused off-site because the new "library" doesn't have space.

Going up the bright florescent yellow escalator, there was a plexi-glassed hole in the wall with some TV screens showing a close-up of wrinkled lips moving, with an overly loud voice-over, and a close-up an eye opening -- giving this bizarre Big Brother feel.

After being thoroughly creeped out, we emerged onto the next level. The floor was made of a kind of uneven, loud metal plate. This section was dark, with eerie red overhead track lighting. Again, there were no books in sight, just computers. It had the effect of a slightly unpleasant internet cafe, designed to make sure people don't get too comfortable.

And that's when I saw it. The railing overlooking the "hotel lobby." Only four feet "flip-over" high, this flimsy metal was the only thing between you and a splattered watermelon head on the floor below.

Your only route to the upper floors? A glass elevator, not fully enclosed, with a similar railing.

That was enough for me. It was my first, and likely last visit to our new multi-million dollar "library." I will be visiting the smaller branch libraries instead now, and (since they'll have to order the books from off-site anyway) order books from there. I hate it that they destroyed our library, in which I spent many hours, for this. Who are they kidding?

Today's Seattle Times has a detailed article about how inaccessible this library is to the disabled.

Uhm-hmm.

Oh, good...

Are you Addicted to the Internet? 57% Average@Internet-User.com (41% - 60%) You seem to have a healthy balance in your life when it comes to the internet and life away from the computer. You know enough to do what you want online without looking like an idiot (most of the time). You even have your own Yahoo club or online journal! But you enjoy seeing your friends and going out to enjoy life away from your computer. The Are you Addicted to the Internet? Quiz at Quiz Me!

Percy Ficathon - what? You thought we were done? Hardly.

More Percy Ficathon reviews from merrycontrary:

The Devil is a Liar, by millefiori. Percy/Penny, Marcus/Oliver, Marcus/Percy. NC-17. Set during CoS. Marcus is a charming bastard, Percy and Oliver are in severe denial. Hot and humorous. The details make this story steamy in a way that is just so real.

Percy Ficathon - yep. There's plenty more where these came from.

Dream a Little Dream, by ellensmithee. Percy/Remus, NC-17.

With an opening line like "I want to watch you wank," you just know your in for a fun ride. Hot and humorous. A definite must-read for the office workers in the crowd.

~ from merrycontrary

Percy Ficathon - last one... for now. ;)

More Percy Ficathon reviews from merrycontrary:

Undignified, by florahart. Percy/Oliver, NC-17.

Yet another entry into the hot and humorous catagory. Set during PoA. Oliver is drowning himself in the shower, Percy comes looking for him. Percy has an interesting method for teaching proper Gryffindor decorum.

~ merrycontrary

Gacked from Spiderine...

The Sorting Hat says...

Gryffindor! 96%

No surprises there. Not to worry, machiavellian, Ravenclaw's right behind, at 93%.

What comes last? Is there any question, the way I hate manipulation and power games?

Slytherin, of course. ;)

(no subject)

Hot, miserable and irritable.

It's 97 degrees in our apartment. It's about 75 degrees outside, but it's a brick building, we're on the top floor and heat rises.

I hate this. Hate this. Hate this. They say that frogs are cooked live. I think I know how they feel.

wildernessguru and I have been snapping at each other for no reason, both fans are going full bore and I haven't been able to get any writing done today at all. Tongue feels like cardboard. No. No air conditioning.