Journal Entries
Hypatia: NaJoPoMo 29/30
Posted Nov 29, 2011
So, is it just me or do the new logos for 
and Ask make you want a cup of coffee?
Speaking of logos, the library needs one. I am going to make that a December project, along with getting the files in better shape. The good news is that I have an actual plan and a new file cabinet. The plan is to delegate the task to someone else. 
It's good being the boss.
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Latest reply: Nov 29, 2011
Hypatia: NaJoPoMo 28/30
Posted Nov 28, 2011
We survived Black Friday and now have to contend with Cyber Monday. I've already had dozens of advertisements in my inbox and dozens moe in the spam folder. Every company I've ever ordered from has sent me at least 4. 
Notice to advertisers (and this goes doubly for telephone solicitors) -- Do you really think that annoying me will cause me to buy something from you?
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Latest reply: Nov 28, 2011
Hypatia: NaJoPoMo 27/30
Posted Nov 27, 2011
This is as good a time as any to put in my two cents about Mizzou's move from the Big 12 to the SEC next year. Truthfully I'm on the fence about the move.
On the one hand, I like keeping the tradition present in the Big 12. Some of the members have shared a conference with Mizzou for over 100 years, others not so long but long enough to form some ongoing rivalries.
On the other hand, the SEC offers Mizzou so much more security and a considerable increase in revenue. The Big 12 has jerked Mizzou and some of the other members around for years in order to pander to Texas and Oklahoma. Both schools are pivotal to the Big 12's future. If they leave, the conference won't be able to survive. On the other hand, it can survive quite well without Mizzou and we can do just fine without it.
This is the second year of moaning, threats and last minute deals to keep the conference together. Nebraska and Colorado left last year. Then this year it all started over again when Texas A&M announced that it was exploring it's options. It became clear that it is far better to leave now than to wait for Texas and/or Oklahoma to break up the league and then have to scramble around for a BCS conference that is willing to take us.
A&M made it official that it was leaving for the SEC. So TCU was wooed and added to the Big 12. Then Missouri was offered a spot in the SEC to balance out the addition of A&M. Under the circumstances, we would have been stupid to turn it down. So, West Virginia moved to the Big 12 to take Mizzou's slot.
A lot of criticism has arisen, as was expected. Some people think that Mizzou won't be competetive. SEC is a football powerhouse. On the other hand, the Big 12 isn't too shabby, either. Also, the SEC and every other league is about more than football, even though most people won't admit it. Mizzou brings strength to the SEC in several other areas, including basketball, women's sports and academics. We also bring a large TV market to the SEC, larger than most of the schools already in the league.
Then there are the folks who claim it isn't a good geographical fit. I think it 'barely' fits in geographically. We share borders with Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. The southern half of the state has historically been considered part of the south. We've been put in the Eastern Division, which isn't geographically ideal, but it makes sense that being the last one into the league, we'd be put in the available slot.
So, yes I'll miss the traditional rivalries, but I welcome the added security the SEC offers. I think I just fell off the fence into the SEC pasture.
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Latest reply: Nov 27, 2011
Hypatia: NaJoPoMo 26/30
Posted Nov 26, 2011
There are a lot of happy people in Little DooDah today. Once again, we won the Class 4 state football championship. This is our 10th win overall and the 6th since 2000. On Thanksgiving and Black Friday it is becoming a LDD tradition to travel to St. Louis and the Edward Jones Dome for a title game.
We also won last year, which I probably reported someplace on h2g2. But we did it with a team filled with seniors and graduated 28 of the players this spring. As a result, we were pretty much written off this year. So, to all those 'brilliant' handicappers and sports writers 
Keeping the football theme, today is the 120th time that Mizzou will meet the Kansas Jayhawks in what is referred to as the Border War. The games started in 1891 but have their origin in the Civil War era when pro-slavery supporters from Missouri clashed with anti-slavery supporters from Kansas. Trust me, these two schools don't like each other.
The overall record is even in dispute. Kansas claims it's tied at 55-55-9, while Mizzou claims the edge at 56-54-9 due to a game in 1960 that Kansas won, but did so using an ineligible player. Whatever the record actually is, today's shootout will likely be the last. Next year Mizzou is leaving the Big 12 Conference and joining the SEC, meanking that the two schools will be in different conferences for the first time.
Do you know why all the trees along the state line lean to the west? It's because Kansas sucks.
MIZ...ZOU!
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Latest reply: Nov 26, 2011
Hypatia: NaJoPoMo 25/30
Posted Nov 25, 2011
Has anyone ever dried citrus?
Here's the deal. I have this Civil War exhibit at the library through December 23. I also have an enormous Christmas tree I put up every year. A 12 footer. So, because of the exhibit, I decided to use old fashioned decorations on the tree this year.
One of the ideas was to cut crosswise slices of oranges, grapefruit and apples, dry them and hand them on the tree. I'll also have gingerbread people, holly and bittersweet berries, a paper chain and toys.
So I bought these large bags of fruit to use. Thought I'd get out the dehydrator today and make a start. The only thing I've ever used it for is herbs, tomatoes, mushrooms and jerky. Thing is, when I looked in my book for drying produce, citrus fruits aren't even mentioned. There is a long list of fruits with a note of whether they dry easily or not. There is nary a mention of any sort of citrus fruit. I know it's possible because I have this metal topiary tree I bought to use as a centerpiece for our Christmas open house that has dry orange slices in it.
Guess I'll just have to wing it.
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Latest reply: Nov 25, 2011
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