I've begun studying the Library of Congress Classification system. I'm on a new team that's helping flea's Looniversity convert from what they were using to LC. What a cobbled-together piece of bleep. It's based on list of 18 subjects that a bunch of American Victorian librarians figured were important (see American-centric and dismissive of most of the rest of the world, with two major divisions for Miliary and Naval Sciences), and addendas and clarifications have been jury-rigged onto the thing for over a hundred years.

The call numbers are created based on what the individual cataloger thinks are the major subjects of the book, which means that with a multi-subject book it's possible for there to be two perfectly true and applicable call numbers. Also, they revise the system on a regular basis as various jury-rigging measures collapse, so a call number that was applicable before is quite likely to be inapplicable after. Which results in major rearrangements of libraries that are trying to keep up.

I really need to stop being impressed by the workings of large institutions. When you see the little man behind the curtain, it's always depressing.

Connie, we just had a guest at the Inn last week who was working on updating that system! Small world. Then again, being 3 blocks from the Library of Congress means we get a lot of their ilk. Always interesting folk.

In other Inn news, I succeeded in finding a new home for the two parakeets who were being neglected downstairs! Yay 15 phone calls...persistence pays. And the two little critters will finally get a decent environment.

When the bird person called this morning, she asked me to describe their cage. After a brief pause she whispered,"Um. We'll just throw that one away, shall we?"

When I went downstairs to get them, their water dish was filled with green sludge...and a terrible stank.

I'm feeling all underground railroad that I'm ferrying them to freedom.

At least SOMETHING is going right.

Plus, I whole-heartedly sympathize and empathize with the Friday morning gronklies. I really want a nap.

eta: Is 'sympathic' a word?

Good for you, beej. Any news on Wendy?

None.

The landlord gave me some details his wife gleaned from a psychic...hey, who cares where ideas come from?...but nothing so far.

I headed out with the dogs again yesterday and,while trudging through the snow I wondered,"Hey. Why am I out here following these leads while Wendy's people are not?" I can't NOT look for her cuz I'm compulsive that way, but sheesh.

So. Still seeking Wendy-come-home ~ma if ya got it. (and thanks for asking)

Good news on the birds, beej! I'll keep my fingers crossed for Wendy.

The house goes on the market today. I'm trying not to go crazy noticing what needs to be cleaned, etc. and tell myself that it's clean enough, and certainly a hell of a lot cleaner than when I saw the place for the first time.

I love the comforter, askye!

I'm on a new team that's helping flea's Looniversity convert from what they were using to LC. What a cobbled-together piece of bleep. It's based on list of 18 subjects that a bunch of American Victorian librarians figured were important

Hee. I did some research for my masters thesis there. (I was at a neighboring college at the time, but the Looniversity was rather generous in sharing their library resources.) Luckily for me, American Victorian librarians' priorities meant quite a decent Yeats section.

The cobbled together piece of bleep I was referring to is the Library of Congress' system, not the Looniversity's system. I think the Looniversity was still using the very sensible Dewey system. OK, I'm old-fashioned, but I like knowing where books are likely to be without checking a "where are they now?" list.

In other exquisite news, the Utah legislature has backed off its plan to break up my HMO. There was a bill going through that said HMOs of a certain size needed to be checked to see if they were an illegal monopoly. Why, look! The only HMO in the state that meets the size definition is mine. Could it be that there are several other insurers who have been trying desperately to break it up so they can scavange the corpse? Breaking it up would undoubtedly have meant either losing my insurance altogether because my boss couldn't afford it or losing access to the excellent doctors Hubby's been working with.

The bill has been changed to being 'under advisement', and the HMO, which says it isn't making the huge amounts of money they're being accused of, is more than happy to hand over their books for examination. Yes, they're always building onto the hospital here, but anyone who's seen the need for repainting and repair in various corners, plus the pruning of staff in various areas, knows they're not rolling in wealth. It started off as a small hospital. Now it's nearly four-square blocks of medical center. And I know the shortcuts, including the ones that aren't supposed to exist.

Another stressor gone. Yay.

Susan, the Robeez site has been updated with new products. I thought these might be perfect for Annabel to wear to Mariners' games.

I think the Looniversity was still using the very sensible Dewey system.

Created by Melvil Dewey in 1876, which pretty much puts it under the "American Victorian librarians" development category. Either way, I never had trouble finding the Yeats crit.