I'd make a new blog called The Potbellied Philosopher, but I think some people might now associate the word potbellied with pig more often than stove.

We've never had either a water cooler or a coffee station here at my current job (no free coffee really sucks!). Gossip/hanging out and chatting is done at the cubicle, in the hallways (which pisses off those whose cubicles are near said hallways, so that there are signs hanging in them saying "Please modulate your voices here--conversations can be heard"), or in the bathrooms (or, if you're a smoker, outside).

Does anyone here have discussions around water coolers?

We don't have a water cooler, although we do have free coffee and tea. Mostly, our informal discussions take place while waiting in line for the microwave.

In Work, Louisa Mae Alcott's semi-autobiographical novel written in the late 1860s, Christie is convinced that the man she loves will reject her if he discovers that she has been *shudder* an actress. (It's online free and less likely to make you want to poke your eyes out.)

In Jo's Boys, also Louisa Mae Alcott and written a little later, Josie wants to be an actress, and her parents consent under the condition that she follows the advice of a "proper lady" actress who has a vacation house near theirs, and her first bit of advice is to finish school first.

In a Victorian literature class I took in college, I did a report on Madge Kendall, an actress in London during that period. I found one great quote from her saying that she doesn't know what might happen in some of those other theatres, but nothing happens backstage at her theatre that wouldn't be appropriate for any proper drawing room.

Mostly, our informal discussions take place while waiting in line for the microwave.

This is my office too. Heh.

The WBC Comes to Canton.

The Westboro Baptist Church protested Canton High today for their production of The Laramie Project. The students were more than happy to counterprotest. It's a great story worth reading. Gives me hope.

Weirdly enough...not having had an actual job outside my own stuff for 14 years, I did just have a conversation while my hand was on the water cooler in the office in which I am squatting.

Back in the day, I do recall talking about Twin Peaks in the vacinity of the water cooler.

On a totally different note, I have a question for wildlife nurturers.

It would seem that a pair of doves is building a nest in one of my kitchen wiindows.

I have two questons...the screen is skewed, giving them a roughly 2 and a half inch wedge of space...and the screen tends to bang around in the wind. Should I, when they are both gone, remove the screen to give them more room?

Are they smarter than me when it comes to choosing spaces?

Also, should I put food, like bread crumbs out there? Or does ordering in upset the process?

My experience as a penguin wrangler did not prepare me for unexpected nests.

My only bird knowledge extends to answering this question:

Are they smarter than me when it comes to choosing spaces?

If they're an older couple, then yes; but first-time bird parents frequently build nests in incredibly idiotic places and lose their eggs or their nestlings to the first high wind that comes by (ack, I'm getting distressed just thinking about all the tiny naked little baby birds I've seen over my 40 springs, smashed on various sidewalks because of parental stupidity).

Er, in short, don't assume they have any idea what they're doing.

The water cooler, microwave, and coffee pot are all in the same spot in the office. We do tend to chat there. We don't have any walls anymore in the office so chat happens every place. When we moved to this space we intended to put up walls. We placed our desks and stuff in the desired spots and never got around to putting the walls up because we all liked being able to ask each other questions without yelling or getting up and walking to another office. There are times when it would be nice, but if we want privacy for a phone call or something we just go outside.