An Ottoman used as furniture is probably a special case, capitalization wise. And design wise. And whether said Ottoman is living or dead.

Why, yes, it is a slow day here at work. Yay, holidays.

I hadn't realised that studies skewed towards students of the specialties! I thought they at least got more random folk than that, but I realise I'm thinking of all the "do you qualify?" posters I see for medical studies, which you really can't keep staffing out of your classes, because how many conditions and diseases can they really have?

When I took an intro to psychology course as an undergrad, one of the course requirements was that we each be subjects for at least two studies being done on campus. I don't remember exactly what mine were. Something where I had to watch a computer screen and press different buttons when certain things happened.

I am finally getting around to replacing my day to day bag, and I thought I'd mention that Wilson's Leather is having a Labour Day sale. Some stuff looks just as discounted as it was weeks ago, but ten or so items are 70% off.

Thanks to Lee I now know that this bag has a pocket that's the perfect size for a slim 10.1" tablet (tight fit for an old Asus Transformer, good fit for a Galaxy Tab or iPad, and hopefully a Note 10.1) that means you don't need a case to carry it safe from scratches in your normal bag. And, wow, the weight that saves when you're an idiot like me that buys a heavy (leather) case. I hate that thing. However, sometimes you need to toss a tablet into a bigger bag, so I am getting this which is one of the 70% off items. They don't list a weight, but I suspect it's lighter.

eta: Oh! 30% more off the bag in the shopping cart. Cool beans!

Something where I had to watch a computer screen and press different buttons when certain things happened.

Grand Theft Auto, clearly.

Oh, anyone use Shoprunner: [link] ? Even without the free month, I'd have saved $4 with the Wilson's purchase, but I am trying to cut down on signing up on shit, so I didn't. Belonging means I'm essentially committing to incurring >$9 of shipping a month, and even if I am that person, I'm not aiming to be that person.

Free returns, tho...

I don't like to think of it as passive aggressiveness--more passive viciousness.

I'm taking a stand here in saying that this was not only appropriate, but kinda endearing.

Something where I had to watch a computer screen and press different buttons when certain things happened.

Hell, I do that here without even being asked.

Excellent, subject bt has not caught on to the subliminal cues.

Oh was that out loud? Nothing to see here.

I think your subliminal is rapidly becoming liminal.

Yeah, that happens when I have coffee later in the day than I'm used to.

I hadn't realised that studies skewed towards students of the specialties!

My intro psych professor introduced the course by saying, "Psychology is a science based on rats and college sophomores."

Adventures in book festival volunteering:

I'm sure the theater people have worse stories, but I and the volunteers working for me just spent two days discovering just how difficult "no food and drink in the theater" is. The venue was the high school's relatively new and quite spiffy performance arts center. We designated an area where people could leave their food and drink. We gave them pens and Post-it notes to ID them. Yet we had the man who argued with a volunteer for five minutes because he said it was a $9 water bottle. We had the woman I discovered sitting towards the back in the aisle (also not allowed) eating ice cream. It was the sort sold in a cup with a lid, so she had apparently smuggled it in in her bag. She said to me, "I thought it would be okay if I ate it here." I escorted her out to finish it. Finally, there was the woman who drove a teenaged volunteer to tears by insisting on putting her water bottle in her purse and going into the theater. Because the volunteer was upset, I went over to the woman. I did not demand her water bottle. I spoke softly. I merely reiterated that she must leave the water bottle in her purse. I got a litany of "I had three children go to this school. You can't tell what I can put in my purse. I paid more for this than I ve ever paid for a bottle of water before." (My thought when she said the last was, "You've never been to a Braves game, have you?") I found out later that she told the volunteers at the door that she wouldn't leave her bottle of water outside because "someone could put something in it."