I have nothing against the use of vending machine technology by libraries to expand their services in an economical way. But the headline on this WSJ article is just so, SO WRONG!  (And I'm not just saying that because I'm about to start training to be a librarian.)

People will always need librarians. And they will always need libraries.

Only one day left until the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. I can't make it to the main event in D.C., but L.A.'s MacArthur Park is totally doable. I still have to make my protest sign and figure out what to wear, what to take with me, how to get there, and how early I'll need to leave to get there by 9 a.m. Better get cracking.

Back in May I had the epiphany that I do not have to keep books just because they were on the reading list for the prelim exams I am never going to take. Today I finally got around to starting to purge the theology books I never intend to read again. It felt good.

Back in May, when I realized I didn't need to own books that are important to the career I'm no long pursuing, I cancelled my order for a complete set of the Church Dogmatics. My friends who did not cancel their orders began taking delivery on the books this week. Some of them are doing little happy dances. I am happy for them. I am also happy not to be trying to clear space on my overloaded bookshelves for 14 volumes of Barth. 

I really need to stop learning about conferences that I want to attend. I doubt it's realistic for me to get to two conferences in California, two in Chicago, and one in Puerto Rico within in the next year. But I'm going to do my darndest to get to three, or maybe even four, of these.

Absolutely random dinner table conversation: My grandfather does not approve of Taylor Swift's eyebrow plucking regimen. 

The pineapple guavas, a.k.a. feijoas, are ripe.  I don't know where they came from -- last year we had a very weak harvest, and all summer the tree didn't seem to have much fruit on it, but these days, every time I go out there, I get two buckets full. I've been making fruit leather, and may try some wine.

For other quick takes, see Jennifer's blog, Conversion Diary.