I don't do this often (or ever), but I have to share a reference encounter I had. Names are not used, 'cause I don't know anyone's names.
A gentleman came up to the reference desk this afternoon. He wanted some information about a specific incident during World War II, relating to the Holocaust. I looked up some information for him and we were just generally speaking about it.
Another man approached the desk and said how amazing it us to hear us talk about the Holocaust. He said his grandfather had been a survivor. He'd taken the place of a rabbi who the grandfather looked like and gone into the concentration camps. He then told us that his grandfather was "kept with others who had information that the nazis wanted." He asked if we'd ever heard of Mengele. Then proceeded to tell us about how his grandfather was a genetic specialist, who assisted Mengele with his experiments. Apparently his grandfather knew how to work with genes and was able to help Mengele create super babies. The girls were lovely and smart, etc, etc. But the boys were all sociopaths. The man then said his mother was one of those girls. Then said both his brothers were bad. One in jail, the other, he didn't elaborate. But he, on the other hand, wasn't. And what was so different about him? Well, he'd been electrocuted 16 times throughout the course of his life. Supposedly, every few months, he goes in and is studied by doctors to find out why he isn't aging.
The patron I was helping and I just stood their dumbfounded. After all, how often do you run across someone who claims his relative was a nazi collaborator? And that he's the result of Mengele's experiments?
Mind you, I did want to ask him how many times he'd seen Boys from Brazil.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Oh, for Heaven's Sake!
Assembly fails to approve Maldonado for lieutenant governor
You know, I'm not a Maldonado fan. He's a Republican. Arnie wants him. So two things guaranteed to make me dislike him.
The California Senate is apparently smarter than the Assembly. Maldonado's district is Democratic. If Maldonado is approved as Lieutenant Governor, that opens up his Senate seat. Which would go to a Democrat! Getting the State closer to the magic 3/4 that needs anything to be done.
If only the Assembly would pull it's head out and think of this.
You know, I'm not a Maldonado fan. He's a Republican. Arnie wants him. So two things guaranteed to make me dislike him.
The California Senate is apparently smarter than the Assembly. Maldonado's district is Democratic. If Maldonado is approved as Lieutenant Governor, that opens up his Senate seat. Which would go to a Democrat! Getting the State closer to the magic 3/4 that needs anything to be done.
If only the Assembly would pull it's head out and think of this.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Hey Harold, DON'T call me!
Last night failed Tennessee Senatorial candidate was on the Colbert Report, talking about how he's considering a run for the Senate seat held by Kristin Gillibrand.
Ford, who 4 years ago, lost his run for Senate from his home state of Tennessee, has recently decided that he may think about running.
Forget about the fact that he just registered to vote in NY. Forget about the fact that he's never been further Upstate than Brooklyn.
Ford's been hired by Merrill Lynch as a senior policy advisor. So he's the candidate of big banking. I should add, Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is in favor of Ford's possible run.
You know, the last two carpetbaggers who ran for the Senate in NY actually bothered to go visit the State, not just New York City. Hilary Clinton, before her run visited every single County in NY. There are 62 counties. Ford's taken a helicopter ride around the city.
If you watched the Colbert Report last night, you saw Stephen ask Ford some questions about his apparently flip flopping positions. Including those on gay marriage, which he's now conveniently in favor of.
But if you watched, you also saw Ford refer to his possible opponent as a "young lady." Now, you may have noticed that I'm not particularly fond of this idea of Ford's. But I'm generally in favor of primaries. Competition is good for the Democratic process. But you know something? Not so much in this race. Ford's a smarmy git at best. The least respectful term he should EVER use in referring to Kristin Gillibrand is: "my esteemed opponent." Young lady? Can he be any more condescending and dismissive? Hard to see how that is possible.
Gillibrand, Democrat for US Senate
Gillibrand's ActBlue page
By the way, as a former resident of the state, who still has plenty of family and friends in NY, Harold Ford will not get one vote from any of them.
Ford, who 4 years ago, lost his run for Senate from his home state of Tennessee, has recently decided that he may think about running.
Forget about the fact that he just registered to vote in NY. Forget about the fact that he's never been further Upstate than Brooklyn.
Ford's been hired by Merrill Lynch as a senior policy advisor. So he's the candidate of big banking. I should add, Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is in favor of Ford's possible run.
You know, the last two carpetbaggers who ran for the Senate in NY actually bothered to go visit the State, not just New York City. Hilary Clinton, before her run visited every single County in NY. There are 62 counties. Ford's taken a helicopter ride around the city.
If you watched the Colbert Report last night, you saw Stephen ask Ford some questions about his apparently flip flopping positions. Including those on gay marriage, which he's now conveniently in favor of.
But if you watched, you also saw Ford refer to his possible opponent as a "young lady." Now, you may have noticed that I'm not particularly fond of this idea of Ford's. But I'm generally in favor of primaries. Competition is good for the Democratic process. But you know something? Not so much in this race. Ford's a smarmy git at best. The least respectful term he should EVER use in referring to Kristin Gillibrand is: "my esteemed opponent." Young lady? Can he be any more condescending and dismissive? Hard to see how that is possible.
Gillibrand, Democrat for US Senate
Gillibrand's ActBlue page
By the way, as a former resident of the state, who still has plenty of family and friends in NY, Harold Ford will not get one vote from any of them.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Harold Ford Jr. | ||||
| ||||
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