Blog renamed, moved to different address

Talk about changing horses midstream - I decided that the name of the blog, because of my involvement with the Las Vegas Zen Center, will now be "Zen and Loaning in Las Vegas," instead of "Tears and Loaning in Las Vegas."  Even further away from my pun on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" but I think this name works a lot better for the blog.  Everything I've posted so far is here and after I get this version up and running I will delete the old one.  The unfortunate thing about importing the blog is that I lost all the comments and Google + 1's so it feels like it's starting from scratch.  Oh well.

I got extra funding!

In between celebrating Earth Day in Nashville, getting my bag ransacked by TSA at the Nashville terminal (nicely ransacked, that is), and catching a day-care cold while I was there, I haven't had a chance to update on the latest about my Las Vegas trip.  The committee that funds travel requests just notified me that I'm eligible to receive over twice what I asked for.  Still staying at the Zen Center, but now I have extra monies!  Will UF libraries let me buy a lawn chair and enough fruity drinks to interview everyone I want to interview at ALA 2014?!  Stay tuned!

Day-care cold - how nostalgic!

Las Vegas Cup I Found

I found this while cleaning cupboards - good sign!

U-Stream Link

Here's the link to the U-Stream feed - now I just have to figure out how to use it.  I've got one test video of me sitting at the desk - I've downloaded the mobile app and will now experiment with live blogging around campus.

Live Blogging

I'm all about liveblogging the ALA annual in Las Vegas, this year.  Think I'm going to try U-stream to see if I can upload iphone streams, and maybe BlogTalk Radio, I dunno.  I'd like to compile everything in a YouTube video, I think.  But I don't know, I've never live blogged anything!  I've participated in live blogs, but I wonder how effective a live blog will be at the actual conference - are people going to pop out their tablets or smartphones whenever I have an update?  It's different from the live blogs I've participated in, where you sit at your computer and refresh.

Oh, and here's a Blingee of Miley Cyrus I made for my student assistants at the library, before they left for winter break.



autumn fall 2013 di51 pictures

TSA all up in my carry-on

What is that first gun-looking thing?

I'm flying to Nashville in a couple of weeks to visit dear friends, and just realized that not only will I have to pack for the airport Gauntlet of Suckiness on this trip, but I've also got to plan on the trip to Vegas, as well! Being someone who maybe flies in an airplane every other year, this is going to be a landmark year for me, travel-wise.  I might go on not one, not two, but four (!) airplane flights this year.

So where does that leave me with the TSA?  Almost lost the Swiss Army knife my father-in-law gave me while going through the checkpoint a few years ago.  Luckily, I was able to save it by throwing it to my husband at the last minute (thank goodness he decided to wait to see me off), otherwise it would have been Gainesville Regional Airport property (what do they do with all those confiscated box cutters, and what-not?)

Okay, so here's the TSA's 3-1-1 Rule:

When processing through a screening checkpoint, each traveler is allowed one bag in order to limit the total volume of liquids, aerosols and gels. Consolidating products into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear all items.
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, consider putting your liquids in checked luggage.
Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.

Ah!  I like the part where it says, "if in doubt, consider putting your liquids in checked luggage."  I think that's going to be the way to go!  I don't carry a lot of toiletries because I don't use a lot of them, so packing my toiletry case in my bag won't be a problem.  Problem solved!  Now I just have to remember not to wear a belt and wear shoes that I can slip on and off. 

Haha, if you're interested in what the TSA blogs about, check out the blog here, and here's the headline:

TSA Week in Review – 34 Firearms Discovered This Week (26 Loaded)

That's just great, guys!  Thanks for confiscating 34 firearms, only 26 of which were loaded!