Albert Einstein @ MindSay

Albert Einstein once said, "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." There are days when I know this to be true.

 

Do you know the Darwin Awards? It is another one of those fun websites. This one is dedicated to human stupidity. I used to read them fairly regularly, but haven't in a couple of years. Tonight's report is about a young student (I'm gonna guess freshman) who stopped by to ask me a couple questions. Nothing wrong with that...I am all about using available resources, and librarians are one of the best. Our conversation went something like this:

 

Girl- "hi, um, I've got this number here, what is it?" (shows me a piece of paper)

Me- "that's a call number"

Girl- "oh, so does it mean that the book is in the library?"

Me- "no, it means that the book is in the library system. I can look it up for you and see if it is available"

Girl- "I already looked it up, the catalog said 'Available'"

Me- "well, then, that means the book is in the library"

Girl- "okay, where is it?" (actually looks around at this point, like the book would magically appear or might just be laying on the floor next to her)

Me- "all of the books are on the third floor"

Girl- "where's the third floor?" (no, I am NOT kidding)

Me- "well, we are on the first floor, so the third floor is two floors up" (I didn't even say this mockingly....I was very polite)

Girl- "okay, great, where are the stairs?" (this sounds dumb, but the stairs are not visible from the main part of the library so I get asked that lots)

Me- (pointing) "down there to your right"

Girl- "so the books are all on the third floor?"

Me- "yes"

Girl- "are they organized somehow? Like alphabetically or something? I, mean, how would I find it, do I just look for it?"

 

At this point I lost the thread of the conversation. I said something to her about call numbers and how they work and how to find a book if you've got the call number, etc. But in my head I was picturing thousands of books just lying around in stacks on the floor and hundreds of students picking them up and putting them down as they frantically tried to find the ONE that they needed.  Oh, and I was trying not to laugh.

 

Whenever people ask me about library school, they always want to know what kind of things we're taught. One of the classes I took was called Organization of Information and friends always give me a look like I am joking when I say that. For the very first time I realize that there are actually some people in the world who have never given a single thought to the hows and whys of organization. These people don't realize that everything is information and it is all organized for efficiency. Addresses, zip codes, streets, credit card numbers, social security numbers, library books, magazines, television shows, I could go on and on. Everything has an organizational structure to it and evidently there are people who just didn't know it. Never thought about it or just don't care. Truly it boggles the mind.

 

This girl is clearly one of those people. I can only hope that she has some other area that she excels in...but for this, she should be up for a Darwin Award.

 A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy,

education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.

Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained

by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

~Albert Einstein~

" Two thing are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

---Albert Einstein

First we have a brilliant man

now

here is a quote from my Washington State Histroy Teacher

..whom i hate with a passion -____-

 

*" Now Ms. Moore ( me) I cant spoon feed you the knowledge of life * does hand motions like he is feeding a baby*."

me: o...O * thinking: keep your spoon away from me!*

 

Quotes from Albert Einstein:

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.

-Peace Out