Skip to main content

Transitions in Pete's World


I told myself I was going to write a huge blog entry on all things going on with me personally, professionally, and activism-wise. I am at the end of significant relationship and will be moving into a fun home in College Park in August. I get to keep the dog, my number one canine -- Bruno -- and my new housemates are enthusiastically welcoming him! The resident feline, however, does not seem to enthused. I think the two can still warm up to each other, and frankly I doubt Bruno even really understands all things cat.

In regards to my profession, I have been studying a bit for the certified archivist exam on August 11th. Although I have been told by some that since I have a master's degree in library and information science with some archives classes (and work experience), I don't really need this certification. Personally, I think it will strengthen my candidacy as I continue to job search (which has been a long and often disappointing process). However, I am very close to landing a fairly decent job at the Library of Congress, which will strengthen some archival skills. I will have to let you know when that final decision happens.

Activism, well still involved in the NoVa Greens -- at least until I move to Maryland. A week from tomorrow I will be doing the first full-length episode of NoVa Greens talk! My guest will be anti-mountaintop removal activist Bo Webb. He is a native West Virginian living in the heart of the coal fields and is with Coal River Mountain Watch, which I have heard of and been impressed with their work. Currently I am reading Coal River by Michael Shnayerson. This is all part of a build up to a late September mobilization called Appalachia Rising.

Anti-war/anti-torture stuff -- there have been a bunch of acquittals in DC. First 24 activists with Witness Against Torture were acquitted of Unlawful Assembly both inside the Capitol Rotunda and the east steps of the Capitol Building. This was a major victory for First Amendment Rights! Another First Amendment victory was the acquittal of the indomitable Cindy Sheehan and two others stemming from a March 20 protest at the White House. Superstar activist attorney Mark Goldstone was involved in both cases. Congratulations are in order for Mark, as he is now turning around his win-loss average.

Money continues to be very tight, so activism will need to take a back seat to just working, earning money, pinching pennies. But I don't have much to complain about. I have my baby dog Bruno to fulfill my devoted love and companionship quotient. And regards to my hobby of role-playing games, sadly my Pathfinder campaign maybe going on a hiatus, as right now I need to hold down a second part-time gig in addition tot he historical society. Major bummer, but I am sure I'll be able to pick up this past-time again in a month or two!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Guantanamo put on trial -- May 27th

In eight days, Eve Tetaz, a 76-year old retired D.C. public schoolteacher, will enter a courthouse in Washington, D.C. and engage in the legal debate over the fate of America's detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The name of Noor Muhammad has never appeared in an American criminal court. On May 27th, Tetaz will change that. On that day, she will appear at the Washington, D.C. Superior Court as Noor Muhammad. Tetaz was arrested, along with 78 others, at the U.S. Supreme Court on January 11, 2008, protesting the denial of habeas rights to and the torture of inmates at Guantanamo. Like her fellow protestors, Tetaz took the name of an inmate during her arrest. ( See the January 13 Washington Post article "Activists Pose as Guantanamo Prisoners" ) Tetaz says she felt compelled to participate in the protest at the Supreme Court because detainees are being tortured at Guantanamo. "Torture is a terrible crime and sin against humanity," she said. Thirty-four

Sheehan to challenge Pelosi

I was there the day about three weeks ago when Cindy announced she was running against Pelosi. It was outside of Rep. John Conyers'office. I think change is in the air, and all politics is local. The San Fran area is perhaps the most staunchly progressive in the whole country. Tomorrow morning I will be dropping a check for Cindy's campaign in the mail. Peace activist seeks SF-area House seat Associated Press report Citing her son as inspiration, a tearful Cindy Sheehan announced her candidacy Thursday for the U.S. House of Representatives. The anti-war activist, a former resident of Vacaville, said she will run as an independent against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987. "The country is ripe for a change," said Sheehan, who spoke at a news conference in San Francisco, with her slain son's photograph attached to the podium. "It's going to start right here and right now." Sheehan's 24-year-old son

Unemployment and the Struggle to Save Manning

One week ago I was laid off from a job I did not enjoy. Yes, I loved the salary and was quite enthusiastic about landing this job nine and a half months ago. The pay was significantly greater than I had ever earned before. My friends and former co-workers seemed surprised when I started looking for a new job, and then my unmasked relief of actually being laid off and seizing the opportunity to collect unemployment. Yes, it was related to library science, but it was not in a library or an archives (my specialty). It was also boring, I did not like the unpredictability of contracts, and frankly didn't really care for some of the big name clients our firm had (and in fact a couple I worked on). I also felt a little out of place, and don't think I ever want to do private consultancy work again. Ever. Unless it's later in my career and I am providing some consulting work for an archives and historical collection. That's enough about me. I am job searching for something in