"There's something about the smell of a library..."

[torrain_circles]

For reference? The title is a quote. I will eat my hat if you can tell me what book it's from.

So! I have in my hands a DVD of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sadly, not the one coming out next month. Happily, the original, scored by Sondheim and featuring Lansbury and Hearn. Free rental, good for a week. God bless the Ottawa Public Library.

Speaking of which, the OPL is looking at a 10% budget cut over the next three years, which'd mean (among other things) closing ten branches and having extant branches closed one day a week. One-page summary is here; the more detailed list of what they'd be reducing and why is on pages 251-254 of this.[1]

But yeah. Objections/commentary may be sent to Councillor Jan Harder, although this is perhaps one of those situations where it might be more effective to hit Print rather than Send, fold up the hardcopy of the e-mail, and drop it in an envelope with a stamp.
---
[1] "This" is the Community and Protective Services section of the 2008 Draft Budget; note that the entire section dealing with the OPL goes from page 247 to 274. It's a very nice press release, and seems entirely adequate; I just wanted to check a source with more details before I linked it, because I am detail-oriented like that. And having found said source, I offer you a link.

Comments

[harald387.livejournal.com]

Amusingly, a Google search for the quote brings up your blog, and not very bloody much else.

[torrain.livejournal.com]

I know, and the one other thing it does bring up isn't the book. I wouldn't've promised to eat my hat if it was that quick and easy a thing to find. ;)

[harald387.livejournal.com]

I was hoping maybe you were thinking it was a very tasty hat and were just looking for an excuse.

[torrain.livejournal.com]

It's from the Mercedes Lackey series about Diana Tregarde. Diana's sitting and typing up one of her romance novels, and she pages up to insert that line into the scene. I believe she wrapped it up thinking "Don't look now, Lord Whoeverthewhat, Claire's going to pull out the honey and brandy..."

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

I've read this. Somewhere. WORK SLEEPY BRAIN WORK! I also tried google cheating for failure. Am sad. Sad sad sad. Stupid sad, tired brain. Stired brain. Now all it will go is loop between trying to remember Pratchett quotes and half-remembering scenes in "The 9th Gate".

I don't want to remember that movie! It sucks!

[torrain.livejournal.com]

It's from neither source you mentioned. :)

[torrain.livejournal.com]

From the Mercedes Lackey series about Diana Tregarde. Diana's sitting and typing up one of her romance novels, and she pages up to insert that line into the scene. I believe she wrapped it up thinking "Don't look now, Lord Whoeverthewhat, Claire's going to pull out the honey and brandy..."

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

Ok, its been a looooooong while since I read those. Though the collected version is in my Zooba book club queue...

[sivi-volk.livejournal.com]

Man, I hate Jan Harder.

The one coming out next month is a musical, yes? Sweeney Todd always reminds me of that short bit from the 2nd ed. Vampire Player's Guide, discussing flavours of blood from different vessels.

[torrain.livejournal.com]

Yep, like the original (well, both originals--the Broadway play and the movie I rented).

[torrain.livejournal.com]

Oh! Useful information re: Jan Harder here (http://torrain.livejournal.com/246452.html?thread=1030068#t1030068).

[iclysdale.livejournal.com]

A couple of added comments here.

First, no matter how much people hate Jan Harder, in this case, she's actually (and it pains me to say it) on the side of good. She's actually furious about these cuts, fairly publicly, and organizing to fight them. Getting calls and letters to her is good, because it gives her a meaning for spreading the pressure, but she's actually not one of the votes that need to be convinced.

Which means that - especially if you live in one of the suburban or rural wards - your best bet is to write or phone your councillor, and let them know that you don't feel a tax freeze is worth the gutting of services that is being proposed, services that make our city livable.

If you live in a ward with a councillor who's already vocally opposing the budget -- any of Clive Doucet, Alex Cullen, Diane Holmes, Peggy Feltmate among others -- writing a letter to Inmate O'Brien is a good start, but - more importantly - try and get friends living in the suburban and rural wards to put pressure on their councillors.