Today I went to the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. It's part of the Houston Public Library system, yet it's a stand-alone 100% genealogy library. I am quite fortunate to live 30 miles from it.
The trip was successful, but not complete. I'm going to enter the information I found into my database and then go back for more. Because this project is for someone else, I can't really talk about it. Therefore, I've decided to introduce you to Newman.
On the first floor of the main building, there is a room full of copiers. Here are a few:
I have a chilly relationship with the copier in the corner. It behaves poorly, breaks down (making me look like the bad guy) resets itself and just does what it darn well pleases. It annoys the heck out of me, so I call it Newman just like the Seinfeld character. Every time I go to the Clayton, I welcome a show down. Here is what Newman looks like when others are in the room:
But when I am all alone, Newman shows his true colors:
Today, Newman tried to annoy me with a delay between copies, taking just a few more seconds each page than was really necessary. It also started asking funny questions about templates, trying to get me to fail at making copies, but I wasn't fooled. At least the machine worked, though, and that makes me suspicious. It's clearly trying to lure me into a false sense of security while hatching Plans of Destruction for my next visit.
I LOVE your sense of humour! Still chucklin' here :)
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is related to HAL the 2001 computer.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I love that! Oh, I've had those problems with a copier too. They get a personality, don't they? And they seem to know when YOU are coming over to see them... They rub their little copier hands together and laugh their evil little copier laugh, then proceed to jam. Grrr!
ReplyDeleteThe copier at my local Archive Room has a way to copy to a flash drive so it doesn't cost you anything for copies. The down side is you don't know what you have until you load it onto the computer. Of course my DD asks me why I didn't take my netbook since they have wireless there? Next time! I liked your sense of humor about the copier.
ReplyDeleteYou made my day! As a genealogy librarian I deal with Newman everyday. I can't tell you how many people I have had to rescue from his clutches! Thanks for starting my day with a smile! Cassie
ReplyDeleteLOL!I can so relate.
ReplyDeleteThis is hysterical! I love what Newman looks like when it's just you and him.
ReplyDeletePriceless and funny to read. And this demonstrates that sometimes, on rare occasions, when users say, "But I didn't touch anything!", it is true because the copy machines have taken it upon themselves to do something completely different than what was requested.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to show this to some of my coworkers. HPL's OCE copiers are the bane of my existence. I can assure you that no one ever thinks you are to blame. We are all well aware of their horns & pitchforks!
ReplyDeleteLOL! A great reason for students like me to learn how to transcribe documents - in case we run into our own Newman.
ReplyDeleteNever let anything electronic know you are in a hurry. They all belong to the same union.
ReplyDeleteBwahahahahaaaaa!
Thanks for the delightful post.
Amy - Posts like this are why I love you so much!
ReplyDeleteMy printer is currently my Newman. He was spitting ink all over me the other day! - which of course, was the day I had a bunch of papers to print and turn in. Electronics always know...
This made me laugh out loud! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to battle copiers!
ReplyDelete