Coolness.

I will admit it: I'm an Anglophile*. I like, specifically, info about British history around the Medieval period, and earlier. That's why this story caught my eye.

Basically, archeologists in Germany believe they may have found the bones of a Anglo-Saxon British princess from the tenth century who was the Princess Di of her times. According to the news story, Princess Eadgyth (pronounced "Edith") was sent to marry an ambitions Germanic Saxon duke who later became the first Holy Roman Emperor. Note the story says they may have found her: apparently, during those times, it was common to move remains around, possibly to make room in crowded church environs, possibly to preserve the dead from grave robbers looking for her jewelry, or perhaps a relic. They will be doing tests to figure out whether it actually could be her, or if it's someone else.

This story interested me for a few reasons: first, the idea of a lost princess appealed to the romantic in me. When I pulled the story up, I was even more intrigued, because she dated back to one of my favorite periods, that before the Norman conquest of England. During that particular time--between England belonging to the Celts and being conquered by the Norman French--society had had far more in common with ours, with regards to equality between the sexes, and responsibility between the classes. Literacy, in this period, was fairly common, as well, as was demonstrated by just how much information there is about Princess Eadgyth.

According to the widespread writings about the princess, and according to the way she was written about, she really was the Princess Diana of her century.

Another reason I chose this story is simple: it has nothing to do with politics, foreign policy, or economic policy. I do follow such, but there's so much out there that's depressing that I simply needed--and still need--a break from writing about it.

*Anglophile: someone who enjoys most things British

Don't you just love bureaucracies (Sample rant)?

I love bureaucracies. They make life easier for all of us, don't they?

Okay, okay. No more sarcasm.

I am about ready to blow a fuse, right now. I cannot access my Lionet account. My account has been "disabled." That means I cannot access my class rosters, my pay information, or anything else like that I need.

Why?

As an adjunct, I'm employed by the semester. That means every semester, I have to sign a new contract. Which is then sent to human resources. Who won't take it if it's too early (and then the contract employee gets their contract back, usually after the deadline to submit it, and has to rush to get a new one turned in), and pitch a fit if it's too late. All in all, there's a window of about a week where they want to get all the contracts put through.

So, where does this tie in with me not being able to access anything? Well, the human resources cooperate with the tech department to let them know who needs an account with Lionet for work, so that accounts can be up and running for those who are university employees.

They also let the tech department know who's not working, so that accounts can be disabled. Like mine was. Because they don't know who's going to be working for them until they get the contracts. And they won't accept the various departments' words that so-and-so will be teaching for us next semester--not until they get those contracts. Which they won't accept until between this date and this date. But they tell the tech department that so-and-so won't need an account the week before they are willing to accept contracts.

And don't ask me why, but they won't accept contracts that so-and-so agrees to teach for the university for Fall semester of x year, and Spring semester of y year (one full academic year). Nope, they want new contracts for each semester.

And, in the meantime, those of us stuck in the cogs of the bureaucracy have to remind them "Hey, I'm still working for you guys...can I have access to the software I need to work for you guys? And can I please see my pay stubs? Pretty please?" with each semester.

(There's another rant there--but I'm sure you don't want to hear it.)

I love my job. I really do. There's no feeling in the world like being able to help students learn what they really need to know to be successful (and writing is one of those skills that's kind of vital, no matter what you end up doing--unless it's flipping burgers or pushing an idiot stick*, and you don't need even a high school diploma for that). I even love this university--I loved it when I was a student, and I still love it from the other side of the desk.

What I don't love about it (or any other large organization, really) is how the bureaucrats adore making the rest of us miserable in their petty power trips.

*idiot stick--a stick with a shovel or mop head at one end, and an idiot on the other.