paperbackbandit

I work in a nice bookstore, with a ginormous children's department. We tend to have one staff person down there at all times, but they get called out onto the main bookfloor quite often to answer phones or ring register. We are not a babysitting service; we have DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN UNATTENDED signs.

I just got a text from a co-worker saying a mother dropped her four-year-old daughter at the children's department and decided to go shopping. After mom was done, checked out, and went to get her daughter, she discovered she was missing - it's unclear how long mom was gone, or how long the girl had been missing. Our store is in an outdoor shopping facility -- brick walk with store fronts. We went on lockdown, only to discover the little girl got about halfway through the shopping center before she was found (a good 200-300 yards from our front doors).
 

And people wonder why I don't want to come back from my four-day-weekend...

Some of you have probably noticed that LJ members are planning a strike on March 21 (depending on your time zone). The strike is to protest the censorship of user's interests and the elimination of new Basic accounts, among other things.

I, not one to protest without being informed, did some research this morning and found a bunch of links about the strike, where it came from, and what The Powers That Be have actually said.

I will be participating, based on what I've found. I encourage you to subscribe to the LJ news threads so that you are informed of the upcoming changes.

No More New Basic Accounts
Be sure to read the first comment, which is from a VP.

The Censored Interests
Considering a lot of my friends here are fanfictionalists and bisexual, this bothered me.

Basics for the Strike
Do's and don'ts

The Four Terms of the Strike
This is not a "the strike doesn't end until demands are met" deal. This is just what strikers want to see.

Strike Times for Your Area
There is a link for specific areas if you get even more confused. It's a 24-hour strike, by the way.

Every LJ news link You Could Ever Want
Be sure to look at the LJ News page to see what they official word has been about the changes. I suggest you subscribe to every category. Create a filter if it makes it easier. Be informed.

My Friends Page has links to the icon communities that are posting strike icons and banners, should you so desire.

Have a good weekend, all.

Britney Spears lost custody of her kids.

She has until Wednesday to turn them over to Kevin.

and also

Pamela Anderson is getting married again.


/end tabloid transmission/

NOTE: I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC of New Moon, the highly-anticipated sequel to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight.  My review contains major plot information and spoilers so don't read it if you don't want to know!