Gates, Bill Gates and The Gates of Hell, and oh yeah, porn.

The range of speakers, at tonights forum regarding the Brooks attack on library funding, spanned the gamut from teenager to octogenarian. Who would have thought that a search at the library would block me from shopping for Doc Martens? Note: My current pair was purchased nearly fifteen years ago. The second in my lifetime. Apparently this is the case according to Thomas Foley who ran an informal test to discover the overblocking tendencies of filtering software. We've all heard the arguments regarding filtered searches for breast cancer and chicken breasts but this one takes the cake. Because you know only pinko commies wear Docs.

Mumblers and the well spoken alike voiced their opinions of the topic at hand. Words such as penis, Lord, pervert and pornography were rather amusing considering the physical proximity of the meeting to The Diocese of Rochester.

Calls to remove all the computers and a poor attempt of sarcasm suggesting cocktails be served in the library were among some of the more predictable rants. I could swear that ACLU local counsel Scott Forsyth must have felt the singed hair from the eyes attempting to burn a hole through the back of his head as he took center stage. The loud clapping Maggie Fan behind me was as quiet as a church mouse as Mr. Forsyth left the podium, then became rather active when the fear slinging speakers took their seats.

We even got to hear a sales pitch for filtering software that is, according to the speaker, well ahead of its technological time and has the interest of Mr. Gates and Übersoft.

Maggie was a no show even during National Library Week.

UPDATE 4.17.07 A Doc Martens search test, via The Google and embedded links, was performed today at the Brighton Memorial Library with success in the quest for my favorite petrol resistant footwear. The verification survey continues.