links for 2008-03-31

The History Of Print: From Phaistos To 3d behind-the-scenes of the printed word, beginning not with Chinese woodblock printing, as I thought, but with a 4000-year-old Greek archaelogical mystery … (tags: historyofideas technology printing) Five Ways of Proving Santa Claus “If Santa Claus did exist, there would be no narrow chimneys. But there are narrow [...]

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bookporn #30: public library (I): NYC

the NYC public library is an amazing space — skyhigh ceilings (literally!), to mute the dense, fussy detail of the ceiling architecture into tastefulness by sheer distance. and books line the walls, almost discreetly: the lighting is key here: everything looks gold and sun-dappled, but in a sort of antique way; those chandeliers, which would [...]

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links for 2008-03-29

Elephant paints self portrait // Current TV UK seriously. oh my god. (tags: wtf video)

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the Third Rate intellectual salutes the Third World intellectual

this is quite possibly one of my favourite historical photos of all time: the curious, motley Indonesian Delegation to the United Nations in 1947, looking for all the world like they have just fallen out of the sandiwara (theatre). In the center is Sjahrir, the careless loll of his head matching his characteristic, cerebral aloofness. [...]

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bookporn #29: main library, university of illinois (urbana-champaign)

before I tell you that the UIUC library is the third largest [edit: academic library] in North America after those of Harvard and Yale, I ought to tell you that its basement floor doubles as a bomb shelter. This gives it instant kudos. If there is a global nuclear fallout and everyone has to retreat [...]

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historians studying historians

I’m in Cornell, buried in the Rare Books section of the splendid Kroch Library (bookporn forthcoming & indeed, backlogged). I have decided that I am all for concomitant learning. What I mean by that is this: I’m going through some of George McTurnan Kahin‘s papers — he was a seminal historian of the Indonesian Revolution [...]

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bookporn #28: the seminary co-op bookstore, university of chicago

the UC bookstore is fantastic. For one, it’s underground, and makes no attempt to hide it. The pipes run everywhere. They shape the shelves, curl protectively around the books, and run magisterially across the ceilings. furthermore, the place defies all laws of physics. I’m absolutely sure that the place secretly unfolds out when you walk [...]

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AWOL

I’m away for a conference! Hopefully, there is internet in America. I will be in Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, New York City, Ithaca and possibly Washington D.C. and/or New Haven. If you are nearby, and you drop by here occasionally, I’d probably like to meet you. Send me an email, or something. Updates may or may not [...]

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