Mar

30

One Hundred Million (And Counting).

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 30, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Libraries around the world depend on a shared resource called OCLC, the Online Computer Library Center. Among other things OCLC maintains a giant database of records, accessible through WorldCat, which you can use to search more than 50,000 libraries in one fell swoop, or a swell foop if you’re into that sort of thing.
The records […]

Mar

29

So You Want To…

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 29, 2007 | 1 Comment

A librarian recently told me he was placing an order for the book So You Want To Learn Coptic? (Kirrawee, 2005). He was tickled that there was a book with such a catchy title about a relatively obscure subject. Coptic is a late form of the ancient Egyptian language and was spoken from about the […]

Mar

27

Beautiful Reaper.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 27, 2007 | 1 Comment

In Roman mythology Saturn was the leader of the Titans, and son of the sky god Uranus. He also swung a mean scythe. As the story goes, Uranus was a tyrant who wouldn’t allow his wife, the Earth goddess Gaia, to give birth to her children. Only Saturn was brave enough to confront him, and […]

Mar

23

A Fungus Among Us.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 23, 2007 | 2 Comments

When I was nine my mother gave me a book called, The Wonderful Flight To The Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron (Little, Brown, 1954).
It brought together two of my favorite things: science fiction and mushrooms. I was enthralled. Cameron is not as well-known or highly regarded as some other children’s literature authors, but The […]

Mar

21

McStupid.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 21, 2007 | 5 Comments

If I say “McJob”, you probably know I’m talking about a low-paying, dead-end job that doesn’t require any special skills or decision-making capability, a cookie-cutter job that many of us got our start doing but that no one wants to stay in for life. And yet the McDonald’s corporation wants the word removed from, of […]

Mar

19

Animal Attraction.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 19, 2007 | 1 Comment

What I don’t know about crows could fill a book–literally. The same is true of rats, flies, dogs, snakes, bees, sharks, peacocks, oysters, and all the other animals that are part of the Reaktion Books Animal series. Attractively designed and sized, the books in the series provide an overview of the biology, mythology, history, and […]

Mar

14

A Bone To Pick.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 14, 2007 | 1 Comment

“The ultimate trip.”–2001: A Space Odyssey advertising poster

The 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey splits people into two camps: those who love it and those who hate it. There’s no middle ground, so, even though I love it I’m not going to try and defend it. I just hope what I have to say about […]

Mar

13

Some People Read The Articles.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 13, 2007 | 3 Comments

Believe it or not some libraries subscribe to Sports Illustrated. This year, however, they’ve been seeing an interesting trend: they’re not getting copies of the annual swimsuit issue. Since it’s an issue that’s part of the regular subscription there’s no reason why subscribers–regardless of whether they’re individuals or libraries–shouldn’t get it. Calls to customer service […]

Mar

7

The Long And Winding Road.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 7, 2007 | 2 Comments

What would you do if you won the lottery? Pay off bills, fix up the house, and send the kids to college. Those are all noble ideas, but what’s the one thing you’d really love to do, something you’ve put off doing or never had the chance to pursue? I’d travel.

Mar

2

You’re Next.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

March 2, 2007 | 2 Comments

It’s one of the most lasting images in all of cinema: Kevin McCarthy, in the middle of a busy highway, surrounded by cars, screaming, “You’re next! You’re next!” at us.

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