Music
With a little help from MOJO (tip: older editions are just as good as the newest one), I have been listening lately to vocal jazz / pop from the Fifties. Here are my five favorite songs so far: 5. "Don't Smoke in Bed" by Nina Simone. Her
LIS + DataSci
A point often made in defense of the requirement that librarians get a master's degree in library science and the recommendation that they remain current members of the American Library Association is that these two acts "demonstrate commitment" to the profession. If demonstrating commitment is the
Commerce
This morning, my breakfast was a fruit smoothie that I bought at Starbucks. Then I bought a large iced tea at Starbucks. While I sipped the iced tea, I listened to a jazz compilation released by Hear Music, the music label created by Starbucks. I appear to have been colonized.
Portland
Portland weather on the morning of August 1: 60 degrees and drizzling.
Commerce
The basic unit of currency of the premodern world was remarkably constant: a small gold coin weighing approximately four grams—one-eighth of an ounce—and about the size of a present-day American dime, appearing in various times and places as the French livre, Florentine florin, Spanish or Venetian ducat, Portuguese
Exercise
One of the great features of my new workplace is the stairwell near my cubicle. Five stories, about 135 steps — good exercise. After straining both knees during the last five weeks (the left one badly), here is what I have learned about being careful taking the stairs: On the way
Humor
My favorite movie genre parodies from The Onion: "Tow-Truck Driver Has Great Idea for Tow-Truck Movie" "Dancer Risks Everything"
Books
The New York Review of Books edition of The Anatomy of Melancholy is 1382 pages long. Here's the problem with that. If I'm feeling melancholy, then I'm in no condition to read a serious 1382-page book with a lot of Latin in it. If
The verb tabling means the opposite in British English from its meaning in American English. In the UK, to table an item means to begin discussing it. In the US, to table an item means to postpone discussing it.
Pets
My housemate's cat, Beans, looks so sad when no one is paying attention to her. The only time I see her sadder is when someone is paying attention to her.
Music
Imagine a mellow Caribbean beat slowly rising in volume. And then soft voices chanting: (God save the- God save the- God save the Queen) (God save the- God save the- God save the Queen) And, finally, a lead singer: God Save the Queen! And then let it go, mon, let
Music
Nick Cave is a bad, bad man who made a fine, fine video.