Miscellany

I’m swiping this directly from Allen but he is very correct in reminding researchers than without dated research notes you may be undermining your ability to receive patents. With so many of us keeping our records electronically, Stamper, a free PGP Digital Timestamping service, is a very useful resource. Thanks for finding this, Allen!

An interesting article on the many, many libraries that Andrew Carnegie founded around the world: Deconstructing the Philanthropic Library. It’s a brief discussion of why Carnegie chose to found libraries in particular; a large part is his own history of self-education and a belief in a meritocracy. I find the background image odd given the content – it gives an unsubtle message that the article is really about the money. I thought the Carnegie libraries I frequented growing up were quite good, though the main branch attached to The Carnegie Institute was intimidating. [via BookPeople]

Last night a friend regailed us with a description of the underground tunnel connecting the concourses in the Detroit Metro Airport, and I hesitantly admit that I was suspicious enough of the bizarrely psychadelic nature of the display that he described that I jumped on line and confirmed that commuters through Detriot do indeed get treated to “a wonderful light and sound show” as they rush from gate to gate (select item 7 in the virtual tour for a poor rendition of the tunnel). I’m almost hoping for a layover there sometime, now.

With minimal artistic license, a snippet of this evening’s conversation: Guy on TV, to skinny girl: You’re a stick figure! Them, to me: You’re not a stick figure. Me: No, I’m three dimensional. Them: I’m so big, I’m four dimensional! Me: Yes, you take up time and space….

A bunch of little links, which I don’t have many comments for… I would normally avoid any “news” related URL containing the word ‘heartwarmers’, but this picture is the absolutely cutest thing I’ve seen on the internet all month. [via Eclectica] While it appears to take a fussier approach to cooking than I prefer in real life, the food weblog Saute Wednesday is very fun fantasy reading. [via Eatonweb] If you thought NPR’s ludicrous linking policy was an abberation, go check out Don’t Link to Us!, a log of websites with stupid linking policies. [via RRE] And while I’m not … Continue reading Fussy Cooking, Creepy Gems….

In a minor stroke of luck, I managed to avoid having to go pick up a friend from the mechanic’s, as my slightly less fortunate friend incurred a large enough maintainance bill to be allowed to drive the “loaner” for the day. I insisted they take me for a ride, though, when I saw they were driving a behemoth “family truckster” style station wagon, complete with stained bench seats, clunking gear shift, and that boat-like ride. I’d forgotten how different they were from an SUV – they’re as big, but they ride much closer to the ground. It was a … Continue reading Vehicular Nostalgia

In a similar vein to the “Ryan and Jacob are fakes” spam I mentioned last week, I got this fascinating message the other day: Subject: Time Travelers PLEASE HELP!!! Hello, If you are a time traveler or alien and or in possession of government or alien technology I need your help! My entire life and health has been messed with by evil beings! If you have access to the carbon copy replica model #50 3000 series, the dimensional warp, temporal reversion or something similar please reply! I simply need the safest method of transferring my consciousness or returning to my … Continue reading Time Travelers Wanted

I always enjoy reading her advice, but Sars earned herself a big batch of approval in today’s Vine when she took a woman to task for wanting to put her cat to sleep because it kept peeing on things. Sars is always very outspoken about pets being a responsibility, even when they become old or sick or develop a behavior problem. As she says, your pet is part of your family. If you can’t handle that level of responsibility, get a plant.

In case you hadn’t heard, and I didn’t until someone pointed it out to me, M&M has announced that the new color will be purple! That’s a much better choice than the aqua and pink which, frankly, clashed with the existing primary colored M&Ms. Even the shade of purple they are using is a bit off, and should be less pastel. This article slipped in the fact that the purple candies will only be included for a limited time, though, starting in August. That’s disappointing.

There’s nothing so satisfying as being handy around the house, and there’s nothing that makes you feel quite so handy with so little actual skill as a power drill. Sure, I just put some holes in a dowel to hang a quilt, but I got to test bit sizes and produce sawdust and fiddle in my toolbox. It was a lovely little power tool experience.