Big day for books
The Amateur Humanist points out that the recently struck agreement between book publishers and Google is a pretty big deal:
The broad significance of this arrangement is that it puts into place, really for the first time, an architecture able to suture the cross-cutting financial and ownership claims of the old (books) and new (digital) media, and in a way that returns royalty income to the original publishers while also making available millions of books still under copyright but not being currently printed (so far Google has already scanned seven million books). While the lawsuits were pending, Google simply made short clips available (a search would pull up the page on which sought terms appeared and the couple sentences before and after). Now, up to twenty percent of the volume can be displayed, and universities and colleges who buy access subscriptions will gain for their users full access, in effect adding millions of books to a given college’s library collection in an instant. And presumably the arrangement provides an incentive for other university libraries also to make available their collections for scanning, since by doing so they benefit from the collectively mammoth research database now likely to emerge.
That’s a giant leap forward.
Politics and Myopia
Here’s a post I just copied from somebody’s facebook account. It’s a suggestion for a scary Halloween costume:
A major political party puts up candidates for Prez and Veep and all they do is rant and rave about their opponents and promise better times and not share any real plans.
Now, which party do you think he was referring to? The rest of his post made it clear — but I’m not telling.
Avid supporters of both parties think this description aptly describes their opponents. But they fail to see that the description could easily apply to their own party as well.
The Most Interesting Show in the World
Only two pictures (see below) from show at The Loft in Atlanta last night. My cell phone camera died and I forgot to bring the Flip Video camera. But, you know, that type of show should be seen in person anyway.
Absolutely incredible.
A knife-infested flaming bowling ball, a live scorpion in a man’s underwear, a spoon inserted into a nostril, a foot-operated bow and arrow shot, an over-the-top 70s lounge act, and a 7-foot-tall, flamboyant Russian male hula-hoop dancer — that show had everything.
Listen to me closely — don’t ever pass up the chance to see a good variety show.
Fractals
This PBS show on fractals has incredible reviews. I like shows that explain cool mathematical things. And it doesn’t require cable.
Why stand in line for 3 hours to vote?
I am not getting this standing-in-line-to-vote-early deal. I understand there’s a lot of excitement about this year’s election. But, a lot of people were fired up in 2004, and I waited in line for about 20 minutes on that Tuesday in November. Election Day, after all, is the day that all the polling places are open and fully staffed. I think I’ll just wait till Tuesday.
I’ll be attending The Most Interesting Show in the World tonight with a good friend. I plan to send in some cellphone pictures to the blog.
The Most Interesting Show in the World
I’m seriously considering seeing “The Most Interesting Show in the World” Thursday night at The Loft in Atlanta. It’s a variety act put together by Jim Rose, the guy who organized the sideshows at Lollapalooza. As a waiter in Jackson, Miss., circa 1997, I remember being told about how crazy those shows were. I think I need to take advantage of my opportunity to correct a mistake from my youth.
Useless diversion
Here’s a Monty Python-inspired game sponsored by Spam. You have to catapult cows, chickens and donkeys. It’ll kill about 7 minutes.
