Most Fascinating Library Buildings
Guaranteed to please both my Dad (an architect) and Mom (also a librarian - it seems to run in the family), here's a little article on the scintillating libraries of the world. It's a shame this article is so riddled with typos, because it's on an interesting topic. It's even more of a shame that the photos are so inadequate - the photo & description of the French National Library in Paris doesn't do it any justice. The complex is four large buildings which face each other around a common courtyard, yes, but the really interesting thing about the complex is that the four buildings are built to look like open books. This gives you a better idea of what one of the buildings looks like. Now imagine four of them. (Via librarian.net.)
Friday, October 12, 2001 11:39 a.m.

Libraries = Darn Sexy
"I don't mean to channel Threesome here, but this library was an erotic experience. All those books. And... the smell of books. And... books everywhere. All kinds of books. Every possible book. You bookworms know what I'm talking about." Mopie, ladies & gentlemen. My current favourite poet/journaller/library lovergirl. You really should read her, if you don't already. The wonderful Miss A pointed her out to me some time back, and I'm very grateful. Which brings me to another point. I have finally got all the links I want to include here all set & ready to load up into pitas. So look for that at some point over the weekend.
Friday, October 12, 2001 11:37 a.m.

International Colouring Contest Flyers
Hi-Hat Recordings is a groovy Canadian outfit. They host what will certainly be a really great three-DJ dance party twice a month, and they have excellent artwork. Unfortunately, only a few of the flyers featured in the gallery can be seen as larger than thumbnails right now, but I imagine that once the hi-fi version of the site launches, you will be able to see full-size images, too.
Friday, October 12, 2001 11:34 a.m.

Remembrance of Things Exotica
Ookworld, asking the hard-hitting questions, such as "Can we call it a revival if Exotica never really went away?" Complete with fab links at the end of the article, for the Tiki-inclined.
Friday, October 12, 2001 11:33 a.m.

Mmmm, Wes Anderson
Thanks to Millie for finding this splendid blog & props to Marcus for flagging it for me. I'm off to wallow in glorious geek-o-vision. Whooo!
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 08:05 p.m.

Yo Mama!
You know I can't resist a Yo Mama snap, right? Well, I can't. And neither, apparently, can Andrew. On a completely unrelated note, I'm sorry about your Grandmother, Andrew. Did you write the lovely poem tribute to her?
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 08:02 p.m.

Daily Dose of Surreality
Apparently, the US Army is enlisting the creative talents of Hollywood screenwriters & directors to help them prepare for terroristic scenarios that haven't occurred to them already. Before last month, a story like this would have been Onion-worthy.
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 08:00 p.m.

Jonathan Richman: Swoonmeister
Have I mentioned here that I'm lucky enough to live in a neighbourhood where there really is an Ice Cream Man, who drives through our area every weekday at 3:45 and 4:20? Well, I do. And tonight, Marcus & I will go see the man who wrote about the Ice Cream Man, live & in concert. Whee! For more detailed information & resources, go here.
Tuesday, October 9, 2001 04:39 p.m.

No Royal Treatment for The Royal Tenenbaums
Not from A.O. Scott, anyway. But, as I've mentioned before, the critical & cult admiration that Rushmore enjoys reduces its follow-up's chances of enjoying similar adulation to nearly nothing. So Scott says that this movie suffers from an overdose of charm & precocity, brought on by something like a childhood spent reading books from the adult section of the library and an adulthood fondness for books like Eloise and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. And what, may I ask, is so bad about enjoying a fantasy Manhattan? What is with this trend of instinctive revulsion towards fairy tales for grown-ups? What is so wrong with a little frivolity? I'm really tired of hearing and reading that if whatever we do with our leisure time isn't edifying or strictly practical, it's morally suspect. Hello, that's the point of leisure-time activities. They're leisurely. Relaxing. Fun, even! I'm not talking about the nearly endless parade of ironic self-referentiality that we enjoyed, and then grew thoroughly sick of, during the 1990s. I'm talking about good-time, old-fashioned, slightly quirky escapism. I should think that now, of all times, we would be grateful for a little wholesome, fantastical amusement. So take that, Mr. or Ms. New York Times film reviewer person! Nyah nyah nyah. I'm going to go read something age-inappropriate and fritter my time away at the Jonathan Richman show tonight.
Tuesday, October 9, 2001 04:15 p.m.

J.Lo: Anthrax Vector?
This is almost too strange to be believed -- a "strangely worded" love letter to Jennifer Lopez may have been contaminated with the Anthrax virus. I've heard her music described as poisonous before, but this is ridiculous.
Tuesday, October 9, 2001 04:12 p.m.

Lee's Got a Brand New Bag!
London Lee, that is. And he's got some swanky new content, too. Check it out & update those bookmarks!
Monday, October 8, 2001 09:52 p.m.

Back at last. What can I say? Marcus arrived, and I've been busy adjusting to life as part of a unit in person rather than a unit separated by many miles of water. To summarize: it's fun. And confusing. And sometimes difficult. Mostly fun, though.
Monday, October 8, 2001 09:43 p.m.