What I Am Reading Wednesday

[p_zeitgeist]

I didn't know this was a thing, but since I've seen two posts about it on my flist today I'm guessing that it is. Which gives me an excuse to mention that Ta-Nehisi Coates is launching a Leviathan reading group, in case anyone else is interested.

I've never read Leviathan (the embarrassing truth is that philosophy in general tends to make me

Comments

[lady_ganesh]

I downloaded it to read on the plane, but then the Kindle said my version was unacceptable. Ugh.

[p_zeitgeist]

There's a Gutenberg edition, too -- a whole bunch of formats, from epub through pdf -- and somebody also said there was a Google Books version. Shall I try to chase down the links for you?

[lady_ganesh]

I actually downloaded the Gutenberg edition. I have it happen once before with a Gutenberg book.

[p_zeitgeist]

Well, damn. One more reason I'm just as happy not to use the kindle. The Calibre reader opens the Gutenberg version, but that doesn't exactly help when you're traveling.

If you're joining TNC's readalong, though, at least the first reading is very, very short. The Introduction turns out only to be a couple of pages -- if you can access the html or pdf at all, it's probably not more than a few screens even on a phone. (I say, with the happy confidence of someone who refuses to get a smartphone and has no damned idea what would actually fit on one of those screens. But honestly, there was much less reading for next Friday than I had feared.)

ETA: Or, duh, I could copy the Introduction into the body of an email or PM for you, if that's helpful. It's not like it's under copyright.

[ellen_kushner]

OT: You must be pleased as Punch:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/king-richard-iii-skeleton-found_n_2614269.html

[dancing_crow]

OT in a new and different direction: Have you any use for leather/shoe sewing machines? A friend is shifting stuff from her parent's house, and her father made shoes for Stride Rite, and still has all the tools for it. I think I remember you talking about specialized sewing machines, including something that sews fur (which I would dearly love to see sometime) and I thought you might be interested. They are free to a good home, currently residing in Manchester, NH, I can fetch them down to Northampton if you'd like -

[p_zeitgeist]

Thank you, this is incredibly thoughtful of you! I'd only love to show you my old Bonis fur machines: as you undoubtedly know from personal experience, this is just the sort of thing only your fellow geek enthusiasts really appreciate, and they really are amazing and elegant pieces of engineering, and -- well, you know. One doesn't want to inflict this sort of enthusiasm on people who won't be interested, but when a fellow textile person actually is, it's almost too much fun. (Not to mention, it does seem silly that we live down the road from each other, and have never met at all.)

I have to admit to drooling a little at the thought of your friend's father's leatherworking machines. I sort of hate to be greedy about this, and the truth is that without knowing more I can't honestly say whether I'd have an immediate use for them; but there's a decent chance that I would, and furthermore cool machines/tools. I love them all, and have a hard time resisting any, and sooner or later it's amazing what you might find you can use. And I

[dancing_crow]

I'll start! the best way to reach me is one of two emails: lee (at) dancing crow designs (dot) com, or gmail's dancingcrowdesigns - I'd be delighted to cross paths!

I can ask my friend if she'd photograph the machines in question, if that might help?

[dancing_crow]

aaand I have pictures, and an offer to communicate with you directly, and I'm happy to take you up or bring them down, or something.

what should I do with photos in an email?