The Excellent One
I'm going to keep updating this journal, even though some people who read it want to insert their criticisms anoymously. And, whoever you are, didn't ask for your opinion, so don't be vainglorious enough to type in next time. I think an article about the Livejournal culture would be an interesting one. My girlfriend kind of tackled myspace in a journalism article she wrote. It was really fun to read, I wish I saved a copy of it.
I have found the finest author on the face of the planet. His name is Tom Standage. He is the technology editor at the Economist in London. He's pretty young, mid-30s, but he's written four books so far, working on his fifth. He writes about historical analogies. His four works are very different from each other. The Victorian Internet talks about the rise and fall of the telegraph and compares it to the modern day internet. The Neptune File talks about the race to discover Neptune by understanding the pertubations it exhibited on Uranus and mathematically plotting its position. He compares this to modern day planet hunting. I am reading his third book, The Turk. It is about a 1700s wooden piece of automation that played chess and its adventures. His fourth book (what he's really famous for) the history of the world in six glasses charts 6 drinks through history. He told me his next book is going to be on food.
I looked on his website (www.tomstandage.com), and was reading some articles he wrote when I noticed he invited people to send him email. After the first few articles, I decided to send him an email. He responded back within a day or so! Since then I've written back about three or four times, which he answers pretty quickly. It isn't like a form letter or anything, just like a complete email where he answers the question, adds some insight etc. It's really cool! Here I am reading his book he wrote in 2002, and if I have a question or somethng else interesting to say he writes back! It's awesome to know he's all the way in Greenwich, England and London and answers his email. And, his writing is the finest ever. I mean, I would enjoy even reading his to-do list or grocery shopping list. I'm glad I have a favorite author and one I can communicate with pretty easily. The only unfortunate thing is all I have to go is The Turk, and this will be done in a few days. As Tom says, "My next book will take me rather longer than two weeks to write." Responding to the fact I was sad that I'll have read everything within two weeks. Well, there's still articles he publishes. And, the Economist.
But, I like reading the spin-off stuff from his books. In The Victorian Internet, he cites a book by Ella Cheever Thayer called Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes (1879) that was written about two telegraph operators who fall in love over the wires. I checked and the library has it, but someone has it checked out. I recalled that sucker, I can't wait for it to arrive. Also, there is a 1927 silent film called the chess player about how catherine the great became obsessed with the turk. They released it on dvd and Tom provided the commentary. I put it on my blockbuster list. I really want to watch it, but I want to save it for Laura and I to watch. It's not often I watch a movie of substance. Mr. Standage, you are the excellent one.
I have found the finest author on the face of the planet. His name is Tom Standage. He is the technology editor at the Economist in London. He's pretty young, mid-30s, but he's written four books so far, working on his fifth. He writes about historical analogies. His four works are very different from each other. The Victorian Internet talks about the rise and fall of the telegraph and compares it to the modern day internet. The Neptune File talks about the race to discover Neptune by understanding the pertubations it exhibited on Uranus and mathematically plotting its position. He compares this to modern day planet hunting. I am reading his third book, The Turk. It is about a 1700s wooden piece of automation that played chess and its adventures. His fourth book (what he's really famous for) the history of the world in six glasses charts 6 drinks through history. He told me his next book is going to be on food.
I looked on his website (www.tomstandage.com), and was reading some articles he wrote when I noticed he invited people to send him email. After the first few articles, I decided to send him an email. He responded back within a day or so! Since then I've written back about three or four times, which he answers pretty quickly. It isn't like a form letter or anything, just like a complete email where he answers the question, adds some insight etc. It's really cool! Here I am reading his book he wrote in 2002, and if I have a question or somethng else interesting to say he writes back! It's awesome to know he's all the way in Greenwich, England and London and answers his email. And, his writing is the finest ever. I mean, I would enjoy even reading his to-do list or grocery shopping list. I'm glad I have a favorite author and one I can communicate with pretty easily. The only unfortunate thing is all I have to go is The Turk, and this will be done in a few days. As Tom says, "My next book will take me rather longer than two weeks to write." Responding to the fact I was sad that I'll have read everything within two weeks. Well, there's still articles he publishes. And, the Economist.
But, I like reading the spin-off stuff from his books. In The Victorian Internet, he cites a book by Ella Cheever Thayer called Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes (1879) that was written about two telegraph operators who fall in love over the wires. I checked and the library has it, but someone has it checked out. I recalled that sucker, I can't wait for it to arrive. Also, there is a 1927 silent film called the chess player about how catherine the great became obsessed with the turk. They released it on dvd and Tom provided the commentary. I put it on my blockbuster list. I really want to watch it, but I want to save it for Laura and I to watch. It's not often I watch a movie of substance. Mr. Standage, you are the excellent one.