At a librarians' dinner, we somehow got away from purely intellectual subjects (hey, it happens) and I was trying to explain why Tom Hiddleston seems to have mesmerized so many. Does this help?

(Click on the link if the .gif isn't visible. Warning: may cause temporary distraction and hypnosis.)

media.tumblr.com/dac7d4319fa1a5d42dfed5be9816d066/ ( Read more... )

I'm sick -- one of those late summer colds.  Could be worse.  During my work furlough (long story) I am using any time not devoted to working remotely on my side jobs or garden chores to sit out in the sun, perhaps in the hopes that vitamin D will cure me.

Tired, sneezing, aching, & therefore easily amused & readily distracted.  Had a fine time ( Read more... )

Like many people living in the depressed US economy, I work several jobs simultaneously -- actually that’s the way most of my family have always lived, whether on farms or in cities, so it feels quite normal -- the difference is that I spend considerable time making use of wireless Internet in cafes and less raising vegetables, calves, or hogs, as ( Read more... )

What would you say?( Read more... )

Last week, the University of Cambridge announced the launch of an exciting new project, the Endangered Languages Database. It is an "open database of endangered languages...launched by researchers in the hope of creating a free, online portal that will give people access to the world’s disappearing spoken traditions". The website has been ( Read more... )