Stuff that caught my attention today:
From Matthew Rossi's oddly-named weblog, by way of the Library Underground mailing list: Fanaticism is the ultimate enemy of mankind.
From the June1, 1987 issue of Library Journal, where I was diligently tracking down an article about the theory and practice of collection weeding: the information that the American Library Association was once given the honor of naming a US government-owned merchant ship in honor of its services to American soldiers in World War I. A name-the-ship contest was conducted in pages of Library Journal in 1920. Sadly, the world would never be graced with the U.S.S. Bookworm or the U.S.S. Open Book, as the ALA's Executive Board settled on the stunningly unimaginative U.S.S. ALA instead. More sadly, the ship, after going through a series of name changes as described on this page (see "Lapwing"), was torpedoed by a U-boat on October 9, 1942, with the loss of five crew. Somehow I can't see the US government naming a ship after the ALA nowadays, unless it were one of these.
From Justin Raimondo's most recent column at www.antiwar.com, indications that Bush the Elder may have counselled his son against charging into Iraq.
And finally, at the risk of offending my few female readers, the employment "news" that none dare report.
Added query, 4/20: If anyone has read The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty, I would like to know if the article linked to above is a fair representation of its content. Local libraries don't have it yet, so I won't get a chance to read it for a little while.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Matthew Rossi @ 11:36AM | 2004-04-20| permalink
Surely it's no odder a name than The Hall of Himring, is it?
Okay, it's an odd name. Gotta admit it's catchy. Blame it on a long night four years ago while trying to come with a name staring at the Blogger screen. At least the book has a reasonable name.
email | website
Felix @ 11:25PM | 2004-04-20| permalink
Thanks for the comment. The name of this blog had a similarly offhand origin about a year ago as I stared at the Blogger-screen at about 1:00 am in a locked, darkened library It wasn't quite as original, though it might be more obscure. (See Carlos' comments on the Sunday the 11th post, or click on the word "surmised" in the "Who is Felix" sidebar.)
email | website
Matthew Rossi @ 3:33AM | 2004-04-21| permalink
I was vaguely aware of the Tolkien connection, although I'll admit I actually thought it might be an actual placename... it has a very Beowulf sound to it (not surprising from an author who wrote the best critical assessment of Beowulf I ever read, I suppose)
There's something about taking that first step in the dark that can lead to some odd titles, I guess.
email | website
Pablo @ 10:56AM | 2004-04-21| permalink
Merkabah is an early form of Jewish mysticism. The Apostle Paul may have been referring to it in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
email | website
Post a Comment