P. J. O'Rourke has "cancer of the ass" and is thankful for life and whiskey

PJ O'Rourke, one of the founder's of National Lampoon and the author of many books and even more essays, has been diagnosed with cancer...apparently at about the same time as Kennedy. He stands a good chance of recovery (on the order of 95%)...which pleases me. I am tire of loosing great writers. While steadfastly on the free market/libertarian side of the spectrum, his writing is such that it is/should be a treat for those who read it...agree or not, he is always sharp, cogent and his sense of humor and appreciation for the absurd shines through. I have always pictured Hunter Thompson and PJ standing back to back, so far out on the right and the left that they formed the bridge to close the circle.

For PJ's thoughts on the his ass and , please see Give me liberty and give me death. A snippet follows:

I have, of all the inglorious things, a malignant hemorrhoid. What color bracelet does one wear for that? And where does one wear it? And what slogan is apropos? Perhaps that slogan can be sewn in needlepoint around the ruffle on a cover for my embarrassing little doughnut buttocks pillow.

Furthermore, I am a logical, sensible, pragmatic Republican, and my diagnosis came just weeks after Teddy Kennedy's. That he should have cancer of the brain, and I should have cancer of the ass ... well, I'll say a rosary for him and hope he has a laugh at me. After all, what would I do, ask God for a more dignified cancer? Pancreatic? Liver? Lung?
...
Then there's the matter of our debt to death for life as we know it. I believe in God. I also believe in evolution. If death weren't around to "finalize" the Darwinian process, we'd all still be amoebas. We'd eat by surrounding pizzas with our belly flab and have sex by lying on railroad tracks waiting for a train to split us into significant others.

Happy National Banned Book Week

As I am certain you all know, September 27 through October 4 is National Banned Book Week [as sponsored by the American Library Association].

There are many activities and interesting bits of this and that at the ALA's site...and great things to purchase (like this nice book bag).

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas," The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.

Math for Fun and Profit...

The fine folks at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has just released a research request they are calling "Mathematical Challenges"...basically the 23 most complex math questions that they would *really* like solved. I've listed them below because...well...they are very cool questions and worth reading over...there are grants available if you think you are onto something. N.B. There is a little bit of overlap on a few with Clay Mathematics Instititute's Millenium Prize Problems...seven math problems for which there is a $1,000,000 EACH for solutions...get on it soon, I am getting close with both the Riemann Hypothesis and N vs NP.

• The Mathematics of the Brain: Develop a mathematical theory to build a functional model of the brain that is mathematically consistent and predictive rather than merely biologically inspired.
• The Dynamics of Networks: Develop the high-dimensional mathematics needed to accurately model and predict behavior in large-scale distributed networks that evolve over time occurring in communication, biology and the social sciences.
• Capture and Harness Stochasticity in Nature: Address Mumford's call for new mathematics for the 21st century. Develop methods that capture persistence in stochastic environments.
• 21st Century Fluids: Classical fluid dynamics and the Navier-Stokes Equation were extraordinarily successful in obtaining quantitative understanding of shock waves, turbulence and solitons, but new methods are needed to tackle complex fluids such as foams, suspensions, gels and liquid crystals.
• Biological Quantum Field Theory: Quantum and statistical methods have had great success modeling virus evolution. Can such techniques be used to model more complex systems such as bacteria? Can these techniques be used to control pathogen evolution?
• Computational Duality: Duality in mathematics has been a profound tool for theoretical understanding. Can it be extended to develop principled computational techniques where duality and geometry are the basis for novel algorithms?
• Occam's Razor in Many Dimensions: As data collection increases can we "do more with less" by finding lower bounds for sensing complexity in systems? This is related to questions about entropy maximization algorithms.
• Beyond Convex Optimization: Can linear algebra be replaced by algebraic geometry in a systematic way?
• What are the Physical Consequences of Perelman's Proof of Thurston's Geometrization Theorem?: Can profound theoretical advances in understanding three dimensions be applied to construct and manipulate structures across scales to fabricate novel materials?
• Algorithmic Origami and Biology: Build a stronger mathematical theory for isometric and rigid embedding that can give insight into protein folding.
• Optimal Nanostructures: Develop new mathematics for constructing optimal globally symmetric structures by following simple local rules via the process of nanoscale self-assembly.
• The Mathematics of Quantum Computing, Algorithms, and Entanglement: In the last century we learned how quantum phenomena shape our world. In the coming century we need to develop the mathematics required to control the quantum world.
• Creating a Game Theory that Scales: What new scalable mathematics is needed to replace the traditional Partial Differential Equations (PDE) approach to differential games?
• An Information Theory for Virus Evolution: Can Shannon's theory shed light on this fundamental area of biology?
• The Geometry of Genome Space: What notion of distance is needed to incorporate biological utility?
• What are the Symmetries and Action Principles for Biology?: Extend our understanding of symmetries and action principles in biology along the lines of classical thermodynamics, to include important biological concepts such as robustness, modularity, evolvability and variability.
• Geometric Langlands and Quantum Physics: How does the Langlands program, which originated in number theory and representation theory, explain the fundamental symmetries of physics? And vice versa?
• Arithmetic Langlands, Topology, and Geometry: What is the role of homotopy theory in the classical, geometric, and quantum Langlands programs?
• Settle the Riemann Hypothesis: The Holy Grail of number theory.
• Computation at Scale: How can we develop asymptotics for a world with massively many degrees of freedom?
• Settle the Hodge Conjecture: This conjecture in algebraic geometry is a metaphor for transforming transcendental computations into algebraic ones.
• Settle the Smooth Poincare Conjecture in Dimension 4: What are the implications for space-time and cosmology? And might the answer unlock the secret of "dark energy"?
• What are the Fundamental Laws of Biology?: This question will remain front and center for the next 100 years. DARPA places this challenge last as finding these laws will undoubtedly require the mathematics developed in answering several of the questions listed above.

For those so inclined, these are the Millenium Prize problems (with links to the problems):

• Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture
• Hodge Conjecture
• Navier-Stokes Equations
• P vs NP
• Poincaré Conjecture
• Riemann Hypothesis
• Yang-Mills Theory

Portland Book Fair 2008...a new beginning

The Maine Antiquarian Booksellers Association (MABA) and Maine Historical Society (MHS) held their annual antiquarian book and paper sale [disclaimer, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am the current president of MABA]. This year was a "new" fair year...which is to say that our old promoter had decided not to do the show any longer so we had a new promoter, new location and new date...so even though it was the 26th annual fair, it was effectively a "brand new" show.

We ended up with 30ish dealers. The feedback, from attendees and other dealers, was very positive. The promoter (Flamingo) said she have very few dealers voice complaints... pleasing as we are a kvetchy bunch. We are planning to do a Saturday set-up next year (to my PROFOUND relief)...there were at least 5 dealers I know of who did not do the show because they "need" the extra day to make the show work (this, largely, to be able to shop it effectively). We will be running power next year so that people in the big room can run lighting if they choose (we may run lights, ourselves...we shall see). We had one dealer drop out en route, as they passed a lot of rain induced accidents and decided life was too short . I hope they will come back next year...we'll do what we can to see that we have better weather.

The weather was a challenge. I don't fret too much about rain...I just decided to use my Pelican's to bring my books (have I mentioned they are waterproof ). I *do* fret about wet people dripping on my books. Luckily, it all but stopped by the time the show opened and there was not real problem. That said, I think the weather and did keep a reasonable number of people at home, which is unfortunate.

We have one more room we can us, so we could add about 15 more dealers or so...given the number who have indicated they will return and those who have said that, while they could not do the show this year, they will be here next year, we could actually fill the venue next year. It would be really nice to be able to say we have a waiting list. Hope springs eternal. Thank you to all the dealers who made the trip. Doubly so, thanks to all the customers who braved the rain and...er...overcast to come and look and buy.

We had a reasonably good show. We sold enough to make it a black event on its face. We bought some interesting things...notably the dedication copy of a French volume on the devil. We had a client bring in some neat new material. We saw good friends (hi Cheryl). It was a nice day.

Thank you also to those who were in town on Saturday and stopped by Rabelais Books for the wee party that was hosted by Don and Samantha (of Rabelais fame) and Suzanne and me. We had some good food and drink (which should be of no surprise to any who know Don and Sam) and the shop is always great fun to visit (there is currently a photo collection hung (exceptionally printed using a very old process) of the *36* Dunkin' Donuts within 3 miles of the photographer's home). It would appear that this will be an annual event and we hope to see it grow a bit next year with more folks in town for the earlier set-up.

Images at the side show a before and after of our booth space and a shot of the main hall. The last is of my assistant, who was given a choice of coat and tie or skelaton outfit and opted for the *clearly* cooler option. I wish it came big enough for dad.

Returning to one's youth(ful indiscretions )

Long ago, I attended Gould Academy. Long ago I got in trouble for wearing a t-shirt during Alumni Weekend that the administration felt was offensive (it was). The school was in transition and...well...so was I.

I have made a really interesting discovery recently (in large part, because of Facebook). I have a very small handful of friends from elementary/high school. I have about two friends I stay in touch with from college. I have a very small handful of friends I keep in touch with from law school. I have discovered, however, that I am/have been in touch with a large percentage of my old friends from prep-school....which I, frankly, find surprising.

I guess it should not be surprising. I lived off campus through all four years of college and worked full time, year around. That is, I did not spend much time hanging out with classmates. In law school, I lived in the grad dorm the first year and off campus with my girlfriend/fiance (also a law student)...and after the first (tedious) semester, worked full time, year around (law should go to an internship/apprenticeship model...I learned *way* more clerking for 2.5 years than I did in the classroom...I still feel that the class time was largely wasted).

Prep-school was different. With the exception of a handful of local students, we all lived on campus. We ate all our meals together. We took our classes together. We played our sports together. We spent our free-time together. Back then, I smoked...and the smokers all clustered a half an old ski-shack that was dragged behind Bingham Hall (the aptly named "Butt Hut"). Even so, it seems pretty strange that 25ish years later, I feel closer to and fonder of this cluster of friends than I do any other.

So I went to the first day or so of this year's Alumni Weekend (and did not, as I toyed with, wear a Dead Kennedy's, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" t-shirt). I wish I could have spent the weekend. Eli went with us and we toured the campus and showed him where I lived and ate and such things (and where Suz and I were married...by coincedence, at the Bethel Inn). We hooked up with Amy (Bruce) Broadhurst and Thayer Shedd (and ended up staying at a house they had rented as it was late, we were having fun and we could not get back in time for the debates otherwise ...the second photo was taken from the porch at the house). We ran into some other old friends and talked about what we had done back then and were doing now. We marveled at the new buildings (the first picture is of the new(ish) dining hall and there is a remarkable new science building.

It was a silly thing to do, just before/during a very chaotic weekend (with a wee party and local book fair). It was also great fun.

Library sale update...

Every now and then, a library sale can offer up something a bit surprising. The library sale we just attended was an interesting one...in addition to catching up with friend, I picked up a nice set of Wild Flowers of New York and a complete set of the Writing of Edward Randolph (one of 250 sets, late 19th century). It is always a treat when something nice turns up.

The Maine Bookhouse

On my way to Gould Academy for [quasi] alumni weekend, with a quick
stop at Maine's cutest shop. Fair this Sunday, I must be mad.

Portland Book Fair, 2008

Well, finished packing boxes at about midnight. Woke at 5 to pack van, etc. It is 630 and we are leaving very soon. I now have to set up in less time than I have ever been able to set up in. It should be a great day .

Waiting in the bowels of a library...

Library sales are strange things...and often far more painful than
justified. That said, they are usually fun...or at least funny. We
shall see about this one...

Book fair apoplexy...

I just discovered/realized that the fair this Sunday has a setup of FOUR hours. It took me 10+ hours in Baltimore (20 hours, if you count (wo)man hours). I have never...in my life...set up in under 5 hours. I now also encourage people to come early on Sunday because I should be in rare form. Urgh.

Reason #42: why I am fond of my in-laws

This is my tape dispenser. It measures, moistens, and cuts the white
paper tape I use to seal our white (usually) boxes. I can not tell you
how much I love this tape machine...it saves time, is easy to use and
allows for a very nice "finish" to our packing.

I would, now, purchase another one if/when anything happens to this
one. I never would have bought one in the first place...as a tape gun
and clear plastic is clearly good enough (if annoying). My in-laws,
however, were kind enough to wind up their company around the time I
was starting this one and offered it to me along with a dozen big
rolls of white paper tape (pure coincidence that we were already using
white shipping boxes). I accepted mostly for the free tape. I now
acknowledge the error of my ways.

...and I think fondly of them everytime I use it.

StairCASE

Tall case and ladder/steps built into one. Check his site for a series of images that show it "working".

Personally, it is pretty clear that the bottom shelves would take "excessive" dust/dirt/debris as they are used as steps...but for a working/reading library, this might be a fun and efficient solution. It could also be "finished" in such as way as to avoid the pine box look shown here. 14 points for creativity.

The Conservative Case for Obama (with a lit. connection)

Wick Allison served on the board of Buckley's National Review and was its Publisher for a time. He is an old-school conservative, publisher and author of a handful of books (only one of which I own, Condemned to Repeat). As Editor in Chief of D Magazine, he has just written the most eloquent and concise conservative case for Obama I have seen. As a pragmatist who tries to loath everyone equally, he has summarized most of my feelings far better than I could have done. I have quoted it in its entirety below. It is a must read:

A Conservative for Obama
My party has slipped its moorings. It’s time for a true pragmatist to lead the country.
By Wick Allison, Editor in Chief

THE MORE I LISTEN TO AND READ ABOUT “the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate,” the more I like him. Barack Obama strikes a chord with me like no political figure since Ronald Reagan. To explain why, I need to explain why I am a conservative and what it means to me.

In 1964, at the age of 16, I organized the Dallas County Youth for Goldwater. My senior thesis at the University of Texas was on the conservative intellectual revival in America. Twenty years later, I was invited by William F. Buckley Jr. to join the board of National Review. I later became its publisher.

Conservatism to me is less a political philosophy than a stance, a recognition of the fallibility of man and of man’s institutions. Conservatives respect the past not for its antiquity but because it represents, as G.K. Chesterton said, the democracy of the dead; it gives the benefit of the doubt to customs and laws tried and tested in the crucible of time. Conservatives are skeptical of abstract theories and utopian schemes, doubtful that government is wiser than its citizens, and always ready to test any political program against actual results.

Liberalism always seemed to me to be a system of “oughts.” We ought to do this or that because it’s the right thing to do, regardless of whether it works or not. It is a doctrine based on intentions, not results, on feeling good rather than doing good.

But today it is so-called conservatives who are cemented to political programs when they clearly don’t work. The Bush tax cuts—a solution for which there was no real problem and which he refused to end even when the nation went to war—led to huge deficit spending and a $3 trillion growth in the federal debt. Facing this, John McCain pumps his “conservative” credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile, a movement that once fought for limited government has presided over the greatest growth of government in our history. That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask.

Today it is conservatives, not liberals, who talk with alarming bellicosity about making the world “safe for democracy.” It is John McCain who says America’s job is to “defeat evil,” a theological expansion of the nation’s mission that would make George Washington cough out his wooden teeth.

This kind of conservatism, which is not conservative at all, has produced financial mismanagement, the waste of human lives, the loss of moral authority, and the wreckage of our economy that McCain now threatens to make worse.

Barack Obama is not my ideal candidate for president. (In fact, I made the maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still hope he might come to his senses.) But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don’t matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama’s books (which, it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers.

Most important, Obama will be a realist. I doubt he will taunt Russia, as McCain has, at the very moment when our national interest requires it as an ally. The crucial distinction in my mind is that, unlike John McCain, I am convinced he will not impulsively take us into another war unless American national interests are directly threatened.

“Every great cause,” Eric Hoffer wrote, “begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” As a cause, conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making judgments in a complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much alive in the instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack Obama.

"Profligacy", to save you the look-up is, "Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant [particularly regarding spending]. I don't often have to look up new words...my wife will be *too* pleased with this one...

On torture and waxing...and C. Hitchens' stunt writing...

Shortly after reading Morford's tight description of "stunt writing" ["smart-but-sheltered writer goes on peculiar adventure, often outside his/her comfort zone, then writes about it"] I happened upon a very funny (to read) article on RADAR. The article basically compares Christopher Hitchens' rather horrific article on Waterboarding with his rather horrific article on getting his crotch waxed. I wish I was making this up. From the article:

• "Arms already lost to me, I wasn't able to flail as I was pushed onto a sloping board and positioned with my head lower than my heart. (That's the main point: the angle can be slight or steep.) Then my legs were lashed together so that the board and I were one single and trussed unit."—Hitchens on being waterboarded

• "You have to spread your knees as far apart as they will go, while keeping your feet together. In this "wide stance" position, which is disconcertingly like waiting to have your Pampers changed, you are painted with hot wax, to which strips are successively attached and then torn away."—Hitchens on getting a Brazilian

• "Brave men and women were introduced to the sorts of barbarism that they might expect to meet at the hands of a lawless foe who disregarded the Geneva Conventions."—On being waterboarded

• "The combined effect was like being tortured for information that you do not possess, with intervals for a (incidentally very costly) sandpaper handjob."—On getting a Brazilian

• "The inhalation brought the damp cloths tight against my nostrils, as if a huge, wet paw had been suddenly and annihilatingly clamped over my face."—On being waterboarded

• "The thing is that, in order to rip, you have to grip. A point of leverage is required: a place that can be firmly gripped and pulled while the skin is tautened."On getting a Brazilian

• "The team who agreed to give me a hard time in the woods of North Carolina belong to a highly honorable group. This group regards itself as out on the front line in defense of a society that is too spoiled and too ungrateful to appreciate those solid, underpaid volunteers who guard us while we sleep."On being waterboarded

• "The businesslike Senhora Padilha daubed away, took a purchase on the only available handhold, and then wrenched and wrenched again."—On getting a Brazilian

• "I am somewhat proud of my ability to 'keep my head,' as the saying goes, and to maintain presence of mind under trying circumstances. I was completely convinced that, when the water pressure had become intolerable, I had firmly uttered the pre-determined code word that would cause it to cease. But my interrogator told me that, rather to his surprise, I had not spoken a word."—On being waterboarded

• "I swear that several times she soothingly said that I was being a brave little boy ... Meanwhile, everything in the general area was fighting to retract itself inside my body."—On getting a Brazilian

• "If waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture."—On being waterboarded

• "I had no idea it would be so excruciating."—On getting a Brazilian

I wonder if he cried out, "OH GOD, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP" during either...probably not, I guess...

Original articles can be found here:
On the Limits of Self-Improvement (Vanity Fair, 2007)
Believe Me, It's Torture (Vanity Fair, 2008)

Don't Panic. [...and speaking of dead writers I am fond of...]

The Guardian has just published an article of *monumental* importance to those of us who love Douglas Adams' increasingly inaccurately titled Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. Irish author Eoin Ciofer (of Artemis Fowl fame) has been approached by Adam's widow Jane Belson to write a SIXTH book for the trilogy. The Guardian sums it up nicely:

Comic fantasy children's author describes being given the opportunity to continue Douglas Adams's legendary series as 'like suddenly being offered the superpower of your choice'

Adams had planned a sixth book (noting the somewhat dour nature of Mostly Harmless), and it is unclear what, if anything, Adams left toward this project. I have enjoyed Ciofer's writing...though he is not Adams...it will be interesting to see what emerges from this project.

Following up my prior missive, I should mention that I was to meet Adams and spend a weekend with him in 2001, weeks before his wildly untimely death at 49. He was and remains one of my most favorite writers...and humans...and I have never recovered from this "miss". I don't expect to do so...

DFW...as the dust settles...

I really tried to avoid posting on the passing of David Foster Wallace. I have read nearly everything he ever wrote...much of his codex more than once (the bad habit of rereading is one I've never been able to quit). I spent a summer, some time ago, (re)reading Infinite Jest, Finnegans Wake, The Wasp Factory and A Void (Perec's, La Disparition as translated by Gilbert Adair, keeping the original's avoidance of the letter "e") (I was in a masochistic mood). I am fond of complex, convoluted and challenging text. It is not always rewarding...and it is often quite painful...but there is always a chance of running across *greatness*. I do not think it is possible to find *greatness* in the easy to consume.

DFW never held back from playing with his craft. There was greatness and there was crap...and one person's greatness was often another's crap and vise versa (as is often the case, The Independant declared Bank's first novel, Wasp Factory as one of the 100 great novels of the 20th century, the Economist declared the same work "Rubbish"). I just finished rereading Girl with Curious Hair (a collection of short stories, first published in 1990). I first read it...well...about 18 years ago and again around 1996 when it was reprinted. It was interesting how different my sense of the collection is now vs. my "memory" of it.

There has been much written of him since his passing, and I include a few notated links that I think are interesting...and one counterpoint:

Howling Fantods - cornerstone DFW fan site, extremely detailed listing of related articles;
McSweeney - "Timothy McSweeney is devastated and lost" - remembrances by McSweeney writers, etc. (including Dave Eggers);
Harper's Magazine - is providing every article DFW wrote for them as downloadable .pdfs (if you read nothing else, read Shipping Out);
SFGate - Mark Morford offers a personal and *very* praising recollection;
and as a counterpoint...because it is useful, sometimes, for perspective -
Hackwriters.com - agree with it or not, David Schneider's review/critique of Girl With Curious Hair (and Post-modernism) is a good read.

I hate when a great mind goes away...more so where, as here, its passing is tied so closely to that subtle line between insanity and genius. The loss here is greatest for what might have been written...what we have lost by his passing, comforted only in that we will never know what we have lost. There are so many writers who could never write another word and I, personally, would not care one whit [e.g. (and while acknowledging that the following is completely inappropriate) does the world really need another novel by Nicholas Sparks?]. Though I had not read him recently until his passing, I really can't find the construct to voice my sense of loss. I think I will just go reread some essays and short fiction and be annoyed.

Speaking of rereading, tragic writers and...well...broken minds; I am rereading a collection of H.P. Lovecraft's short fiction and had just (re)started Call of Cthulhu when I heard of DFW's passing. Its opening appears to be a fitting close:

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

American Library Association on Intellectual Freedom and Censorship...

First, two quotations from the site (and a bonus):

“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.” ( John Stuart Mill, On Liberty)

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition: for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. ” (Thomas Paine, Dissertation On First Principles Of Government)

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." (Benjamin Franklin, circa February 17, 1775 as part of his notes for a proposition at the Pennsylvania Assembly)

The ALA has a very good, concise Q&A on Intellectual Freedom and Censorship. Given one of the canditate's overt actions in this area, I strongly recommend it for all...

Ranger's Impartial List Of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh [Revisited]

I have blogged about this in the distant past, but it clearly needs to be revisited. I was researching another work by James Tytler (also famed for being the first man in England to go up in a hot air balloon) for a presentation I did at the Balt. fair and it lead me...inexorably...back to my favorite work by the author (attributed). It turns out that since my last post about this Zagat's Guide to the 1775 prostitutes of Edinburgh, it has been posted in it entirity online. And the world rejoices.

I offer two entries for your edification without comment:

Miss GALLOWAY, at Miss WALKER'S.

This Lady comes from the land of Blunders, and served her apprenticeship aboard a man of war, which probably may be the occasion that her temper is not so agreeable as one could wish. However, she is not contemptible in her profession, and she is well acquainted with the art of jostling. She will heave, twist and twine, when she is quite in play, with any nymph that ever sported in those pleasing groves dedicated to the Goddess Venus. She is about 24 years of age, thick and short, and of a fair complexion.

Miss SUTHERLAND, at Miss WALKER'S.

This Lady is an old veteran in the service, about 30 years of age, middle sized, black hair and complection, and very good teeth, but not altogether good-natured. By her long experience in business, which is about 12 years, she is mistress of her profession ; she is a firm votary to the wanton Goddess, and would willingly play morning, noon, and night, at the delicious game of push-pin. As a friend, we will give a caution to this Lady, not to make free with a gentleman's pocket, especially when he is in liquor ; as it was upon that account that Miss Forsyth put her away from her house, for which every person will commend her.

Well...one comment, "served her apprenticeship aboard a man of war". Who knew the Royal Navy offered such apprenticeships.

Fine Books announces 2008 Collegiate Book Collecting Champions

Among the things I have not had time to properly blog about is this year's slate of winners of the Fine Books and Collections Collegiate Book Collecting Championship. There was a great turnout this year and, as I understand it, the strongest field they've seen. After much deliberation, the winners are:

1st Prize goes to Rhae Lynn Barnes, who is beginning her senior year at UC Berkeley, for her extensive and well-annotated collection of blackface minstrel plays.

2nd Prize goes to Basie Bales Gitlin, who is beginning his junior year at Yale, for his collection of publisher's canvassing books.

3rd Prize goes to Jacob Brunkard, a recent graduate from Swarthmore College, for his collection of Black Sparrow Press.

Fine Books will also make a donation to the libraries of the winners, in addition to the winners' awards.

Much praise is due the competition judges: Claudia Skelton, from the Book Club of Washington; bookseller Joachim Koch, of Books Tell You Why; and Richard Ring, the special collections librarian at the Providence Public Library.

We (Lux Mentis, et al) are very pleased to be sponsors of the competition and look forward to supporting it for years to come. As I have said before, the burden is on us...all "younger" dealers...to do all that we can to bring along the next generation(s) of book collectors. This competition and all those at the college level are a great starting point.

Congradulations to all the winners. We look forward to meeting all the winners at the awards dinner during the Seattle Book Fair.

Belated Baltimore wrap-up...

The show in Baltimore was an interesting one [N.B. the site already shows next year's dates]. There was a bit of grumbling, when it was over, as the previous year was so strong for so many of us...but overall, I thought it was a very good show. Sales were off a bit, relative to the prior year, but were quite strong. Notably, the show had it usual high level of "engaged" visitors.

I had a lot of really good/deep/sticky conversations. There were a lot of people asking good questions about specific volumes and about collecting/collection areas. I've had a few already follow-up and if about 1 out of 10 of these ends up in working together, it will have been a very good/excellent show as opposed to its current "good" status. The promoter has already provided a follow-up, informing us that over 30,000 came through the doors and that, according to vendors' stated sales estimates, it was a record breaking year on all counts.

My seminar was surprisingly well attended...and by people interested in the presentation and not just looking for a comfy place to nap. I had some great questions and had some people bring up some rather interesting things after the show. Overall, fun was had by all (or at least by most...).

The promoter has a "new show" in DC this coming year. We are signed up already and looking forward to it. With luck, there will be lots of people, recently moved into the city, desperately looking for books for their shelves...and rugs and furniture, etc.

Old friend, new music...

Once, long long ago, I knew a girl. She was cool, and sharp, and musically inclined...I was too wrapped up in my own head to be of much use to anyone. I managed to sort out reality a bit and have spent the ensuing years in various relatively productive pursuits, making new mistakes, having two rather exceptional boys and, more or less, staying challenged and bemused. I finally figured out a way to do what I love...and work in and with books. Life is good.

She went to Smith in art history and film studies...and kept playing music. She did a bit of this and that...and kept playing music. She has played with Lou Reed and Joan Osborne...Sarah Silverman and, notably, Joan As Police Woman. She has just released her first solo mini-LP (in which she, like an early Laurie Anderson, is responsible for all one hears). I'll admit that it panders to my tastes...but that said, it is simply fabulous. Others agree (review, review, reviews and an interview, FBGroup).

Her name is Rainy Orteca. The album Dead Air and can be found on iTunes and elsewhere for much more. It may not change your life, but it will make your day a bit less annoying...

My only complaint, as was voiced in at least one review, is that at only 6 tracks it is over just as you are beginning to be lost in it (repeat helps). I have it on good authority that a full length album is in the works. I will be looking forward to it.

I am, overall, pleased and proud of the things I have acheived. Listening to Rainy...musically and lyrically...is humbling.

Final update...

1 minute...another 200 or so... (pause) OPEN...all employees making
rounds of line...shaking hands...cheering. Quite a show...many happy
geeks.

Update...

The line doubled while typing the last and the end now nearly reached
the front having snaked down to the end of the aisle. In the time of
writing that sentence, the line went well past and is growing rapidly
as opening time approaches. Way too many way too happy people. It is a
very funny scene.

Apple comes to Maine [finally]

Many years ago my parents bought my first Apple (a II+) from Harper
Electronics, one of the first Apple dealers in the US. Several
subsequent machines came from Harper in later years...but about a
decade later he was gone, leaving only a couple of small resellers to
fill the void. Finally, Apple has returned.

No longer will I have to drive to Boston to sate an desperate
itch...woohoo! First 1000 receive a free t-shirt, we are within the
first 200 and I am embarassing pleased. Mind you, given Maine's
commitment to Apple (every seventh grade student gets one), this store
should have opened years ago...but better late than never.

Now, if we could just get a Trader Joes this state would be quite
civilized. N.B. This is the longest thing I've typed on my iPhone and
it was remarkably painless.

Bookish quotation of the day...

I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.
~ Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991 (a great article). [edited to correct citation]

I think, therefore I am...

Well, it is 3:01am. I still seem to exist. That bodes well for the world of physics. It is always nice to know that reality, as we know it, continues to exist.

Found a reason to join Facebook...

I have been poking about at Facebook recently and have been surprised both by the silliness and the usefulness. Usefulness is obviously...er...useful. Silliness is good, too...and necessary to avoid madness, imnsho (admittedly, I get a kick out of the "growing things/hatching things" apps). No doubt it has put me in touch with old friends I had *long* ago lost touch with and have greatly enjoyed finding them again...it has even directly led to several books sales. Fun had by all...

I have just discovered, however, the first app that is interesting enough to justify mucking about with FB by itself. It is called Nexus and it creates "connection" graphs that illustrate how those you know are connected to eachother and the relative strength of those connections (it appears that Nexus looks at schools, work, activities, organizations, etc in compiling its charts).

For example, the wee pentagram at the right is a group of highschool friend, one of the two point groups are two friend from law school and the other is a husband and wife. The large structure allows me to trace the connections that link Terry at the Rare Books School to Adrienne (Silicon Valley design, brand, interface wonk) to Lawrence Lessig (IP lawyer, founder of Creative Commons and tech wonk). Equally interesting are the outliers...those I know who don't seem to be connected to others. See Adrienne's for a much more complex graph...she has more friends *g*.

Above and beyond the first-blush fun of looking at what connections exist between those you know, the real strength of the app comes in allowing you to think about (visually, in a way) who among your friends *should* know eachother and how you might make certain introductions and connections. I think, with some applied brain time, this app could actually be a very useful and interesting tool. I would like to suggest that they think about approaching LinkedIn and licencing the code. Very, very cool.

Proto-bookcat

Dagon in alert mode...

Bibliomania...

I have looked for a nice copy of Dibdin's 1809, The Bibliomania, or Book-Madness. I picked up a very nice copy in Baltimore from Ct. River Books and am having great fun reading it. Dibdin added a fair bit in the 1911 revised edition and I've wanted to read the first for a while. Have to love a good fatal disease.

Baltimore wrap-up to follow this weekend.