Fantastic voyages

Since I don't know when I will get to stay here or here or here, I can always dream up a perfect vacation in a fictional land.  Think about it, isn't there someplace from a book you wish was real?  Maybe Howl's Moving Castle?  Definitely the Library in Kelly Link's short story," Magic for Beginners".  Or the island of Nation in Terry Pratchett's Nation (minus an attack by cannibals, please).  Over at Book Riot, readers share their travel plans...


Of course another time-honored vacation route is traveling through time, and I've found a new favorite site to do it!  Retronaut* is an fantastic collection of images from the 1700s onward.  You can browse aimlessly, or examine categories like "Posters and Postcards" or clusters like "Airships."

Yes, you read that correctly: AIRSHIPS.

 To say nothing of gems like these:

*Sigh of DEEP SATISFACTION*  I'll bet you anything those are selling for a lot more on EBay nowadays...





*Thanks again to Alyssa, steward of the CPL Archives, for the tip!  See guys?  You never know when seemingly fuddy-duddy librarians are going to lead you straight to Chuck Norris.  Who knows? maybe we are all sporting Action Jeans too -- always ready for hand-to-hand combat.

Fantastic voyages

Since I don't know when I will get to stay here or here or here, I can always dream up a perfect vacation in a fictional land.  Think about it, isn't there someplace from a book you wish was real?  Maybe Howl's Moving Castle?  Definitely the Library in Kelly Link's short story," Magic for Beginners".  Or the island of Nation in Terry Pratchett's Nation (minus an attack by cannibals, please).  Over at Book Riot, readers share their travel plans...


Of course another time-honored vacation route is traveling through time, and I've found a new favorite site to do it!  Retronaut* is an fantastic collection of images from the 1700s onward.  You can browse aimlessly, or examine categories like "Posters and Postcards" or clusters like "Airships."

Yes, you read that correctly: AIRSHIPS.

 To say nothing of gems like these:

*Sigh of DEEP SATISFACTION*  I'll bet you anything those are selling for a lot more on EBay nowadays...





*Thanks again to Alyssa, steward of the CPL Archives, for the tip!  See guys?  You never know when seemingly fuddy-duddy librarians are going to lead you straight to Chuck Norris.  Who knows? maybe we are all sporting Action Jeans too -- always ready for hand-to-hand combat.

Education of one kind...and another

Good news for all who thirst for knowledge! 

• Forty public universities are planning to offer free, full-credit, online courses beginning this spring.
• Want to travel abroad, for study or philanthropy?  Fund My Travel can help you raise the cash.
• Tuition costs keep going up up up.  ScholarMatch might be a way for you to afford your dream school.
• Are you a lady of quality looking for tutelage in matters of decorum?  Curtsying, tablesetting, dancing and finishing, are among the distinguished arts taught here.

Happy Birthday America, Happy Weird Holiday Week Everyone!

Even though all the major fireworks and all the major BBQs are over, my guess is the fine people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will continue to celebrate our independence throughout the weekend.

You know what makes me feel patriotic? Tourist board commercials from various states. I know they're trying to sell me something, and boy, do I ever want to buy it.

I saw this first one when I was visiting my family in Wisconsin, and by the time it was over I was standing up, and don't actually remember standing up. I mean, YES PLEASE, Wyoming.

And, oh, Michigan.

This one is for America in general. Aw, man.

And a few from New Mexico.

Anyway, we live in a pretty beautiful country, guys. Enjoy your hotdogs, and have a great weekend!

World travel

This is elegant and clever! It both makes me want to travel and makes me want to get a camera and try to put together a tour of Cambridge. What would you document?

This will raise expectations for airline travel

Good lyrics.