This and that

[magid]

One of the results of putting my books on LibraryThing was that I found myself thinking about Library of Congress numbers, ISBNs and bar codes. Bitty and Bubblebabble had lent me their bar code scanner, so I started with bookshelves that had mostly more recent books. But the bar code scanner didn't always work (or work correctly), and after a while I realized that it was faster to just type the ISBN in, especially with a numeric keypad, than it was to keep using the scanner, hoping it would work, then giving up if it didn't. Somewhat earlier books (I finally got around to those, of course) didn't have the number on the back, so I'd have to look inside. Of course, the earliest books (and all of the Hebrew ones, bought in the early 90s; I have to assume that Israel has ISBNs by now) didn't have any kind of number, so it was a search by author or title or manual entry. It made the task more daunting, but by the end, I realized that while the bar codes are useful, they're darned ugly, especially on a book. It reminds me how books have become consumer goods, rather than an adventure, and it's impossible to make a cover design work with them. They just sit there on the back, looking ugly. Interestingly, some Japanese designers have started playing with barcodes. So much more interesting!

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Math and.... highways: an interesting post about a topologically interesting highway junction.

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Note to self: riding sixteen miles, walking another five, and working a writing-intensive auction with a lot of loudness for hours is a bit too much for one day. Remember that you are less able to not be distracted by the music than most people. Plus, more protein is definitely necessary.

On the plus side, it was a wonderful event, raising money for Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, with the help of the Madcap Rumpus Society, dancers, stilt walkers, pirates, acrobats on broken glass, a tuxed and top-hatted auctioneer, talented chefs, and more. Plus I got to see some fabulous friends I don't see enough of :-).

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I realized that a hex screw (or whatever it's called) was knocked out of my shoe in the fall Wednesday, so I yesterday went to Wheelworks in Belmont, where I'd bought the shoes. They gave me a replacement, and the shoes are good to go now. The exciting discovery while I was there: there's a brand of kosher-certified goo! They had four of the Hammer gel flavors, and I got orange and raspberry ones to try out. (Not that I'll be out on the road bike until the roads are drier, though.)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I realized that while the bar codes are useful, they're darned ugly, especially on a book. It reminds me how books have become consumer goods, rather than an adventure, and it's impossible to make a cover design work with them. They just sit there on the back, looking ugly.

Oh my, EXACTLY! I have felt all this for such a long time. Thank you for putting my feelings into words.

I also dislike web addresses on the cover.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I also dislike web addresses on the cover.

Why would I need to go to a website, unless it's possibly that of the author? The book is right there, in my hands, waiting to be read!

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Those barcodes are wonderful!

[(Anonymous)]

*grin*

Best wishes for a restful and restorative Shabbat.

[magid.livejournal.com]

You also.

Shabbat shalom.

[magid.livejournal.com]

It would be cool if they could be imported.

[fairdice.livejournal.com]

The topological intersection thing you linked to grew out of the article "Cartographiana", in Mathematical Intelligencer 27 #2, Spring 2005, by yours truly. There's a copy of it on my publications page (http://people.brandeis.edu/~kleber/pubs.html).

Nice bar codes!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Very cool. I very much liked the population density voting map, though I admit I was expecting something less... sinuous, more taking the usual outline and playing with area inside that.