Information Age
Today I spent some time in the University of Oregon Science Library doing research for a Biology project. My assignment was to locate some articles that are referenced by another article; with my computer skillz, I was able to find an electronic copy of the articles online, rather than searching among the shelves for the original magazine as was recommended by my instructor. Finding the actual hard-copy article seems archaic, quaint, and unnecessary; the rows of books hold a different fascination for me. An aesthetic one:
The Science Library offers several things that you don't find in a typical library. It houses large collections of scientific journals, all bound in matching vibrant colors and shelved in long rows. The shelves of books are the same size, the same color, rows and rows and rows of pretty matchy matchy...
There were many fascinating titles and areas of scientific study that I had never heard of... Phycology? Photochemistry? Paleolimnology?
1. Israel Journal of Chemistry / Earth Sciences
2. Izvestiya Acadamy of Sciences, USSR: Physics of the Solid Earth (red), Japanese Journal of Applied Physics (green)
3. Journal of Phycology
4. Journal of Photochemistry
Some of these journals have been around for a LONG time. Aged books, worn at the edges, with yellowed labels that were made using a (*gasp*) typewriter:
I admit, I spent more time on my photographic research than I did on my academic research. Although I found the information I needed without stepping away from the computer, I found satisfaction in knowing that the shelves were filled with the same information (and more, much more), in knowing that the books exist, can be held in my hands, and that they are safely aging here on these shelves, brewing up those old-book odors.
Afterwards, I treated myself to a bubble tea from a tea shop near campus. This tea is not nearly as tasty as the bubble tea I fell in love with while in Vancouver - in fact, today's bubble tea was not delicious at all! The bubbles, which usually taste like grape jelly, tasted of nothing today except a faint hint of dish soap. Still, I am happy that Eugene has a tea shop where I can satisfy my occasional cravings for bubble tea and poor English!
Tapioce may not be appropriate for young infant.
2 comments:
oh, but those old books have that fabulous "old book" smell that computers don't have, LOL
that's a scary thought -- scents for your keyboard? Yikes! I just about freaked out once when I read an article about a company thought it would be "mellow" to have fragrant (meaning perfumed) air in elevators ...
bubble tea. Never had it. Getting old -- birthday 55 next week! Yikes! How did that happen?
Talk about your information age...if I'm correct about my information...today is an Irie birthday! Hope all your future bubble teas are just what you're hoping for!!! Have a great day!!!
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