This moment is brought to you in part by Sony Ericsson.

Earlier this week I read through an unpublished dissertation on Childs, one which is cited surprisingly often cited in the literature on Childs. Our library didn't have it, so I had to get it through Inter Library Loans. It came as microfiche.

Technology Moment 1: This bit of analog technology permits a person to store large amounts of information—in this case 250 odd sheets of double spaced typing paper—on small, transportable bits of plastic. Thus, after waiting a few weeks for processing, a post-card sized letter shows up which, when combined in the right way with an apparatus that is only slightly larger than six or so bound dissertations stacked one on top of another, allows the interested party to read the material in question.

It's very convenient, except that the blotches and imperfections in the film are magnified along with the words you want to read. The lighting mechanism is uneven and fairly noisy (fan), too—imagine sitting next to an old overhead projector if you've never had this technology experience before—though the fan helps drown out distractions, and the whole machine can keep you slightly warmer in a cold corner of some library. I also appreciated the fact that it was impossible for me to stick post-it notes anywhere in the text, which is now an obsessive habit.

Technology Moment 2: I took a few notes as I went along, but I didn't really feel like copying down a paragraph that conveniently summarized a (simplistic) thesis. So I whipped out my phone—a recent upgrade which takes low-grade photos—and snapped this (bottom half of page 197, you can just make out):



The audio equivalent would be, I suppose, using your phone to record a 78 on a turntable. The analog feels pure, somehow. Seems to offer something salutary, as nostalgia does. (I felt like an old-school researcher!) In this case, the blotches help redeem the content.

PS, Now that I've resized the thing for the blog, and written about it, it would actually have been faster to copy down the paragraph by hand.

PPS, On the other hand, if you multiply the extra time taken by the physical space I've taken (not counting the physical space that was already being taken up by camera phone or computer), you multiply by 0. The negation of time by space is one of the broadest appeals of the digital revolution. It is also its menace. Blogging is the attempt to counteract the felt diminishment in size by running the other term as close to infinity as possible. Almost zero times almost infinity is still something, right?

On a metaphorical note, if you wonder why I'm not in the blogosphere much lately it's because I'm reviewing my multiplication tables, working with whole numbers that do not exceed the sum of my (very physical and library-chilled) digits.

Tags: PhD, Humor

The one thing I couldn't wait for with RapidWeaver 3.5 was permalinks. Well, now there here. Now I just need to write more stuff worth linking.

Another cool feature is a count for items in each category. I guess I'm relieved to see that I've written more about research (26 posts) than about the site (15 posts), though lately one might find it hard to believe.

And while were on site news, check out the improved layout for software links, compliments of Isaiah at YourHead.com. Also, I've made the quick link / navigation guides on the Childs bibliographies (select and exhaustive) more useful.

Tags: Mac

This site news pertains not just to this site, but to a great many sites.

I love RapidWeaver. This is the fourth or fifth website I've built, and it's not only the one I like best; it's by far the easiest to update and maintain. And I absolutely could not have made it (or at least, not without making it a full-time job, which would be a mistake) without RapidWeaver. Those of you who have read my software page will already know this.

The reason we have news is because serious RapidWeaver users are anticipating a fairly major upgrade this Friday, from 3.2.1 to 3.5. If you've been thinking of starting your own page, or you have one and you aren't committed to your software, here's why you should buy RapidWeaver today:

1. Today RapidWeaver costs $34.95. Friday it will cost $39.95. But the upgrade is free. Buy today and save five bucks.
2. I've only had two objections to RapidWeaver—no PermaLinks, and formatting disappears when you cut and paste—and they'll both disappear on Friday. (Read about some of the new features.)

And here are two more general reasons why you should buy into RapidWeaver.

1. Even if you already have iWeb—yes, all this assumes you operate a Mac—RapidWeaver is several generations ahead of the iApp that tried to take its place, even before Friday. Integration with iPhoto or .Mac is every bit as convenient.
2. Supporting small software developers is probably a good in itself, but it becomes fun when you also get the best product in its class on the market.

IWER types, you'll pardon me if I toast a software firm at Friday's event.

Tags: Mac

In downloading software updates for my key applications, I discovered that Mellel has supported Spotlight searches since November 2005. I don't know how I missed it, but you can bet I'll be using the feature from here on out. If you use Mellel and Spotlight, be sure to install the Mellel Spotlight plugin.

If you're wondering how all this can make your life easier, see my software for research page, which has been updated slightly in light of the Mellel plugin.

Tags: Mac