Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Happy Solstice, everyone! 

I am not a fan of summer (and, of course, I managed to be born during a time of global warming, rather than during a little ice age, more’s the pity). However, if you’re like me, here’s a way to get through the heat. 

Here’s a long but great read: Lovecraft, Ballard, and architecture in the 20th century. 

Have a spiffy several days, everyone! We’ll be back after July 4th.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Dorian Cope’s On This Deity continues to be incredible. Today I learned about Voltairine de Cleyre, whom I’d never heard of before, and I really should have. Down the fascinating rabbit hole I go! 

If you’re looking for something to do, History Unfolded could use your help finding local news articles about the Holocaust. It’s easy and helps get a bigger picture of how newspapers reported on what was happening throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Happy Monday! This is going to be a short week for Folderol, as we’re off on various adventures starting Thursday and going until July 4th. As a result, this week will be a mixed bag of links each day.

How does one celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? Well, some German Protestants have created a robot pastor. Yes, really. It can bless you and possibly argue theology with you (well, eventually).

How well do you know the neighborhoods in your city? Click That Hood tests your knowledge (worldwide!). I learned that my city’s neighborhood boundaries are completely bonkers. Also some city planner has tried to rename one of our neighborhoods as a hip acronym, which seems like a waste of time.

Where are Americans throughout the work day? This handy bubble animation shows you. 

Makezine revisits the wonderful world of steampunk, huzzah!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Happy Friday! And happy Bloomsday, even if James Joyce wouldn’t be celebrating it, most likely.

We are now in the midst of Gemini season, which can be…tricky. Madame Clairevoyant explains it all. 

From Keli via Twitter: Hello Kitty now has her own tartan. Sure. Why not.

From Zazoo: Bananarama is back together! And they talk about it in a new interview! 

From Julie: The headline “Chinese scientists to grow potatoes on the moon” says it all, really.

Also from Julie: An amazing replica of the Parthenon built with banned books. This looks so cool. 

Have a safe and spiffy weekend, everyone. See you next week.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

What is a library? That question has been asked about eight billion times, but The Smart Set takes a stab at it. 

And, in somewhat related news, Philadelphia librarians are training themselves to administer Narcan to overdosers. 

A Kickstarter to digitize the diaries of Holocaust victims and survivors is about 1/3 there. Donate if you can! 

The Tiny House movement meets the Little Free Library movement in this tiny traveling French library! You can see how they built it, and see other houses the company makes as well. (Bonus photo of a very cute dog, too.)

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

So much terrible news lately. Here are a few non-terrible links as escapism.

Sasha Trubetskoy makes some incredible maps, including this one which turns the roads of the Roman Empire into a subway system. 

Did you know there are haunted vineyards? Makes sense, I guess. Here are a few.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

In times of increasingly dystopian possibilities, let’s take a moment and consider America’s utopian efforts throughout the years.

I was cleaning up some RSS feeds and discovered the Hauntological Society has moved to Tumblr, and also found the Institute for the Future’s website. Lots of great stuff in both places.

There’s a Sherlock Holmes themed hotel in Hanover, and it looks amazing! (Found via the Bartitsu Society, which points out the fitness room’s décor.)

Monday, June 12, 2017

Hello! Ready for another week of madness?

In Los Angeles, vintage buildings are finding second lives as museums. 

Eirik Brandal makes amazing sound sculptures and DIY synthesizers. Look and listen!

Friday, June 09, 2017

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm deep in reading analyses and stories from yesterday's goings-on in the U.S. and the U.K., and apparently everyone else is too, because we have no links from others this week. Have a safe and spiffy weekend, and we'll be back with more posts next week!

Thursday, June 08, 2017

If you’re in DC today, look out – the local bars are offering shots during the Comey hearings. (Not gonna lie, I would totally be at one of those bars if I were there today.)

Meanwhile, in Great Britain, it’s election day. If the stakes weren’t so high, the Monster Raving Loony Party would have my backing.

Tomorrow is International Archives Day! Celebrate by preserving something near you. Like a nation, maybe.

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Today, thanks to Dangerous Minds, I discovered the wild world of Apache dancing. Wowzers.

Also from Dangerous Minds: here is a collection of old photographs of very serious nuns. 

Strange Maps has a post on Curiocity, an amazing work about London that has its own book and its own website.

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Today, the Library of Congress observes D-Day with this collection of military maps. 

For something completely different, we turn to…pushball! Apparently it was quite the craze for a while across the pond.

Monday, June 05, 2017

In the midst of all the chaos, here are some gorgeous posters celebrating Wonder Woman. I really like this one in particular. 

Julian Cope observes the 15th anniversary of Dee Dee Ramone’s death. 

There’s a Dr. Seuss museum opening in Springfield, Massachusetts!

And finally, here’s an in-depth look at the history of alphabet blocks.

Friday, June 02, 2017

And so we have made it – barely – through another week. Oy.

Are the pigeons involved in a Russian scheme? (Or, as Zazoo suggested, is this pigeon actually a remote control drone?)

From Satori: the next prime minister of Ireland might be the gay son of an Indian immigrant. It’s true!

The full archives of Omni are now available online, for your escapist pleasure.

I had not heard of Toyen before reading an interview with China Mieville. Now I’m fascinated.

 Have a safe and spiffy weekend, everyone. See you next week.

Thursday, June 01, 2017

Thursday! That means it's busy. Also, apparently robots are studying me, as there's a 65% chance they'll replace me once I burn out. 

Robots, however, cannot replicate the smell of old books (yet, anyway). An intensely detailed study analyses what makes up that aroma. (Check out the wheel at the bottom of the report!)