and then I learned something new.

Twitter thread by Melissa Caruso about a labyrinthine magical bookstore in Syracuse, NY edited: it's in Saratoga Springs, NY! Link to the first tweet in the thread; most pictures have image descriptions! Now here are the screenshots of that thread:

And then a hero of the labyrinthine magical bookstores of the world put all the bookstores that people listed in the replies on a map! (Google Maps link)

Shah Mosque (1611-1619), Isfahan, Iran

Built during reign of Safavid dynasty

Phenomenal.

Happy Ides of March! Don’t forget to stab Caesar!

Before camera cranes were invented, William A. Wellman pulled off this tracking shot in WINGS (1927). It was the first Best Picture Oscar winner.

Cinematic moments

For everyone asking How?!?!: The camera was suspended from a track on the ceiling!

And, yes, that is a wlw couple at one of the tables–this movie pre-dated the Hays Code

Before camera cranes were invented, William A. Wellman pulled off this tracking shot in WINGS (1927). It was the first Best Picture Oscar winner.

Cinematic moments

For everyone asking How?!?!: The camera was suspended from a track on the ceiling!

And, yes, that is a wlw couple at one of the tables–this movie pre-dated the Hays Code

One of these things is not like the other…

The bindings of the books pictured in plastic bags contain arsenic, while the un-bagged books do not.

Copper arsenic compounds were used as a green pigment in textiles and home furnishings during the 19th century. In 2019, Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation embarked on a study of green cloth-covered book bindings from the 19th century and continues to lead the way on research regarding these compounds in library materials. Their current findings suggest that the publication date range for volumes containing arsenic is 1830 to 1880 and that such books are bound in green cloth or green leather. Most green book covers from this period do not contain arsenic. (While books containing arsenic are green, not all green books contain arsenic.) Our best current estimate based on the testing we have done is that less than .03% of the print titles in our collection contain arsenic. As we identify print titles that contain arsenic, we will take measures to provide other options to make the content available wherever possible.

Read more about how the University of Chicago Library is handling these rare green bindings.

The countries that got tea via China through the Silk Road (land) referred to it in various forms of the word “cha”. On the other hand, the countries that traded with China via sea - through the Min Tan port called it in different forms of “te”.

I liked this so much I became curious… and it checks out! The explanation lies, unsurprisingly, in who was interacting with whom in early modern long-distance trade.

I gotta say, this is one of my favourite mugs. the green might turn out more black than expected, it was a mix of a few things and ...who knows. I can't wait for this to get out of the kiln

Do you sell your work? Bc I would pay much monies for this mug.

I do! I’m on Etsy, where I post my finished pieces, and I take commissions too. you can message me here, or on instagram if you’re interested.

GUESS WHAT CAME OUT OF THE KILN

🥹she’s beautiful

A Centuries-Old Decorative Tradition Inspires Michelle Robinson’s Vibrant Weavings

The Scavenger of the South

Keas (nestor notabilis) are an endangered parrot species native to the southern alpine regions of New Zealand. Named by the Maori people for its distinctive kea cry, the parrots are predominantly green and black, with striking orange and yellow underwings. They’re a highly adaptive species and are considered to be one of the most intelligent bird species in the world, with the equivalent intelligence of a three-year-old child. Their lineage is thought to have diverged from other parrots approximately 80 million years ago when Zealandia split from Gondwanaland, and to scout out food to survive in their harsh alpine environment, keas developed a highly inquisitive nature—which today often makes them nuisances to nearby humans, because the parrots are also mischievous and opportunistic, and never turn down the chance to supplement their mostly-vegetarian diet with human food. They eat nearly anything, so no item of food is safe in their territory—keas are smart and daring enough to pluck it clean out of your hands. Their nature caused conflict with humans throughout the twentieth century: a bounty was introduced, and it’s thought that over 150,000 keas were culled, leaving only 1000–5000 in the wild today. They’re listed as an endangered species, also threatened by introduced pests, logging, scavenging harmful foods, and farmers who still illegally kill them to protect livestock.

(Image Credit: 1, 2)

DOCTOR WHO (2005—) 4.11 “Turn Left”

‘Our Town’s Libraries’ which I drew for the @nytimes recently… Speaking of libraries, I have a new book out titled REVENGE OF THE LIBRARIANS and I am visiting Brooklyn NY, Philadelphia PA, and Columbus OH with it in the next week. Visit tomgauld.com for details…

October can’t come soon enough

IT IS AUGUST

This has been in my likes since last year. It is time.

This is the 21st night of September skeleton. He only appears once a year.

MICHELLE YEOH 2022 | Ruven Afanador ph. for Town & Country Magazine