Holiday 3

This is a holiday you don't get to come on today because I haven't gone on it yet.  I am leaving this weekend on an adventure to the Great Sand Hills of Saskatchewan and hopefully, if we can find them the petroglyphs of St. Vincent (Victor?...see what I mean about finding them), in the Badlands.  Then it is to the art table, unless my friend ropes me in to her move the dog pen, build the new front porch steps, finish painting the kitchen projects.  I shall remain strong, I shall paint. Right?  I will?  Of course.  I promise you a little painting.

Being a luddite at heart, when I leave on vacation, I go on vacation.  You shall not hear from me until the middle of August.  Have a great couple of weeks.

Techno lesson of the day

If you want people to be able to comment on your blog it is best to mark "anyone" in the settings.   Oh to be a luddite now that digital spring is here.

Holy Book Repair, Batman, part ll

 In wholing the book, returning the text block and the cover back to their unified state, I first lined up the new end paper (here secured by an ever handy brick) with the text block, then marked it with green painter tape.  I love green painter tape and use it often in my book repair work, and my art.  It holds, removes with ease and does not mark.  Once the green tape was in place to be sure the text block would be exact in its positioning I cleared the new end papers to a safe distance from whence they could observe, and proceeded to be liberal with the glue.  

It should be noted, just before you are liberal with the glue, that over the end of the spine, over the mull, I had placed a white strip of card stock, and when I spread the glue, it was from the end of the spine area on the cover out onto the boards where the mull would lie.  No glue is to go down the spine of the cover itself, or down the spine of the text block.  The mull is what is attached to the book's cover, not the spine.  Rather as though you glued your arms to the wall, but left your back free.  Why you would do this to yourself I am not sure, but the image should give you the right idea for what to do with the book.  With the book cover lying flat on the table, place a brick on either side of the text block to keep it in place and go away for a while.  A day.  A week if you want, it doesn't matter.  Go on a  holiday, go to Europe. 

When you get back your book will look rather like this.  

senior technology retains cache

Well, its coming in folks, the stats, and it turns out there are a goodly number of us who are still looking at the long term, and I might point out, long lasting, out lasting, and bio-more friendly, technology of print on paper over print on a screen (do you really want to know what screens turn into when they try to biodegrade?  ---- eeeeeekkkkk run screaming from reality).

Barry W. Cull has written a paper on the subject, my favourite quote from which is: students prefer to read on paper, although they also want the convenience of online digital text. Liu has found that graduate academic library users like the access provided by online electronic resources, but prefer to print the electronic documents in order to read them. 

My little bookmaking heart is filled with glee.  My poor eyes, currently starting at a screen, as are yours, think longing of ink on paper.  Even if that turns out to be e-ink on e-paper? Given the attributes of the common denominator I expect so (remember to run screaming from reality).  When, I wonders, are we going to start pronouncing that ei-nk (sounding remarkably like ink only longer in front), and what will the anthropologists think of us with such a large part of our vocabulary showing e's out front?

Holy book repair,Batman! part 1

This adorable little old priest came to me and asked if I could repair his Bible.  Apparently he uses it a lot and its spine was coming apart.  I offered to build a new cover, but he liked the designs on the old cover so I mended it.  First I helped the text block complete its escape.  I gave it a new mull and picked out fresh end papers.

Then I prepped the cover for its reunion with the text block. I stripped off the old end papers and using a piece that discard, strengthened the spine from the inside.  I applied book tape down the outside of the spine and to the corners which were showing their age.  

Book tape comes in few colours.  Red, blue (the kind even a desperate boat owner having to purchase from the miss mixed paints wouldn't choose), brown, (the kind that makes you think of icky things), yellow (YELLOW), British racing green, a lovely burgundy (that goes well with many law books I work with at my day job, but did not match this Bible), and black (old faithful).  There is also white, but it reminds me of white socks with black shoes and I have never used it.  If you have an expense account and wish to go to Brodat's you can indulge in a dark brown (which makes you think of chocolate), and maroon.  It is always good to dream.  Still neither of the Brodat colours would have matched the Bible either, so I stuck with the old standard, black.  Matches the priestly robes and all.

Upcoming, the wholing of the book.

spinal separation

Easy breezy repair and a most important one.  In hard covers the text block likes, on more occasions than the book-brother authority would like to admit, to make a break for it now and then.  We have no idea why text blocks feel the need to break free of what protects them from a hard wear world, but the burden of the cover just seems to become too much all of sudden and they lean out, unclenching the glue attachments and list toward all out freedom.  If you can catch them in this partially escaped state, you can save yourself a lot of work.  Pleasurable work, but work non-the-less. 

Get your glue ready, in a little puddle on a plate or some such item.  Get your glue brush ready.  This is a paint brush that is either in retirement, or was crafted by people who believe paint brushes should be disposable in quality.  Make sure your glue brush has a long handle and is not very big in the bristle department.  A size one is a good bet. Not too big and not too small for the job.  Just like porridge.  Spread the spine and cover open as in the picture, exposing the areas in need of fresh glue.  Swipe up a dollop of glue on the brush, hold it over the opening with your hand near the brush, and, with practiced timing, let go, then just before it lands on the desk below, catch the handle again and paint the glue all up the inside edges of the spine where the boards and the end papers should be attached.*  Put the glue brush in water.  Lay the book on its spine with the covers flat on the desk and gently press the end papers back into place.  Close the book, lay it flat and drop a brick on it. Gently. Leave it until the glue dries.  Done.

*I have tried the method where you pour the glue down inside the book along the edges of the spine, but that generally ends up with smears of glue along the shaft of the glue brush.  If you don't mind cleaning that up, or don't care if your glue brush is caked with dried glue, go for it.  Not that I would admit to being fastidious in anyway.  And not that anyone who has seen my work station while I am in the middle of a project would think it.  But I generally do it the other way.

Holiday 2

Unexpected holidays are wonderful.  I went on one this morning.  I was walking along on my morningly morning walk and found myself suddenly in Paris, walking along the shaded streets with a view of the Eiffel Tower.  A lovely blue in the morning light.  As I sauntered along enjoying the sights and smells of Paris, I found I had moved across the channel and was now in London.  Oh, look, the bridge.  How marvellous.  And the underground.  Mind the Gap. 

 I remember the London underground.  I experienced it in the company of my sister-in-law's aunts and two wildly entertaining eleven year old twin cousins.  We were on our way to see the Queen:  which we duly did.  She didn't see us though.  Poor her.  We were having a hoot, but don't think she was.  After London I boarded a large dragon fly, one of the hundreds of big blue ones who have launched in the last twenty-four hours to eat the mosquitoes, and ended up in New York.  It's as close to the Statue of Liberty as I have been in may years.  I arrived home refreshed from my holiday.  As one should.

sunday's count

Yesterday afternoon, between one rain storm and the next, I walked along the street, my eyes on the blue and vivid white clouds, occasionally looking down to admire the moss, in at least three shades (or is that species) on the rough bark of the elm trees.  A flash caught my eye.  I paused, stepped cautiously back.  There, poking for whatever it was she found tasty, was a brown woodpecker looking bird with a red thatch on her head.  She flew down to the sidewalk beyond me, and then a lawn.  There she was joined by first one, then another gangley, floppy, soft youth of herself.  She would hop several yards, like a rabbit. They would fly to her position then plop on the grass.  We held in this moment for several minutes, me in the shade of the tree, them in the bright sunlight of the grass, time blossoming outward, until a jogger interrupted us and they three flew away around a house corner, out of sight.

In defense of English

There is much barblefark in the English language today (and God knows in others as well).  Barblefark is not alphabetization (TIADI*), it is a filler language.  A verbosity with an emphasis on syllabled words.  It is repetitious.  I enjoy translating barblefark.  My translations are not a commentary on content, merely a clarification of it.

 Barblefark (the original)

 

From the HBR Blog network: 

Innovation’s Nine Critical Success Factors

1. A compelling case for innovation.
2. An inspiring, shared vision of the future.
3. A fully aligned strategic innovation agenda.
4. Visible senior management involvement.
5. A decision-making model that fosters teamwork in support of passionate champions.
6. A creatively resourced, multi-functional dedicated team.
7. Open-minded exploration of the marketplace drivers of innovation.
8. Willingness to take risk and see value in absurdity.
9. A well-defined yet flexible execution process.

English

Innovations's Success Factors

1. A need to do it. 
2. A way to do it.

*That is a different issue.

Conference Call

Not just chatting with a few co-workers, but an entire conference!  No planes, trains, or automobiles.  Stay in the comfort of your own home, put your feet up, drink whatever it is you drink, throw the ball for the dog, and attend Library 2.011.  Very clever title, don't ya think?

Today's count

This morning, at home, a strawberry.  My first.  I wrapped it in an old teabag so the birds wouldn't get it.  This afternoon in the crabapple grove I saw a cavorting gopher, more mosquitoes than I care for, a jogger who seemed to feel his role in life was to hold up a pine tree, and a small horde of art students lolling amid the grass blades drawing their little hearts out.

spinal injury

When the spine of a trade or mass paperback cracks like this you have an opportunity to repair your patient such that it will look very like it has never been in hospital.  The tricky bit it not getting the glue down into the break.  Tip back the opening and run a line of glue, or (and) spread it in with a narrow paint brush.  The trick is getting the two sides to lock back into place.  The book will try its best to just rest in position leaving it riding up on one side.  I find it best to put the two tip edges together and push them down onto the glue.  Then I viciously place the spine against the edge of my desk and run it down sharply.  This is where you find out you have put in too much glue...on one occasion it shot out so far it splatted on my shirt. But there is nothing like experience to teach you how much is too much. And how much is too little, as when your book falls apart again.  Like flour in the bread dough, you get a feel for it.