Make Way for New Words
via Daily Writing Tips by Mark Nichol
The Oxford English Dictionary has an insatiable appetite for new entries: Every three months, it expands its inventory with dozens of words.
A recent newspaper article, however, sensationalised recent acquisitions by selectively announcing a pile of pop-culture-inspired terms, missing the whole point of a dictionary.
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Incredible Photos of Ballet Dancers Poised on City Streets
via Flavorwire by Alison Nastasi
Delicate, lithe limbs and satin-encased feet are an unusual match for concrete sidewalks strewn with trash, but Paris-based photographer Little Shao (aka Thinh Souvannarath) unites the two in his dance-inspired photo series that we spotted on Cuded. His beautiful artworks depict athletic, graceful ballet dancers – many in pedestrian clothes – set in urban environments. The grittier setting complements each dancers’ incredible strength and flexibility, but also interestingly contrasts with the delicacy and elegance of their bodies and impossible poses. The duality is at once vulnerable and powerful.
Click through for beautiful ballet dancers poised amongst graffiti-covered walls and busy Paris streets
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Ours is not a dignified age. But what is dignity? And how can it justify both human rights and Iran’s nuclear programme?... more
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Wall Street Ferry: 1905
via Shorpy Historical Photo Archive – Vintage Fine Art Prints by Dave
New York circa 1905
“U.S. Government Dock and Wall Street Ferry”
8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company
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Rock Hits You Didn’t Realize Were Blues Songs
via Flavorwire by Alison Nastasi
A wildly energetic and gyrating Elvis Presley took to the stage on The Milton Berle Show in 1956 to sing the now legendary rock hit, Hound Dog. The controversial televised performance – set to the swoons and giggles of excited female audience members – won the singer his nickname “Elvis the Pelvis”. The song topped the Billboard charts and remains one of the most-loved tunes in rock 'n' roll history – but it actually made its first appearance in August, back in 1952. Rhythm and blues singer Ellie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton recorded her chart-topping original version in Los Angeles, produced by famed band-leader Johnny Otis (who also played drums).
I have to admit that I have spent far longer listening to the recordings that Alison has found than I really should. After all, the idea is to collate the interesting items for others to read not for my own enjoyment.
In the end I could not decide which I liked best so off you go, and have a listen for yourself – and be educated about some of the best of the early R&R which grew out of some of the best blues of earlier years.
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Religion isn’t just what you believe, says Robert Bellah, it’s what you do. “The misinterpretation of people like Dawkins is that religion is a mistaken proto-science. But religion is about action”... more
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10 of the Coolest Niche Bookstores From Around the World
via Flavorwire by Emily Temple
We all know about the plight of independent and speciality bookstores, so we won’t lament it again here. Suffice it to say, fellow book and bookstore lovers, that all is not lost! We recently found out about Singularity&Co, a new specialist Sci-Fi bookstore opening up in Brooklyn with a specific mission: to rescue and preserve vintage, out of print sci-fi titles.
We’re so excited about this shiny new (and also very old) bookstore that we decided to round up a few more awesome bookstores specialising in everything from murder mysteries to the sea, just waiting to fill your every need.
Click through to see some of the coolest niche and speciality bookstores in the world, and since no list like this can ever be really complete, be sure to pitch in with your own favourites in the comments.
Singularity & Co, Brooklyn
Libreria il Mare, Rome
Stanley & Livingstone, The Hague, The Netherlands
Libreria Griot, Rome
Bibliotheca-Culinaria Kochbuchantiquariat, Berlin, Germany
The Sleuth of Baker Street, Toronto, Canada
Partners & Crime Mystery, New York City
Bookmarks, London
Librairie des Femmes, Paris, France is my choice, admittedly more for the garden than the contents of the store!
Cow Books, Tokyo
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
What does a dispute among the muses have to do with empathy? Literature helped ignite a humanitarian revolution, or so argues Elaine Scarry... more
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Cactus cellular tower in Arizona
via Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow
A Redditor called Jaycrew posted this photo from the erection of a cellular tower disguised as a cactus in Arizona.
How to hide a cell phone tower in Arizona (i.imgur.com) (via Super Punch)
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The Correct Postures for Housework, c. 1921
via Retronaut by Amanda
“Miss Ruth Kellogg demonstrating correct postures for various forms of housework, taken for Delineator magazine”
Cornell University Library
My choice of the images available from Amanda
and you can see the rest here
Source: Cornell University Library
WARNING: The Cornell collection is a serious time waster!
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