the library

The UR library website has a "Live chat with Librarians!" feature that always brings a chuckle— it just seems made for certain fetishists. I, nonetheless, gave it a whirl the other day, to ask about the arcana of indicies (this is where you chime in with, "right..."). They seemed pleased to receive such a booknerd question.

The day before yesterday I requested a copy of Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics on the interlibrary loan. I resigned myself to waiting the 1-4 weeks I was advised it might take. But lo and behold, it was waiting for me this morning. On the exposed edge of the pages (another booknerd question: what's that called?) is stamped, "LIBRARY, ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY — CANTON, NEW YORK 13617." I had to look at a map and then zoom out a little to find out where that was: up on the St. Lawrence Seaway, near Kingston, Ontario, on the way to Montréal.

In addition to live chat with librarians, after-hours access, and interlibrary loan, the library has free coffee. What more do you need?

new friends

I think I've perfected my interests list on Friendster: "avoiding my homework, thinking about physics, biking around town, starting a housing co-op, reading books from the public library, eating yummy food, cooking with my roommates, watching david lynch films, snuggling, going to brunch on saturday mornings, tag sales, being a scientist, travelling the world"

Speaking of which, I need to find some more/new friends here in Rochester. Just to spice things up. Infiltrate other departments or something.