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September 24, 2004
TT: Better mousetraps
Three more readers chime in on "About Last Night"'s topic du jour:- "Reading your post on the effect of technology on the written word, I noted your statement that no one in his right mind would write a 5,000-word essay with a fountain pen. My personal preferences aside, I feel obliged to point out that Neal Stephenson, an author known for his cutting-edge science fiction, wrote all three of his most recent books (totalling nearly 3,000 pages) by hand, with a fountain pen. Whether Mr. Stephenson is in his right mind or not is up for debate, I suppose, but he is, at least, proof that the fountain pen can keep up with the modern age."
- "I fall heavily in favour of using the library. I survive on a single income, so hard cover books fall on the wrong side of the budget for me. The library comes through for me every time. In fact, I found 4 out 5 of your suggestions for new jazz listeners at my library and I currently have 'The Skeptic' signed out. (And no, I can't find 'The Terry Teachout Reader' at the library either.) The other thing my library has is movies - including DVD's.
"One thing that has made my library experience even more enjoyable is the online catalogue. If I discover a book, CD or movie I want to explore while surfing the web, it's a quick click and search to see if my library has a copy. Then I simply reserve it and when it is available they notify me. I think they are even going to e-mail notifications. Between my computer and my library card I can continue to learn and be entertained without a large bill at the other end."
- "A friend just pointed out something else about ebooks. You can't get an author's written signature on it!"
I promise to let you all know at once if anybody ever asks me to inscribe an e-book....
Posted September 24, 2004 8:17 AM
