These things coming into my memory as I am writing this, it would be unnatural for me to omit them
I would note that I find it somewhat ironic that the Facebook group "Keep UChicago Nerdy" was founded by Phoebe Maltz, not exactly the first person of whom one thinks, when one's thoughts turn nerdly to Chicago (though perhaps her conviction stems from other roots*), but in order to do so I'd have tacitly to admit that I notice such things and, in fact, that I spend any time on Facebook at all, and I'd rather avoid that, thanks much, so præteritefuckingamus. I yet find Facebook quite strange, though without it I probably never would have learned of an acquaintance's engagement. OTOH if I wouldn't have learned of it otherwise, well, what sort of acquaintances are we? The kind that have communicated in years, that's what sort.
The title is taken from Harry Mathews' The Journalist (actually from Plutarch via TJ), in which a diary-keeper devises an ever more articulated system for classifying his observations. It would be interesting to see those bloggers who tend to the diaristic adopt them (and, indeed, for such persons to read the book, which is good). Where I am now, the scheme is thus, and the classifiers (AII/b.1, eg) appear in the margins. As I was reading it this evening in a café I decided that I should write some stuff down about it (don't worry, I noted the irony (though not, like, in writing)) so that it wouldn't all flow away and, having commandeered a napkin since I had no paper with me and saw no likely candidates from whom I could purloin a piece, scribbled some notes thereon, which gossamer sheet, as I was preparing to leave, I slipped between the more substantial sheets of the book, along with a ... book thing. umbrella. place holder. shit. envelope. bookmark! Along with a bookmark.
Then I lost it. Well, shit.
*I'm not sure if that's an awful mixed metaphor or a moderately clever unmixed one
Comments
on 2006-12-19 12:12:00.0, bitchphd commented:
I want someone to classify things for me. Any volunteers?
and, further, on 2006-12-19 12:15:31.0, ben wolfson commented:
It's all crap.
and, further, on 2006-12-19 0:04:32.0, bitchphd commented:
That's not very helpful, Ben.
and, further, on 2006-12-19 0:53:19.0, A White Bear commented:
I make distinctions one-handed!
and, further, on 2006-12-19 0:53:45.0, A White Bear commented:
Or two-handed, if you prefer.
and, further, on 2006-12-19 15:25:55.0, phoebe commented:
Whose blog is this?
and, further, on 2006-12-19 15:28:37.0, bitchphd commented:
Definitely better with both hands in there.
and, further, on 2006-12-19 15:49:26.0, ben wolfson commented:
Phoebe: it belongs to me. We have in fact encountered each other in person, though never particularly memorably (w/r/t me, that is; who could forget the celebrated you?). (You can't, you simply can't, deny that you're not a nerd in excelsis—I wouldn't abide it.)