How to use this Page

I get obsessed with weird things sometimes. Like an actor or actress, usually someone a little older who I've just seen in something yummy, so I start wondering how old they are and if they're married and what else they've done and how they got started, so I google them, and read up.

I found this really fun site with "what they looked like then" pictures of all sorts of entertainers . This is a treasure chest of pictures of people who you might know now from PBS shows or "regular" television or movies, who seem strangely familiar but you're not sure who they are. You know how you see some older movie and about half way through go "oh my god, that's THAT GUY" who is now 35 or 40 years older, and maybe you know his name or you don't, and if you don't you have to wait for the credits.

My Mom does this to me a lot. She comes over and watches Turner Classic Movies, and especially loves anything from the 1930s or 40s. Last week there was something on with Lucy and Ricky from way before they were Lucy and Ricky Ricardo of I Love Lucy fame. They were so young, it was weird.

Anyway, just thought I'd share what I've spent the last hour doing when I should be doing something else.

And in case you haven't guessed, that's Sir Derek Jacobi circa 1973.
Here's one more I couldn't resist.



Give up?
Helen Mirren, from the same year.

(and I'm hoping Sir Derek and Ms. Mirren won't mind me infringing a copyright of these pictures, if there is one, since I'm linking to the site they're on.)

While I find that using my computer for more of my communication and cultural creations works for me, it’s more of a concern when we think of this as the model for large-scale cultural products. The National Library of Australia tells us/warns us that cultural production in Australia is predominantly in digital form. They’ve made a bold statement about the role of the library in maintaining and preserving these cultural products. It’s a strong but hopeful almost-manifesto ending with Investing in Australia’s digital heritage is an investment for the future. Well done. With that said, here’s a poem I’ve always liked from Richard Brautigan. [thanks gwyn]

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace

I like to think (and
the sooner the better!)
of a cybernetic meadow
where mammals and computers
live together in mutually
programming harmony
like pure water
touching clear sky.

I like to think
(right now, please!)
of a cybernetic forest
filled with pines and electronics
where deer stroll peacefully
past computers
as if they were flowers
with spinning blossoms.

I like to think
(it has to be!)
of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace.