Comments on: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/ News from the Trenches of Librarianship Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:12:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Robin http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Robin Sun, 26 Feb 2006 23:26:35 +0000 http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/#comment-410 Sometime in the '80s, my library bought an IBM PC XT for $9,500. Bwahahahahaahahah! Hahahahaahaahaaahahahaahahahahaahahah! Actually, you're right...that's not funny at all. Sometime in the ’80s, my library bought an IBM PC XT for $9,500.

Bwahahahahaahahah!

Hahahahaahaahaaahahahaahahahahaahahah!

Actually, you’re right…that’s not funny at all.

]]> By: Jason Nolan http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Jason Nolan Sun, 26 Feb 2006 14:34:53 +0000 http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/#comment-408 through a party? through a party?

]]> By: Steve Lawson http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Steve Lawson Sun, 26 Feb 2006 01:01:47 +0000 http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/#comment-406 Thanks for the pointer to that CC test--that's pretty funny! Thanks for the pointer to that CC test–that’s pretty funny!

]]> By: Greg Wilson http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Greg Wilson Sat, 25 Feb 2006 15:15:25 +0000 http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/#comment-404 I think that when we look back at all the hours (days, months...) we spent then doing things that would take seconds with today's technology, our only options are to laugh or to cry, and most of us prefer not to cry in public. I think that when we look back at all the hours (days, months…) we spent then doing things that would take seconds with today’s technology, our only options are to laugh or to cry, and most of us prefer not to cry in public.

]]> By: Steve Lawson http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Steve Lawson Sat, 25 Feb 2006 14:51:32 +0000 http://www.mazar.ca/2006/02/25/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/#comment-403 Interesting question. Perhaps we laugh because, in looking at old technology, we are reminded that <em>all></em> technology is something of a kludge; we don't really want OPACs and fulltext databases any more than we wanted card catalogs and paper indexes. They are all just poor substitues for the perfect universal knowledge we crave. I think we might also be laughing with delight at how ingenious people are. That direct phone line from the branch to the main desk isn't funny because it is foolish; it's funny because it is smart. <br /> <i>Perhaps! Sitting there with this amazing librarian and hearing the gales of laughter that greeted her story made me a little uncomfortable; it certainly sounded mean-spirited. By the way, I recently stumbled upon an animated character narrating a test for high school students preparing for college; because of <a href="http://quizmaker.oddcast.com/colorado_college">this test</a>, I will always have a special place in my heart for Colorado College. ;) --R.</i> Interesting question.

Perhaps we laugh because, in looking at old technology, we are reminded that all> technology is something of a kludge; we don’t really want OPACs and fulltext databases any more than we wanted card catalogs and paper indexes. They are all just poor substitues for the perfect universal knowledge we crave.

I think we might also be laughing with delight at how ingenious people are. That direct phone line from the branch to the main desk isn’t funny because it is foolish; it’s funny because it is smart.

Perhaps! Sitting there with this amazing librarian and hearing the gales of laughter that greeted her story made me a little uncomfortable; it certainly sounded mean-spirited. By the way, I recently stumbled upon an animated character narrating a test for high school students preparing for college; because of this test, I will always have a special place in my heart for Colorado College. ;) –R.

]]>