Because Wikipedia never stops enlightening me, and because Citizendium (the “elitist, anti net-cultural counter-project to Wikipedia,” as summed up by Florian Cramer) never stops boring me, I thought I’d post an annotated list of recent Wikipedia contrails. None of the following items can be found on Citizendium, and I’m not about to apply for the privilege to add them. Check the sidebar regularly to follow along at home.
- Art song: “Considered by afficionados to create musical experiences unsurpassed in sophistication, subtlety and dramatic truth.” Well, then.
- Pneumatic tubes: Did you know about the 60-kilometer pneumatic-tube mail-delivery system in Prague? Paris had a similar network of pneumatic tubes in use for mail delivery until 1984.
- Savile Row: Mentally preparing to shell out for a bespoke suit.
- Travelator: That high-speed walkway they have in Paris should immediately be installed at the Columbus Circle subway station here in Manhattan. Note: “it has been estimated that commuters using a [high-speed walkway] twice a day would save 11.5 hours a year.” Don’t we need these in New York more than they need them in France? This Wikipedia visit took place after idly searching for the name of the song in the background of the Geico commercial with the indignant caveman at the airport (it’s “Remind Me” by Royksopp).
- Cumberlandite: Extremely rare rock that only exists in Rhode Island. Often mistaken for meteorites; deemed sacred by the Nipmuck Indians.
- Steampunk: Cory Doctorow’s posts on Boing Boing finally got me to investigate this further. I told you history blogging is the new Twitter.
- Graham cracker: Originally developed by Reverend Sylvester Graham to suppress “unhealthy carnal urges.”
- 1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + · · ·: Good visuals.
- List of places blurred out on Google Maps: New York is currently the most blurred-out state.
- Coral Content Distribution Network: Cory Doctorow (there he is again!) used this to help distribute our recent 92Y Blog podcast of Kurt Vonnegut. Had to find out what the hell it is.
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