Monthly Archives: August 2013

Little Free Libraries Around the World

Posted on August 29, 2013 by GilPress

From the Boston Globe: The emergence of the “Little Free Library” demonstrates not just the agility of individuals, but the stiff-jointed hoariness of government. Even as public libraries and their advocates bemoan their increasing irrelevance in a digital culture, they … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Libraries | Leave a comment

Debugging the Origin of the Term “Bug”

Posted on August 27, 2013 by GilPress

Alexander Magoun and Paul Israel write in The Institute: The use of “bug” to describe a flaw in the design or operation of a technical system dates back to Thomas Edison. He coined the phrase 140 years ago to describe … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer history, Innovation, Telegraph | 1 Comment

Nothing Lasts Forever: On Extinctions and Dead Media

Posted on August 26, 2013 by GilPress

See also the Dead Media Project (and its field notes) and NYU’s Dead Media Archive.

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Apple: Welcome, IBM. Seriously.

Posted on August 24, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1981, Apple Computer ran a full-page ad in the The Wall Street Journal, twelve days after IBM entered the personal computer market with the launch of the IBM PC.

Posted in Apple, Computer history, This day in information | Leave a comment

Everything You Want to Know About Playstation (Infographic)

Posted on August 23, 2013 by GilPress

by rachaelfernandes090. Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Posted in Infographics, Video Games | Leave a comment

Steve Jobs: Thank You, Bill Gates

Posted on August 18, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1997, Steve Jobs was on the cover of Time Magazine, thanking Bill Gates for saving Apple.

Posted in Apple, Computer history, Microsoft, This day in information | Leave a comment

Computer Animation: From Fantasmagorie to Monsters University

Posted on August 17, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1908, the first animated cartoon, Fantasmagorie, was released. The film (watch it on YouTube) was created by Émile Cohl by drawing each frame on paper and then shooting each frame onto negative film, which gave the picture a blackboard look. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Digitization, This day in information | Leave a comment

Breaking News from 1981: Read the Paper on You Home Computer!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by GilPress

“It takes over two hours to receive the entire text in a newspaper and it costs $5 for an hour of use so the ‘tele-paper’ won’t be much of a competition to the 20 cents street edition.”

Posted in Internet, Newspapers | Leave a comment

Writers on Writing

Posted on August 14, 2013 by GilPress

William Faulkner I discovered writing was a mighty fine thing. You could make people stand on their hind legs and cast a shadow, and as soon as I discovered it I wanted to bring them all back. Joseph Conrad To … Continue reading →

Posted in Writers, Writing | Leave a comment