Dewey Decimal System? You Bet We Do!

The Dewey Decimal System is a library indexing method developed in the 19th century by Melvil Dewey. You know the one--a three digit number followed by a decimal sign, some more numbers and possibly a few letters. The first digit sorts the books broadly into categories: Generalities (0XY), Philosophy and Psychology (1XY), Religion (2XY), Social Sciences (3XY), Language (4XY), Natural Sciences & Mathematics (5XY), Technology (6XY), The Arts (7XY), Literature & Rhetoric (8XY), and Geography & History (9XY).

Of course there are deeper levels to this rabbit warren. Each of those classes is subdivided and then divided some more. This attempt to classify all knowledge is, of course, flawed. However, it gives me an idea: read your way 'round the library!

I made a foray to the nearby branch of the Alexandria public library last weekend to assess the plausibility. I checked out the following volumes:

1. Library: an Unquiet History, by Matthew Battles. DDC = 02W.XYZ
2. The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination, by Jacob Bronowski. DDC = 12W.XYZ
3. The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions, by Bruce Metzger. DDC = 22W.XYZ
4. People and Politics: an Introduction to Political Science, by Herbert Winter and Thomas Bellows. DDC = 32W.XYZ
5. The Story of English, by Mario Pei. DDC = 42W.XYZ
6. The Astronomer's Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmos, by Herbert Friedman. DDC = 52W.XYZ
7. The Tower and the Bridge, by David Ballington. DDC = 62W.XYZ
8. Elements of the Art of Architecture, by William Muschenheim. DDC = 72W.XYZ
9. A History of English Literature, by William Neilson and Ashley Thorndike. DDC = 82W.XYZ
10. The Borgias, by Ivan Cloulas. DDC = 92W.XYZ

Now, be it known: finding books that represent the classes is not necessarily straightforward. For one thing, I decided that I might want to do more than just the ten books. I might want to do the full century. Another: the library's holdings are limited, and not all librarians classify the same book in the same way; some books can be shelved as multiple classifications. They didn't even have Life of Samuel Johnson, which I really wanted to get for the 92W.XYZ classification, as 92W.XYZ is the clearest opportunity for biography--and I've never read it! Last: if you are willing to specialize a bit, you need to remember that the different subclasses aren't necessarily analogous maps into the classes.

Anticipating that I might decide to do the full hundred, or at least give it a real shot,I chose to arbitrarily go with the W2.XYZ call number, but one could chose others, or not worry about the division.

What do you think?

UPDATE: Also, I read Moneyball, by Michael Lewis, recently: pretty good. I'm reading Thinking in Time: the Uses of History by Decision Makers, by Richard Neustadt and Ernest May: really pretty neat.

That Went Better Than Expected

At Susan's urging, I located a group of people that plays pickup soccer in the area; this morning I went to play. There was nobody there when I arrived (on time), but folks trickled in pretty regularly after about five minutes.

We played three-on-three for a bit, and then four-on-four when some more folks arrived. I was very tired after the first half hour of play, though it was not so bad. I was definitely not the worst player there! I haven't played since (I think) Spring of 2000! My big toe and its pad (on both feet) are blistered! I think I'll go back next weekend!

More Books

Susan reminded me that I forgot a book in the last update: Making Money, by Terry Pratchett, which was amusing, as his books always are. I recently read a few of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich--they're funny but pulp. There was also another Carl Hiaasen book--Double Whammy; I enjoyed it. I'm reading Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause, by Tom Gjelten; it is a tough slog, so far.

Diploma

Pretty cool.

Metro Accident

Tom's fine. It was a nasty wreck, but one far from where he rides the train for work, on a different line and everything.

Cute

Leo was curled up on Soren's changing table, watching the little rugrat play with his toys. I discovered this because Leo's high-volume purrs were audible through the baby monitor as I was cleaning the kitchen; the sound made me suspect catly misbehavior, so I investigated.

Recent Reading

• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell--ok, interesting vignettes.
• Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen--very funny.
• Friday Night Lights by H.G Bissinger--bad writing, engrossing story.
• No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley--we've made a lot of progress.
• Spin by Robert Charles Wilson--slow start, gets engrossing.
• Consider The Lobster by David Foster Wallace--really good. The footnotes get a bit obnoxious after a while.
• Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman--fun. The system of magic is based on quantum mechanics. Sort of.
• Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson--ok, an interesting premise.
• A Short History of the 20th Century by Geoffry Blainey--not bad so far. Reading it during my commute.
• The One Percent Doctrine by Ron Susskind--it is horrifying and terribly written. Reading it before bed.

UPDATE: Susan was right. Also: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson--pretty darn good though he should watch it with the perving. Fool by Chris Moore--amusing as always. The Life and Times of the Thumderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson--affecting.

Really, California?

Okay, I just cannot tolerate it anymore. The fact that Californians passed Prop. 8 in the first place, okay. I can understand that. There are conservative parts of California. Well I don't understand it, but at least it was a legal, clean, vote. But the for the courts to uphold it-that just flabbergasts me. Since when is it okay for a majority to take away rights from a minority? I guess that in 2009 we really aren't as progressive as we thought. I mean this is America people, we should have equal rights for everybody! Not just every other person or those who fit the religious standards that we are supposed to be protected from with the first amendment. But I guess that doesn't matter either. I mean, I feel like being gay is my Scarlet Letter. And don't get me started on Oregon. We have Portland, we have Eugene...centers of community and cultural diversity. How could this happen? And does this mean that really there are more homophobic people here in Eugene than I initially thought? Gay people are just the new "other", some ubiquitous sub culture that mainstream culture hates for no real basis, just pure stupidity and all hatred. The saddest part to me is that when gay people are finally treated equally, there will just be a new "other".

Words

Your evil twin is someone who looks just like you, but more sinister. Your dopplegansgster is someone who looks just like you, but with saggy pants and bling.

Is That Even Allowed?

At the training course I went to last week, I saw a woman--a civilian employee of the US Army--reading "Atlas Shrugged."

The Job

Thus far, my experience has been good. There was a minor bureaucratic snag in the first couple of days. A lack of coordination left me computerless, but I found some pertinent documentation left by my predecessors and went through it for a couple of days so I wasn't completely at loose ends.

I spent some time interacting with some of the contractors involved with what I ought to be working on, which was useful.

My immediate colleagues seem like nice folks. A couple of long time guys and another new analyst from my same school (different option; she studied chemistry).

Still Transmitting

We went into the district to hang out with Max, this morning. The plan was to go check out a farmers market. Selection-wise, the produce was unimpressive. However, the assortment of yuppie strivers on display was notable. Also important to remember is that strollers aren't really so great in crowds. I know we know it, but maybe it just isn't in our bones. Soren will just have to walk. He nearly could--but he'd be squished in an instant because he tends to stagger from side to side a fair bit, until he builds up some momentum.

Drunken monkey style kung fu

Update

So you know, I am emailable in the mail domain of that company that claims their motto is "Don't be evil." And the proper place to direct said missives is johnson.thomas.j... Also, our phone numbers have changed so when you'd like to call, email first and I'll get you that information. Susan did an excellent job getting us situated here in Alexandria, finding a place to live and a conveyance to carry folks about. It isn't a rickshaw, though. That would be silly. I'm getting set up at work, taking required trainings and filling out lots of forms and trying to learn as much as I can before I get fully tasked. Some interesting things about work: There is a buttload of Colonels (and Captains) and Lieutenant Colonels (and Commanders and such). Boats-full of Majors... I get lost with some frequency, as the portion of the building I need to traverse the most is under heavy construction and so corridors that should go through do not, requiring one to go up a floor before the obstruction and down, after. I totally feel like I'm playing dress-up, with the fancy clothes. I don't know how everyone does it so earnestly. Also, wearing nice clothes takes more time because you have to care for them, and avoid cat hair. The train in is less crowded than the train out, by quite a bit. Bringing my own lunch will be a much better option than anything there. The food places are farr too mall-like. There is a Sbarro. My new wakeup is 0620, which is earlier than I'd prefer, but not too bad. Max picked me up at the metro station on the way home, yesterday, and came over for dinner. We both had little attache-case things and fancy clothes on. It was surreal. Not exactly the same old jeans+T-shirt for me, khakis and long-sleeved T-shirt for Max.

Here

I have arrived! Susan's done an excellent job setting things up. Soren is enormous and so very interactive now. Running around, making all kinds of noises, mimicking us and the cats. I got a coat, since I didn't have anything suitable to rain or temperatures below 60 F. That was Thursday, because I had no energy left after the red-eye.

Defended

Success. Now I just have to get and make whatever pesky corrections they want, and some paperwork, and then get the hell out of Dodge.

Band Name

Plans, Nickles, Etc.

Inoculations

Depressions have some utility: makes it easy to avoid affluenza.

Submission

Started the process, have printed hard copies for committee members, proofreader. Very tired, though. Still have a lot to do before I can go get some sleep.

Ruth Bada$$ Ginsburg

Returned to work yesterday.