Librarianism

If I had a lot of time and money, I'd descend into librarianism. I would just get myself a really large library, hire a professional librarian, and start to do three things: 1) catalogue existing volumes (at last count, I think about 8000); 2) add volumes to fill up gaps (probably another 12000 at least); 3) update volumes so that out-of-date material would be replaced by up-to-date stuff.

I guess it is one of my 'geek dreams', the kind of thing which goes along with teaching qualifications in computer science and other such wonkery. What a life!

Cool ACS Mug

I've always felt that one ought to maintain good professional awareness, readiness, knowledge base and affiliation. So of course, when I became eligible, I joined the usual societies and organisations. Eventually, I was invited to join the American Chemical Society, and I became a somewhat peripheral member who did what he could to publicise the Great Work (the ars magna of Simon Magus, Raymond Lully, John Dee, Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton).

A year later, I received a wholly unsolicited and totally nifty gift, packed in a styrofoam cube. The cube contained a lovely 'Happy 1st Anniversary' mug, sealed with the ACS emblem in blue and gold, and with a picture of a hydrogen atom on it. The geek part of me was ecstatic. I went off to show it to my neighbour, the Cat, who was also quite appreciative.

Of course, I continue to be a happy member of the worldwide ACS fraternity. Long may the alchemical world prosper!