blahg, blahg, blahg…

“Literature as a concept rightly includes a principle of selectivity because of the way knowledge is distributed. In general, half of the knowledge of any given subject is contained in one or two dozen groundbreaking or synthesizing works. The other half is contained in thousands of books and articles. Reading the former is usually among the most exciting experiences in life; trying to read the latter can be mind numbing.” “On Being Well Read in an Age of Information Overload” from Reading the Map of Knowledge: The Art of Being a Librarian by Peter Briscoe.

Friendship as a reality also rightly applies a principle of selectivity. Of the thousands of people we share time and space with, of the millions who offer a little something to mold and shape our character, there exists only a small handful to truly shake our foundations and bring us towards our true selves. Meeting them is usually among the most exciting experiences in life; and parting ways in equal measure painful.

“Some librarians will say that they don’t know all the answers, but that they know how to find them – and this is true enough until it becomes their guiding principle. When they believe that knowing how to use catalogs, indexes, and reference books can substitute for actually knowing a fair amount about what is referred to, they have self-imposed a limit – and a rather low one – on the questions they will ever be able to answer.” ~ Peter Briscoe, “On Being Worthy of the Name”, Reading the Map of Knowledge: The Art of Being a Librarian

(aim higher, think bigger)

I’m still trying to figure this one out…

As is my usual custom, I spent last Friday evening watching a few programs on my local PBS station (WGBH in Boston) – “Washington Week”, “Now” and “Bill Moyers’ Journal”. The “Journal” especially caught my interest as it featured stories on the current economic status of our country and the growing chasm between rich and poor. Lots to think about.

Ironically, running opposite of Mr. Moyers’ program on WGBH’s sister station (Channel 44), was what’s becoming way too familiar on public television, the highbrow infomercial. This particular one, a little diddy called “Stay Rich Forever & Ever”.