Jim Neal
@jimneal.bsky.social
University Librarian Emeritus at Columbia University. All things: libraries, technology, copyright, intellectual freedom, leadership, music, theater, museums, nature. Citizen of the world.
Do you remember the Easy-Bake Oven? It is a working toy oven introduced in 1963 and manufactured by Kenner and later by Hasbro. The original toy used a pair of ordinary incandescent light bulbs as a heat source; current versions use a true heating element. My sister had one of the originals.
February 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Do you remember the Easy-Bake Oven? It is a working toy oven introduced in 1963 and manufactured by Kenner and later by Hasbro. The original toy used a pair of ordinary incandescent light bulbs as a heat source; current versions use a true heating element. My sister had one of the originals.
I have a profound weakness for dessert. It is all my mother’s fault as she baked every day. I especially love a rich multi multi multi layer chocolate cake. After you indulge, you want to scream out, You can take me now!!
February 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I have a profound weakness for dessert. It is all my mother’s fault as she baked every day. I especially love a rich multi multi multi layer chocolate cake. After you indulge, you want to scream out, You can take me now!!
This really made me laugh. A bag of grated Romano cheese hanging in the car as an air freshener. I remember when I first went to Fran’s house for dinner, and grated cheese was on everything and as important as salt and pepper. Always a big bag in our fridge.
February 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This really made me laugh. A bag of grated Romano cheese hanging in the car as an air freshener. I remember when I first went to Fran’s house for dinner, and grated cheese was on everything and as important as salt and pepper. Always a big bag in our fridge.
This cartoon from The New Yorker screams New York City. There are thousands of buttons like this at street crossings all over the city. None of them work! That is why we usually treat crossing signals as suggestions.
February 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This cartoon from The New Yorker screams New York City. There are thousands of buttons like this at street crossings all over the city. None of them work! That is why we usually treat crossing signals as suggestions.
New book from the Supreme Court Justice, SOTOMAYOR'S LATEST BOOK GEARED TOWARD YOUNG READERS IS INSPIRED BY HER LATE MOTHER, CELINA BÁEZ, AND AIMS TO SHOW "HOW HELPING OTHERS SHINE MAKES THE WORLD BRIGHTER". Would be so cool to get her for an ALA speaker.
February 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New book from the Supreme Court Justice, SOTOMAYOR'S LATEST BOOK GEARED TOWARD YOUNG READERS IS INSPIRED BY HER LATE MOTHER, CELINA BÁEZ, AND AIMS TO SHOW "HOW HELPING OTHERS SHINE MAKES THE WORLD BRIGHTER". Would be so cool to get her for an ALA speaker.
Let’s not forget this. This is challenging for the library community. Quote attributed to Dante.
February 13, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Let’s not forget this. This is challenging for the library community. Quote attributed to Dante.
This sounds like really good advice.
February 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This sounds like really good advice.
This is getting harder and harder to do! I get in trouble all the time.
February 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This is getting harder and harder to do! I get in trouble all the time.
I took typing In junior high school in the early 60s. On manual typewriters. The teacher made the class very competitive. It was a skill that was useful as computers took over.
February 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I took typing In junior high school in the early 60s. On manual typewriters. The teacher made the class very competitive. It was a skill that was useful as computers took over.
The Blue Man Group is closing in NYC at the Astor Place Theater. After 17,800 shows and 82,150 gallons of paint since 1991. The trio of hairless, earless, silent, blue-and-black clad performers, who spit paint and sculpt marshmallows, gobble Twinkies, toss toilet paper, and drum in primary colors.
February 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The Blue Man Group is closing in NYC at the Astor Place Theater. After 17,800 shows and 82,150 gallons of paint since 1991. The trio of hairless, earless, silent, blue-and-black clad performers, who spit paint and sculpt marshmallows, gobble Twinkies, toss toilet paper, and drum in primary colors.
This is really important advice.
January 31, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This is really important advice.
Bill to add Trump to Mount Rushmore introduced in House.
January 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Bill to add Trump to Mount Rushmore introduced in House.
I rarely eat bacon, though I really like it. Usually only when we go out for breakfast or while we are traveling. When I do, I like it on the crispy side. My mother undercooked when I was a kid, and I remember the can where she poured in the grease.
January 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I rarely eat bacon, though I really like it. Usually only when we go out for breakfast or while we are traveling. When I do, I like it on the crispy side. My mother undercooked when I was a kid, and I remember the can where she poured in the grease.
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River. Crossing the bridge and avoiding the bicycles is one of the tourist must-do attractions in NYC.
January 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River. Crossing the bridge and avoiding the bicycles is one of the tourist must-do attractions in NYC.
I am not sure why, but this shirt made me laugh. Made me think at first of Simon and Garfunkel. But then about the importance of having guidance and direction to make music in this world.
January 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I am not sure why, but this shirt made me laugh. Made me think at first of Simon and Garfunkel. But then about the importance of having guidance and direction to make music in this world.
When I was a kid, pork and beans from the can with cut up hot dogs was a dinner staple. I guess it was an inexpensive dinner. I really liked it and would add mustard on the side.
January 26, 2025 at 4:59 PM
When I was a kid, pork and beans from the can with cut up hot dogs was a dinner staple. I guess it was an inexpensive dinner. I really liked it and would add mustard on the side.
Vision issues and night driving concerns took me to the eye doctor. Now scheduled for cataract surgery on both eyes. I am assured things will improve.
January 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Vision issues and night driving concerns took me to the eye doctor. Now scheduled for cataract surgery on both eyes. I am assured things will improve.
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is the world's oldest living land animal and is believed to be over 190 years old. He lives on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.Years ago we visited the Galápagos Islands on a small boat, and saw many older tortoises. Very special!
January 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is the world's oldest living land animal and is believed to be over 190 years old. He lives on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.Years ago we visited the Galápagos Islands on a small boat, and saw many older tortoises. Very special!
