
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
4th Place June 09 Olav wrote us this letter about the library of congress, as a recent visitor, and a Canadian, we think he makes as good a case for it as any text we could write about it: The Library of Congress is the world's largest library. More than 32 million books, 15 million periodicals, movies and 100 million other items add up to hundreds of miles of shelf space and several terabytes of information. What's awesome about that? It is an institution that is open to public use. That's right, not just the use of Congress, not just the use of Americans, but the use of anyone from any part of the globe. The world's largest repository of information is accessible to everyone. Considering the size of the collection, the labrynthine warren of tunnels in which the books are stored and the demands of the public, one would understand if it took the librarians several days to find any particular book. However, just about any book in the collection can be retrieved within an hour. Seriously! One hour! I was there last weekend doing some research and I requested New Computer Methods for Global Optimization an obscure book from 1988 that had a print run of less than 500 copies. They had it in my hands in 15 minutes! That's incredible. I'm going to go so far as to say that The Library of Congress isn't just awesome, it's one of the Wonders of the World. There are many great things about America, but I would list the Library of Congress as the single best. It is all of the greatest achievements of Western Civilization under one roof, at the fingertips of all those who seek knowledge. Seriously. I was awe-struck. I am awe-struck. I'm well-known as someone who is loquacious, and I can't even find the words to express how impressed I was with the Library of Congress.
Nominated by Olav Rokne
Image Credits
Filename: libraryofcongress.jpgSource: wiki commons author: Andreas Praefcke Url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LoC_Main_Reading_Room.jpg
Filename: libraryofcongress_exterior.jpgSource: Public Domain Url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ThomasJeffersonBuildingLOC.jpg
Filename: libraryofcongress_building.jpgSource: wiki commons author: Josh from Washington, D.C., USA Url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Library_of_Congress_(1).jpg
Filename: libraryofcongress_interior.jpgSource: wiki commons author: Diliff Url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Library_of_Congress_Interior_Jan_2006.jpg
Filename: libraryofcongress_1921.jpgSource: wiki commons author: Josh from Washington, D.C., USA Url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Library_of_Congress_1921.jpg
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() RELIANT ROBIN
The Reliant Robin is a three wheeled car made by the Reliant Auto company in the UK. What makes it awesome is the fact that it only has three wheels. You are allowed to drive it if you have a motorcycle license. The car was made for 30 years and 29 of those it was just a joke until the TV show Top Gear converted it into a rocket shuttle, but even as a shuttle it failed. All you have to do to understand its awesomeness is look at some pictures of it.
Nominated by TinManCometh
Image Credits
Filename: ReliantRobin_pink.jpgSource: elvis_payne on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elvispayne/2202361412/
Filename: ReliantRobin_race.jpgSource: Skip The Budgie on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skip/228589654/
Filename: ReliantRobin_yellow.jpgSource: mike warren on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewarren/18594682/
Filename: reliantrobin_blue.jpgSource: caroline.stokes on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolinestokes/2483092469/in/set-72157603580815898/
Filename: reliantrobin_green.jpgSource: catchesthelight on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catchesthelight/858956431/
Filename: ReliantRobin.jpgSource: miheco on flickr cc Url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/miheco/2114658757/
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![]() Olav Rokne commented ( about Library of Congress ) on 9/14/2009
A) Books are awesome.
B) Large quantities of books are more awesome than lesser quantities. C) Democracy is awesome. D) Freedom of speech is awesome. E) Freedom of information is awesome. F) Thomas Jefferson is awesome. The Library of Congress combines the net awesomeness of that entire list, in an awesome building, with awesome organization, awesome people running it and awesome art on the walls. This should be in the Top 8. I am more in awe of this than the sum of all other nominees, even though all nominees this month are awesome in their own right. reply
Agreed.
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The Dude commented ( about Reliant Robin ) on 6/6/2009
Top Gear GTW! The Stig and the Robin need all the love they can get.
Although, The Stig would never be caught dead behind the wheel of a Robin.
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I meant FTW. I think my Mac's keyboard is out to get me!
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Lol. Macs suck.
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Macs are awesome.
Not to be snarky about Windows machines, because they're good for some applications (I.E. databases, spreadsheets, World of Warcraft...), but MacIntoshes are better for Mathematica, Quark, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, which are the programs I use.
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the_mad_nader commented ( about Library of Congress ) on 6/5/2009
The Great Library of Alexandria was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World...perhaps the Library of Congress should be considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World? THAT would be awesome!
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IMHO, the LoC is all seven wonders of the Modern World.
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