The Times They Are A Travelin'

If you're on the internet (and you are) you've by now heard that today, October 21st, 2015 is 'the day'.  The mythic day to which Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel in the classic 'Back to the Future II'.  This has, of course, led to all kinds of festivities, from cross-promotional branding to 'how far we've come' think-pieces to jokes about the Cubs.  It's...honestly kind of nauseating, and I say that as someone who's got real affection for the movies.  Maybe it's just minor inner hipster screaming about liking something that's popular.  Luckily, nothing soothes my inner hipster like recommending some obscure crap, and boy do I have that lined up.

You see, time travel is a fun subject, and while 'Back to the Future' as a series handles it quite well (and with some very welcome humor), it doesn't quite top my list.  That honor goes to Science Fiction visionary and all around prolific author Robert A. Heinlein, and his short story " '-All You Zombies-' ".

Let's Make Books Cool Again

So if you've spent any time on various corners of the nerd internet - and let's be honest, you're reading a blog: you have - you've probably seen the above quote, delivered by the inimitable John Waters.  It's funny, right?!  Books are sort of nerdy, but if we make them sexy they'll be cool again!  Sex and books guys!  Great combo!  We're gonna make books cool!

Yeah, I didn't think so.  It's a fun image and a witty line, but frankly if that's all your interested in Tumblr isn't that hard to navigate.  The fact of the matter is making books cool is gonna require slightly more effort than being selective about who you sleep with.  It's going to require you to read, and then talk enthusiastically about, books.  And that's significantly harder than browsing the internet.