Rob Beschizza

Draft of Declaration of Independence named subjects, not citizens

beschizza — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:30:20 +0000

Hyperspectral images of a draft of the Declaration of Independence reveal that it originally used the word ‘subjects’ instead of ‘citizens’ at a critical juncture. After writing “our fellow subjects,” author Thomas Jefferson scrubbed it out and replaced it with the familiar alternative. To the Library of Congress, whose Preservation Research and Testing Division analyzed the document with the latest high-resolution camera equipment, it illustrates an important moment: “when [Jefferson] reconsidered his choice of words and articulated the recognition that the people of the fledgling United States of America were no longer subjects of any nation, but citizens of an emerging democracy.”…

Gallery: Digitizing the past and present at the Library of Congress

beschizza — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:00:22 +0000

The Library of Congress has nearly 150 million items in its collection, including at least 21 million books, 5 million maps, 12.5 million photos and 100,000 posters. The largest library in the world, it pioneers both preservation of the oldest artifacts and digitization of the most recent–so that all of it remains available to future generations. I recently took a tour of two LoC departments that exemplify this mission: the Preservation Research and Testing Division in Washington, D.C., and the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Va….

Nomen Ludi

beschizza — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:05:28 +0000

Ever get a weird memory about a game, book or movie from when you were a kid, but no-one else has any idea what you’re going on about? Enjoy Nomen Ludi, a Boing Boing special feature….

MagicJack dials wrong number in legal attack on Boing Boing

beschizza — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:01 +0000

Gadget maker MagicJack recently lost a defamation lawsuit that it filed against Boing Boing. The judge dismissed its case and ordered it to pay us more than $50,000 in legal costs.

What storytelling risks could Avatar have taken?

beschizza — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

James Cameron took few chances with his latest movie’s plot. But how could it be otherwise, when $400m is on the line? Here’s five ideas to get us started…

A girl at the 1978 comic-con

beschizza — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:30:09 +0000

Comic fandom’s rarely held to be a welcoming place for girls. But one correspondent remembers fondly her trip to the 1978 San Diego Comic-Con, when she was a wee 8-year old. Other females, however, were few and far between.

Chip Sounds

beschizza — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:09 +0000

“It boasts a totally separate sonic spectrum than the other forms of electronic music,” says David Viens. “It brings back fond memories.”

Sony, B&N promise to rekindle rights for book owners

beschizza — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:23:44 +0000

Named the “Daily Edition,” Sony’s new ebook reader hits stores next month. Notwithstanding differences between the respective libraries, it offers all the best features of its main rival, the Kindle. But Sony says it offers one thing that Amazon won’t: actual ownership of your books.

Glittergeddon!

beschizza — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:23:44 +0000

Channel 4′s documentary-style drama, The Execution of Gary Glitter, imagines an alternative Britain that reintroduces the death penalty and hangs the celebrity sex offender. It’s a story about the moral quandary of capital punishment, generously garnished with the British media’s creepy obsessions.

Brainwave toys are back

beschizza — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:23:44 +0000

Weird headsets that read people’s minds? It sounds like dystopian science fiction, but these gadgets are set to be the holiday season’s hot toys.