Notices by John Overholt (overholt@glammr.us)

I think I saw a sign announcing the exciting innovation of unleaded gasoline. #Monsterdon

His enjoyment of laser blasting is upsettingly sexual. #Monsterdon

This has the confidence of the Star Wars Holiday Special that there’s no need to translate alien shrieking. #Monsterdon

Laserblast doesn’t fall into the trap so many movies do of having at least one character who’s likeable or appealing. #Monsterdon

“We found what’s left of Dr. Mellon. It’s just the rind. #Monsterdon

All Cops Are [Laser]Blasted #Monsterdon

Re: tonight’s #Monsterdon, some movies that are about as good as Laserblast, according to Leonard Maltin. https://mst3kinfo.com/ward_e/Bit706.html

How the Roddy have fallen. #Monsterdon

My parents had this exact luggage. It was always really satisfying to snap the clasps closed. #Monsterdon

30 years ago, library circulation workers needed to know their Deedee-deedle-dee from their Doo-doot. https://libraryshenanigans.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/onomatopoetic-instructions-from-the-1990s/

Some people understand “There but for the grace of God go I” as a call to empathy and some see it as a divine endorsement of their inherent superiority.

I just cannot state strongly enough how profoundly this misunderstands what I want from a vacuum cleaner. https://www.theverge.com/news/639078/samsung-bespoke-ai-jet-ultra-vacuum-text-messages

I’m not going to say there’s a lot of overlap between digital preservation librarianship and knitting, because this post says it more clearly than I ever could. https://digitalpreservation-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/knitting-through-digital-decay-a-collection-of-digital-preservation-jumpers-no-one-asked-for-but-478c48009521
Via @Researchbuzz

Early 18th century engraving of the library at the University of Altdorf. I am glad we've moved away from the practice of keeping skeletons on display; in addition to being deeply unsettling they sure seem to be blocking access to that range of books.

We just got word that Harvard Yard is closed to non-ID holders, but I haven't heard what might be triggering that. Mostly in the past it's been protests, but also ICE is doing kidnappings around Boston lately.

There is some very cool stuff in Sotheby's new auction of sci-fi and horror movie memorabilia, including actual E.T. https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/there-are-such-things-20th-century-horror-science-fiction-and-fantasy-on-screen?locale=en

“To protect the ornate furnishings from bat droppings, librarians cover tables with leather sheets each evening and clean the floors every morning. This centuries-old practice has helped maintain the library’s rare manuscripts in remarkable condition.” https://laughingsquid.com/library-uses-bats-to-protect-books-from-insects/ via @Researchbuzz

A very happy 27th birthday to kottke.org, a site whose fine hypertext products I enjoy every day, and which I am pleased to support with an annual membership. https://mastodon.social/@kottke/114161441986037362

Next week the Renaissance Society of America, the Shakespeare Association of America, and the Medieval Academy of America are all having their annual conferences in Boston simultaneously. I can see the emails coming in to the general reference address from professors who want to stop by while they're here, and it is like watching a tsunami head toward you as you stand on the beach.

Access to the reading room is first come first served so at this point I mostly hope we escape without violence.

Harvard University President Alan Garber announces a faculty and staff hiring freeze citing "substantial financial uncertainties driven by rapidly shifting federal policies." https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2025/financial-stewardship/