Street Books has had a fantastic Summer. In fact, I think the project went so much better than Laura expected that she and her and her co-conspirators (Sue Zalokar, among others) have decided to turn it into a year round project.

One of the things I’m most excited about in the long-term project is converting existing patrons into paid librarians. Totally awesome.

In order to get a start with funding, they’ve started a Kickstarter project:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/streetbooks/street-books-a-bicycle-powered-library-for-people

Check it out!

Also: if you’re in Portland, tonight’s the reception.

Among many other places, she was written up in the Christian Science Monitor and local filmmaker Travis Shields created this short, really lovely documentary on the project.
Go Laura!

Even better, she announced on the Street Books blog that they’ve officially decided to continue past their original end-date (and we three on the home-front are happy to hear that she will have help).

She received a RACC grant for this and the project is generously hosted — while not in motion — at  Mercy Corps just off of Skidmore fountain in downtown Portland. I believe if you go by their office you can see it there.

I’ve really enjoyed the dialogue that’s happened between librarian and patrons so far — and the patrons have seemed very enthused about the possibility of getting books. If you want to see the current book request list, have a look at the Sponsor a Book page.

Street Books bike

Here are a couple of shots of patrons – click on through to read their post on Street Books.

Marvin (only carries the Torah) - I saw a great video of him talking about his bike adventure that Laura will post in the next few days

Elizabeth - chose a Dark Horse book

Dave - took one for his girlfriend too

A couple of videos of Darth and I annoying our subordinates.

I’m going to head down tomorrow to get some pics, but in the meantime here’s one that PDX Writer took.

I wish I got the Object Mobile as a mobile writing studio after it was finished — it’s pretty…but I believe there’s a line.

Laura and I launched the website for her Object Permanence art installation piece that will take place on the Portland State University campus from May 27 – May 29.

It’s a simple site, but I had forgotten how much fun it is to work on a project-based piece rather than a whole website.

The website is here: http://lauramoulton.org Let us know what you think.

Object Permanence is really cool. From Wikipedia’s entry:

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. Without this concept, there is no differentiation between the self and world. Objects would have no separate, permanent existence. This is why Piaget argued that object permanence is one of an infant’s most important accomplishments.

Update: Look you can buy a “Oh my god, what the fuck” pin here:

http://www.callithump.org/page2/page2.html

Also, two roosters we met today, both were grumpy and friendly, all at once.

So what kept us from re-enacting The Shining?

Laura is a master at To-Do lists. This is a sample from one of those mind-numbing days, which within its objectives contains bits of general advice on how to not spread sickness (cough into your elbow!) and what any of the tykes might have said at the moment (scratch my leg, check!). No item is ever too small for these lists, and items already accomplished are gleefully added so that they maybe be pleasurably crossed off the moment they are noted:

Phew.

2009: Bring it on!

Oh Update: Here’s a pic of one of the insane people I live with. I think it gives a new meaning to the word ‘steampunk’

This is a definite improvement over last year when we drank a bit too much, stayed up late and tried to recreate busytown.

This year it was a carrot cake (truthfully, we just didn’t tell him – we all wanted a carrot cake and the idea of carrots in a cake still sounds like putting turnips in a milkshake to him).

It seemed to go over well as it was promptly devoured by a horde of small two-legged creatures.

Anyone know the real name for this and/or play this as well?