"I used a page from my notebook to make a simplified timeline based on the summary at the back of the Authoritative History. On the left of the page, I listed dates and developments in the history of Junitaki-cho and on the right the major events in the history of Japan in the same period. …

"For example, in 1905 Port Arthur fell and the Ainu youth’s son was killed in the war. And if my memory served me correctly, that was also the year the Sheep Professor was born. Incrementally, history linked up."

(The picture above is actually an excell spreadsheet file. Leave me a note if you are interested to see the whole file.) 

a wild sheep chase | Murakami | timeline

I got my NYPL card in the mail today.

I was excited about it. I applied online last week. It was said in the email that I will get it in 2 weeks. I am not in a hurry, so it’s not a big problem when I will get it. But to get it within a week really make me quite happy.

What is a NYPL card? It’s New York Public Library card.

I used to go to school’s library. And actually the school library has better collection than public library. But since I am out of school for ‘a while’, I couldn’t go there any more. So I checked out the NYPL at 5th avenue and 37th street and applied the library card online.

A while ago, New York Times had an article talking about NYPL’s effort on digitizing its collection. A lot of photos and pictures were digitized and made accessible and searchable online. I checked the website out, it is amazing.

I’ve been to 2 local libraries in my neighbourhood. They are both nice buildings and at unbelievablely nice location. One is at the corner of St. Mark street and 2nd avenue. The other is on 9th street between avenue A and B, facing Tompson square park. Both are small libraries with limited book and video colleciton. I remembered they were both out of the books I was looking for when I went there.

I like libraries. They are like secret alleyes hidden in the city.