[Air-L] exporting an even older technology

Barry Wellman wellman at chass.utoronto.ca
Thu Aug 30 18:05:47 PDT 2007


I am now exporting to the third world an even older technology than PCS,
one that is also subject to insects and moisture, but may have a longer shelf life:
BOOKS!

I'm consolidating offices, and after 40 years of being a prof., I have 50
cartons of books to give away. Turns out, University of Toronto library
doesn't want them. Books are so twentieth century!

But Vietnam's universities do!
And are willing to pay for shipping.
As I moved to Canada to be a prof. in 1967, that the books will end up in
Vietnam is a happy circumstance.

Hey, hey, LBJ -- how many books did you burn today?

The discussion on this list by Denise, etc strikes a note, as my student
just returned from three happy months in rural eastern Ghana. She
got to use a computer by bicyling over to the nearby hotel. And her school
built a website, even though they don't have a PC. (BTW, she reports that
Paris Hilton is the best known American in her area.)

 Barry Wellman

PS: In case you're wondering, consolidating offices, but certainly not
retiring.

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  S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC              NetLab Director
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