Low Energy Thursday, Dinnertime Edition, plus book

[scarlettina]

Mostly what I was feeling today was wiped out. Still feeling low energy, but no actual sickness has manifested. Perhaps I haven't been taking my vitamins. Perhaps I haven't been sleeping well. I'll go to bed earlier tonight than I did last night. If I feel better in the morning, then I'm not going to cancel tomorrow's plans as I did today's.

Received LiveJournal: The First Ten Years in the mail today and read it cover to cover. There's some wonderful stuff in it, and I know I'll be trolling some of the journals and communities included. (Recommended: punk_knitters, t_shirt_surgery, bento, food_porn, the_polaroids--too many to name!) I'm delighted to be included among them. It's an excellent dip-of-the-toe into LJ.

Criticisms? Sure:
1) While the design is very nice, there are places where it's clear the designer had no idea what kind of result he or she would get. Some pages, the contrast between the text and background color is so low it's barely readable. On some pages, the design is so busy it's hard to focus. And on some pages, the text layout is just..backwards, so you end up starting to read in the middle of a piece. But most of the pages are attractive and full of energy. Still...I have to wonder who thought that gray text on a black page was a good idea...or vice versa. Not every page is like that, but there's more than one. One can't help but notice.
2) No title page. Introduction comes before the table of contents. How...odd.
3) No back matter at all--no notes on who the editors were or what LiveJournal itself is--nothing. The book just...ends with no closure, no historical context. It's weird. It's possible that the book is left feeling unfinished because LJ goes on, but it makes for a curious reading experience.
4) It seems as though there were some major omissions, though I suspect everyone will feel a little differently about that. For example, something from ginmar's journal, or opportunitygrrl. They have historic value and yet they're not even mentioned. I'm guessing no one suggested them in the anniversary community, which is a shame.

I still recommend picking up a copy. If LJ's been a part of your life, it's a a nice hard copy souvenir of this online experience.

Comments

[bedii.livejournal.com]

I hate to appear vulgar but there's one short item that ginmar once linked to that was incredibly funny and that I didn't save. Did they have the entry about how the author's cats would use the litterbox and then come wake her up to play? (I'm working hard to keep this one clean, I am.) Because I remember laughing so hard that I thought I'd start crying... The review of "Tales of the Elven Vampire" was exceptional also.

And did they reproduce any of the metaquotes? I made it in there once...

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

They did include metaquotes as a general thing with one example, but it had nothing to do with what you mention here.

[therinth.livejournal.com]

Mine's on the way...i'll be curious to see it. How'd they sign us? Just our lj handles?

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Just our LJ handles.

[ironymaiden]

did they have anything from the guys with the server farm in New Orleans during Katrina? i feel bad that i can't remember the journal name right now, but they were a big deal at the time.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Yep. They included a section about current events reporting on LJ--some really nice stuff there.