Via Slashdot, I saw that the British Library has an online exhibit of some amazing works of literature, including manuscripts in the authors’ original hand, like Leonardo DaVinci, and Lewis Carroll. There are flash and non-flash interfaces, to serve users of varying bandwidths and preferences, and the images are simply amazing.
This is one of the greatest advantages of living in these times: I would almost certainly never get a chance to see any of these works in person, but The Internets bring them right into my home.
If you like this exhibit, you’ll probably like WikiSource and Project Gutenberg too.
Sorry to see that you still in exile but glad that you are still ‘here’ in one form or another. As well as the British Library, look up the Mitchell Library based in Glasgow, one of the largest databases in europe.
a parting thought, as well as guiness, take a look at CAMRA, campaign for real ale.
Cheers, Lachlan
Hi Wil,
No comments specific to anything you wrote. Just wanted to thank you for continuing to post while you’re in exile. I’m still reading and I’ll keep visiting here from time to time until you’re air lifted out š
-And OMG, how CUTE were you in that picture! š
Hi Wil, just wanted to say I watched your presentation from PMCmovies.com. I wanted to say that your presentation was insightful, funny and very brave. Its not often that people can be public with their personal demons and mistakes. Its very moving that you have been able to put your personal demons to rest and put a positive spin on things. As you have come to realize, life is a funny thing. You are a better person to have gone through some hard times, I don’t mean this in a negative way. You know what life is really all about. Personal stuggles, family struggles and choices. Seriously, think about it, and I know you probably hate this mode of thinking, but most actors who became famous very young, often end up doing terrible things to themselves because of the pressure, and loss of being the ‘item’. You have found your niche, your thing to do in life. You have a passion for writing, and you obviously still love movies and shows and everything to do with them. You could foster your writing skills into scripts even. You know, and I am sure you have, thinking about your life now. You often credit your wife for understanding you, and knowing how to see through you. Well man, say you did make it huge in movies like you had hoped, do you think you would have been as happy as you are now with your family? Or, maybe you would be another tabloid speculation with breakup after breakup? heh, this is turning into a rant, and its not. I am pretty much your age, and grew up watching star trek amoung other shows. Regardless of what life has delt you, know this. You won, really, you won. You won early in life. You took a step back and said hey, lets fix these issues now. Now you are starting to be your real self and enjoying life for what it is.
I really enjoyed your story about seperating the Wesley from the Wil. Most actors won’t admit, but I believe a lot of an actor is in a character. Maybe I am wrong, but often you can see right through to the person.
Anyway Wil, good luck with your writing, I look forward to reading more of your work!
Joel
Hi Wil,
This is my first time posting and I hope you will for give me for being somewhat off topic. I just wanted to let you know that some folks are having some fun at the expense of you and your fellow cast-mates at ST:TNG. But it is hilarious!
http://geekculture.com/joyoftech/index.html
Gotta say, do you really look this good naked? Please see the good humor in this, AND GO WATCH THIS FINE MOVIE!!!!
That is a great link thanks! Also I’m very happy to find out your still blogging while in exile. Again thanks. š
love
The bibliophile in me is in heaven!
That’s an amazing link. Thanks for the info!
Sonja
I was just in London in March, and this was one of the places I absolutely had to go. It was really awe inspiring, to say the least, to look at these amazing pieces of history.
The room is very dark, and there are audio commentaries for several of the pieces.
The room isn’t very big, and it took us less than an hour to walk around it, but as it’s free (well, there’s a big plexiglass box for donations), it was well worth it. š
Hey Wil
sent you some info on this before, but i believe it happened in the process of being driven into exile, so, let me try again
We are the American Public School Endowments, out of Lafayette, LA..we are working on rebuilding schools destroyed in the hurricanes. we have gotten lots of donations and written statements of support from writers, including lords of geekdom like Cory Doctorow and Larry Niven..we are asking you to join them with a written statement of support..it might not be getting your manuscript in the british museum, but it is still darn fine company, and a good cause.
we are, of course, a 501c3 nonprofit, and we are listed on guidestar..100% of the donations received through the website will be going to rebuild schools
for more info on us, go to http://www.apse.us
to see the author statements (i particularly reccomend philip ridley)
http://www.booksxyz.com/donations.php
Thanks, Wil for sharing this with us! This is so great! The original copy can be preserved while we peruse the digital one. Love Leonardo’s drawings. Now if I can only read his handwriting…oh wait, I need a mirror.
Working at a library, I always cringed when we had to pull a 100+ year old book out of our closed shelves for a patron to use. Of course, we lost a lot of those old books and maps when our library was hit with a freak flash flood last Oct. Go figure. Too bad we didn’t have the $$$ to digitize the books and maps.
On a side note. Thanks for putting up this “exile” blog! WWdN is not “broken,” it’s just taking a “vacation” for a makeover.
We made it to London for our first anniversary, and wound up spending an alarming amount of our weekend in the National Library looking at their amazing collection. (What geeks do on vacations, I guess… *g*)