nybg:

smithsonianmag:

That “Old Book Smell” Is a Mix of Grass and Vanilla

By Colin Schultz

Photo: David Flores

Smell is chemistry, and the chemistry of old books gives your cherished tomes their scent. As a book ages, the chemical compounds used—the glue, the paper, the ink–begin to break down. And, as they do, they release volatile compounds—the source of the smell. A common smell of old books, says the International League for Antiquarian Booksellers, is a hint of vanilla: “Lignin, which is present in all wood-based paper, is closely related to vanillin. As it breaks down, the lignin grants old books that faint vanilla scent.”

A study in 2009 looked into the smell of old books, finding that the complex scent was a mix of “hundreds of so-called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the air from the paper,” says the Telegraph. Here’s how Matija Strlic, the lead scientist behind that study, described the smell of an old book:

A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness, this unmistakable smell is as much a part of the book as its contents.

Ed note: What makes rain smell so good?

For a dedicated bibliophile, that old book smell is almost sustaining. There’s a cloud of it hanging out in the rare book room in our LuEsther T. Mertz Library. Little did we know that revelry is seated in the scent of grass clippings and vanilla beans. —MN

Favorite smell and look - old books

So true

shortformblog:

briancolligan:

brooklynmutt:

The Cleveland man credited with helping free female captives from a house of horrors is a convicted felon whose rap sheet includes three separate domestic violence convictions that resulted in prison terms, court records show.

Cleveland Hero Was A Repeat Domestic Abuser | The Smoking Gun

Of course. This is America. We don’t get to have nice things. 

Check out the comments. Nearly everyone has criticized The Smoking Gun for digging up dirt on the guy. One person put it best: “Once in awhile, people on the internet make me proud. I’m so thrilled that virtually all of the comments on this post point out that this was totally unnecessary.”

But haven’t we forgiven, forgotten the acts of other men… Clinton, Sanford, amomg others?

shortformblog:

The frantic, harrowing audio from the 911 call made by Amanda Berry, one of the three women rescued Monday after a decade in captivity. (via Cleveland Plain Dealer)

How well do we know our neighbors?

dailyoddcompliment:

“Cranky Laugh”

Thanks V for being this person!

Yes!

good:

People Are Awesome: Man Moves in With Parents So a Homeless Family Can Live in His House
- Liz Dwyer wrote in Cities, Generosity and People Are Awesome

“You don’t have to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or Oprah,” to help someone in need says Los Angeles attorney Tony Tolbert. The 51-year-old is certainly walking the talk in a seriously inspiring way. He gave his home—rent free and fully furnished for an entire year—to a homeless family. And he’s moving back in with his parents so he can do it.

Tolbert’s mother, Marie, says when she first heard about her son’s plans, she asked him, “Have you lost it?” But the family has a long tradition of service and extending a helping hand to those in need. Tolbert’s father, Jimmy, who was a prominent entertainment lawyer before getting Alzheimer’s, set an example for his family by always opening a spare bedroom to people who needed a place to stay.

Tolbert reached out to a Los Angeles shelter for help finding a family which led him to Felicia Dukes, a mother of four,  who recently moved into his home. As you can see in the video above, the tears flow when Dukes talks about Tolbert’s generosity. “My heart just fills up,” she says. “I’m just really happy.”

“Kindness creates kindness. Generosity creates generosity. Love creates love,” says Tolbert. “And if we can share some of that and have more stories about people doing nice things for other people and fewer stories about people doing horrible things to other people, that’s a better world.”

Kindness is always in style

missflower:

Seek justice

Did this today with my lovely daughter. Awesome!

Awesome