Bye Bye Bye

(Oh, look!  I did another boyband reference!)

...to VHS.  That's right, folks.  They're leaving the Uni High Library.

After supervisor Amy emailed staff a couple of times asking them to come save their favorite VHS's, no one replied...no one responded...no one acted.  So, they're going, weeded out of the collection.  We might have typewriters, we might be able to get you a LaserDisc, but we won't have any VHS readily available for the Uni masses anymore.

I do love a good VHS.  To be honest, though, the collection wasn't great.

If there had been some unrequited gems on the shelves, like Hackers to teach computer literacy history or Toy Soldiers to help students learn how to survive a hostile high school takeover by Colombian drug lords, then I would be a bit more disappointed that the teachers didn't act.  This VHS "technology" is just too old school to be cool at this school.  Off to the archives they go.  Alas, I guess it's just another sign o' the times.

(Oh!  And ending with a Prince reference.  Nice one, McFarlane.  Nice one.)

Archival Wonder

As I've mentioned before, I am the grad assistant in the largest high school library in the country.  (Yeah, yeah, I know: awesome sauce for me, and I should stop going on about it!)  Because we are a smaller part of a very large university library, archival work is done here.  Specifically, archival work of Uni objects: lots of newpaper clippings, old photos, items written/produced by Uni alums, etc.  One item that was found a couple of weeks ago is dreamy...super...and tasty.  It's an old cookbook.

Not just ANY old cookbook.  One of THESE old cookbooks:

Yup, that's right, folks.  One of the old style community cookbooks.  I love them.  I love, love, LOVE them.  They tell a story of a time through food.  And the story this old Uni cookbook has is interesting, layered, and well, I'll just say it again: TASTY.

I think the thing I'm most intrigued by is the amount of "ethnic" recipes in the book.  This is testament to the fact that even in the 1960s, when appreciating other cultures was still new to some in this country, Uni was a safe place, an inviting place, for celebrating different heritages and sharing them with others.  In this instance through a school-wide cookbook.

 (Did anyone even know what tofu and lychees were in 1968?)

I think my two favorite recipes have to be "Percolated Coffee" and "Hobo Chocolate."

I also love the descriptions that include "nutritious" and "filling."  These usually pertain to items with a lot of canned goods, which are full of sodium, and using some good ole fashioned ground beef.  Oh, 1968.  I love ya!

One final point: You bet your sweet bippy I'm gonna try some of these out!  Maybe I'll start with this one for cheesecake: