Diamonds in the rough
February 11, 2025 10:13 PM Subscribe
79 envelope liners for your viewing pleasure (via Bluesky).
The envelope photos somehow reminded me of Donald and Jill C. Knuth’s surprisingly large collection of photos of diamond road signs, which I don’t believe has made it to MF before.
Do ducks in some parts carry there possessions in a bindle whilst crossing?
posted by eddieddieddie at 12:31 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
posted by eddieddieddie at 12:31 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
I mean they don't have pockets.
posted by Literaryhero at 4:06 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 4:06 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
I have never met Knuth nor had reason to read his programming books but I suspect he is the kind of weirdo I aspire to be.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:42 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:42 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
I've seen the envelope liners somewhere on the blue here before... it was just from another time, and search querying in the general region only reminded me that 2014 was one the best years for beer, ever.
Good to see the liners again though! It's amazing when you put them together like that.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 4:52 AM on February 12
Good to see the liners again though! It's amazing when you put them together like that.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 4:52 AM on February 12
Why are they so torn? Doesn't anyone use letter openers anymore?
posted by mittens at 5:32 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
posted by mittens at 5:32 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
Is this activity akin to heritage seed preservation or late civilization pathology
posted by ginger.beef at 5:40 AM on February 12
posted by ginger.beef at 5:40 AM on February 12
Untitled-18 is my favorite. After a while, I started just paying attention to the shapes of the cut outs for viewing the address. Some single rectangles, some double, some cut together as a hexagon. Are there mailing regulations for how one types an address? (Like, does it have to be a block of straight lines?)
posted by klausman at 6:24 AM on February 12
posted by klausman at 6:24 AM on February 12
> I have never met Knuth nor had reason to read his programming books but I suspect he is the kind of weirdo I aspire to be.
I have met Knuth, and read his programming books, and he is the kind of weirdo that others can only aspire to be.
posted by automatronic at 6:45 AM on February 12 [6 favorites]
I have met Knuth, and read his programming books, and he is the kind of weirdo that others can only aspire to be.
posted by automatronic at 6:45 AM on February 12 [6 favorites]
Is it ... a dolphin? I've never been able to do these Magic Eye things.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:23 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
posted by hydrophonic at 7:23 AM on February 12 [3 favorites]
The collection per se isn't interesting to me, but it caused me to actually see those patterns and realize that someone at some point in time worked on that. They created that design and moved on with their day/week/life and their work still exists.
Decades ago I was walking past a rail yard being torn up and saw a block of concrete with rebar sticking out of it and I remember stopping and staring at it. Someone had done that as part of their day. Then it stayed there being useful for who knows how long, and now it was being torn out.
I felt like I had some connection to that unknown person in seeing their work. It made me feel good, but sad. I feel the same way looking at these envelopes.
posted by Ickster at 8:32 AM on February 12 [2 favorites]
Decades ago I was walking past a rail yard being torn up and saw a block of concrete with rebar sticking out of it and I remember stopping and staring at it. Someone had done that as part of their day. Then it stayed there being useful for who knows how long, and now it was being torn out.
I felt like I had some connection to that unknown person in seeing their work. It made me feel good, but sad. I feel the same way looking at these envelopes.
posted by Ickster at 8:32 AM on February 12 [2 favorites]
I think my feelings are similar to what I felt about this post, but these being done by anonymous artists gives it a different frisson.
posted by Ickster at 8:36 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
posted by Ickster at 8:36 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
The liners leave me kind of uninspired, but Knuth’s road signs are fun. Funny how many of them can be seen as … adult … if you have a mind that turns that way.
A worthy post. Thanks.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 9:03 AM on February 12
A worthy post. Thanks.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 9:03 AM on February 12
Cool, I'm always looking for patterns to scan into graphics programs. Often much better than using the preset ones that come with the software. Yes yes, copyright, etc...
posted by Rykey at 9:53 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
posted by Rykey at 9:53 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]
Yeah some of those would make nice dithering algorithms or brush patterns etc.
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:38 PM on February 12
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:38 PM on February 12
I've seen the envelope liners somewhere on the blue here before…Were you in fact thinking of this post called "Snail Mail Security"?
posted by cardioid at 2:11 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]
i have a friend - an artist - who collects these. i will have to share this with her!
posted by lapolla at 6:53 PM on February 12
posted by lapolla at 6:53 PM on February 12
Cardioid: that’s the one I think! 2 years ago only? Wow
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:29 PM on February 12
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:29 PM on February 12
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posted by BobTheScientist at 11:44 PM on February 11 [3 favorites]