links for 2010-02-18

Enough already with this Kevin Smith slob. By now you’ve heard the story: Smith, who is really super fat and obnoxious and arrogant, was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight. He was kicked off because he was fat . . . but the reason we all know about it is because he’s obnoxious and arrogant. Smith has been blogging and tweeting and podcasting about the incident relentlessly, trying to set himself up as the Rosa Parks of fat people.

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens expressed concern about court rulings that give politicians wide leeway in drawing election-district lines, saying it worsens partisan divides in government. Justice Stevens made the remarks in an interview earlier this month, shortly before another prominent ruling on election law in which he was on the losing end. On Jan. 21, he filed a 90-page dissent, joined by three other liberal justices, criticizing the conservative five-justice majority's decision striking down limits on corporate and union political spending.

Decorating with maps is a tradition that dates back to ancient Rome where elaborate regional maps and city plans were laid in mosaic tile. Hundreds of years later, during the Renaissance and the great age of exploration, maps were hotly contested national secrets and were often hidden away. Yet, even then, the decorative value of maps was appreciated. Wealthy Dutch merchants commissioned elaborate wall maps not only to plan their trading exploits, but as decorative symbols of their wealth and power. By the late 19th and early 19th centuries it was common to frame and display maps in homes and offices. Though the collecting of maps diminished significantly in the early 20th century, once again collectors and decorators are appreciating their beautify and craftsmanship.

How can I tell if my antique map is authentic? This is one of the most common questions we are asked. Most people who ask this question are looking for a quick checklist that they can run through to determine authenticity. Unfortunately, authentication is rarely so simple. Most experts and experienced dealers in old maps and prints can identify a fake or reproduction at a glance, leading the uninitiated to assume that authentication is an easy and straight forward process. The facts are far different. The quick glance of a map expert is comparable to a master chef tasting his signature soup. In a single sip he is able to identify which spices are needed to perfect the dish. The chef is able to perform this remarkable feat by accessing a vast and partially subconscious database of experiences and tastes. Much in the same way, the map or print expert is able to instantly assess a variety of factors including printing style, paper type, coloration factors and production