Research Then and Now

I remember scouring a musty library to search for a book two decades ago. One book, because that was the only reliable source available. I took a two-hours bus from my uni and reached the library ten minutes before three o’clock. They denied my entry because three o’clock was closing time.

I didn’t have another day because it was the earliest I could escape from my lectures, so I begged for kindness from the sadistic, grinning librarian to let me in for just that ten minutes. She eventually agreed and told me the register would be closed at three sharp. (Yeah, I get that I am the one wrong here for my inability to reach earlier, but you should see the satisfied widest grin she had while I was catching my breath after running from the bus stop and climbing three flights of stairs).

I was a top sprinter in uni, and oh, trust me I really sprinted (as quiet as possible, of course), and tried to squint at the row of books. There was some library coding that would help, but not with the time frame I had. So yeah, I didn’t get the book or only had another chance to go back to the library very close to my paper’s deadline.

So, despite being driven mad by modern technology sometimes, I like it; I need it. The need is not the fun part, as I have seen people from the older generation struggle to keep up, as in some places we are required to install a plethora of apps in order to keep up with society, but that is the rant for another day.

Because of technology, knowledge is practically within reach. If we want to know about something, learn something, or engage in educative discussions, it’s easier than ever now. In fact, it’s so easy that it’s difficult to differentiate which information is fake, so we need to take it with more than a grain of salt to research something, but if you are critical enough, they are out there.

By looking at someone’s browsing history, I think it wouldn’t be hard to draw a good number of conclusions about that said person unless it’s the browsing history for writers or curious people who love to read about random knowledge. What kind of drug is suitable to paralyze someone but not kill them? What kind of stab wound looks convincingly fatal but gives the protagonist a chance to escape? What kind of fictional biomedical advancement is believable? Is cryonics a scam or an opportunity? Etc etc.

It would be fun when someone looks at that browser history and tries to create a profile.

Just a random thought, after I realize the number of tabs I had about stab wounds the other day. Nothing to see here.

The Age of Discovery: The Travels and Adventures of Marco Polo Throughout China and the Mongol Empire, Volume I (Joe Lee Roger)

I think this is the most entertaining history book I have ever read. The book follows the journey of Marco Polo, but instead of boring recalling of the trips, it includes fun snippets, exciting information about the culture of places he visited, how he viewed them, and the precious, here and there—a little bit, not too much—author's commentaries that are both funny and sarcastic. The comparison of the modern-day in the language at that time at the end of the book is also a gem. 

 The journey went along places/cultures that I know a little bit of history of, or quite familiar with the modern setting, or some tales were so bizarre that I did a little reading about them here and there. I googled what argali looks like, and I read about Dragoian Pidie. In my little hometown, there was a famous TV series told from the point of view of conquered Genghis Khan's area. I didn't know its history, significance, and accuracy until I was older, thinking it was just some entertaining tale, so it was fun to read it from things beyond my knowledge from an explorer's observation. 

I can't help but imagine myself doing that, going somewhere blindly, unsure about who and what you are going to encounter; after all, there are no social media, Google, or digital maps to guide you. I am old enough to experience navigating by asking, looking at natural landmarks, and using paper maps and ancient compasses. Still, I knew what to expect with little chance of meeting cannibal tribes, spouses for rent, or unknown 'supernatural' natural phenomena. 

Overall, it was a great read. Plus point, I am also pleased that Marco Polo sort of confirmed my lifelong suspicion that rhinoceros are fat unicorns. 

 5 100% alfresco priests out of 5 goriest research field trips.