(no subject)

[lwoodbloo]

So, cool shit happened yesterday/today.

I wrote to one of my favorite authors, a gent named Michael Coe. Coe's a senior prof at Yale in Anthropology/Archaeology, in the Maya area. He's written some magnificent books that aren't just for academics, but for people who're just interested in the subjects.

I sent him

Dr. Coe,

I've just finished your book about the Maya glyph decipherment (this is my
third go round with it) and it's just as good and fresh of a story as it was
the first time. I also own copies of your text about Mexico and the Maya.

Dr. Coe, even though I'm no longer actively interested in the discipline, I
find I return to your books, not just as scholarly works, but because they
work as interesting books. Whenever anyone asks me about mexico and the
Maya, I refer them to your works.

I guess I just wanted to write in thanks. You're not the average academic
who's writing for an academic audience. Thank you.

Matt



He responded, today, with

Thanks, Matthew. Letters like yours help me to continue writing books for a general audience. Now you have to read my book on Angkor!

By the way, there's a new edition of the glyph book coming out in February. It will be in paperback.

Best,

Mike Coe



Rock.

Hey peterpumpkin, does this ever happen to you?

Comments

[peterthesoso.livejournal.com]

ROCK ON!!

Yeah, I sometimes get academic fan mail. It feels great. I'm sure he really appreciated it!

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

I like to think so. I think you and I both know how rare it is to find an academic that can write in everyday english. Coe manages to communicate complicated concepts, like the difference between alphabetic, syllabic, and logographic scripts in language people can understand with very little effort. That, and he draws the most stunning word pictures of Mexico.

Can't wait to try and find his book on Angkor.

[peterthesoso.livejournal.com]

Oh, did you mean to post your name?

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

I think everyone knows it at this point. And if they don't, I mean, it's just my first. Call me matt, if you please. :-)

[peterthesoso.livejournal.com]

Okay, but it's fun to pretend your name is "Lwood" or "Mr. Bloo" so I may do that sometimes too, if you don't mind. ;-)

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

Feel free, Doc.

[smutprincess.livejournal.com]

it actually says your whole long name with your middle initial and everything baby. just so you know.
i'm going to come stalk you now.

[scriptgirl.livejournal.com]

So cool! :)

[the-twilek.livejournal.com]

cool! ur so lucky. once i was convinced that this guy that kept hanging out at a restaurant in my neighborhood was Al Pacino, but he wasnt.

[aliasa.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I recently was shown Mayan numbers: how to pronounce and how the numbers looked. Though I think most of it has escaped my brain now.

Still recovering from the flu.

[lwoodbloo.livejournal.com]

You learned something about the long count? That's purty cool, A.

[smutprincess.livejournal.com]

well i think I'll have to read his book on angkor then.
that's what i'm all in love with.