Brightest Young Things

As of a few days a go, DC's favorite research resource (Library of Congress, kids) has established a flickr account of their uncopyrighted photos.

According to LoC's blog (you know times-are-a-changing when the Library of Congress even has a blog):

The project is beginning somewhat modestly, but we hope to learn a lot from it. Out of some 14 million prints, photographs and other visual materials at the Library of Congress, more than 3,000 photos from two of our most popular collections will be included.....

and is expected to:

The real magic comes when the power of the Flickr community takes over. We want people to tag, comment and make notes on the images, just like any other Flickr photo, which will benefit not only the community but also the collections themselves. For instance, many photos are missing key caption information such as where the photo was taken and who is pictured. If such information is collected via Flickr members, it can potentially enhance the quality of the bibliographic records for the images.....

what else does this mean:

I have spent 2 hours yesterday just casually browsing through the archives and the fact that such a resource is right now, literally, at your fingertips is AMAZING. Whether you're actually looking for something or don't even know there is something to look for, it is hands and feet down the best place to get lost in online this week.
Go and enjoy.

a random sampling:

This girl in a glass house is putting finishing touches on the bombardier nose section of a B-17F navy bomber, Long Beach, Calif. She's one of many capable women workers in the Douglas Aircraft Company plant. Better known as the "Flying Fortress," the B-1

Unidentified stacks of home-canned food (LOC)

Worker at carbon black plant, Sunray, Texas (LOC)

Japanese-American camp, war emergency evacuation, [Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, Calif.] (LOC)

Blind athelets at Overbrook, Pa. (LOC)

and that is just the tip of the (glorious) iceberg:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/

Previously in Misc/Awesome:

• 12/28: Terrible Boyfriend/ Girlfriend Generator.
• 12/1: The John Waters Advent Calendar-it starts today
• 11/28: It Chooses You: All I Want for Christmas is Everything from Miranda July's Pop-Up Shop
• 11/3: Things I'd Move to Minnesota For
• 9/6: PHOTOS: Maloof $$ Money Cup
• 9/2: PHOTOS: Chantilly Model Train Show
• 9/1: Libby's List: 5 Things I Want Right Now...
• 8/22: PHOTOS: Best Friends Day
• 8/10: PHOTOS: Lawn Mover Racing, Eastern Seaboard Regionals @ Bowles Farm
• 7/26: Special List: Things the BYGays Want Now That We Can Marry In DC (and NY!)