Rob Walker's Blog, page 42

Mushroom Shaker

Object No. 19 of 50 — Significant Objects v2

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Greg Rowland, here. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.]

I am a mycologist. I study fungi. (I do not study "toadstools" or "fairy rings." These are objects of fantasy, not science. Ask me about "toadstools" or "fairy rings" and I will most surely spit in your eye.)

It is my great misfortune to encounter non-mycologists from time to time. It may seem astonishing...

Upcycling with words

By Brian Dettmer

Significant Objects has many obvious virtues — but is it eco-friendly, too?

In the early days of trying to drum up traffic, I brought our project to the attention of several eco-blog types. Why? Because we figured that in converting near-worthless thrift-store junk into valuable and meaningful objects, our project was in effect upcycling with words.

By Jacqueline Rush Lee

I guess I did a bad job making this case, because none of the eco-bloggers bit, and it beats me why that is...

Pincushion Owl

Object No. 18 of 50 — Significant Objects v2

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Margaret Wertheim, here. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.]

Dr. Irena Svetskaia still found it hard to believe when she looked at the little pincushion owl that something so mundane could be supporting the spacetime matrix. In 2158 it had been discovered that the fabric of spacetime was fraying. Alarmingly so near the great technopolises of Sant-Angeles-Diego a...

Last chance to win an auction before Xmas! (Plus bonus S.O. owner video)

Significant Ownership

Still haven't figured out what to give that Significant Person on your list? Maybe s/he would enjoy Women & Infants Glass With Story By Jeff Turrentine. That auction ends today, so at least you can offer definitive proof that your giftee will eventually get something Significant, even if they're not getting it on Dec. 25. Plus the proceeds to got 826 National, so you'll both feel extra virtuous. Our running total after 12 auctions closed is $467.04, by the way, and...

Happy Holidays from Significant Objects

We'll be back on the 26th! In the meantime, you can still bid on objects — thus raising money for 826 National, and perhaps picking up a never-too-late unique gift for a loved one.

Letters and Numbers Plate

Object No. 17 of 50 — Significant Objects v2

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Joe Lyons, here. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.]

It's true that there are many accounts of fascinating Amish dinnerware, but none is more interesting than Samuel Stoltzfus' Divining Plate, forged in 1881. "Limpy Samuel," his nickname after a disagreement he had with a mule, originally created the plate as a gift for his son, Moses. Samuel meticulously...

Fish Topiary Figurine

Object No. 16 of 50 — Significant Objects v2

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Sam Means, here. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.]

After the death of his older brother, Yuri III, in 1328, Ivan I of Moscow took up the throne of the Russian Empire, as well as residence in the royal palace. Yuri had been a well-known lover of aquatic life, and Ivan found that the private quarters of the palace were home to a staggering array of fish, some...

Painted Lady Figure

Object No. 15 of 50 — Significant Objects v2

[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Shelagh Power-Chopra, here. Significant Objects will donate the proceeds of this auction to 826 National.]

Annie won the doll after a giddy round of skee ball. A stooped man behind the dirty balls handed her the doll and she pushed it into my hand as she rambled over to the tilt-a-whirl with her brother. I held it by its feathered boa at arm's length as if getting any closer would have induced a pox...

Charity effects

Probably you already know this, but it's not a bad idea to remind everyone that proceeds from Significant Objects v2 will go to 826 National. We recently decided we need to add some kind of running total box to the site to keep tabs on how your S.O. purchases are adding up for our ultimate donation, and we'll likely do that after the holidays. So far, the ten auctions that have closed have raked in $361.54.

That means that, so far, we're getting a slightly higher average than in S.O. v1. We...

S.O. on NPR

All Things Considered hangs out with Josh: Check it out here.

And should any NPR listeners find their way here as a result, welcome to the site, there is more about the project here. We're currently in Volume 2 of the project, and proceeds from this batch of 50 Significant Object auctions go to 826 National, a nonprofit that tutors youth in creative and expository writing. Get yourself an object and help a good cause, here. We'll be posting new stories and objects every weekday (with some...