I've been neglecting the Almanac as I have been trying to work out some of my tangled thoughts and feelings about Wikipedia, encyclopedias and libraries. And so I present:

13 Ways of Looking at Wikipedia, Encyclopedias and Libraries:

1. A standing army is waiting for orders
2. Wikipedia is to Britannica as American Idol is to the Juilliard School
3. The Song of the Darnedest Stuff
4. Because Britannica Doesn't Recognize You
5. Do mere mortals buy encyclopedias?
6. Are there encyclopedias that scholars use?
7. Encyclopedias down the rabbit hole
8. The closest reference book on the digital shelf
9. There is no point not having a point of view
10. Many hands make crappy work
11. One search box to unite them all
12. Wikipedia is War
    
13. Why do we keep buying print encyclopedias?