Firefox 5 on OS X Supports Proper Syriac Connections

(click to make it bigger)

Well, I was pretty surprised when I was working on a bit of Syriac-related tomfoolery when I noticed -- completely caught off-guard, mind -- that Firefox 5 for Mac OS X properly renders Syriac OpenType fonts.

I haven't tested to see if it's also the case with other OpenType fonts with character joinings, but hey that's a step in the right direction!

Peace,
-Steve

Lead Codices - The "Retraction" From BBC

I know that there's been a heck of a lot of Aramaic-related stuff that I haven't blogged about as of late from Syriac question marks and printing presses, the SBL Aramaic Studies session, etc. etc.. This is mostly because I've been devoting most of my "free" (hah..) time to The Biblioblog Reference Library, but since the Lead Codices malarkey has hit the press again I somehow feel obligated to comment. :-)

So here's my comment about this latest development:

The Lead Codices have proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, to be one of the biggest embarrassments to the press pertaining to antiquities that comes to recent memory. This latest article from the BBC, given the entire debacle as it unfolded, is "too little too late." Regardless of that, I seriously commend Kevin Connolly for writing it and only wish he did so sooner after the initial media blitz.

Peace,
-Steve

Biblibal Studies Geeked-Out USB Flash Drives

(Image from Wikipedia)

Jim West had a brilliant idea which has inspired me and I'm off to the craft store for materials to make a mockup.

I Still Think Eisenbrauns Should Sell Customized USB Flash Drives

With some cool cuneiform on them. What would be neater? And they aren’t at all that expensive anymore (unlike in former days of old).What do you think, Eisenbrauns? Is the time right?

Eisenbrauns: Be prepared for some competition on this front as I already have an idea what will take this the "next step" further. ;-)

Peace,
-Steve