A fascinating monstrosity has appeared at the VPL this week. The lights flash and everything.

The facilities co-ordinator says it's just a source of revenue for the library, like the job fairs and information booths that pop up now and then in the same spot. She also says some people thought it was a gaming machine they could interact with to make something free pop out.

She asked if I was disturbed by it. Mostly I'm just baffled by how odd it is. At first I thought it was a 3-D installation. "Must be some artist being ironic." I said to myself.

Nope. Just a money-maker.