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Photo 23I am the Chief Architect for the Online Library Environment at the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in this blog are my own, not my employer’s.

Solvitur ambulando: Literally translated it means “it is solved by walking.” I love this phrase, because it can mean so many things. Generally it is interpreted as “the problem is solved by a practical experiment” or else “learn by experience.” That’s how I tend to work and how I tend to learn. But it also works on a more literal level; I frequently come up with solutions to problems I’m facing while I am walking (or biking) somewhere. Hardly surprising, I suppose, given how much time I spend in those activities. I also like Graeme Gibson’s interpretation of the phrase: “personal solutions to the climate change threat can be as simple, practical, and economical as choosing to walk rather than drive.”

Plus, all the cool kids seem to have latin mottos as the titles of their blogs.

Comments

Comment from ginger
Time: June 7, 2007, 7:31 pm

i came upon this phrase by accident about 4 months ago and vibrated to it like crazy. even as a child i would go for a walk when i was troubled. sometimes i just want to start walking and never stop. kind of like forrest gump, i guess. thanks for having it easy to find; i had forgotten how to spell it. i just looked up “latin phrase, it is solved by walking” and there you were. best wishes, ginger

Comment from Liana
Time: May 10, 2008, 10:26 pm

Bess! Have been thinking about reaching long-lost you and M for ages. Jen E. put me on to your twitter site, but I didn’t want to join so I thought I’d try you here, via the link. Any plans for a visit to M’s family *au nord* this summer? Please send an email address for you and/or M! I have updates… Hope you and M and the clover are all hale and hearty. xo

Comment from Jane Hyde
Time: August 8, 2008, 6:24 pm

Isn’t it from Kirkegard (sorry, can’t do the diacriticals)? BTW, I’m STILL listening to “Bess and Harmony” and loving it. Did you continue your music? — J

Comment from Paul
Time: February 6, 2009, 7:12 pm

Hey Bess: We were in Search Bar Camp together in DC. At the time you (or someone from UVA) mentioned an XML search engine for creating and handling large XML documents with lots of nested structure. But I’ve forgotten the name! Sorry to contact you through your blog, but it’s all I could think to do. Cheers – Paul.

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