Happy Birthday Edison, Ya Thieving Bastard!

Thomas Edison was born on this day 164 years ago.  The man went down in history as the inventor of a number of notable inventions.  However, we here at Banned Library know the truth.  The man was a genius, no doubt, and hard working to boot.  But he was more of a "perfecter" and "patenter" than "inventor."  We stand full in the corner of Team Tesla on this one.  Edison was a "Wizard" much the same way the "Wizard" of Oz was, a bullshit-artist business man with deep pockets and some fancy gadgets. Of course, that's what gets you rich so take from that what you will.

Check out this post comparing the two.  Its worth the read even though it does favor Edison.

Does 'Parks and Recreation' Stereotype Librarians?

Usually when I do a search in the morning for news on libraries and librarians, I find the usual "Blah Library is Having a Bake Sale" and "Librarian Fired for Eating Child's Hotdog" etc, etc.  Today, it seems all Google News wants to let me in on is the scoop about a "crazy" librarian played by Megan Mullally on "Parks and Recreation."  I am not here to discuss the show.  I have seen a few episodes and found them delightful and worthy of the banner NBC has built for itself.  I just have nothing else to write about today except an alien book thing, but it is on Fox News so who gives a shit.  Seriously, it could be the lost sea scroll that tells Jesus was an alien, the same immortal alien that built the pyramids and I would be all, pshhh Fox News.  So I why don't we talk about this TV show.

Honestly, I am not even here to discuss whether or not 'P&R' hates librarians.  I know they are attempting to make a comedy show about city government and part of that is mocking or characterizing every department therein.  I do not blame them.  What I do blame them for is pushing the stereotype of librarians as drunken sex-crazed deviants who want to do nothing but steal children's hot dogs.  That happened once and I the librarian involved only had a small mention in a local paper.  Why can't we be known as the quiet, conservative people we are, locked away in our shells of oppression?  I miss the days when I could see my co-worker Brenda in Reference wearing a stylish bun and cardigan, not the mini-skirts, thigh-high boots and a low-cut tops that society expects, nay demands, librarians to wear.

Shame on you "P&R."  We are librarians and we demand respect.

Check out a real review by someone who watches the show here.

Sookie Stackhouse No More: True Blood Author Calling It Quits

Dead Until Two Books from now.

Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse books that inspired the TV series True Blood that finally got my girlfriend to stop reading Twilight and read real vampire books but did start a disturbing new twist in our sex life, is calling it quits.  According to Buzzsugar, Harris claims that Sookie has taken over her life and she wants to write something a bit different.

Okay, before anyone hyperventilates, there are more than enough books in that series to keep the TV show going.  Hell, I think they could just start recycling "Real Sex" episodes and no one would notice.  And shame on them for never including Bubba.

If you are after the books, well, sorry.  As goes of Harry Potter, so goes Sookie.  I do not see raging groups of 10-35 year olds trying to burn down that Hogwarts thing at Universal.

Personally, I see the series continuing with a Hooters-esqe restaurant chain like the one from the show.  No one will go there for wings either.

Dewy Decimal Tour: A Fun Way to Take the Job on Vacation

I'm on a boat!

Suzanne Hiott, a librarian in South Carolina, started a "Dewey Decimal Destinations Tour" to education others about her state.  The Tour compromises each of the 10 categories of the DDC, for instance "for the social science section, the Hiotts focused on a visit to the Charleston Harbor where 'tall ships from around the world were coming in,' Capers Hiott narrated" says this article from The Item.  The nearly 700 hundred photographs Hiott took on her trip have been placed on a DVD narrated by her husband.

I think this is an interesting way to take a vacation, albeit with more planning than I  generally put into my time off.  What dewey number would drunken blackouts be attributed to?  Not addiction, I can stop any time I want. 

Audacity of Parenting: Obama Children Not Allowed on Facebook

First Lady Michelle Obama told the Today Show this morning that her children would not be on Facebook any time soon.  I stood up and applauded until I cried like I just saw a baby sparrow leap from the nest and take flight.  Holy crap, an actual parent parenting.  We should put this woman in a glass case or something.

The First Lady went on to say, "I'm not a big fan of young kids having Facebook.  It's not something they need. It's not necessary."


I need to bake this woman a cake.  

Check out the full article and what she said here.

Library Crime: Librarian Alegedly Steals $163,000

Margo Reed, a Yonkers librarian, allegedy stole $163,000 over a six year period while collecting late fees and fines.  According to this article, police say she also altered library records to hide the funds, much like one of those crazy embezzlers from high falootin' movie pictures. 

Now this is a lady that does it right (allegedly)!  Why mess around selling books on Ebay or throwing ketchup everywhere?  This lady wanted to get paid (allegedly)!  Hell, that's enough to put a down payment on a really nice house.  What do you spend that kind of money on?  Damn sure not your taxes.

President William McKinley's Books Set Free!

After nearly a century, the books of President William McKinley will be loosed up on the world.  Although this reviewer has not seen nor really finished any paragraph of any news report about this topic, he envisions horrors beyond belief.  Spells for calling up on eldrich abominations that loom in dimensions of darkness and decay haunt these texts.  Kittens and frogs transplanted in the world, living separately but equally upon lily pads of doom.  Doodles, oh the doodles of hellish configurations in the margins, wispy circular drawings of imaginable death and destruction. 

A more respectful look here.