Communist Manifesto II: The Quickening

Fidel Castro has released a 1,000 page memoir according to Cuban officials.  The document, detailing his life and times as well the rise of Communism in Cuba, is said to be a very enlightening read.

I dunno how to go with this joke: 

1) Fidel Castro can't understand how a capitalist like Steve Jobs will be better remembered with a book than a man who sent a small island paradise into a Communist wasteland.

2) He feels Kim Jong Il stole his communist thunder as World's Craziest Communist.  It hurts to be second best.

Either way, I am not much of a history buff so I can not really comment.  I would love it if a communist diary hit the best seller list, though.  The irony is spectacular.

Fidel Castro unveils 1,000-page memoir

ACLU Steps Up Into Washington Porn Battle, Stirs Nest

The ACLU has sued Wenatchee libraries in Washington state to stop filtering porn on their computers.  This comes after last weeks controversy of a Seattle mother being all waaa waaa over a dude looking at porn in front of her kid while librarians stood back and did nothing but their jobs.  The ACLU has claims that it is unfair that Seattle porn lovers get their freak on in the library rather than the Wenatchee porn lovers, other than, you know, actual issues that matter in terms in civil rights that are going on in this country like internet piracy laws.

ACLU wants Wenatchee libraries to stop filtering public computers - Q13 FOX

I'mma Let You Never Live This Down

Taylor Swift donated 14,000 books to a Nashville library this week.  Insert joke about how Kayne West interupted her donation and wanted to talk about Beyonce's baby.

Taylor Swift donates 14000 books to Nashville library - TheCelebrityCafe.com

London Court Rejects Appeal to Keep Libraries Open

An appeal by campaigners to halt the closure of six Brent area libraries has been rejected by the Supreme Court. 

Just another move by the Man to keep the library system down. 

Brent library closures: Supreme Court rejects appeal bid - BBC News

LoC and French Swap Digital Film Collections

The Library of Congress and the French film archive plan to share digital archives of video footage of each country talking about the other. 

One can only imagine what indecipherable films about America the French will send to us.  Here's a treatment for any french director out there for a future project: A red, white and blue balloon floats through a vineyard, bobbing up and down within the rows of grapevines.  Suddenly a pin flies from the darkness below, but the dull side hits the balloon.  Another pin flies up, but the same reaction.  Then a clown hits the balloon with a fish and announces that "The Mighty has fallen."  The balloon the bounces into a crowd of monkeys dressed in Revolutionary War soldier garb.  The balloon continues bouncing until it lands in the hands of a child dressed as the Statue of Liberty.  The child stares into the camera and pops the balloon.  Fin.

Library of Congress, French film archive swap digitized movies, TV programs ... - Washington Post

This Is Barnes & Sparta!

The retail bookstore Barnes & Noble announced this week that it will not sell books published by Internet giant Amazon.

The brick and mortor store has finally drawn a line in the sand, kicked the messenger down the well if you will.  But did they think about it?  Did the giant make the right move, pissing off an empire that extended their hand in friendship?  I doubt it.  Not only did they just give Amazon exclusivity to their own content, but they also went forward with an idea that people NEED bookstores now-a-days.  One only has to look at the fate of Borders to see that this is not completely true. 

I do salute these brave warriors, though.  A bold move in an ever increasingly violent environment. 

But I really hope the small Mom & Pop bookstores that the larger chain almost put out of business see this as a rally cry.  The little guys can now give exactly what the big stores can not: a personal touch with items they want.

Barnes & Noble won't stock books published by Amazon in stores - Los Angeles Times

Deer Occupy's Library

In a scene not anything like Deer Hunter, a deer crashed through the front window of a Washinton, D.C. library, suprising the hell out of everyone, including itself.  It proceeded to hang around, wild as hell, until local authorities were able to tranqualize and subdue the animal.
I can only assume the deer was attempting to protest deer propaganda in films like Bambi and books like The Yearling where deer are seen as complete wussies that are to be shot.  The deer could not be reached for comment.
Deer Crashes Through DC Library Window - Norwich Bulletin