If We Can't Have Library, No One Will; Library Advocates Propose Book Burning

The local library support group SAFE in Troy, MI has turned the dial to 11 as an announcement was made that if their local library closes they plan on a book burning to celebrate.  

SAFE, Safeguarding American Families, are supporting the proposal of a Michigan tax law that could save local libraries.  The group's signs say that if the proposal fails on August 2, they will start burning books on August 5 when the library closes.  One can only assume that the group misunderstands what the term "safeguarding" means if they go ahead with plans to light a huge bonfire of literature and cookbooks in their neighborhood.  I can only hope the bonfire does not include human sacrifice, wicker man style.  Bonus points if next month I get to write the headline, "Troy Burns When Library Closes" or if they actually start the fire with a copy of the Illiad.

Also "Safeguarding American Families."  Where's the "E" come in?

[Library Journal]

Robert Kennedy's Stuff Might Need a New Home Because of Stuck Up Family

The family of Robert Kennedy is having second thoughts about housing his personal papers and effects at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library because of lack of attention.  The 2,300 boxes of material have been housed at the library for decades, but the family has never signed over control of the materials to the library.  Recently, sixty-three of the boxes are going to be opened for a public exhibit while the family has had the materials appraised by Sotheby's.

I say this with all due respect and deference to a man that often did more in a day than I do in a year: Fuck his family.  Here's three reasons why:


1)  It has been 43 years since the tragedy of his death.  I understand copyright and privacy.  That is all well and good. If my family wants to search through all the digital crap and paper I leave behind, go right on ahead for as long as you want.  Sorry about all the porn, it was a gift.  But if they have the American people store those materials on the public dime for almost half a decade, then that crap is now public property and you the family lose your right to look for the Christmas Card Collection in Box 15,487 whenever the hell you want if Skippy Joe Public had it first.

2) He was a public servant.  At his highest, he was Attorney General and a Senator.  He was a known official of the highest governing body in the land.  Many of those documents pertain to the time he did this service, to the point where many are classified.  That in itself makes them public documents.  Honestly, I do not give a shit what Bill Clinton ate every morning of his presidency, but I love the fact that somewhere there is documentation of each meal.

3)  Some of this stuff is classified.  As Attorney General in the 1960s, Kennedy dealt with some gnarly stuff: Cuba, Civil Rights, Vietnam, the list goes on.  If the family is thinking about selling these materials, what the hell gives them the right to do that?  Sure, they are his family but this is our country's information, our history as seen through on pretty influential dude.  If he had diary entries about his brothers' Jack and Teddy and how they single-handedly swam the Gulf of Mexico and kicked Castro in the junk (my grandpa swore it happened), then that is our nation's history and should not be up for sale.

Shit, when did I get so patriotic?

Oh, and the whole "lack of attention" the family is claiming?  Yeah, bite me.  The library offered to name a wing after RFK if only they would sign the materials over to the library.  The family balked at the offer, saying that a hallway was not enough.  What the hell?  Greedy bastards.  You get president or a couple decades in the same Senate chair you get a building.  At least they did not try to name the kitchen after him.

I am going to hell for that last one, but it made me laugh.  [NYTimes]

Netflix Changes it Up and Batman Does Un-Construction Poster

Netflix has announced the end to its "get movies on your Xbox and one in the mail" unlimited plan, opting instead to separate the two and charge you for both (around $16 for the current $10 plan).  The plan will be enacted September 1st and you should have been contacted by now.

Hit the jump for the new Dark Knight Rises poster that with the inclusion of Bane basically says they will be doing the No Man's Land story arc from the comics.

 [IWatchStuff]

Oh Snap! Penelope Lively Dissin on eBooks, Nerds

What you gonna do, Brother Kindle?!

Prolific author Penelope Lively has stated, well, here's the full quote:

“But as a general way of reading books, no. It seems to me that anyone whose library consists of a Kindle lying on a table is some sort of bloodless nerd.” [Telegraph]

Dude, I think she was talking about us! I am almost offended.  Almost.  I have to admit "bloodless nerd" is a pretty good turn of phrase.

Here's where I take issue, though.  I read a lot of crap.  I went to school for English, read all kinds of great literature from old dusty tomes, and still have shelves of the greatest of literature of all time.  So now I read what I want, what's fun.  But I don't want that crap on my shelf.  So when a cheap, shelf-saving way to get the books that I enjoy comes along I am all about it.  Hell, I have promised to read 100 Banned Books by October 1st (I'm working hard, don't push me), and my library does not stock some of these because, well, they are controversial.  I also don't want Gossip Girl on my shelves.  Again, cheap, shelf saving.  Would I rather curl up with a good book, feel the pages turn, make notes in the margin?  Hell, yes, but I do not need to be reprimanded because I am being fiscally and spatially responsible.

So call me a 'bloodless nerd.'  Just don't call me a Twilight fan.

Last Shuttle Mission Becoming Like Senior Year in High School

Dude, this is the last time we'll crap our pants.

So everyone has heard that last Friday's lunch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis is the last manned space flight for NASA.  And today is the last space walk for NASA.  I am as choked up about this as anyone.  One of my first memories is of a space shuttle.  Sure, it was my birthday and the Challenger disaster, but I get the nostalgia.

But has anyone else started to feel like this is NASA's last day of high school.  "This is the last time we'll launch.  This is the last time we'll space walk.  Aw, man, this is the last time we'll have lunch in space!  Dude, we should totally meet back here in 10 years!"

Hit the jump for a video of the launch.

If Only My Bar Would Do This; Restaurant Bans Kids Under 6

Single people will dread your arrival.

McDain's Restaurant in Pennsylvania has started a new policy that will ban all children under the age of six.  The restaurant's owner, Mike "My Hero" Vuick, states that the rule is made because kids have disturbed other patrons with their loud, uncontrollable behavior. [HuffingtonPost]

At least one of my be-kidded friends said that this was "horrible" and "unconstitutional".  To be fair, another looked at her kid in his Spider-Man jammies yelling and fighting a tree at three in the afternoon, "I get it."  As a librarian, former restaurant employee, and childless dude who likes to drink without little eyes judging me, I fully agree.

In fact, I would like to push this for libraries.  No, not ban kids out right.  I would keep them in their place, the children's department.  You want kids on computers? Put computers where their books and materials are.  You want kids to not read adult materials?  Make'um stick to the area with the kid's books.  You want to use the library for serious means?  Bring a friend to watch your kid in the damn children's department.  

I may have gotten too worked up about this.  I like kids.  Just not while I'm eating, working, researching, playing Angry Birds, breathing, and/or getting my drink on. 

Does Target Have a Bullseye with Google eReader? I'm Clever.

Hit That Shit! 

Superstore Target has partnered with iriver to sell the iriver Story HD, the first ereader that exclusively works with Google Bookstore.  The device will go on sale July 17th at a competitive price. [reuters]

So, here we go again with another ereader.  Kindle, Nook, Sony Thing-a-ma-bob, and now the Story HD.  I know eReader is a fancy way to say it, but why can't a company have some balls?  I want the Amazon BookKiller or the Apple iGlare.  I am all for creativity, but let's stop making up words and have some fun with these things.  Also, I just realized, I have no idea what the hell a "kindle" is.  What the hell kinda word is that and why did I just accept it?

EDIT: I have recently researched "kindle" and found the following:

–verb (used with object)
1. to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2. to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3. to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He kindled their hopes of victory.

So there we have it, Amazon's subtle hint that you should burn all your books.