LA Library Cards to be Used to Catalog Citizens?

"Los Angeles City Council committee unanimously approved the proposal from Councilman Richard Alarcon. The ID card would include a resident’s photograph, full name, address, date of birth and details on height, weight, and hair and eye color. The card would not be a driver’s license and could not be used as an ID to board a plane. The card could also be a pre-paid debit card that allows residents to build credit."

Is this what it claims to be, a way to make library cards a bonafide ID or is it just a way to catalog and track unsuspecting citizens?  What is in store for the citizens of Los Angeles as their officials take a free service and make it a database of pictures and numbers?  We will investigate further and report on the next Banned Library Podcast.

Los Angeles' library cards could double as identification, debit cards - 89.3 KPCC (blog):

89.3 KPCC (blog)

Los Angeles' library cards could double as identification, debit cards 89.3 KPCC (blog) Undocumented residents living in the city of Los Angeles could soon have a library card that also acts as identification and a pre-paid debit card. A Los Angeles City Council committee unanimously approved the proposal from Councilman Richard Alarcon. LA libraries to expand hours thanks to voters' funding measureLos Angeles Times L.A. Public Libraries Restore Hours After Voters Rose Against Villaraigosa ...LA Weekly (blog) LA reviews library ID plans todayWhittier Daily News abc7.com -The Republic -Neon Tommy all 285 news articles »

Johnny Depp Doesn't Get to Be This Cool

"Publishing giant HarperCollins is partnering with Depp to create a book imprint, called Infinitum Nihil, which vows to be "authentic, outspoken, and visionary.""

Man, fuck this guy.  I mean, he's an acclaimed actor, probably rich, handsome (I don't care what you ladies say, dudes got a look), and now he gets to be cool with books?  What the hell?  At least Joss Whedon has the nerve to look and act like the nerd he is.  There's a line, people.  Cool kids with guitars over there, nerds and their book stuff over there.  Every once in a while we let a Snookie or basketball player in the game so we can all get a laugh, but that's it.  There's a line!

Johnny Depp to launch a book imprint - USA TODAY:

San Francisco Chronicle

Johnny Depp to launch a book imprint USA TODAY The actor is getting into the publishing business, and his first big title will focus on Bob Dylan. johnny depp book publisher. Johnny Depp appears at a book promotion event for Damien Echols's biography 'Life After Death.' (Photo: Amanda Schwab, AP) ... APNewsBreak: Johnny Depp starting publishing imprint, releasing Bob Dylan ...Washington Post Johnny Depp starting publishing imprint, releasing Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie ...Vancouver Sun Johnny Depp Presents: BooksVulture all 264 news articles »

Stephen King To Be Banned in Rocklin?

"Rocklin High School is considering banning the story collection because of a passage in one of the stories, titled “Apt Pupil,” in which one of the main characters, Todd, rapes a woman. The school took the book off library shelves after a parent objected to the scene. A school committee discussed the complaint and ended by deciding to remove the book from circulation."

The best part of this story are the comments of Amanda Wong (wait for laugh) defending her right to read the book at the school board meeting where she was the only one who had read the book.  Yep, school board thinking about banning a book could not answer to a high school senior because she was above their reading level.  Also, Wong.S

California high school considers a ban on a Stephen King book - Christian Science Monitor:

Christian Science Monitor

California high school considers a ban on a Stephen King book Christian Science Monitor Three other books by King, “Carrie,” “Cujo” and “The Dead Zone,” made the list compiled by the American Library Association of the 100 books most frequently challenged in the U.S. from 1990 to 2000, though none of them made the cut for the list of most ... and more »

If These Books Could Talk, South Dakota Edition

"Visually impaired South Dakotans should soon have access to an expanded selection of local and regional titles in talking-book format.
The South Dakota State Library and the Siouxland Libraries in Sioux Falls recently opened a recording studio in Sioux Falls. Volunteers will produce books in digital format that will be available to South Dakotans who are unable to read standard print."

I applaud this decision.  Using the collective voice of a community to produce talking books, this is an interesting idea.  I just fear what would happen if some teenagers in my community took advantage of this, providing their unique commentary on the books they "read."

"Man, dude keeps saying this word, I'ma get angry." Sammy Felder, 15, reading Huckleberry Finn.

"Who cares about this whiny jerk?  When's the baseball coming?" Tim Melch, 16, reading Catcher in the Rye.

"OMG, Edward.  Team Edward. Team Edward." Mina Gooch, reading Twilight.

"Man, just eat the damn eggs." Ben Traeger, reading Green Eggs and Ham.

SD libraries expanding selection of talking books - KCAU:

SD libraries expanding selection of talking books KCAU Assitant State Librarian Colleen Kirby says the state's Braille and Talking Book Program now has more than 1,500 books that need to be recorded. She says the program depends on volunteers to narrate and prepare books for visually impaired people. and more »

Kafka Moves to Jerusalem, A Pirate Becomes a Ninja

"A Tel Aviv court has ruled that a collection of manuscripts written by Franz Kafka and Max Brod must be transferred to the Israeli National Library in Jerusalem."

I do not have anything really to say about this as long as the items are made available to the public.  I like it when a lawsuit comes together.  Let us now play a game of "What if?"

What if Franz Kafka and Max Brod wrote a big story about a pirate that woke up as a ninja.  The pirate could be named "Poach Roach," and thought ninjas were the lowest form of life form until he woke up as one.  His pirate family tried to justify his existence, but nothing could stop their prejudice against his new ninja ways.   Poor Poach found himself apart from the world, destitute and living on rooftops, a ninja's natural habitat.  Then he stepped on a cockroach and was cool with it.

Court: Kafka scripts to be moved to Israel library - WPEC:

Court: Kafka scripts to be moved to Israel library WPEC The National Library argued that Brod, Kafka's close friend, left the manuscripts to the National Library in his will. Kafka bequeathed his writings to Brod shortly before his own death from tuberculosis in 1924, instructing his friend to burn ... and more »

Amazon, Repent Thy Sins of the Digital Flesh!

"Owners of Amazon.com's Kindle e-readers will receive refunds on past e-book purchases and see e-book prices drop if a judge approves legal settlements with publishers accused of fixing prices, according to the Internet retailer.
Amazon told Kindle owners in emails on Saturday that they could receive a refund of between 30 cents and $1.32 for e-books they bought between April 2010 and May 2012. The books must have been published by three publishers who have agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused them of inflating e-book prices."

Look at who's fancy now, Mr. Download Book Thingie.  All up on your high digital horse, selling them ebooks and stuff.  Maybe now we can all get back to our lives, churning butter and whatnot now that the Man has been informed he can not just do what he pleases and go forth and plunder the gentle reader.  We can only hope these people learn from this and bow down in their overlords, subject to the will of the Server Host and become repentant of the crimes they have committed.  

I have no idea what I am talking about.

Amazon says Kindle users are entitled to e-book refunds - Chicago Tribune:

IBNLive

Amazon says Kindle users are entitled to e-book refunds Chicago Tribune CHICAGO (Reuters) - Owners of Amazon.com's Kindle e-readers will receive refunds on past e-book purchases and see e-book prices drop if a judge approves legal settlements with publishers accused of fixing prices, according to the Internet retailer. Kindle Users To Get Refunds And Lower Prices on E-Books After SettlementAll Things Digital E-book junkie? Amazon may have some money for youCNET You're About to Get Some Money Back on Your Kindle BooksGizmodo Mother Nature Network (blog) all 72 news articles »

Jackson Library Director Resigns, Not a Fit: Conspiracy?

"Former Library Director Bill Johnson resigned from his position, said Madison County Commissioner Jerry Bastin at the commission agenda review meeting Thursday.
Susan Hauer, LSSI managing director of eastern operations, said he resigned in late September because he was not a fit with the Jackson-Madison County Library.
“He decided that the situation there in Jackson and at the Jackson library, it wasn’t a fit for him and the library, so he decided to resign,” Hauer said. “... He decided that it wasn’t working as he had hoped it to.”"

Well, how do you do?  I do not know the specifics, but I think something is going on in Jackson.  Think about it, a library director resigns and it makes headlines?  I smell conspiracy.  Let's follow the evidence.

1)  He resigned because he said he did not "fit."  What also does not "fit?"  Oversized books.  They have special shelves and drawers for them.

2) What kinds of books are generally oversized?  Atlases.  And what do atlases concern?  Lines.

3)  Where do you see the most lines?  That's right, DisneyLand.  Something that also does not "fit" in Mississippi.

There you have it: The Jackson-Madison County Library System is planning on diverting funds from atlas maintenance to build DisneyLand in Mississippi.  All the evidence checks out.  We can only hope Former Director Bill Johnson gets this information to the right people.

Library director resigns from post - Jackson Sun:

Library director resigns from post Jackson Sun Former Library Director Bill Johnson resigned from his position, said Madison County Commissioner Jerry Bastin at the commission agenda review meeting Thursday. Susan Hauer, LSSI managing director of eastern operations, said he resigned in late ...