Born, like other comic book characters, out of an otherwise trivial but life-changing animal bite, the Rabid Librarian seeks out strange, useless facts, raves about real and perceived injustices, and seeks to meet her greatest challenge of all--her own life.
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Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I'm excited
The book for which I've written a chapter has been submitted to the publisher. The process should still take awhile, with a publication date probably in autumn of 2007. Yay! There were 98 contributors altogether, with two editors, and there are 95 chapters. Whew! It's been a year since I wrote my chapter. This has given me some idea about how publications happen.
Happy birthday to the search giant
Google, which is eight years old. Eight! It seems so much longer. Google transformed how we search the Internet. And yes, I know, it is technically an anniversary, not a birthday, but here's wishing a happy one anyway.
Do you know someone who is particularly dedicated to intellectual freedom?
Nominate him or her for this new award:
Gordon M. Conable Award
http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaawards/conableaward.htm
The Public Library Association's (PLA) new Gordon M. Conable Award will honour a public library staff member, a library trustee, or a public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights.The recipient of the Gordon M. Conable Award must have demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights in various ways, including, but not limited, to the following:
* developed and promoted collections that include diverse points of view;
* provided programs that promote community dialog on controversial issues;
* created and nurtured an organizational climate that fosters an understanding of the Library Bill of Rights amongst the library staff, library board, and elected and appointed officials;
* initiated activities at the local, state, or national level that promote, support, or defend intellectual freedom, the Library Bill of Rights, or the First Amendment;
* guaranteed open access to library materials and services for children and young adults;
* guaranteed open access to electronic information;
* defended library materials, programs, or services when confronted with a censorship challenge.The award consists of a $1,500 check and a commemorative plaque.
Sponsored by LSSI.
For information on other Intellectual Freedom awards, see http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/oifprograms/ifawards/intellectual.htm
More on the Lexington deaths during this weekend's torrential rain
I mentioned the other day that we'd had two deaths due to flooding here in Lexington. Here's more on that: Two women die when swept into a storm drain
One of the women, a nurse, had made it through the standing water when her friend, a pharmacy student, called for help and the former made her way over to the latter. Both women were swept into a storm drain and found dead some distance away.
You usually think of flooding in Kentucky in rural areas (and the death toll in the state has risen to something like 10 for that weekend). But this happened at an intersection that most of us in Lexington pass regularly--it's right by campus and on the busiest road in the city, not far from downtown. The water was about knee deep. The cab the two women were in was turned away from the intersection, and while the police officer was dealing with that, the women, both 25, decided to get out and walk the remaining 100 yards to one's apartment. It was dark, and I've heard that the water seemed still on the top, but had a powerful current underneath. The culvert where the women were swept away had a slippery slope that probably couldn't be seen in the deep water.
Sadly, one of them could have survived if she hadn't gone back to help her friend. But she died trying to save someone; that says a lot about her character. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the two women.
One of the women, a nurse, had made it through the standing water when her friend, a pharmacy student, called for help and the former made her way over to the latter. Both women were swept into a storm drain and found dead some distance away.
You usually think of flooding in Kentucky in rural areas (and the death toll in the state has risen to something like 10 for that weekend). But this happened at an intersection that most of us in Lexington pass regularly--it's right by campus and on the busiest road in the city, not far from downtown. The water was about knee deep. The cab the two women were in was turned away from the intersection, and while the police officer was dealing with that, the women, both 25, decided to get out and walk the remaining 100 yards to one's apartment. It was dark, and I've heard that the water seemed still on the top, but had a powerful current underneath. The culvert where the women were swept away had a slippery slope that probably couldn't be seen in the deep water.
Sadly, one of them could have survived if she hadn't gone back to help her friend. But she died trying to save someone; that says a lot about her character. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the two women.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Menthol cigarettes may be harder to quit
according to a study looking at the differences between menthol and regular cigarettes, those who smoke them, and long-term outcomes for those smokers trying to quit. It has certain racial implications, since more blacks than whites smoke menthol, due to cultural differences and marketing by the big tobacco companies--which may help explain the disparities in diseases that result from smoking among the black community. There was no difference in how dangerous the menthol ones were compared to regular cigarettes, but since they apparently taste better, they may be more difficult to quit.
I don't smoke myself (thankfully, I'm one of two who don't in my immediate family, and we've buried two of them from lung cancer and emphysema respectively). But I do, unfortunately, sell cigarettes as part of my duties as a gas station attendant. A friend is convinced that I will damage my karma by doing so, and he may be right. Certainly anecdotally I've seen that blacks seem to prefer Kools and Newports (both menthol) than say, Marlboro Lights, which mainly seem to be preferred by white smokers. Blacks also overwhelmingly buy cigars and cigarillos. Likewise, Virginia Slims are almost exclusively a women's cigarette, again not surprisingly, due to the marketing of that product.
In a related matter, the suit against the tobacco companies concerning their use of 'light' and 'low-tar'--both of which are designed to make them seem healthier when they aren't--has been given class action status and will proceed. Companies may be forced to retract their claims and change their branding because of it.
I do think ultimately it is the person's decision to smoke. However, the tobacco companies have gone to a lot effort to mislead smokers and market a very addictive and dangerous product and should be held accountable for their actions.
I don't smoke myself (thankfully, I'm one of two who don't in my immediate family, and we've buried two of them from lung cancer and emphysema respectively). But I do, unfortunately, sell cigarettes as part of my duties as a gas station attendant. A friend is convinced that I will damage my karma by doing so, and he may be right. Certainly anecdotally I've seen that blacks seem to prefer Kools and Newports (both menthol) than say, Marlboro Lights, which mainly seem to be preferred by white smokers. Blacks also overwhelmingly buy cigars and cigarillos. Likewise, Virginia Slims are almost exclusively a women's cigarette, again not surprisingly, due to the marketing of that product.
In a related matter, the suit against the tobacco companies concerning their use of 'light' and 'low-tar'--both of which are designed to make them seem healthier when they aren't--has been given class action status and will proceed. Companies may be forced to retract their claims and change their branding because of it.
I do think ultimately it is the person's decision to smoke. However, the tobacco companies have gone to a lot effort to mislead smokers and market a very addictive and dangerous product and should be held accountable for their actions.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
How horrible
Three children were found dead hours after the a woman was charged with killing their mother and her unborn baby. The mother seems to have been knocked unconscious and then the child inside her was cut out of the womb supposedly with a pair of scissors. She was seven months' pregnant. The foetus did not survive.
This was in East St. Louis, Missouri, the same state with the recent case of a mother of a newborn was slashed in the throat and her baby stolen. In that case, the baby has been reunited with her family and a woman has been charged in the attack.
A woman is at a greater risk for being a victim of violence or murder when she is pregnant, although it is usually due to domestic disputes. Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the family dynamics. Apparently it also brings out those obsessed with having a child of their own, or at least the attention of doing so. But I have to admit, I worry occasionally about the girls at work who are pregnant, because frankly there are those lunatics out there who do things like this.
This was in East St. Louis, Missouri, the same state with the recent case of a mother of a newborn was slashed in the throat and her baby stolen. In that case, the baby has been reunited with her family and a woman has been charged in the attack.
A woman is at a greater risk for being a victim of violence or murder when she is pregnant, although it is usually due to domestic disputes. Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the family dynamics. Apparently it also brings out those obsessed with having a child of their own, or at least the attention of doing so. But I have to admit, I worry occasionally about the girls at work who are pregnant, because frankly there are those lunatics out there who do things like this.
Deadly deluge
Seven Die Across Kentucky Due to Heavy Rain, Floods
including two here in Lexington. According to one police officer, there could have easily been more. Two girls were rescued by officers in the Tates Creek area because the officers happened to hear screams. The cops and other emergency workers were pulling extra hours due to the number of calls. I, for one, appreciate all they do, even if I have grumbled the few times I've been pulled over.
including two here in Lexington. According to one police officer, there could have easily been more. Two girls were rescued by officers in the Tates Creek area because the officers happened to hear screams. The cops and other emergency workers were pulling extra hours due to the number of calls. I, for one, appreciate all they do, even if I have grumbled the few times I've been pulled over.
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