random musings from a serialist
Girlyman responds to the Gr
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that Ahnold called the Democratic California legislators “girlie men” at a political rally last weekend. Well, the acoustic folk-pop trio Girlyman have written an open-letter response to the Gr
Yeah, we know he’s no Howard, but look at the alternative.
Essayist Alan Blevins is hoping to persuade people like myself and others not enchanted by Kerry to vote for him in November by admitting that, indeed, he is a bit of a dork. He has plans for five essays, with the first two already written. I read the first one, and although his reasoning is well articulated, he could use a bit more in the research department. His second essay is a bit better about providing links to sources, although many of the news sources are from the so-called liberal press (no Fox News citations here). Good luck to him, but I think he’ll mostly be preaching to the choir.
I’m voting for Kerry, only because he’s the most likely of the Anybody But Bush crowd to get enough of the popular vote to win. I’m still a Deaniac progressive Democrat at heart, and it kills me that yet again I have to vote for a moderate, sluggish politician.
I voted today.
I voted this morning in the special election for Kentucky’s 6th district Congressional Representative. I hope that there is a good turnout both here and in Wisconsin, where they are voting in the Democrat primary. I hate that the leaders of this nation are usually decided by a minority of citizens.
My reaction to Clark Atlanta University closing their library science program.
According to a posting on LISNews.com, Clark Atlanta University is closing their LIS program (along with four other programs) due to budget problems. I nearly applied to Clark Atlanta when I was shopping around for library schools. I’ve never lived in Atlanta, so that was one of the appealing factors. When I told my parents my top five list of schools, they were shocked that Clark Atlanta was on it. That was the first I had ever heard that this school is one of the historically black schools. That shouldn’t have made a difference in my choices, but for some reason, it did.
In college, I spent two months in a West African country as a part of my studies; so I was already familiar with what it is like to live in an area where I am a racial minority. However, I have since discovered that the things that set me apart from my Ghanaian friends were not so much race as culture. I am a North American from the Midwest and they are West Africans. Here in the U.S., the differences in culture are less and it becomes more about race. I realized that I was afraid to go to a school where most of the students are black. I was afraid that I would be rejected and excluded socially because I am hopelessly not black. And that, my friends, is a stupid reason to cross an institution off of your list of graduate school possibilities.
The closing of the LIS program at Clark Atlanta concerns me. The library profession in the U.S. is, for the most part, overwhelmingly white. If I was uncomfortable with going to a school where I could possibly be the only person of my race, I can only imagine what minority students considering librarianship must be feeling like. At least Clark Atlanta University’s program offered black students an opportunity to attend a graduate LIS program where they would not be a minority.
There are two things that I see happening as a result of this closure:
Frankly, I hope it’s #2.
Please feel free to correct any misconceptions expressed in this entry. I know very little specifically about Clark Atlanta University, it’s now defunct LIS program, or the position of black librarians in the profession beyond my limited experience. All comments expressed in this entry are a reaction to the news item read on LISNews.com and are not researched. If any offence is taken, please remember that none is intended. I welcome all opportunities for enlightenment.
Satan … er … Fred Phelps is at it again.
Satan … er … Fred Phelps is at it again. This time he wants to put a religious gay-bashing monument in Casper, Wyoming. Casper is the hometown of Matthew Shepard, a gay man who was brutally murdered because he was gay. Phelps and his crew of devils church members crudely protested at Shepard’s funeral, among other vicious and un-Christian acts of hate. [thanks aw]
“Nothing has so occupied and mysteriously seized the imagination of the world media to compare with Matt Shepard,” Phelps said. “It is a phenomenon. It all comes back to Casper, Wyoming. That is his home, that is where he was born, where that church is, where those institutions … conspired in a confluence of evil resulting in a Zeitgeist that is extraordinarily evil.
“He (Shepard) was not a hero,” Phelps added. “This is a great monster sin against God. It is not an innocent alternate lifestyle. And all that has come down in that one little evil town called Casper, Wyoming. And we can’t ignore that.”
I received this amusing forward in my email this morning: NEW YORK (Aug. 14) – A huge power blackout hit U.S. cities spreading from New York to Cleveland and Detroit and north into Canada Thursday afternoon. In New York City, the blackout had a significant effect on the public library. None of the Internet terminals … Continue reading “dark enough for you?”
I received this amusing forward in my email this morning:
NEW YORK (Aug. 14) – A huge power blackout hit U.S. cities spreading from New York to Cleveland and Detroit and north into Canada Thursday afternoon. In New York City, the blackout had a significant effect on the public library. None of the Internet terminals or other computers in the New York Library system were functioning, but the novels and non-fiction books somehow remained operational, according to patrons on the scene. Older reference librarians were able to switch to print sources in order to maintain services, preventing any disruption. Seekers of pornography crowded the reference desks asking for help and were referred to a list of bawdy novels and assorted men’s magazines.
Wil Wheaton has a weblog. He started it a few years ago after creating his first website to remind the world that he does still exist and isn’t just a washed-up former child actor. He’s 30 years old, married, and has some kids. Most importantly, he wants the world to know that he’s more than … Continue reading “wil wheaton dot net”
Wil Wheaton has a weblog. He started it a few years ago after creating his first website to remind the world that he does still exist and isn’t just a washed-up former child actor. He’s 30 years old, married, and has some kids. Most importantly, he wants the world to know that he’s more than just some “space-suited, enterprising young ensign” or a “sweet, vulnerable little dead body seeker.” Right now, I’m reading it just because I can’t believe he would actually learn web design and coding and create his own website, and it is kind of fascinating.
(7/2/03) I just realized I never published this entry… oops. Mike Bryan wants Bush to attack Appalachia. “So Mr. President, you have all the elements you need: weapons of mass destruction, a nearly third world enemy, potential terrorists, someone to call evil, and an easy path to victory. Now all you have to do is … Continue reading “forgotten entry”
(7/2/03) I just realized I never published this entry… oops.
“So Mr. President, you have all the elements you need: weapons of mass destruction, a nearly third world enemy, potential terrorists, someone to call evil, and an easy path to victory. Now all you have to do is attack. And please, do it soon. We need the reparations, better schools, better infrastructure, universal healthcare, and a fair share in the wealth of our own resources.”
It’s been pouring rain all afternoon, but now that it’s time to go, it has stopped. Good thing, too, since I didn’t bring my umbrella or rain jacket today. Several interesting things came across my email and web searches. No real connection between them other than they caught my attention. Purdue Libraries hosted five Russian … Continue reading “rain rain go away”
It’s been pouring rain all afternoon, but now that it’s time to go, it has stopped. Good thing, too, since I didn’t bring my umbrella or rain jacket today. Several interesting things came across my email and web searches. No real connection between them other than they caught my attention.
This week, an American peace activist was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer when she tried to stop them from destroying Palestinian homes in Gaza. Today at her memorial service, Israeli armored vehicles attempted to break up the peaceful mourners with tear gas and grenades. Sick and wrong.
Want to learn Welsh but having trouble? Try this illustrated dictionary, intended for those learning Welsh as a second language.
I refused to watch or listen to further lies coming from the mouth of the Shrubbery last night, so I put on a favorite old CD and snacked on some Thin Mints instead. I’m so frustrated with this impending war and the current administration’s ineptitude in being unable to solve their problems without being gun … Continue reading “truth from the shrubbery”
I refused to watch or listen to further lies coming from the mouth of the Shrubbery last night, so I put on a favorite old CD and snacked on some Thin Mints instead. I’m so frustrated with this impending war and the current administration’s ineptitude in being unable to solve their problems without being gun slinging cowboys itching for a fight to take the American public’s minds off of the real problems. Thank God for Michael Moore! But, enough of my soap box.
I recently re-connected with an old friend over email. You should check her out – she’s a wonderful up-and-coming musician from the DC area. You can listen to some sound clips of her music at CDBaby.com (the best online music store for independent musicians, btw).
If you are looking for a great read, I recommend Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. I’m still reading it, but so far I’ve been very impressed.
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