An essay from Utne Magazine regarding the public library's struggle in the age of the internet. http://www.utne.com/pub/2005_130/promo/11706-1.html Take a minute to check out www.ala.org 's issues and advocacy page.
A great way to support your local public library is to become a member of the Friends of the Library. For more info, check out your local library's webpage.
UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS:
The Eden Prairie Library is having a book sale on Saturday, Oct 8th from 9am -4pm. Hundreds of books, magazines, cd's, and other library materials for $1 or less.
Holocaust Testimonial: A Survivor's Story. Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m at the Eden Prairie Library. Author and concentration camp survivor Henry Oertelt will talk about his experience as told in his book, "An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust." He will share his struggle to survive and the chain of events that saved his life. Q & A and a reception will follow the program. Sponsored by Hennepin County Library in collaboration with University of Minnesota Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Great Decisions 2005: Global Poverty Gap Monday, Sept. 12, 4-6 p.m, Edina library. One in five people in the world lives on less than $1 a day. Does America have a responsibility to help poorer countries? Would reducing global poverty make us safer? Foreign policy expert Tom Hanson will facilitate an examination of issues in this citizens' dialogue. Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County in collaboration with the Minnesota International Center.
Cost of Freedom: Civil Liberties, Security and the USA Patriot Act. Monday, Sept. 26, 4-6 p.m. at the Edina Library. Watch a one-hour documentary that examines the history of civil liberties during wartime and the controversial USA Patriot Act enacted in the aftermath of 9/11. A moderated discussion will follow. Refreshments provided.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Utne Magazine
Utne magazine is bar none, hands down the best magazine around. It is a progressive independent magazine that gathers articles, stories, editorials, and more from a variety of independent media sources around the country and reprints them. It truly is THE magazine to read if you don't have time to read anything else. What I love most about Utne is it's variety of content. Each issue does have a general topic theme, but each topic is highly unique. While there are some re-0ccuring themes throughout all issues, such as environmentalism, political advocacy, and grass-roots activism, the variety of coverage relating to each topic ensures the reader will never get bored. I've been reading Utne for two years and still eagerly await the delivery of each upcoming issue. Go to www.utne.com.
Utne's latest issue has an article about the current state of the public library. The author argues that libraries are becoming more of an entertainment source with electronic (and sometimes unreliable) sources rather than an archive of knowledge and hard-copy documents. Libraries are at odds with the internet - arguably the "library" of the new century, where someone can google any topic they wish in the comfort of their own home. Libraries are no longer seen as essential sources of free information. The author of the article states that libraries are "a temple to the anti-elitist notion that knowledge should be cheap, if not free." Moreover, public libraries need more support than ever before. Go to www.ala.org for more information.
One redeeming fact, however: there are still more public libraries in the U.S. than there are McDonald's restaurants.
Another great article in Utne's current issue is entitled "Fly the Guilt-Free Skies." The article discusses the air travel industry's contribution to pollution and global warming. Carbon dioxide makes up a large amout of airplane emissions, with several tons of pollution being emitted for each flight. Several organizations work to off-set the carbon emission produced from air travel by planting trees (which absorb carbon dioxide.) Per acre, trees can absorb about five tons of greenhouse gases each year. Future Forests (www.futureforests.org) has an online calculator that allows you to calculate exactly how much carbon dioxide your air flight will produce, and how many trees are needed to absorb the emissions. Pay a small fee per tree, and Future Forests will plant those trees for you, thereby erasing your carbon debt and helping your karma as well. :)
Fun fact: Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story in six words. What he came up with? ..... "For sale: baby shoes, never used." It is rumored that Hemingway considered this as his greatest work.
Utne's latest issue has an article about the current state of the public library. The author argues that libraries are becoming more of an entertainment source with electronic (and sometimes unreliable) sources rather than an archive of knowledge and hard-copy documents. Libraries are at odds with the internet - arguably the "library" of the new century, where someone can google any topic they wish in the comfort of their own home. Libraries are no longer seen as essential sources of free information. The author of the article states that libraries are "a temple to the anti-elitist notion that knowledge should be cheap, if not free." Moreover, public libraries need more support than ever before. Go to www.ala.org for more information.
One redeeming fact, however: there are still more public libraries in the U.S. than there are McDonald's restaurants.
Another great article in Utne's current issue is entitled "Fly the Guilt-Free Skies." The article discusses the air travel industry's contribution to pollution and global warming. Carbon dioxide makes up a large amout of airplane emissions, with several tons of pollution being emitted for each flight. Several organizations work to off-set the carbon emission produced from air travel by planting trees (which absorb carbon dioxide.) Per acre, trees can absorb about five tons of greenhouse gases each year. Future Forests (www.futureforests.org) has an online calculator that allows you to calculate exactly how much carbon dioxide your air flight will produce, and how many trees are needed to absorb the emissions. Pay a small fee per tree, and Future Forests will plant those trees for you, thereby erasing your carbon debt and helping your karma as well. :)
Fun fact: Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story in six words. What he came up with? ..... "For sale: baby shoes, never used." It is rumored that Hemingway considered this as his greatest work.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Another reason not to shop at Wal Mart
The Minneapolis and St. Paul Federation of Teachers, the largest teachers unions in the state, are urging their members NOT to buy their school and classroom supplies at Wal - Mart, in an effort to take a stand against the retailer's unfair labor practices. The unions are even considering taking their action a step farther by not reimbursing their teachers for any supplies purchased at Wal-Mart.
Check out the article at http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5561981.html
Way to go, Minneapolis and St. Paul Federation of Teachers!!!
UPDATE: Wal-Mart sales on the decline for the second quarter. Walm-Mart's financial analysts project that the worst is yet to come. http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/16/news/fortune500/walmart/
Check out the article at http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5561981.html
Way to go, Minneapolis and St. Paul Federation of Teachers!!!
UPDATE: Wal-Mart sales on the decline for the second quarter. Walm-Mart's financial analysts project that the worst is yet to come. http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/16/news/fortune500/walmart/
Monday, August 15, 2005
Swedish Pancakes and That 70's Show
It must be fate......
On a re-run episode of That 70's Show that was on tonight, Eric and his family were eating Swedish Pancakes. And I thought my family was the only family on the planet that ate Swedish Pancakes.
Is it a coincidence that That 70's Show is my favorite TV show, and Swedish Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food?
.......I THINK NOT!
On a re-run episode of That 70's Show that was on tonight, Eric and his family were eating Swedish Pancakes. And I thought my family was the only family on the planet that ate Swedish Pancakes.
Is it a coincidence that That 70's Show is my favorite TV show, and Swedish Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food?
.......I THINK NOT!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
A bill of rights for future generations
We, the people of the future, like the twenty thousand generations who came before us, have the right to breathe air that smells sweet, to drink water that runs pure and free, to swim in waters that teem with life, and to grow our food in rich, living earth.
We have the right to inherit a world unsullied by toxic chemicals, nuclear waste, or genetic pollution. We have the right to walk in untamed nature and to feel the awe that comes when we suddenly lock eyes with a wild beast.
We beseech you, the people of today: do not leave your dirty messes for us to clean up; do not take technological risks, however small, that may backfire catastrophically in times to come. Just as we respectfully ask that you not burden us with your deferred debts and depleted pension plans, we also claim our right to a share of the planet’s ecological wealth. Please don’t use it all up.
We, in turn, promise to do the same. We grant these same rights and privileges to the generations who will live after us; we do so in the sacred hope that the human spirit will live forever.
A curse on any generation who ignores this plea.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
A lesson on political science
Lesson In Political Science
DEMOCRATIC: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. Barbara Streisand sings for you.
REPUBLICANISM: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So?
SOCIALIST: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
COMMUNIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized! and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION: You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch and drink wine. Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.
TALIBAN CORPORATION: You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.
IRAQI CORPORATION: You have two cows. They go into hiding. They send radio tapes of their mooing.
POLISH CORPORATION: You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
BELGIAN CORPORATION: You have one cow. The cow is schizophrenic. Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish. The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow. The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk. The cow asks permission to be cut in half. The cow dies happy.
FLORIDA CORPORATION: You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION: You have millions of cows. They make real California cheese. Only five speak English. Most are illegals. Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
DEMOCRATIC: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. Barbara Streisand sings for you.
REPUBLICANISM: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So?
SOCIALIST: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
COMMUNIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized! and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION: You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch and drink wine. Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.
TALIBAN CORPORATION: You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.
IRAQI CORPORATION: You have two cows. They go into hiding. They send radio tapes of their mooing.
POLISH CORPORATION: You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
BELGIAN CORPORATION: You have one cow. The cow is schizophrenic. Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish. The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow. The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk. The cow asks permission to be cut in half. The cow dies happy.
FLORIDA CORPORATION: You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION: You have millions of cows. They make real California cheese. Only five speak English. Most are illegals. Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
60th Anniversary of Hiroshima
August 6th, 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. Over 200,000 people died in the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The debate continues, 60 years later, as to whether or not the action was truly necessary to bring the war to an end. For a CNN special report on the anniversary go to http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hiroshima/. There are some pretty interesting galleries, eyewitness accounts, videos, and articles.
Also in the news has been coverage of two jurors in the Michael Jackson trial that have recently come out voicing their opposition to the acquittal they voted for. Is it no coincidence that these two jurors have book deals in the works? These two jurors should be completely ashamed of themselves. They have made a mockery of the American justice system and have completely let down the American public, of whom they are trusted to be representing. One of the jurors, Eleanor Cook, has recently stated that "I'm speaking out now because I believe it's never too late to tell the truth." Ummm.....excuse me Eleanor...were you SLEEPING while your duties as a juror were explained to you? Apparently so, or perhaps she was too busy scheming about how she could milk out her own publicity stunt throughout this ordeal.
Let me make sure I am being clear: I am not attacking their opinions about the innocence or guilt of Michael Jackson. I am attacking their utter lack of responsibility as participating jurors in one of the most publicised trials of our time.
I was recently engaged in a discussion with my boyfriend regarding the pros and cons of the trial-by-jury system. Eleanor Cook and Ray Hultman have unfortunately personified the flaws in the system. It is people like them that should not be allowed to engage in the privilege of jury participation.
Also in the news has been coverage of two jurors in the Michael Jackson trial that have recently come out voicing their opposition to the acquittal they voted for. Is it no coincidence that these two jurors have book deals in the works? These two jurors should be completely ashamed of themselves. They have made a mockery of the American justice system and have completely let down the American public, of whom they are trusted to be representing. One of the jurors, Eleanor Cook, has recently stated that "I'm speaking out now because I believe it's never too late to tell the truth." Ummm.....excuse me Eleanor...were you SLEEPING while your duties as a juror were explained to you? Apparently so, or perhaps she was too busy scheming about how she could milk out her own publicity stunt throughout this ordeal.
Let me make sure I am being clear: I am not attacking their opinions about the innocence or guilt of Michael Jackson. I am attacking their utter lack of responsibility as participating jurors in one of the most publicised trials of our time.
I was recently engaged in a discussion with my boyfriend regarding the pros and cons of the trial-by-jury system. Eleanor Cook and Ray Hultman have unfortunately personified the flaws in the system. It is people like them that should not be allowed to engage in the privilege of jury participation.
Monday, August 1, 2005
A case of the Mondays
So I'm not exactly sure what "a case of the Mondays" is, but I think I've come close to figuring it out. My air conditioning STILL doesn't work. This week is going to be in the mid 90's, AGAIN. I've been waiting over a month for a stupid part to be ordered so that the shop can fix my car. Apparently they are in no rush. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it but wait and sweat. This weekend I have a lovely 2 hour plus drive up North and another 2 hour plus drive home on sunday morning, with no air. I think I'm going deaf in my right ear because my windows are open all the time. Semi trucks, Harleys, and pimped-out ghetto cruisers have never been so annoying. Noise pollution at it's worst. Grrrr. I just want my air conditioning back!
And its ONLY MONDAY!
And its ONLY MONDAY!
Thomas Friedman editorial
While reading the Star Tribune today I came across an eop-ed piece written by Thomas Friedman and published in the New York Times. It's interesting, check it out if you have a moment. Here's the link: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5533896.html.
We've also heard in the news lately that the IRA has ordered an end to armed struggle and decomissioning of it's weapons. I was fourtunate to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland on a J-term trip in 2003. I spent a month studying the history and present state of the Irish conflict. Unfortunately, tensions between Unionists and Nationalists have not dimmed much since the 1998 Good Friday agreement. Moreover, due to the IRA's history, many unionists and politicians feel that the IRA cannot be trusted and are skeptical of the IRA's declaration. While the declaration by the IRA is definetly a step in the right direction, only time will tell whether they will, in fact, honor their own words. The declaration may also prove to have political gain for Sinn Fein as well. Sinn Fein has suffered from a variety of controversies over the past year, and this move by the IRA may have a dually benefitial effect for the party.
Forbes has summed up the situation very well:
The "Irish problem" will not be solved as a result of last Thursday's statement. However, it may be dissolved if the process begun by the IRA's rejection of armed struggle delivers stability and allows time for the issues to become less emotive.
http://www.forbes.com/business/2005/08/01/ira-sinnfein-arms-cx_0801oxan_irastatement.html
Other news today: new laws in effect in MN include the reduction in the legal limit for blood alcohol levels from .10 to .08. Monies from DUI/DWI fees will go to repair of local roads.
MN has also raised it's minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15. While $6.15/an hour is nowhere near a liveable wage, the raise is at least a step in the right direction. For a full time (40 hours/week) minimum wage earner, the increase will provide about $2,000 in additional yearly gross income.
We've also heard in the news lately that the IRA has ordered an end to armed struggle and decomissioning of it's weapons. I was fourtunate to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland on a J-term trip in 2003. I spent a month studying the history and present state of the Irish conflict. Unfortunately, tensions between Unionists and Nationalists have not dimmed much since the 1998 Good Friday agreement. Moreover, due to the IRA's history, many unionists and politicians feel that the IRA cannot be trusted and are skeptical of the IRA's declaration. While the declaration by the IRA is definetly a step in the right direction, only time will tell whether they will, in fact, honor their own words. The declaration may also prove to have political gain for Sinn Fein as well. Sinn Fein has suffered from a variety of controversies over the past year, and this move by the IRA may have a dually benefitial effect for the party.
Forbes has summed up the situation very well:
The "Irish problem" will not be solved as a result of last Thursday's statement. However, it may be dissolved if the process begun by the IRA's rejection of armed struggle delivers stability and allows time for the issues to become less emotive.
http://www.forbes.com/business/2005/08/01/ira-sinnfein-arms-cx_0801oxan_irastatement.html
Other news today: new laws in effect in MN include the reduction in the legal limit for blood alcohol levels from .10 to .08. Monies from DUI/DWI fees will go to repair of local roads.
MN has also raised it's minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15. While $6.15/an hour is nowhere near a liveable wage, the raise is at least a step in the right direction. For a full time (40 hours/week) minimum wage earner, the increase will provide about $2,000 in additional yearly gross income.
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