I regularly counsel people who have no access to the internet or if they did, wouldn't know what to with it. Thankfully, I am able to direct them to the library where I know they will get guidance and information that will empower them to look after themselves. Also, I fucking love books and reading and the fact that everyone can access them. Sure preaching to the choir and all here, but nice to be able to voice my appreciation for these amazing institutions.
Currently seeing how many people are prepared to go to the wall for libraries with the recent threat against the Geelong Public Libraries and New York City libraries. Do f with librarians or their fans, librarians/library fans are fierce and they have access to knowledge.
Research and evaluation of sources and critical thinking aren't natural skills. They have to be learned and taught. And you know who does that really well? LIBRARIANS. Of course the culture warriors who've been creating a gullible and superstitious population since the 50s would hate libraries. They stand in the way of a glorious post-truth society of MAGAts and Cookers.
Also, if they want my books. they'll have to prize them from my cold, wrinkled hands. And they'd better not lose my place.
With 4 members of my immediate family being librarians I'm probably biased. but I love books so fuck off. Of more entertaining value would be watching some blockheaded telling my 6 year old grand daughter that they are taking her library away. I'm not sure what would happen first, the verbal evisceration or the knee capping, but it would be quick and bloody. Never get between a 6 year and a trove of books.
The treatment of women in our, supposed, civilised and egalitarian society is a damning indictment of the facade we maintain to prove how far we really haven't come, in our supposed emancipation women.
What would be fair, is if we treated Janet Albrechtsen the same way she treats Brittany. Alas that is not possible because she is one of Murdoch's mendacious attack dogs, and therefore a protected species.
My little Library of Congress, is a haven of tranquility, that not only supplies brain food, but every week I can photocopy Costello's and Murdoch's crossword puzzles for a lot less than the purchase price of their propaganda sheets.
Friday means, my wife and I can do battle with Australia's greatest cruciverbalist, the venerable Mr Astle., and all for the modest price of thirty cents.
Speaking of the divine right of kings of fantasy-land: did you notice the RWNJs double down on support for BRS this week? I reckon there'll be a move to beatify Breaker Morant soon...
The Age front page today "Parliament's woes deepen". You mean man-with-a-run-ya-down-and-fuck-you-van woes? Or LNP rapists in LNP the Minister's office woes. We're paying these arseholes who can't choose between fucking poors or colleagues. In the arse? Why not. I'm done. Shoot that party and their media apologists into the sun.
Just 10 days ago in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Sai Gon) I looked at a guillotine in the War Remnants Museum - taken to Viet Nam by the French to chop off heads - but nowhere near the horrors detailed in that Museum - of torture and death inflicted by the US during what the Viet-namese quite appropriately call "The American War"! And then just days later in Phnom Penh I visited Pol Pot's S-21 Torture Centre - and visited one of The Killing Fields sites - the world alerted to it by John Pilger - the consequences of the war criminal US bombing large swathes of Cambodia ...
JP is definitely one of mine, too, JB. I finally met him in 2010 when he opened an art exhibition in Sydney for George Burchett (son of Wilfred). In his opening remarks he mentioned having just arrived in from London where he hd been speaking to Julian Assange - then in the earliest days of the A/UK/US/Swedish shenanigans against him.
As far as I was concerned - while there at S-21 (Tul Sleng) my thoughts kept turning to our own Australian killing fields (and torture centres such as Rottnest Island and Flinders Island and Palm Island) as was remembered last week near Bingara in northern NSW - the Myall Creek Massacre of June 10, 1838 - one among more than 500 documented/recorded massacre sites around Australia. It's very difficult to point fingers - rather it is necessary to see that the "hearts of darkness" reside in all societies - now or then. There - but also here.
I don't wish to diminish our own dark past at all. You are correct - a dark heart resides in all societies. You could say we still have a dark hear,t from our continued persecution of asylum seekers who arrive by boat.
Absolutely correct. And given the tragedy unfolding just south of Kalamata in Greece at this very moment - and the ugly role of a former PM of Australia - a thug called Tony Abbott - and his mistreatment towards asylum seekers in Australia - a message he spread to the UK and through Europe too - I lay a lot of the blame at his feet. And that of the current Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton - and the immediate past PM Scott Morrison and their ministerial urgers!
Oof! Yeah it's a bit dark to joke about the French head removal device, but its loaded symbolism is well...quite apt I think for its time, and as you so rightly mention there are far more recent and arguably far more horrid things in this world, the torture, violence, murder and cruelty going on in the Ukraine comes to mind.
And in terms of museums, I spent almost an entire day at the Apartheid Musuem in Johannesburg, and I remember seeing these odd out of the way benches. We soon figured out what they were for. We called them the 'weeping benches' where you could sit and have a quiet private sob or tear and gather your courage to keep going through all the displays material.
I think it's covered a bit below (based on my cursory glance), but libraries also provide equitable access for a lot of people who don't have access to the internet (or to vast supplies of books for that matter). I have a group that uses the meeting rooms once a month at the local library, and even when it's closed there are often people sitting at the tables outside to make use of the free Council WiFi.
Granted, this would be less useful in Canberra in winter, but it works for Brissie.
Interesting your comments on Libraries JB (the rest is vomit-inducing so Imma gonna ignore it and hope it all goes away just for now...I know it won't but one must hope right?). I saw a meme on FB earlier today which said something very similar to Neil G's comment. And, of course, some total pan fried wingnut just had to bring up the Drag Queen Story Hour and make the cretinous comment that Libraries were for grooming littlies...Like those you watched enjoying the Gruffalo... I would like to say that said PF WingNut was summarily flamed to death, but sadly, this wasn't the case. *sigh* What the hell is happening to us that we talk about how awesome libraries are and the first thing people think of is kids being groomed by drag queens FFS!
the specious charge of "grooming" conveniently ignoring that the littlies were of course to be accompanied by their big people mothers/fathers... - that kind of obsessed-with-sex LNP commentary comes straight from the Pentecostal/Southern Baptist paranoias of the US (derivative nonsense)!
Can’t believe I forgot to do the bit about it being THE LIBRARIANS who finally got Trump. Because it was.
I regularly counsel people who have no access to the internet or if they did, wouldn't know what to with it. Thankfully, I am able to direct them to the library where I know they will get guidance and information that will empower them to look after themselves. Also, I fucking love books and reading and the fact that everyone can access them. Sure preaching to the choir and all here, but nice to be able to voice my appreciation for these amazing institutions.
Currently seeing how many people are prepared to go to the wall for libraries with the recent threat against the Geelong Public Libraries and New York City libraries. Do f with librarians or their fans, librarians/library fans are fierce and they have access to knowledge.
Research and evaluation of sources and critical thinking aren't natural skills. They have to be learned and taught. And you know who does that really well? LIBRARIANS. Of course the culture warriors who've been creating a gullible and superstitious population since the 50s would hate libraries. They stand in the way of a glorious post-truth society of MAGAts and Cookers.
Also, if they want my books. they'll have to prize them from my cold, wrinkled hands. And they'd better not lose my place.
With 4 members of my immediate family being librarians I'm probably biased. but I love books so fuck off. Of more entertaining value would be watching some blockheaded telling my 6 year old grand daughter that they are taking her library away. I'm not sure what would happen first, the verbal evisceration or the knee capping, but it would be quick and bloody. Never get between a 6 year and a trove of books.
The treatment of women in our, supposed, civilised and egalitarian society is a damning indictment of the facade we maintain to prove how far we really haven't come, in our supposed emancipation women.
What would be fair, is if we treated Janet Albrechtsen the same way she treats Brittany. Alas that is not possible because she is one of Murdoch's mendacious attack dogs, and therefore a protected species.
My little Library of Congress, is a haven of tranquility, that not only supplies brain food, but every week I can photocopy Costello's and Murdoch's crossword puzzles for a lot less than the purchase price of their propaganda sheets.
Friday means, my wife and I can do battle with Australia's greatest cruciverbalist, the venerable Mr Astle., and all for the modest price of thirty cents.
Speaking of the divine right of kings of fantasy-land: did you notice the RWNJs double down on support for BRS this week? I reckon there'll be a move to beatify Breaker Morant soon...
The Age front page today "Parliament's woes deepen". You mean man-with-a-run-ya-down-and-fuck-you-van woes? Or LNP rapists in LNP the Minister's office woes. We're paying these arseholes who can't choose between fucking poors or colleagues. In the arse? Why not. I'm done. Shoot that party and their media apologists into the sun.
They want our fucking libraries now?! That’s it! Jenkins help me wheel out the guillotine it’s time!
Just 10 days ago in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Sai Gon) I looked at a guillotine in the War Remnants Museum - taken to Viet Nam by the French to chop off heads - but nowhere near the horrors detailed in that Museum - of torture and death inflicted by the US during what the Viet-namese quite appropriately call "The American War"! And then just days later in Phnom Penh I visited Pol Pot's S-21 Torture Centre - and visited one of The Killing Fields sites - the world alerted to it by John Pilger - the consequences of the war criminal US bombing large swathes of Cambodia ...
Sounds heavy Jim, Pilger is possibly my favourite Australian
JP is definitely one of mine, too, JB. I finally met him in 2010 when he opened an art exhibition in Sydney for George Burchett (son of Wilfred). In his opening remarks he mentioned having just arrived in from London where he hd been speaking to Julian Assange - then in the earliest days of the A/UK/US/Swedish shenanigans against him.
Tuol Sleng is a dark, dark place...
As far as I was concerned - while there at S-21 (Tul Sleng) my thoughts kept turning to our own Australian killing fields (and torture centres such as Rottnest Island and Flinders Island and Palm Island) as was remembered last week near Bingara in northern NSW - the Myall Creek Massacre of June 10, 1838 - one among more than 500 documented/recorded massacre sites around Australia. It's very difficult to point fingers - rather it is necessary to see that the "hearts of darkness" reside in all societies - now or then. There - but also here.
I don't wish to diminish our own dark past at all. You are correct - a dark heart resides in all societies. You could say we still have a dark hear,t from our continued persecution of asylum seekers who arrive by boat.
Absolutely correct. And given the tragedy unfolding just south of Kalamata in Greece at this very moment - and the ugly role of a former PM of Australia - a thug called Tony Abbott - and his mistreatment towards asylum seekers in Australia - a message he spread to the UK and through Europe too - I lay a lot of the blame at his feet. And that of the current Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton - and the immediate past PM Scott Morrison and their ministerial urgers!
Oof! Yeah it's a bit dark to joke about the French head removal device, but its loaded symbolism is well...quite apt I think for its time, and as you so rightly mention there are far more recent and arguably far more horrid things in this world, the torture, violence, murder and cruelty going on in the Ukraine comes to mind.
And in terms of museums, I spent almost an entire day at the Apartheid Musuem in Johannesburg, and I remember seeing these odd out of the way benches. We soon figured out what they were for. We called them the 'weeping benches' where you could sit and have a quiet private sob or tear and gather your courage to keep going through all the displays material.
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago de Chile is another good one, IMO.
Yeah I've heard, definitely one on my list should I ever get there.
It is especially galling that among the spear-carriers is someone who needed their wife to inform that, like, rape is bad, m’kay?
I think it's covered a bit below (based on my cursory glance), but libraries also provide equitable access for a lot of people who don't have access to the internet (or to vast supplies of books for that matter). I have a group that uses the meeting rooms once a month at the local library, and even when it's closed there are often people sitting at the tables outside to make use of the free Council WiFi.
Granted, this would be less useful in Canberra in winter, but it works for Brissie.
Anyone dumping on libraries are in sore need of a library. I guarantee librarians will take care of those ignorant moss wipes.
Ol’ Senator Van was also the guy who made dog noises at Senator Lambie, so “smoke, meet fire” I guess
Interesting your comments on Libraries JB (the rest is vomit-inducing so Imma gonna ignore it and hope it all goes away just for now...I know it won't but one must hope right?). I saw a meme on FB earlier today which said something very similar to Neil G's comment. And, of course, some total pan fried wingnut just had to bring up the Drag Queen Story Hour and make the cretinous comment that Libraries were for grooming littlies...Like those you watched enjoying the Gruffalo... I would like to say that said PF WingNut was summarily flamed to death, but sadly, this wasn't the case. *sigh* What the hell is happening to us that we talk about how awesome libraries are and the first thing people think of is kids being groomed by drag queens FFS!
the specious charge of "grooming" conveniently ignoring that the littlies were of course to be accompanied by their big people mothers/fathers... - that kind of obsessed-with-sex LNP commentary comes straight from the Pentecostal/Southern Baptist paranoias of the US (derivative nonsense)!
Couldn't agree more
Great points re the Library - and re all the other stuff too.
But, the important question is - did you check to see if any of your books were on the shelf at Kingston Library?
I know that in the Monash Public Libraries Mr BIRMINGHAM is well represented.