Kristina’s sister, Karen, and her husband, Jake, adopted him from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in August. I just love his little face. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
He already has his own Naro fanclub. Kristina keeps us updated on his progress. I hope Karen and Jake bring him by next time they’re in towne. He’s gonna be the coolest little kid.
He was born sometime last November, so he’s just one month older than Ada. They would make precious little playmates.
This site is really precious. It features animals made up using tube lines, stations and junctions of the London Underground map.
September 25 - October 2 is the ALA’s Banned Books Week (BBW).
“Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. [It] celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one?s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.”
“Although they were the targets of attempted bannings, most of the books featured during BBW were not banned, thanks to the efforts of librarians to maintain them in their collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged ? and possibly banned or restricted ? if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.”
The most frequently challenged books of 2003 were:
- Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, for sexual content, using offensive language, and being unsuited to age group
- Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, for using offensive language
- “Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture” by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy
- “Fallen Angels” by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, sexual content, offensive language, drugs and violence
- “Go Ask Alice” by Anonymous, for drugs
- “It’s Perfectly Normal” by Robie Harris, for homosexuality, nudity, sexual content and sex education
- “We All Fall Down” by Robert Cormier, for offensive language and sexual content
- “King and King” by Linda de Haan, for homosexuality
- “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson, for offensive language and occult/satanism
Of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000, I thought these were pretty interesting:
3. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
13. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
19. “Sex” by Madonna
25. “In the Night Kitchen” by Maurice Sendak
40. “What?s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters” by Lynda Madaras
41. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
42. “Beloved” by Toni Morrison
43. “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton
47. “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
51. “A Light in the Attic” by Shel Silverstein
55. “Cujo” by Stephen King
56. “James and the Giant Peach” by Roald Dahl
57. “The Anarchist Cookbook” by William Powell
60. “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis
61. “What?s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons” by Lynda Madaras
69. “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
70. “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
77. “Carrie” by Stephen King
83. “The Dead Zone” by Stephen King
88. “Where?s Waldo?” by Martin Hanford
And Finally, the Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990 to Present
- Alvin Schwartz
- Judy Blume
- Robert Cormier
- J.K. Rowling
- Michael Willhoite
- Katherine Paterson
- Stephen King
- Maya Angelou
- R.L. Stine
- John Steinbeck
BookSense has compiled this list of challenged books as their BBW Picks of 2004. I encourage you to read one of the books from this list, or any of the above lists, in support of BBW. I’m going to Prince Books tomorrow after work to pick up Stones From The River, by Ursula Hegi. Plus, just last week I ordered “Slaughterhouse-Five” on DVD, so I’ll watch that too.
I saw this billboard yesterday on my drive up to Richmond. It was put up there by a group called Parents and Friends of ExGays and Gays (PFOX). They claim it’s a counter to homosexual activists’ campaigns that discriminate against “exGays” and that they are “seeking tolerance for all”.
“Homosexual activists seek total acceptance and tolerance for their decisions but they openly discriminate against ex-gays’ decisions to leave homosexuality,” said Regina Griggs, executive director of PFOX, a support group for families with loved ones dealing with homosexuality.
“Responsible families and parents seek respect and unconditional love for all of our children — homosexuals and former homosexuals,” Griggs said. “Ex-gays prove that change is possible and offer hope and answers for those who do not want to live homosexually. It is time that ex-gays got respect, honesty and equality.”
“We put up this billboard so that people will know the truth ? that you don?t have to be homosexual if you don?t want to be. We’re hoping this ad will bring about public awareness, respect and tolerance.”
Perhaps their thoughts are in the somewhat right direction - but I don’t think that billboard conveys any sense of respect or tolerance. I was completely appalled when I drove by it. Seems like a Republican, Bible Belt load of bullshit to me.
Can you ever see me as you did before?
Can you ever see me as you did once more?
When I look into your eyes I can breathe in water like you
When you say goodbye my lungs ache filled with water
’cause I will always love you.
They are releasing a new version of Leisure Suit Larry for Playstation 2 (and x-box and pc). As much as I hate video games, I might have to pick this one up for Jared. He never even knew the old ones. Can you believe it? A pornophile like him?
We used to always play it on the school computers. (on 5″ floppies, ahahahah) It was sooo funny. Poor Larry and his diseases.
