Lego Movie

What were the writers on? Seriously. This is the stupidest movie I have seen in a long time. I want that hour and forty minutes of my life back. Bad dialog, a mash up of other better movies, and very little plot. Seriously the thing that made Emmet special was that his mind was so incredibly blank, and lets face it--he was a complete moron. This movie an hour and forty minutes of stupidity and innuendos. The fact that some of the people in my family love this movie makes me wonder about them. If you have to mention that "everything is awesome" it most certainly is not!

My View on Videogames

I have very little experience with videogames and MUVEs, unless Farmtown counts. I prefer books and people to screens and controllers. While I concede that there are some benefits to computer and videogames, I believe that they are unnecessary. Videogames lack in so many ways, they are completely limited by the programing. I believe that they don't encourage creativity, critical thinking skills, or social skills.

Virtual environments can connect users across the globe, but also have limitations. With the rise of texting, Facebook, Twitter and online communities the art of communication is being lost. Without voice tone, body language and social cues, electronic communication lacks connection and emotion. While some people and libraries believe that virtual environments are handy, and have presence in MUVEs, I do not believe that virtual environments are necessary for libraries. For communicating with librarians I believe that e-mail, and chat rooms go far enough, but if it isn't enough contact visitors can always visit their local library.

The place of "Social" Media in our Libraries.

I joined Facebook in 2007. It was all the rage, everyone did everything on Facebook. Fast forward 10 years and I use my Facebook profile to log in to everything. I really liked Facebook, it was cool it was a way to keep in touch with friends that had spread all across the country; however these days it's all game postings, people I have very little in common with anymore, and my biggest pet peeve: factually incorrect chain letters/pictures. These days I use Facebook for one reason: to keep up with my two siblings that live far away and their children.

Twitter is still like. I love that I can follow authors, actors, athletes, t.v. shows, the British Royal Family. I can also follow my library, the zoo and local businesses. The biggest draw of twitter to me is that I choose who to follow, no one else can make that decision for me.

Facebook and Twitter both have a place in today's library. They represent cheap marketing strategies. It's easier to keep your patrons informed of library happenings, it makes it easier to attract interest. Twitter could easily be used to ask librarians reference questions. Facebook can be used to post in more detail about the library and library programing.

Censorship and Ethnocentric Views

Apparently France is considering a ban on all burqas, and there are some in this nation who believe we should do the same. Here is the link to an article on Politics Daily, by a liberal, who believes that we should do the same : France's Proposed Burqa Ban: Why Americans Might Want to Consider It Too -- Politics Daily.

My comment was not approved to be added in the comments section, so I will post it here:

The burqa for many is a sign of subservience, of oppressiveness, of second class citizenry, but the burqa, head coverings, and scarves are all aspects of these women's cultural heritage. The idea to ban the burqa is entirely ethnocentric! You are judging another culture by your own morals and standards and are condemning it as barbaric. This is WRONG! Ethnocentric views have led to countless atrocities through out history! The author states that it feels to her as if they are holding American women back, and that when she sees women wearing these items she takes it as an affront. She is judging them for exercising their rights! The idea that a veil or burqa could hold American women back is completely ridiculous! In America these women CHOOSE to practice their CULTURE by wearing their burqas or veils. It is their right to do so! Does every woman willingly wear a burqa- probably not, but for those who do--it is their right. The idea that we should ban or censor what people can wear is terrifying! Censorship is a slippery slope, that leads to infringements on our most basic rights. Just because it makes people uncomfortable is not a reason to ban the burqa. I wear a cross, a symbol of my religion and culture, I have views and opinions that make people uncomfortable, I will not be censored, and I will not tolerate, or support the censorship of others or their culture.

Now more on the subject:
Ethnocentric views are very very dangerous! Hitler was ethnocentric! The jihad is an ethnocentric war!

As for censorship- It is a dangerous tool, because it limits our ability to think for ourselves.

Thank You

Tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans Day. This is the day set aside to honor all the men and women who have served in war. These veterans are those who served, fought, sacrificed, and came back alive. These honorable men and women stood for freedom, for this country, for us. They braved unknown horror, and death, so that we may be free. So tomorrow, if you see a veteran, thank him! Because we owe them. We owe them our very lives. So be grateful, and let them know that they are appreciated.

Thank you John!

A post-Cold War World...

An article I read today displays just how ignorant President Obama is. Here is a link to the article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivmFlotMyTRA3KyuWWaN9joQjHfAD9A4Q6RO0

"President Barack Obama took on both the defense establishment and freespending lawmakers on Monday, saying they were draining the nation's military budget with "exotic projects.""

Exotic projects? What does Obama consider an exotic project? Are planes an exotic project? How about submarines? Tanks? Guns? How about all that technology that's unmanning the front line? Is that considered exotic? Also, cutting "exotic projects" means that we are falling behind, and the other militaries of the world will become more technologically advanced making us antiquated and outdated. Which means when, and I do mean when not if, another war arises we will enter it completely unprepared, history records this very well- if you don't believe me, please read up on World War I and World War II.


"...he [Obama] also spoke harshly of a "defense establishment (that) has yet to fully adapt to the post-Cold War world."

A post-Cold War world.... interesting... Yes the "Cold War" era from the last century did end with the collapse of the Soviet Union. But lets look at what the term Cold War means, shall we?
Princeton defines a cold war as "a state of political hostility between countries using means short of armed warfare." So going by Princeton's definition, is the Cold War over? No, it is not. Granted the last 20 years or so have seen a reduction of tensions, but the pressure is rising. Relations between Russia and the U.S. are strained... Relations between China and the U.S. are strained, and North Korea has revoked the armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War. Brief clarification: In 1953 the United States and North Korea signed an armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War but did not end the war, a peace treaty was never signed, therefore we have technically been at war with North Korea for the last 50+ years, and now North Korea has revoked the armistice which means that the Korean War is now active again- whether or not people want acknowledge it.

So who were the tensions of the Cold War with? North Korea, Russia, and China. And who are the escalating tensions today with? North Korea, Russia and China. So is the Cold War really over?

"The president laid out a vision of a nimble, well-armed and multilingual fighting force of the future, not one that was built to fight land battles against the Soviets in Europe.
"Because in the 21st century, military strength will be measured not only by the weapons our troops carry, but by the languages they speak and the cultures they understand," the president said."

Military strength will be measured not only by the weapons our troops carry, but by the languages they speak and the cultures they understand.

What?! Languages they speak and cultures they understand. How the heck does that determine military strength? How on earth is that going to end hostilities? When an enemy is hell-bent on your destruction, being understanding of their culture will not save you. Military force will. Action will. Because "When diplomacy fails there's only one alternative...Force must be applied without apology"

I want our Military men and women fighting our wars, not a bunch of anthropologists!

That darn Willie...

So we Memphians thought we had gotten rid of King Willie... He resigned and the special election to replace him is in October and it will cost 1.5 million dollars. All those who wish to run for mayor must file by September 13. And guess who has decided to run... Willie. Again. So in this economy, with our tight, over stretched city budget, he has now cost us an extra 1.5 million dollars. I'm hoping that those men in the little white jackets come for him soon....