Happy (Belated) Earth Day!

Yesterday was Earth Day! (I actually wrote this whole post yesterday, and then forgot to publish it - oops!) The Google Doodle was pretty cool:

Google also set up a "Which animal are you??" quiz - I'm a giant squid! Um...ok. Apparently, several librarians are.

Here are some other links for your Earth Day reading:

• Green Reads 
• April 22, 1970: The first Earth Day
• Earth Day: Facts & History 
• 7 things we've learned about Earth since the last Earth Day 
• Op-ed: Earth Day is a reminder of what we can do collectively 
• Earth Day 2015: It’s our turn to lead 
• What Meaningful Things Are Actually Happening On Earth Day This Year 
• What Happens To The Plastic You Throw Away? 
• What Would The Earth Look Like If All The Ice Melted? 
• Louisiana ranks worst in eco-friendliness, report says 

Links!

• Libraries, Books, Writers, & Suchlike
• Los Angeles Public Library wins top award for cultural institutions 
• Thai bookseller given jail term for royal defamation "A man was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail for selling books that allegedly defamed the monarchy, the latest in a string of convictions under the lese majeste law."
• Japanese Craftsman Restores Old Books To Look Good As New 
• Art Institute of Chicago gets its largest gift ever, including 9 Warhols 
• Net & Tech
• McConnell Introduces Bill to Reauthorize Patriot Act Until 2020 Oh, please, no..."The bill appears to be an attempt to thwart efforts to rein in the National Security Agency's expansive surveillance powers..." 
• Obama: Elizabeth Warren Is Simply Wrong On TPP "President Barack Obama criticized Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and others who are opposed to a new trade deal that he is negotiating on Tuesday, saying that his opponents are simply wrong on the facts of the deal." Well, maybe Warren and the rest of us could judge the facts better if the TPP wasn't being kept secret! If Obama truly believes the facts will win us over, he should declassify the TPP. Related: Warren lashes back at Obama on trade "'The Obama Admin says I'm wrong — we shouldn't worry about TPP. So why can’t the American people read the deal?' she questioned." Ok, she said it better than I did.
• Health & Science
• Weight Loss Drug Made From War Chemicals Gets Deadly New Reach Online 
• Cardiff University scientists discover asthma's root cause 
• Why The Hubble Space Telescope Has Been Such A Stellar Success Related: Hubble Space Telescope’s Chief Scientist On What It Took To Get The Project Off The Ground Related: Mind-boggling images from 25 years of the Hubble Telescope 
• Education
• Teacher terrified by surprise 'active shooter' drill in eastern Oregon schoolhouse files federal lawsuit 
• Sinking flagship: LSU prepares paperwork for declaring bankrupcy Dammit, Jindal...
• Authority Issues
• Judge Finds Chicago Cop Dante Servin Not Guilty In Shooting Death Of Rekia Boyd; Courtroom Explodes "In March 2012, 22-year-old Rekia Boyd was walking to a store with three friends near Douglas Park. Prosecutors said that Servin, who was off-duty, was upset over the noise and told the group to quiet down. After exchanging words, Servin fired five shots over his shoulder while sitting in his car. Boyd was hit in the head from behind and killed, her boyfriend, Antonio Cross, was hit in the thumb. The group of four had their backs turned to Servin in an alley."
• Officials Investigating After U.S. Marshal Rips Phone From Hands Of Recording Bystander 
• International
• How ISIS controls life, from birth to foosball 
• Other (Serious Stuff)
• Corporations now spend more lobbying Congress than taxpayers spend funding Congress 
• Scott Walker Celebrates Earth Day by Firing 57 Environmental Agency Employees Walker appears confused about what Earth Day is about. I'd add him to the Asshats List, but he's already on it. 
• Raising Social Security's retirement age is a disaster for the poor 
• Pregnant restaurant manager fired after armed robbery