Links!

Links!

• Libraries, Books, Writers, & Suchlike
• Who Will Be Appointed as Next Librarian of Congress? Related: Full Text Statement: Librarian of Congress James Billington Announces Retirement 
• St. Helena Library Director Jennifer Baker fired This is the craziest situation...not even lying...
• FTRF announces five Banned Books Week grants for 2015 via Judith Krug Fund 
• Parent Group Pressures Florida School District to Ban Four Books 
• China Bans Anime and Manga from the Internet 
• June 12, 1942: Anne Frank receives a diary 
• “No Books, No Book Fair,” Says Publisher of Banned Books 
• Pettus: Let’s throw the book at censors "In reality, the repressive forces of Tom-ness usually triumph over society’s nonconforming Flips. But 'On Cherry Street' offers hope that, if you have the courage of your convictions, a just people will sing your praises in the end.  And an intolerant worl'’s slow, dribbling flow back to the sewer is, for a while, stemmed."
• Introducing kids to medieval manuscripts 
• Don’t Starve: Eight Scrumptious Culinary Comics Yum... 
• For Your Next Cocktail Party: A Crib Sheet of Classic Literary References 
• All Hail Our Feline Overlords: Cat-centric Fiction If you're a crazy cat-lady reader (shut up, I am not crazy!), it doesn't matter what genre you like - there's a cat-centric book out there for you. This is a pretty great list, including some of my favorites (Tailchaser's Song is awesome!), and a few I'll have to add to my "To Be Read" shelf. 
• Paul Bacon, 91, Whose Book Jackets Drew Readers and Admirers, Is Dead 
• Amazon accused of shutting out e-book competitors; Europe investigates "Amazon's e-book business is facing an antitrust investigation in Europe, where the European Commission says the company's contracts with publishers contain 'clauses which seem to shield Amazon from competition from other e-book distributors.'"
• Health & Science
• Got Water? Most Kids, Teens Don't Drink Enough 
• Bill Nye’s experimental satellite finally sails on the solar wind 
• Busting Myths: A Practical Guide To Countering Science Denial 
• Net & Tech
• Court Denies Requests to Keep New Net Neutrality Rules From Taking Effect on Friday Related: This is the GOP’s new tactic to stop net neutrality 
• House GOP leaders are outmaneuvered again on fast-track vote Related: Fast Track Derailed! Tell Congress to Oppose Secret Trade Deals 
• Public Internet is supposed to lower prices. In Seattle, it could work too well. 
• House panel approves 'patent troll' legislation Related: Original “patent troll” may call it quits, says there’s no money in it 
• Education
• Charter Schools' Katrina Memory Hole "Pre-Katrina New Orleans graduation numbers are charter school advocates' exhibit A for reform. One problem: the U.S. and Louisiana Departments of Education say they don't exist."
• Louisiana Teachers Are Using The Bible in Science Class Reason #145321 to homeschool in Louisiana.
• High School Student Fights to Display Work on Body Shaming and Censorship 
• Robert Reich on the War Against Teachers and Public Education Related: From the "10 Ideas to Save the Economy" series - Reinvent Education I'm pretty sure I already posted it, but it doesn't hurt to have it out there again! 
• Teen Pregnancy & Abortion Rate Drops In Hawaii After Abstinence-Only Sex Education Is Removed 
• Authority Issues
• Tased Motorist to CBP Agent: 'What the Fuck Is Wrong With You?' 
• Fox's Key McKinney Witness Sean Toon and his Wife were with people who attacked Pool Party Host 
• Front porch not public space, Iowa Supreme Court rules 
• International
• In Thailand: Junta Tells Reporters to Stop Asking Confrontational Questions That's right - they're banning questions that "will upset government officials and affect their reputations." In addition, "[p]ublic protests and political activities of any kind remain banned by the junta, which says the restrictions are needed to promote 'national reconciliation' between the country's divided political factions. Violators are often arrested and  some have been sent to stand trial in military court.   In January, the US-based rights group Freedom House downgraded Thailand in its worldwide freedom index from 'Partially Free' to 'Not Free,' citing 'severe restrictions on speech and assembly' imposed by the junta." 
• Pakistan shuts down Save the Children offices in Islamabad 
• Red Cross Holds a Press Conference In Haiti. It Doesn’t Go Well. 
• Other (Serious Stuff)
• Billionaire luxury chief says wealth gap is 'unfair' 
• New York City Council Passes 'Ban The Box' Bill Restricting Use Of Criminal Records In Hiring 
• House Intelligence Committee Trying To Block Privacy & Civil Liberties Board From Doing Its Job  
• Nevada GOP congressman: My kids ‘will not be a drain on society’ like disabled children 
• Dear America: Meet Bernie Sanders. Properly, This Time 
• Bernie Sanders wants to take back ‘family values’ from the GOP 
• Bobby Jindal's disgraceful fiscal legacy: Robert Mann "His ineptitude with budgets alone should disqualify him from supervising a small-town Dairy Queen, much less managing the U.S. government's executive branch." Youch! Well, he ain't wrong, though...
• Connecticut handgun licensing law associated with 40 percent drop in gun homicides