Author’s nude drawings too hot for US publisher
By Tony Paterson in Berlin

One of Germany’s best-selling children’s authors is embroiled in an extraordinary transatlantic row about nudity after a US publisher refused to accept one of her books because it contained naive sketches of an art gallery with works depicting naked bodies.

Rotraut Susanne Berner’s illustrated “Wimmel” books about the everyday lives of adults and children have won international acclaim and are best-sellers in 13 countries from Japan to the Faroe Islands.

But the 59-year-old author said her American publisher had refused to accept her latest book for US distribution because it contained elements deemed potentially offensive, including drawings of people naked or smoking. Berner said her US publisher, Boyds Mills Press, had objected in particular to one of her illustrations which showed adults and children in an art gallery where the portrait of a naked woman was on show together with a seven millimetre high sculpture of a naked man exhibiting a barely discernible penis. . . .continue . . .

Tom Wayne lights books on fire at Prospero’s Books in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, May 27, 2007. The book store owner burned the books to protest the lack of reading in America. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

By DAVID TWIDDY Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. May 28, 2007 (AP)

Tom Wayne amassed thousands of books in a warehouse during the 10 years he has run his used book store, Prospero’s Books. His collection ranges from best sellers like Tom Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October” and Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities,” to obscure titles like a bound report from the Fourth Pan-American Conference held in Buenos Aires in 1910. But wanting to thin out his collection, he found he couldn’t even give away books to libraries or thrift shops, which said they were full. So on Sunday, Wayne began burning his books protest what he sees as society’s diminishing support for the printed word.

“This is the funeral pyre for thought in America today,” Wayne told spectators outside his bookstore as he lit the first batch of books.

(continue @ ABC)

“he found he couldn’t even give away books to libraries or thrift shops”

Then he wasn’t trying hard enough . . . I am sure some penny seller would have loved to take them off his hands . . . though their methodology is to sift out anything with an ISBN and then landfill the rest. But hey, if you can’t sell em or give em away . . . this lady’s all for burning. Perhaps once books are scarce people will actually give a shit about them again. Remind me to send Tom Wayne a sympathy card.

Rural Arkansas school turns school buses into classrooms

The Sheridan school district in Arkansas is using technology to add academic value to the three-hour commute endured daily by students from neighboring rural communities. Originally conceived by Vanderbilt University biochemist Bill Hudson, Arkansas’s Aspirnaut Initiative brings laptops, iPods, and wireless Internet to school buses in an effort to promote science education.

(read more @ Ars technica)

Long time readers know about my fetish for erasers. Whenever a new one is introduced, I must immediately get one and play with it - remember the little electic rubout? Well, it seems that Papermate has introduced a new toy for my toolbox, their Latex Free White Pearl. As lovely as the Sanford Magic Rub erasers – I cannot wait to try the White Pearl.

the statement from the White House:
A White House spokesman said President Bush was horrified by the rampage and offered his prayers to the victims and the people of Virginia. “The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed”

Yep, that’ll fix everything. Why is THAT part of the constitution the only part he agrees with? (and btw if you actually read it, it actually refers to a regulated militia.)

worth hearing • FROM NPR – Weekend Edition Sunday, March 4, 2007 · Artist John Waddell was shocked when eight of his massive sculptures went missing last month.

The larger-than-life bronze figures, weighing at least 3,000 pounds, were stolen from his ranch in Sedona, Ariz.

Known as “industrial looting,” Waddell is the latest victim in a series of crimes targeting high-profile sculptors.

Waddell, 86, suspects the thieves stole the pieces for their copper. The metal retains as much as 90 percent of its value when it is melted down.

The pieces, known collectively as The Gathering, are worth more than $500,000 as art. Waddell believes the metal alone isn’t worth more than $5,000.

Remaining sculptures in the series have been relocated next to the sculptor’s house. A locked gate will soon surround the property.

Waddell plans to continue creating art for public display. But the last few weeks have left him pondering his legacy.

Rare Book Stolen From UCLA Library

(AP) LOS ANGELES – Authorities are investigating the theft of a rare 18th century manuscript about Rome’s politically powerful Orsini family from an exhibit case at a University of California, Los Angeles library.

The 208-page volume of documents was on public view in the special collections area of the Charles E. Young Research Library when it was taken sometime between Feb. 9 and Feb. 12, campus police said.

The manuscript had not been appraised, but some experts said it could be worth about $7,500, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

It was part of a large collection UCLA acquired in 1964 and includes text and illustrations from 1715 to 1736 about the Orsini palace in Rome. The documents were on display in connection with an international scholarly conference on the Orsini family, an wealthy clan that produced popes and political leaders.

Dawn Setzer, director of communications for the UCLA Library, said the theft was the first in about a decade from the special collections. She said the library has always tried to balance security against making its collections
accessible.

“The thought that someone would take something is surprising and disappointing,” she said.

Detectives were pursuing leads but had no suspects, said UCLA police spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein.

Book matter referred to FBI

Livingston Daily Press and Argus (Michigan)

Howell – The office of U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy has forwarded a complaint about inappropriate books assigned to Howell High School students to the FBI, a spokeswoman for Murphy said. Gina Bilaya said that while the referral is routine, it also indicates that Murphy is taking the complaint seriously.

Vicki Fyke of the Livingston Organization for Values in Education made the complaint, alleging that assignments of books by Richard Wright, Pulitzer winner Toni Morrison and Kurt Vonnegut violate laws against distribution of pornography to minors because they contain depictions of sex and rape, and obscene language. “The Freedom Writers Diary” by Erin Gruwell is also named by Fyke.

Fyke’s complaint also went to county prosecutor David Morse and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Morse said he is finishing reading the books and hopes to have a decision by Monday.

Morse said one of the main issues is whether or not the books meet the legal definition of pornography, which includes books that only appeal to readers’ prurient interest in sex, and have no literary or educational value. He said the books must be considered as a whole to make that determination, which is why he wants to finish reading them first.

The Daily Telegraph

Bus driver stops to make citizen’s arrest

by Lillian Saleh

“CAN you give me one minute?” With those words bus driver Michael Simon leapt from his bus, chased a thief 80m, tackled him to the ground and made a citizen’s arrest yesterday.

The 41-year-old was behind the wheel of a 423 bus on busy King St, Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west when he pulled up at a stop at 11.30am (AEDT).

It was then he noticed a man running out of a book store chased by a woman yelling: “Stop, stop, stop.” Mr Simon stopped his bus with up to 30 people on board and excused himself.

“My first reaction was the safety of my passengers, so I secured the bus and then turned to them and said, ‘Can you give me one minute?’,” he said.

The State Transit driver of nine years then leapt from the bus and chased the thief 80m before tackling him to the ground.

“I used to play a bit of football so it came in handy,” Mr Simon said.

‘I grabbed him with one arm by the collar and the other arm by the waist and told him I was performing a citizen’s arrest before walking him back towards the shop.

“All he said was, ‘Okay, fair enough’.”

After handing the thief over to Gould’s Book Arcade owner Bob Gould, Mr Simon calmly walked back to his bus.

“When I got back in the passengers gave me a big round of applause and I just continued on my way,” he said.

Amazingly, it is Mr Simon’s second citizen’s arrest in less than two years, having also tackled a man who pushed over a woman.

Mr Gould said he did not call the police.

Btw He stole Self Help Books, perhaps he took them literally?

Library helps you take out a booklover

December 20, 2006 07:15pm
Article from: AAP

THE state library of Victoria has a new true-romance section after introducing speed-dating nights for lovers of classic texts.

The 150-year-old library in Melbourne introduced dating with a literary twist after the idea was raised at a staff party.

Those who attend must bring a book they either love or loathe as a conversation starter, ensuring there are no uneasy silences during the series of five-minute dates.

“It’s speed dating with books. It’s designed to bring book lovers together,” the library’s project manager, Jackie Felstead, said.

The library’s first event was quickly sold out with 52 book lovers taking part, and 13 couples linking up for further dates.

It proved such a success that more speed-dating nights have been organised for 2007.

Ms Felstead said books taken to the first dating night included Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, and several novels by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.