Elizabeth Skene

As promise, a post full of interesting information-y things!

I love this banned books display from Strode’s College in Surrey. Controversial books were covered in brown paper and the reason they’re banned is written on the front – such as “I am Anti-Catholic” and “I Contain Scenes of Masturbation.”

The Great Book Robbery is a documentary that covers the looting of Palestinian libraries in 1948 – you can watch the trailer online. This ties in with a paper I wrote last year – the targeted distruction of archives & libraries as a form of cultural genocide. Here’s an quote from the film:

60,000 Palestinian books were systematically looted by the newly born State of Israel during the 1948 war. The story of the stolen books is not only at the heart of our project but also the launching pad of a much bigger and wider endeavor: We intend on communicating the scope and depth of the Palestinian tragedy through the destruction of Palestinian culture in 1948.

And a quote from the website:

For decades Zionist and Israeli propaganda described the Palestinians as “people without culture.” Thus, the victorious Israeli state took upon itself to civilise the Palestinians who remained within its borders at the end of the 1948 war: They were forbidden to study their own culture or to remember their immediate past; their memory was seen as a dangerous weapon that had to be suppressed and controlled.

Check out this second grade exam from 1870. I wonder how many 2nd graders in this era would be prepared to answer questions such as “What is true politeness? and give several rules for good manners” or “Describe the different between an Absolute Monarchy, and a Republic” or “Mention two types of plants used for manufacturers, two used for beverages, and two used for medicinal purposes.” Also, check out number 18 – yikes!

I starred this one a few months ago, but it’s still very useful & relevant – a collection of links on copyright, fair use and blogging.

Lastly, I decided to get some reading glasses tonight. I’ve been having some really intense headaches while doing homework this semester & it’s really affecting my productivity. I can’t afford a real eye exam, but the non-prescription glasses from the drugstore are good enough for my needs. Although I felt a little silly trying them on tonight, I can already tell a difference.

Here’s a gratuitious & awkward photo of Gwen & my four-eyed self:

Now it’s back to reading about metadata before [attempting] to go to bed early. Hopefully some pre-bedtime yoga will help ward off my insomnia.

Have a great week!!