September 2003

Fang-Face writes “There is an interesting article by Eric Lichtblau of the New York Times and which is reprinted at TruthOut.org. In it, he basically blows the whistle about how this “antiterrorism” tool is being used increasingly to target run of the mill offenders. You can read it for yourself. Here are the opening paragraphs:

The Bush administration, which calls the USA Patriot Act perhaps its most essential tool in fighting terrorists, has begun using the law with increasing frequency in many criminal investigations that have little or no connection to terrorism.

The government is using its expanded authority under the far-reaching law to investigate suspected drug traffickers, white-collar criminals, blackmailers, child pornographers, money launderers, spies and even corrupt foreign leaders, federal officials said.

Justice Department officials say they are simply using all the tools now available to them to pursue criminals – terrorists or otherwise. But critics of the administration’s antiterrorism tactics assert that such use of the law is evidence the administration is using terrorism as a guise to pursue a broader law enforcement agenda. Now, where was it I saw that article about how Big Bubba was planning to file against a methamphetamine producer for cranking out chemical weapons for Uncle Osama?”

Mock Turtle writes “The UC Santa Cruz archive of renowned science fiction writer Robert Heinlein has received a gift of materials and cash, valued at $300,000, from the estate of Heinlein’s late widow, Virginia.

The donation was accompanied by a grant to establish the position of a Heinlein Scholar at the campus, who will work to organize, document, and promote the scholarly use of the archive, housed in the University Library’s Special Collections since 1968.



William H. Patterson Jr. has been selected by UCSC as the campus Heinlein Scholar for 2003-04. Patterson is also the person designated by Heinlein’s late wife to write the definitive, authorized biography of her husband.

UC Santa Cruz Currents has more about Heinlein, Patterson, and the archive.

(There are a couple of neat old photos at the site as well.)”

Mock Turtle writes “With Adult Learners Week 2003, Jamaica seeks to draw attention to the nation’s 20.1 percent illiteracy rate, highlighting the fact that many adults who cannot read are too embarrassed to attend literacy classes. Adult Learners Week, a project of the Jamaican Council for Adult Education (JaCAE), features a variety of events to promote the view that provision of learning opportunities should be a matter of public policy. Read more about it at The Jamaica Observer.”

U.S. News & World Report has a People’s Vote page set up for us people to vote on “100 Documents That Shaped America.”

They include Declaration of Independence, Louisiana Purchase Treaty, Gettysburg Address, The 16th &17th Amendments, Brown v. Board of Education, and my article in netConnect.

My favorite, Senate Resolution 301.

Mock Turtle writes “Acme Elementary School in rural Washington is facing the kind of challenge any school would like to have: sorting through thousands of children’s books donated to the school by a Seattle community center. University Heights Center for the Community had been looking for someone to help them clean out their former family reading room, and the center’s director said Acme could have whatever they could haul away — all for the price of a few chocolate chip cookies. Almost all the books are in good enough shape to get years more use in Acme’s classrooms and libraries. The school even got some new bookshelves in the bargain. Read about it at the Bellingham Herald.”

Lee Hadden writes: “There is an interesting editorial in the Journal of Cave and Karst
Studies, Volume 64 (2) – August 2003, ISSN 0146-9517, entitled, “Science, the NSS,
and the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies: Is it science without a journal?” by
William B. White.

The editorial discusses the difference between a magazine and a journal,
and the need to document the discoveries and observations of scientists. They
are especially proud that their journal has been added to Current Contents and
the science citation Index.

Although the editorial is not available online, many other articles on
cave science are. See their site at: caves.org.“

The Boston
Globe says that a state representative "has proposed
limiting the weight of books used in public schools amid concerns
about the health risks of overloaded backpacks." California
and Tennessee states already have such laws. Although baggage
products used improperly (backpacks are best positioned with the
center at waist or hip level, and carried with two wide, padded,
contoured, shoulder straps, preferably with a belt strap and
luggage-type wheels) can cause back trauma and lower back pain,
there is no proven link between heavy packs and scoliosis. The
folks at TeleRead
would likely have some alternate suggestions for enacting such laws.

Mock Turtle writes “The Hattiesburg American reports:
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded $463,322 to the University of Southern Mississippi to develop and launch the Mississippi Digital Library, providing online access to USM’s extensive collection of materials on the civil rights movement. Letters, diaries, photographs, state and organizational records, oral histories, and other primary sources that provide firsthand documentation of the history of race relations in Mississippi will be included in the digital collection. USM is collaborating on the project with Delta State University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the University of Mississippi.”

This Article Out Of Lichfield, England, says Mobile library vans are being used in a pioneering crime-busting initiative in Lichfield to help people avoid falling prey to thieves and thugs. The enterprising new scheme will be launched on Wednesday and will allow residents to order personal attack alarms, door chains and other security devices direct from the mobile library vans.

Mock Turtle writes “Lyle Stuart, 81-year-old president of maverick publisher Barricade Books Inc., has spent 50 years as a writer, editor and publisher of books considered too racy or dangerous for other publishers. He knows many of the books he publishes are objectionable to the average American, but he still wants people to be able to read how to make bombs and to learn the inner thoughts of a pedophile. “If you are not allowed to discuss ideas freely, then you have problems,” says Stuart. “My feeling is you should have access to everything.” Get the story from Reuters.”