As nice as it was, the turkey is - almost - all gone, and the restful days are over. I hope yours was as nice as mine, but alas, it is time to get back to work. However, since I am not really up to speed yet, instead of posting something about what I am doing, I thought I would just take a little leeway and borrow some other newsworthy items from others.
First up, from the fabulous NPR news, comes an absolutely terrific story about the "Library Phantom":
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/11/29/142910393/the-library-phantom-returns. This story has been all over so you might have seen it. If not pass it around because it is definitely worth it. Not only for its story line, but as one librarian put it, "you wouldn't get this with a kindle". Showing that there are indeed people who still prefer the good old fashion libraries filled with all of those amazing books.
Another story from NPR (did I mention how great they are), comes with the title "Judy Blume: Often Banned, But Widely Loved"
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/28/142859819/judy-blume-banned-often-but-widely-beloved?sc=fb&cc=fp
The first paragraph would be a wonderful epitaph for anyone who ever loved to write books. I personally am a small crusader for "banned books", so naturally I have a few of hers. I do not like the idea of censorship in any shape or form and always do my part to celebrate "Banned Books Week" with the hope that someday - we won't have to.
Finally today, the literary world recently lost ones of its greatest female Sci-Fi writers. Anne McCaffery, better known as the Dragon Lady and author of the Dragon's of Pern stories, passed on at the age of 85,
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/arts/anne-mccaffrey-dragonriders-author-dies-at-85.html. With over 80 titles under her pen, her Science Fiction novels often "lampooned the genres portrayal of women" making her a fighter for women's equality, but she also wrote short story collections, romances and even at least two cookbooks. Safe journeys Anne, you will be missed on this side.
