More random stuff

In no particular order:

• Leon Panetta, the American Secretary of Defense, has signed a certification to formally end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (via).
• And bigots, the sky hasn’t fallen.
• More proof that correlation does not equal causation, or why emptying your spam folder is good for the economy (via).
• Someone Rick Perry respects is strongly urging him not to run for president.
• Too bad Michele Bachman, Herman Cain, and Rick Santorum didn’t get the message.
• There were terrorist attacks in Norway, and several people have been killed. My condolences.
• This is so sad. “Half of US Social Program Recipients Believe They ‘Have Not Used A Government Social Program’“. The ignorance, I can see it.
• Team Japan won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Congratulations to them. A major morale booster after their devastating earthquake.
• As my own team did not play like CONCACAF champs, I’ll admit to cheering for the US.
• The game was also the most tweeted event in history.
• Update: Negative aspects of and problems with gender stereotypes.

I heart public libraries

About a week and a half ago, I arranged an interlibrary loan for a book I had been wanting to read for over a year. Last Friday, the process was finished, and the book was ready for me to pick up. I did that today. The people were friendly and very helpful; the service was prompt.

This, to me, demonstrates how public libraries improve access to information. The ILL process allows people to gain access to books they might otherwise not have easy access to. Access to, and freedom of, information is important. It makes people informed. This is why you should always support public libraries and access to information.

BTW, in case you’re wondering, the book in question is Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce. I’ll post a review and comments when I’m finished reading it.