Interestingly, they have a list of banned books (1990 to 1999) written by POC authors: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedauthors/authorsofcolor

When I perused the list of banned books, I was really surprised at a couple. The Lord of the Rings? Really? Yep, burned as being satanic, despite the fact that Tolkien was a devout Christian. And the Call of the Wild by Jack London? REALLY? Are they kidding?

Sadly, no they're not. It seems that ignorance is bliss in some places.

The list of the most banned classics: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned

like the title says im a manga writer looking for an artist to collaborate with i am in college for creative writting and i am a nurses assistant i have income and i am willing to pay i need a partner not only that i need a partner who can also be my friend i understand this is business but stil im the type who needs someone i can get along with. even if we dont i dont care im really looking and needing to find an artist

i have several projects, i do my research and i am very serious about this email me, Facebook me or write me on here

email:amukamara44@gmail.com

facebook:phillips nkemakolam amukamara

When you delve into the world of Facebook or other such social links, you come to notice, at least I did, anyway, that there are blinded cullerds and out and out fools in great numbers.  The ingrained hypocrisy of this joint doesn't matter to them, because they have been Accepted. 

The reason? They have Accepted everything put out by the oligarchs.  When the actor Terry Crews indulges in tomfoolery, 'Oh quit being so touchy!'  When some obscure pol from the South shouts a disparaging remark during the President's State of the Union, 'He was just expressing his right of free speech!'   And, 'Treyvon Martin should not have scared that poor misunderstood armed bullyboy!'   These are the people who nod their heads when cloaked foul remarks are made and then say 'I understand what they meant'.     One of the ironies of the Civil Rights Movement has been the rise of the House cullerds.   'Well, well, being conservative is part of our group character!'  

It is what led to our ancestors enslavement.  It is why some stay in positions of authority long past they're effective expiration date.  It is why too many embrace such negative and denying thoughts, 'All that stuff in school don't mean nuthin', because they have no desire to "change and challenge" their place.   

At the opposite end is the group who wallow in the mire of socalled 'Accepted' attitudes. "I'm a member of the country club, and my wife wears big hats for the Kentucky Derby, and it has been because of those rowdy nonrestrained others, that we are not welcome to the class reunion, but I understand, because I have gone out of my way to show I'm on their side.    And the business I work for smiles when it denies another a raise or a loan, because there can be only so many of us succeding else it might cause trouble."

The Atlanta Compromise's line "...cast your bucket where you may!" was not answered with "What if you pull up a bucketload of shit?"  The Talented Tenth ideal reeks of a placid elitism.   Yet in some circles that is an ideal that has taken hold.  Aren't the Accepted Talented Tenth the Howards, Allens, and Condis?

I almost turned around and walked away from Dragoncon. I waited for three hours in a line wrapped around the Sheraton Hotel. Both my husband and I were exhausted, hot, and tired.  What kept me going were the energetic people around me. They were dressed in costumes, laughed loudly, and were there to have a great time. 

I'm so glad that I stayed. Dragoncon was an amazing adventure.  I enjoyed meeting all those neat weirdos, hanging out with my fabulous writing buddies, and participating in the State of Black Science Fiction author panel. I was proud and excited to be seated with LM Davis, Alan Jones, Wendy Raven McNair, and Milton Davis.  I think we shared our viewpoints and opinions well. What I enjoyed was that we each had our own unique ideas and were able to share our diverse opinions. If you'd like to take a look, here's the Youtube video. BTW, feel free to leave a comment or post, if something about the panel made you think. 

Like it? Share it!

Simulated valence-charge density from x-ray and optical wave mixing shows the nuclei of carbon atoms as dark spots revealed by diffracted x-rays and the peaks of some of the bonds between them as white and blue spots induced by the polarized optical pulse. In diamond, the optical pulse primarily wiggles the charge that makes up chemical bonds.

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory: Synchronized Lasers Measure How Light Changes Matter

I got my headphones on watching a video about AutoCad's SketchPad pro, thought I heard a sound. I called out to my wife, "you say something hon?" "No that's the cat scratching the carpet." Listened to a whale song video for a while, all the while thinking what it would sound like sped up, like dolphins or chipmunks or maybe some ancient language. Man I got to stop this line of thinking. What if all the sounds in the background were speaking to us. The PC clicks, fan whirl, wind blows the shade and the cat knocks a cup over. The sound of chips crunching in my head as I chew and the way I turn my head to catch the sounds better. I tape them all, slow them down, speed them up and collect the syllables into phrases and arrange them end to end. I play them back, "Arnold, Arnold, quit trying to ease drop on my conversations."

Popular Mechanics

Physics World: Geoengineering is 'comparatively inexpensive'

(c) 2 September 2012, the Griot Poet

"We want our country back!"
The question is: back to when; to what?

Gil Scott-Heron rests in peace

Yet, his piece "B-Movie" might as well be prophesy,

Predicting a looking forward two-faced like the Roman Deity Janus: facing forward while looking back at least to last week (or, our own anus),

To a majority utopia existent only in your Amygdala fear-driven reptilian minds...

Descendants of migrants from Europe to Plymouth Rock and Ellis Island

Dependent on newer ones from Africa or Central America as servants until the PIE: performance, image and exposure, has to eventually be upturned in 2042 when you are no longer a numerical majority.

The White House, so named in 1901because it was easier than “Executive Mansion”

Became a symbol of what you’d refer to as American Exceptionalism

And like fascism, cloaked it in a flag, and carrying a cross.

So, while you’re still culturally “the boss”

You're willing to put out obfuscations and outright lies,

Whacked-out conspiracy theories on falsified birth certificates, death panels, “he’s going to take away our guns,” “secret-Muslim-in-the-church-house-Resurrection-Sunday,” etcetera’s,
Voter ID cum Diebold voter purge cum 21st century poll taxes...

In a February appearance on The Daily Show, Bruce Bartlett (former Reagan Economic Policy Advisor), said "Frankly one of our political parties is insane, and we all know which one it is.'

"They have descended from the realm of reasonableness that was the mark of conservatism…"

"They dream of anarchy, of ending government.''

Bartlett argues a new radical right in the Republican Party will oppose anything - even good conservative policy - if Democrats agree to it.

Tell me: since when did obliterating the 8th commandment constitute a "family value?"

Or, running from your own policies because your opposite tries to reach consensus constitute reason and governance? Sounds like tyranny…

You rail against gays and lesbians, yet have them prominently in your Grand Old Party, for one (no, two): George W’s reelection campaign manager and Dick (Darth Vader) Cheney’s daughter and her companion.

Hell, Rush Limp-bah had Elton John perform at his fourth “traditional marriage” from-the-previous-train-wrecks wedding ceremony with notably his beau from the UK in tow.

(And Rush: we THANK YOU for practicing good birth control/safe sex and not procreating!)

Let’s not forget: Newt-the-scoot’s blood sister,

You blithely dog whistle at the tin edges of racial insurrection, yet think yourself a big tent because you have Condi Rice and Allen West? Keep ‘EM!

And when disturbed minds take your wit as holy writ resulting in a congresswoman’s recovery from a murderous attempt, or your pundit’s caustic rhetoric causes an abortion doctor’s assassination in a house of worship, you’re quick to quip: NOT ME!

If you have an argument, voter ID cum Diebold voter purge cum 21st century poll taxes is completely unnecessary.

The electorate in a representative democracy votes rationally, not like text-in adherents to American Idol.

No wonder you ride the train of “limited government,” by which you mean:

- Education
- Police protection
- EMS and Fire Departments

Or, the very bedrock of representative government
Because your avarice Mammon billionaire gods can afford that,
(And wonders why the rest of us can’t)

Kissing butt on Scrooge McDuck is the height of idolatry (and hypocrisy)
And idiocy to the “trickle-down” fantasy
You listen to lobbyists outnumbering you five-to-one senator or congress member

And you can’t remember

Any promise you made beyond the grace of their campaign donations
To “protect and defend The Constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic”

And have the “Audacity of Dopes”
To not see
That enemy
Is in your own

Reflection!

We is so funny, we get caught up, then fed up then change up. We change or try to change the insides, failing we change the outside. I can't tell you the changes I've been through from afro to fro to no fro to less fro to fro mind to fro on the sides. The truth is I had wild nappy hair and now I'm bald.

Clothes really makes the manikin. You too can be made up into any genre and feel the part. Don't get caught, or you'll play the part too. It'll get imprinted on your soul. That description will haunt you for ever. Did you see Jimmy's boy? He ain't changed from when he went off the deep end. Wasn't satisfied with being somebody, had to be something else.

I look at every person to see if my reflection is there (watch where you look). I watched the Olympic parade of nations, hoping some recognizable faces go past the screen. You know we are from Africa, so I watched Africa go by, not many resembled me. In college I sported wild hair (a fro), played a conga, owned two dashiki. In my mind every African wore a dashiki like clothes. Damn, sports jerseys and tee shirts are common. I was looking at them, they were looking at us. Tee shirt and baseball cap is the international black apparel.

We adorn ourselves, bling bling, bling ink, bling paint, remote bling (cars, homes, cellphones) and inward bling (musics, education, philosophies, histories). Man, we bust all out, then with equal force we bust back in. Yeah I'm a very conservative all out liberal. I found my self one day and didn't recognize him. He appears just before I step into the change of the day. Before I step into the world where everybody is putting on. He always complains about having to put up with others putting on. Hey dude what's that clone you're wearing? That's not a clone, that's me. You're much older that I thought. You see, this is why I have to put on. Yeah buddy but who is the real me? Damn, got caught up again. I'll never live this down. Gotta stop talking to myself in the mirror. Let's see, baseball cap, check, tee shirt, check, man I'm really Black today!

Technology Review

Physics arXiv: A Matterwave Transistor Oscillator

As part of my research I am covering the Afrofuturist influence in contemporary art, so I thought I should share with you the post about my visit to Sanford Biggers' studio this week.

http://netarthud.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/sanford-biggers-studio-visit-in-nyc

More specifically, if you're in the Northeast of the U.S. check out Sanford's show, The Cartographer's Conundrum at Mass MoCA:

http://blog.art21.org/2012/06/19/sanford-biggers-conundrum-the-mothership-lands-at-mass-moca

If you're in the Chicago area check out Cauleen Smith's A Star is a Seed, A Seed is a Star at MCA:

http://blog.art21.org/2012/07/17/cauleen-smith-a-star-is-a-seed-a-seed-is-a-star

Best,

~ Nettrice

African Cosmos: Stellar Arts

http://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Details/African-Cosmos-Stellar-Arts-4781

This first major exhibition of some 90 objects explores how the celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars and such celestial phenomena as rainbows and eclipses serve as sources of inspiration in the creation of African art, both traditional and contemporary. Far from abstract, African ideas about the universe are intensely personal and place human beings in relationships with the earth, sky, and celestial bodies.

I am definitely going to see this!

~ Nettrice

(Yeah, that was POP-corny!) It's Friday though...

Astronomy and ESO

Astronomy Mobile: Sweet result from ALMA

Presenting the newest cover art for Volume II of the Priestess Short Story series. This new work shows the 'Goddess in a Mortal Body' victorious after a little Demon hunting at the Delta Boundary.

To read the poem that accompanies this image, check me out: http://bit.ly/PZEJBP

International Molybdenum Association

MIT Media Relations: One-molecule-thick material has big advantages

I want to introduce the Inter-Galactic Law Enforcement Agency/Military Division's new battle ship called "Shahondradon".

Join the briefing...

I.G.L.E.A. Military Base Manipura 07:00 :

The auditorium is filled with IGLEA military personnel all in military fatigues. Even Ohnmeis's team were issued IGLEA military gear. The auditorium seated 10,000 people. The seats were filled to capacity. Ohnmeis was thinking about when she was an Ajnaese operative, long before IGLEA existed. Her mission was to retrieve an artifact of Ajnaese origin from the Spliftan regime. 

Chief Administrator Konfli approaches the podium. "Good Morning. I'm not a man of a lot of words so let me cut to the chase. We are in a critical situation. We've been in touch with our allies at Roswell and Wright-Patt and the situation is not good on Earth. They are at the end of another Civil War in the U.S. The U.S. may be in another war trying to stop a government from world domination. This sounds like Sarang's M.O., but first things first. Marcus McCaine, please step forward Sir. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Strat~7 Agent Marcus McCaine. He will be heading up our mission. Today I'm commissioning Agent McCaine to the rank of Commander Quad~Star. He is qualified. The Supreme and myself have the highest level of confidence in him." Konfli shakes his hand and presents Marcus with his new badge. Marcus takes to the hovering podium with the IGLEA seal. He shows his new badge. The audience applauds. Marcus looks out into the audience and sees a sea of people cheering him on. The roar of the crowd was over whelming. "I thank you so much and this promotion comes as a surprise and an honor, more applause... We are about to embark on a rescue mission with two objectives. One to arrest and bring Kwarina, General Kiragu Sarang into custody or kill her, which ever comes first. I prefer her alive so that she can be charged with kidnapping and crimes against humanity and also to bring Stevia Ang home safely to her family. This will not be an easy mission. Aside from the intelligence that we have. We don't have a lot of information to go on. So this is what will happen. We will get outside earth's atmosphere cloaked. I will send a small team down to investigate. One team will be briefed at Roswell and another at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The teams will be provided military housing. Those two teams will be selected before we get there. Those of us that don't have human features and can no way pass for human, we have the technology to compensate for that. Your direct commanding officers will give individual instruction on this, as each individual may have unique features.
We will be taking five Alliance SS 52 Gun Ships with a new addition to our fleet. I want to unveil to you our new starship "The Alliance White Star" code name will be "Shahondradon". This ship was custom built for us. Let me tell you about the ship. The White Star class of ships were build by the Minbari to serve as the front line ships for the Army of Light. With the inclusion of the most advanced of their technology, and the addition of standard Vorlon technology, these ships were the most powerful ships built by any of the younger designers until the Interstellar Alliance had the Victory Class Destroyers built. Even so, it is still by far the most powerful ship in the galaxy when the power to size ratio is taken into account.
Although the ship is some 268 meters long, it is powerful and agile enough to combat fighters, and if a skilled pilot of a starfighter is used to pilot Shahondradon, which we have. We can't be beat. Let me tell you, Commander McCaine said with enthusiasm. Its array of weapons is however more than powerful enough to allow the ship to fight capital ships of the line of any of the younger designers. A Single White Star has more firepower than a Spliftan Death Star Destroyer and in the Phase World terms is more powerful than any single ship smaller than a Protector class battleship, not including other ships missile launchers. There is a good chance even with missiles because the missile will be unable to lock onto a target in many cases.
The ship is armed with a Vorlon Quantum Gravitic Discharge Cannon for its primary weapon. This weapon is capable of destroying a CAF Warshield class cruiser with just two shots. Supporting this weapon system, the ship carries four fusion guns and four neutron cannons. If this ship has any weakness, the weakness is that this ship does not carry missile launchers.The hull of the White Star is made up of a special Vorlon organic material and can both repair itself and can adapt to attacks to reduce damage. No attack does full effect on the hull more than once.
The White Star also has shields that consist of alternating gravimetric distortion waves and complex field of energy fields. These shields disburse any and all energy (including Kinetic) fired upon the White Star leaving only a fraction of the blast. A down side is that these shields can be dropped by being hit by powerful weapons or can be dropped by multiple volleys from less powerful weapons.
The ships subspace propulsion is by Vorlon Gravitic propulsion with Mimbari Ion/Fusion Engines as backup. The ship can use the Gravitic propulsion to act as a tractor beam. The ship also has the ability to form its own jumpgate and is presently the smallest ship constructed by the younger designers that can open its own jumpgate. However, if the main quantum discharge cannon is fired on overcharge it means that energy is drawn away from the Hyperdrive, so that it takes another five extra minutes to recharge.This ship has special ECM that makes it very hard to detect and also have a sentient computer that can often complete maneuvers that the crew do not have the skills to do. This is a ship I'm very proud of to have as part of our arsenal. We shall fair well against the Spliftan forces.

Now this is what will happen. A holographic map of the decoy black hole appears. This is a gate, thee gate we will be traveling through to get to earth. This will require three jumps total per ship. When earth is visible this is when we will cloak all ships. Each ship will monitor the four corners of this planet. Captain Antu Vora will take a shuttle to Roswell, New Mexico. Myself and my team will take a team to Wright~Patt, Ohio. Everyone else will remain on alert. All intelligence will be updated from that point on and coordinated by our prospective teams. We leave in six hours.

© 2012 Taj Sonchai-The Black Mau Chronicles: