I'm Doing My Best To Keep Libraries Free, Queer, And Weird!

Ace owls!

Ace + gender identity owls for anon~

From top to bottom:

Ace and Transgender, Ace and Nonbinary

Ace and Genderqueer, Ace and Pangender

Ace and Demigirl, Ace and Demiboy

Ace and Genderfluid, Ace and Genderflux

Ace and Agender, Ace and Neutrois

People are free to use them as icons.

The way the days are blending together right now is not helping me remember to post regularly.  I really do have a poem for every day of April, honest!

We left off with the importance of the name you give yourself.  La Sirena y el Pescador, by Elisa Chavez, looks at the power taken by those who claim to speak for you, particularly when you cannot speak directly for yourself.

Not all differences in translation are that problematic though.  Matsuo Basho's Frog Haiku has many different translations into English because parts of it do not have equivalent words.  The various translators use different methods to evoke the tone and "feel" of the original poem.

That leads us to the ultimate in poetry style disputes: Haiku vs. Limericks!  (Don't worry, we'll get to sonnets later in the month.)

[blink, blink] Ok, I realize that I’m on the fringes of fandom, so I’m probably not representative of the average fan.  However, the idea that people would value visual art over writing doesn’t make sense to me.  Generally, I’ll look at a piece of visual art, admire it, and move on.  Once in a blue moon, I’ll get a piece to hang on my wall or put on a T-shirt or otherwise save.  (This isn’t anything against the art!  Massive kudos to people who make beauty in a way I never could!)  However, I’ll spend hours reading and sometimes re-reading a good piece of fan fiction.  There have been stories that have stuck with me for years, not just as head-canon, but as ways to help me understand myself and my personal philosophy.  Writers deserve every bit as much respect and support as artists!

Somewhere along the way fanart become worth more than fanfic to fandom.

Artists have Patreon accounts where people pay real money to view their art early or to access special pictures like scraps or tutorials.

Whereas writers are expected to produce more and more, faster, for nothing in return. No one wants to see our “scraps” and writers who do provide Tips and Tricks often get crap for “policing” how people write.

And it falls into the prevailing notion that somehow writing is something easy, something anyone can do.

This isn’t an attack on fanartists. You deserve to receive some sort of compensation and accolades for your work. And so do fanauthors.

Writing fic is hard work. Yes, anyone can type out a story, same as anyone can pick up a pencil to draw, but what makes the difference, what makes a good piece is the experience and talent of an author. It’s all the stories no one saw, it’s all the writing books we’ve read, it’s the classes we have attended, all rolled into a package that works weeks, months, years to bring the fandom their fic. Yes we write for ourselves but we also write to contribute to fandom - just like artists do.

We’re just the same - artists and authors - and we deserve the same respect for our work.

Vote in every election, for every position!  Some really horrible racist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups are getting power on school boards, library boards, city councils, and other local legislative bodies.  One of the reasons they can do it is because it doesn’t take many votes to get them in office.  Once they’re in, they can start supporting book bans, curriculum changes, anti-trans measures, and more.

Finding out who you want to vote for takes time, and it can be hard at the local level, but it’s incredibly important.  If you can, register to vote by mail so that you have more time to look at your ballot and research the candidates.  If not, try to find ballot information online or see if your local paper runs any information about the candidates.  If you need help, ask at your local library!  (You don’t have to tell them how you plan to vote, just ask for help finding out who is on the ballot.)  

Collect up the junk mail that candidates send out.  Some of them share mailers, so figuring out one of them will give you an idea on the others.  Contact organizations that you approve of and find out who they support.  If you’re really desperate, contact organizations that you don’t approve of and find out who they support, so you know who to vote against.

Start learning the dog whistles and warning signs.  “Parental rights” is starting to mean “the right to say what other people’s kids can read and learn.”  Moms for Liberty wants the liberty to deny the existence of LGBTQ+ people.

It’s “just one more vote” the same way a tough journey is “just one more step.”

Tell your senators to follow the precedent Mitch McConnell set in 2016 and wait until after the inauguration to select a new Supreme Court Justice.

Vote.  Vote your entire ballot.  Vote to protect yourself, your family and friends, your community, and your country.  Yes, it’s that important.

People need to fully understand what RGB’s death means. It’s not just a vacancy on the supreme court that could be potentially filled by a conservative Justice - that’s an awful thought, but that’s not the main problem. 

The problem, is that this is EXACTLY the opportunity Republicans have been looking for for decades. If a conservative nominee is pushed through before the election, and I’m hoping it won’t but if it does, that will lead to a Republican majority in the Supreme Court. And you can bet your life, literally, that they will work to roll back every progressive law they can. 

The concept of a separation of church and state is already a joke in this country, but it will get so much worse. 

But more than that? Even if a nominee isn’t pushed through… 

The vacancy RGB left behind will motivate Republicans to come out to vote in droves. 

THAT is what everyone needs to understand. This is a once in a life time opportunity for the Republicans. You think you don’t want to vote for Biden because he’s not exactly who you want? Because he’s not progressive enough or liberal enough? 

What about all the Republicans who may not support Trump, but want a Republican majority on the Supreme Court? The ones who may not like him, but would be willing to deal with him for four more years if it means controlling the Supreme Court for the next 40?

It’s awful and unfortunate that RGB died so close to the election. Throughout her life she worked tirelessly to fight for equality. Don’t let her life be in vain. 

Now more than ever, it’s important to vote. Everyone. Down the entire ballot. 

I’m lucky enough to live in California, a historically Blue state. But those of my followers who live in Red states, you especially need to call your representatives in the Senate and tell them to postpone any nomination. Cite Mitch McConnell’s own actions in 2016. Anything you can do to add pressure. Remind them who they really work for: you, their constituents. 

We cannot give up the fight. We can’t. Your vote matters. If it didn’t, why would the GOP be trying so hard to take it away? Make sure you’re registered. If you want to mail in your ballot then drop it off at designated polling stations instead of the post office to ensure it’s counted in time. 

I don’t have many followers so I don’t know who will see this, but please, reblog this. Spread the information. RBG’s death will galvanize Republicans out to vote en masse. We can’t afford to be apathetic or disenfranchised. We can make a difference, but not if we don’t bother to try. 

@one-time-i-dreamt @thebibliosphere

The one and only time I used a voting machine (I don’t remember what brand), it didn’t actually display the votes it registered so that I could confirm them.  I think the instructions said that you should be able to see your vote, but that area was blank.  Ever since then, I’ve stuck with the paper forms -- at least that way I know that there was a physical record of my vote at some point, and I can confirm that the right spots are marked before I submit the ballot.

Hey there US friends! If you’re voting using these machines (Hart eSlate) or similar ones right now or in the near future, make sure that the machine has NOT changed your ballot before casting it, ‘k? It’s apparently an already known problem, and has been for years, but has never been fixed.

Additional Source: https://abc13.com/politics/straight-party-voters-reporting-their-votes-were-changed/4556377/

I’m pretty sure I’m going to fail my saving throw on Minority Monsters again.  They’re just so adorable!  I already have the hardcover edition, but the softcover is going to have some updated sections.  It also helps fund an audiobook version, and I know people who could use that.

If you missed out on the hardcover Minority Monsters, consider backing this Kickstarter to get the softcover edition!  How can you resist Queen Ravishment the polyamorous dragon and all the others??

I’m doing a giveaway of 4 MASSIVE monster plushies to celebrate the mini minority monsters book kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/khaoskreator/mini-minority-monsters)

To enter just comment with your favourite monster or share this post. No limit to entries but don’t be a spammer. KS Backers get automatically entered!

Winners gets chosen randomly when the kickstarter ends 29th september, 1st winner gets first pick and so on. Make sure your dms are open so I can contact you!!

This is so frustrating.  Have any of you wondered why your local library doesn’t have eBook versions of your favorite book?  It’s crap like this.  All of the major publishers (and their subsidiaries -- so this covers a lot more books that you might think) put some sort of major block between libraries and their eBooks.  This can include jacked up prices, limits on the number of checkouts, limits on how long a book can circulate before the library has to buy it again, embargoes, or some combination of those.  Oh, and in most cases, the library can only check an eBook out to one person at a time.  If several people want to read it, they have to wait, or the library has to “buy” multiple copies.  (Yes, even if the limit is on the number of times a book can circulate.  Doesn’t that make sense?)

What do I mean by jacked up prices and limits on use?  Let’s take a look at some books that are popular now, just as examples!

The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton -- $90 for libraries to buy the eBook.  You can get it on Kindle for $14.99.  You or the library can buy the hardcover print version for $15 or less.  For that matter, you could buy the print version, read it, and give it to the library.  That’s right out for eBooks.

The Outsider by Stephen King -- just $20.99 for libraries.  That’s not too much more than the $14.99 Amazon is charging people.  However, the copy that you buy (probably) won’t disappear after 12 months.

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva -- $28.99 for libraries.  Again, $14.99 for ordinary mortals on Amazon.  Do you think you and your friends could read it more than 26 times?  Not if you’re checking it out from the library!  After 26 checkouts, it goes away.  But it’s still limited to one reader at a time -- even if ten people want to read it today (and use up almost half of those checkouts), they have to wait in line to get it.

Feared by Lisa Scottoline -- Are you ready for this?  $60 for libraries AND it goes away after the earlier of 52 checkouts or 24 months.  (Still just $14.99 on Amazon for individuals though!)  

I could go on and on.  (Just ask my family and friends who have gotten to hear this rant in person!)  I just checked the top 5 New York Times bestsellers in fiction and nonfiction.  All of the eBook editions suffer from these higher prices and/or restrictions on use for libraries.

Why?  Because we cut into sales?  Libraries buy a lot more print books than eBooks, even now, but we get discounts on the print editions.  Publishers know that library sales mean more people reading their books and reviewing those books, talking them up to friends, buying them for family members, even buying their own copies later.

Because people might crack the DRM on the library’s eBook?  It’s possible.  However, it’s probably easier with a regular commercial copy because library eBooks are actually locked down more than individual eBooks.  You can’t access an eBook that you’ve checked out once the loan period is over -- it’s automatically “returned” to the library.

Could libraries spend their money on smaller publishers that are less restrictive?  Absolutely!  However, those eBooks aren’t on the bestseller lists.  They usually aren’t the ones that our patrons are asking us to buy.

I’m afraid I don’t have a great way for individuals to make a difference.  (Mostly, I just wanted to rant because this is a topic I find extremely frustrating.)  Joining Readers First and letting publishers know that you support libraries will help.  Being patient when your local library can’t get the books you want as an eBook is great, too.  If you have a way to talk directly with someone high enough in one of the big publishing houses, let them know that these restrictions hurt libraries, hurt readers, and ultimately hurt sales of eBooks.

Tor Publishing Issues a 4-Month E-Book Embargo on Libraries, Cites Retail Sale Concerns

If you’ve been to the library recently, you might have noticed something strange. New e-books from Tor Publishing are nowhere to be found. Ball Lightning by Cixin Liu. Cathy Clamp’s newest novel in the Luna Lake series. The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark. All missing. That’s because Tor is refusing to let libraries have them.

Several library organizations and advocacy groups, including the American Library Association and ReadersFirst, have come out against Tor’s embargo. In a phone interview with io9, ALA president Loida Garcia Febo expressed her concerns that it could mean more trouble for libraries and their relationships with publishers, taking into account how hard they had to fight to get e-book access in the first place. She also said how unfortunate it is that the embargo is targeting sci-fi and fantasy readers, given how dedicated and passionate they are about the written word.

I would love to see a Wild West version of the Scottish play!  That sounds like it could work extremely well.

Cowboys are witches and horses are their familiars

Please vote! Even if it feels like you are only voting against the worse candidate or voting for the Less Bad candidate -- we need those votes to make sure we don't get the worse candidate.

Also, vote in all of your local elections if you can. Those are the people who decide whether books get banned in your community's schools and libraries. They decide whether your local police department gets training on de-escalation procedures or bigger guns. They are behind your community's social safety nets (or lack thereof), what types of community events are held, what's in your local parks, and much more.

Voting for Democrats is the "leaving the house, getting some exercise, and drinking more water is good for your mental health" of societal change. Everyone keeps telling you to do it, worst of all your mom keeps telling you to do it, and it's not a magical cure-all, but it actually works and rotting in your room shitposting does not help in either scenario.