Dec 22 2008
Watching the watchmen…and librarians meet zombies
An interesting article in the NYTimes about censorship at google. The accompanying pictures are happily pixel-like art and made me laugh.
In this case, there’s not really anyone watching the de facto watchmen per se. But it’s interesting to hear about how Google censors its content. Censor may be too strong a word, though…as it sounds more like stick to the strict rules and everything is free – something like what’s in the 9th and 10th Amendments of the Constitution:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Which, in my mind, is the way it should be. Laws and programs should be developed to protect rights and privileges, not restrict them. Hence a few very obvious disagreements with things like, oh, poll taxes, Prop 8, limiting health care rather than making health care a right for all, etc. etc.
Also, Bonnie sent me this silly “Thriller” video. This is what happens when librarians get together – a combo of book car drill teams, costume parties and…low production quality Matrix fight scenes?? Overall a compelling reason to be around librarians, I think. 
