Can you stand another bee photo? I took this one a few days ago of a bee trying valiantly to visit the long, trumpet-shaped flowers on Nicole the Nicotiana. It was quite windy and the bee was having trouble landing on them. I'm not sure those flowers are really made for bees as opposed to ants or something smaller, but somehow it managed and hopefully benefitted. I would think a Nicotiana would make some pungent honey, as aromatic as those plants are. Even just touching it leaves my hand strongly but not unpleasantly scented, and feeling a bit sticky.
As a follow-up to my previous post about covering books, I thought you'd like to see what I'm dealing with in terms of quantity. These are the books I covered yesterday, both hardbacks and paperbacks. This is how they usually come to me, in stacks with the spine labels printed on top. I covered all of these and it took me a couple of hours. Whew!
Covering can be a weirdly soothing process, a task that requires skill and attention but not a lot of brain power. I can daydream a bit while I do it. But as some of you suggested in the comments, it also becomes tedious when there are a lot of books to do -- and also kind of painful, because it requires a good grip and a firm hand to smooth down the plastic covering, especially on the paperbacks. My hands are always sore after I cover a stack of books.
Anyway, enough of that.
A student gave the head librarian a cupcake yesterday on this napkin. I thought it was pretty cute so I thought I'd share it. The librarian also gave me the cupcake, which wasn't bad!
This reminds me that The New York Times had an article the other day about "junk journaling," in which people -- all women, in the article -- create collages in notebooks with found items like stickers, labels, napkins, stamps, ticket stubs, whatever. I suppose I'm junk journaling here, in a virtual sense. I've always saved stickers and labels and other bits of trash and stuck them into my journals, way back to when I was a kid in the '70s. I had no idea what I was doing had a name. (Granted, my collages were not as dense as those produced by some of the junk journalers highlighted in the article!)
Dave was away last night for Back-to-School night, in which parents come to the school, see the facilities and teachers, blah blah blah. There was another one scheduled for next week but now that's been postponed because of a planned tube strike beginning Sunday.
As long as we're talking about current events, did you see that comedian Graham Linehan was arrested for some anti-trans tweets he made several months ago? This has caused quite a furor and a discussion about the limits of policing speech in the UK. Although Britain values free speech, there is no written constitutional guarantee like there is in the USA and there are limits to what can be said without legal repercussions. I can't walk up to a person on the street, for example, and use racist language against them -- that's an offense for which I can be arrested. Linehan was arrested, as I understand it, because his tweets recommended punching trans women if they're in female-only spaces -- that specific suggestion of violence is what got him into trouble, though he says he was "joking." (Ha. Ha.)
I think what Linehan said was odious and offensive, but I do think the police went too far in arresting him. His threat, such as it was, was non-specific and not directed toward any individual. I tend to have a rather maximalist view of free speech, that people should be allowed to be assholes if they want -- and perhaps this is my American perspective since free speech in the USA is more legally absolute than here.
But I question why people say the things they do. I don't know why we all can't be more considerate of each other, live and let live, and stop trying to game the Twitter algorithm by being the most offensive person in the digital room and thereby getting more views and retweets. As the saying goes, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I am so with you there where you write that you "don't know why we all can't be more considerate of each other, live and let live". If only!! But every time I become an involuntary ear-witness to any neighbours shouting at each other within their own family, I think that if we can't even get along with our nearest and dearest, how are we ever going to achieve real peace on a wider scale.
ReplyDeleteAs for covering books, as I mentioned in my comment to your previous post, I did a lot of that in my time, at a desk set aside in our larger shared office specifically for that task. A colleague would usually sit across the table, also covering books, and we'd use the time chatting while our hands were busy. It was a cosy sort of work, undemanding and satifsying. For the smoothing of the plastic, we had special tools; a thick, sturdy piece of pressed cardboard, a bit smaller than a regular postcard, with one side covered in thick felt of a creamy white colour. You took the carboard in one hand and while holding down the book, "wiped" across the cover to smooth out all bubbles and creases. It worked very well, and we all had our own "smoother" with the name written on in black felt pen.
We have a white, ruler-shaped plastic tool with rounded edges that acts as a smoother. I think they used to be made of bone back in the day, and they still look sort of bone-like.
DeleteThe technical term for one is a "boner".
DeleteWe used to have the bone-like tools that you showed in your previous post, too, but used them mainly for the fiddly bits around corners and where spine meets the back and front covers. For the larger "flat" areas, the tool I have tried to describe worked better.
DeleteI've just read that it was more than a couple of tweets, if fact a sustained attack that had gone on for a while....I didn't think that it would be for something brief albeit unpleasant
ReplyDeleteI think he has long expressed anti-trans views, but as I understand it the arrest was specifically based on three tweets.
DeleteFree speech... you can say whatever you want? Truth or Lie? Whip up naive or stupid people into a frothing frenzy with no impediments? Hmm, sounds like some people I have seen lately ...
ReplyDeleteThat is the downside of free speech!
DeleteIf that’s Graham Lineham’s idea of funny, he must not be a very good comedian. Encouraging violence is a hateful thing to do. I do wonder if a person should be arrested for saying ignorant and hurtful things. But I’ve read that Lineham is accused of posting abusive and vindictive material about a 17-year-old trans activist. It sounds like his attacks put her at great risk.
ReplyDeleteI think that's something of a separate (but obviously related) incident. The Times story says, "Mr. Linehan, 57, is set to go on trial on Thursday on separate charges of harassing an 18-year-old campaigner for transgender rights, accusations he denies." I'm sure he was on the police radar because of that earlier alleged harassment.
DeleteFree speech on line has become a place where if you want to you can say hurtful things, I am very much in your camp, 'live and let live' and 'if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything'. As we are being reminded everyday, we do not know what the other person is going through.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good thing to remember -- we never know another's interior life or motivations.
DeleteWasn't the cupcake good enough for Big Boss Woman? I would have been wary about munching on her rejects in case the baker had laced the said item with "Trump" branded fart powder. And yes, the public arrest of Mr Linehan was most concerning given the many genuine crimes that the police habitually dismiss.
ReplyDeleteWell, exactly. Is that the best way to expend police resources when burglaries and car thefts are going uninvestigated?
DeleteI love the nicotiana flower and also bees so please go on showing them. I came across a very old recording in my journal yesterday about the eight species found in my old garden.
ReplyDeleteThe eight species of bees? I should know bees better. I just say "that's a bee" and leave it at that, even though I know there are many kinds.
DeleteAlthough on rare occasions I do include a picture, a newspaper article or perhaps on the rarest of occasions a meaningful ticket stub into my journal, I guess I probably don't fall on the spectrum of junk journaling. My oldest daughter however sticks lots of stickers and stuff into her journal. I'm not going to call it that to her as it pleases me to see her journaling as I, my father and grandfather all have.
ReplyDeleteI tend to side with your views on free speech too Steve. I always come back to the "slippery slope" argument. If we start making certain things illegal to say, where do we draw the line and who gets to draw it. As we see with the current U.S. President, we get one crazy person in office and the lines get shifted dramatically.
In my opinion, it is quite obvious why people say things like that, to draw attention to themselves. Ignoring them and depriving them of attention is the best thing you can do to counter what they are saying. Unfortunately in these days of social media, there is no column inches or clip length limitations like the print and television news have and so it is quite easy for people to receive attention and thus I think encourages people to say these things.
Yes, drawing the line is the problem. One person's acceptable speech may be wildly unacceptable to another. I sometimes think it's the political opponents who draw the most attention to the original tweet. Like, the LGBTQ+ people get all upset when Linehan tweets and that attracts more attention to his post. What if we just ignored him, and dismissed him for the wacky crank that he is?!
DeleteThe NYT uses a different bee picture every day with the help section of the Spelling Bee puzzle. Have you thought of submitting some of yours for their use?
ReplyDeleteOh, I did not know that! Must investigate! Thanks for the tip. :)
DeleteI am amazed at how cruel and mean people have gotten over the last 20 years. Even now, after being used to this barrage of unkindness, I am still flabbergasted at what people write about others online. I don't think the orange felon in the White House helps with that as he is one of the worst offenders in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt really is all down to social media. We're insulated from each other by the internet; we never see first-hand the effect of our words.
DeleteSome bees are thieves, and chew holes in flowers to take the nectar without pollinating them. Clearly, your bee was a law-abiding bee.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that hole in some of our flowers!
DeleteI love the bee struggling to get into the flower! Not the brightest, maybe. I expect there's a range of intelligence among animals just as in humans.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the arrest was what they could get a provable case on, not necessarily the worst thing he'd done. See also Al Capone and tax evasion.
Yeah, could be that posed the easiest evidence, though he is currently on trial for harassing a teenage trans activist in a separate incident, as Mitchell pointed out.
DeleteI think people say these asshatted things for attention and clicks on social media. I've often suggested that people should try saying the things they post IN PERSON and IN PUBLIC and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteBut they hide behind a screen name.
Attention and clicks -- that's exactly it. I can't imagine why that's so valuable to them.
DeleteI'm so tired of racist/anti-trans or LGTBQ/ethnic hostility. It seems to get worse and worse (of course, the US has a fine role model for such activity here in its president). Get over it, people, I want to scream. How about trying a bit of kindness. (I've been in the north too long this summer, maybe.) I dug out a book that has the covers you described (hardcover) and the person who pulled these together had used a piece of strapping tape on the inside flaps, taping the flap/plastic inside to the front cover. It looked so much sloppier than your method. Maybe the tech has changed.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of it too! It does seem incredibly retrograde. That strapping tape was an older method of securing book covers. I now use clear book tape.
DeleteWell, I've never heard of that comedian so I imagine he is just trying for attention. Why he would want to attract haters is beyond me. His actions will make most people shy away from his work.
ReplyDeleteTreat others they way you want to be treated. Kindness is so easy and so rewarding.
The Golden Rule, right? I think Linehan is mainly known for the sitcoms "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd," which I never watched. I'm not sure they aired in the USA.
DeleteThat last paragraph 100% x 1000. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteSheesh is right. It's so easy and yet so many people can't manage it.
DeleteThis brings to mind J.K. Rowling and her outspoken feelings about trans people. I don't know that she's actually suggested violence towards any but I know that her attitudes and comments have dissuaded a lot of people from buying or even reading her books and that is a good example of free speech and how others can react to it.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, speech IS powerful, both for good and for bad. Lynch mobs were fed with the fiery speech of racists. Hate crimes are influenced by hate speech.
I like what Ellen D. reminded us which is to treat each others as we treat ourselves. The anonymity of the internet does indeed encourage people to say things that they would never speak out loud in a public, IRL situation.
Yes, I think Linehan's position is very similar to Rowling's. And you're right -- they have the freedom to say what they want, and we have the freedom to react, which includes ignoring or shunning them if we so choose. In my mind, hate crimes have to have a specific victim -- a threat against an individual, for example. They can't just be a broad-brush condemnation of a group. I do think Linehan crossed a line by suggesting violence, but I'm not sure it was enough to merit his arrest.
DeleteI don't think what he said was a joke, it was misogynist. A trans woman is a woman. The comedian sounds like a bigotted asshole. Men seem to be so afraid of of gay people and trans people.
ReplyDeleteAs for junk journalling, it sounds like scrapbooking, without the fancy stuff:)
Oh, he is a bigoted asshole, without a doubt! I'm not defending what he said at all. I've never understood all the fear around gay and trans people. I think a lot of people still have a lot of misconceptions.
DeleteThis post has lots of variety. Free speech is tricky as it's hard to set up boundaries.
ReplyDeleteFrom bees to free speech! I'm keeping you busy! LOL
DeleteI don't know Steve. He's directing violence against a specific group of people. Not sure why this is less bad than against a specific person. Perhaps is people faced absolute consequences for advocating violence against a specific group as they would against a specific person then they might be less likely to do so. And why do people like Linehan think they can tell if a woman is trans just by looking at her? Because they think she might have masculine features? Lots of women have masculine features especially depending on how they wear their hair and how they dress, how they walk, how they act so the threat is against a much larger group. And that excuse, it was just a joke, is typical male gaslighting. It's what men (and I suppose women too though much rarer) say when they have been called out for saying something mean or abusive, a way to blame the victim for being upset. I really don't understand why it is so hard for some people to just live and let live, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. But some people are just assholes. My youngest brother in law, when he was a teen and chat rooms were the first social media sites would join a chat room and asshole everyone until he was the only person left. He thought it was hilarious. I'm happy to say he turned into a decent adult, would never do anything like that now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's a good point -- who's to say someone is trans? It's not always easy to tell! I think his suggestion of violence was too vague, but that's just my opinion. If he'd said, "Let's go to X bar on this night and punch all the trans people we can find," that would have been different. Know what I mean?
DeleteI've never understood people who want to be hateful just for fun. That is not in my DNA.
Some people need to stop and think before they speak. Hurtful words are so unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteThe total lies and half-truths that float about are not appreciated either and they seem to be everywhere today.
Why do some people choose to be offensive?
That's the question! I don't get it either, unless, as Bob and others said above, it's just for clicks and attention.
DeleteThat napkin looks like my Mari, except she doesn't have blue eyes. Never seen a black cat with blue eyes! Directing violence against a specific group of people is supposed to be a no-no in the U.S. but I know of many politicians who have done so with 0 consequences. :(
ReplyDeleteThat's true -- black fur and blue eyes don't often go together, do they? I think black cats usually have green eyes. I suppose the cat would have to have some Siamese blood to be blue-eyed...? (I'm talking like I'm a cat expert.)
DeleteSocial media has lowered standards and manners. I am often shocked at how easily some commenters reveal their lesser selves to the world. I take pleasure in blocking them, because although they have the right to say what they like, I have to right to not have to be subjected to their meanness. Then they never see what I say, and I never see what they say. Win/win.
ReplyDeleteBlocking is a useful tool! Some people seem to revel in revealing those lesser selves. I think it gives them a thrill.
DeleteCodex: Separating topics. Sorry, disagree with you. There's a difference between free speech and hate speech. He made a public comment thoughts turn to speech, speech turns to action. Maybe not through him but someone who reads his tweets. There are many other ways he could have voiced his opinion within free speech.
ReplyDeleteI still think the speech was too ambiguous to be considered truly threatening. There was no specific target (though as we've seen he has harassed a specific campaigner in another incident, for which he is on trial). But that's just my opinion!
DeleteI too wonder why people say the things they do. I think it's because they can, without accountability. There are bigots in my family who make awful comments without consequences. If personal accountability is lax, perhaps public is necessary.
ReplyDeleteI do think we should hold people accountable, but I think arrest is a step too far.
DeleteAn interesting discussion here. It seems that more and more people seem to think that being as obnoxious as possible is the way to go. I call it the DJT syndrome.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely Trump's approach -- and Rush Limbaugh's before Trump. They both give people permission to unleash their inner racist, homophobic, obnoxious selves. There are a lot of people who are sick and tired of being told by society that their views are wrong (even though they are!) and they want to push back.
DeleteShould we tolerate hate speech as free speech? A question for thought. Words can hurt, and rile up hateful people to act. Not a clear answer.
ReplyDeleteThey can, and I accept that this is not a well-defined line. As I said above, I think in this case the speech was not specific enough to be truly threatening, but I recognize that others might feel differently (particularly trans people!).
DeletePerfect last paragraph. As far as too many bee photos? Never too many!
ReplyDeleteOK, good! I'll keep 'em coming! :)
DeleteDoes the UK have laws against hate speech? I do not like comedians that go for the cheap laugh by making fun of a class of people. It's lazy.
ReplyDeleteand it's cruel
DeleteYes, there are laws against hate speech, which is why using racist language against an individual on the street or on public transport is an arrestable offense. Comedy should be shocking -- that's part of what makes it funny -- but it shouldn't cross a line. (And the whereabouts of the line is open to interpretation.)
DeleteThat cupcake is albert
ReplyDeleteIt is very Albert-like!
DeleteCodex: the journal is fun. It's only a junk journal if it's found "ephemera". Other stuff has more meaning.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think the article is talking more about found bits of paper, wrapping, labels, plastic bags, that kind of thing.
DeleteCouldn't agree with your more. Love the napkin. How was the cupcake?
ReplyDeleteGood! Not too sweet. Kind of an apple/cinnamon thing, I think.
DeletePublic hate speech is all encompassing and that includes social media. I don't like it. Have your opinions, voice them, but don't make it hate speech.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I avoid most social media. It's just not my vibe to subject myself to all that!
DeleteOne of the first things I remember mum saying is "if you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all, I also remember mum being one of the biggest gossips I ever met, though I don't remember her ever being nasty or mean.
ReplyDeleteI think it would take me longer than a couple of hours to do those books.
Ha! Well, gossip doesn't have to be harmful or even mean-spirited. Sometimes it's just news!
Delete