Library Research Notes #54
Watch out, Marsha!
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Hello and Happy Belated Labor Day, Dear Readers!
Although it isn’t my absolute favourite holiday (that would be Halloween, of course) Labor Day is definitely at the top of the list for me. Any day that celebrates collective action, unionization, workers’ rights, etc. HAS to be a great one. It is also one of the only days off we get from work where we are truly free to do anything we want or absolutely nothing at all. Unlike Memorial Day and the 4th of July, there are no expectations of cookouts or get-togethers. It is just a true day of rest. If you are interested in reading more about the history of Labor Day in the U.S., check out this link on dol.gov.
Thank you for reading along and if you have anything to add, comment on, or suggest for future issues, please click the button below.
Tennesse’s ‘Extraordinary/Special’ Session
Last week concluded the Tennessee General Assembly’s ‘Extraordinary’ Session and it was anything but. The GOP blocked all meaningful legislation on gun reform, passing only one bill that would increase the budget for a volunteer gun safe lock program already active in the State. For a full rundown of the session, check out this reporting from tennessean.com. The main gist of the seven days was that the GOP supermajority does NOT want to go against the gun lobbyists and the only hope for a better Tennessee is to vote these people out.
Speaking of voting people out…
Rep. Gloria Johnson, from Knoxville, announced this morning that she is INDEED running for Marsha Blackburn’s seat in the US Senate. It’s long past time to oust Marsha from that seat and hopefully Gloria is the woman to do it! If we can get out the vote, we can make a difference for the WHOLE country by removing one of the worst Republican’s currently service in Congress.
If you would like to become a founding donor for Gloria Johnson’s campaign, click the link here: Gloria Johnson for US Senate
We have some Tennessee State House and Senate seats to flip as well and so far we are seeing some excellent movement on the Dem side. GOP members who haven’t faced challengers in the past will see Dems running against them. I hope they are all shaking in their boots for they will soon learn what happens to state legislators who do not govern with the will of their constituents in mind. I will be updating here on races to watch.
Right now, I have news from my own county (Montgomery) where we have a contender on the Dem side for District 75, currently held by Representative Jeff Burkhardt. Allie Phillips, who made news earlier this year when she was forced to travel out of state (to NY) for an abortion when her pregnancy was not viable, is his opponent. Win or lose, her story will at minimum get national attention beyond her TikTok reach. This is what the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the ensuing trigger bans, has caused. Pregnant people who have no other option but to travel out of state for reproductive healthcare or potentially die if they stay. And what of the pregnant people who do not have the resources to travel to another state for care? GOP lawmakers in Tennessee do not care about them, or anyone else. The special session made it crystal clear that this is the case. They only care about money and power, not the lives of their constituents. I will be working diligently to help flip these seats in the Tennessee General Assembly and get people out to vote!
For more on Tennessee politics and the special session, from one of my favourite NYTimes opinion writers, Margaret Renkl, click here: I Put My Money on the Weeping Mothers at the Tennessee State Capitol
Good news from the stacks
Thank you for reading along this time. If you made it to this point, you deserve some good news…
11 Cool Tricks You Can Do With the Google Search Box from gizmodo.com
How to bring a frozen Kindle back to life from goodereader.com
The Fight Against Book Bans Is Mobilizing a New Generation of Student Activists from truthout.org
Top librarian calls 'Marxist lesbian' tweet backlash 'regrettable' from nbcnews.com
'Something worth rallying around': Banned book vending machine opens in Meridian from idahopress.com