You might have heard recently about Harper Collins decision to force libraries to re-purchase e-books every 27 checkouts of a book.

As one might expect, this has caused quite a controversy in the librarian community and the American Library Association.

I've never been directly involved in anything at the ALA, but I expect a lot from information professionals.

I never would have expected the President of the ALA to comment about this issue behind the login wall of Facebook, but apparently that's what she did. Librarian and anti-DRM activist Alycia's post about this -- titled Please Keep Our Conversations off Facebook -- is worth a read http://alycia.brokenja.ws/ALA

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All over the nation we're hearing about how we all need to share in the sacrifice because government is broke and we just can't afford the programs that make for a civilized society. This is just not true, it's a lie, it's part of a disinformation campaign. It's part of the Class War that is alive and well in our nation.

How many more tax breaks do the rich need at the expense of the rest of us? How many more times can we allow for the wealth of our society to be redistributed to the rich? Enough is enough. Tax the wealthy as much as necessary until they stop taking more than their fair share of the pie.

A couple of links that illustrate this point

Infographic: Tax Breaks vs. Budget Cuts
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/02/tax_breaks_infographic.html
In 2011 the mortgage interest deduction will help families who purchase a vacation home avoid taxes to the tune of $800 million. Meanwhile, the House Budget Committee chairman’s 2011 budget bill included $730 million in cuts to housing programs for the elderly and disabled.

Politicians shut off families’ heat to protect the rich
http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/politicians-shut-off-heat.html

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Today's photos

Illinois Abolishes Death Penalty, Clears Death Row
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/03/08/us/AP-US-Death-Penalty-Illino...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — After two decades of debate about the risk of executing an innocent person, Illinois abolished the death penalty Wednesday, a decision that was certain to fuel renewed calls for other states to do the same.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who has long supported capital punishment, looked drained moments after signing the historic legislation. Lawmakers sent him the measure back in January, but Quinn went through two months of intense personal deliberation before acting. He called it the most difficult decision he has made as governor.

"If the system can't be guaranteed, 100-percent error-free, then we shouldn't have the system," Quinn said. "It cannot stand."

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I've often joked that the 25 story half-built luxury tower on Ludlow Street will soon become a high-rise tent city.
Turns out that might not be far from the truth if this building in Venezuela is an indicator

A 45-Story Walkup Beckons the Desperate
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/world/americas/01venezuela.html

CARACAS, Venezuela — Architects still call the 45-story skyscraper the Tower of David, after David Brillembourg, the brash financier who built it in the 1990s. The helicopter landing pad on its roof remains intact, a reminder of the airborne limousines that were once supposed to drop bankers off for work.

The office tower, one of Latin America’s tallest skyscrapers, was meant to be an emblem of Venezuela’s entrepreneurial mettle. But that era is gone. Now, with more than 2,500 squatters making it their home, the building symbolizes something else entirely in this city’s center.

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And with all the financial and housing crisis issues here in NYC, you'd think that the city would help keep this low-income affordable-housing building from selling itself to a developer for yet more luxury condos. NOPE, think again.
http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/east-eighth-street-te...

On Feb. 25, 390 East Eighth Street, a dedicated low-income housing building, was sold to Tower Brokerage, an East Village real estate developer with plans to put in market-rate apartments.

The HDFC, the tenant-owned and operated corporation that owns the building, finally conceded to the sale seeing no way out from a financial debt that accumulated during the years the building was being run by a non-profit called Interfaith Adopt-a-Building.

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Today's photo:

Rock beats scissors, Vine beats fence

I would be very sad if the Essex Street Market, where I get fresh bread and veggies, were to close. It's a really nice slice of old New York -- small stalls with everything from fresh food to TV repairs.

So, it is with a supportive voice that I point out just how god awful the Save the Essex Street Market website is. It violates all the rules of what makes a good site. The text is all one image. I can't blow up the type so my aging eyes can read it; I can't copy the text to email it to all my friends; no one will ever do a search on google, yahoo or bing and end up on the site because there's nothing there but an image. Sad.

There's also no email address to contact if I want to get involved; no phone number of public officials to call; no way to take action other than clicking through to fill out yet another useless web petition. Crap, the market is doomed.

http://www.savetheessexstreetmarket.org/

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Today's image:

hydrant scarfs, the latest rage in winter wear