Darcie Wilde

The Ministry of Truth is in the building.

Today the DOE announced plans to dismiss 11 outstanding complaints against book bans, and to eliminate the position of Book Ban Coordinator at the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). This distortion of the intended work of the OCR--the protection of civil rights and students' freedoms in our nation's schools--is negligent, grossly un-American, and in direct conflict with freedom of speech, a bedrock right enshrined in the Constitution. Authors Against Book Bans unequivocally stands against all such attempts at censorship and discrimination. We stand with families, students and educators across the country who exercise free speech every time they open a book, and with the 71% of Americans who are opposed to book bans. Book bans do not protect children; history teaches us that they are a terrifying step toward tyranny.

President Trump's DOE has made themselves clear: they will support book banners in their efforts to strip our institutions of learning of the books that define them.

So let us be perfectly clear: we're going to do whatever we can to try and stop them.

...so-called "attorneys" had "quickly confirmed that books are not being 'banned,' but that school districts, in consultation with parents and community stakeholders, have established commonsense processes by which to evaluate and remove age-inappropriate materials." (Post 6 of A Bunch)

From Publisher's Marketplace: ...The department adheres to the deeply rooted American principle that local control over public education best allows parents and teachers alike to assess the educational needs of their children and communities.(Post 5 of A Bunch) #Readfreely #authorsagainstbookbans

From Publisher's Marketplace Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor says in the announcement that "the department is beginning the process of restoring the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education. (Post 4 of A Bunch) #Readfreely #authorsagainstbookbans

Additionally, the OCR "will no longer employ a 'book ban coordinator' to investigate local school districts and parents working to protect students from obscene content." The release claims it is overturning a "book ban hoax." (3 of A Bunch) #Readfreely #authorsagainstbookbans

and "rescinded all department guidance issued under the theory that a school district’s removal of age-inappropriate books from its libraries may violate civil rights laws." (2 of A Bunch). #Readfreely #authorsagainstbookbans

The freedom to read = the freedom to think. From Publisher's Marketplace: The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has quickly dropped 11 complaints "related to so-called 'book bans'" (1 of A Bunch)

Is there a "block all" command or something similar? The bots have found me.

American.

Silk wedding dress, 1824.

Note the elaboarte 'hem sculpture', popular ain the early 1820s. The trim is a 3D leaf pattern incorporating chiffon which is repeated on the bodice and sleeves
.
© & collection the Met Museum

#FashionHistory

Words to feed your Self for the new year.
“I am whole.
I am learning.
I am letting go.
I am free.
I am talented and courageous.
I am protecting my joy.
I am brave.
I am healing.
I am loving myself. Unapologetically.”
(Alex Elle)
from Becca Anderson’s Prayers for Calm.

England.
Possibly painted by Angelica Kauffman.

Fan Brise, c.1790-1820.

Ivory, pierced , gilt& painted, with medallions containing a group of figures & women. The painting is in the style of Angelica Kauffman

collection the V&A Museum
#FashionHistory

Two historical epiphany cakes from Britain. A ‘Twelfth cake’ for Twelfth Night, made to a 17th century recipe, hiding a dried bean or pea crowning the finder to king and queen for the day. This cake became the Christmas cake we know today. The other ‘Epiphany tart’ from Dorothy Hartley Food in Eng.

That is a gorgeous pie.

It has started a movement. Cartoonists are paying homage to Ann Telnaes.

Here are two of them. Ann’s is the final. Steve Brodner, @danboriscreates.bsky.social
@anntelnaes.bsky.social

Remembering Folk Icon Elizabeth Cotten and Her Distinctive Guitar Approach “Nobody did teach me. Everything I know, I learned all by myself, so I give myself all the credit!”

source of above information

Elizabeth Cotten

Elizabeth Cotten, folk/blues music pioneer, was born on this day in 1895. She taught herself to play the guitar and banjo as a child. She was left-handed but she played a guitar for a right-hander, meaning she played everything upside down. A little thread!

Vacation book haul!!!!

Why I'm quitting the Washington Post Democracy can't function without a free press

This is, or should be, a big deal -- Ann Telnaes, an absolute legend, quitting WaPo due to censorship of a cartoon criticizing billionaires

anntelnaes.substack.com/p/why-im-qui...

Oooo…

Print in monochrome of a close-up of a crouching hissing angry looking cat with curled tail and mouth open showing sharp teeth

Scottish wood-engraver and illustrator, Agnes Miller Parker, The Challenge, 1934 #WomensArt

A manuscript page with writing in two columns and numerous marginal notes and scribbles, as well as a red library stamp.

This single manuscript page has writing on it spanning over 1400 years. The base text is 6th century and there are notes from the 13th, 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. There are few objects that remained interactive for longer than medieval manuscripts.

BNF Latin 2630, f1r

Our party went off extremely well. There were many solicitudes, alarms, and vexations beforehand, of course, but at last everything was quite right.
#JaneAusten #Letters

As a random voice from the internet: I’ve heard Gothic is having a moment, so your timing may be better than you think. Good luck!

Beautiful!

I thought that was part of a declerative sentence: Honey weaving preserves woodwork.

Newbie quilter here, but I kinda like C.

Really amazingly well done set of performances all around. My folks were folkies, so I grew up with these voices and legends and I thought the movie nailed the feel of it all.

President Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100. He was a symbol of what is best about America: kindness, compassion, duty and service. He will be missed, most of all by those who long for a return of that kind of country, led by a man with such strength of character.