Lowrider Librarian

[This blog post is a sketch of ideas. I plan on fleshing these ideas out.  I want to share them now though.] Fake News as Related to Culture and Information Literacy: The recent information that has come out about fake news sites and stories   that were shared on social media and influenced the recent elections are directly related to the concept of Information and Culture .  The idea of controlling public perception via the control of media was perfected by the Nazis' Josef Goebbels.  Now the ideas of Edward Bernays have been combined with Goebbels  techniques to manipulate and reinforce the idea of Whiteness in US culture. In many ways, this election was about Whiteness versus the alternative developing multicultural worldview that exist within the USA.  These ideas, because a lack of access to education and publishing by people of color, are still developing.  The pace this development has picked up steam recently. The backlash by the Racis...

Hush --if you don't know the name--you soon will.  They are an artisan cannabis product company that produces fine BHO products among other things. They use locally grown organic product to create some of the best tasting BHO cartridges on the Oregon market.   You can get their BHO cartridges at your local dispensary.  If they don't carry Hush--tel them to get with it! Photo courtesy of Glisan Buds This time my friends at Hush sent me a treat. YMF (You and Me Forever--a local farm name)I have not had an opportunity to try any concentrates with higher CBD content. I was in for a treat. The taste is intense, sweet and strong. It is an Indica breed--so I was ready for something strong.  Clocking in at over 73% total cannabinoids.  This was an instant all time favorite for me!  YMF BHO cartridge  testing analysis  After my first draw I was hit with an intense head rush that felt really good.  I grew energized after the second dra...

I love comics, hip-hop, history and beautiful books.  All these things helped form who I am today. As a librarian I still love comics, hip-hop, history, and beautiful books. I feel it is important to cover these aspects in a library collection. Rarely do all these categories come in one work, but this series has it all.  I was stoked to receive this collection as a gift, but didn't get around to reading it until now. Amazingly beautiful slipcase! The Hip-Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor Vols. 1 & 2 exceeds the bar of comics, art, hip-hop, history and beautiful books standards. It will make an invaluable addition to your library collection.  This comic is published by the amazing Fantagraphics press . Buy it now --your community will appreciate it.  Vol. 1 traces the history of Hip-Hop from the 1970's to 1981.  It is filled with little vignettes about seminal figures and events in Hip-Hop history.  The stories it tells begin in the bronx with kids ro...

Buy this book for your Library An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873 (The Lamar Series in Western History)by Benjamin Madley is a book that should be in every library in the US.  This book covers an essential history that has heretofore been neglected save for a few works such as Murder State . Series:  The Lamar Series in Western History Hardcover:  712 pages Publisher:  Yale University Press (May 24, 2016) Language:  English ISBN-10:  0300181361 ISBN-13:  978-0300181364 Product Dimensions:  6.1 x 1.8 x 9.2 inches The book covers the history of the genocide of Indigenous peoples in the state of California from 1846-1873.  During this time, the book traces the beginnings of the genocide from scattered massacres to full scale state and federally sponsored militia and military massacre campaigns.  The sheer brutality and callousness against the indigenous people of Califor...

Whiteness in US Libraries [Note--this is a blog post.  These ideas can and will be further developed.  These ideas are sketches of what I am thinking at the moment.  Feedback is encouraged and welcome.] US schools and libraries serve as points of diffusion for Whiteness.   Whiteness, as used in this post is defined as the concept that European people and European culture are more important than other people and other cultures.   Whiteness is purveyed uncritically in libraries.  This shucking of Whiteness is done under the guise of objectivity, of adhering the the 'marketplace' of ideas.  But this so-called neutrality is really an adherence and capitulation to the Whiteness paradigm.   Children of color hear the message of Whiteness--"European people and European culture are more important than other people and other cultures.   Children of color live in a world of discrimination and bias in US schools.   Some t...

Hush Ultra Premium BHO Cartridges Photo courtesy of Hush Canna.  Hush Canna has a new product for you to try:  Hush Ultra BHO cartridges. These are limited edition stronger, more intense BHO cartridges with higher THC levels. If you are in pain, need to relax or can't sleep--I can't recommend this product enough.   As always, Hush oil is Organic, Artisan quality and is super clean.  Testing details for Headband BB. The strain Hush sent me to try was BB (BlueBerry) Headband.   The taste is super Headband is a hybrid of OG Kush and Sour Diesel.  The oil from this BB strain is fantastic.   It has an earthy flavor with hints of Sour Diesel.   The cartridges hit smooth and one to two vape hits is all that is needed for pain relief.  The taste of blueberry is present and sweet in this strain!  This strain clocked in at 83.53% total THC and 87.53% total cannabinoids.   The price of this product is a bit more. ...

This is a video I created (with help from the school's video production team) for my introductory Information Literacy class. It was meant to broach the subject of Culture and Information Literacy. It can be used to generate a discussion or as a reflection writing assignment catalyst. I would LOVE feedback on this please.

The Other Slavery:  The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement In America by Andrés Reséndez is an important book that you will want to add to your library collection. Hardcover: 448 pages Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (April 12, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 0547640986 ISBN-13: 978-0547640983 Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches It is important in several areas: History Economics Law Political Science It sheds new light on so many areas. It shook my understanding and revitalized my resolve to learn as much as possible about the history of our country and of the genocide that took place and in many ways is still taking place against indigenous people.  For instance, I had no idea that smallpox did not hit the Caribbean until a full 26 years after Columbus' invasion.  This gives new light to the claim that the majority of these Indians died from disease.  These people were murdered or worked to death. The book cov...

PRESS RELEASE:

Hush's Amazing Shiskaberry! Shiskaberry is a great Indica. According to Leafly it is: "... is an indica-dominant hybrid that came about from crossing DJ Short Blueberry with an unknown Afghani strain."  I was introduced to this strain of flower in June from Fresh Buds dispensary in Portland, Oregon.  It was one of their weekly deals. Massive 8 pound Shiskaberry in S. Oregon. My friends at Hush provided me a cartridge of this wonderful BHO extract in July.   The description is for both the flower and for the Hush BHO cartridge.  The BHO is more intense and longer lasting.  Hush produces quality BHO cartridges that are clean and of artisanal quality. This particular strain was grown for HUSH by Farm of Righteousness in Oregon.  Hush only works with producers who adhere to the highest organic standards. Shiskaberry breakdown Words like "no till, living soil, clean, local and sustainable' are all words that HUSH lives up ...

This is your chance to be part of a unique publishing endeavor. Yago S. Cura and Max Macias are co-editing a book of essays written by specifically invited librarians who we feel have some of the best minds in the world. We need help with funds for publishing. Please consider giving what you can to help us create this one of a kind work. We plan on continuing with a series of unique, forward-thinking and courageous librarian works from outstanding minds in the Information world. My name is Max Macias and my Co-editor is Yago Cura. We are seeking help publishing an invitational anthology of radical essays written by exceptional librarians, many of whom are also librarians of color. All funds will be used for publishing and promotional costs. We are projecting to publish this anthology of essays by May, 2017. Few books have been written about how information and culture impact the creation of knowledge. Even fewer books critique how oppression is bolstered and enhanced by cultura...

Because I Am a Better Person

Black dead bodies pile up on the television screens across the nation. While there is a 'debate' about force by some fancy people in some fancy room. Children live in terror everywhere. Educated grown men and women tremble at the sight of a police officer. These are lynchings that puts the Klan to shame. This is Freedom in the US at the beginning of the 21st century.