ALA | 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000

as it's banned book week this week, I thought you might like to look at what books are challenged in the the USA- challenged here meaning "an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others."

this is the top 20:
# Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
# Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
# I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
# The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
# The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
# Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
# Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
# Forever by Judy Blume
# Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
# Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
# Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
# My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
# The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
# The Giver by Lois Lowry
# It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
# Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
# A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
# The Color Purple by Alice Walker
# Sex by Madonna
# Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel

The Divine Comedy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

think again. dante and virgil go on a road trip literally through Hell. fun fun.

"Dear Sir,

I write to express my fury and dismay over the incident mentioned in the below article, titled "S'pore police hunt white elephants after rare protest". That an MRT station-- a newly built MRT station, furthermore-- should be so defaced by a completely unwarranted and utterly childish display of pique is appalling! This protest speaks volumes about the standard of Singaporean society today, that an issue which has been carefully and thoroughly explained by the government should be challenged repeatedly and in so vindictive a manner. How are we to progress on the road of economic success if we cannot develop a commensurate sense of social awareness and good citizenry? It may be true that feedback is necessary for government mechanisms to function for the people, but this means constructive feedback! Where is the 'construction' or the 'feedback' in defacing a new MRT station with cutouts of white elephants? All the cutouts say is that we are a society who has learnt how to use scissors-- and that we use these scissors to make white elephant cutouts! The resonance of this incident, a public protest, will no doubt be felt at the highest echelons and I hope a clear statement from the authorities in question will lay down the law. The true white elephant here is clearly pointless public protest.

Yours Faithfully,
Outraged of Outram"

...aren't you all glad I'm on your side?

also I note with relief the bit about dr balakrishnan being amused-- it's no venomous attack on authority but a rather more tongue-in-cheek message. although I suspect tongue-in-cheek gets tongue cut off.

SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The sighting of fabled white elephants in Singapore's concrete jungle has sparked a police investigation into a rare public protest in the wealthy city-state.

Police are trying to find out who put up large cardboard cut-outs of cartoon white elephants in a Singapore suburb last month to grab the attention of a visiting government minister.

"Someone has filed a police report and an investigation has been initiated," a police spokesman said on Monday.

He said police were also on the lookout for the cut-outs, which vanished on the same day that the minister spotted them outside an urban railway station.

The elephants were seen as a none-too subtle reference to the station, still unopened two years after it was built. The government has refused to allow services to the station, saying there were not enough households within a 400-metre radius.

Although Singapore community development, youth and sports minister Vivian Balakrishnan was reportedly amused by the unexpected appearance of the cut-outs on his August 28 visit, the authorities appear to be less so. The perpetrators "may have committed an offence" under Singapore's Public Entertainments and Meetings Act which requires a licence to be obtained for exhibits and posters that are put up for public display, the police spokesman said.

Offenders can be fined up to S$1,000 ($600) under the Act.

"At the end of the day, we have to consult with the Attorney-General's Chambers to see what is the appropriate action to take," he added.

Singapore laws require a permit for gatherings of 5 or more, and consequently public demonstrations are rare in the tiny island republic still ruled by the same political party 40 years after independence.

Last month, police broke up a demonstration of four people demanding greater transparency in the state-managed pension fund and other government-linked agencies.

In July, vandals daubed the National Kidney Foundation headquarters with abuse after revelations that the then-chief of the country's biggest charity was taking home S$650,000 ($388,800) annually in salary and perks.

*

my question is, on what basis did they break up the demonstration of 4? no licence needed what.
and while in the same vein,

Complaint lodged against MediaCorp for showing political films
30 Aug 05

Internet activist Mr Yap Keng Ho has lodged a police report to complain against the production and/or screening of political films regarding PAP leaders.

Mr Yap made the report at the Tampines Neighbourhood Police Centre today, citing that two films, Success Story which portrayed Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Up Close which featured five PAP ministers including Mr Lee Hsien Loong, were screened on Channel News Asia in 2002 and 2005 respectively.

The complaint comes at a time when the police are investigating Mr Martyn See for making a film about Dr Chee Soon Juan, which the Media Development Authority has said is “political” in nature and therefore a violation of the Films Act.

Mr Yap said in his report that the screening of the political documentaries of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP ministers likewise contravened the Films Act and has asked the police to investigate the matter.

*

vairrryy interesting. any thoughts?

The Interdictor

"This journal has become the Survival of New Orleans blog. In less perilous times it was simply a blog for me to talk smack and chat with friends. Now this journal exists to share firsthand experience of the disaster and its aftermath with anyone interested."

i want those earrings! whyyyy are they sold out? the price is so fantastic too. how annoying. i wonder if i can order another pair like that. maybe i should just save up for the $260 earrings at wheelock i've been coveting. and the turquoise pumps, also at wheelock.

new shopping paradises: wheelock (raaather expensive, though) and marina square (well, one shop which i discovered has all the cult-y things that i haven't found anywhere else and didn't think i would find, like antik denim, true religion, raw 7 etc, but also outrageously priced. i need a job.) and heeren, which is mostly lovely low prices.

i've been daydreaming about those turquoise pumps since last week. some girls dream about boys, i dream about shoes and earrings and bags and coats.

ugh. whenever i don't feel like studying i get sucked into thinking about movies or fashion or tv shows. badbadbad.