In case you weren’t looking, you might get some of your American-ness back. Legislation has been introduced to stop the abuse of information-gathering permitted through National Security Letters provided for in the Patriot Act. Here’s why this is good news: right now, an FBI agent could get a NSL if they suspect you (there’s an eerie lack of oversight in the whole acquisition process) to have virtually unlimited access to all electronic communications and private transactions–from your internet provider to your public library. Some of you may remember the admission by the FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III in the spring of 2007 that transgressions had occured; if you don’t, follow the jump. You can also search “National Security Letter Reform Act of 2007” in the Congressional Record to find the text of Russ Feingold’s introduction of the bill on the Senate floor.
Instruct your representatives (here and here) on how to represent you in this matter.
On the Brooklyn novel: “To achieve this miracle, certain writers produce Brooklyn Books of Wonder. Take mawkish self-indulgence, add a heavy dollop of creamy nostalgia, season with magic realism, stir in a complacency of faith, and you’ve got wondrousness.” (via Arts and Letters Daily)
Does literary fiction suffer from dysfunctional pricing?
A brief history of etymology; including etymological ephemera from the past month at OUPblog.
Via fade theory: A bookswap from Dachsies and Design.