A Piñata of Fahrenheit 451

Two amazing lectures in two days, both part of Banned Books Week Gadsden Reads Fahrenheit 451.  Friend Chris Harrison of Gadsden State’s English department delivered his blisteringly-hot The History Of Book Burning: From Cultural Annihilation To Symbolic Tantrum on Tuesday.  And Bradbury Center fellow Dr. Robert Woods’ passionate presentation on Fahrenheit 451 Wednesday, a presentation so moving that by its end, Amanda Jackson was wiping tears from her eyes and I was on the verge of shouting, “Hallelujah!”  Eric’s thoughts on Dr. Woods’ lecture the next morning after sleeping on it, “You know, it was like he hit a piñata of Fahrenheit 451 and scattered all these pieces of really amazing information all over the place…”  Yes, that is EXACTLY what Robert did.

Gadsden Times Article on Dr. Woods' presentation here.

Chris Harrison

Dr. Robert Woods

No, I Always Make It...

Redhead for whom I am a decoy is in the bathroom at ALLA convention in Birmingham today. She’s doing her business when, in the stall next to her she hears, “Oh, no…” Redhead continues to do her business, comes out, and begins to wash her hands. Woman comes out of stall, saying, “You know, sometimes you just can’t make it…I guess I’ll just have to go up to my room now.” Whatha? Redhead pretends to keep washing her hands as woman opens the door and leaves. Redhead is thinking to herself, “No, no, I always make it…”

When redhead is telling me this story later, I wonder something. Because I was able to make it through the lectures of the day without wetting myself (or worse), was this conference really worth it? How should we measure these things?

This is the future of Alabama libraries.

Listening to: Puccini