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  Freedom of Speech - Navigating...

  Marcus Klein

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  Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democratic societies, integral to the exercise of individual autonomy and the pursuit of truth. At its core, it is the right to express ideas, opinions, and beliefs without fear of government reprisal or censorship. This principle is enshrined in numerous legal documents, most notably the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees "the freedom of speech, or of the press," protecting the individual’s right to speak openly in the public sphere. 
    
  The origins of free speech can be traced back to philosophical and political thinkers of the Enlightenment era, who emphasized the importance of reason, individual rights, and personal liberty. Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and John Stuart Mill argued that the free exchange of ideas was essential for the flourishing of society, allowing for the progress of knowledge, the correction of errors, and the protection of political freedom. These ideas laid the groundwork for the modern understanding of free expression as a fundamental human right. 
    
  However, the right to free speech is not absolute. Throughout history, the boundaries of this freedom have been tested by a wide range of societal, political, and ethical concerns. From the regulation of speech in times of war or national security threats to the ongoing debates over hate speech, defamation, and misinformation, societies have struggled to find a balance between protecting free expression and safeguarding the common good. This tension continues to shape the debate surrounding free speech, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like social media, which have transformed the landscape of communication.

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  Gentlemen of the Shade: My Own...

  Jen Sookfong Lee

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  Gus Van Sant’s film and the ’90s cult of the alternative Gus Van Sant’s 1991 indie darling My Own Private Idaho perplexed and provoked, inspiring a new ethos for a new decade: being different was better than being good. Gentlemen of the Shade examines how the film was a coming-of-age for a generation of young people who would embrace the alternative and bring their outsider perspectives to sustainability, technology, gender constructs, and social responsibility. My Own Private Idaho ― fragmented and saturated with colour and dirt and a painfully beautiful masculinity ― also crept into popular media, and its influence can still be traced. R.E.M. Portlandia. Hipsterism. James Franco. Referencing the often-funny and sometimes-tragic cultural touchstones of the past 26 years, Gentlemen of the Shade sets the film as social bellwether for the many outsiders who were looking to join the right, or any, revolution.

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  Anaxagoras - Mind and Cosmos in...

  Hector Davidson

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  Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, born around 500 BCE, was a pre-Socratic philosopher whose ideas bridged the gap between the earlier Milesian school and the more developed metaphysical and scientific theories of later Greek philosophy. His life and work significantly influenced subsequent thinkers, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 
  Early Life and Education: 
  Anaxagoras was born in Clazomenae, a city in Ionia, an area known for its vibrant intellectual culture. His early education exposed him to the philosophies of Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, laying the groundwork for his own philosophical inquiries. He later moved to Athens, where he became a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of the time. 
  Philosophical Innovations: 
  Anaxagoras is best known for his introduction of the concept of Nous (Mind or Intellect), which he posited as the organizing principle of the cosmos. Unlike his predecessors who sought a single material principle as the origin of all things, Anaxagoras argued that the universe is governed by a rational, intelligent principle, Nous, which imparts order and structure to the chaotic flux of matter.

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  How to Deal with Difficult...

  John Munford

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  “My life would be so much better if they weren’t in it.” If you find yourself thinking this a lot, chances are you’re dealing with a particularly difficult person who has made it their life’s mission to bother you. While you’d think that getting rid of that one person will solve all your problems, you’ll most likely encounter someone else just like them sometime in the future.  
  Difficult people are everywhere, and there’s no escaping them. Thinking that you can get rid of people you dislike is just wishful thinking. After all, can you really get rid of your boss or your in-laws? 
  Instead of avoiding them or cutting them out of your life, changing your approach to dealing with difficult people is the correct way to go about this problem. However, this book doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never have a problem with a difficult person again. On the contrary, life's problems, arguments, and disputes are quite inevitable. You’re bound to come across people who disagree with you and have no room for personal growth. At this point, instead of getting frustrated, you should opt for healthy ways to deal with such people, which is what this book is all about. 

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  News Is a Verb - Journalism at...

  Pete Hamill

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  A volume in a series called "The Library of Contemporary Thought"—which provides top opinion makers a forum to explore the most provocative, fascinating, and relevant issues of the day—News Is a Verb focuses on contemporary journalism and its evolving readership. From sensational headlines to celebrity gossip, Pete Hamill explores how the critical relationship of reader to newspaper is being slowly undermined. Hamill, a newspaperman whose career spanned four decades and who was the editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News, gives a powerful critique of journalism at the end of the 20th century.

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  Overdue - Reckoning with the...

  Amanda Oliver

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  Who are libraries for, how have they evolved, and why do they fill so many roles in our society today? 
   
   
   
  Based on firsthand experiences from six years of professional work as a librarian in high-poverty neighborhoods of Washington, DC, as well as interviews and research, Overdue begins with Oliver's first day at an "unusual" branch: Northwest One. 
   
   
   
  Using her experience at this branch allows Oliver to highlight the national problems that have existed in libraries since they were founded: racism, segregation, and class inequalities. These age-old problems have evolved into police violence, the opioid epidemic, rampant houselessness, and lack of mental health care nationwide—all of which come to a head in public library spaces. 
   
   
    
  Can public librarians continue to play the many roles they are tasked with? Can American society sustain one of its most noble institutions? 
   
   
   
  Pushing against hundreds of years of stereotypes, romanticization, and discomfort with a call to reckoning, Overdue will change the way you think about libraries forever.

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