«At the Internet Archive, this is how we digitize a book. We never destroy a book by cutting off its binding. Instead, we digitize it the hard way—one page at a time. We use the Scribe, a book scanner our engineers invented, along with the software that it runs. Our scanning centers are located in universities and libraries around the world, from Boston Public Library to the University of Toronto to the Wellcome Library and beyond. Eliza is one of our fastest and most accurate scanners. Next she will execute quality control checks and fix any errors. Then she ships the book back to our Physical Archive for long-term preservation. Now imagine this: scanners like Eliza have done this 2,000,000 times. That’s what it takes to provide you with a free digital library.» – Plus Internet Archive’s Modern Book Collection Now Tops 2 Million Volumes, by Chris Freeland, February 3, 2021
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Since you read that, the internet archive does so much more than just preserving knowledge, it’s one of those places that has helped me a lot. If you think what they’re doing is neat and are passionate about preserving all human information please donate to the Internet Archive:
They are hosting 70 petabytes of data and counting. All accessible to the public at no cost. Help keep it that way!
[Video ID: A short video of a woman attending to a book, open on a machine, as the top part of the machine repeatedly pressed down and scans the open pages. When the scanner lifts from the book, the woman, Eliza, quickly turns a page so that every page is scanned. The machine is made in a way that the book can be comfortably left open and the scanning portion is bent like a book to accommodate the shape of the pages. End ID]
A Bi+ History Month reminder on Pan Visibility Day:
Bi has always been an umbrella term, covering a vast range of labels and experiences.
That INCLUDES not relating to labels; making up new ones; relating to more than one; not feeling “bi enough;” and feeling disconnected from “bi.”
To be clear: Pan and bi each have several subtly different definitions. They are both different and the same.
Bi culture is about both/and, not either/or.
Being attracted to multiple genders involves nuance. Contradiction. Inclusion. Pushing ourselves to understand others.
Bi+ culture does NOT involve BEING SHITTY TO EACH OTHER JUST BECAUSE IT’S EASIER TO BLAME OPPRESSED PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY THAN FIGHT TOGETHER AGAINST THE BIGOTS OPPRESSING BOTH OF YOU.
Bi+ culture has always been open to whoever needs it, regardless of labels.
As Heron Greensmith has said: “If we throw out pansexual people because of a myth about bisexuality, we are throwing out our own community.”
Or @verilybitchie: “We need to stick together. Because we need to fight for justice, and we can make justice happen as long as we stick together.”
Bi culture has always been multifarious: full of a great variety of different terms/experiences.
Bi culture has always been unbounded: it defies categories and limits and rules.
You don’t have to like someone’s label. You just have to treat them with respect.
[A square image in overlapping shades of the pink, purple, and blue of the bi flag, with a joyful Black woman centered on it, arms outstretched and face upraised. Text reads: “Prepare your posts. Spread the word. May 2021 is the second annual Bi+ History Month.”]
[Image transcription: Be part of Bi+ History! None of it is common knowledge. We’re all learning and sharing together. Checkbihistorymonth.org for resources. Share your discoveries: A zine. A song. A person. An idea. A moment. A memory. If you like, add your own thoughts; make a video; create art. Tag it with #BiHistoryMonth. Share what others tag.]
Pass it on!
Me: “I want to bring up time travel. I know! I’ll find a good TARDIS gif.” Tumblr’s GIF search: “I GOT THIS”
get in, loser user, we’re going shopping time traveling
come visit amazing historical bi+ spaces! guaranteed absolutely zero alien attacks!
first, we land in Mexico City, 1947, where bisexual, polyamorous, socialist/Communist, disabled, Indigenous,brilliant artist Frida Kahlo is painting in her garden. Enjoy the sounds of brushstrokes, birdsong, the occasional organ-grinder, and eventually, some record albums playing in the background.
Then we pop just a quarter-century ahead, to New York City, 1971.
Five years before, bi activist Stephen Donaldson started the world’s first gay student organization: the Student Homophile League, at Columbia University. Last year, it became “Gay People at Columbia-Barnard.” And now it’s taken over this unused utility closet, in the basement of Furnald Hall, to create its very own lounge.
Kick back with a few of your fellow students to read, work, or just soak up the space. You’ll hear them turning pages, writing, flipping through books and papers, and at one point, eating a bag of chips. Later, someone comes in and turns on the college radio station, WCKR, which is playing some free jazz, followed by a live interview with Abbie Hoffman.
