Magic Books

Or, they might miss out on the pleasure and necessity of reading many books because they are not available in their small, struggling libraries. As the Internet Archive spells out poignantly on its website (www.archive.org), “Open and free access to literature and other writings has long been considered essential to education and to the maintenance of an open society. Public and philanthropic enterprises have supported it through the ages.” But today, poorly funded libraries have fallen behind the times and failed to keep up with preserving old paper-bound works let alone the flood of digital works.

Now, back in the Kingdom of Pippin, the way they solved the access problem was simply, arduously, to save their pennies. Well, that’s pretty much how it goes today, too — those dandy old books are free now, but you gotta have access. More ale! More oysters!

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Today

44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race

STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.

Flow 2012 Fashion Show

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Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale

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