Weekend marginalia

More book award news. PEN USA has announced its 2006 Literary Award winners. (Via GalleyCat.) I have not heard of any of the book winners, which include Percival Everett’s Wounded for fiction, Michael Chorost’s Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human for “creative nonfiction” and Adam Hochschild’s Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire’s Slaves for “research nonfiction.”

Speaking of awards, it seems everything is politics. The Literary Saloon provides a nice summary of various coverage.

Since I just picked up two of Orhan Pamuk’s books from the local library, this calculator of what your public library is worth seems timely. (Via Rebecca’s Pocket.)

The National Review Online looks at the enduring legacy of A Canticle for Leibowitz. (Via Eos Books: The Next Chapter.)

While not apocalyptic, it’s worthwhile (and rather fascinating) to take a look at Breathing Earth. (Via Kottke.org Remaindered Links.)

On an even more political note, it is also worthwhile locating a copy of the latest Ms. Magazine for its article “Showdown on the Plains.” Among other things, it points out how uber abortion banner Leslee Unruh’s Abstinence Clearinghouse received nearly $4 million from the federal government from 2002 to 2004. Despite all the federal money for “abstinence only” education, Ms. reports that, until recently, a call to the Clearinghouse “would connect to the headquarters for the campaign working to uphold the abortion ban.”

Finally, I have been long remiss in not previously noting two additions to the South Dakota blogosphere: South Dakota Defender and Jason Folkerts, A South Dakota Cartoonist.

Money is a poor man’s credit card.

Marshall McLuhan, Maclean’s, June 1971