‘Do our police departments yet have Reading Compliance Officers?’: Satirical letter to the editor highlights dystopian nature of Utah’s book bans

Utah-based writer and teacher Steve Capone, Jr., highlighted the dystopian nature of Utah’s book bans in a letter to The Salt Lake Tribune seeking help regarding the proper procedure for seizing students’ Margaret Atwood books, reporting them to police, and disposing of the contraband books.

Recommended Videos

Utah’s extreme approach to book banning feels like something out of a dystopian novel. Recently, Utah became one of the only states in the U.S. to pass legislation permitting statewide book bans. Currently, 13 books have been banned in every public and charter school across the state. The list predominantly comprises books by female authors that tackle topics like sexual assault, substance abuse, and sexuality from a female perspective. Six books on the list are from author Sarah J. Mass, while books from Atwood, Judy Blume, and Rupi Kaur also made the list. Meanwhile, the statewide ban was hailed as a “bright day” for Utah by Republican lawmakers who celebrated its passage with an unhinged book-banning party in which they called for authors to repent and constructed huge poster boards displaying every alleged sexual excerpt from every banned book. During board meetings to discuss the statewide book bans, members reportedly floated ideas to include a stipulation forcing teachers to burn the banned books because conservatives were scared that students might dig through the dumpsters to get ahold of them. Meanwhile, teachers are left asking what they’re supposed to do when a student comes into school possessing an illegal Atwood book that must be burned lest the mere sight of it causes Republican lawmakers to faint from fear and horror.

Utah teacher asks for clarity on enforcing book bans Capone wrote a letter the editor of The Salt Lake Tribute as a general plea for help regarding how he and his fellow teachers can ensure “full compliance” with Utah’s book bans. He began the letter with a question: “To which government agency should we teachers report students in possession of pornographic materials (such as Margaret Atwood or Sarah J. Maas’s books) on school property?” Capone expressed fear that these students may be reading illegal books on school grounds or have them hiding in their lockers and backpacks.

Hence, he wanted to know the protocol for searching students, seizing their reading materials, and turning them over to police. He questioned if students found reading Atwood should be reported to their parents for possessing “pornography” on campus or if schools should create a list of students who are not permitted to carry bags in case they “might hide additional contraband.” However, Capone isn’t just concerned about students but also teachers who may be caught reading these books. He questions, “To whom should I report them? Do our police departments yet have Reading Compliance Officers assigned to these cases?” Since the law also requires teachers to “dispose” of the books, he also wanted to know if he should burn the illegal books privately or “in the public square” for spectators to attend.

Capone concludes his letter with his overarching question, “How will we punish our children, and how might we discourage other children from seeking out this banned literature?” While most will recognize the letter as satire, the frightening thing is that Utah could very well reach a point where these kinds of letters are serious. When states in the U.S. have already reached the level of statewide bans, one must ask what’s next. It’s very clear that Reading Compliance Officers, surveillance, arrests, and public book burnings aren’t satire but the legitimate goal of book banners. Utahns are already calling for book burnings and criminal charges against owners of Little Free Libraries, while conservatives in Florida have called the cops on librarians and students for checking out books.

States that are passing legislation regarding book bans are going down a slippery slope because there is no way to enforce full compliance aside from the dystopian measures Capone suggested. What happens when a conservative school official spots a student in school with one of Atwood’s books they purchased on Amazon? What happens when teachers and librarians are threatened with criminal charges if their students possess these banned books? Are these schools going to partake in surveillance and searches and deploy the secret police to catch book readers? Can any Republican lawmakers take a stab at Capone’s questions and provide answers that don’t sound like they come from a fascist manifesto or dystopian novel?

The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

‘… it has broader social costs as well’: Schools spent $3 billion last school year battling security threats, lawsuits, and staff turnover related to book bans

Last school year, schools in the U.S. spent a staggering $3 billion on costs related to book bans and culture wars, including lawsuits, security measures, and high turnover rates.

Recommended Videos

The steep financial costs are one aspect of book banning that isn’t always visible to the public. However, the costs are exorbitant. Last year, 15 people drained $72,000 worth of library funds at St. Tammany Parish Library by going on a book-banning spree and filing dozens of complaints each. After all, it’s estimated that schools can spend up to $100 per complaint, and when you have serial book banners, like Bruce Friedman, challenging 900 books each, the costs add up fast. However, the labor and resources involved in processing complaints, reviewing books, and complying with book-banning legislation are just one of many costs. Legal fees are another major cost as school districts infringe on students’ and parents’ rights by taking it upon themselves to decide what people can read, and are increasingly being hit with lawsuits. Districts like Llano County have accumulated over $200,000 in legal fees for refusing to accept a judge’s ruling that it must return a handful of books to library shelves. Recently, a study into the fiscal cost of book bans and culture wars found other sources of costs, including schools having to bulk up security and dealing with high turnover due to violent threats and harassment. The high costs of book bans and culture wars Researchers from UCLA, the University of Texas at Austin, American University, and UC Riverside recently published “The Costs of Conflict, The Fiscal Impact of Culturally Divisive Conflicts on Public Schools in the United States.” The study examines the cost of “culturally divisive conflicts” in public schools, including book bans, challenges to curriculum, and policies regarding LGBTQ+ students. It found that cultural conflicts cost U.S. school districts a combined $3.2 billion.

As mentioned above, part of the costs were related to security. Conflicts about book bans and school policies have increasingly grown violent as conservatives rely on threats, harassment, and intimidation to get their way. In a Colorado school district, conservatives sent bomb threats to three elementary schools over claims that children had access to LGBTQ+ books. Schools have to respond to these threats or the possibility of such threats, and it’s not cheap. One anonymous school superintendent told researchers his mid-sized district spent $100,000 hiring off-duty officers because “people coming to the board meetings are unpredictable and sometimes violent.” The same school district spent over $500,000 in legal fees over a lawsuit due to a board member’s campaign against the LGBTQ+ community.

However, the largest cost the survey found was actually those related to turnover. Some educators are leaving because they disagree with schools’ discriminatory or dystopian policies, while others feel the harassment, death threats, and scrutiny they face for doing their jobs isn’t worth it. School districts of 10,000 students could be spending up to $461,000 on recruitment, staff absenteeism, and other expenses related to high turnover. A superintendent confirmed to researchers that many school staff members are under immense stress as “they navigate imaginary slights and online drama in the community.” Considering 50% of superintendents surveyed reported experiencing harassment during the school year, 10% had faced violent threats, and 11% had their properties vandalized, it’s no surprise that high turnover rates are plaguing districts.

John Rogers, the study’s lead researcher, warned that these conflicts have “broader social costs as well,” including the “undermining of social trust,” raising stress levels, and fundamentally impacting how educators and students experience school. Unfortunately, Rogers also paints a grim portrait of the future, warning that Donald Trump’s presidency will likely further inspire conservatives to launch attacks on public schools and foster these book bans and other costly conflicts. It’s striking that many people in this country would prefer to drive the school system to the ground by draining all its resources rather than allowing kids to read or ensuring that schools are inclusive.

The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Running a Small Business Under Trump: A Look Back at Growth and What’s Next with Dumbo Moving

Operating a small business comes with its fair share of challenges, especially in a changing economic landscape. With Trump’s re-election, many are hopeful that the conditions that fueled growth between 2016 and 2020 will return. During that period, lower fuel prices, tax cuts, and reduced regulatory burdens helped small businesses thrive.However, as new obstacles have emerged — such as increased competition from gig economy platforms — the landscape is changing again. So today, we’ll reflect on the business climate under Trump’s first term, examine current challenges, and explore what the future may look like under his renewed leadership.A Golden Era for Growth The years between 2016 and 2020 under Trump marked a period of unprecedented growth for small businesses. For one, lower diesel prices allowed companies like ours at Dumbo Moving to operate more cost-effectively, reducing overhead and passing on savings to customers. We also saw an increased respect for small businesses, with consumers valuing the personal touch and reliability of locally owned companies. Furthermore, lower federal taxes and fewer regulatory burdens helped ease the financial and administrative pressures on business owners. This reduction in costs and complexity gave companies more flexibility to allocate resources where needed, meaning they were better equipped to innovate, expand their offerings, and deliver services. With these favorable conditions in place, many businesses, including ours, found themselves in an ideal position to grow and thrive. Current Challenges Since Trump’s first presidency, the landscape for small businesses has again shifted, bringing new challenges. For example, one obstacle we’ve faced has been the rise of gig economy platforms like TaskRabbit, which have introduced a surge of low-cost labor, often provided by immigrant workers eager to secure any available work. While these platforms offer consumers cheaper alternatives, they’ve increased price competition, making it difficult for trusted businesses like ours to maintain sustainable pricing while still delivering quality services.Additionally, the personal touch that once set small businesses apart is increasingly lost in this shift toward gig economy labor. Customers may now prioritize affordability over the quality and reliability of working with locally owned companies. At Dumbo Moving, we’ve always prided ourselves on fostering relationships with our clients, offering not just a service but a level of care and attention others simply can’t replicate. Yet, with gig economy platforms thriving, the very qualities that made small businesses so appealing have become overshadowed by the pursuit of the lowest price.Looking AheadAs small businesses face an evolving landscape, many hope that the growth-driven conditions of 2016 to 2020 will be restored under Trump’s leadership. One key factor is the potential stabilization of inflation, especially with the introduction of tariffs and efforts toward resolving global conflicts. With the geopolitical situation improving, fuel prices are expected to decrease, providing relief for businesses that depend on transportation costs. These factors, coupled with a stronger global economic environment, could lead to more predictable pricing and a healthier financial climate for businesses.In addition, the expected reduction in inflation and interest rates will likely stimulate the housing market. This rebound is particularly important for the moving industry, as an uptick in real estate transactions means more household moves. Plus, the anticipated reduction in government spending should result in a stronger dollar, enhancing the purchasing power of American consumers in general. As the value of the dollar strengthens, households will have more disposable income, which could lead to greater consumer spending across a variety of industries, including small businesses.Final Thoughts Ultimately, while the landscape for small businesses has certainly faced its ups and downs, under Trump’s leadership, the potential for renewed growth and success is clear. With the potential stabilization of inflation, a rebound in the housing market, and a stronger dollar, there are many reasons for optimism. At Dumbo Moving, we are committed to navigating these changes with the same dedication to quality and personalized service that has always set us apart. As the economic climate continues to evolve, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide reliable, customer-focused moving solutions to businesses and individuals throughout NYC and beyond.
Lior Rachmany is a Grit Daily Group contributor and the CEO at Dumbo Moving and Storage, Inc.

Chicago man visits Michigan to return overdue book after 50 years

WARREN, Mich (WXYZ) — A Chicago man is trying to turn his honest mistake into something positive after forgetting to return an overdue library book to his childhood library in Warren.“I was going through the books on my bookshelf, as I do every decade or so, and when I got to this book, I’m like ‘Baseball Zaniest Stars’, I remember this, and I noticed the Dewey decimal number on it, and I thought uh oh what is this,” said Chuck Hildebrandt.

He checked out the book in 1974 at the age of 13 because of his love of baseball.”When I was a kid, I became a baseball freak during the 1968 Tiger’s pennant run. Even as a six and seven-year-old, I couldn’t avoid it,” said Hildebrandt.After discovering he still had the book a few years ago, Hildebrandt decided to hang onto it until the 50th anniversary of the due date to visit Warren and return it in person.“I can’t account for thirteen-year-old me. All I can say is 63-year-old me would definitely turn the book in on time,” said Hildebrandt.However, Library Director Oksana Urban says it was too late, and they could not accept the book.”I got a chuckle, and I said, let’s check the system to see if your name is still online, and we did, and I said, Mr. Charles, your name has been purged, and so has the book that you’re holding,” said Urban.

Hildebrandt was able to keep the book fine free. But that didn’t stop his guilt.He estimates if charged the fines would have added up to $4,563.75.“At that point it became a very real number and I started feeling very embarrassed,” said Hildebrandt.“So I thought at that point I need to do something to kind of make good on this. They’ve already forgiven the fine; what can I do.”He decided on raising the amount of the fines through GoFundMe to support the non-profit Reading is Fundamental (RIF).“It’s a charity that helps children of modest means discover the joys of reading,” said Hildebrandt.Now “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars” is now back on his shelf in Chicago.It’s safe to say some books do stick with you for a lifetime.

Meet woman, daughter of billionaire, who leads Rs 7000 crore business empire, she is…

Over the years, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the business by playing pivotal roles in building brands, new product development.Many Indian billionaires have now handed over their business reign to their children. The next generation is successfully running the business and continues to grow it. One such person is Jayanti Chauhan, daughter of Ramesh Chauhan, the man behind the popular water bottled water company.

Jayanti currently leads the business as the Vice Chairperson. She has been a part of Bisleri since the age of 24. Jayanti is the only heir to Bisleri’s reported Rs 7,000 crore business empire. She worked under the guidance of her father and took charge of the company’s Delhi office. Jayanti has spearheaded the transformation of Bisleri. Beyond product development, Jayanti has taken a central role in refreshing the brand image of Bisleri.

Her tenure at Bisleri has been marked by a deep understanding of the various facets of the company’s operations, starting with hands-on experience on the shop floor. Jayanti is an avid traveller and a passionate animal lover. As an amateur photographer, she captures the essence of her experiences.

Over the years, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the business by playing pivotal roles in building brands, new product development, allowing her to gain knowledge of the intricate nuances that drive the business.

READ | Meet Indian billionaire whose airline went bankrupt, still has Rs 44154 crore net worth, his son co-owns IPL team

Jayanti Chauhan’s education qualification

Jayanti is an alumnus of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. She focused her studies on Product Development. Jayanti pursued Fashion Styling at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni, Milano. She holds a degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Besides, she has qualifications in fashion styling and photography from the London College of Fashion, further enriching her professional repertoire.

Story Science & Exploration Matthias Maurer 81929 views 387 likes Read

Science & Exploration

81849 views
387 likes

Matthias Maurer was born in Sankt Wendel (Saarland), Germany, on 18 March 1970. His favourite activities are travelling, photography, reading, politics and learning foreign languages. He also enjoys sports, especially cycling and hiking.

Education

Matthias Maurer

Matthias graduated from the Gymnasium Wendalinum in Sankt Wendel, Germany, in 1989.He studied materials science and technology at Saarland University, Germany; University of Leeds, UK; the European School for Materials Technology EEIGM/INPL Nancy, France; and UPC Barcelona, Spain.In 1996 he received a European engineering diploma in materials technology from the EEIGM/INPL in Nancy and, in 1998, two further engineering diplomas in materials science and materials technology, both from Saarland University, Germany. Matthias complemented these engineering diplomas with a master’s degree in economics for engineers from the Open University in Hagen, Germany in 2006.In 2004 Matthias graduated with a doctorate in materials science engineering from the Institute of Materials Sciences of the Technical University of Aachen, Germany. The topic of his dissertation was “Lightweight composites made of aluminium foam with thermally sprayed coatings” and was awarded the highest mark “with distinction”. As a result of this work, Matthias earned several national awards for outstanding research in the field of materials sciences. He is also the inventor of more than 10 patent applications, half of them international registrations. 

General experience

After high school and during his undergraduate studies, Matthias served as a paramedic with the Malteser Emergency Service. As a tertiary student he participated in various international scientific collaborations and scholarships, which provided opportunities to gain extensive international and cross-cultural experience in France, Spain, the UK, Argentina, and South Korea.During this time, Matthias also worked as a junior scientist contributing to research on intermetallic materials for high-temperature applications at Saarland University, Germany. While there, he helped to establish an EU-funded international cooperation between his German and Argentinian universities in the field of materials science.From 1999 to 2004, Matthias held the role of project engineer and senior researcher at the Technical University Aachen, Germany where he gained substantial experience in international project management while working on his PhD. After successfully defending his PhD work, he took a gap year to widen his intercultural horizons and enhance his interpersonal skills through world travel.From 2006 to 2010 Matthias worked as project engineer for an international medical company researching new materials and technologies to produce medical disposables such as blood filters used for dialysis.

ESA experience

Matthias participated in the selection process for ESA astronauts in 2008/2009 and passed all selection tests to make it through to the final 10. Though not an original member of the ESA class of 2009, he did join ESA in 2010 as a crew support engineer and eurocom for the Columbus flight control team.In 2012 Matthias took a lead role in ESA Astronaut Centre projects to prepare for future spaceflight operations with new international partners and extend the Agency’s human exploration expertise beyond the International Space Station.In September 2014 he was a member of the ESA CAVES expedition crew, contributing his eurocom skills and extensive research and development experience while assessing the programme’s suitability for participation by international partners and potential spin-offs for additional EAC projects.Matthias formally joined the European astronaut corps in July 2015, and successfully graduated from both basic astronaut training and pre-assignment training in 2018.In 2016 Matthias participated in the NASA NEEMO 21 analogue mission, spending a total of 16 days underwater as part of a crew testing exploration strategies and tools for future Mars missions.In August 2017, he participated in sea survival training off the coast of China with fellow ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and seven Chinese Taikonauts. This was the first time foreign astronauts had been invited to participate in Chinese training.Between 2017 and 2019 Matthias continued to participate in geological field trainings related to future moon exploration and, in March 2018, he gained certification to perform International Space Station-related spacewalks in the American spacesuit EMU.Based at ESA’s Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Matthias was also project managing the development of a new ESA Moon simulation facility known as Luna prior to his first space mission assignment.

Spaceflight

In December 2020, Matthias was officially assigned to his first International Space Station mission known as “Cosmic Kiss”. He is the second ESA astronaut to fly under NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme and was launched from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, as part of SpaceX Crew-3, alongside NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron on 11 November 2021. During his time in orbit, Matthias supported over 35 European experiments and even more international experiments on board, and performed his first spacewalk in support of assembly, refurbishment and maintenance work on the International Space Station. He returned from this mission on 6 May 2022 after 177 days in space.More info on Cosmic Kiss here.

Like
Thank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!

E-lixr pivots business model to enable a globally unified electric water taxi network

Young electric water taxi service E-lixr is pivoting its previous business strategy to become the US’s first operator of all-electric vessels. It now seeks to support new and existing marine fleet operators with a unified platform.

E-lixr is a new company founded by Sam Payrovi and Nathalie Paiva. Together, they formed ARKHAUS, an innovative new social club on the waters of Miami, which we have covered on Electrek in the past.

For this venture, Payrovi and Paiva recruited the expertise of Aaron Leatherwood, a US Coast Guard licensed chief engineer and retired USCG Commander, who signed on as E-lixr’s director of marine operations.

During that September 2024 business announcement, E-lixr shared that it was “emerging at a crucial time, post-pandemic, as an increase in environmental awareness, urban congestion, and technological advancements have converged to create the ideal conditions for alternative transport solutions.”

Here, we learned that E-lixr’s initial transport solutions would include electric water taxi services in the US, beginning in Miami. To begin, E-lixr divulged plans to launch a pilot service of its water taxis on the waterways of Biscayne Bay this past fall, starting with two traditional Axopar vessels.

That initial rollout was its “Pre-lectric service” to begin testing taxi routes at the start of Miami’s busy tourism season before transitioning to a more sustainable marine fleet to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution on the water.

The original plan was to introduce the nation’s first all-electric waterborne transportation service powered by its own zero-emission E-lixr vessels, designed in-house. However, an update from E-lixr today states that the startup is less focused on being the first and only electric water taxi network in the US and is now more focused on developing and supporting a universal network of vessels that will eventually extend beyond the region to a global scale.

Source: E-LIXR

E-LIXR looks to create a global electric water taxi network

Per a press release from E-lixr this morning, the marine mobility network has decided to pivot its business strategy away from simply becoming the first nationwide operator of all-electric water taxis. Instead, it aims to create a nationwide and international network of all-electric operators under a single, recognizable brand.

To do so, E-lixr says it will  empower new existing and fleet operators through a unified platform-based business model to enable faster scalability. Thus, E-lixr will look to position itself as a resource and enabler for current water taxi operators looking to “modernize, decarbonize, and streamline their operations.”

E-lixr says this strategy shift also enables international operators to join its planned network helping accelerating its plans for global reach and environmental impact on Earth’s waters. E-lixr co-founder and CEO Sam Payrovi elaborated:

Our goal is to make all-electric waterborne transportation accessible and ubiquitous. This approach not only benefits operators but also expedites the transition to sustainable water transportation. We’re making it as seamless as possible for operators to transition to electric. Our platform is designed to handle the heavy lifting so operators can focus on serving their customers

As part of its reimagined business strategy, E-lixr intends to establish a network of existing medium- and large-scale operators as well as individual entrepreneurs operating on smaller waterways. In regions without suitable operators, E-lixr will partner with new entities to establish electric water taxi operations.

The company will then provide those network operators who get an invite to participate with a suite of tools, resources, and services to launch and maintain electric water taxi or ferry services. E-lixr intends to help facilitate access to approved electric boats, financing solutions, tech platforms for ticketing, routing, and onboard purchases, plus the necessary marketing campaigns to build a customer base, charging infrastructure installation and maintenance, and even legal support.

The overall goal is to provide water taxi fleet operators in its network with Operators an ecosystem of centralized technology that integrates rider, captain, and host applications into one, enabling everything from ticket sales to onboard hospitality. E-lixr even shared plans to help facilitate first- and last-mile connections through partnerships with rideshare services on land. Payrovi shared more insight:

Riders will be able to book an entire journey, from home to waterfront to destination, all in a single transaction. This convenience dramatically expands the customer base for our operators.

As we reported in September, E-lixr has already designed its own electric water taxi vessel to meet US Coast Guard commercial inspection requirements. However, the startup shared it now recognizes the need for a more diverse fleet in order to serve a multitude of different waterways and operational demands.

As part of the new business platform, E-lixr wants to partner with OEMs worldwide, then approve their vessels for operations within its electric water taxi network and help bring production of those vessels to the US. the enable this, the company said it plans to establish a dedicated US shipyard that will provide international OEMs with a production hub to help expedite the development, integration, and adoption of electric boats.

E-lixr will initially launch as the operator in its home market of Miami and potentially a few other US markets before handing those operations off to third parties over time so that it can focus on new cities and international expansion.

Morehead City secures 21st Century Software Technologies headquarters, boosting economy

21st Century Software Technologies, a global software company, is relocating its headquarters from Boston to Morehead City, bringing with it 25 high-paying jobs. The move is expected to take place within the next four to five months.Eddy Ciliendo, CEO of 21st Century Software Technologies, said, “We wanted to make an impact on the local economy, the local community, hence why we selected Morehead City.”Ciliendo, who hails from Morehead City, emphasized the area’s appeal for quality of life. “Either because of the Netflix show or because of them spending vacation there, but other than that, people don’t know this region, and I think that’s where my local knowledge came in and was beneficial as we selected this site,” he said.Kathryn Metts, the economic development officer for Morehead City, highlighted the broader economic benefits. “But then additionally, as those dollars are being paid to employees, they have a larger impact throughout the community as they are pumped back into our economy,” Metts said.According to the North Carolina Commerce Department, the relocation is expected to generate a $2.2 million annual payroll impact. 21st Century Software Technologies, also known as 21-CS, has offices in the United States, Australia, and Germany, and specializes in developing software for mainframe computer systems. The application process for the new positions has already begun.