Topic: Library

The podcast production has transitioned to a Linux-based environment after 18 years of operation. One host details building a custom playout system using Python and Qt libraries, emphasizing that while AI tools like Gemini assisted in coding, a deep understanding of systems is required for a functional result.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak celebrate the 18th anniversary of the No Agenda show, reflecting on its start on October 26, 2007. They discuss the longevity of the program compared to other podcasts and the importance of decentralized archiving. The hosts compare the collection of podcast mp3s to a modern Library of Alexandria that will serve as historical artifacts for future generations.

The "Take It Down Act," a federal law aimed at combating the distribution of non-consensual explicit deepfakes, was signed into law. The project was spearheaded by Melania Trump but received minimal media coverage. Ironically, the official summary of the bill on the Library of Congress website appears to have been generated by an AI like ChatGPT.

ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl detailed an arrangement where a Qatari jet would be used by the Pentagon before being transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. Hillary Clinton and Senator Jack Reed criticized the deal, with Reed highlighting counterintelligence risks. Trump dismissed the reports as "fake news" despite the specific details regarding the aircraft's furnished floors and bedrooms.

Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump following his suspension from Facebook and Instagram after January 6th. Reports indicate that $22 million of the settlement will be directed toward the future Trump Presidential Library. The deal followed a dinner at Mar-a-Lago between Mark Zuckerberg and the President-elect, which media outlets framed as Zuckerberg attempting to "get into the tent."

A "tip of the day" suggests that public libraries are over-purchasing digital copies of audiobooks by political figures like Stacey Abrams and Michelle Obama. The contributor notes that while classical literature has few copies, these political titles have hundreds of digital licenses that remain largely unchecked. The hosts characterize this as a scam to funnel public funds to specific authors.

The "Tip of the Day" highlighted Link Plus, a virtual lending library system serving California and Nevada that allows users to borrow rare and obscure books from university collections. This service provides access to physical books that are often prohibitively expensive to purchase or unavailable in digital formats.

A follow-up on the Libby app revealed that the service, owned by private equity firms like KKR, often charges libraries inflated prices for metered access to e-books. Critics argue that while convenient for users, the app funnels taxpayer dollars to corporations through restrictive subscription models for digital content.

Ben Shapiro testified before a House committee, engaging in a sharp exchange with Representative Eric Swalwell over "Project 2025." Shapiro defended conservative positions on reducing bureaucracy and restructuring Social Security while dismissing claims that the project seeks to ban books on slavery. The hosts reflect on Shapiro's long career as a "fast-talking" intellectual.

A Red Book prediction suggests Bill Clinton will not survive through Hillary Clinton's presidential run, either due to health or as a "sentimental" political move. The hosts also allege that the Clinton Library is rife with corrupt donations from Saudi Arabia that Hillary needs to distance herself from.

The American Library Association stripped Laura Ingalls Wilder's name from a major children's literature award in 2018 due to perceived racism in her "Little House on the Prairie" books. The hosts discuss the ongoing trend of removing historical names from awards and speculate on future targets for similar actions.

The hosts discuss the "Value-for-Value" model and the artwork for episode 1590, "Bold Action," created by Francisco Scaramanga. The segment includes a letter from a librarian regarding the "weeding" of books published before 2008 in Canadian school libraries and a critique of AI-generated art.

The Peel District School Board in Ontario, Canada, implemented a "weeding" process that resulted in the removal of thousands of books published before 2008. Impacted titles reportedly included classics like "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "Harry Potter." The board stated the goal was to ensure library collections are "culturally responsive" and "inclusive," though the process led to many books being sent to landfills.

A listener report from Grandview, Missouri, reveals that a local library removed all books published before 2005, mirroring the trend observed in Canada. The librarian reportedly stated that classics would only be kept if they were newer editions. The discussion highlights the loss of historical context, such as the ability to compare changes in textbooks over time.

China issued sanctions against the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for hosting Taiwan's president. This move is described as "theater," as the two nations remain deeply economically interdependent. The segment questions the logic of escalating tensions with a primary trade partner that manufactures essential consumer electronics like the iPhone.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the session discussing California legislative bills and a scorpion infestation at Curry's Texas home. Curry details his upcoming trip to the Netherlands to visit his daughter Christina for her birthday. Dvorak notes his monitoring of Library of Congress RSS feeds for new bill titles.

During the donor thank-you segment, a listener named Jordan Lentink uses his donation to propose to his partner, MJ. Another producer, Duncan Kissinger, discusses his work at the Masonic Library of Indiana and recommends Cambozola cheese. The hosts thank their "Executive Producers" for supporting the show's independent model.

A Vice Magazine segment featured Austin residents struggling with the ethical dilemma of the camping ban. One resident admitted that while he plans to vote against the ban to "feel good," he secretly hopes it passes to resolve the safety issues in his neighborhood. Another resident noted that her "liberalness" drops every time she has to clean up human waste, leading to comparisons with San Francisco's "poop map" issues.

A classic clip from the TV show "Bones" is played to illustrate the absurdity of forensic science tropes in popular media. In the clip, a character claims to identify a specific 1993 institutional cookbook by running a typeface through a Library of Congress database. The hosts mock this as a "cheap writer's trick" that misleads the public about technical capabilities.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a major policy speech at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, declaring the era of "blind engagement" with the Chinese Communist Party over. Pompeo argued that the CCP has failed its promises to the world and represents a fundamental threat to free democracies.