Month: September 2024

Banned Book Week: 2024!

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This year, Banned Book Week is from September 22 to 28, 2024. Banned Books highlights books that have been challenged or banned for one reason or many and encourages the reader’s freedom to read those books in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Here are ten books that have been challenged or banned and why:

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson. The reason why it was banned is sexual content.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780062422651

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. The reason why it was banned or challenged: Sexual content, drug use, discussions of rape.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781481498241

Sold by Patricia McCormick. The reason why it was banned or challenged: Sexual content.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780786851720

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel. The reason why it was banned: Bad Language

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781250762702

Crank by Ellen Hopkins. The reasons why it was banned were drug use, sexual content, and foul language.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780606351188

The Earth, My Butt, and other big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. It was banned/ challenged because of foul language, which was inappropriate for the age group it was written for.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780763620912

Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan. The reason it was banned was violent, sexual content, and foul language.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780316098977

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The reason it was banned or challenged was because of foul language and sexual content.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781982149482

Looking for Alaska by John Green. The reason it was banned/challenged: Foul Language, sexual content, and inappropriate for the age group it was written for.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780525428022

The Pigman by Paul Zindel. The reason it was banned/ challenged is foul language.

The link to buy is here: https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780060757359

There are tons and tons of books on this list, so these are just a few books. What books are on your to-read list or considered your favorite books? Are they on the list? Comment below!

Until next time.

source: Wikipedia,

The Hands Resist Him: The haunted painting by Bill Stoneham

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Bill Stoneham created this painting in 1972. He was inspired by a photograph of himself as a five-year-old boy with a little girl. After Stoneham created the painting, it was shown at the Feingarten Gallery in Beverly Hills, California, where actor John Marley took a liking to it and bought it. Marley’s most memorable role was in The Godfather.

However, after John Marley’s death, the painting was somewhere separated from Marley’s estate, and it was found at a brewery by an older couple from California. They decided to keep the painting.

However, in February 2000, the elderly couple put the painting up for auction on eBay. The listing included a bizarre description, and the seller mentioned that the painting was cursed and haunted. The seller’s description also claimed that the painting comes alive, and the kids in the painting come out of the painting to the room it is currently staying in. Included in the description were various photos taken of this haunted occurrence. Word of this weird eBay listing traveled fast: the auction listing had over 30,000 views before it was sold! The painting had gotten over 30 bids due to the seller’s description indicating so much interest.

The winning bid was $1,025.00 by the Perception Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Which still has the painting to this day. After receiving the painting, the Perception Gallery contacted Bill Stoneham and told them about the exciting history of the eBay listing. Stoneham was shocked by the news of the painting’s history and supposedly haunting presence.

The owner of the Perception Galley and an art critic who reviewed the painting passed away within a year of being close to the painting. Due to the overwhelming response to the original artwork, Stoneham did have people reach out to him about doing a commission piece. So, in 2004, he created a second painting called Resistance at the Threshold. Where the boy in the original artwork is now an adult.

Years after the second commission was made, Stoneham made a third commission due to another request. That one was called The Hands Invent Him. Where the boy from the first painting is an artist, and he is on the inside of the house where the two kids are on the outside.

What do you think? Do you believe that the original painting was haunted? Did the kids from the painting come out at night?

Comment below!

Until next time!

Source: Wikipedia

Lonely Water PSA(1973): Don’t go near the water

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This 1973 Public Information short two-minute film was sponsored by the Central Office of Information for the Home Office. This short was called “Lonely Water” (better known as “The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water). The short film warned children not to go near any dark water and water by themselves. The short film looks reminiscent of a horror movie, and Donald Plesance’s narration drives the horror vibes. Donald Pleasance had starred in such great horror movies as Halloween and Creepers.

This Public Information Film was probably one of the scarier ones. Various short films were also shown in British schools or on British TV. When demonstrated in schools, there was always a lecture and a question and answer portion from the police, who often went from school to school showing this and other similar shorts. I remember coming across this short when I went down a weird rabbit hole on YouTube and watched a bunch of weird commercials. This was one of the few commercials that stuck in my mind, and I could not forget it.

The short film was directed by Jeff Grant and written by Christine Hermon. The Central Office of Information wanted to show the public the high rate of child deaths in drownings and water-related accidents during that time. This short film showed everything they could to drive fear into children, not to go near that water, and to drive that point to the public. The film took about two days to shoot and was filmed near London near Heathrow Airport. The most prolonged duration was during the shoot, ensuring that the water was going in the correct direction to film.

Many other shorts were commissioned from the Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents that I might cover in future blog posts, but this is the more stand-out one. Which other ones do you want to cover in the future?

Comment below!!!

Source: YouTube, Internet Movie Database, and Wikipedia.