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The AI con : how to fight big tech's hype and create the future we want
by Emily M. Bender
"Is artificial intelligence going to take over the world? Have big tech scientists created an artificial lifeform that can think on its own? Is it going to put authors, artists, and others out of business? Are we about to enter an age where computers arebetter than humans at everything? The answer to these questions, linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna make clear, is "no," "they wish," "LOL," and "definitely not." This kind of thinking is a symptom of a phenomenon known as "AI hype." Hype looks and smells fishy: It twists words and helps the rich get richer by justifying data theft, motivating surveillance capitalism, and devaluing human creativity in order to replace meaningful work with jobs that treat people like machines. In The AI Con, Bender and Hanna offer a sharp, witty, and wide-ranging take-down of AI hype across its many forms. Bender and Hanna show you how to spot AI hype, how to deconstruct it, and how to expose the power grabs it aims to hide. Armed with these tools, you will be prepared to push back against AI hype at work, as a consumer in the marketplace, as a skeptical newsreader, and as a citizen holding policymakers to account. Together, Bender and Hanna expose AI hype for what it is: a mask for Big Tech's drive for profit, with little concern for who it affects"
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On Book Banning : Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy
by Ira Wells
The freedom to read is under attack. From the destruction of libraries in ancient Rome to today's state-sponsored efforts to suppress LGBTQ+ literature, book bans arise from the impulse toward social control. In a survey of legal cases, literary controversies, and philosophical arguments, Ira Wells illustrates the historical opposition to the freedom to read and argues that today's conservatives and progressives alike are warping our children's relationship with literature and teaching them that the solution to opposing viewpoints is outright expurgation. At a moment in which our democratic institutions are buckling under the stress of polarization, On Book Banning is both rallying cry and guide to resistance for those who will always insist upon reading for themselves.
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Spellbound / : How Charisma Shaped American History
by Molly Worthen
"What happens when Americans lose faith in their religious institutions-and politicians fill the void? From the Puritans to Donald Trump, this sweeping history by a New York Times contributing opinion writer will change your understanding of the forces that create leaders and hold their followers captive"
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Manual not included
by Hilaria Baldwin
In thoughtful, candid and often humorous vignettes, Hilaria Baldwin reveals the highs and lows and unpredictable outtakes from her different and not-so-different life. Illustrations.
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The Sad Citizen : How Politics Is Depressing and Why It Matters
by Christopher Ojeda
For many citizens, politics is depressing. How has this come to be the norm? And, how is it influencing democracy? From rising polarization to climate change, today's politics are leaving many Western democracies in the throes of malaise. While anger, anxiety, and fear are loud emotions that powerfully activate voters, depression is quiet, demobilizing, and less visible as a result. Yet its pervasiveness is cause for concern: after all, democracy should empower citizens. In The Sad Citizen, Christopher Ojeda draws on wide-ranging data from the United States and beyond to explain how politics is depressing, why this matters, and what we can do about it. Integrating insights from political science, sociology, psychology, and other fields, The Sad Citizen exposes the unhappy underbelly of contemporary politics and offers fresh ideas to strengthen democracy and help citizens cope with the stress of politics.
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Immigration Detention Inc. : The Big Business of Locking Up Migrants
by Nancy Hiemstra
The United States has the most extensive immigration detention system in the world, expanding from a capacity of less than 5,000 detainees per day in the 1980s to 52,000 by 2019. While the most vociferous anti-immigrant rhetoric may be attributed to Republicans, US detention infrastructure has grown exponentially regardless of the political party in power as reports of abysmal detention conditions pile up. Nancy Hiemstra and Deirdre Conlon provide a damning exposé of the ways immigration detention generates income. At the same time, those detained are starved, sickened, and exploited as a matter of routine detention operations. Drawing on over a decade of research focusing on detention centers in New Jersey and New York, the authors map public-private financial relationships and trace how detention contracts for food, medical care, and in-facility stores are fought over to the penny. By dissecting the inner workings of immigration detention, they show a system governed by a capitalist logic that produces sickening and corrupting dependencies in communities across the US. Coming at a pivotal social and political moment, Immigration Detention Inc. makes the case for dismantling immigration detention regimes everywhere.
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Sex is a spectrum : the biological limits of the binary
by Agustin Fuentes
"In this short book, Agustâin Fuentes presents a new view of the biology of sex, arguing that the traditional strict male/female binary is inaccurate and that, biologically and socially, there are multitudes of ways to be female or male or both"
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Reefer Wellness : Understanding Cannabis Science, Culture, and Medicine
by Riley Kirk
Are you canna-curious? Put aside the stigma and discover the powerful potential of weed. For centuries, the marijuana plant has been revered for its healing properties, but it's also been criminalized, abused, and misunderstood. Although cannabis is now legal in much of the United States, many people are still confused about how to access it and unsure about how to use it safely and effectively. Enter Reefer Wellness, an all-encompassing guide to cannabis from scientist and researcher, Dr. Riley Kirk. With colorful illustrations and everyday language, Reefer Wellness challenges the stereotypes about pot use and breaks down the complexities of cannabis for anyone who's ever wondered if weed could help them relax or relieve chronic ailments. Whether you're an everyday user or just starting out on your healing journey with cannabis, you'll find answers to your questions and science-backed evidence to support your use. In it, you'll get: An introduction to the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the powerful regulatory system in the human body that controls everything from hunger signals to pain, A clear, visual explanation of how the molecular components of cannabis interact with the ECS, making it a uniquely powerful tool for healing, Guidance on how to consume cannabis, including the pros and cons of different delivery systems and how to customize your dosage, An overview of ailments that can be addressed with cannabis, such as chronic pain, sleep disorders, and insomnia, Tips for minimizing the side effects of marijuana use, like munchies, bloodshot eyes, and cottonmouth. Let Reefer Wellness jumpstart your deep and meaningful journey into the wonderful and nuanced world of modern cannabis and get ready to unlock its incredible healing potential.
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Moving abroad
by Kristin M. Wilson
"Interested in spending a little--or a lot--of time living in a new country? Whether you dream of a fresh start, new career opportunities, or a relaxing retirement in a new country, this book shows you how to make the move without the hassle. Travel and relocation consultant Kristin Wilson of Traveling with Kristin walks you through how to plan your move step by simple step. Get insight on how to choose the right country, get your affairs in order, and settle into your new home. From visas and healthcareto housing and budgeting, this book covers what you need to make your move a reality"
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Super visible : the story of the women of Marvel
by Margaret Stohl
Explores the contributions of women and nonbinary creators at Marvel from 1939 to today, featuring biographies; interviews with actors, writers, artists and directors; and reprints of historic comics, celebrating the transformative impact of their work.
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The story of ABBA : melancholy undercover
by Jan Gradvall
Through exclusive interviews and over a decade of deep research, a renowned music journalist explores the secrets to ABBA's success. Illustrations.
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It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia : How Three Friends Spent $200 to Create the Longest-running Live-action Sitcom in History and Help Build a Network
by Kimberly Potts
Charlie, Dennis, Mac, Sweet Dee, and Frank are deplorable characters. They will never mature, become more self-aware, or less self-involved. That is what the creators of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are committed to and that's why the show's millions of devoted fans have stuck with the cult comedy hit for over sixteen seasons and counting. Created in 2005 by stars Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, unemployed actors with a pair of Law & Order guest appearances as the highlights of their collective resume, the frustrated trio drafted a homemade TV pilot. A few months and $200 later (the cost of videotapes, pizza for their friends who volunteered as extras, and a broomstick to tape their boom mic to), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was ready for its network debut. All major parties either passed or were interested but wanted creative control. And then came FX looking to shake up cable TV. Willing to allow McElhenney, Howerton, and Day complete freedom to deconstruct the traditional sitcom, new president John Landgraf agreed to take a chance. No one had any idea how big of a success it would be. With FX's one creative note, the hiring of Danny DeVito, adding the final piece of the puzzle, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has enjoyed a steady climb to high ratings, critical acclaim, and a place in the cultural zeitgeist. Now, how the show and its creators have accomplished this is revealed with this in-depth, behind-the-scenes celebration.
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Becoming Caitlin Clark : The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar
by Howard Megdal
Combining modern reportage with historical revelations, a multifaceted portrait of Caitlin Clark's game-changing superstardom and the cultural foundation it was built upon Caitlin Clark has established herself as one of the global faces of the WNBA and has ignited popular interest in women's sports. Her ascent to dominance and international celebrity represents the continuation of a surprisingly deep lineage for women's basketball in the state of Iowa where Clark was born and raised, and where she wrote her name throughout the NCAA history books as a Hawkeye. Spanning 100 years and several generations, Becoming Caitlin Clark traces the arc between the revered women who played the wildly popular game of 6-on-6 basketball in the 1920s and Clark in the 2020s, examining her fame and style of play in the context of her predecessors, while telling the story of the basketball-loving community that rallied behind her in college and beyond. Howard Megdal's storytelling incorporates in-depth conversations with Clark; her coach Lisa Bluder; her Iowa teammates, including WNBA star Kate Martin; the top assistant coach at Iowa, Jan Jensen; the Caitlin Clark of the 1970s, Molly Bolin; vital figures in the growth of Iowa basketball like C. Vivian Stringer and Jolette Law; and even Jensen's grandmother Dorcas Andersen, who scored 89 points in the Iowa state tournament in 1921 and kept journals as she did so, brought to light here for the first time. From rural auditoriums to the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse, this intimate yet kaleidoscopic perspective on the modern game and its newest icon makes this an essential read for WNBA and college basketball fans.
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Centerville Library
111 W. Spring Valley Rd
Centerville, OH 45458
(937) 433-8091
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Woodbourne Library
6060 Far Hills Ave Centerville, OH 45459
(937) 435-3700
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Creativity Commons
895 Miamisburg Centerville Rd
Centerville, OH 45459
(937) 610-4425
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