my great big turnip in the country

ceci n'est pas une boite

erstwhile	today's special	latterly
2002-04-21 - 11:03 p.m. -taboos: a sampler children's educational publishing: a list of no-nos Boys should be shown as sensitive and empathetic, not as macho leaders. Girls should never be shown acting passive or silly. Wearing jeans is ok... ...but girls should be shown in dresses sometimes too. But not open-toed sandals. And no gang-clothing or backward-facing ball caps. No T-shirts with writing on them other than positive slogans, such as "Food Is Good!" Clothing should not be drawn so as to accentuate body parts... ...such as the breasts... ...or the buttocks. Underwear should never be visible in illustrations or referred to in a story. Excrement or words usually associated with excrement should never be mentioned. That includes any portrayal of receptacles of excrement. Avoid any mention or illustrated portrayal of udders or other genitalia, human or animal. No magic. No characters wishing to be transformed. No ghosts. No monsters (except for humorous, non-threatening ones). No space aliens (except for humorous non-threatening ones). No devils or demons. No 'wands'. No witchcraft. Children should never be portrayed in situations conducive to mutal sexual exploration. Especially with adults. 10% of the characters in any book should be 'disabled.' Glasses and braces do not count as a disability. Mouth braces that is, not leg braces. We prefer people in wheelchairs. No quadriplegics or amputees. Too gory. Mixed marriages: bad. Gay marriages: more bad. Older people should be portrayed as vital and interesting. But not as engaging in sexual congress with children. Even if homemade cookies are involved. Alcohol should never be mentioned, even in the context of champagne toasts on New Year's. No drug-use, unless the drugs are clearly medicinal and offered by an adult. Shooting up should never be mentioned, even if the addict follows proper hygenic procedure by sterilizing and not sharing needles. No self-incinerating freebasers, even if they demonstrate the steps of 'stop, drop, and roll.' Children should never be shown only eating junk food. Even at birthday parties. No breast-feeding. Children should never be shown using stoves without adult supervision. Anti-social behavior, such as cheating, thievery, lying, arson, and vandalism, is not to be portrayed, unless the performer of these uncivilized actions is properly disciplined. 'Confessing' and being punished for bad actions is too negative a story ending. No pirates. Characters should never be shown committing suicide. Even if the suicide is portayed in a humorous light. Even if the portrayal takes place incidentally in the background of an illustration. No religious buildings should be mentioned (except those shown incidentally in the background of illustrations). No pigs (for religious reasons). Hindis don't make up a substantial portion of the ESL market, so cows are A-OK. No use of the words: come, get off, crazy, ass, pussy, cock, or hate. No stereotypes. No farmers in overalls. No Rastafarians. No crazy scientists. No African-Americans eating watermelon. No Asian-Americans being shown as too bookish and smart. Asian-American characters should not be drawn with slanty-eyes. But the eyes of Asian-Americans should be distinguishable from those of other illustrated characters. Maybe as a dot and line? Caucasians should never be the main characters in ESL books. No blonde or red-headed Caucasians should appear even as incidental characters in ESL books. To avoid this, all Irish-Americans in ESL books should be clearly identified as 'Black Irish'. You know. Like Pierce Brosnan. the week in review... just another brick in the wall - 2006-07-19 british telly shows - 2006-07-09 daddy day - 2006-05-18 not doing so well - 2006-04-21 lost and found - 2006-04-19 �