Nazi Primer + Viola Rescue

[nfotxn]

Today we found a book from our rare books collection. A copy of the "Nazi Primer" which is essentially like The Cub Book for the Hitler Youth. Written in English and published in 1938 (ours is an original) It's horrendously racist, as one might expect and goes into some sickening detail. Profiling people and their behaviours by the shapes of their skulls, for instance. Sitting alone in the work room on a rainy day, reading what felt like a forbidden text felt pretty neat. Luckily the HPL central branch was constructed in the 1980s and looks more like a set from Logan's Run than musty old British library. But the experience left me thinking about the human desire to put things into order. To categorize and understand the world by generalizing more complex systems. In this case culture, lineage and biological superiority. It's not that I didn't understand Hitler before... but having this authentic experience with a genuine article helped me to realize that this really happened.

This evening after the library I took no less than three forms of public transit to reunite myself with my viola chez jgrizz et grimmlok. I had left it in Jon's trunk last weekend. The visit was short as I was basically there on business. But not inappropriately Shawn and I played Brothers in Arms on their XBox 360 and shot up some Nazis pretty intensely. A funny coincidence really completing my WWII theme throughout the day. It's awfully nice that we can afford to simulate these things in 3D graphics for fun.

Tomorrow I get to organize the rare books collection at work so Nazi Primer and others don't go missing again. I actually find this pretty exciting.

Comments

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

That movie was flagrant false advertising.

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

Luckily the HPL central branch

You have a HP Lovecraft library? Cool!

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be neater. HPL = Hamilton Public Library.

[pelut.livejournal.com]

The first time I saw the big signs for Vancouver Public Library, I burst out laughing, and had to explain to my friend why.

VPL = Visible Panty Line

[grimmlok.livejournal.com]

awww cool.. I would totally love to get a peek at that hideous piece of history. The whole fascist period of Germany's history is endlessly engrossing for me.. it's like flipping into bizarro world. To actually have a piece of that history in my hands.. sweeeeeeet