Round Up

It's a zorse, of course.

Found this article about the first lady's pin money interesting.

There's a new children's laureate-Michael Rosen.


Wonderful blog, American Indians in Children's Literature, by Native
American professor Debbie Reese.

The Man From Uncle is coming out in a DVD box set. Time Life will have for sale on their website, along with one of my favorites, Get Smart. Wish these weren't so expensive.

In case you are in any doubt about the Kleenex you are using, check out Greenpeaces' Kleercut page.

One of my favorite book blogs is Booklust. I've been reading her for years, but I don't think I've ever commented on it before. This is one very cool and talented woman. Plus, she's Canadian, and we all know how I love our friends to the North.

This past week I have been spending some of my free time adding to the Series Binder wiki. The Webster (NY) Public Library Children's Department created this wiki, but of course, anyone can add to it. You will need to get a sign-on id and a password. You will also receive instructions on how to add to the wiki. I'm having a ball, plus I love learning something new. I've added to Wiki's before, but I've never added pages, etc. Lot of fun.

In 1791 and 1792 boundary stones were placed to demarcate the boundaries of Washington, DC. The majority of the stones are still there. What a fun field trip this would be for a school group. Shoot, I think I would like to drive around and find all of these myself. Scroll down and click on each map marker. Very cool.

I learned a new word this week-necronym.


That's all for this week.

"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?" Seneca

Round Up

This has been posted all over the place, but I thought I would chime in as well.

Not able to attend ALA but still want to find out what's going on in cutting edge technology and social software!? Well check out the BIGWIG Social Software Showcase. This is from their page- The Social Software Showcase is an online unconference occuring around and during the time of ALA Annual 2007. On this wiki, you will find eleven wonderful presentations on cutting edge technology and social software by librarians and leaders in the field. Regardless of where you are in the world, you will have the opportunity to discuss the presentations here in this space. We will also be having a face to face roundtable discussion with some of our presenters at ALA Annual in Washington D.C. on Saturday, June 23rd, from 1:30-2:30 in the Renaissance Mayflower Cabinet Room. If you are in D.C. please come and join us. Very cool.

I'm sure you have all heard the big hoopla some children's librarians made about the use of the word"scrotum" in Susan Patron's Newberry Award book The Higher Power of Lucky. First of all the librarians that objected should be ashamed. That's nothing but blatant censorship, something that we library folk are supposed to be against. I will never understand a society that is so afraid of anatomically correct names of body parts, of seeing body parts and sex. The same society that will think nothing of allowing children to see violent television programs and movies, and those horrific video games. I'll never get it.

Well, Puritanical librarians, who by the way, can Kiss Where I Twist, youth literature is filled with scrotum. So there.


Two books that I have really enjoyed:
Miss Alcott's Email: Yours for Reforms of All Kinds by Kit Bakke and That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake.

Miss Alcott's Email is a combination biography and memoir. Kit Bakke tried to answer life's questions by having an email correspondence with Louisa May Alcott. This delightful book with it's clever format is also a great refresher history course, because of all of the greats that were in Louisa May Alcott's circle-Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and her father Bronson Alcott. I ended up becoming very fond of Louisa's mother Abba. She was a pistol!! Not at all the retiring 19th century woman one would expect. And her father, and equally compelling character. Did you know that he would not wear cotton because he didn't want to support the slave trade? I borrowed this from the library, but I must have my own copy.

That Girl Lucy Moon is children's literature (ages 9-12) at its best. Why oh why did they not have books like this when I was a girl. That's okay I guess because I can enjoy them now. Lucy Moon is a 12-year old girl (who is vertically challenged and looks 8), who is a crusader in all of the best ways. With her green and yellow hat made from hemp, he photographer mom, and postman father, she lives in a Turtle Rock, Minnesota. Amy Timberlake did a great job with the dialogue. The dialogue is spot-on whether it's between Lucy and her best friend Zoe or between her and adults. Lucy is just, well, Lucy. She sees and injustice and tries to right it. We could all take a few lessons from the irrepressible Lucy.

Destiny's Book Reviews are book reviews written by a ten year old girl. The site says, books for young ladies, reviewed by a young lady. Just read a couple of her reviews. I guarantee, you will be charmed.

Dwight Garner, the senior editor of the New York Times Book Review has a blog entitled Paper Cuts and it is freakin' fabulous.

Okay peeps, I heard on the radio this morning that people are not voting on the New Seven Wonders of the World website. I shouldn't say people, Americans aren't voting. So take a second and vote. (please)

If you are a Lucy Maud Montgomery fan, then you must wander over to Picturing a Canadian Life: L.M Montgomery's Personal Scrapbooks and Book Covers.

Libvibe is a daily library news podcast. Who knew???

Have you visited sk-rt? sk-rt is social ranking platform geared towards women. It's a lot of fun and provides some quality links.

That's all peeps. Have a good weekend.

"I believe that it is as much a right and duty for women to do something with their lives as for men and we are not going to be satisfied with such frivolous parts as you give us." Louisa May Alcott

Round Up

Since I didn't have a round up last week, I might do two this week.

The word for today from my Forgotten English calendar is dephlegmedness-a state of being freed from water.

Once I run out of the various and sundry address labels that I have, I am going to order some from Felix Doolittle. They are a bit pricey, but they are so gorgeous.

I was unaware of this, but Maxim magazine apparently does a Red Hot 100 women issue. Since Maxim is a magazine for men, I am thinking that the 100 women might be long on looks and other eye candy material. I found another list of the The Real Hot 100. Look on the left-hand side and you can see the 2006 winners (it's PDF).

I spend a lot of time rethinking my career path and choices and becoming more and more depressed about it. I really think I would like to stay home and make gorgeous cupcakes like these on chockylit's blog.

I really do not like carrying umbrellas. I like umbrellas, but I usually have too many other things in my hands to manage one. And then there's those little ones that you are supposed to be able to put in your bag or tote. I've had plenty of those turn inside out on my in a good wind so no to those as well. The umbrellas at Pare are so unique I may become a convert.


Look at this cute little RV. I've been trying to convince A. for years that I think it's a splendid idea to sell everything and buy a Winnebago or even better an Airstream, and travel around the country. I usually just get a look. Maybe we could start small with T@B.

I stumbled across Fidra Books and fell in love. Someone else who has the life that I want. Located in Scotland, Fidra Books reprints neglected and forgotten children's books. The website and the blog are just delightful and so is their wonderful newsletter.

I'm not much of a wine drinker, or a drinker of any spirits anymore, but I think this site is great. A. loves red wine and I'm usually trying to get him to try different kinds. Snooth is a personal wine recommendation site. They also have a blog.

I'm not familiar with Elsa Beskow's children's books, but I love her illustrations. The site is in Swedish.

Ever wonder what a 300 calorie meal looks like?

"To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive." Robert Louis Stevenson

Eggs

I just had a conversation with a co-worker about many things, but we started talking about eggs. She asked me if I had ever eaten pickled eggs, and I said yes. They had a jar in a bar that I used to hang out in when I was an undergrad. They were purple, so I'm guessing and hoping they were pickled with beets. Ewww. Anywho, I emailed the friend that I thought I had shared the pickled-egg eating experience and she says she has no recollection about this. I even told her details and she doesn't remember. I'm LOL because I think both of us need a huge jug of estrogen. Oh, how I wish I had my old memory when I was so sure of myself. Now, I am always so unsure it's criminal. And I hate that more than I can say.

The egg discussion also included egg whites or egg yolks. I eat only the whites, and I probably have a hard-boiled egg white every day. How many of you are either or? We also discussed whether the yolk or egg has more protein? Once again, I knew I had to learn all about nutrition in nursing school, but I couldn't remember. I know that low-fat cooking and low fat food does not use egg yolks because that's where all of the fat is contained. So, I did some research and found out that the egg whites are indeed rich in protein. I hate when a hard-boiled egg has that green iron sulfide film. (go to the end of the article). One way I have found to avoid that is to put cold eggs into cold water, bring to a rolling boil and then take off of the heat. Cover and let stand for about 15 minutes. I sometimes leave them on the stove longer because I forget about them. No nasty green film.


"If you have an egg in the house, you have a meal." Mon's grandmother

Just for Fun

Rule #1: If you came here, you have to take the survey and post it on your blog. Rule #2: You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone leaves a comment and asks you to. Rule #3: Only answer True or False (where applicable).

Q:Kissed someone on your 360 friends list? False
Q: Been arrested? False
Q: Kissed someone you didn't like? True
Q: Do you like someone? True
Q: Held a snake? True
Q: Been suspended from school? False
Q: Been fired from a job? False (is laid off fired)
Q: Sang karaoke? Ture
Q: Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? True
Q: Laughed until you started crying? True
Q: Caught a snowflake on your tongue? True
Q: Kissed in the rain? True
Q: Sang in the shower? True
Q: Sat on a roof top? True
Q: Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? False
Q: Broken a bone? False
Q: Shaved your head? False
Q: Played a prank on someone? True
Q: Had/have a gym membership? True
Q: Shot a gun? True Q: Donated Blood? True
Q: Used an illegal drugs? True
Q: Hurt someone physically? True
Q: Kissed someone you shouldn't have? True

Who was your last? Just be 100% truthful LAST PERSON
1. You hung out with? A.
2. You texted? A.
3. You were in a car with? A.
4. Went to the movies with? A
5.Went to the mall with? A.
6. Slept with?A.
7. You hugged? A
8. Person you made cry? ?
9. Talked on the phone with? Mother

WOULD YOU RATHER...?
1. Pierce your nose or tongue? Nose
2. Be serious or be funny? Funny
3. Drink whole or skim milk? Skim
4. Die in a fire or get shot? Shot
5. Eat a banana covered in ants or an eyeball? Eyeball

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
1. Sun or moon? Moon
2. Winter or fall? Fall
4. Sunny or rainy? Rainy
5. Where do you live? Downtown B'ville
6. Do you want to get married? No
7. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? Twirl
8. Have you ever eaten S.P.A.M? Yes
9.. Ever been close to death? Yes
10 Had sex today? No
11. Do You Cook? Yes
12. Current mood? Blah
13. Which famous person do you resemble? Nobody

IN THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE YOU...
1. Kissed someone? Yes
2. Sang? Yes
3. Been hugged? Yes
4. Missing someone? Yes
5. Danced Crazy? Yes
6. Cried? Yes
7. Like someone you can't have? Yes
8. Shouted at someone? Yes
9. Been told you're loved? Yes
10.Told someone you love them? Yes

Round Up

Okay folks, stop breeding already!!!!

Earlier this week I paid homage to Penguin Books. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my other all-time favorite publisher, the small press, Persephone Books. Persephone reprints forgotten classics by twentieth-century (mostly women) writers. Each one in their collection of seventy -two books is intelligent, thought-provoking and beautifully written. There website is beautiful and I could literally spend hours just reading each book review. The site also features a fortnight letter and back issues of their quarterly magazine The Persephone Quarterly. From reading their delicious site I learned that Noel Streatfeild, the author of one of my favorite children's books, Ballet Shoes (1936), also wrote adult fiction.

The amazing Nicola Beauman founded the press, and with her one staff member Jamilah Ahmed, brings these gorgeous books forth with such amazing attention to detail. Ms. Beauman authored the book A Very Great Profession: The Women's Novel: 1914-1939, and was very aware that many of the twentieth century women writers that she spoke of so eloquently in her book, were esentially lost in the minds of today's public. In establishing a feminist press, she chose to publish mostly titles from that period covered in her book. If you want to know about this incredible woman here is an article about her.

Alas, I don't own any of the reprints, but my goal is to purchase maybe one or two a year. If they weren't located in England, I would purchase more. Simple goals I have these days-to have all matching hangers in all of our closets, to be able to spend at least 1 day a month at Elizabeth Arden, and to own Persephone reprints.

Innsitting-what a cool job for anyone, but especially for retired folks.

Shorpy has some gorgeous black and white photographs by Dorothea Lang.

I have been a fan of Ken Wilber's ever since I read Grace and Grit: Spirituality and Healing in the Life of Treya Killam Wilber (1991). I've read a few of his other works and he is mind-boggling. Some cool person has compiled a list of books recommended by Ken Wilber.

I had not heard about this, but apparently there is an interesting story behind the Liberian Flag. 7 women sewed the Liberian flag and this book is about the. What's cool about this book is that you can obtain it from Amazon through digital delivery for 49 cents. (via Black Threads).

And speaking of the fascinating blog Black Threads, look at the post for June 6, 2007. It appears that one of the Gees Bend quilters has filed a lawsuit against William Arnett and a few others. It breaks my heart to think of these quilters, many of them elderly, most of them poor, being exploited. I'm not surprised, but it still sucks. I hate, hate, hate it when people take advantage of others. Oh yes, my hackles are up.

I think I posted about Word Spy before, but it's so freakin' cook, I'm going to post about it again. Any site that says that it's devoted to lexpionage, well what can I say.

Mr. Lee CatCam.

I've always had this fascination with bees (yes, yet another fascination). I would be(bee) tickled pink if I could visit the Moir Rare Book Collection at the National Library of Scotland.

Everyone have a good weekend.

"Evolution goes beyond what went before, but because it must embrace what went before, then its very nature is to transcend and include, and thus it has an inherent directionality, a secret impuls, toward increasing depth, increasing intrinsic value, increasing consciousness." Ken Wilber, A Brief History of Everything

Sour Cream Glasses

There are times when I feel just like Rip Van Winkle. I seem to have missed huge periods of time when items were prevalent in homes and I was sleeping.


I have just discovered sour cream glasses. (lots for sale on eBay)

I can honestly say that I do not ever remember sour cream sold in glass. As far back as I can remember sour cream has always been sold in the same plastic containers that you find in the grocery store now. (these lovelies still have their lids)


Of course now I am obsessed with them. Barbara Mauzy has even authored a book on the glasses. Here are some more and more.


I really think I would like to take a class on glassware and pottery. I want to learn about all the different types of glasses and pottery and how to identify them. Looking for sour cream glasses led me to peanut butter glass.

I was a bit more familiar with these. Of course, these are decorative glasses that held different brands of peanut butter. Look at the price for this peanut butter glass. WOW!!!


"It has been common knowledge to informed collectors that many times the finest and rarest art glass is found unsigned." James Lafferty

Round Up

Well, this is my 200th post. I can't believe it. I keep wondering how much longer I'll keep blogging, and the answer is-I have no idea. I guess when it stops being fun.

I have talked about the fact that I am an author groupie. That includes poets as well. One of my favorite poets is Lucille Clifton. If I were ever fortunate enough to meet her or even attend a poetry reading, I would more than likely turn into a giggly mass of schoolgirl. I am so in awe of this woman.


Ms. Clifton just won the $100,000 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. The prize is an annual lifetime achievement award. The prize is given to a poet whose accomplishments warrant extraordinary recognition. Past winners have been Adrienne Rich, Donald Hall and Maxine Kumin to name a few.


While I was searching for information on Lucille Clifton I found that the Poetry Foundation has a blog.

Interesting article on why Bush hasn't been impeached. And speaking of that I heard a great word while I was watching the Spelling Bee last night-kakistocracy. Hmm.

I would have loved to attend the National Stationery Show. I can just imagine the samples.

I could easily go broke purchasing so many unique items from The Curiosity Shoppe. Lots of cute bird-related goodies.

Has anyone tried out this Gift Card Buy Back site?


Look at these cool stair drawers. I wonder how far up the stairs they went with the drawer design. Even if it's just 1 or 2 drawers it's still very cool.




A plethora of summer reading lists for kids.

Ava Lowery is a 16-year old peace activist who has received death threats because of her website PeaceTakesCourage and her very professional animations/slide show presentations. What a creative and courageous young woman.

If you want to read two great posts go to Dirty Laundry and read her May 31, 2007 post. The posted image and the Laundress' wonderful prose really makes one think. Also, read Maryam's delightful post of May 26, 2007. Trust me you won't be disappointed.


I promised myself that I wasn't going to complain about the heat, but I think I am going to allow myself this one complaint, and then I promise I will stop. I HATE summer. I don't like heat, don't want the sun on my aging skin, the humidty makes it hard for me to breathe and it also brings on more flashes, I really hate seeing people's ungroomed feet, and I am tired of hearing about the HEAT INDEX. Okay, I 've gotten that out of my system.

I hope all of you have a nice (cool) weekend.

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH PARAGRAPH SPACING WITH THIS POST SO PLEASE EXCUSE (I'LL GET THE HANG OF THIS EVENTUALLY)

And Jazzy, if your mommy is reading this tell her that Uncle A. and I say Happy 5th Birthday sweet girl.

"What dreadful hot weather we have? It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance." Jane Austen, letter of September 1796