Friday, January 29, 2010

I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa 2010

Saturday, January 30, from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. is the 12th celebration of I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa.  I remember when they could fit everyone in the State Historical Museum. That venue has been outgrown and then some, the Polk County Convention Complex now holds the crowd.  This all started in 1998 when PBS encouraged communities to come up with programs showcasing African-American people and culture.  Because in February 1999 PBS broadcast an “I’ll Make Me a World” mini-series.  Good thinking!  Admission to I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa 2010 is free and includes continuous performances on 3 stages - more than enough entertainment and education to keep you busy all day!
We don't have the PBS series I'll Make Me a World.  We do have African American Lives 1 and 2
Source: I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa

Thursday, January 28, 2010

And We Can't Forget These - Songs from Commercials


Remember those great old commercial jingles? Well, parts of them.  Like TV theme songs, we seem to remember just the first part.  Here are some bonus words!
"Halo everybody Halo, Ha-lo is the shampoo that glorifies your hair!" Sung at my house by getting louder and screechier with every word.
"See the USA in your Chevrolet, America is asking you to call."  Not visit, call. Weird.
"Hot dogs, Armour hot dogs, what do kids put on Armour hot dogs?"  Peanut butter, apparently.  At least according to the jingle.
Now don't you feel knowledgeable?  For more jingles, check out:
Great songs of Madison Avenue

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Making the Jewelry

You've started making your own beads, haven't you?  I knew you would. We have bags and bags of books that instruct you, our valued customers, in the art of concocting exquisite creations.  No kidding, you can make some nice-looking jewelry We even have books about how to sell your baubles after you construct them.  This book appeals to me, since I'm a packrat with a house full of stuff:  Beyond the bead : making jewelry with unexpected finds.  Put those junk drawer denizens to good use!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Yet More Songs! Lyrics Galore!

And you thought we were finished. Silly you. How could we drop the subject without exploring some of the most pernicious tunes to ever take over your brain. Cartoon show theme songs!!! Once you start thinking "Flintstones, meet the Flintstones", it's all over. We have a Hanna-Barbera Songbook that features lesser known cartoons too.  Such as Wally Gator, "a swinging navigator in the swamp."  Elsewhere you can find gems such as "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man", and "This Is It" from the Bugs Bunny Show. That song is one of my favorites. "Overture, curtain, lights, this is it, the night of nights. No more rehearsing and nursing a part ..." Of course I've always had the words wrong, but that didn't keep it from monopolizing my inner turntable. Those two songs appear in Big Book of TV Theme Songs and All-time TV Favorites.  So many books we have for you!  Sing away!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Beady - in a Good Way

What could be more fun than making your own beads?  'Beading' or 'jewelry-making' is all the 'rage' right now.  How cool would it be to start out with your very own one-of-a-kind beads?  It can be really easy - I made one all by myself.  Took a scrap of gold wrapping paper, cut it in a loooong triangle, rolled it up, put a little glue at the end.  It's gorgeous.  Just think what those of you who are actually talented and coordinated could produce!  Plus you could use up some of the scrap material you have laying around that's too pretty to throw away.  I know you've got that stuff.  Have fun, use it!
Making polymer clay beads
 Easy beading : jewelry, beadmaking, decorations

Friday, January 22, 2010

Greek Myths and Cheese

Remember Greek Mythology from your grade-school days?  All those wacky gods turning people into insects, trees, and I think a cow was in there somewhere.  Admit it; you're just as fuzzy on the details as I am.  Now with the reboot of Clash of the Titans coming out soon, I'm sure you'll want to update your knowledge.  Sidebars:  A. Don't you think the use of 'reboot' rather than 'remake' is trendy of me?   B. Why on earth would anyone want another version of the stale gorgonzola that was the original?  Yeah, the CGI will probably be fantastic but it won't have the personality of Ray Harryhausen's work.  Back to Greek Mythology 101.  We have many many excellent books for you, even written for adults!  So now you can read all the stuff they left out of the books you read when you were 11.

Greek Mythology
The complete world of Greek mythology
Myths of the ancient Greeks
The library of Greek mythology
Gods and heroes : the story of Greek mythology
Greek mythology for everyone : legends of the gods and heroes

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Completely Different: TV Theme Songs - You Know You Love Them

Did you know the I Love Lucy theme song has words?   "I love Lucy and she loves me...."  Guess what the next line is - c'mon you can do it!  "We're as happy as two can be..." I wonder if they changed it when they had Little Ricky.
Bonanza's song starts out "We got a right to pick a little fight bonanza!" Okay then.
When I was a girl we used to sing the theme song to Bewitched.  It went: "bewitched bewitched bewitched  bewitched  bewitched... and so on and on.  Surprisingly, these were not the right words. "Bewitched, bewitched you've got me in your spell."  Not as bouncy as our version. For more hi-larious lyrics, you can take a look at  The best TV songs ever!                                   

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Haiti


I can't even imagine the devastation there.  The earthquake was the strongest to hit the Haiti in some 200 years.  Since Haiti is attached to the Dominican Republic, why did the earthquake effect only Haiti ?  Apparently just the vaguaries of nature - the Dominican Republic did experience mild tremors. The same earthquake fault that lies under Haiti also runs through the Dominican Republic. Geologists warn that this quake – at the Enriquilla-Plantain Garden Fault – may have added strain elsewhere and more quakes are possible. The only thing we can do is to supply what support we can.  To make a donation to the Red Cross and earmark it for Haiti, you can go to this site. American Red Cross - Haiti Relief and Development

Source:  Christian Science Monitor Jan. 13, 2010

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Avatar and Expedition

I just read (well, looked at the pictures in) the book The art of Avatar : James Cameron's epic adventure and was pleasantly surprised to see that one of my favorite illustrators - Wayne Douglas Barlowe - had contributed to the look of the film.  The movie is gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the planet is not all that alien.  The intelligent species looks a lot like us, and most of the flora and fauna bring to mind Earthly equivalents.  It is all wonderful and imaginative.  But if you want to visit a truly alien planet, Barlowe's Darwin IV is the off-world ticket to buy.  The aliens aren't even symmetrical.  Some of them have holes all the way through their body and other aliens can fly through them. Give yourself a treat and savor this book slowly.
Expedition : being an account in words and artwork of the A.D. 2358 voyage to Darwin IV

You geek us! Your really geek us!


Have you noticed the geek billboards, utility bill inserts, full-page newspaper ads, airplane banners?  I thought so.  Here's a chance for geeking to give back to you, the faithful library users. The I geek my library! contest runs January 15 through February 15. Stop by any of the library's six locations to enter. Tell us what you love about YOUR library, and you might win a free Geek the Library t-shirt!  We're suckers for a compliment.  Who isn't?  If you win you can carry the geek message with you wherever you go! Who wouldn't want that?
For more information see page 5 of WHAT'S HAPPENING February-March 2010

Monday, January 18, 2010

Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day

All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The meeting room entrance at the Forest Avenue Library will be open 2-4 to allow access to the annual progam in celebration of this day.  


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Letter From Birmingham Jail
April 16, 1963

Photo Credit:  eLibrary

Friday, January 15, 2010

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

All 6 locations of the Des Moines Public Library will be closed Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However the Forest Avenue Library is hosting a program that day!  So the entrance to the meeting room at Forest will be open 2-4. Marcus McIntosh from KCCI-TV will be the guest speaker and the winners of Forest Avenue Library's essay contest will attend. PLUS, the CFUM/John R. Grubb YMCA Community Youth Choir will entertain during the reception that will follow the program. Sounds like fun!                                      Picture Source:  eLibrary                                             

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Origami For Fun and Profit

I'm kidding about the profit.  I have no idea how to make money with origami.  But we have a book on how to make origami with money: The guide to island-style money folds  Bet you didn't see that coming!  Anyway, we have a plethora of books with instructions on this fine craft.  Hasn't it always looked like fun?  Fold fold fold fold swan.  Add about 10 more folds in there and you are origami-ing.  We are literally talking hours of entertainment here.  You can buy the fancy paper or use whatever you have lying around the house.  Happy creasing, and look out for paper cuts!  Safety first.
Origami Books

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New Blog with Useful Government Information!


That is not an oxymoron!  For shame!  We have a great new blog that highlights cool stuff from the federal government.  The publications are called government documents, or, as we 'in the know' like to call them, gov docs.  Isn't that snazzy?  Guess what the name of the blog is!  I love a site that comes right out and tells you what to expect.  It is written by Marci Behm, our gov docs expert.   And this is a big job my friend, the government produces scads of information. Stop over and check out job stuff, census stuff, energy stuff! It's a gold mine! DMPL Gov Docs. Brought to you by a librarian who picks out the best from your government, and presents it in a way that goes down easy.  Like an information lozenge.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

It's Never Too Early To Think About Summer Vacation

And isn't it a lovely thought.  Sunshine, warmth, hikes in the great outdoors.  If you are inclined to travel we have an extensive collection of books on places as exotic as Morocco, as prosaic as Omaha.  I like Omaha.  The zoo is great especially the fish tunnel. Then they have the charming Old Market, not unlike our own East Village.  But old. The folks in the photo might feel right at home there. 
Books on Morocco
Books on Nebraska

Photo credit:  The Public Domain

Monday, January 11, 2010

Help! Savings & Budgeting Basics

Where does it all go? Money seems to evaporate like cheesecake in a library break room.  Tomorrow night at the Central Library from 6-7 First At Work Educational Sessions is presenting a program to assist you with the whole evaporation thing. Which comes first, the budget or the savings? I'm going with savings, but you'll have to attend the session for an answer from people who actually know what they're talking about. Here are some print sources you might find useful:

The complete idiot's guide to getting out of debt  (I'm not judging!)
Financially ever after : the couples' guide to managing money
Suze Orman's 2009 action plan

Friday, January 8, 2010

Who will cater to my every whim? Or yours?

Ever wanted your own personal delivery service?  One that would bring you doughnuts or ice cream or chips and dip at the drop of a hat?  Well, that's called a servant and unless you're up to your ears in legal tender you can't afford one.  But we can dream, can't we?  Once my sister sent me chocolate in the mail for my birthday.  I've never forgotten that and in my Pavlovian way I still watch the mailbox with great hope.  So if  there was a delivery van devoted to my needs, it would look much like this one.  You too can have a picture of a delivery service to call your own.  Just go to Moving Truck Generator.  As a bonus, they have a mess of fonts.  Fun to play with.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Good Book from the Vampire Lady


I have not read the Twilight Trilogy by Stephenie Meyer. I have no objection to the vampire stuff, I just don't like much romance. But my sister recommended 'The Host' by this author and since she has never steered me wrong I gave it a shot. Discovery: Excellent Science Fiction! The plot is not new - aliens get into your body through the back of your neck and take over the world. Heinlein, Star Trek - you've seen it before.  (When will the government issue those nape-protectors? Too late, no doubt.) Meyer takes a fresh perspective on the plot, one that includes the possibility that humans aren't the best species ever and maybe the aliens aren't evil. This was lots of fun to read.  Who knew? Two thumbs up.  I'm pretty sure they're my thumbs. 

The Host

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Again with the Healthy

Healthy eating, that is.  Or to be more specific, healthy cooking for healthy eating.  I know, you're tired of being told what to eat.  And they keep changing their minds about what is healthy.  Take apples.  According to a 2007 article in Nutrition Health Review apple peels are bustin' with flavonoids and phytochemicals that work against liver and colon cancer.  But now the media is yelling 'drop the apple! it's covered in pesticides'!!  Run!!!  So I got some organic apples. Anyway, we have some brand new healthy cooking books so you can get the latest. They'll have new recipes and suggestions.  Ones you've never seen before. Plus cookbooks are pretty. 

Super immunity foods
Superfoods for dummies
Healthy bread in five minutes a day
Sugar-free gluten-free baking and desserts

Source:  Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer's Medical Journal; 2007, Issue 99, p6-6, 1/2p as accessed through EBSCO Host

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

What's in Store for Your New Year

Would you like a fool-proof scientific method of predicting what your life will be like in 2010? Me too. But what we have are books on tarot cards! Just for fun! Here's some information from Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.  Tarot cards have been around since the late 14th century at least.  They may be as much as 200 years older.  But what's a century or two among friends?  They started out as garden variety cards for the playing of oh, let's say, the Medieval/Renaissance equivalent of Scat. Your basic Bicycle deck is a direct descendent of those fancy bits of pasteboard. In the18th century tarot cards took on their fortune-telling mystique.  If you want to find out what the cards are saying about you behind your back, we have Lots of books on Tarot. Who wouldn't want to know?

Source:  Britannica Concise Encyclopedia as accessed through eLibrary, one of your library's fine selection of online factual resources.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Open Library - Public Domain Books

Oooh, Open Library is a treasure trove for collage artists.  Plus people who like to read public domain books for free online. Say you're looking for pictures. This takes some dinking, but stay with me.  Type the word 'illustrations' in the search box. You want to eliminate entries that don't include the whole book, so click in the box next to scanned books only.  Then click on GO - your search may take a quite a while to run.  When the results pop up, don't click on the book's title click on READ ONLINE in blue, to the right of the title. (I wouldn't have used so many italics except that I still click on the title all the time. I don't mean to yell.) Then you get a screen that looks just like a paper book and you can flip through the pages!  So fun! Well worth the dinkage.

The Open Library

Friday, January 1, 2010

We Are Closed Today for New Year's


Happy New Year!  All six buildings of the Des Moines Public Library system are closed today.  But you knew that.  Plus, today kicks off 'California Dried Plum Digestive Health Month'.  I hate to quibble with Californians, but isn't a dried plum a prune?  Perhaps a plum by any another name doesn't sound as sweet.  Not only does the mighty dried plum contain lots of fiber, it is chockfull of polyphenols, which are antioxidants!  Make your New Year's resolution all about the dried plum. I'm sure they taste much better than prunes. 

Source:  Chase's Calendar of Events, 2010