Home Work

The kids are going back to school and summer's almost over.  Are you thinking home repair?  Who isn't! We have buckets of books dying to assist you in making your house the best it can be.  Given limited resources, that is. I'd like to highlight 3 for you.

How to cheat at home repair : time-slashing, money-saving fixes for household hassles and breakdowns

Money-wise makeovers : modest remodels and affordable room redos that add value and improve the quality of your life

Green $ense for the home : rating the real payoff from 50 green home projects

See?  They all want to help you with your home and maybe save you a little money in the process.  You check them out at the library for free, so you're ahead of the game right there.  As a bonus I'll throw in a link to links of lots of other repair books.  Sorry about the whole 'Dwellings' subject but what can we do?  The Library of Congress picked that out for us. A good library uses assigned subject headings and we are a good library.  Darn tootin'.
Other books on fixing or remodeling

Patricia Neal and Klaatu

You know Patricia Neal died recently.  She was one of the most beautiful actresses I've ever seen, and that purr of a voice!  Elegant yet earthy. Plus she could act up a storm.  Most newspapers and magazine articles have focused on her classy films, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Subject was Roses, Hud.  OK, maybe Hud isn't classy, but it's the one that snagged her an Oscar so it always comes up.  Not all of the articles mention The Day the Earth Stood Still, an iconic SF movie. She uttered one of the most famous lines in movie history:  "Klaatu barada nikto".  For years I thought  the robot's name was Klaatu.  It looks like a Klaatu.  But Klaatu is the alien that controls the robot.  Klaatu says clean up your room.  No wait!  It was  actually ... no one knows! There is no official translation. It's rumored that the author of the script, one Edmund H. North, said "Klaatu barada nikto" means 'There's hope for earth, if the scientists can be reached'.  Patricia Neal  said a mouthful.  She was a fascinating woman, if you get a chance we have a biography you can read:

Patricia Neal : an unquiet life

Album Art

It's just not the same with CD's,  those tiny little pictures smooshed into jewel cases.  Album art really was striking; a treat for the eyes if memory serves.  (And it should considering what I pay it. Hah!)
Here are my top ten favorite album covers that I can think of right now.  I reserve the right to change my mind whenever I remember another cover.  The numbers don't indicate which ones I like best.  I just think the list is easier to read when enumerated.  E-noo-mur-ate-ed.  It's worth saying twice.

1.  Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus.  The happiest, juiciest tomato you ever saw.  In a hammock.
1.  Supertramp,  Breakfast in America.  The happiest waitress you've ever seen.  On an airplane wing.
3.  The Moody Blues, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor.  I don't know what's going on with the boy and the old man and the crystal, but it's gorgeous.
4.  Kansas,  Masque.  Nothing like a guy made out of sea creatures.
5.  Styx,  The Grand Illusion. A forest, a face, a horse.  They're not kidding. 
6.  The Tubes, Completion Backwards Principle.  White T-pipe, blue background, sublime oddness.
7.  Genesis,  Duke.  Watercolor of a green man, blue sky. Nothing to do with the music.
8.  Janet Jackson,  Control.  Primo 80's art - HUGE hair, photo with squiggles, dramatic colors and space.
9.  Steely Dan, Aja.  I never notice the face, just the red and white ribbon(?), very striking.
10. Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark.  There's a hug and some vivid watercolor mountains.  Calming.
If you'd like to look at books with pictures of album covers, here you go:
The greatest album covers of all time

100 best album covers : [the stories behind the sleeves]

The book of hip hop cover art

Iowa State Fair Contests. LIBRARIES CLOSED 8/19-8/22

Here are a few more fun Iowa State Fair contests at which you can prove your prowess:
Yodeling.  Be prepared to yodel one tune for 3 minutes or yodel 2 different tunes.  I wonder how many yodeling tunes there are out there?
Whistling.  Same rules as yodeling.  But since you can whistle almost anything, finding 2 tunes should be easy!
Hog Calling.  No live pigs allowed!!!  How do you know it works?
Just a few of the fun things to see at the State Fair while we're closed!

Library Closure Details:
All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed Thursday-Sunday, August 19-22 for a computer upgrade.  Two of these are unpaid furlough days for the staff.  Nothing will be due these dates and fines will not be charged for the closed days.  The Des Moines Public Library Website will be up, but the online catalog, online holds, online payment of fines and fees, Libby - the automated telephone circulation system - and our online resources will not be available.    Bookdrops will remain open.  We look forward to seeing you Monday August 23rd!

Iowa State Fair Contests - Decorated Diaper. Plus Library Closed

Now for your edification, a few facts about the Iowa State Fair Decorated Diaper Contest:  "1. Three categories will be judged: Most Creative Decorated Diaper, Iowa State Fair Diaper and Group Theme Diaper.    3. All babies must be in decorated diaper attire, disposable or cloth. Contestants may design a costume to coordinate with the diaper but the diaper must be visible for judging."  This last seems kind of obvious but I guess it doesn't hurt to spell it out. Then the Diaper Derby is a race!  The baby will crawl towards someone they presumably like, who will cheer them on.  Come on baby!  Who's a big girl!  Or maybe you just put your arms out and look welcoming.  Maybe there are strategies!  It's all a mystery to me.

Decorated Diaper Contest and Diaper Derby

Library Closure Details:

All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed Thursday-Sunday, August 19-22 for a computer upgrade. Employees will take two of these days as (unpaid) furlough in conjunction with the city's budget reductions for FY 2010-2011. Nothing will be due these dates and fines will not be charged for the closed days. The Des Moines Public Library Website will be up, but the online catalog, online holds, online payment of fines and fees, Libby - the automated telephone circulation system - and our online resources will not be available. Bookdrops will remain open. We look forward to seeing you Monday August 23rd!

Iowa State Fair Iowa - Championship Auctioneers Contest

First, all six library locations will close Thursday, August 19 - Sunday, August 22 for a computer upgrade. Employees will take two of these days as (unpaid) furlough in conjunction with the city's budget reductions for FY 2010-2011. OK then.

I haven't been to many auctions, but each time I go the auctioneer is amazing.  I'm not talking Sotheby's here, so the people I've seen have been a little loosy-goosy and they have a patter as well, keeping things lively.  Not to mention egging folks on to bid against each other.  And the 'bid calling'.  It's not just the speed it's the clarity.  Auctioneers talk a gazillion words per minute yet you can understand everything they say. Half the time I can't understand what I'm saying.  At the State Fair event, "Contestants will bring three items of their choice. State Association will retain 25 percent commission to help defray expenses". Sounds like this is a real auction with money. The stakes are high!  To win you have to hit these marks: "contestants will be judged on speed, bid calling ability, salesmanship and appearance."  Lookin' good.  It matters everywhere.

Iowa Championship Auctioneers Contest

Iowa State Fair Contests - Cribbage Tournament

Sunday August 22 1 PM at the Youth Inn! You can test your cribbage skills against the rootinest, tootinest cribbage players in Iowa!  If only my Grandmother was alive, she would wipe the floor with y'all.  Yes, my family plays cribbage.  Intensely.  I never really understood the game, and looking over these rules of play at the State Fair Contest web site I am not encouraged to take it up.
Some Rules:
"4.  If your opponent misses points in counting, you cannot take their points. After hand is counted and peg set, you cannot take points missed; but, if you take too many, you must move back."
"10.  No helping another player count points unless you are personally playing that game."
"11.  Two points for a win; three points for a win with a skunk; zero points for a loss."
See, this is a tough game.  No helping!!!  Don't even try to take someone else's points!!  And you can have 3 points and still get skunked!  Cribbage is obviously not for the faint of heart.  But if you think you're up to it, be registered by noon.  I'm guessing they are not kidding around about that either.
Cribbage Tournament

Interesting State Fair Contests Week - Ladies’ Nail Driving Contest

On Saturday August 21 at 10:30 AM, prepare yourself for the excitement of the Ladies’ Nail Driving Contest.  I cannot tell you how much I admire  these ladies as I am incapaple of driving a nail in straight.  Even when I sacrifice a thumb.  Here are the rules as posted by the Iowa State Fair:

Each lady is given six nails; one is extra and five need to be nailed flush within one square marked on the board. Each lady must put hammer down as soon as she is finished and put her hand up. Ages: 18 and over.  More power to you Ladies!  And aim.


A list of the Iowa State Fair contests. Ladies' Nail Driving Contest falls under the Heritage Contests. Heritage Contests are held at Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall

Inventions Week! Iowa's African Americans

In celebration of Black History Month in 2008, the State Library of Iowa compiled a document highlighting inventions from African Americans in Iowa.  "Black Inventors From Iowa"  includes available biographical information for the inventor and a description and diagram of the invention!  SEE a sketch of the can opener for which Albert Mendenhall, on May 9, 1916, received patent number 1,182,781.  THRILL to the 27 patents collected by David Nelson Crosthwait, Jr. (No diagrams for these.)  MARVEL at Walter G. Madison's elegant design for a flying machine! (Seen above)  It's so cool to get a taste of the ideas that make it all the way to the Big Time in Patent City.

African American Inventors from Iowa