Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Truncated: length

WARC-Type: response

text:
NamePopularityRelated NamesRelatedNamesakesRatingsComments
User comments for Iðunn

Key: Meaning/History Usage Pronunciation Famous Bearer Personal Impression Other

Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.

Pronounced EYE-thun?

Very pretty.
-- 910  9/29/2009
Pronounced ee-THUN, with a hard 'th' diphthong like in "that".
-- erb816  4/8/2010
Personally, I think Iðunn sounds much prettier than Idun, or any of the other related named that replaced 'ð' with a 'd' instead of a 'th' diphthong. Maybe I could add Ithunn to this site.
-- erb816  4/8/2010
Where I live I am certain this name would be mispronounced as Ethan.
-- Kyrie  5/21/2015
The name is used in Iceland.
-- jegharenbumsipanden  3/22/2016
Also Faroese.
-- cutenose  3/23/2016

 Add a Comment

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2016-36
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for August 2016
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
Belfast Telegraph

UK Website Of The Year

Road closed as fans of X Factor twins John and Edward flood street

Published 30/10/2009

John and Edward
John and Edward
John and Edward: The spiky-haired Grimes brothers are from Dublin
Danyl Johnson: The 27-year-old dance teacher from Reading works at a boys prep school
Jamie Archer: The 33-year-old musician has been gigging for over eight years
Joseph McElderry: The 18-year-old student from South Shields started singing a few years ago
Lloyd Daniels Welshman Lloyd (16) started singing when he was five by entering a karaoke competition
Lucie Jones: The 18-year-old student has just finished her A-Levels
Miss Frank: Graziella Affinita, Shaniece Davis and Shar Alexandra are the three Londoners who make up the all-girl group
Olly Murs: Olly, 25, from Essex
Rachel Adedeji: The 17-yearold student attended stage school from the age of two
Rikki Loney: The 21-year-old Glaswegian singer has previously auditioned in series one, two and five
Stacey Solomon: The 19-year-old Essex mum had never made it past the first audition stage
Kandy Rain: Kandy Rain are another all-girl group from London

The road next to the X Factor house which has been flooded with crowds of teenage fans is being shut off amid "safety fears", the local council said today.

Barnet Council is closing the road where contestants of the ITV show are being housed for six days, to protect the young fans who have been waiting to catch glimpses of their idols.

Roadblocks are being placed at either end of the street in north London.

Fans have spent their half term donning "Jedward" masks, paying homage to spiky-haired twins John and Edward Grimes.

A statement from Barnet Council said the road closure was being put in place over "safety fears".

It said the council would close the road to through traffic before reviewing the situation next week.

The statement said: "The decision has been taken to protect children and teenagers who have been amassing in the road outside the property."

The council said the road is regularly used as a "cut-through" by motorists.

The statement continued: Roadblocks will be put in at either end of the street, with arrangements being made to allow residents, and their visitors, to get to and from their homes.

"The closures will stay in place until Tuesday 3 November when the situation will be reviewed."

Councillor Andrew Harper added: "I appreciate the nuisance that this crowd is causing some local residents but our priority has to be to ensure that these young people are safe.

"We have rain forecast for the weekend and I hope that, and the end of half term, will bring an end to the problem.

"In the meantime I trust the fans outside the house realise that this is a residential street and will act accordingly."

The council said it had received no complaints from Chinese ambassador Madame Fu Ying, who also lives on the street.

Reports have suggested she was upset by the crowds but no one at the Chinese Embassy was immediately available to comment.

Your Comments

COMMENT RULES: Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted. The moderator will not enter into debate with individual contributors and the moderator’s decision is final. It is Belfast Telegraph policy to close comments on court cases, tribunals and active legal investigations. We may also close comments on articles which are being targeted for abuse. Problems with commenting?

Read More

From Belfast Telegraph


text:
Belfast Telegraph

UK Website Of The Year

1D's Louis: I'm going slightly deaf

Published 01/08/2012

Louis Tomlinson has had hearing troubles
Louis Tomlinson has had hearing troubles

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has revealed that all the screaming from the band's fans has left him partially deaf in one ear.

The 20-year-old What Makes You Beautiful singer and his bandmates are bombarded with screams from excited followers when they perform and Louis admitted it is taking its toll, reports the Daily Mirror.

One Direction performed in Liverpool last week and before the show he said: "I am going slightly deaf in my right ear. It's tinnitus... something like that."

He added that the band's fans were always "very loud, especially Scousers".

Louis and his bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne - who found fame on The X Factor in 2010 - are now wearing protective earpieces when they hit the stage.

A source said: "Screams during gigs have started affecting the boys on stage.They are only young and still developing, so management insist they wear hi-tech earpieces and filters to reduce the volume of the screaming and the music."

The insider said that when Louis spoke out about his hearing troubles he was suffering from earache, and added: "Thankfully, this has now cleared up but he knows to be careful in future."

Read More

From Belfast Telegraph


text:
Belfast Telegraph

UK Website Of The Year

Home Opinion Letters

Alexander wrong to blame Ruane for ESA failure

Published 21/06/2010

Alexander Redpath of the Young Unionists (Write Back, June 17) attempts to blame Caitriona Ruane for the failure of the implementation of Education Skills Authority (ESA).

The facts are a lot simpler if Alexander told the full story on the problems that the minister is facing.

Firstly it was the minister who proposed ESA as a way of streamlining the current education and library boards which will save the department more than £200m in the coming years. Secondly there is broad political agreement that ESA is the way forward and this was presented to the Executive by the Education Minister. It was only when presented that the minister faced intransience from unionists. Thirdly it was the DUP who blocked the implementation of ESA thereby denying it the cross-community support needed for it pass into legislation.

Alexander would be better employed by helping to face down the naysayers in his own community who block change — even forward-thinking and money-saving initiatives.

Your Comments

COMMENT RULES: Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted. The moderator will not enter into debate with individual contributors and the moderator’s decision is final. It is Belfast Telegraph policy to close comments on court cases, tribunals and active legal investigations. We may also close comments on articles which are being targeted for abuse. Problems with commenting?

Read More

From Belfast Telegraph


text:
Changing Channels

Thank you for visiting Changing Channels. This blog is no longer being updated. Please enjoy the archives. Here is another blog you may also enjoy:

Idol Chatter

Russ Mitchell

A recent newspaper article that indicated Twitter is some kind of fad that could come and go in the next few years seems kind of sad to me.

The great equalizer in our society isn’t economic or legal or anything like that. It’s actually twitter, I would argue.

Where else can a schlub like me reach out to greats in their respective fields like TV anchor Russ Mitchell, entrepreneur Daymond John and sportscaster Dick Vitale and ACTUALLY get responses to things I have written?

I have one main social media to thank … and that’s twitter.

While Facebook has done its part, as well, it’s really more of a social outlet. Twitter, to me, is more about promoting oneself professionally.

And it has been a remarkable way to “meet” stars like the ones I mentioned.

Mitchell and John both took a few moments to respond positively to  tweet and/or story, while Vitale wasn’t too happy that I’m not a big fan of his work on ESPN.

That’s OK, we can agree to disagree, but just to get his response is pretty darn cool…and I did refer to him as ‘great’ earlier in this post!

I enjoy having over 800 followers on twitter, it’s a real honor … and I have Beliefnet to thank too for that!

So … who really gives a tweet about twitter?

I do!

I just noticed that the late, great Sammy Davis Jr’s birthday, Dec. 8, came and went over the weekend.

I miss the talented man, who broke down racial barriers through high great singing, dancing and even acting skills.

Yes, even the latter, as judged by his appearance on the TV classic “All in the Family””

Sammy Davis Jr.

Davis had many hysterical moments in the episode, where he supposedly left his briefcase in Archie’s cab and had to pick it up at the Bunker home.

Many laughs ensued as the liberal duo of Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers tried their best to ruin conservative Archie’s moment in the spotlight with the star, who played himself.

Davis showed off his acting chops a bit with his reaction to Edith’s offering of a Twinkie to their guest.

Davis looked positively stunned at the sight of the sponge cake stuffed with vanilla filling.

It was a subtle moment, but it should be noted that a Twinkie, reportedly about to be undergoing its final shipment, helped bring together black and white, rich and poor.

The episode stands in stark contrast to what ‘passes’ for comedy today: Jamie Foxx’s pathetic rant about Barack Obama being his ‘Lord and Savior’. (I won’t write ‘our’ as I couldn’t disagree with his assessment more and believe it was very tasteless).

I haven’t enjoyed a twinkie for a long time, but the world was a better place with them in it.

The same could be said, with all respect intended, for Sammy Davis Jr.

Daymond John

Inspiring people who are role-models are often difficult to come by when it comes to today’s television shows.

Programs are often so full of rude, crude and offensive behavior from people with the same qualities it is making TV harder and harder to watch.

ABC’s “Shark Tank” thankfully has little of that so-called “edgy” material in it, though the hosts can sometimes be unnecessarily rude to each other as they battle it out to possibly invest in others’ dreams/inventions.

Another reason I enjoy the program is the presence of Daymond John. The FUBU creator and business entrepreneur comes across as a good man and role-model in a time when the world is practically crying out for decent people.

Although he has an unwavering desire to succeed in his many ventures, John still displays his huge heart and compassion. He once ‘chased down’ a couple to complete a deal when he knew it would be in their best interests to work with him.

That just doesn’t happen on “Shark Tank”, where once you show your hand a deal either gets done, or not, often in the best interests of the hopeful entrepreneurs.

Things won’t come easily for the business hopefuls, whether or not John or his colleagues, like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, invest in them or not.

Perhaps that’s the way it should be.  John started out by working on his FUBU business while keeping a full-time job at Red Lobster until he built it up.

So keep on keepin’ on Daymond John. The world needs more people like you!

Previous Posts


text:
Doing Life Together
Doing Life Together Archives

We all know that the number on the scale isn’t suppose to define us, but that doesn’t stop us from thinking about how much we weigh on any given day. And the number often influences our mood. So how often should we weigh? […]

Having an overweight child doesn’t mean he or she will stay that way. That being said, we don’t want our kids to go on diets. We want them to stop gaining weight and grow into the weight they already have. […]

Joanne looked at the chocolate-covered donut in her hand. As she took her first bite, she wondered, “Why am I eating this? I”m not really hungry, but the plate of goodies sitting by the office coffee pot just looks good. Besides, my […]

Mary came to me for therapy. She weighed 305 and was told multiple times that her current weight was putting her at risk for serious medical issues. She was 28-years-old and the mother of a 5-year-old. She admitted that keeping […]

It’s a busy day. You don’t have time to cook. On your way back from that late soccer practice, you swing by the fast food restaurant and order burgers, drinks and fries for the kids. But do you really know […]

In the past three months, you have binged on food at least 12 times. You hate that you do it and always feel guilty after, but something inside you compels you to do this (A binge is when you consume a […]

Is your teen consuming too many processed foods and unhealthy snacks. Well consider this new study. Your teen could be at risk for heart disease. Watch the short interview. Click here for the link:

Check out this by clicking on this link

I’ve worked with obese people for years. My biggest client weighed almost 650 pounds, so I am sensitive to the plight of people who are morbidly obese. But I just can’t get into the Biggest Loser television show and here […]

Are you a compulsive overeating? Do you binge eat? What are the signs of emotional eating? Julie is frustrated with her weight. She has been steadily gaining for months and can’t stop bingeing on candy. The more her weight goes […]

Previous Posts


text:
Complete Kits

Do you want your Sport Truck or SUV lowered right the first time?

With all the parts and pieces you need to achieve not only the look you WANT, but the alignment, and performance & safety you NEED?

Belltech Complete Lowering Kits are the answer.

Belltech engineers have reviewed the most popular setups for each Sport Truck or SUV in our application range and developed the Belltech Complete Kit Line to simplify your purchase. These complete lowering kits are your all in one box solution providing you with all the necessary parts to lower your truck.

Made up of a variety of combinations of our individual lowering components as well as all the installation and alignment pieces necessary to achieve the listed lowering, choosing your kit has never been simpler.

Belltech provides you with three simple options to choose from:

  1. Complete lowering kits without shocks
  2. Complete lowering kits with industry standard Nitro Drop 2 Shocks
  3. Complete lowering kits with our premium Street Performance Shocks.

Shop now


text:
Calorie controlled meals that will increase
lean muscle
and burn stubborn body fat.

Who we are

Hi, my name is Tashena Nikas and I am the proud owner of Below 360 Meals.  This is all started when some friends of mine complained about how time poor they were and how they really wanted to eat well, but it was so difficult to find healthy, customised meals.  Not only that, there were so many people who were training and also wanted highly nutritious meals to compliment their hard work.

So, I decided to create a variety of pre-prepared meals that people could customise, ie…more protein, less carbs etc that were all ready to be picked up and eaten or frozen and used whenever they wanted.

So, this is Below 360 Meals. Calorie Controlled Meals for busy people, people training that want to eat well, without the hassle.

Customer reviews

“I could talk all day long about how fantastic the meals are from Below 360. I have been ordering every single week for about a year now. Tash and her wonderful team have fed me through a football season, a bodybuilding competition prep and now my offseason bulking phase. If you are looking for clean, fresh, healthy, delicious meals with the added benefit of them being super affordable and it saving you a tonne of time doing your own food prep and cleaning then I urge you to give them a go. You will not regret it.”

Tanith Gregory

“Have already lost weight and my definitions are coming further out! perfect for someone who is determined to be healthy and fit and has a strong routine! I am now a regular! Keep up the good work!

Will be recommending you to friends and clients!”

Katya Cruz

“Amazing tasting meals for great value. Perfect for someone who hasn’t got time to prep meals and is wanting to gain weight or weight loss. Awesome work guys A+++”

Liam Edwards

“How easy is this. I have used a number of the “bigger companies” but found I had to pay heap extra in the long run to really get what I wanted. What I like about 360 is the fact you can order 1 meal of everything or 100 meals of one. They will change items inside them as well so I don’t get bored.
Having the option to pick up Tuesday or Thursday is great too. If you’re time poor like me or can’t cook but want to stay fit I recommend this for sure”

Zac McHardy

“Fantastic meals! Healthy portion and calorie controlled that actually satisfy you and leave you feeling full! Even better knowing they are freshly made with fresh ingredients which is important to my family. The kids also just love them!!!! I buy extras just for nights I don’t have time to cook for the rest of the family :)”

Teagan Whittaker

“Meals look and taste amazing without breaking my calories… Healthy goodness in each meal…. AND a free coffee on pick up love it!”

Leah Mirabito


text:
Weather Forecast

Phil Kerpen: Obama’s tax hikes will make deficits worse

The national debt weighs heavily on the public consciousness, and for good reason.

In 2008, the federal government added $458 billion to the national debt, at that point the largest annual deficit in history. Under President Obama, the deficit has been upwards of $1 trillion — more than twice the previous record — not once, but every year for four years running.

Americans know that we cannot continue on our present fiscal course. But, unfortunately, the concern over the debt has diverted attention from its own underlying cause, the explosion in federal spending, and allowed Obama to pretend that his proposed tax hikes are part of the solution.

Obama assures us that his budget is a “balanced approach.” There is really nothing balanced about Obama’s tax-and-spend budget, which anticipates continuing the record that has already won him the title of the biggest government spender in world history. Obama has taken federal spending up from its normal, postwar average of 20 percent of the economy up to an elevated 24.4 percent over his four years in office. His never-balancing budget anticipates spending jumping to 30 percent of the economy by 2027, 40 percent by 2040, 50 percent by 2060, and 80 percent by 2080. Obviously, that level of spending will mean steeply higher taxes and gigantic deficits as far as the eye can see.

So when Obama tries to score political points by suggesting that the deficit problem can be solved with higher taxes — just the millionaires and billionaires paying a little bit more — he is obscuring the real problem, which is out-of-control government spending. He’s obscuring it because he intends to make it much worse.

If tax increases could actually be part of a plan to eliminate the deficit and get our fiscal house in order, most Americans would support them. This fact, confirmed by polling and focus groups, has spurred the ubiquitous Democratic talking point demanding the unbalanced “balanced approach.” But in reality tax increases would not help eliminate the deficit; they will make it worse.

Congress will spend every penny they get their hands on — and then some. A study of over 60 years of data by economist Richard Vedder found that for every dollar in higher taxes Congress takes in, they spend $1.17. In other words, sending Congress more money just encourages them to spend it all and borrow even more, driving deficits higher, not lower.

And you can be certain that higher taxes will not go to deficit reduction as long as President Obama is there signing every bloated spending bill Congress puts on his desk, as he’s done for the past four years.

A recent poll from Resurgent Republic showed that a majority of Americans understand this well. Asked whether the revenue from a tax hike will go primarily to new spending or to deficit reduction, voters said new spending by a 62 to 38 margin. And 69 percent of independents know that any new tax revenue will be spent.

The exchange on this issue may well define who wins the critical first presidential debate.

To win, Mitt Romney must make clear that his opposition to tax increases is borne not of ideological rigidity but of recognition that the deficit problem is a spending problem, and raising taxes will only encourage Washington to spend even more.

PHIL KERPEN is the president of American Commitment and the author of “Democracy Denied.” He can be reached at


text:
Benalla Veterinary Clinic

Our dedicated team is always here for your animals.

Benalla Veterinary Clinic is a rural mixed animal practice that has been in operation for over 60 years, dealing with small animal pets (dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs), cows, horses, all other types of farm animals, wildlife and the occasional "exotic" animal. Our friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable team aim to provide professional and compassionate care for your animals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We ask that you make an appointment if your animal requires veterinary attention. This ensures you will have fast and efficient service.

If it is your very first appointment with us, please come in an extra 10 mins earlier so that you can fill out your contact and animals details if not already done, or drop us an email with your details - click here

Take a moment to Meet Our Team and some of their own pets.

We look forward to seeing you and your pets again soon.

Business Hours

Weekdays: 8.30am - 5.30pm (open late until 7pm on Tuesdays - except over winter)

Saturdays: 8.30am - 12 noon

A big part of our local community

Benalla is a town in the north east of Victoria with a regional population of 14,000 situated 2 hours from Melbourne just off the Hume Freeway. Benalla Veterinary Clinic has been an integral part of our local community since the 1950's. In that time, we’ve helped thousands of our clients beloved pets and farm animals alike. Being so strongly integrated with our local community is important to us and our clients. We are platinum sponsors of the Benalla Agricultural Show and we love running the annual Pet Parade at our show for the children. Our clients know from experience that they can rely on us for sound, accurate advice, diagnosis and treatments. Your animal will always be in the very best of hands while with our team.

Clinic Hours
We’re open 6 days a week, plus our after hours service provides 24/7 assistance in emergencies.

Phone 57622788 All Hours

Consultation by appointment.

8.30am - 5.30pm

8.30am - 7.00pm

8.30am - 5.30pm

8.30am - 5.30pm

8.30am - 5.30pm

8.30am - 12.00pm

We're local to you!

Click here for our address


text:
Vision Australia Art Show a success

ORGANISERS estimate close to $15,000 was raised at Friday night’s Vision Australia Art Show. The event auctioned 27 one-of-a-kind artworks produced by Bendigo personalities.

Artists included Ross Lougoon from Connor Park Winery, Glenn Riley from Riley’s Electrical, radio presenters Beck Chalmer and Al Shields and Bendigo Advertiser editor Rod Case, many of whom had picked up a paint brush for the first time to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation.

More than 300 people attended the event to show their support and place a bid.

The proceeds will be tallied and go towards helping the region’s blind and severely vision-impaired people.

Vision Australia Bendigo team manager Ruth O’Connell said the highest-selling title was a toss-up between Mr Lougoon and Mr Case, whose artworks sold for about $1200 each.

 “They had a fierce rivalry going on,” she joked. Ms O’Connell said she was impressed with the calibre of artwork presented on the night, and that the exercise had uncovered a number of hidden talents.

“One of the things that really came out of the night was that people who have never made art before found it really enjoyable and will look to do it again.”

Tablet - Narrow
Tablet - Wide


text:
Weekly News via Email
   Set as homepage | Add to favorites | Customer Service | Subscribe Now | Place an Ad | Contact Us | Sitemap Sunday, 08.28.2016
News Archive
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7
 8  9  10  11  12  13  14
 15  16  17  18  19  20  21
 22  23  24  25  26  27  28
 29  30  31
Online Extras
Site Services
Around Bend
Outdoor Fun
Travel Info
Shop Local

Members Of

Poll: Today's Live Poll
Email to a friend | Print this | PDF version | Comments (0 posted)
  Blogger |   del.icio.us |   digg |   newsvine

Mar 27,2009
Mount Redoubt volcano erupts twice
by UPI

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano erupted twice Thursday, sending a black cloud of ash over the Kenai Peninsula.

Officials said commercial airlines were halted nearly all flights in south-central Alaska.

Following an initial blast at 8:34 a.m., a huge explosion 50 minutes later sent ash soaring 65,000 feet above sea level, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

Alaska Airlines canceled all flights in and out of Anchorage for the rest of the day. Other airlines canceled or diverted flights as well.

The newspaper reported that U.S. Weather Service released an ashfall advisory to aviators for an area that encompassed all of the Kenai Peninsula and parts of Prince William Sound -- as well as a portion of a major air route from Seattle to Anchorage.

Anchorage International Airport remained officially open.

No ash was expected to fall on Anchorage but late in the day a "faint trace" was reported outside the Alaska Volcano Observatory on the Alaska Pacific University campus, the Daily News said.

Copyright © 2009, by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

877 times read

Related news
Alaska's Mount Redoubt has 5th eruption by UPI posted on Mar 23,2009

Medevac helicopter still missing in Alaska by UPI posted on Dec 05,2007

Arrest in deadly Alaska machete, gun spree by UPI posted on Dec 04,2007

Alaskan state senator linked to scandal by UPI posted on Jan 09,2008

Alaska fights to keep wolf program by UPI posted on Jan 31,2008

Did you enjoy this article? Rating: 5.00Rating: 5.00Rating: 5.00Rating: 5.00Rating: 5.00 (total 22 votes)

Market Information
Breaking News
Most Popular
Most Commented
Featured Columnist
Horoscope Guide
Aquarius Aquarius Libra Libra
Aries Aries Pisces Pisces
Cancer Cancer Sagittarius Sagittarius
Capricorn Capricorn Scorpio Scorpio
Gemini Gemini Taurus Taurus
Leo Leo Virgo Virgo
Local Attractions
Bend Visitors & Convention Bureau
Bend Visitors & Convention Bureau

Mt. Bachelor Resort
Mt. Bachelor Resort

Les Schwab Ampitheater
Les Schwab Ampitheater

Deschutes County Fairgrounds
Deschutes County

Tower Theatre
Tower Theatre

The High Desert Museum

Deschutes County

  Web    BendWeekly.com
© 2006 Bend Weekly News
A .Com Endeavors, Inc. Company.
All Rights Reserved. Terms under
which this service is provided to you.
Please read our Privacy Policy. Contact us.
Bend Weekly News & Event Guide Online
   Save the Net
External sites open in new window,
not endorsed by BendWeekly.com
Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Add to Google Add to MSN Add to My AOL
What are RSS headlines?


text:
Central Oregon Viewing Report 06-13-08
Jun 13,2008 00:00 by ODFW

Look for Lewis’ Woodpeckers

With their distinctive flight pattern, magnificent coloring and preference for open country with scattered trees, Lewis's woodpeckers are not too difficult to spot if you are looking in the right place this summer. ODFW biologists suggest targeting burned forest areas and open juniper woodlands with snags. As secondary cavity excavators, these woodpeckers often move into a nest built in a previous year by a flicker or hairy woodpecker, so focus on burned areas that are several years old.

A medium-sized woodpecker with black upperparts and hood, it has a red face, gray collar pale red belly. Named after explorer Meriwether Lewis who first saw the bird in July 1805, species populations have been declining.

For information on Lewis’s woodpeckers in Central Oregon, visit the U.S. Forest Service Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests Web Site. To see a photo and listen to its call, visit Whatbird.com.

There is a wide range of migratory and resident shorebirds and waterfowl using the shoreline and reservoir. Broods of Canadian Geese and waterfowl are visible with the best viewing opportunities at the eastern end of the Wildlife Area along the shoreline. Nesting osprey, bald eagles, golden eagles and red-tail hawks are present in the wildlife area as well. Motorized traffic within the management area is restricted to the north side access road and designated routes into dispersed camping sites.

In addition to wildlife viewing, the management area offers hiking and wonderful scenic views of the Crooked River and reservoir. The slopes to the north have steeper and more challenging hiking terrain and offer the best vantage for observing soaring raptors and panoramic views. Good footwear is a must as conditions can vary from steep and rocky, to muddy and wet.

For directions, visit ODFW’s Web site.

The Dalles, Mid-Columbia Region and Northern Wasco County

Many different passerine species are moving through the area. Focus your attention to the oak woodlands, where spring conditions are first to appear, and where many species will stop during migration.

Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area

Many different species frequent the Deschutes Canyon at this time of year with opportunities to view a wide variety of waterbirds, passerines, deer and bighorn sheep.

Bighorn ewes are now beginning to congregate, bringing with them their new lambs. If you can find a group of ewes, watch closely and you should be able to spot young lambs that are hiding nearby. In the coming weeks as lambs get older, expect to start seeing them become more mobile and visible.

Waterfowl broods are a common occurrence now throughout the canyon, as are osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, and Bullock’s Orioles.

ODFW’s Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area is located in The Dalles. Directions and more information about the Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area.

White River Wildlife Area

Blacktail does are now starting to travel about with their fawns, making this a great time to see young deer. Visitors looking for fawns should focus their efforts in the forested sections of the area, especially at dawn or dusk.

Visitors to the area can also see a wide variety of birds, including Lewis’ Woodpeckers, Cooper’s hawks and Pileated Woodpecker’s.

Hood River Valley

Early summer is an excellent time to take advantage of the many trails throughout the Hood River Valley. For a guide to birding trails, visit the Mount Hood Loop Web site, http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/mt_hood.pdf


text:
Parker Alan Hilligas Purifoy

Parker Alan Hilligas Purifoy, 4, of Little Rock went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 1. Parker and his twin brother, Paxton Blake, were born on Nov. 12, 2007.
Survivors include his parents, Nicholas Purifoy of Benton and Sherri Hilligas of East End; his grandparents, Karen "MeMaw" Purifoy and Jerry Taylor of Malvern and Tamie "GramBo" and Eddie Hilligas of Sardis; specia parents,
Amanda DeFoe of Bryant, Broc Taylor of East End and Christopher Workman of Benton; special grandparents, Angie and Patrick "Pat Pat" DeFoe of Bryant; aunts, Brooke Sutton, Gayle Purifoy Carrington, Sarah Jordan and Deidra McNeal; an uncle, Eddie Hilligas and a special uncle, Jeffery Weeks; and many cousins and friends.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan 7, at Griffin Leggett-Forest Hills funeral home. Burial will follow in Collegeville Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a memorial fund at Arvest Bank in Parker’s honor.
Online guest book:
Family comments: From day one Parker left an impact on everyone he met. He was a child full of laughter who lived for cars, Spongebob, M&M's and to be his twin brother's "partner in crime." The family would also like to extend a special thank you to friends at Kidsource therapy for all the support and care they provided for sweet Parker.

The Saline Courier's Friends To Follow


text:
Market Overview

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. Schedules Conference Call to Discuss Updated Fourth Quarter 2012 Financial Outlook

Mellanox® Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX; TASE: MLNX), a leading supplier of high-performance, end-to-end interconnect solutions for data center servers and storage systems, today announced that it will conduct a conference call to discuss its updated fourth quarter 2012 financial outlook on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time). To listen to the call, dial +1-785-424-1834 approximately ten minutes prior to the start time.

The Mellanox updated fourth quarter 2012 financial outlook conference call will be available via a live webcast on the investor relations section of the Mellanox website at Access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An archived webcast replay will also be available on the Mellanox website.

About Mellanox

Mellanox Technologies is a leading supplier of end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect solutions and services for servers and storage. Mellanox interconnect solutions increase data center efficiency by providing the highest throughput and lowest latency, delivering data faster to applications and unlocking system performance capability. Mellanox offers a choice of fast interconnect products: adapters, switches, software and silicon that accelerate application runtime and maximize business results for a wide range of markets including high performance computing, enterprise data centers, Web 2.0, cloud, storage and financial services. More information is available at

Mellanox, BridgeX, ConnectX, CORE-Direct, InfiniBridge, InfiniHost, InfiniScale, PhyX, SwitchX, Virtual Protocol Interconnect and Voltaire are registered trademarks of Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. Connect-IB, FabricIT, MLNX-OS, ScalableHPC, Unbreakable-Link, UFM and Unified Fabric Manager are trademarks of Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Mellanox Technologies, Ltd.
Press/Media Contacts
Waggener Edstrom
Ashley Paula, +1-415-547-7024
USA Investor Contact
Mellanox Technologies
Gwyn Lauber, +1-408-916-0012
Israel Investor Contact
Gelbart Kahana Investor Relations
Nava Ladin, +972-3-6074717

View Comments and Join the Discussion!


text:
Welcome to BER Assessors Ireland
Find a BER Assessor
fully registered and qualified BER Assessors
Any questions?
Our members support forums
are always online and ready to help you.

Latest News from BER Assessors Ireland

BER Assessors Ireland events and news related to the Building Energy sector in Ireland

Gas Networks Ireland Technical Presentations
We are happy to announce Dublin and Limerick Dates for a Technical Presentation on Natural Gas & Part L by Gas Networks Ireland
SEAI minutes of meeting with BER Assessors Association
This content is for SEAI Registered BER Assessor and Associate Member members only. Please Log In or Sign Up as
Dimplex File for Download
This content is for SEAI Registered BER Assessor and Associate Member members only. Please Log In or Sign Up as
BER Assessors News Briefing July 2016
We are pleased to announce that we held two successful technical briefings at the Dimplex R&D training centre in Dunleer.
We Are

the Association of BER Assessors Ireland

We are the Association of Building Energy Rating Assessors in Ireland. We were established in 2008 by a voluntary committee board representing the Assessors in Ireland. We are proud to be in our 8th year as an association and welcome all new assessors to join us. The BER Assessors Association of Ireland is dedicated to the ongoing development of Professional BER Assessors through education, support and cooperation. We strive to achieve the highest level of professional standards by continuous improvement and innovation. The association will support a sustainable business environment and will always serve the best interest of all BER Assessors.

We Have

members all over the country

With our website we have provided members with resources and information to help solve their business issues and technical BER questions. With our Forums we have given members an opportunity to discuss with others issues relating to BERs in a private members only forum. We have represented the BER Assessors of Ireland and liaised with the SEAI and government representatives on all matters concerning BERs and BER Assessors in Ireland. We have successfully maintained a professional association and with your help will continue to do this. Join us today and make the BER Assessors of Ireland a stronger group.

We Offer

a Members Directory Listing and ...

All our members are listed free of charge in our directory. This has performed well over the past number of years and brought business to members of the association.
Members have access to a private forum where they can access the Technical help forums, discuss issues concerning their business or BER assessments or any matters related to BERs.
Support, advice and representation given by the association to all members.

Become a member!

Join the association of BER Assessors Ireland


text:
Going for the Gold!

You may be like me and love watching the Olympics.  Have you ever dreamed of going for a gold medal?  I can dream but know that I will never win an Olympic medal.  I couldn’t even make the team. But that got me to thinking about my life as a Christian.  God has already given me the privilege of joining His team and I’m told by Paul “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” Have you heard of the Olympic Runner, Eric Liddell, made famous by the Oscar winning movie Chariots of Fire?  He won Gold in the 1924 Olympics but what most people don’t know is what happened next.  He gave his life to be a missionary in China ultimately dying at a young age in obscure internment camp while sharing and living out the Gospel.  Which Gold was greater for Eric Liddell?  Which one should be more important to me?  I may never win an Olympic Gold medal but I can be inspired to go for the true Gold by living my life to fulfill the Great Commission.

Sermon Series: EXODUS

New Sermon Series: Exodus!

We invite you to join us Sundays at 10:45 as we take a journey back to the time of ancient Egypt while we explore the second book of the Bible — Exodus. Follow the life of Moses as he liberates the people of Israel from Egypt, where they were being held in slavery. From Egypt, Moses leads the people of Israel to a new land that was promised to them by God. This is the same land that Israel occupies today. A timeless classic with answers to modern questions, Exodus is an excellent book that demonstrates the power, mercy, and provision of God in an accessible, relatable way. Is there something you need to take an exodus from in your life?

Sermon Series: GENESIS

  New Sermon Series: Genesis!  Who AGenesism I?  Where did I come from?  What is my purpose in life?  Please join us as we go back to the very beginning of the Bible to learn about God as the Creator of all life, the foundation of marriage, the consequences of sin, God’s grace, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and the beginnings of human history and our relationship of faith in God.  At Berean Bible Church, we use expository preaching, which means that we cover entire books of the bible, verse by verse. In doing so, we obtain a full understanding of what the original author, inspired by God, meant. We also avoid the temptation to skip over passages that are challenging or uncomfortable. While being thorough in our coverage of the holy scriptures, we also strive to make them understandable and applicable to everyday life.

What in the world is a Berean?

Often I’m asked the question “Your church has a strange name.  What is a Berean?”  Our church gets its name from a Bible passage in Acts 17:11.  In this passage the people from the area of Berea were held to be more noble.  Why?  Because of the importance they placed on God’s Word.  It says that they read God’s Word eagerly and searched it daily.  At Berean Bible Church. we aspire to have this same high view of God’s Word.   All teaching and beliefs are directed to the Bible rather than man’s ideas.  Our desire in being Bereans is to follow the Bible eagerly, daily and let it determine our beliefs and guide our lives in all that we do.   In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were regarded as being more noble for seeking out God’s Word.  Are you a Berean?

Bringing glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ

Twitter links powered by Tweet This v1.8.3, a WordPress plugin for Twitter.


text:
• Chrysler
  • Jeep
  • Dodge
  • Ram

3525 Veterans Memorial Blvd
Directions Metairie, LA 70002

  • Sales: (888) 308-8350
  • Service: (866) 980-4534
  • Parts: (866) 980-4340

Used Car Dealership in Metairie

Look No Further than Bergeron Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT Mopar for a Top-Notch Used Car in Metairie

Each of the used cars listed below has been inspected for quality by our Metairie, Louisiana team and carries a unique style from the model year in which they were created. In short, our lineup of pre-owned vehicles is sure to please any buyer, whether you're looking for a stylish sedan, a capable truck or a spacious SUV. Have a look at our inventory below, and if one catches your eye, contact Bergeron Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Mopar SRT to arrange a test drive.

Show Only

135 Vehicles matching:
  • All Listings

Our Metairie Family Used Car Dealership Knows How to Stand Apart in the NOLA Region

After 49 years of selling used cars here in Metairie, LA our family-owned dealership knows what our favorite drivers and customers expect and need. These pre-owned models are here to provide you with plenty of options when you shop at our used car dealership in Metairie, so after taking a look through our available inventory, make your way on over here. We proudly New Orleans, Kenner, LaPlace & Slidell, LA areas, so come over to the best used car dealership in Metairie to see what sets us apart from the competition.

Not only do we feature a wide variety of makes and models among our used cars, we also offer the best buying experience in Metairie. When you visit us, we'll put you at ease with a worry-free and friendly loan process, as well as by answering any questions you have.

Great Deals on Used Cars in Metarie at Bergeron Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT Mopar Serving New Orleans, Kenner, LaPlace & Slidell, LA

If you're in the market for a used car here in Metairie or anywhere in the New Orleans area,  come on over to Bergeron Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT Mopar today and take a test drive. We're dedicated to delivering the best used car shopping experience in Metairie, and when you come by, you'll see that in action. Visit our auto service center to schedule a routine maintenance check today.

A Great Used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Dealership for Slidell, Louisiana Drivers

When a business has been owned by the same family for 50 years, earning accolades in the area and being well-known as a proud member of the local community, you know you're going to have an exceptional shopping experience. That's what you'll find at our used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership serving Slidell, LA, which is easily located and accessed from all of the NOLA area. Browse our expansive inventory for the used Jeep SUV or pre-owned Dodge vehicle you want. Whether you want to find a great value on your next long-term vehicle, or if you just need a highly affordable and reasonable car for the short term, we have something for you among our used-car lineup. Come on over from Slidell today and see what we have to offer.

While we have plenty of stunning new cars here at our Slidell area dealership, we also feature an excellent selection of used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles for you to consider. With recent model years and low-mileage sedans, coupes, trucks, SUVs, crossovers and minivans, you can find what basically amounts to a new car, but at a reduced price. Of course, we also have much older used models that you can find great deals on if that's what you need. Explore all your used car options here at Bergeron Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT Mopar today.

* The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, other fees required by law, finance charges and any documentation charges.

* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.

--- ---
<- ddcdusting DNA4074749 -->


text:
PITTSFIELD -- Two months after getting out of jail for threatening a woman with a knife, a city man is being held without bail after allegedly beating up a different woman.

Kevin Bailey, 32, of Indian Orchard, allegedly attacked his 46-year-old girlfriend during an argument at her Pittsfield home just after midnight Monday, throwing her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly. After she got back to her feet, Bailey allegedly slapped her across the face and again threw her to the floor, according to police and prosecutors.

The woman said she was badly bruised in the attack. It was unclear if she sought medical attention. The woman was granted a restraining order against Bailey.

After being taken into custody, Bailey was uncooperative with police and was subdued with pepper spray, according to the police report.

Bailey apologized to the woman and the judge during the restraining order hearing on Monday in Central Berkshire District Court, saying he had no memory of the alleged attack or his arrest, and blamed it on alcohol. He admitted he had a bad temper.

He pleaded not guilty to felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor assault and battery.

According to Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Andrew Giarolo, Bailey, besides having a long criminal record, has had 11 restraining orders against him over the years involving seven different women.

The restraining order granted to the victim on Monday is Bailey's 12th, the prosecutor said. Giarolo told the court the defendant was a danger to the woman, and to any woman he gets involved with, and asked the court to hold him without bail.

Bailey's attorney, Thomas M. Sherman Jr., said that the restraining order was enough to keep his client away from the woman and asked that he be released on personal recognizance.

Judge Paul M. Vrabel ordered Bailey held without bail for 90 days. He is scheduled to be back in court Feb. 13.

Bailey's last case stemmed from a March incident in which he threatened a 42-year-old woman he was dating with a knife, stabbed the bedroom wall and threw "her around like a rag doll" during a domestic disturbance, according to a prosecutor at the time of Bailey's sentencing in June.

Bailey was released from the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction in October after serving close to eight months on the charges of assault and battery and assault.

To reach Andrew Amelinckx:

or (413) 496-6249.

On Twitter: @BETheAmelinckx


text:
Twitter iconFacebook iconRSS icon

Create an Android Avatar w/ Androidify by Google

Create an Android Avatar w/ Androidify by Google

Androidify yourself by customizing the little green Android as yourself, your family, your friends, anyone!”

  • Version: 1.0
  • Size: 1.45MB (no apps2SD)
  • Category: Entertainment
  • Price: Free

Just as you would create your very own “Mii” to play on your Nintendo Wii, Google has just released their own rendition, Androidify. You can personalize your own Android with various outfits, shoes, hair, hats, and other accessories. Even stretch or shrink the arms, legs, body, and head as you see fit.

Once you have completed your personalizations, save and share it via gmail, SMS, Twitter, or Picasa. You can see all of your creations in the “My Androids” section in the menu.

A worthy update would be the ability to customize the background, since the only option is plain white at the moment.

Share your Androids with us on Twitter (@BestAndroidApps)!

Related Reviews & Articles:

One Comment

  1. This article makes me glad I decided to follow you on Twitter! I’m not that good artistically, and I’ve been messing around in Photoshop trying to do some kind of custom Android-man…this will save me tons of time! Thanks for the heads up!

Leave a Comment


text:
Satin Gardenia

© Carol C. Harris

Satin Gardenia
Be the first... Sign in and then comment below.

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Saw this very perfect gardenia bloom at the Agricenter in Memphis and shot the image to get full dof on the flower. The background then had to be addressed in post as it was very busy with foliage (could not have used the idea you told me about in this situation). When I tried the solarization filter in Color Effex, it did the trick. 1st use I've ever found for solarization. Outer petals form a slight C and the petals are repeating shapes.

Exif: F Number: 20, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 800, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 60D

Uploaded on 6/7/2012 8:37:29 PM

Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Carol C. Harris. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
Future Western Authors

© Jill Saurbaugh

Future Western Authors

Ken Beatty 9/13/2012 1:07:34 PM

Great Captured Moment! Love It... #1486245

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Exif: F Number: 3.2, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/160 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 85.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Uploaded on 9/13/2012 11:59:20 AM

BetterPhoto.com Editor's Pick

Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Jill Saurbaugh. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Contact photographer via gallery.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
More Pictures (cropped)

© Kathleen R. Struckle

More Pictures (cropped)

Stan Kwasniowski level-classic 10/24/2005 4:14:39 PM

Kathleen, I wish I could read this cat's memory as she looks at you lol #332175

Kathleen R. Struckle level-classic 10/24/2005 6:45:37 PM

She loves me!! #1995038

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Lesson 2 resubmitted croped.

Uploaded on 10/22/2005 6:05:04 PM

Made With

Camera: Nikon D70 Digital SLR Camera

Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Kathleen R. Struckle. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Contact photographer via gallery.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
Puffin After

© Dennis J. Nault

Puffin After
Be the first... Sign in and then comment below.

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

After adjusting exposure, recovery, shadow detail in ACR, I tried to clone some of the detail from the side chest to the front. Not wildly successful, but I see some improvement

Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: -2.00, ExposureTime: 1/1250 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 280.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300

Uploaded on 8/27/2008 7:07:10 PM

Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Dennis J. Nault. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
We support you, just not your browser.
Your browser hasn't been updated in a while. For a better experience, we recommend upgrading to the latest version of IE, Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
  • Save
  • Pinterest

Make Tonight Taco Night

Soft shell, hard shell, chicken, beef or fish – there are countless ways to satisfy your craving. And fast! In 30 minutes or less you can pull together a flavorful fiesta the whole family will love. Olé!

Review and Comment


text:
By BEUC’s Senior Legal Officer, Kostas Rossoglou

Last week in Brussels, scores of EU and US officials held the 6th negotiating round of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal.

Despite press conferences and civil society briefings the real substance of discussions remains in the dark. However, an important court ruling might just end trade negotiations being done in secret.

shutterstock_152356511 copyOn 3 July, a European Court of Justice case instructed the European Commission to be more transparent about negotiations of TTIP. In a case involving the Member of the European Parliament Sophie in’t Veld against the EU Council, the ECJ clearly stated that access to documents related to international agreements should be ensured, unless it is demonstrated that disclosure would undermine the conduct of negotiations.

The European Court of Justice has sent a clear signal that EU institutions cannot abuse the argument that negotiations of international agreements require documents to remain secret. Although the Court did not go as far as imposing disclosure as the rule, it has set out a certain number of conditions which must be met for the documents to remain undisclosed.

First of all, the risk for negotiations should be specific and foreseeable. Hypothetical fears about the possible impact of transparency on the negotiating power of the EU will not suffice to refuse access to documents. DG Trade has repeatedly used general concerns and hypothetical scenarios over the last months to justify its non-transparency policy. It will now have to provide clear reasons and explain to the general public why denial of access to negotiating documents will harm the position of the EU. The ECJ has noted that invoking the mere existence of a threat to the EU’s interests in the field of international relations does not in itself satisfy the requirement.

Secondly, the European Commission will need to make an assessment between the public interest in access to the documents and the need to protect the international relations of the EU. Such an assessment is far from an easy exercise, especially considering TTIP provisions will directly affect citizens’ fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy and the right to protection of personal data. In those cases, the public interest overrides the Commission’s. In making this assessment, the Commission will also have to consider the advantages of increased openness, including the possibility for EU citizens to participate more closely in the decision-making process and to guarantee that the administration enjoys greater legitimacy.

Thirdly, any exception to the general principle of access to documents must be interpreted and applied strictly. The EU regulation on access to documents was adopted with the aim of conferring on the public as wide a right of access as possible. Therefore, any restriction must be exceptional and duly justified.

Despite the position of the European Commission that TTIP is a trade policy measure and therefore subject to openness limitations, TTIP is far more than a trade agreement. The fact that TTIP is a far reaching and dynamic agreement, capable of incorporating new elements on the basis of the regulatory cooperation mechanism, makes increasing transparency and participation of the general public in the decision-making process a necessity.

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights establishes the right for every European to access documents of the Union. However, exercising this right remains extremely difficult. It took five years for a Member of the European Parliament and a long legal dispute. Imagine how much more difficult exercising this fundamental right would be for ordinary citizens.

Transparency of negotiations which affect millions of consumers in the EU can contribute to the legitimacy of the European Commission in the eyes of Europeans. The ruling by the European Court of Justice has clearly demonstrated that the European Commission has a long road ahead.

Posted by Monique Goyens

One Comment

  1. The solution is a revision of the EU document transparency rules that are pending at the council. The EC/1049/2001 legacy rules are outdated, don’t address trade transparency gaps, don’t address the Lisbon Treaty.

Comments are closed.


text:
Pepsi Tweet Explained: Street King Nabs Honickman Distribution

Maybe 140 characters isn’t enough to explain the vagaries of the independent vs. in-house Pepsi bottler network, but that’s why we’re here.

Pure Growth Partners’ co-founder Chris Clarke has lent some context to business partner Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s Twitter message that his company had signed a deal for Pepsi to distribute Street King energy shots.

According to Clarke, Street King has landed a key independent Pepsi distributor, the Honickman Group, which is known for its powerful execution in the New York and Mid-Atlantic regions through component companies Pepsi Bottling Co. of New York, Canada Dry of the Delaware Valley and Canada Dry of Potomac.

The arrangement goes into effect immediately, according to Clarke, but does not portend any deal with PepsiCo or its in-house distribution arm, Pepsi Beverages Co.

Street King, which is trying to offer itself as a younger, philanthropic alternative to 5-Hour Energy, is currently in 30,000 stores, including 7-Eleven and GNC. According to Clarke, it is on target to add two major drug chains by February and could be in as many as 80,000 stores in the next 90 days.

Both Jackson and Clarke are committing another $10 million to the company, with the hopes of raising another $10 million from outside investors in that same span.

As part of the brand message, the company says it will “feed a hungry child” with a donation to the United Nations World Food Program with the sale of every shot. According to Clarke, the company has already donated 3.5 million meals.


text:
Two New Character Posters for Green Lantern

The “Green Lantern” UK Facebook page has released two new character posters for the movie. The first one, with star Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, hot-dogging human test pilot turned hot-dogging intergalactic beat cop, is just a variation of that awesome banner we posted earlier, but the second one, of alien fish/bird guy Tomar-Re, is new. Check them both out below.

Also starring Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Temuera Morrison, Jenna Craig, Jon Tenney, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett, Taika Cohen, Jeff Wolfe, and directed by Martin Campbell.

Blasting evil June 17th.


text:
Your Big List of 2014 Oscar Winners

The Oscars 2014

If you’re like me, you were probably waiting for the latest episode of “The Walking Dead,” rather than spend 5 hours waiting for the Oscars to start, then 4 more hours for the Oscar show itself. Give or take a few hours, boring singing and dancing (they still do that, right?), and lame jokes from whoever is hosting this year. But the single worst thing about Oscar night? Having my Twitter feed, which is usually filled with very respectable movie sites, literally blow up with inane “live tweeting.” Because, obviously, the only thing more fun than enduring the Godafwul Oscar show every year is … reading minute-by-minute commenting from total strangers. Good God.

Anyways, for those of you with more sense than to watch the Oscars last night, but are still curious who won and who didn’t, here is your big list of 2014 Oscar winners and losers.

Best Picture
“12 Years a Slave” (WINNER)
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Actor
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club” (WINNER)
Christian Bale, “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine” (WINNER)
Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”
Judi Dench, “Philomena”
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”
Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County”

Best Director
Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity” (WINNER)
Steve McQueen, “12 Years A Slave”
Alexander Payne, “Nebraska”
David O. Russell, “American Hustle”
Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Spike Jonze, “Her” (WINNER)
Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell, “American Hustle”
Woody Allen, “Blue Jasmine”
Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Bob Nelson, “Nebraska”

Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave” (WINNER)
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, & Ethan Hawke, “Before Midnight”
Billy Ray, “Captain Phillips”
Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan, “Philomena”
Terence Winter, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Music, Best Original Song
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, “Let it Go,” from “Frozen” (WINNER)
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams, “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2″
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze, “The Moon Song,” from “Her”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson, “Oridinary Love,” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”

Music, Best Original Score
Steven Price, “Gravity” (WINNER)
John Williams, “The Book Thief”
William Butler & Owen Pallett, “Her”
Alexandre Desplat, “Philomena”
Thomas Newman, “Saving Mr. Banks”

Best Production Design
“The Great Gatsby” (WINNER)
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave”

Best Film Editing
Mark Sanger & Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity” (WINNER)
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“12 Years a Slave”

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity” (WINNER)
“The Grandmaster”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”

Best Supporting Actress
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave” (WINNER)
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”
Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”

Best Sound Editing
“Gravity” (WINNER)
“All Is Lost”
“Captain Phillips”
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“Lone Survivor”

Best Sound Mixing
“Gravity” (WINNER)
“Captain Phillips”
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Lone Survivor”

Best Foreign Language Film
“The Great Beauty” (WINNER)
“The Hunt”
“The Broken Circle Breakdown”
“The Missing Picture”

Best Documentary Feature
“20 Feet From Stardom” (WINNER)
“The Act of Killing”
“Cutie and the Boxer”
“Dirty Wars”
“The Square”

Best Documentary – Short Subject
“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” (WINNER)
“Facing Fear”
“Karma Has No Walls”
“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hill”

Best Short Film – Live Action
“Helium” (WINNER)
“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)”
“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)”
“Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)”
“The Voorman Problem”

Best Visual Effects
“Gravity” (WINNER)
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
“The Lone Ranger”
“Iron Man 3″
“Star Trek Into Darkness”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Frozen” (WINNER)
“The Croods”
“Despicable Me 2″
“Ernest & Celestine”
“The Wind Rises”

Best Short Film – Animated
“Mr. Hublot” (WINNER)
“Get a Horse!”
“Room on the Broom”

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Dallas Buyers Club” (WINNER)
“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”
“The Lone Ranger”

Best Costume Design
“The Great Gatsby” (WINNER)
“American Hustle”
“The Grandmaster”
“The Invisible Woman”
“12 Years a Slave”

Best Supporting Actor
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club” (WINNER)
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill, “Wolf of Wall Street”


text:
Saturday, December 31, 2011

My Year in Review

The end of the year at the library means evaluations, and as part of that process, I'm asked to fill out a self review form. Even though I kind of dread it and put it off to the last minute, I appreciate the prompt to reflect on the past year, my accomplishments and any areas that I think I could improve in during the new year. The year provided me with several opportunities to branch out in my skills as a librarian, and I'm happy to say that I've come to realize the importance of actually taking those opportunities instead of letting them pass me by like I may have done in the past. I've come to adopt two philosophies in my work in order to be successful: "Always try to stay at least ten steps ahead of everyone else" and "In whatever you do, give at least 125%."

In January, I was a new MLS graduate working half time as a reference assistant and half time as a serials clerk. I spent nearly four hours a day in a closet-like office checking in and processing new magazines and the rest of the day on the desk, answering reference questions, keeping track of statistics, teaching computer classes and working on displays. Just as I began my search for professional positions elsewhere, my supervisor informed me that the Technical Services department would be taking over my serials responsibilities. She was thrilled that I'd be able to stay and concentrate on other things. Since I had finished my MLS, adminsitration agreed to give me the professional title, Reference Librarian, and I think that was what gave me the confidence and motivation to start taking the initiative.

When one of my colleagues accepted a job as the marketing director in March, she handed over the responsibility of her brainchild, the library's Book Club in a Bag service, to me. With in-kind donations from the Friends of the Lawrence Public Library, we collect ten copies of popular book club titles and patrons can check them out for 8 weeks at a time. Many have commented on how great this service is, and have even donated books to expand our collection. Since taking over the service, I've added about 10 titles to the collection, put together the "Book Club Hub" to promote it, and have managed over 80 check outs. My colleague's department change also meant someone needed to take over managing some of the promotional materials, like read-a-like book marks, fiction 101 trifolds and other handouts.

As I mentioned in earlier posts, one of my favorite responsibilities is making displays. Some of of my favorite displays were Wild Wild Westerns, True Crime, Books Under Fire for Banned Books Week, Native American Heritage, A Few of Our Favorite Things, and my most recent Kids' Books Adults Love. With the help of the IT department and the marketing director, I also put together the new eReader Kiosk with trifold handouts describing different eReaders and information on the upcoming lendable eBook service from the State Library of Kansas. The library received a grant to purchase four iPads, four Sony Readers, four Kindles and 4 Nooks, one of each of which we now display on the kiosk so patrons can get hands on experience with them before purchasing one. The kiosk has really instigated a lot of questions about eReaders and eBooks, and I love getting the chance to explain technology to patrons. Along the same lines, I've gotten to teach several computer classes throughout the year like an Intro to the Internet, Getting Started with Facebook, and our famous Technology Petting Zoos.

Through late summer and into the fall, I helped plan our "Transformations" themed staff in-service day with the staff development committee. In years past, the day would start with a "state of the library" address from the director, but our director resigned just before the in-service. I suggested in lieu of that address, we break the staff up into small groups for a guided discussion and then bring them back together to share their responses. The rest of the day was filled with presentations and training sessions; lunch catered by a local restaurant, Wheatfields; and the highlight, the keynote speaker, the famous librarian, Nancy Pearl. We ended with a fun library themed scavenger hunt, sending staff around the building to take pictures with certain things and to retreive different objects. Even though I felt much of the in-service came together at the last minute, we had a postive over all response.

Having had so much fun planning staff day, I volunteered to help plan the holiday breakfast and the outcome of that event felt like the perfect ending to a great year. If I didn't get a job in a library, I think the next best option would have been event planning. However, I really feel fortunate that I am working in a library, 'cause I couldn't imagine working anywhere else. I'm really looking forward to what the new year will bring, especially with the upcoming expansion and renovation project tentatively set to begin in the summer.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Mortal Kombat!

When I was a teenager, I was pretty much obsessed with Mortal Kombat. It started with the arcade. My siblings and I bowled every Saturday on a league, and every chance I got, I ran to the arcade to anxiously await my turn on the MKII machine, quarters in hand. I couldn't describe my excitement each time I wandered into the game room to find that a new edition had been released. Then I learned that I could play it at home, and I begged my parents for the Super Nintendo and Game Boy versions for my birthdays or the holidays or saved up the money myself. I never considered myself a violent kid, but my sometimes unhealthy obsession with this graphic, blood and guts filled game might say otherwise.

I spent the better part of my day off yesterday reviving that obsession. My fiance "surprised me" with the newest edition of the game for PlayStation 3 for Christmas (he actually bought it a couple of months ago, making no effort to hide it from me and telling me he intended to sell it for profit). And I love it. One of the most horrifyingly graphic, and probably my favorite, aspects of the game is the "x-ray moves" in which the animation slows down and you see bones break in x-rays of where certain punches, kicks or other impacts land. Fatalities are much more realistic, too, showing every gut, every exposed muscle, every drop of blood in brutal finishing moves that often times leave me cringing.

Another thing I like about the game is the story mode. A combination of a movie and the original verses mode, you pretty much enter the Mortal Kombat background story as different characters. I, of course, saw the Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation film adaptations, but the interactive aspect makes the story so much better. I even tried my hand at an online round, in which you choose your kombatant and fight an unknown user. I haven't played any form of the game for such a long time, and I was sure I was going to get creamed, but I actually managed to win and even perform a fatality. There was sort of a lag, but I think that was more from my internet connection than it was any fault with the game.

If I didn't have tons of books that I want to read, an apartment to keep clean, meals to cook and consume, a fiance to spend time with and a full time job, I would probably spend hour after hour playing this game. However, like I am at work at this moment, I'll just have to fantasize about my next flawless victory, fatality or babality whenever I don't have the controller in my hand.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Poetry Social: "Traditions"

I'm really fortunate to work in a place that allows me to utilize my talents and passions in my job--one of those passions being poetry. About four months ago, I started hosting a monthly poetry event at the library. A college town, Lawrence is kind of known for its artistic community, and I figured there would be a large audience for something poetry related. I approached my colleague, the adult programming librarian, about developing the event, knowing she was looking to increase the number of adult programs. I had originally envisioned an open mic reading each month, and maybe inviting a professional or published poet in every know and then. My colleague suggested we give it a unique name--the Poetry Social--and come up with a theme for each reading to inspire the participants. Our first Poetry Social was held in September with the theme, "Migrations."

Each month, while I'm sitting in the gallery waiting for people to show up, I admit I get a little disheartened as the clock ticks closer and closer to the start time while only a few people walk in. However, by the end of the event, I'm always impressed with the works and conversations shared. There's a core group of people that have come to each one, and I can tell that they appreciate an outlet for their creativity. Some of them drive twenty or more minutes to participate, and I always make sure to express my gratitude for their presence. Tonight's Poetry Social on the theme "Traditions" was no different. A last minute scheduling of an author visit bumped the event from its original location in the gallery, and I thought that might deter some attendees, but my faithful regulars still showed ready to share.

I started tonight's social by showing the participants some of the poetry resources we have at the library, having pulled some collections and the current Poet's Market before the event began. Then, to spark some creativity, I played a winter meditation video from Youtube and instructed the participants to use the music and visuals as a writing prompt. When that ended, I invited the participants to share, and even though there were only five, we were there for about 45 minutes enjoying each other's poetry and thoughts. I appreciate how fitting the name we came up with for the event, Poetry Social, has come to be. Each poem sparked conversation, and we shared in a discussion on when each of us began writing. When we ran out of work to share, I thanked everyone for coming and closed the evening with my own product of the writing prompt:

Winter Meditation

All around me
naked trees stretch their limbs
in directions akimbo,
bearing testimony to
winter's harsh touch.

Icy cold fingers
dance and trip
down the notches in my spine
as my breath
heavy and moist
escapes my lips
like fog lifting into
the blue and endless expanse
of a frost bitten sky
above me.

A leaf in the snow,
my mind frozen
as I lose myself in
the season's
white noise.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I'm just a simple librarian in a high tech digital world

I've gotten to the point where I wince every time a patron walks up to the desk and asks about free eBooks or audiobooks. Even before the State Library of Kansas's contract ended with OverDrive, explaining how to get the digital content onto a device could get complicated depending on the device in question. Now with the switching of platforms, the length of my reference transactions have doubled with explanations about the new services and how some content isn't available yet, or even compatible with some devices--the most notorious being the Amazon's Kindle products. It's kind of disheartening to see people's eyes light up at the prospect of free eBooks and then have to explain that they're not available yet, and that we're not even sure when or if they will be compatible with Kindles.

In a matter of two hours this morning, I must have had four patrons asking about digital content. One brought in her Kindle Fire hoping to learn how to download audiobooks from the State Library's new provider, OneClickdigital, directly to it. After trying to figure out her log in information and ultimately having to reset her password, we managed to log in to her OneClickdigital account, only to determine that it wasn't going to be possible for her to download files directly. She'll actually have to buy the USB cord not included with the original purchase, download the eBooks to her computer, figure out if they're the incompatible WMA files or compatible MP3 files, and then transfer them to the Kindle. For some of our older patrons who are just now bridging the digital divide, that isn't as easy as the State Library's new site title, "Kansas EZ Library" implies.

But I guess that's what I'm at the library for, right? I'm just glad that I have the knowledge and experience to be able to help patrons figure it out, and though sometimes I feel like it's the blind leading the blind, they usually end up leaving with most of their questions answered. And I always let them know if they discover they have more, they're always welcome to come back.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Mmmm! Tater tot casserole!

"Everything changes, but as it changes there is one immutable thing and that is the larger rhythm. The rhythm of all that is." -Jewel, Chasing Down the Dawn

I'm sitting at the reference desk with a belly full of tater tot casserole, deviled eggs and freshly brewed Dunkin' Doughnuts coffee, having just come from the Staff Holiday Breakfast. This year, in the absence of the person who has probably done it for the past 10 years or so, I got to help plan and organize the event with two of my colleagues from Technical Services. This last quarter has kind of had a focus on change: the library is getting ready for an upcoming renovation and expansion project, the theme of our in-service day was "Transformations" and finally, Nancy, Cecilia and I decided to change things up quite a bit with holiday breakfast. As with any major change in an organization, we feared there might be a negative response, but sitting here reflecting on the event and recalling some comments, I can say it was no where near as bad as we had thought it might be.

Traditionally, the main activity for the morning, besides the potluck breakfast, has been a White Elephant Gift Exchange. That was our biggest change. Instead of sending people away with tacky, often times useless things that end up getting re-gifted the next year, Nancy, Cecilia and I decided we wanted to support our adopted family, as well as our local businesses, by having a donation and drawing. For each non-perishable food item the staff members brought for the family, they got up to five chances in a drawing for gift certificates to La Prima Tazza, The Raven Bookstore, 715, African Adorned, and Local Burger. We also wanted to make sure everyone walked away with something, so we made certificates for the spring Friends of the Library book sale.

Overall, I think it went pretty well (as I was writing this, a coworker exclaimed over how much more lively the event seemed this year!). Nancy had the great idea of hanging huge ornamental snowflakes from the ceiling, we got blue and silver tablecloths, and a great white floral arrangement for a centerpiece. I really wanted the breakfast to be a reflection on the past 12 months and a celebration of the end of the year. To help with this, I put together a PowerPoint slideshow of pictures that had been taken throughout the year with snowflakes that would periodically fall down the screen and projected it for a visual. Conversations were great, everyone was very appreciative for the gift certificates, and the food was delicious! It's events like these that make me appreciate all the more my job and the people I work with.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

You're never too old for Seuss!

Much too excited about my next display project, I wasn't able to sleep in any longer this morning--so I decided to blog about it! Last week, a colleague from Youth Services emailed my supervisor with a great idea to put up a display in the adult area featuring children's books that adults love, and I volunteered to put it up in January. And how appreciative I am of her suggestion, because I was having a little bit of trouble thinking outside of the "January is National [insert random noun] Month!" box for next month's display. As a lay in bed, futilely trying to fall back to sleep, I started thinking about a clever title and imagining the sign and props. Now, I won't go in to great detail, but I'm thinking big--like, The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Where the Wild Things Are big! Reflecting back on my undergrad years again and a bulletin board display one of my classmates made for a children's literature course, I may borrow her idea and even pull out some papier-mâché if I find the time and resources to do so! As for the books that will be featured on the display, I'm hoping my YS colleague, who volunteered to put together the list, will include some of my favorites:

This first title I love and adore so much, I decided to have the cover illustration tattooed on my arm! I was in college when I first read Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince, and I can't think of a better time to have read it. The story is about a disenchanted pilot who has an enlightening encounter with a little prince after his plane crashes, leaving him stranded in the Sahara. On a journey to experience the universe, the little prince comes to Earth from a tiny, far away planet. On the verge of becoming a full-fledged adult, I learned from this book the value of holding on to a childlike imagination and appreciation of the world. I related well to the journeys of both the pilot and the the prince, and appreciated the several lessons like one the prince learns from a fox while traveling the universe: "One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye." Every time someone notices the tattoo on my forearm, I always take the opportunity to tell them about this great read!

I've thought about getting a tattoo inspired by this next title too. This book brought to my attention that there can be two types of people in the world: those who give and those who take. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, which chronicles the relationship between a boy and a tree, has been considered by some to be controversial because of its depiction of a compulsive giver and a predatory taker. As the boy grows, the tree is constantly providing for him branches to swing on, shade to sit in and fruit from its branches. Though the story has caused me to reflect on how much I have given or taken in some of my relationships, I do think that may be taking it a little too far. The unconditional, self-sacrificing love the tree has for the boy, which continues into his adulthood and elderly years, has always inspired me to be better in my own interactions with the people around me, whether I'm giving (gifting) or taking (receiving), and I don't think that's a bad lesson to learn.

This last title is often given as a graduation present, and I've even witnessed it being read at a wedding. "Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98 3/4% guaranteed.)" Filled with encouragement and sound advice, Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go! is perfect for anyone who's about to take their next big step in life's journey. The narrator relates the decisions and paths of an unnamed protagonist, generally understood to represent the reader, as he travels through colorful, geometrical landscapes. All throughout the book, the narrator offers such adages as “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” and “Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you." I received the book myself after graduating from high school, and I've treasured it since.

There are many other children's titles that I enjoy, and I'm sure many feel the same way, so I'm pretty sure this display's going to be popular. Now that I've got it all planned out, part of me can't wait for the next three weeks to be over so I can start working on it!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The perfect place to be

On my way back to work after lunch this afternoon, I decided to scroll through my iPod's playlist for my new favorite song, Kimya Dawson's The Library featuring Aesop Rock from her newest album, Thunder Thighs, and play it loudly to encourage a favorable mood for returning to my workplace. Nothing like a little affirmation of one's calling in life as when your favorite artist advocates the institution for which you work through his or her artistry! I've always admired Kimya for her passion for music and her uninhibited desire and willingness to share whatever's on her mind through melody. This song has made me appreciate and adore her all the more!

The lyrics present several things you can do or get at the library and many reasons why the library's "the perfect place to be." They even give props to the people at the library who are there to help you--the librarians! I especially love the reference transaction in which a patron is looking for books by Judy Blume and the helpful librarians respond, not only with the location of the books in question, but with other great suggestions too! Every time I listen to it, I start to imagine what the music video would look like: Kimya, surrounded by children and puzzles and stacks of books, and a quirky librarian with the horn rimmed glasses, cardigan and bun letting loose and dancing on the reference desk!

As I was walking up the steps to the front entrance of my library, with the song still replaying in my mind, I felt as if it was continuing in real time. A mother and her two children were ahead of me, and the little boy was excitedly explaining, "...and you can find a movie to watch while we go play on the computers!"

Some guys are only about that thing, that thing, that thing!

It's an all too familiar story. Guy goes to house party 'cause he heard a real hottie's gonna be there. Guy gets smashed. Guy approaches said hottie, drunkenly professes his love to her and throws himself on her. Said hottie freaks and flees.

In the last post, I said that I would probably find some reason to dislike Vinicius, the nephew of the spoiled Roman nobleman, Petronius, in Henryk Sienkiewicz's Quo Vadis. It didn't take long. After learning of Petronius's scheme to have Ligia sequestrated by Nero, the Roman Emperor, Vinicius planned to comfort and woo her at a celebratory feast that Nero held at his palace. And some party it turned out to be. A drunken orgy, as to which it was actually referred. Needless to say, Vinicius drank a little bit too much wine and came on quite strongly, which understandably upset Ligia, who was just beginning to discover some feelings for the poor drunken lad.

Now I'm really curious as to how this will turn out. Hopefully, Ligia will have enough sense to stay away from Vinicius. However, it will probably be the case that Vinicius will do something heroic and Ligia will swoon and fall in love again. Then again, maybe her neo-Christian perspective and values will keep her on the straight and narrow. Either way, it will be interesting and enlightening to see how Sienkiewicz treats the female character. Will his views on the sexes be different than those held during the reign of the Roman Empire? Or will he satisfy the typical male chauvinistic archetype?

I have to admit, when I first picked up the book and flipped through its pages, I thought Quo Vadis was going to bore me to tears. And the first few pages didn't convince me otherwise. However, I'm happy to say that it's actually turned out to be a very engaging read, and despite my unfavorable feelings for some of the main characters, I somewhat enjoying the storyline. So maybe I can understand how it came to be considered one of history's greatest best sellers.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The curse (or blessing) of miscommunication

This morning was probably one of the most hectic I've experienced while working in a library. Usually we have three or four reference librarians and assistants to cover the desk, but today two of them called in and one had gone to see President Obama in Osawatamie. That left me, my supervisor and our programming librarian to cover the desk. All would have been fine, if it weren't for the computer class and webinar scheduled for the morning and early afternoon as well! And on top of that, it seemed as if every patron that called or walked up to the reference desk needed in depth research or at least five books or movies that they wanted to track down. Needless to say, I'm kind of pooped.

Our class was on OneClickdigital, the new downloadable audiobook platform available from the State Library of Kansas. There were only four people registered, so I was kind of hoping that half of them wouldn't show up (which is usually the case) so I could cancel the class and go back to helping out at the desk. Thanks to our relatively new email newsletter, Connections, and a listing in the Lawrence Journal World, though, eight unregistered patrons showed up for the class, unaware that they needed to reserve a seat beforehand. And so, not wanting to turn willing and eager learners away, I continued with the lesson as planned--and in retrospect, I'm glad that I did. In the process of trying to explain this new service, I learned a few things myself, and it's always good to see the computer lab near capacity for our classes. Also, the public speaking practice was an benefit too! I've always been fortunate to have patrons who are patient with my tendency to speak too fast, my inability to stay somewhat on track and other public speaking quirks and no-no's of mine.

After the class, I had another hour on the desk and then just 30 minutes to prepare for the Foundation Center webinar, Grant Speaking Basics, that one of my colleagues who called in sick was schedule to host. Fortunately, all I had to do was make sure the computer and projector screen was set up properly and pass out the handouts. By this time, though, I was quite exhausted and I admit a few yawns escaped my mouth--not for a lack of interest, though. Thanks to the hard work of my colleague, the Lawrence Public Library is now a cooperating collection for the Foundation Center, and we can provide lots of useful information for nonprofits and individuals seeking grants.

As hectic as this day may have been, it did make the time go pretty quickly. As much as I love working at the library, some days I, too, appreciate quittin' time. Just thirty more minutes now, and I get to call it a day!

Friday, December 2, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Things

If there's one thing I love about being a librarian, it's making displays. Back when I thought I wanted to be a teacher in college, the idea of making bulletin boards to promote authors or books excited me, and I'm happy that even though my desire to teach elementary or high school students had waned, I still get to promote materials in this way. I don't really consider myself all that crafty, but I enjoy designing and making signs and using props to catch the attention of patrons. The purpose of our displays at Lawrence Public Library is to market the materials and get patrons to check them out. For this month, I just finished putting up a holiday themed Staff Picks display. Using a pretty metallic blue, generic holiday wrapping paper from my closet at home and a simple sign, I decorated one of our display shelves to promote favorite items in our collection chosen by some of our staff. In the spirit of sharing picks, below are some of the titles that I chose for this display.

I love telling people about this first title. A super model who drives herself to the hospital after getting her lower jaw blown off in a tragic accident meets a transsexual undergoing speech therapy who calls herself Brandy Alexander (and many other names) and runs away with her to Canada. There, one distracts real estate agents touring mansions while the other steals medications from the bathrooms to sell in night clubs. Generally it pretty much hooks the reader. Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk is probably one of my all time top picks--I remember first reading it in one sitting at an overnight job I had right out of college. Whether it's the awesome character development, the intense imagery and detail, or the many random facts thrown in the mix, everything about the book just pulled me in. And the little bits of wisdom! My favorite scene from the book is when the narrator and Brandy are at the top of Seattle's space needle flinging postcards off the edge of the structure. On the back of each they scribble secret truths like "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring." and "If you love something, set it free. Just don't be surprised if it comes back with herpes." Love it!

I don't typically read non-fiction, but every now and then when I'm scanning the new titles that come into our catalog, I'll find one that sparks my interest and I'll check it out. Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages by Guy Deutscher was one of those titles. My senior year of undergrad at Graceland, I took a course called "Language and Culture," by individual study with Dr. Jerri DeNuccio, the chair of the humanities department. For a couple of hours a week, I sat in his office and discussed readings on linguistics and the effects of language on culture. Through the Language Glass brought me back to those weekly sessions. With colorful examples and anecdotes, Deutscher makes the case that culture does influence language and vice versa and that different languages can lead their speakers to different thoughts. Even if I didn't have my undergraduate background, I wouldn't have been lost in Deutscher's explanations and that's what, I think, makes a nonfiction read great.

I love a good dystopian novel. I loved Lois Lowry's The Giver, Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember, and most recently, Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games series. But one futuristic satire that I really enjoyed was Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. A thought provoking, and kind of startling, look at how our focus on commercialism, capitalism, and youth can and may lead to the deterioration of the individual to clueless, superficial droids obsessed with pleasure and living forever. In some ways I really related to the main character, Lenny Abramov, an enthusiast for those dusty, moth eaten things nobody uses anymore--books. He just wants to fit in and make his 20-something Korean-American girlfriend love him, and it's with his "Super Sad True Love Story" that Shteyngart illustrates the catastrophes of the age of information gone wrong.

Pecola Breedlove is the central character of my last pick. I first met and adored Pecola at the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theater in Chicago on an Honors Program trip back in October of 2006. I was touched by Alana Arenas's portrayal of an eleven year old girl struggling with her own image and the societal pressures to confirm to "true" beauty that surrounded, strangled and oppressed her. Pecola is from Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, an honest, intense look at how popular culture and its focus on Caucasian as beauty can skew the self image of young, African American girls (or anyone who doesn't fit into the blue-eyed, blond hair box) to the point of unhealthy obsession. The following semester, I read the book for a seminar class taught by Professor of English, Dr. Barbara Hiles Mesle, focusing solely on Morrison's novels, and it instantly became one of my favorites. I loved it so much that it was the focus of my term paper at the end of the semester titled, "Peices of Pecola: The Bluest Eye Reflects the Struggle of Beauty and Self Love in All." I actually loved all of Morrison's books and will probably end up putting them all on the Staff Picks display at some point if it's popular enough.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Quo Vadis or Whither goest thou?

After a brief distraction with Haruki Murakami's newest, 1Q84, (a mammoth of book that I would have spent weeks finishing reading if it weren't for the limited 2 week check out period and the inability to renew because of holds...), I've found my way back to my Nobel reading list. Having to acquire the past few titles through interlibrary loan, I can't express my relief and surprise that my next book, W.S. Kuniczak's translation of Henryk Sienkiewick's Quo Vadis, was available at my library! And what acclaim the title has! From the back of the book: "Written nearly a century ago and translated into over 40 languages, Quo Vadis has been the greatest best-selling novel in the history of literature."

According to the Wikipedia article about him, Sienkiewicz is often misunderstood to have won the Nobel prize in recognition of Quo Vadis. However, in agreement with my previous understanding that the award is usually given in recognition of a writer's body of work, the committee only attributed "his outstanding merits as an epic writer." A Polish journalist and author, Sienkiewicz was well known for his historical novels, many of which appeared as series in newspapers (Wikipedia). Like one of the previous Nobel prize winners, Frédéric Mistral, he too had a passion for the authenticity of his native language.

I'm about six chapters into the reading, and right know, I can't say that I care much for a couple of the main characters. Not that they're not well developed. I just find them kind of despicable. Petronius (the name makes me think of Harry Potter and the Patronus Charm) lives in the lap of luxury as a Roman noble with his slave masseurs, private baths, and succulent feasts. When his nephew, Vinicius, a Roman soilder, expresses his obsession, or "love," for Ligia, a woman who grew up in the household of another noble as a hostage given to the empire by her people, he manages to rip her from the family she grew up with so Vinicius can woo her.

Now, I understand the historical context in which the book was written, but it still disturbs me when women are treated like materials that can be traded, stolen or bartered for (or anyone for that matter). The wannabe philosopher he is, Petronius even contemplates whether women have souls like men or are like animals. This is why I find him detestable. His nephew's alright...but I'm sure I'll find some reason to dislike him too. Despite these character flaws, I'm appreciating the historical look at the Roman civilization--it's not too often that I read historical fiction. On with the read!