This Just In...

It seems that money has won out in the end and that the Bancroft family members who have been objecting to Rupert Murdoch's purchase of The Wall Street Journal have decided to go ahead with the sale.

I think it's funny that initially, the The Wall Street Journal article about the deal, didn't even mention Murdoch's name until three paragraphs from the bottom (it has since been replaced by a more expansive article). CNN's lead article, on the other hand, was entitled, "Murdoch Deal for The Journal Said to Be Near." The story on CNN's business page also mentioned Murdoch's name at the top. Here's MSNBC's title: Murdoch Clinches Deal for Publisher of Journal. And the New York Times headline said, simply, Murdoch Seen to Win Control of Dow Jones.

Not to worry, though, it seems that in the contract is an "editorial integrity agreement." We'll see...

This book highlights the Wall Street Journal's reporting of the recent past: 24 Days: How Two Wall Street Journal Reporters Uncovered the Lies That Destroyed Faith in Corporate America by Rebecca Smith [333.79 SMI].

Ingmar Bergman--Performance Canceled

Death: I'm felling your tree. Your time is up.
Skat: You can't. I haven't time.
Death: Huh. You haven't time?
Skat: No. I have my performance!
Death: Canceled, owing to Death.

The Swedish film director, Ingmar Bergman, passed away today at the age of 89.

One of my favorite all-time movies is Bergman's The Seventh Seal [VIDEO SEV]. It is dark, yet strangely lovely. The trailer doesn't do the film justice. Do yourself a favor and sit down with the film. I'm sure it will stick with you for a long time.

We also have Bergman's Wild Strawberries [DVD WIL].

Too Cute!

The weekend is coming up, so I won't feel guilty telling you about one of the biggest time-wasters of all: www.CuteOverload.com. If you have a fondness for kittens (who wouldn't?), puppies, squirrels (you know who you are!), ducklings, and other furry or fluffy animals, then this site is for you! According to the site, they reach "65,000 broadband visitors a day." So, there are plenty of you out there!

We have library books, too, that rate highly on the cuteness scale. Here are three:

Dratfield, Jim. Underdogs: Beauty is More Than Fur Deep. [636.7 DRA]

O'Neill, Michael. Zoobabies. [636.088 ONE]


Preston, Cynthia. Too Cute: Crochet for Babies & Toddlers: A Whimsical Collection of Hats, Scarves, Mittens & Booties. [746.43 PRE]

On a more serious note, Becoming a Tiger: How Baby Animals Learn to Live in the Wild [591.514 MCC]by Susan McCarthy, explains how baby animals survive when cuteness isn't enough!

The Price is Right

Over the past few weeks there has been numerous media stories about the new host to replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right.

I was a bit confused by the claim that The Price is Right has been on the air for 35 years. I remembered watching the game show when I was a kid, and that was more than 35 years ago! So, I did a little research and found that the show originally was broadcast in 1956, with Bill Cullen as host. It ran through 1965.

If you'd like to take a walk down memory lane via the history of television, here are a few places to go:

Lackman, Ron. The Encyclopedia of American Television: Broadcast Programming Post World War II to 2000. [791.45 LAC]


Marling, Karal Ann. As Seen on TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s. [973.92 MAR]

Pavese, Edith. TV Mania: A Timeline of Television. [791.45 PAV]

Stark, Steven D. Glued to the Set: The 60 Television Shows and Events That Made Us Who We are Today. [791.45 STA]

More About Smells

Monday, I wrote about book smells--some good, some bad. Since then I've been thinking about the role our sense of smell plays in triggering memories.


I guess that's why there are companies that try to re-create these smells. I'm thinking specifically of Demeter Fragrance Library (what a lovely name!). They just introduced a new fragrance that should take you back to your youth--crayon! Who doesn't remember opening a box of new waxy crayons? It's a pleasant memory, but I draw the line at wearing crayon perfume!

Everyone's heard about the new car scent you can purchase to spray in your old car. Call me ornery, but if it ain't new, it can't have a new car smell--my brain knows better! Still, I like to be reminded of the brand new company cars my father brought home each year when I was a child.

So, what are some of the smells that trigger memories in you?

Here's a quote from Helen Keller. She, more than most of us, was aware of the power of her sense of smell! "Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived."

Take a look at these children's books having to do with smells (both fiction and nonfiction):

Keller, Holly. Nosy Rosie. [JP KEL]

McDonald, Megan. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers. [J MCD]

Singer, Marilyn. What Stinks? [J 591.51 SIN]

And this creepy-sounding adult novel:

Suskind, Patrick. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. [F SUS] "In 1738, an orphaned child is given to the monks as a charity case. Although he has no smell at all himself, he possesses an absolute sense of smell. He can smell the very composition of objects, and their history."

Editorial Cartoons

In the highly charged 2008 presidential race, editorial cartoonists have hit the mother lode. Sometimes it's not the presidential candidates, though, that provide fodder for cartoonists...I can't wait to see what they do with today's article in the Union Leader about a local political fundraising scheme.

There is now a site available that would be perfect for teachers to use with students in studying editorial cartoons. It is the Dirksen Congressional Center. "The people who draw these cartoons possess a special art skill which often incorporates caricatures, symbolism, satire, and a well-rounded understanding of the issues about which they draw." Take a look around!

Contemporary cartoons from around the world may be found at Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonists Index. I take a look every few weeks when I need a laugh. I like the way the cartoons are sorted topically. You can also visit Political Cartoons, but that site is just too busy for me!


We have a book in our collection by Syd Hoff entitled, Editorial and Political Cartooning: From Earliest Times to the Present, With Over 700 examples from the Works of the World's Greatest Cartoonists [741.5 HOF]. Since it was written back in the 1970s, the "present," is now nearly ancient history! But, the book is still useful for its historical overview.

World's Fairs

Last week I reminisced about Woolworth's, today, I'll talk about World's Fairs.

I was born and raised in New York. The 1964 World's Fair was about 45 minutes drive from my home, and just a bus ride away from my cousin's. She and I spent several afternoons there on our own wandering the acres of exhibits. Considering our ages at the time, it shouldn't come as any surprise that we hung around the Boy Scout exhibit! Shameless hussies!

I remember standing in the long line at the Vatican pavilion with my mother to view Michelangelo's Pieta. When we finally got into the viewing area, my mother stood there, tears streaming down her face. It is a magnificent sculpture! (Sadly it was damaged in 1972.)

Most of the fair was dismantled after it ended, but several structures remained. One, the New York State Pavilion, is still standing--but only barely. It is considered one of the world's endangered monuments according to World Monuments Watch.

The 1939 World's Fair had taken place on the same site in New York. This fair marked a turning point for America--the end of the depression and the start of the age of technology. Television was introduced at the fair, as well as the copy machine, and the computer!







The architecture represented the future with its sleek lines.



One of the most interesting projects of the 1939 World's Fair was a time capsule that was developed to document the age and was to remain encapsulated for 5,000 years. This New York Times article explains it all.


Here are some items from our collection that deal with various American world's fairs:

Doctorow, E. L. World's Fair. [F DOC]

Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. [364.152 LAR] (This was a popular book discussion title for a while.)

Meet Me in St. Louis. [DVD MEE]

Ah...The Smell of a Book!

I have a friend who once gave me a picture book. Not because the writing or the illustrations were anything special, but because the smell of the book reminded him of the books of his youth.

I was directed to an article about the sensory experience and books. Interesting reading to be sure!

Unfortunately, in the library biz, we often have to deal with unpleasant smells from books. There are the books that have been returned by chain smokers. These are relegated to the "stinky box" where they sit for several days side-by-side with charcoal briquets. The smell, though, never quite leaves.

Then there are those donated books that people claim are in excellent shape, but in reality have been sitting for an extended period of time in a garage or basement. These books reek of mold and mildew. Some people are highly allergic to mold, and, mold can spread, so one moldy book can end up infecting scores of others! For these reasons, we ask that people do not bring in moldy books. If they do, the books are quickly removed and thrown in the trash!

Do you understand how your nose operates? The Senses (part of the "Your Body: How It Works" series) by Douglas B. Light [612.8 LIG] provides a basic overview. Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses [612.8 ACK] and A User's Guide to the Brain by John J. Ratey [612.8 RAT], both provide more detailed information about the sense of smell and its link to emotions and memory.

The Answer Is Blowin' in the Wind?

I've given a little thought to the subject of wind power ever since the library relocated to the top of the hill on Fellows Rd. Sometimes the gusts of wind will propel a hapless library user clear across the parking lot!

Now, it seems, the state of New Hampshire is entering the wind power movement. The little town of Lempster will soon be the site of the state's first windfarm! For more information about the farm visit the New Wind Energy site.

New Hampshire is slightly behind the curve, though. Pennsylvania, another small state, recently opened it's seventh windfarm!

To learn more about wind power, borrow Rex Ewing's Power with Nature: Solar and Wind Energy Demystified [621.47 EWI].

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That--July '07 edition

1. Recognize this guy?

You'd be right if you said Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a Harry Potter in the films). Actually though, this is a photo of the wax representation of Daniel that was recently unveiled at the Madame Tussauds museum in London. Look for the new Harry Potter to be released shortly! As if you didn't know!


We have multiple copies coming, so add your name to the holds list.

2. On Monday I briefly mentioned the recent inclusion of the word ginormous in the dictionary. In this case, the dictionary is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster website lists and defines ginormous and a few others of the one hundred or so "new" words.

3. Did you ever wonder if there is someone else in the U.S. walking around with YOUR name? Here's the place to find out. There are only two of me. The other me I found several years ago through a google search. She's a farmer's wife in the midwest. My daughter doesn't exist, though, according to the site. I'll bet the I.R.S. wouldn't accept that as an excuse not to pay her taxes! Expectant parents might want to run prospective names through this program. (Speaking of baby names, we have a new book on the shelf that could help in the search for a unique child's name: The Baby Name Bible: The Ultimate Guide by America's Baby-Naming Experts by Pamela Satran [929.4 SAT].)

Remember Woolworth's?

Woolworth's and other 5 and 10-cent stores were like mini versions of Wal-Mart. Lots of stuff. Cheap.

Before the rise of the big-box store, the local 5 & 10 provided much of America's daily needs. I remember purchasing bobbie pins and canary food. Little Golden Books. Cotton underwear. Christmas was always fun at the 5 & 10. My poor mother received a gift of Evening in Paris purchased at Woolworth's. If you're not familiar with the store, or just want to refresh your memory, Wikipedia has nice article.

Woolworth's still survives in the U.K. and down under. Woolworth's in the U.K. has a Virtual Museum site that's fun to explore. I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole section on the WW II homefront.


We actually have a book in our collection on Woolworth's--Remembering Woolworth's: A Nostalgic History of the World's Most Famous Five-and-Dime by Karen Plunkett-Powell [381 PLU].

Anyone want to share memories? Post a comment below.

Wildflowers

Lady Bird Johnson died last week and her passing brought to mind wildflowers. I'm sure you've seen patches of wildflowers heading north on 93 or west on 89. Don't they brighten your trips? They have mine. Johnson started a movement to plant wildflowers along our nation's highways (and to ban billboards, junkyards, and other eyesores).

I have a fondness for wildflowers. I've never seen a ginormous* wildflower, they always seem petite and delicate, and something that "fits" its environment. Some of the hybrid flowers I've seen are so unnaturally large it's frightening. But I digress.


Take a walk through the woods some time and see how many wildflowers you can spot. It's always fun to come upon a ladyslipper! Take a walk along a fallow field and see the absolute profusion of wildflowers that seem to spontaneously generate. It inevitably leads me to think, "nature abhors a vacuum." I even like to see the first dandelions in the spring (but I get over that real quickly). Lady Bird Johnson's love of wildflowers is visible in the Wildflower Center named in her honor at the University of Texas at Austin. The Center's mission is "to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes."

Grab one of our wildflower guides, such as Wildflowers in the Field and Forest: A Field Guide to the Northeastern United States by Steve Clemants [582.13 CLE] before you head out on your walk.

Plant a wildflower garden and you'll be rewarded year after year. The Wildflowers book from the Time-Life series [635.9676 WIL] can get you started.


*It's okay to use ginormous now--it's officially in the dictionary!

Synchro

The other evening I saw a program on PBS, "Synchronized Swimming: The Pursuit of Excellence." Synchronized swimming, or "synchro," is one of those Olympic sports that you may not know about. At first glance it looks rather odd--women in flashy swimsuits, hair slicked back with what looks like glue, doing unnatural hand, arm, and head movements with a big artificial smile plastered on their faces! You might be tempted to say, "this is a sport?" Believe me, it is. It requires skill, lung capacity, and stamina. Even Dave Barry, who hardly ever has anything "nice" to say wrote, "This is the hardest sport in the world!" And, I think he meant it! (See Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus [818 BAR], "I Am Now a Trained Eggbeater.")

To find out more about the sport, visit the International Olympic Committee's site or Worldwide Aquatics. The U.S.A. team has its own site, as do several teams around the country. (You can see the U.S.A. team in action here.)

Boston University Team

Synchro is a woman's sport at the Olympic games--men are banned from competition! But, if you'd like to see some men's synchronized swimming, it's available!

If you want to catch the PBS program, it will be shown on NHPTV, channel 11, on Monday, 7/16 at 8:00 pm.

The Legend of Betsy Ross

Flag Day is coming up on Saturday. We've all heard the story of Betsy Ross, but how much of it is true?

There are several places to look on-line for the information. One is Archiving Early America, a site that uses original source material. You can also check www.usflag.org for information about Ross and even more about the flag! Betsy Ross was a real person, not merely a legend. The home she once lived in is open to the public.

Introduce your kids to the real Betsy Ross by borrowing these books from our collection:

Cox, Vicki. Betsy Ross: A Flag for a New Nation. [J B ROS]

Devillier, Christy. Betsy Ross. [J B ROS]

Ferry, Joseph. The American Flag. [J 929.9 FER]

Local History Experience-Part 2

Here are a few more places to visit this summer that will provide you with both an entertaining and educational history experience. These are found in Massachusetts:

The American Textile History Museum
in Lowell, has had many interesting exhibits. I've seen ones on fashion accessories, and dolls, to name just two. The museum has classes in weaving, and houses an extensive collection of spinning wheels. You may think it odd, but there are people who find textiles interesting. For them we have the Complete Guide to Vintage Textiles by Elizabeth Kurella [746 KUR].

And if your interest is in dolls, take your kids to the Wenham Museum for its varied collection of international dolls. They also have toys and model trains. Afterwards come to the library to borrow Barbie Doll [688.722 BAR] or Playing with Trains: A Passion Beyond Scale by Sam Posey [625.19 POS].

Travel down to Lexington and Concord to indulge in Revolutionary History. Make sure to visit the Concord Museum to see cannonballs, muskets, and other implements of colonial warfare. A current exhibit, "A Splash of Blue," deals with objects of just one color!

The newest exhibition at the Concord Museum looks at objects from the Museum’s collection through a blue lens, bringing together the fabrics, papers and paints used in seascapes and landscapes, geometric and floral bandboxes, charming coverlets, blue and white ceramics, a Union officer’s great coat, a 1960s Emilio Pucci patterned silk dress, and much more.

You could take a workshop on July 21, "Indigo Blues: A Dyeing Workshop" if you'd like to work with the color and learn its history. After you've dyed your own yarn, browse our collection of knitting and crochet books in 746.43.


In Lexington visit the National Heritage Museum for its long term exhibit, Sewing the Seeds of Liberty. This Friday, July 13, you can attend a lecture, "It Rained Cats and Dogs the Day the Revolution Began." Before you go, you can quickly brush up on the American Revolution's beginnings with this children's book: The Shot Heard 'Round the World: The Beginnings of the American Revolution [J 973.3 SHO].

I plan to add a Local History Experience-Part 3 shortly. Come back again!

Truly Shameless Self Promotion

Yesterday I received a preview copy of Run, Turkey, Run! in the mail. It looks FABULOUS! The illustrations are kid friendly and fun, just as I had hoped they would be! The book won't be released until around October 1, so don't look for it in your local bookstore just yet!

The road to publication was a long one. I wrote the book about 10 years ago when I was still doing storyhours. I couldn't find an appropriate Thanksgiving book to read aloud to 3-6 year olds. Most dealt with concepts such as Pilgrims and freedom and thankfulness. Not exactly fun reading for preschoolers. Fortunately, many books have come along since that time that would fit the bill*, but back then, I had to write my own and hope that it would one day be published so that I could use it in storyhour.

Persistence is the key to publishing a children's book. Can you believe the book was rejected about 25 times before it was finally accepted by Walker Books? But, it was truly worth the wait! I'll be doing a storyhour type reading in the fall here at the library. It's tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 24. I'll also be at the Andover Book Store on October 27. I'll keep you posted!


*Some Thanksgiving books for younger kids (yes, I know it's the wrong time of year):

Cherry, Lynne. How Groundhog's Garden Grew. [JP CHE]

Markes, Julie. Thanks for Thanksgiving. [JP MAR]

Wheeler, Lisa. Turk and Runt. [JP WHE]

Going Green

This past weekend the call for the greening of America, and the world, was strong. On Friday night, the naturalist, E. O. Wilson, had a conversation with Bill Moyers. What I took away from the discussion is Wilson's hope that we, as humans, can "see ourselves as a biological species in a biological world." In other words, we need to start thinking of ourselves as part of the environment, and act accordingly. Wilson said we have to "stop thinking of ourselves as semi-angels," only here temporarily. What we do while we are here has an permanent effect on the earth.


The 77 year old Wilson is in the midst of putting together the Encyclopedia of Life. Until the EOL is complete, you can read Wilson's works from our collection: The Diversity of Life [333.95 WIL] and The Future of Life [333.9522 WIL].

On Saturday, there was the worldwide extravaganza, Live Earth. There were nine concerts in venues from New Jersey to Antarctica. To learn more about Live Earth, visit the website www.liveearth.org. There you can puzzle out the confusing concept of a "carbon footprint," and take the "Live Earth Pledge," that states, in part,

To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral."

We can all go green if we take little steps. Switch from incandescent bulbs. Reuse plastic bags. Drink tap water instead of bottled (you'll save money as well as eliminate tons of plastic packaging). Read or watch An Inconvenient Truth [363.73874 GOR, DVD 363.73874 GOR].

Be more conscious of your place on earth!

Vehicle as Art

In World War II, and subsequent wars, nose art decorated military aircraft. (Spend a little time perusing Aircraft Nose Art: 80 Years of Aviation Artwork by J.P. Wood [623.7 WOO].)

In the 50s, teens used to soup up their hot rods and added handpainted flames to the paint job. Nowadays, with professional car detailing, hot rods have become a works of art!

There are a few diehards, who decorate their cars by hand. As a matter of fact, there's an annual parade devoted to car art! If you're in the area (Minneapolis, MN), you should make a point of going to this year's ArtCar Parade on Saturday, July 21.

The whole subject of vehicle art came up because I'm thinking about getting my car wrapped in October. My picture book, Run, Turkey, Run! is being published and I'd like to use the cover art on my car to promote it! But, I found out that it would cost mucho money, so it looks like it's no go.

Driving through Nashua, I saw not one, but two wrapped vehicles advertising tanning salons. Of course, I was deeply offended by the use of a buxom tan blonde for promotional purposes! (Not to go off on a tangent, but here's a book on the subject of marketing and its effect on girls: Lamb, Sharon. Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes [306.3 LAM].)

The Nesmith Library is having "Vehicle Day" on Saturday, August 4. I don't know how many examples of art cars we have coming, but, we're giving everyone an opportunity to enter our "Art Car Contest." Visit the library starting next week and pick up a coloring sheet. Use your creative skills to decorate the simple drawing and turn it into a work of art!

Local History Experience

I just wanted to put in a plug for a few of the historical museums in our area. Not everything happened in Boston or Washington!

In Lawrence, there's the Lawrence Heritage State Park. This summer an exhibit of postcards will be on view. After your visit, look for this book from our collection: Greetings from New England by Ernest Hebert [974 HEB].

Lowell has several museums, the main being the Lowell National Historical Park. There are many books covering the Lowell mill girls, a few are found in 331.487. Unravelling by Elizabeth Graver [F GRA] is a work of fiction--well-written and a quick read.

The capital of NH during the Revolutionary War was Exeter, and it is fitting that the American Independence Museum should be located there. On Saturday, July 21, the museum will sponsor the American Independence Festival, which will feature re-enactors and military musters, and, a procession with George Washington!


Our current capital, Concord, is home to the Museum of New Hampshire History. I've spoken about the museum before in my discussion of Fire!, and I highly recommend you visit it through our library pass program.

One of my personal favorites is the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro. The museum explores World War II, with a special emphasis on the homefront. The annual Family Day will take place this year on July 15. The Songs That Fought the War: Popular Music and the Home Front, 1939-1945 by John Bush Jones [782.42 JON] will explain the importance of the music you hear while visiting the Wright Museum. It's even better if you borrow the CD, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy [CD BIG BANDS BOO]!

That's enough for now, I'll leave more for another day!

Independence Day

If you're looking for something different to do on the 4th of July holiday, truck on down to Boston for a reading of the Declaration of Independence. A costumed speaker stands on the balcony of the Old State House to read the document--it is quite a moving experience! The event starts at 10:00 am, and since it is a holiday, there shouldn't be too much traffic to contend with.

You could stick around for the Boston Pops Esplanade concert--good luck! People stake out a spot early, and spend the day on a blanket. I did that once. Never again!

Instead, you could go to across the Charles and spend the rest of the day at the Cambridge Common where you will hear a 17-gun cannon salute by the Cambridge Militia!

If your hearing isn't completely gone, there are fireworks displays taking place all over New Hampshire. WMUR has a listing (as well as other interesting information such as flag etiquette). Windham's show happens tonight at 9 pm at Cobbett's Pond.

Here are a few children's books that cover the holiday:

Chall, Marsha Wilson. Happy Birthday, America! [JP CHA]

Joosse, Barbara M. Fourth of July. [JP JOO]

Roberts, Bethany. Fourth of July Mice. [JP ROB].

Watson, Wendy. Hooray for the Fourth of July. [JP WAT]

There'll be no post tomorrow, see you on Thursday! Whatever you do this July 4th, do it safely!

NESMITH LIBRARY DAY AT THE FISHER CATS

We had a FABULOUS time Friday night at the Fisher Cats game against the New Britain Rock Cats. The home team won, 9 to 4, the weather was perfect, the company great, and the food...well, it was typical ballpark food! Here are some pictures of the event:


The seats started to fill up around 6:30 (game starts at 7:05). Here's my friend, Kathy, and her dad.


This is early in the game when the Fisher Cats took the lead --they never gave it up!


Here's Mike and his son, Matthew. Matthew brought along his mitt and was ready to catch a stray foul. Other Nesmith fans are visible.


Later in the evening, you could see the almost-full moon above the stadium over first base.

I enjoyed singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, but I did find myself also wanting to sing, "Sweet Caroline." I'll have to borrow The Essential Neil Diamond [CD ROCK DIA] and listen to it, but it's not the same as singing along with thousands of Red Sox fans at Fenway! In any case, I started thinking about what would be a good Fisher Cats equivalent to "Sweet Caroline." Any ideas? It would have to be something that the fans could chime in on. Since it's the Fisher CATS, maybe Tom Jones' "What's New Pussy Cat?" The "whoa, whoa, whoa" part could be fun. I'll bet, though, that 3/4 of the people attending the game have never heard of Tom Jones! I'm showing my age, aren't I?

Don't forget, we have a second Nesmith Library Day on Saturday, August 25, 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at the front desk for $11 each (includes a hotdog, soda, and a bag of chips). If you have kids, this is a great way to expose them to pro baseball, and, it won't cost an arm and a leg! Before you go, introduce the kids to Charles R. Smith, Jr.'s Diamond Life: Baseball Sights, Sounds, and Swings [J 796.357 SMI].