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Kennedy dead at 77
Liberal lion of the Senate, symbol of family dynasty succumbs to brain cancer.
via www.boston.com
End of an era, and a legacy of this family to America.. he shall be missed.. R.I.P. and thank you, Ted, for your service to your nation... Screen snapshot of Boston.com tribute and photos, see here for the full photo essay...
Reporter’s Notebook The Obamas Relax on Martha’s Vineyard
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — President Obama is now three days into his Martha’s Vineyard vacation, a visit that has caused a considerable stir on this tiny island. Yet if it wasn’t for the outbreak of commercialism — T-shirts, cocktails and even dog treats bearing the Obama name — it would be difficult to know the first family was even here.
via www.nytimes.com
CCNY Reference Resources:Government Views of D-Day 1944.
Government Views of D-Day 1944"On 6 June 1944 the Western Allies landed in northern France, opening the long-awaited 'Second Front' against Adolf Hitler's Germany. ... Commanded by U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Normandy assault phase, code-named "Neptune" (the entire operation was "Overlord"), was launched when weather reports predicted satisfactory conditions on 6 June.
Hundreds of amphibious ships and craft, supported by combatant warships, crossed the English Channel behind dozens of minesweepers. They arrived off the beaches before dawn. Three divisions of paratroopers (two American, one British) had already been dropped inland. Following a brief bombardment by ships' guns, Soldiers of six divisions (three American, two British and one Canadian) stormed ashore in five main landing areas, named "Utah", "Omaha", "Gold", "Juno" and "Sword." After hard fighting, especially on "Omaha" Beach, by day's end a foothold was well established."
Above taken from "Normandy Invasion - June 1944," U.S. Navy (see below under "Photographs")
Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries - NYTimes.com.
Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries
By SUSAN SAULNY and KAREN ANN CULLOTTA, Published: April 1, 2009
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The public library here had just closed its doors one evening in December when two homeless men who had been using the stacks as shelter from the cold got into a fight on the outside steps.What began as bickering took a violent turn when one of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed the other six times, leaving him bleeding beside the book drop.
Like libraries across the country, Arlington Heights Memorial had strived to keep pace with the changing times, ensuring its relevance in the digital age by becoming something of an indoor town square, and emphasizing that its money-saving services catered to the community’s needs.
These days, however, community need reaches far beyond reference help — and in many libraries, it is turning a normally tranquil place into an emotional and stressful hotbed.
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:55:52 -0600 (MDT)
From: Elaine HargerTo: ALA Council List
FYI -- share with others!
On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm local time, tens of millions of people will turn off all of their lights for an hour in support of the future of our planet. Earth Hour, an event led by the World Wildlife Fund, is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Already 250 cities in 74 countries have agreed to take part including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day.
National 4-H Council has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund to address climate change as one of the most serious problems facing our world today. 4-H'ers can participate in Earth Hour too - in their own homes or by organizing and encouraging others to participate.
http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php
Elaine Harger
Councilor-at-Large
Elaine Harger
PO Box 311
Snoqualmie WA 98065
eharger@drizzle.com
425/831-8155 work
"Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of scum on top." Edward Abbey
EOP - Blog Post - Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov.
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Change has come to WhiteHouse.govWelcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.
A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.
Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.
Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:
Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.
Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.
Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.
Watch the Obama Inauguration Live Online
January 20th, 2009 by Loren Baker, EditorBarack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States today in an event which is unlike any other inauguration with the many economic challenges facing the new President and will be the first war time inauguration since Nixon in 1972.
Around 4 million spectators are expected in Washington DC today, and millions more will be watching the inauguration on around the world. But if you’re stuck behind your desk today, or not in the United States, how can you watch the inauguration on the Internet?
Watch the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Live Online
- C-Span : Being the centerpiece of the live streaming of political events, C-Span will be airing a multichannel choice of various inauguration events, including the Bush exit of the Whitehouse and the inaugural concerts and parties.
- CNN Live : Join Anderson Cooper, James Carville and the other CNN political analysts, and even your Facebook friends to watch the live inauguration of President Obama online.
- Ustream : The pinnacle of live broadcasts and user generated content, Ustream will be carrying an Obama inauguration feed which can be viewed on the iPhone.
- Obama Girl : If you’re like me and can’t get enough of Obama Girl, she’ll be living her inauguration commentary live today at Stickam.
- Hulu : Last but not least, Hulu will be featuring live streaming of the Obama inauguration on their homepage, and also via video embeds which can be placed on blogs, sites and social media profiles.
ResourceShelf » Blog Archive » Resources of the Week: 2009 Presidential Inauguration.
Resources of the Week: 2009 Presidential Inauguration
By Shirl Kennedy, Senior EditorI do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
January 20th is the Big Day. Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation’s 44th president — and first African-American president. To commemorate this very special event, we bring you a round-up of inauguration-related information. Not that we haven’t already been doing some of this. To wit:
+ Fast Facts: Inauguration Resources #1 — Includes items from the U.S. Senate’s inauguration websites.
+ Inauguration Factfile from Infoplease.com
+ Master Inaugural Events Schedule, from ConklinScott, a political consulting firm
New update... Hulu has put online a collection of video clips of inauguration addresses, all the way back in time to William McKinley's Second Inauguration. See at Hulu
The Housing Bubble and Foreclosure Crisis
Posted on December 15, 2008 by pdurham000CNN reports today that as the subprime mortgage mess has unfolded, American home values have declined by a total of more than $2 trillion dollars. And CBS’s 60 Minutes reported last night that significantly larger numbers of other mortgage loans, known as “Alt-As” and “option ARMs,” which attracted home buyers with low initial interest rates, will soon reset at higher rates.
Investment fund manager Whitney Tilson, who was interviewed by Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes, thinks we’ve only worked our way through about 50% of the housing bubble as yet and that, over the next few years, resetting Alt-As and option ARMS may bring a repeat of the subprime fiasco, with many more Americans suffering the trauma of foreclosure. Let’s hope Mr. Tilson is wrong.
Measuring Up 2008.
Measuring Up 2008
Foreword By James B. Hunt Jr., Chairman, National Center's Board of DirectorsSince 2000, the Measuring Up report cards have evaluated the progress of the nation and all 50 states in providing Americans with education and training beyond high school through the bachelor’s degree. In their totality, the five editions of the national and state report cards constitute the most extensive assessment ever of the educational performance of American higher education. Our purpose in the Measuring Up series is to assist the nation and the states in improving higher education opportunity and effectiveness. More...
...See the reports...
Measuring Up 2008 is the fifth in
a series of biennial report cards that provide the general public and policymakers with information they can use to assess and improve postsecondary education in each state.
Posted Tuesday, November 04, 2008 11:09 AM
Chevy Chase and His Presidential Memories
Tammy HaddadChevy Chase didn't want Gerald Ford to be elected. In 1976 when he began portraying the stumbling, bumbling president on Saturday Night Live, Ford's pubic face and political fate was sealed. "I didn't want him to be president again, I wanted Jimmy Carter."
After writing political satire for the Smothers Brothers and other comedy shows, Chevy Chase came to Saturday Night Live as a writer and ended up on-air playing Ford. "It was more about getting laughs and a way to reach millions of people."
Chase reminded Newsweek that he called it for Sarah Palin this year. "We were all sitting around the Democratic Convention in Denver with a bunch of reporters and someone mentioned that a jet just left Anchorage. I said, it was going to be her and everyone laughed."
Happy Halloween
Halloween Masks
Forbes.com Staff 10.27.08, 6:00 PM ETTHE SCARIEST PEOPLE OF 2008
Forget your current Halloween costume idea--let everyone else dress up as the Joker or a bankrupt stockbroker. Why not disguise yourself as someone truly scary instead? Our annual collection of Halloween masks highlights some of the year's most frightening faces. Click a face to download our print-ready mask.
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Paul Auster: The Book of Illusions: A Novel
Going to get a copy.. loved his "New York Trilogy"... (***)
J. K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
Order a copy here.. well, I've pre-ordered a copy.. final book, hard to believe this series and Harry Potter are coming to an end.. (*****)
Neil Gaiman: Fragile Things
Just started this one.. dreams and stories, ah ha...
Dean Koontz: The Husband
New Koontz thriller.. just got a copy from the library to have a "summer read"...
Bill Clinton: My Life
The book of the year, from hype to Presidential lives and politics and yes, scandals.. a must-read... (****)
Beth L. Bailey: From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth-Century America
Teenagers now and then.. worth a look... (***)
Shelley E. Taylor: The Tending Instinct: Women, Men, and the Biology of Relationships
Paper version of an intriguing book on nurturing, "Taylor, a psychology professor at UCLA, makes the claim that 'we are fundamentally a nurturant species,' biologically programmed to 'tend and befriend' one another." -Publisher's Weekly (***)
Ron Smith: The Ballpark Book : A journey Through the Fields of Baseball Magic
Recommended summer America's game reading.. see the blog item on this as well for more details... (*****)
David B. Wexler: When Good Men Behave Badly: Change Your Behavior, Change Your Relationship
"A book written especially for men that provides real tools for men who have trouble dealing with the emotional demands of relationships and those affected by them. Men learn how to curb destructive behaviors and build deep, meaningful relationships. Refers to recent research about the male brain." -from the publisher... (****)
John Gray: Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving & Lasting Relationship
Yes, old.. but the title caught my eye.. so, dating to loving and lasting relationship.. maybe something here, maybe.. just starting to read it now, from the library...
Helen Fisher: Why We Love
Good book review in NY Times.. about her research into romantic love, chemistry, and the physical side of emotional responses to love and emotions... (***)
Michael Crichton: Prey
Nanotechnology runs wild, relationship of programmer husband and scientist wife explored, good reading so far.. (****)
Neal Stephenson: Cryptonomicon
A breathtaking tour de force, and Neal Stephenson's most accomplished and affecting work to date, CRYPTONOMICON is profound and prophetic, hypnotic and hyper-driven, as it leaps forward and back between World War II and the World Wide Web, hinting all the while at a dark day-after-tomorrow. It is a work of great art, thought, and creative daring... --Amazon description (*****)
Ruth Reichl: Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table
Ruth Reichl's first book, the autobiographical Tender at the Bone, disarmed readers with its droll candor. The former restaurant critic of The New York Times and editor in chief of Gourmet magazine told great stories about growing up and loving food. [This book] begins where the first book ended, tracing Reichl's evolution from chef to food writer while detailing the dissolution of her first marriage, the start of a second, and motherhood at the age of 40. The book also limns a sensual journey, Reichl's awakening to the pleasures of sex as well as food, and also to love. --from Amazon.com review (***)
Ruth Reichl: Tender at the Bone : Growing Up at the Table
Recommended by a friend, former NY Times restaurant critic, memoir.. a new appreciation of the pleasures of the table... (****)
Judith Sills: The Comfort Trap (or, What If You're Riding a Dead Horse?)
Recommended by a friend, sounds interesting, and some excerpts online at her Web site, see here...
Audrey Niffenegger: The Time Traveler's Wife
The love story of Henry and Claire whose lives are punctuated by Henry's disappearance to different points in time--sometimes even back to visit Claire as a young woman. When Henry meets Claire, he is twenty-eight, and she is twenty. He's a hip, handsome librarian; she is an art student with Botticelli hair. Henry has never met Claire before; Claire has known Henry since she was six...
Tim O'Brien: July, July: A Novel
"At the 30th reunion of Minnesota's Darton Hall College class of 1969, ten old friends join their classmates for a July weekend of dancing, drinking, flirting, reminiscing, regretting. ...[jacket copy] Good so far, from National Book Award winning writer of "Going After Cacciato"... (****)
Ethan Watters: Urban Tribes: A Generation Redefines Friendship, Family, and Commitment
Interesting take on social groups, "urban tribes," friends who are not married banding together.. see also the post on the blog on this topic... (***)
Susanna Moore: In the Cut: A Novel
Meg Ryan's new movie role.. erotic thriller of NY teacher of writing and murders and some great characters.. her writing is gemlike and a pleasure.. recommended... (*****)
Nancy Pearl: Book Lust
Librarian from Seattle, infamous now for the "action figure" controversy, has a book out. I'll have to take a look....
Jonathan Franzen: How to Be Alone: Essays
From Amazon: " 'Why Bother' is an essay arguing that our current cultural milieu of speed, shallowness, hedonism, and information-without-wisdom doesn't even allow us to see that we are losing our relationship to solitude." Recommended...
Eric Darton: Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York City's World Trade Center
And this was the second book I read, trying to make some small sense of the changes that happened, and what that *place* was, really.. highly recommended... (*****)
Angus Kress Gillespie: Twin Towers: The Life of New York City's World Trade Center
This was the first book I read after the attacks, and still one of the most memorable. It was the only thing in our Library's collection at the time about the World Trade Center.. re-issued after 9/11/01.. (*****)
Richard Schickel: Woody Allen: A Life in Film
Just out, Sept 5, 2003.. more from the interview with Schickel, that wasn't included in the documentary.. see the article in the Film category on the documentary as shown on TCM... (*****)
Cecile Lamalle: Glutton for Punishment
A culinary mystery.. don't ask me why, but I'm reading these as I find them.. fun, and food a part of the mystery tale.. a great opening epigraph: "We think our castles of sand are the ramparts of the universe." --John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (****)
Cathi Hanauer: The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth About Sex,
Title of the year award? Not reading it yet, comes out in Nov, 2003.. a sleeper book to watch for!
Gina Cascone: Life al Dente: Laughter and Love in an Italian-American Family
Earlier book was "Pagan Babies," and this one sounds just as good.. ba-da bing! the reviews are saying good things, and before there was the Sopranos, there was Gina writing about Italian-Americans in New Jersey... (****)
Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon
New hot S-F title to check out.. Joel Silver ("The Matrix") has purchased the film rights..
Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair
Meet Thursday Next, hard-boiled detective, in a comic time travel tale c. England 1985.. just getting into it.. first in a series, third one just out in UK.. (****)
Neil Gaiman: American Gods: A Novel
Really fine mythological American tale.. captivating from page 1.. Reading it slow, which is a good sign.. (*****)
David Schickler: Kissing in Manhattan
Stories, intertwined, from a Manhattan apartment building.. "The Smoker" is great, still reading through the collection.. (****)
Chris Sherman: The Invisible Web: Uncovering Information Sources Search Engines Can't See
Re-reading this one, in prep for a forthcoming article to be published in "American Libraries".. Chris Sherman and Gary Price do a fabulous job.. (*****)
Jim Mullen: It Takes a Village Idiot : Complicating the Simple Life
Just starting this one.. saw it noted on jessamyn's site first.. as one writer noted, "Imagine 'A Year in Provence' written by Dennis Miller." So far, funny stuff.. (***)
Terence Gorski: GETTING LOVE RIGHT : LEARNING THE CHOICES OF HEALTHY INTIMACY
This is a winner.. self-help from recovery counselor, on healthy intimacy, building a healthy relationship, and learning to change.. A-plus... (*****)
Engima: Voyageur
On my wish list, hope to hear this new one soon..
Principles of Lust
Enigma: MCMXC a.D.
Since 1990, a New Age and wonderful album, song, and group..
When You Know
Original Soundtrack Serendipity: B00005OAIA
Great soundtrack from the romantic comedy film, with John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven..
Ottmar Liebert: Solo Para Ti
Great smooth jazz..
Always on Sunday
Tammany Hall NYC: Back in the Bottle
This song, and Wait for Jane, in variations, used on HBO.. amazingly talented young group, guitars and lyrics are top-notch..
As Time Goes By
Various Artists: Sleepless in Seattle
Soundtrack for "Sleepless in Seattle".. simply takes you away..
George Lucas: American Graffiti - Collector's Edition
Today, I got a library copy of this old favorite, to re-view and check out the special features.. for a couple days, it's "Rock aroun' the Clock".. (*****)
Michael Curtiz: Casablanca (1942)
"Of all the gin joints in all the world..." greatest Hollywood film, agree with Maltin on this.. (*****)
Buena Vista Home Entertainment: Lost - The Complete First Season
.. fine DVD set, probably the best set ever made.. detailed, interesting, 7 total disks.. for any fan of the show, it's a must-have item... (*****)
Buena Vista Home Entertainment: Lost - The Complete Second Season
.. eight extra hours of bonus information.. for any show fan, it's a must-have item... (*****)
ABC: Lost - The Complete Third Season
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / DVD Release Date: December 11, 2007 /ASIN: B000P6YNSE / Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11 in DVD (as of 6/4/07) (*****)
Benjamin Ross: RKO 281 - The Battle Over Citizen Kane
Making of "Citizen Kane" movie, from HBO.. watched it again last night, still great insights.. makes you want to see "Kane" again.. (****)
Howard Hawks, Christian Nyby: The Thing from Another World - 50th Anniversary Edition
50th Anniversary edition released tomorrow.. in 2001 "The Thing" was added to the National Film registry.. remember: "Watch the skies, everywhere! Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!" (*****)
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