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Traveling the Spectrum - George R. R. Martin ('Game of Thrones') and Blake Charlton at ALA Annual Conference | ALA Press Release | American Library Association

ALA Press Release | American Library Association

Traveling the Spectrum - George R. R. Martin ('Game of Thrones') and Blake Charlton at ALA Annual Conference

 

Letters From Georgia O'Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, Ernest Hemingway, and More - Maria Popova - Entertainment - The Atlantic

Letters From Georgia O'Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, Ernest Hemingway, and More

By Maria Popova

 

 

Jan 17 2012, 4:30 PM ET

Lessons in love and the early stirrings of genius appear in the casual correspondence of literary greats.

 

via www.theatlantic.com

San Diego - Slide Show - NYTimes.com

San Diego - Slide Show - NYTimes.com

..Mentioned in "NY Times," article about places to go in 2012...

Lost Countdown Season Six

Kennedy dead at 77 - The Boston Globe

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...

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?.

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?
Alexis Okeowo in México City
for National Geographic News
August 22, 2008

A labyrinth filled with stone temples and pyramids in 14 caves—some underwater—have been uncovered on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, archaeologists announced last week.

The discovery has experts wondering whether Maya legend inspired the construction of the underground complex—or vice versa.

According to Maya myth, the souls of the dead had to follow a dog with night vision on a horrific and watery path and endure myriad challenges before they could rest in the afterlife.

Fascinating.. this find reminds me of the great books by Jeff Long, Descent and Deeper, which are about his vision of an underworld beneath Earth.. the link above is to his Web site...

The Sydney Morning Herald: Scotty prepares for final frontier

Scotty prepares for final frontier.

Scotty prepares for final frontier
April 28, 2007 - 12:00PM

More than 100 people gathered in New Mexico to bid farewell to Star Trek star James Doohan, a day before the actor's ashes are blasted into space on a private rocket. Doohan, beloved for his role as the USS Enterprise's chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, died aged 85 in 2005, but plans for his posthumous rendezvous with the final frontier have been repeatedly delayed.

However today a symbolic portion of his ashes will be on board a SpaceLoft XL rocket that is scheduled to take off from a private launchpad near Las Cruces, in the southwestern state of New Mexico. Doohan's ashes will be accompanied by the remains of former US astronaut Gordon Cooper and those of 200 other people.

Way to go, aye, Captain.. Scotty be space-born.. 'tis a good thing.. You wouldn't believe how many *stars* you can see up here.. Live Long and Prosper, and oh, yes, Space, the Final Frontier...

Student Rameses dies from injuries - University

Student Rameses dies from injuries - University.

Student Rameses dies from injuries
Ray played mascot for three years
By: Erin Zureick, University Editor, Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: University

Jason Ray, a UNC senior who wore the Rameses suit for three years, died Monday morning after being hit by an SUV Friday afternoon while walking along a New Jersey highway.

A spokeswoman for Hackensack University Medical Center said that Ray died at 8:38 a.m. Monday. He sustained severe head injuries after being hit by an SUV on N.J. Route 4. He was in the area for the men's basketball game Friday against the University of Southern California. Hospital officials said that Ray was an organ donor.

Ray, 21, was an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the lead singer of a band, Nine P.M. Traffic. Those who knew Ray said he was a generous person who epitomized what a mascot should be.

Sad and tragic loss, an unexplainable accident.. another story covering this locally is at News 14 Carolina.. R.I.P. Ray, God Rest Your Soul...

Librarian - Web Log - Baghdad - New York Times

Librarian - Web Log - Baghdad - New York Times.

Baghdad Day to Day: Librarian’s Journal
By PATRICIA COHEN, Published: February 7, 2007

Saad Eskander, the director of Iraq’s National Library and Archive in Baghdad, finally had some time to catch up on his diary after a couple of very busy weeks. As he wrote in his latest entry, he was having trouble repairing the Internet system; the Restoration Laboratory “was hit by 5 bullets”; and “another librarian, who works at the Periodical Department, received a death threat. He has to leave his house and look for another one, as soon as he can; otherwise, he will be murdered.”

For a month now, Dr. Eskander’s intermittent diary entries have been appearing on the Web site of the British Library (bl.uk/iraqdiary.html), and they detail the daily hurdles of keeping Iraq’s central library open, preserving the surviving archives and books and, oh yes, staying alive.

Visit North Carolina | Find Your Own Perfect Christmas Tree in North Carolina

Visit North Carolina | Find Your Own Perfect Christmas Tree in North Carolina.

Visit North Carolina | Find Your Own Perfect Christmas Tree in North Carolina

Amid 1,000 feet of garlands, 300 pounds of gingerbread and 17 Christmas trees, a special touch of North Carolina decorates the White House this holiday season, thanks to the town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

In 1988, North Carolina native Gloria Houston published The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, a beautifully illustrated story of the Christmastime plight of a courageous young girl and her family. In 2003, Houston visited Spruce Pine (not far from the mountain town where she grew up) to be the grand marshall of their holiday parade. The town had fallen on hard times as thousands of manufacturing jobs disappeared from the region. Inspired by the holiday parade, which was themed after The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Houston suggested that the town craft itself as the official "Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree," and she granted the rights of the book to the town of Spruce Pine.

Great book and item on Christmas trees.. there's a link on the site for buying the book, and takes you right to Amazon.com to do so...

VisitNC (North Carolina) | Holiday Events, Attractions and Shopping

VisitNC (North Carolina) | Holiday Events, Attractions and Shopping.

VisitNC (North Carolina) | Holiday Events, Attractions and Shopping

Celebrate the holidays with us in North Carolina. Choose and cut your own Christmas tree in the Mountains. Tour towns and gardens in the Piedmont for dazzling light displays. At the Coast, watch sparkling boat parades and see a battleship decorated in its finest. And the rich tradition of North Carolina crafts will help you cross even the hardest names off your gift list. For starry nights and jingling bells, Fraser Firs and fresh-pressed cider, and holiday celebrations from the mountains to the sea, come for the holidays in North Carolina.

Just the Flash imagery here makes you homesick if you are a Tar Heel native, or just in the Christmas spirit.. either way.. you can see the state of North Carolina offers a rich number of events, attractions, and shopping.. all with a holiday twist du jour.. go browsing, and Happy Holidays from DrWeb! ...

In Memoriam: James Kim, 1971-2006

In Memoriam: James Kim, 1971-2006.

In Memoriam: James Kim: 1971-2006

A video tribute to James Kim's work at CNET's Tech TV and CNET.. as they wrote in their weekly newsletter, "His passion and enthusiasm for life and technology were infectious. As the entire CNET family copes with the tragic loss of our colleague and friend, we find comfort in the fact that his family, whom he cared so much about, is safe. It's also comforting to know that you, our readers, care so much about James, his work, and his story. We would like to say thank you to all of you who have expressed your kind thoughts and condolences." .. here's a link to the Memorial Fund to help his family.. the main tribute article is posted on CNET here...

MojoMom: Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina

MojoMom: Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina.

Thursday, December 07, 2006
Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina

I adore my adopted home state. I was talking to my husband this morning about what makes North Carolina special. He sees a culture of connectedness, which I think is a great way to put it.

Michael said, "Other places I've lived, like New York and California, are places to go to school or work, but North Carolina is a place to put down roots and call home. New York has ionic bonds and North Carolina has covalent bonds."

Much to our delight, we have been embraced by our Chapel Hill community as transplanted North Carolinians.

Mojo Mom has a great post about 12 great things about my home state, North Carolina.. take a visit, explore the links, and like any good list like this, you'll see why North Carolina is a very special state (and "home") to me...

Monterey County Herald | 05/22/2006 | Tough love approach for TV's 'Dog Whisperer'

Monterey County Herald | 05/22/2006 | Tough love approach for TV's 'Dog Whisperer'.

Posted on Mon, May. 22, 2006
Tough love approach for TV's 'Dog Whisperer'
Cesar Millan of the National Geographic Channel is called 'the Doctor Phil for dogs'
By DENISE FLAIM, Newsday

In the unpretty world of doggie dysfunction, Cesar Millan is the last resort, called in to deal with neighbor-chomping Rottweilers, mutts with hairbrush phobias and Shelties that yap obsessively at toasters.

But he's first in the ratings on the National Geographic Channel, which expanded Millan's ''Dog Whisperer'' show to an hour for its current second season and repositioned it in a prime-time slot (Fridays at 8 p.m.). With an everyman vibe -- he has no formal training in animal behavior, learning instead at his grandfather's side on a farm in Mexico -- and a telegenic persona -- complete with spiky salt-and-pepper hair and Clintonish ability to engage -- Millan has earned the glib nickname ''the Doctor Phil for dogs.''

One of our favorite shows here, and our two Italian greyhounds love it as well.. we've learned a great deal from Cesar, and it's a shame some people seem to think his approaches aren't good or about love and respect for the dogs.. I've never seen that demonstrated.. we hope to visit his home base camp in Los Angeles area someday.. good luck, Cesar!

Katrina Pet Rescue Efforts Offer Lessons for the Future

Katrina Pet Rescue Efforts Offer Lessons for the Future.

Katrina Pet Rescue Efforts Offer Lessons for the Future
Maryann Mott for National Geographic News
September 21, 2005

For three days after Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast, Bill Harris was trapped in his Slidell, Louisiana, home standing on a chair in five feet (two meters) of water.

In one hand Harris held a two-way radio. In the other he held his beloved cat, Miss Kitty.

For hours Harris desperately called for help on his radio. But when rescue workers finally arrived, the 59-year-old man was forced to leave his cat behind.

"He was taken to a Red Cross shelter and was just beside himself with worry about the cat," said Terri Crisp, director of Noah's Wish, an organization that rescues and shelters animals after disasters.

Harris's story is just one of a host of accounts of distraught pet owners forced to abandon animals they consider part of the family.
...
Katrina victim Bill Harris was reunited with his cat, Miss Kitty, several days after rescue workers forced him to leave her behind in his flooded home. Animal welfare organizations met yesterday with Congress to discuss improving the way animals are handled during disaster response efforts. Photograph courtesy Noah's Wish