…because it totally is, right? I mean, you think Halloween, and the first thing that comes to your mind is CANDY. Okay, okay…maybe you think about finding the perfect costume, and dressing up as something really cool. But it’s probably to get CANDY, right?!?!
And maybe you think about your favorite Halloween specials, or hilarious web cartoons. Which you probably WATCH WHILE YOU’RE EATING CANDY.
Because IT’S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE CANDY. I’m talking about the good stuff, too: think full size candy bars. Skittles. Even stuff like popcorn balls. But just because it’s ALL ABOUT THE CANDY doesn’t mean it’s…bad. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that, Bits and Bramblers. After all…I think we can all agree that treats are infinitely better than tricks, right? And what could be more fun that pouring your entire bag of candy out, and eating all your favorites? It’s milk-chocolate covered awesomeness, that’s what it is.
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So HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN, BITS AND BRAMBLERS! But most importantly, be safe out there…and have lots of fun! (After all…you don’t want to waste a perfectly good CANDY opportunity! We can all learn from Sally Brown’s mistake!)
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Happy Teen Read Week, Bits and Bramblers! See, every year, we set aside an entire week just for teens (like you) who love to read. We even come up with a cool theme—this year, it’s READ BEYOND REALITY. And we do it just to celebrate you guys For no other reason than…reading is fun. And there a lot of good books out there. And the teens who read them are awesome, and deserve their own week.
Now, speaking of good books….haaaaaaaaave you read Meg Cabot’sBeing Nikki? It’s the sequel to last year’s Airhead, and it’s got a little bit of everything. Supermodels! Speech class! Multimillion dollar corporations that might really be evil! Unrequited love! Brain transplants! How’s that for beyond reality, huh?
See, Emerson Watts was visiting the Stark Megastore and was accidentally crushed by a giant plasma TV. Luckily for Em, the world’s most famous supermodel, Nikki Howard, suffered an aneurysm at the exact same moment. And when Em wakes up at the hospital, she sounds different and feels different–because a team of Surgeons that work for Stark Enterprises put her brain in Nikki Howard’s body.
And as it turns out, being a supermodel isn’t as easy as it looks. When Being Nikki starts, Em is still getting used to the freezing cold photo shoots and the paparazzi. And just when things seem semi-normal? Nikki Howard’s older brother shows up, and tells her their mother is missing (and how is Em going to explain why she doesn’t remember him?!) And then she realizes that Stark Enterprises has bugged her laptop, and who knows what else. And then someone claiming to be Nikki Howard starts emailing megastar Justin Bay. Only Em hates Justin, so she’s not the one emailing him…but if it’s not Em, who is it? After all, the real Nikki Howard’s dead…right?!
So yeah…I’d say Poor Em’s story is beyond reality, wouldn’t you?
Still…it doesn’t matter what kind of book you read, as long as you…do. Read, that is. After all, it’s Teen Read Week! I mean…I don’t even care if you have to ignore your homework and your chores—take some time and read this week.
Okay, okay…don’t ignore your homework and your chores, but…you know, try and find some time to read.
In fact, I want you to read so much that I’m not even going to leave you with a YouTube clip…you’ve got reading to do, Bits and Bramblers! So grab a book…and go BEYOND REALITY!!!!
All right, Bits and Bramblers, today’s the last day of Banned Book Week. And remember our last post? In a nutshell, I told you all about how much I love banned books, and then I challenged you to name four frequently challenged books—I gave you a description, and you had to give me the author and title.
And I have to be honest, you guys did really, really good. But just in case you couldn’t figure them out, here are the answers…
This book series—which is also a popular TV show (XOXO)—was challenged for “offensive language, sexually explicit,” descriptions, and being “unsuited to age group.”
Have you heard the latest about B and S? Thaaaat’s right, it’s Gossip Girl. The books by Cecily Von Ziegesar (that are the basis for the hit TV show) were one of the most challenged in 2008.
You can find this book in the Classics section. It’s takes place in the Hamptons in the 1920’s, and it was challenged because of “language and sexual references in the book.” (Ha! And you thought classics were boring!)
Did you guess this one, Old Sports? It’s The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Not only is this an amazing, amazing book, but there are two awesome movie versions, an older one with Robert Redford, and a newer one with Paul Rudd. Gatsby does love to throw giant all-night parties, so…maybe that’s why the book was challenged?
This teen book series about three friends who like to IM was was challenged for—wait for it—”offensive language, sexually explicit,” descriptions, and being “unsuited to age group.”
OMG! You got this one, right? It’s Lauren Myracle’sInternet Girls series, which includes TTFN and TTYL. Just like Gossip Girl, the series was one of the most challenged in 2008. Y? IDK…
And last but not least, another classic. This one is about a teen who just got kicked out of boarding school, and heads to New York City. It’s been challenged for…everything, from “excess vulgar language, sexual scenes,” and “things concerning moral issues,” to several complaints that is was just plain “obscene.”
I’m sure you all got this one, ’cause you’re no phonies. It’s The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it might be one of the most challenged books ever. But again…that doesn’t mean the book is bad.
In fact, I don’t think there’s a bad challenged books. Sure…there are a lot of books that I don’t like, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have the right to read them. Everyone has the right to say—and read—what they like. That’s part of being an American Citizen!
But you don’t have to take my word for it, Bits and Brambers. Because—just like so much else in the world—it’s better with puppets. Check out this video from the American Library Association:
Now…what are you waiting for, Bits and Brambers? READ A BANNED BOOK!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Bits and Bramblers…I love banned books. I just don’t understand book banning. See…in my opinion, one of the best parts of the library is the fact that we have books, movies, and music about everything for everyone. Which doesn’t mean that I like everything we have in the library. Actually, I think a lot of it is crap. But just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean you won’t like it. And if you like it, who I am to say you can’t read it?
And to be honest with you, Bits and Bramblers, the fact that some people consider them so damaging and terrible that they shouldn’t be available to the public makes me want work hard to protect even them more, you know? Okay, okay…I’m officially stepping off my soapbox now, but I’m still encouraging you to READ A BANNED BOOK!
The thing of it is, they’re tricky to spot. They don’t have big red X’s on the spines, and the first page doesn’t say “YOU ARE HOLDING A BANNED BOOK!” In fact, some books that were challenged or banned might surprise you. They might even be books you know and love. So…why don’t we have a BANNED BOOK QUIZ?!? I’ll describe a little about the book—and why it was challenged—and you try to guess the title and the author!
This book series—which is also a popular TV show (XOXO)—was challenged for “offensive language, sexually explicit,” descriptions, and being “unsuited to age group.”
You can find this book (which is one of my favorite books in the history of all books ever,) in the Classics section. It’s takes place in the Hamptons in the 1920’s, and it was challenged because of “language and sexual references in the book.” (Ha! And you thought classics were boring!)
This teen book series about three friends who like to IM was was challenged for—wait for it—”offensive language, sexually explicit,” descriptions, and being “unsuited to age group.”
And last but not least, another classic (that also happens to be one of all-time favorites. Didn’t I tell you I loved banned books?!?!) This one is about a teen who just got kicked out of boarding school, and heads to New York City. It’s been challenged for…everything, from “excess vulgar language, sexual scenes,” and “things concerning moral issues,” to several complaints that is was just plain “obscene.”
So…do you read banned books too, Bits and Bramblers? Think you know the answers? Post your best guesses in the comments…and we’ll let you know the correct answers tomorrow! I’ll even leave you with a cheesy 80’s version of another classic to help you think…
…Is it Friday yet, Bits and Bramblers? I don’t know about you, but it seems like this week has been veeeerrrrryyyyy looooooonnnngggg, not to mention rainy (and what’s with the fog? Are we living on a moore now?) *sigh*
What do you say we distract ourselves by watching some movie trailers? After all, they’re coming soon to a theater near you. And here’s the cool thing—all of these movies are based on made-of-awesome books.
First up is Whip It, which opens October 2nd. Not only is it Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, it’s based on one of my favorite novels—Derby Girl, by Shauna Cross. I really want to see this one, you guys. I mean, the soundtrack is awesome, and if I weren’t so clutzy, it would make me want to strap on a pair of skates…
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Next up, a movie about vampires. No, not that one. It’s Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the book series by Darren Shan. To be honest—and this might get me in to trouble—thisvampiremovielookslikemorefun. I mean…come on! Snake guy played by Patrick Fugit?! Regrowing-arm girl from 30 Rock? Awesome. But you can see for yourself on October 23rd:
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And last but not least, it’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on the classic book by Roald Dahl. I have to admit…I’m a HUGE fan of the movie’s director, Wes Anderson, and I laughed out loud during this trailer (there may have been blueberry-raspberry juice on my computer monitor. Maybe. If all of your faaaaavorite librarians didn’t already expect that kind of thing from me, I’m sure they’d be a little freaked out.) You’ve got time to make your own “modified tube sock bandit hat” before the movie opens on November 13th:
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The next time your teacher assigns a book report or other class presentation and says that creativity counts, go straight to Xtranormal. This is a free website that allows you to choose characters and make your own movies about anything you want. Their slogan is: If you can type, you can make movies and I’m here to tell you that it’s true.
It just takes a few minutes to set up an account and then get ready to say “Action”. Actually, you don’t really say anything, you just type words in little boxes, choose camera angles (is this your best side?) add expressions, sound effects and movement and you’re Quentin Tarantino (minus the high forehead). Once you’ve previewed your movie and like the way it looks, you can publish it and save it to your Xtranormal account. The best part is, if you have a Youtube account, you can publish it to Youtube with one click.
This is really something worth looking into. Even if you don’t want to do something as lame as a school project, you can make little animated films to put on your Facebook or Myspace page. The possibilities are endless. I just discovered this yesterday and I’ve already written, directed and produced a short film. Sundance here I come!
Yeah…I don’t like that game. I mean, I like to think I’m pretty good with words, but when they’re all messed up? Not so much. My head spins when I try to sort them out.
In fact, I’d rather pretend the word isn’t jumbled, and just make up a definition for it (“Nippeg? That’s…er…a new kind of thumbtacks to hang up posters with. They’re…you know…much better than that other kind of thumbtack.” And that’s why I’m awesome at this game.)
So…it’s a tiny bit like the Jumble, because you get eight letters, totally scrambled, that make a word. And here’s how it’s a little different than the Jumble: there’s a time limit. But here’s how it’s infinitely better than the Jumble—even if you don’t know the eight-letter word? You get points for making smaller words out of the eight letters. This way, you can still hit your target score, even without figuring out the big word. How great is that?! You can’t do that with your Word Jumble!
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So play some Eight Letters in Search of a Word, and start unscrambling…but before you get started check out this video (can you read it?!)
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…Uh-huh, you read that right. And it’s in Swedish, so you probably don’t have any idea what it means. It says, “The Library is Good for You.” See, I’m about to explain one of the reasons why libraries are so awesome—and it totally involves Swedish.
Remember the whole…mess this summer? Well, I’m not afraid to say that all of your faaaaavorite librarians were more than a little bit freaked out by the whole thing. So one day, we started talking about hobbies, and trying new things. So I made a joke. “I would learn a new language. I can speak a little Spanish, so I’d learn something completely different, like…Swedish.”
Still, I was sort of joking. I mean, who just decides to speak Swedish out of the blue? Besides…I figured someone would tease me. Here’s the thing, though—Nobody laughed. Instead, one of the awesome people I work with said, “Do you really want to learn Swedish?” And then I said, “Well…yeah, I kind of do.”
So two minutes later–literally–they handed they me a book . Then when I couldn’t find CDs on Swedish at any of our libraries, the Made-of-Awesome-InterLibrary Loan Department said, “It’s no problem, we’ll borrow some from another library.” And within a few weeks, I was driving to work listening to Beginner’s Swedish CDs—learning colors, numbers, and how to ask what time it was. In Swedish.
And here I am, three months later, and jag talar lite svenska (I speak a little Swedish.) And all because when I said I wanted to learn, the people I work with didn’t say, “Wow…you are really geeky,” or, “That’s so stupid.” They just helped me find exactly what I needed. And they made other suggestions, too—”There’s this website from the Stockholm School of Economics…” and “Did you know there are tons of Disney songs dubbed in Swedish on YouTube?” (There totally are. And I won’t lie…the Genie from Aladdin is…scary in Swedish.)
…But the thing is, it’s not because I work here. It’s because that’s what the library does. When you walk in the doors, no matter who you are, or what you want, we help you. If you decide out of the blue that want to learn how to knit, we’ll help you. If you want to learn how to throw a knuckleball, we’ll help you. Even if you walk in the door and say, “I’m failing algebra, and I need some books on it,” we won’t point and laugh. We’ll just help you the find some books (and some of us will even tell you that we failed algebra, too. Not me, though. Yeah…that was someone else.)
So that’s why biblioteket är bra för dig (the library is good for you.) Because no matter what you need—if you need help with work or school, or if you just want to learn how to speak Swedish, we can—and we will—help. I just wanted to remind you, in case you forgot.
And now that you know, I’ll expose you to a little more Swedish. Sort of. Here’s a very Swedish band, singing in English (because who doesn’t love ABBA?!?! The hair and the clothes alone…come on! How can you not love them?!?!)
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If you’re an expert at something or think you’ve got a special skill to show the world, now’s your chance. “Instructables,” the awesome how-to website is sponsoring a “Teach Me Fast” video contest with “Forbes.” All you have to do is demonstrate how to do something in 30 seconds or less.
I know you have some weird ability or unusual trick that you could teach others. Just record your video, upload it to YouTube, Blip or some other hosting site and embed it on the “Instructables” site. Then just sit back and wait for people to vote for your video as their favorite. The grand prize winner will receive a “Flip” video camera, a T-shirt and some cool patches and stickers, not to mention bragging rights for your video being the hands down favorite. Don’t delay. The entry deadline is September 13, 2009 and the online voting will begin September 14.
If you can’t think of any unique skills that you have to share, check out the contest and vote for your favorite. Maybe seeing someone else’s unique talent will inspire you to remember something that you are famous for.
Even if you don’t want to make a video, do yourself a favor and check out some of the cool postings on the “Instructables” website. This site can give you easy instructions on how to do anything. If you want to learn how to do it, someone on “Instructables” can show you how.
It’s that time of year again, Bits and Bramblers! It’s time to use all those new folders, notebooks, and pens you just bought. That’s right—it’s time to go back to school!
Yeah…I’m sorry. Really, I am. In fact, I’m not going to keep up the fake enthusiasm. Going back to school isn’t fun. There’s the whole…”getting up early” part. And the meeting new teachers and other kids part. And the learning your new schedule part. And then there’s the learning-new-things-and doing homework part. Not fun.
…But the thing is? It doesn’t have to be all bad. Maybe you’ll catch on to your new schedule super fast, and maybe those new teachers and other kids will actually be…awesome. And as far as learning new things goes, trust me—it’s always good. Because the more you know, the better off you’ll be (except maybe algebra. I never got the algebra thing.) And don’t forget—if you ever need help with your homework, well…all you have to do is ask your faaaaavorite librarian, right? That’s why we’re here, after all!
In fact, the only all-bad thing is getting up early, and that kind of sucks no matter how old you are. Blech.
So…chin up, Bits and Bramblers. You’ll get used to all the back-to-school-changes in no time.
But while we’re on the subject of changes—there are a few of them coming up here at M/RCPL. Remember the whole…mess this summer? Well, the good news is all of your faaaaaavorite branches get to stay open. But in other news, our hours will be a liiiitle bit different.
Here’s a list of your faaaaavorite branches and their new hours (this way, when you need help with your homework, you’ll know whether or not we’re open!) The new hours will begin on Tuesday, September 8th:
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. Main Library Sunday: 1 – 5 PM Monday –Thursday: 10 AM – 8 PM Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
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. Bellville, Lexington, Madison and Ontario Branches Monday – Thursday: 10 AM – 7 PM Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
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. Butler,Lucas and Plymouth Branches Monday – Thursday: 11 AM – 7 PM Friday : 11 AM – 5 PM Saturday : 9 AM – 3 PM
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. Crestview Branch Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 11 AM – 7 PM Wednesday and Friday: 11 AM – 5 PM Saturday : 9 AM – 3 PM
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Now…after all the talk about changes, let’s talk about a few things that are going to stay the same—like Bits and Brambles. We’ll still be posting about awesome books and cool websites, as well as sharing funny videos—like this one (it’ll make your first day look easy!)
