Annville Free Library Blog

A Fun New (to me) Word Game!

2011-07-21T10:56:00.000-04:00

Hi Peeps! Long time no blog! What can I say? Things get a little crazy in library land sometimes.

Miss Bun and I just had to share this word game with you. It's free, it's fun, and it's challenging! What you do is come up with a word to match a definition. The game sessions are timed and you rack up points and badges as you go along. Be sure to register so your stats are saved. It's free...remember? Anyway...check it out and have a blast! Just click on the graphic!

A Great Example of Thinking Outside the Box!

2011-03-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

Who knew this about crows? Most people just see them as a nuisance but evidently they could be so much more! Take a look (& listen) to this TED talk. People like this who dare to think in totally new directions will be the ones who move us and the planet forward. (Or so says Miss Bun!)

Super Full Moon Tonight!

2011-03-19T09:08:00.000-04:00

It doesn't happen that often so get on out there and watch it! You'll be glad you did.

And to find out more about it check out NASA's info on it from their Science News page.

And now for your listening pleasure (don't know why, but, Miss Bun's brain made a leap from Super Moons to this!): Enjoy!

Make Some Online Art!

2011-03-12T10:17:00.000-05:00

Silk is an interesting app that lets you create art with your mouse. There are several ways to control what happens on your screen. Plus you can share your work as well. Give it a try!

(Playing with this is somehow intriguing and relaxing at the same time.)

According to the About info : "Silk was created by Yuri Vishnevsky as an experiment in generative art. He is currently working on his degree in Computer Science and Linguistics."

Got Skunk? See This!

2011-03-09T12:22:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,
Last night Miss Bun's Terrible Terrier (aka, The Great White Land Shark) got himself embroiled in a bit of an altercation with a skunk. If you have never experienced ground zero skunk spray thank your lucky stars because, believe me, you don't want to! It is now the next day but the smell is still upon us with a vengeance. So Miss Bun mustered all her mad librarian skills under fire and came up with this informative video to share with other victims of random skunk attacks. Watch it! (And be warned!)

If You Dream of Life in the Country (or have any interest in it) then this Blog is for You!

2010-09-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

Get on over to Chickens In The Road - life in ordinary splendor authored by Suzanne McMinn which is just chock full of stories of her life on a small farm in West Virginia. Suzanne is obviously a very interesting person who has lived many places, loves animals, country crafts, gardening and food. In her spare time she writes romance novels and a column for the Charleston Daily Mail. She also takes great photos and videos of the daily goings on at her farm and the best part is that she likes to share.

Hop on over to her About Me page to get the full scoop and get a glimpse of the characters living on the farm. You'll find goats (including the fainting variety), cows, chickens, sheep, ducks, dogs, cats, and donkeys. I probably left something out but you get the idea.

There is a forum, a newsletter, recipes, crafts, gardening, contests, and seemingly never a dull moment. Miss Bun loves to read CITR while she's sipping coffee in the morning and is super glad that someone is living the life she is certain she was meant to live.

Enjoy!

(And thanks to Laura R. for sharing this with me!)

Snail Mail Making A Comeback??? Will you be ready?

2010-08-05T12:29:00.000-04:00

So, we know that most folks are not hot to put pen to paper these days to communicate with each other. We know this because it is impossible to find honest-to-goodness stationery anywhere.

In spite of that sad state of affairs, Miss Bun is going to go out on a limb and suggest that snail mail is not really dead.....it's just taking a nap!

At some point everyone will discover how cool it is to actually get real mail. Oh, sure, call it a silly case of nostalgia, but there is something very personal about snail mail .....for the sender and sendee alike. It says someone really cares. Don't you think so?

So when you are ready to take the snail mail plunge here is a cool little app that let's you print out a mailing envelope using Google Maps locations:

Map Envelope

You can add a message to your creation as well. (Who could ask for more?)

Go forth and have fun!

The Daily Yonder's take on rural libraries and more.....

2010-07-26T12:12:00.002-04:00

What is the Daily Yonder, you may ask? (And you know that Miss Bun, small town librarian, encourages any and all questions.) Well, it looks like the Daily Yonder is a website that filling a void . . . read on.

If you are one of the 55 million people living in the rural U.S you may have noticed that mainstream TV and newspapers are retreating from small towns. The Daily Yonder aims to be "your daily multi-media source of news, commentary, research, and features."

Check out their article on rural libraries The Backroad Librarian: Five Forwards to find out how rural libraries are faring these days and some points on keeping them people focused.

If folks in towns of fewer than 10,000 people "get" how important libraries are why is it taking the rest of us so long to acknowledge that one, small fact?

(Miss Bun would like to borrow the phrase "Libraries are people-centers, not warehouses for books!" and make it her battle cry. It just gives her chills!)

Read This To Put A Chill on Your Summer Heatwave!

2010-07-21T11:55:00.000-04:00

What ever happened to the ships Erebus, Terror and the 129 souls that set sail for the top of the world confident that they could conquer the frozen landscape and find a sea route through the Arctic Ocean?

The Terror by Dan Simmons is a 600 + page turner of an historical novel that recreates the doomed Sir John Franklin expedition of 1845 that was charged with searching for the Northwest Passage.

If you are sweltering in the summer heat this is the perfect book to cool off with as temperatures are typically well below zero. And, as a result of Simmons' meticulous research, you will find yourself a part of the crew facing starvation, disease, and something not quite human that roams the ice. (Chills!)

Intrigued?

Take a look at the book review by David Masiel in the Washington Post:
The Thing on the Ice

Check out the author's site:
Dan Simmons Official Web Site

Links about the Franklin Expedition:
NOVA'S Artic Passage

Franklin's Lost Expedition

Check out this video from the NOVA program:

The story continues!

This just in from BBC News dated 7/21/10:
Canadian Archaeologists Hunt Long-Lost Arctic Explorers

Enjoy!

Judging Book Covers . . .

2010-06-17T12:44:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting post relating to books/reading called 45 Beautifully Designed Book Covers from the blog wellmedicated written by Andrew Lindstrom (who happens to be a freelance web designer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada).

Have you ever chosen to read (or not read) a book based solely on its cover?

Miss Bun thinks that a cover wouldn't stop her from reading something she already wanted to read but it might entice her to try something she might not otherwise gravitate to. What about you?

Mr. Lindstrom has not posted to his blog in some time (who does that sound like?) but that shouldn't stop you from checking out his other graphic design related entries.

Enjoy!

Cats in the U.S. Navy?!? Shiver me timbers!

2010-06-01T14:57:00.000-04:00

Who would have thought the U.S. Navy would be so classy as to have cats in their service? (Most of us know that cats and libraries go together but who knew about cats and ships?)

Check out this article Cats and the Sea Services from the U.S.Naval Institute.

And then go check out this book at your local library:

Henry the Sailor Cat by Mary Calhoun
to read about the time the Siamese star of High-Wire Henry goes to sea, climbs to the top of the mast, does a little whale-watching and helps rescue a man overboard.

Meow!

Bundle: Money Uncomplicated is their Motto!

2010-05-12T14:52:00.001-04:00

Bundle is a pretty intriguing site that aims to help all of us "get smarter about money. Together."

So if you wonder how other people spend theirs and how it compares to how you spend yours or how other folks are dealing with a problem that you're having, get thee on over to the Bundle site.

According to their FAQ's they update spending data every quarter, the people and stories you'll find there are real folks & situations, and Bundle promises
"to be an independent, unbiased source of money information and advice."

You might want to take a look at their 2010 Bundle Report: How America Spends to get started.

I wonder how many people actually own a piggy bank? Oh, and let's break that down by age, income, & gender.

Prom, Duck Tape & Scholarships! Oh, My!

2010-05-11T11:16:00.001-04:00

Hey, Peeps! Here is a nifty, creative contest that can bring in some money for you & your school if you happen to be going to prom this year. (AND you follow all the rules and are 14 years of age or over, etc.)

The folks at ShurTech Brands, LLC are giving away 20 scholarships in celebration of their 10th anniversary to couples (and their schools!) who make their prom dresses & tuxes out of Duck Tape, make it to the top ten and survive 5 weeks (& 3 days) of online voting. Sweet!

Here are the prizes that go to each individual member of the prom couple and the school that hosts the prom:
First Place - $3,000
Second Place - $2,000
Third Place - $1,000
Seven Runners Up - $500

Check it out! Stuck at Prom

And while you're there take at look at the gallery of contests past as well as the current entrants for this year.

The sheer creativity plus fun factor is amazing!!! Enjoy!

Going On A Treasure Hunt!

2010-04-27T11:26:00.001-04:00

Like a challenge? Like the great outdoors? Love puzzles? Like to collect things?

Well.....Letterboxing (or possibly it's much younger cousin Geocaching) might be for you!

"Zo, vhat ees zis Leterrbooxing ov wheech yo spek????" (Sorry, I went all Inspector Clouseau there for a second.)

So glad you asked! Letterboxing is a game of hide and seek with clues. To play you need a compass, a trail name, a personal rubber stamp, & a logbook.

The letterbox (usually a waterproof plastic container that holds at least a rubber stamp & logbook,) is hidden by its owner at some location. Your job is to find it armed with the clues provided. Once you have found it, you stamp your logbook with the letterbox stamp & stamp your stamp in the letterbox logbook thus providing proof all around that you really did find the box. Cool, huh?

Evidently handmade stamp images are highly prized in the world of Letterboxing. So you get to be creative & physically active as well!

Here is a site that will give you all the info you need to get started (along with clues to find letterboxes) & then some:

Letterboxing North America

Don't worry if you are not from North America. Letterboxing (& geocaching) is global! Check out the Net for info on boxes in your neck of the woods.

Wondering about letterboxing versus geocaching? Here is well written article by Trailhead Tessie from the SheltonTrails.org site comparing them: Letterboxing and Geocaching which also includes links.

What a great way for the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors this summer!

Library Cats Map!

2010-04-21T13:20:00.000-04:00

Gary Roma of Iron Frog Productions (an independent film and comedy production company) has put together a most interesting map of library cats around the world.

As of the last update there are an estimated 808 bibliofelines to be found in residence on the planet.

Miss Bun is not sure why books and cats go so well together but they do!

Library Cats Map

If you click on the map and then click on a cat's name in the following table you can see a photo of that particular literary kitty.

Enjoy!

How Libraries Stack Up 2010....A Report

2010-04-20T11:24:00.000-04:00

Have you been wondering how Public Libraries stack up in this day and age?

Wonder no longer...OCLC ,(short for "Online Computer Library Center"), has just put out their colorful How Libraries Stack Up 2010 (pdf ) report.

Miss Bun is happy (and not at all surprised) to see that public libraries are thriving, integral parts of the communities they serve. (Go Team Pub Lib!!!)

As you can see from the report excerpt above, Public Libraries have it all over Starbucks, Borders, & Barnes & Noble when it comes to Wi-Fi hot spots. And that's just the beginning!

Check out the full report & prepare to be amazed!

P.S. For the curious, here is a link to an explanation of what OCLC is in plain English from Wikipedia.

Robotics? Amazing!

2010-04-14T10:14:00.001-04:00

Hi Peeps! Miss Bun was perusing the TED Talks this morning and just had to share this one with you. This is a fact meets fiction kind of thing. We had no idea about the advances in this field but we love it! Enjoy!

One of Harrisburg's Best Kept Secrets!

2010-04-13T11:09:00.000-04:00

If you are a bibliophile living in Central Pennsylvania and have not heard of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore & their Famous Reading Cafe you are going to want to sit down for this.

The Midtown Scholar Bookstore is part warehouse (stocking over one million academic & general interest books) which you can browse & order from online. (Note: if you are local you can request to pick up your purchases at the retail store thus avoiding shipping fees.)

The retail store (all six floors of it!) houses over 100,000 used & rare books, a great coffee shop & art gallery, plus is host to regular contemporary folk concerts & other interesting programs.Check out the website for info on book groups, readings & signings, writing groups & more!

Be sure to sign up for their mailing list or keep track of Midtown Scholar on Facebook & Twitter.

The store is located at 1302 N. Third Street across from the Broad Street Market in what was once a 1920's theater.

In fact, Miss Bun spent a lovely Saturday afternoon lunching at the market and then browsing at the book store where she found all kinds of delightful surprises on the very well organized shelves!

Midtown Scholar has been voted the region's "Best Independent Bookstore" for seven years. When you visit you will know why!

Enjoy!

This Librarian Wannabe Really Does Rock.......Really!!!

2010-04-07T12:25:00.000-04:00

Who knew that Keith Richards (yes, the one from the Rolling Stones!) has a thing for libraries and books.

Librarians the world over are rejoicing about this choice quote he has given us:

“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equaliser.”

You can read all about it in this Sunday TimesOnline article: It's Only Books 'n' Shelves But I Like It by John Harlow.

Plus you can get the hype on Mr. Richard's autobiography due out in October. (Needless to say, Miss Bun has a bit of a crush simmering at the moment!)

Plant A Rain Garden!

2010-04-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

So, what is a Rain Garden, you ask?

Why, it is a low maintenance way to keep rain water from sloshing (a very technical term!) off of concrete, macadam, shingles,etc. and going straight to storm drains (along with all kinds of pollutants) and then dumping in rivers.

Put simply: A rain garden is a planted shallow depression
designed to catch and filter rainfall runoff.

Check out this video for more info:

Do something nice for Mother Nature!

Here are some links to get you started:

Rain Garden Network
Pennsylvania Rain Garden Guide (pdf)
Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels
Rainscaping With Rain Gardens (pdf)

Enjoy!

Easter Sushi???

2010-04-03T19:43:00.001-04:00

Miss Bun had never heard of this somewhat peculiar springtime treat until she stumbled onto Serious Eats . It was love at first sight!

It's still not too late to make this an Easter tradition at your house too!
(The ingredients needed are pretty minimal.....as you can see!)

How to Make Peepshi = Peep Sushi

It's National Poetry Month!

2010-04-01T14:51:00.000-04:00

A great way to celebrate is to go to POETS.org (from the Academy of American Poets) and sign up for their Poem-A-Day emails. Be sure to check out the rest of their site where you can catch up on new books, listen to daily historic recordings (how cool is that?), get ready for Poem In Your Pocket Day and more!

If you register (it's free) you can create your own poetry notebook, participate in discussions, and subscribe to newsletters.

They also have a thing called Poetcasts which is the official podcast (like an online radio show) of the Academy of American Poets. Once you have subscribed they will download and you can listen at your leisure.

So Peeps, go forth and make some poetry on this 1st of April 2010!

Tennis Anyone? TGIFF!

2010-03-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

Here is a game for Fun Friday that will not only hone your mouse skills but will help with Spring Fever when the weather is not cooperating. Wimbledon

Let the games begin!

Peeps for my Peeps!

2010-03-24T13:55:00.001-04:00

Are these not just too cute?!? And you can EAT them!

They are called Cake Pops and can be found on a really creative food site, Bakerella , which is authored by a very inventive person who does this for fun and obviously likes to share.

She also does her own photography! (That's her work above.)

There are more cute critters (& Cup Cake Pops, Cake Balls, & more!) to be found there as well as directions for making your own.

So if you like to play with your food and are into baking, Miss Bun encourages you to go forth and check this site out!

Enjoy!

Check out SnagFilms for all your Free Documentary needs!

2010-03-23T11:28:00.004-04:00

Hello Peeps! Happy Spring to you all!

If you are interested in independent and free documentary films you will want to go to : SnagFilms where you can choose from 1,000 different films on many topics.

From their About page:

"SnagFilms is committed to finding the world‘s most compelling documentaries, whether from established heavyweights or first-time filmmakers, and making them available to the wide audience these titles deserve."

"We make it easy for you to find a film that shines a light on a cause you care about. You can then open a virtual movie theater on any web site, so any one can watch your favorite SnagFilms for free.
SnagFilms can be summed up in four words: Find. Watch. Snag. Support."

You can search by topic, what's hot, channels (of their supporters), and a to z

Topics cover everything from the humorous to the disturbing and all points in between. Films with adult content are clearly labeled as such. Film lengths vary from minutes to hours but all appear to have commercial intros....FYI.

Here is just one of Miss Bun's favorites. Enjoy!:

A Cyborg Composer? A Fascinating Article . . .

2010-03-16T12:31:00.000-04:00

This article is from the March/April issue of the Miller-McCune.com online magazine:

Triumph of the Cyborg Composer:
David Cope's software creates beautiful, original music.
Why are people so angry about that? by Ryan Blitstein

is a thought provoking look at artificial intelligence, creativity and what that might mean to us.

(You can also hear some segments of Emily Howell's music.)

Here is some info about the magazine in case you were wondering who they are and what they are up to:

"The online magazine Miller-McCune.com harnesses current academic research with real-time reporting to address pressing social concerns. Each day, we offer you information and possible solutions to concerns in areas such as education, politics, the environment, economics, urban affairs and health so you can join our lively global conversation based on work by researchers, leaders and journalists."

Be sure to check out the other interesting topics to be found there!

Kindle for PC???

2010-03-15T10:52:00.001-04:00

Those savvy folks at Amazon.com are now offering a FREE Kindle version for PC: Kindle for PC
So now all of us who can't afford a new Kindle can still buy their ebooks (all 400,000 of them!) and read them on our computers.

And even if you have a Kindle with this application you can access your library, notes, marks and more from your computer.

One can't add notes or highlight, search, or zoom & rotate images on a KindlePC (like you can on a bona fide Kindle) but these are evidently upgrades coming in the near future.

Pretty sly, Amazon.com!

P.S. Miss Bun has had an opportunity to play with a Kindle and found the whole experience rather fascinating. (She is waiting for the price to come down though, given current public librarian salaries and all, before taking the digital plunge.)

Goodreads anyone???

2010-03-09T11:39:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wanted a better way to:

Get great book recommendations from people you know.
Keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read.
Form a book club, answer book trivia, collect your favorite quote
.........Then Goodreads if for you!

Just what is Goodreads, you may ask?

Here is the answer direct from their "About" page:

"Goodreads is the largest social network for readers in the world. We have more than 3,100,000 members who have added more than 81,000,000 books to their shelves. A place for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads members recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in December 2006."

Their mission?

To get folks excited about reading (on a global scale, no less) & they do it by making reading fun again!

(What an amazing concept! Who would have ever thought that reading could be a pleasure?
[p.s. the sarcasm is all mine...A pox on all those reading-fun-suckers in the world!]

How it works:

Signing up for Goodreads is simple & free.

"Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone's bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings. You can also post your own reviews and catalog what you have read, are currently reading, and plan to read in the future. Don’t stop there – join a discussion group, start a book club, contact an author, and even post your own writing."

Everyone starts out with three default shelves: read, currently reading, and to-read but you can add other shelves as the spirit moves you.

If you are at all intrigued you might want to check out their How It Works page for more in-depth info.

Take some time to explore what Goodreads has to offer. If you love books you'll be glad you did! Enjoy!

Check Out the Ten Youngest College Graduates in U.S. History.....

2010-03-02T14:17:00.001-05:00

Hi Peeps! Happy March!

This interesting piece comes from the folks at the OnlineDegree blog and lists the accomplishments of these amazing kids and where they are now.

10 Youngest College Graduates in U.S. History

The wee lad above is Moshe Kai Cavalin (age 11) who graduated from East Los Angeles College in 2009 with a 4.0 GPA. He started college when he was eight!

Think back to what you were doing when you were eight years old.....OMG!

Another Cool Site: Vintage Printable!!! (And a Manifesto to Boot!)

2010-02-24T11:21:00.000-05:00

Need free vintage images? Then you will want to go here:

Vintage Printable

About Vintage Printable
"Vintage Printable provides public domain antique scientific, naturalist, and other images for you to print or download. The illustrations here are curated or, tossed as has been pointed out, by me, Swivelchair, an anonymous biopharma worker"

Besides spending huge amounts of time feasting on the marvelous images to be found here, might I also suggest that you take a look at the site's About and Public Domain Manifesto page?

Swivelchair's take on the issues of copyright, public domain and who controls (or would like to control) access to information is important for everyone to know about. You may be surprised to find out who some of the players are in this game.

(Miss Bun is of the persuasion that Swivelchair ROCKS!)

It's TGIFF! Take a Poladroid!

2010-02-19T11:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a fun app that mimics the Polaroid instant cameras of ye olden days.......remember them? Now you can create your own instant Polaroid (sort of) pics and get a real slice of retro to boot! (It's free, too!)

First go here: Poladroid Project and download the application.

Then go a little crazy! (You know you want to!)

The fun part is watching your photo develop. Love the sound effects, too! Just like the real thing!

Here is a Miss Bun favorite photo of kids painting a mural in the library's Young Adult room. How cool is that all vintaged out with Poladroid???

And in case you want a little history check out what Wikipedia has to tell us about Instant Cameras.

Enjoy!

P.S. Thanks to the Snowbound in NH!!! You always find the coolest stuff!

Celebrate Lasers!

2010-02-18T11:07:00.000-05:00

Ok, Peeps, who knew that 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the first laser?

"No!", you say?

"Why, yes it is!" Miss Bun says.

Check out these sites for a fascinating look at all things laser related:

LaserFest is ground zero for this celebration. It's mind-boggling!

Bright Idea: The First Lasers is an online exhibit produced for LaserFest by the Center For History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics.

(I've gotta say that the AIP does a fantastic job of bringing this branch of science to life especially for those of us with degrees in the humanities! Kudos!) Check it out!

The Internet 2009 in Numbers!

2010-02-17T11:49:00.001-05:00

Here is a fascinating overview of the 2009 Internet by an outfit called Royal Pingdom whose "focus lies on covering the uptime monitoring needs of 90% of the companies in the world" for a living.

These are amazing statistics!

The Internet 2009 in Numbers

Kid & the Winter Olympics

2010-02-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

The 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us so here are two sites that are full of fun, games, crafts, puzzles, printables & more to help keep kids engaged in this historic event.

From PrintActivites.com : Winter Olympic Printables

& from ActivityVillage: Winter Olympics for Kids

While you are at these sites be sure to take a look at all they have to offer!

TGIFF.....Drama Queen Style!

2010-02-05T10:16:00.001-05:00

Well, Peeps, it's another "Fun Friday" and what could be more useful (or amusing) in these stressful times with the amount of drama going on just about everywhere you turn?

Why, your very own Drama Button, of course!

P.S. I think this would make a great ringtone, don't you?

Let's Generate Some Hearts!

2010-02-03T06:59:00.001-05:00

Ok, Peeps! Just in time for Valentine's Day !

The Candy Heart Generator

This fun little app is from the folks at Despair, Inc.who evidently have a slightly different (yet
amusingly twisted) view of things. You can save your hearts on your computer or email them to friends. Get creative! Enjoy!

Dangerously Addictive Word Game Alert!!!

2010-01-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

If you like word games (and what bibliophile doesn't?) you might want to skip over this post if managing your time is a personal issue.

Over the weekend I found Babble which is an online version of the game known as Boggle. Babble, however, is played against the entire Net in 24 hour rounds. You must register to play but it is free. FYI: You can upgrade to Pro for a minimal price if you really get hooked.

With each grid you are given the number of words possible plus how many 4 letter (the minimum) & up words there are plus how many times each letter in the grid is used to start a word.

Sounds fairly simple? Wrong! This is a very challenging game that will make time literally fly by . . . so be warned.

Another very nice aspect of this game is the chat box on the right. Folks from around the globe play this game and are great at giving clues & encouragement.

Are you ready to give it a try? Go Babble!

A Brief "Just Hack Me" Public Service Announcement . . .

2010-01-21T14:12:00.000-05:00

This just in from LISNews:

If Your Password is 123456, Just Make It HackMe

Kind of gives one pause, yes?

Be sure to check out the comments.

Mourning Robert B. Parker

2010-01-20T14:02:00.001-05:00

Robert B. Parker, the best-selling mystery writer who created the character Spenser, died at his desk on January 19th at his home in Cambridge, MA. He was 77 years old.

Learn more about this talented writer and his career here:

N.Y. Times article 1/20/2010

Wikipedia Entry (includes book lists & links)

2004 National Book Festival Webcast

Happy Birthday, Nevermore???

2010-01-19T10:23:00.000-05:00

Happy 201st Birthday Edgar Allan Poe!

Evidently this year broke with tradition when the Poe Toaster never showed up. Find out about the story in the Baltimore Sun: Poe Toaster is "Nevermore"

Then check out the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore site for some great info & links!

Like Factoids? Like Fun Graphics? You'll Love This!

2010-01-18T15:04:00.001-05:00

OnlineEducation is an interesting, albeit with somewhat mysterious origins, site that takes topics like A Day in the Internet and creates this:

Created by Online Education

There are other nifty topics like Videogame Statistics, Facts About Your Farts, What's Changed This Decade, Facts About Bottled Water & more. (FYI: some topics may be more edgy than others.)

You will also find some useful lists here such as 100 Free Tools to Write, Publish, & Promote Your Own Book and 100 Best Blogs For Homeschooling Moms (which also includes blogs by homeschooling Dads and kids plus lots of homeschooling resources).

This is what the Online Education folks have to say on their About page:
"Everyone has a natural curiosity, and we are here to give you a daily dose of wit, humor and knowledge to satisfy that urge. We cover all the bases of life that didn’t get a lot of attention at school."

By George, I think they've succeeded! Check it out!

Librarian Chick Rocks!

2010-01-13T10:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, Peeps, here is a good-to-know-about site that lists "links to the best of the Internet's FREE resources for those with big brains and small pocketbooks!".

Librarian Chick

There are 28 categories (like Books/ Audiobooks, College/Student Loans, Foreign Language, Lectures/Speeches/Podcasts) with tons of free educational resources to check out so don't delay!

The brain behind this site is Stacy Reed who, in her free time, reviews software and websites for Tucows. She also runs a sister site on free and open source software, web applications & resources: FOSSwiki; a blog: She Dreams in Digital & more! (Wow!)

Gotta love folks who like to share, right?

Check Out Kansas City's Community Bookshelf!

2010-01-06T15:09:00.001-05:00

Whoa! Miss Bun thought she had died and gone to librarian heaven when she saw this photo for the first time!

Yes, Virginia, those really are giant 25 by 9 feet book spines set between two glass enclosed stairwells. There are 22 titles and you can find out what they are and how they were chosen here: Kansas City Public Library Community Bookshelf

While you're there be sure to tour the rest of the library's website. Looks like a busy, interesting place! Kudos!

Do You Know the Snowflake Man???

2010-01-05T10:37:00.000-05:00

Wilson A. Bentley, aka "Snowflake Bentley", from Jericho, Vermont was only 19 when he made the world's first photomicrograph of a snow crystal in 1885. His process was so unique and innovative that professionals at first doubted his results and his veracity.

"In 1898, at the age of 33, he began to publish articles of his findings and images. He published 49 popular and 11 technical articles about snow crystals, frost, dew, and raindrops, including the entry on "snow" in the 14th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica."

During his lifetime he filled nine notebooks with 47 years worth of observations and lived to see his book, Snow Crystals, published.

To learn more about this fascinating scientist & his work check out these links:

The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection of the Buffalo Museum of Science
(includes his photographic process, bio, photographs, notebook entries, articles & more!)

Wilson A. Bentley, The Snowflake Man
( by the Jericho Historical Society)

More resources below :

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

is the author's site about her 1999 Caldecott Award winning book that has good resources for classroom teachers & homeschoolers.

Kind of makes one look at the white stuff in a whole different way, doesn't it?

Enjoy!

Twelfth Night? What's It All About?

2009-12-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

If you think that New Year's Eve is really the end of this holiday season you have obviously forgotten about Twelfth Night. Here is your chance to learn about Twelfth Night cake, wassailing the apple trees, Molly dancers, Mummers, grand balls & more!

Take a look at these interesting links about this particular celebration:

Understanding Twelfth Night: The Holiday That Time Forgot
by the Camden County Historical Society

Twelfth Night by The School of the Seasons

& Twelfth Night (Holiday) by Wikipedia

Enjoy!

Too Cute Bookmarks to Download!!!

2009-12-23T11:25:00.000-05:00

Are you giving books as presents this holiday season? Then you will want to go to Jinjerup and snag some of these adorable bookmarks to go with them.

All you have to do is download, print on card stock , & cut them out. How easy is that?

Christmas Penguin & Snowmen Bookmarks

(OMG! Only two days til the BIG DAY! Where's a good elf when you need one???)

Non-Fiction Books for the Ten and Up Crowd On Your Shopping List . . .

2009-12-22T09:48:00.001-05:00

Here are some great book recommendations from an article in Bookslut by Collen Mondor.

(In case you were wondering: "Bookslut is a monthly web magazine and daily blog dedicated to those who love to read. We provide a constant supply of news, reviews, commentary, insight, and more than occasional opinions.") Find the article here: Nonfiction Books For Curious Readers Then go explore the rest of the site. You'll be glad you did!

Happy Winter Solstice!

2009-12-21T23:01:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of winter and also the shortest day of the year (if you live in the northern hemisphere that is).

The good people at National Geographic have put together a few facts about this annual event. Check it out here: Winter Solstice 2009

Can You Name All of Santa's Reindeer???

2009-12-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

Then Christmas Trivia is the site for you!

All of the quizzes are available online or in printable pdf format. And there are several categories to choose from: General Christmas Trivia, Christmas Tree Trivia, Christmas Music Trivia, & Christmas Movie Trivia. Quizzes are rated by difficulty so there is a little something for everyone to be found here.

So put your Christmas thinking cap on and enjoy!

Frosty the Snowman....

2009-12-16T11:22:00.001-05:00

What's winter without a snowman?

Ever wonder where the snowman comes from? Glad you asked! It turns out that the snowman does have a history and it just might be one that you weren't expecting. Check out this Smithsonian article by Bob Eckstein (who also wrote a book on the subject called History of the Snowman): Snowman Gone Wild.

We are so glad that Frosty was able to clean up his act which led to the famous song from the 1950's. Get the scoop on the song @ Wikipedia: Frosty the Snowman

And then take a look at this original vintage Frosty the Snowman video (with lyrics) from 1954:

To finish our "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Snowmen" tour try building one of your own online from the good people at Highlights:
Build A Snowman (Don't forget to print your creation!)

Now we just need a good snow day!!!

A Snowglobe for the Slightly Warped

2009-12-15T11:18:00.001-05:00

Hey, Peeps! Check out this flash snowglobe from E-Tractions. It's a great way to get your holiday aggressions out in a safe & amusing way. Enjoy!

E-Tractions Snowglobe

About Snowglobes plus make a Digital one of your own! TGIFF!

2009-12-11T10:29:00.001-05:00

Snowglobes are quite in keeping with the season and there is nothing like having your own miniature world (complete with blizzard) at your fingertips.

Ever wondered about the history of these sometimes lovely, sometimes tacky curios? Check out what Wikipedia has to say about Snow Globes. You may be surprised.

Then go here: Sony Ericsson Snowglobe where you can make your own little wintry world (you can upload your own photo if you'd like to) , add a message, and send it to friends and family!

Get your blizzard on!

Make Your Own Advent Calendar

2009-12-10T17:07:00.000-05:00

Here is a nice template and instructions for making an Advent Calendar using your own photos from the good people at Kodak.

Yes, I know the season has started already but there is always next year, right?

Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick from The Giver's Log blog

2009-12-09T10:03:00.001-05:00

The Giver's Log is the place to go for ideas on gift giving, gift wrapping and more!

AmberLee has collected ideas on gifting, wrapping, thoughtful gestures, and gift etiquette from friends, bloggers, and herself.

There are do-it-yourself projects as well as links to nifty things on the Web. She also has gift ideas by category such as teacher, hostess, grandparent, client, farewell, new baby, & teens, to name a few.

Here is one that would be a perfect treat to make for this time of year:

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

'Tis the season for giving.....Go forth & be inspired!

Winterbells for TGIFF!

2009-12-04T10:49:00.000-05:00

Winterbells is a fun little game to play on a winter's day.

Click on the snowflake to get started.

You use your mouse to move.
Click the mouse button to jump
& touch the bells to score.
Birds will double your score.

Sounds simple, right? Good Luck!

This game comes from the Orisinal :Morning Sunshine site by Ferry Halim (from Fresno, CA) where you can find many other nicely crafted Adobe Flash games with nice art and ambient music. Orisinal: Morning Sunshine has won several awards. Find out more about it here: Orisinal - Wikipedia

Get The Skinny on Christmas Foods & Their History . .

2009-12-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

The Food Timeline - Christmas Foods History is the place to go for information on your favorite holiday food traditions, as well as recommended reading, some recipes, & specific topic resources.

About "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

2009-12-02T14:20:00.001-05:00

What would Christmas be like if this wonderful story had never seen the light of day? Go to David Perdue's site and find out how Charles Dickens saved this holiday.

Christmas and Dickens

(While you are there take a look around at all the other fascinating info on this author!)

And then, by the wonder that is the Web, you can go here:

Looking Over the Shoulder of the Creator of "A Christmas Carol" (by the New York Times)

and actually look at a high resolution (hand written) copy of the only manuscript of the story that Mr. Dickens left behind. How amazing is that?

Wait! There's more!

Last, but not least, is a rather nice electronic edition for your online reading pleasure:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Ok, Peeps, there should be no bah-humbugging around here!

Enjoy!

SnowDays . . . Make Your Own Snowflake . . .TGIFF!

2009-11-27T10:50:00.001-05:00

Let's get this holiday season started!

For some of us it's never too soon for the white stuff so here is your chance to make your own snowflake, add a message, share it with the world & be notified of any responses you get AND check out the snowflakes that others have created.

SnowDays is the place to go if you love snow because it's where the snow never stops falling!

To make your own snowflake just click on the appropriate tab and follow the directions. (It's merely a matter of clicking and dragging. There's a preview pane, too.)

To view what others have created put your cursor on a falling flake (as of this post there were over 8 million designs).

You can also search for a particular flake using several different fields.

OK, Peeps, what are you waiting for? Let's go play in the snow!

Happy Thanksgiving & a Video . . .

2009-11-26T11:16:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Here is a little Turkey Day video by MentalLapse from YouTube for your enjoyment:

Thanksgiving Stats . . .

2009-11-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

The Facts for Features & Special Editions section of the U.S. Census website consists of statistics from the Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas collected to commemorate anniversaries or observances or to provide background information for topics in the news.

So this is the place to go to find out about turkeys & turkey day: Facts for Features - Thanksgiving Day Nov. 26, 2009 .

And here is a report from the AAA Newsroom (where you can also find other interesting info) on Thanksgiving Travel.

Mind Your Manners @ the McCord Museum of Canadian History!

2009-11-23T11:41:00.001-05:00

The McCord Museum of Canadian History in Montreal was founded in 1921, and embodies the vision of passionate collector, David Ross McCord, whose abiding wish was to shed light on the history and cultures of his country and thus bring its people together.

Here you will find online exhibits, history online, thematic tours, educational resources and more!

The website of the McCord Museum is definitely worth a visit if you do nothing else but try the Mind Your Manners role playing game for the Victorian Era. (FYI: there is also one for the Roaring Twenties).

This online game has many delightful Monty Python-esque attributes. Be sure to have your sound on. (Miss Bun especially appreciated the fate of the lady who wore the wrong dress to the evening dinner at home.) The whole game is very amusing! And be sure to check out the other interactive games to be found on this interesting site.

P.S. A "thank you kindly" to my sources in New Hampshire for alerting me to this site!

This is Papercraft Heaven!

2009-11-21T10:51:00.002-05:00

Hi Peeps! It's been a really busy week in Library Land ... hence the lack of posts ... BUT ... here is a site from Canon (the technology company ... I'm sure you've heard of them?) that really is a bit of heaven for papercraft enthusiasts.

Canon Creative Park is an amazing site with amazing projects that are all free.

Here are their categories for all sorts of things to do and make with paper and a printer: Gift & Card, Paper Craft, Scrapbook, Art, Calendars, and Photo Gallery.

There is everything from the very simple to the complex, from one dimensional to 3D and beyond! I have to say there are some very talented people out there designing these projects.

Creative Park gives users a choice of five languages. Each project has author info, release date, recommended paper & printer settings as well as download-able pattern and assembly instructions.

So limber up your phalanges and click on over to (the aptly named) Canon Creative Park!

Enjoy!

The History of Thanksgiving. . .

2009-11-18T13:13:00.002-05:00

On The History of Thanksgiving by history.com you can:

Find out what the first Thanksgiving menu was
Read the proclamation that started it all
Find out about the first broadcasted football game in 1934
Look up Thanksgiving trivia

And lots more!

So, don't just sit there like a stuffed turkey.....trot on over to this site and enjoy!

Check Out the Great Resources On This Blog!

2009-11-17T11:16:00.000-05:00

Online Degree is a resource for online degree program information that gives you the ability to find and request enrollment and financial information on over 150 fully accredited colleges and universities and over 450 online degrees and certificates.

While this in itself is a wonderful resource, the Online Degree Blog (written by Anna Miller) regularly posts articles related to online education, learning, and technology as well as other excellent online resources.

Here are just a few of the intriguing topics you can find on the blog:

10 Things to do at a Library that Don't Involve Renting a Book

100 Tools & Resources to Teach Yourself Sign Language

Top 75 College Admissions Blogs

55 Awesome Scholarships for Eco-Minded Students

101 Historical Moments You Can Relive on YouTube

This should get you started but there are more entries to be found on the site.

Enjoy!

TGIFF & Turkey To Go...

2009-11-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

And now, for your juvenile gaming pleasure, we give you: Turkey To Go.

A rather inane kind of game where you collect feathers for your turkey, corn is a bonus, and forks are hazardous! Beware the forks! (Or not....depending on how warped your sense of humor is!)

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Enjoy!

Hibernation Anyone??? A ThinkQuest Website has the Scoop!

2009-11-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

Ok, so hibernation time is just around the corner (You're feeling very sleepy...) and in case you were wondering what that's all about take a look at this very good website created by a group of 5th graders for a competition put on by ThinkQuest (see below):

The Deep Sleep
Did you know there are four different ways animals deep sleep? Check it out!

What is this ThinkQuest I speak of?

ThinkQuest is a protected, online learning platform that enables teachers to integrate learning projects into their classroom curriculum and students to develop 21st century skills. It is provided as a free service to K-12 schools around the globe by The Oracle Education Foundation.

On the ThinkQuest site you will find the project area (here you can take a tour of ThinkQuest...fyi); a competition space where the technology contests happen and the ThinkQuest Library that houses all the projects and is a pretty nifty learning resource.There is also a professional development program for teachers.

School administrators must enroll their schools to participate in a project or competition but anyone can access the ThinkQuest Library and check out the competition winners.

You can search the library by age group, country, and subject category. There are over 7,000 websites created by students from around the world and they are amazing. Enjoy!

OpenCourseWare from MIT! Get Your Learning On!

2009-11-11T11:21:00.001-05:00

Wondering what MIT OpenCourseWare is?

Here's the scoop (from their About page): "MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.

MIT OpenCourseWare is a free publication of MIT course materials that reflects almost all the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT.

OCW is not an MIT education.
OCW does not grant degrees or certificates.
OCW does not provide access to MIT faculty.
Materials may not reflect entire content of the course."

How cool (and educationally generous) is that!?!

There are 1900 courses listed. Some of them are Audio/video courses, some are translated courses. You can search them by several categories. And it's all FREE and no registration required.

There is also a key to what is included in each course. For example: Lecture Notes, Selected Lecture Notes, Assignments & Solutions, Assignments (No Solutions), Projects & Examples, Projects (No Examples), Exams & Solutions, Exams (No Solutions), Image Gallery, Online Textbooks, & Multimedia Content, etc.

There is also a newsletter & rss updates to courses you can sign up for.

Kind of puts a whole new spin on Life Long Learning, doesn't it?

Check Out the Most Famous Shipping Disaster in the History of the Great Lakes. . .

2009-11-10T13:12:00.002-05:00

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank suddenly on November 10, 1975 in 530 feet of water without sending any distress signals. Her entire crew of 29 was lost.

The sinking of the "Mighty Fitz" became the most famous disaster in the history of the Great Lakes and was the subject of Gordon Lightfoot's hit ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

Here are some links to a wealth of information on this famous ship and her fate:

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
(Don't miss the tabs at the bottom of the page for more info.)

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
This site has many interesting links to explore, song lyrics, and midi-versions of the song.

Wikipedia's SS Edmund Fitzgerald
This site has a list of the crew as well as some very interesting external links to check out including Google Earth and NOAA.

What's Big & Scaly & First Appeared in Japan in November 1954?

2009-11-05T10:08:00.001-05:00

Godzilla (or "Gojira" as he was known at the time) was first seen in Japanese theaters November 3rd, 1954 and has gone on to become a pop-culture icon to the world.

Check out these sites for all the info you could want or need (and then some!) on our favorite gigantic lizard monster:

Godzilla - Wikipedia

Barry's Temple of Godzilla
This site has video clips, sound clips, photos, movie reviews, FAQ's just to get you started. The site is not being updated but should be looked at as more of a Godzilla museum and is well worth a visit.

Days of the Dead. . .

2009-11-04T22:53:00.000-05:00

Between October 31st and November 3rd many cultures around the globe celebrate remembering the dead in some fashion or another.

Days of the Dead from Boston.com is an interesting photo journal of those celebrations from the White House to Paris to Mexico and beyond.

(It's always fun to see what the neighbors are up to!) Enjoy!

Check Out These Opening Lines. . .

2009-11-03T12:10:00.000-05:00

100 Best First Lines of Novels . . .As chosen by the editors of American Book Review and found on the Infoplease.com site.

This is a rather interesting list and it was fun to recognize old favorites.

(Miss Bun's personal favorite is #63.)

Be sure to take a look at #95....it should win an award....or something.

Happy Birthday to . . .

2009-11-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

Daniel Boone who was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1734 to Quaker parents.

Find out more about this original American folk hero at:

Daniel Boone - Wikipedia

and

The Daniel Boone Homestead

A Halloween Arcade of Games . . . TGIFF!

2009-10-30T08:51:00.000-04:00

This just in for your Halloween online gaming pleasure:
(Halloween Mah Jongg anyone???)

Halloween Arcade

Have fun!

Go Ahead And Eat This Spider . . . I Dare You!

2009-10-28T09:28:00.000-04:00

Yum! Meatloaf never looked so good!

This Meatloaf Spider recipe was submitted by Janna Weiss on the associatedcontent.com website.

Serve this up for dinner on Halloween night and scare all the ghosties away!

In case you were wondering, Associated Content is an open content network whose "...platform enables anyone to participate in the new content economy by publishing content on any topic, in any format (text, video, audio and images), and connects that content to consumers, partners and advertisers."

How to Make Origami Claws . . .

2009-10-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

If your costume this year requires low budget claws (Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!) (. . . Or should that be Werewolves & Vampires & Freddies?) this is for you!

Origami Claws

Go crazy with decorating them! Enjoy!

Online Coloring Pages......TGIFF!

2009-10-23T08:50:00.000-04:00

Halloween Online Coloring Pages

By registering for a free account (on the home page) you can save your finished pictures to a gallery.

There are tons of coloring pages on this site. Don't let the kids have all the fun!

A Little Edward Gorey, in keeping with the season, plus a video!

2009-10-22T12:06:00.002-04:00

In case you are not familiar with Edward Gorey (and you might not be if you don't have a macabre sense of humor) here is a mini- introduction:

Edward St. John Gorey (1925 - 2000) was an American writer, illustrator and designer most noted for his offbeat sense of humor and gothic sensibilities.

He created over one hundred works, including The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest and The Wuggly Ump; prize-winning set and costume designs for innumerable theater productions (including a Tony award for his costume design for the Broadway revival of the play Dracula); a remarkable number of illustrations in publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and in books by a wide array of authors from Charles Dickens to Edward Lear, Samuel Beckett, John Updike, Virginia Woolf, H.G. Wells, Florence Heide and many others.

Most folks might know him for his design of the title sequence animation for the PBS Mystery series. (One of Miss Bun's favorites!)

Check out these sites for more info:

The Edward Gorey House
(which you can go and visit on Cape Cod)

and

Edward Gorey Biography
(from Biography.com)

Last, but certainly not least, take a look at the following very well done YouTube video production (by mandreas) of Gorey's most celebrated illustrated alphabet The Gashlycrumb Tinies in which he disposes of 26 children from A to Z in his signature Edwardian, macabre pen and ink style. (Miss Bun's favorite is "N is for Neville who died of ennui".) Enjoy!

Boo-ography, Anyone???

2009-10-21T10:01:00.000-04:00

Boo-ography is part of the Biography.com website that is part of the A&E network empire.

On this fun site you can read about the lives of many of your favorite monsters, actors, writers and filmmakers that have (or had) a relationship with the "dark side" (so to speak).

While you're there be sure to check out these other interesting offerings: Died On Halloween, The Oracle, Videos, Monster Stats, Zombie Mail, & Quizzes.

Enjoy!

A Spooktacular Happy Birthday To . . .

2009-10-20T23:38:00.004-04:00

Bela Lugosi who was born on this day in 1882 in Lugos outside the western border of Transylvania. He has remained (in spite of the Twilight series) the quintessential Count Dracula of all time. (IMHO)

Here are a couple of sites to check out:

Bela Lugosi - Wikipedia has info on his life, career path, filmography, references, further reading, external links & more.

Official Bela Lugosi Website is run by the Lugosi family and many pages appear to be under construction. This site is worth a look see for the cool intro plus the biography is written by his son, Bela Lugosi, Jr., and gives a unique perspective on the famous actor's life.

Did you know that after his death he was evidently buried in one of his Dracula capes? How cool is that?

Crunchy Munchy Skeleton Cookies!

2009-10-19T12:31:00.003-04:00

How cool are these?

Epicurious (for people who love to eat) has this great Gingerbread Skeleton recipe that is perfect for this time of year.

(While you are on their site be sure to look for the other 74 Halloween delectables to conjure up!)

If you sign up (it's free!) you can save, rate, and share recipes too.

It sort of puts the gobble in goblin, right?

(photo by Eric Staudenmaier)

Halloween Hangman! TGIFF!

2009-10-16T08:14:00.000-04:00

Here's a little seasonal take on a popular word game complete with spooky music and a totally sarcastic skeleton! What's not to love about it???

Halloween Hangman

Enjoy!

History Channel's History of Halloween. . .

2009-10-15T10:10:00.000-04:00

This month just wouldn't be complete without a visit to The History Channel's History of Halloween site.

Here you can explore & learn all sorts of things such as Halloween history (ancient origins, coming to American, today's traditions, around the world, historic haunts & superstitions) to pumpkin stencils to ghost hunting games to videos and more!

P.S. There are annoying adverts on this site so just use your esp powers and mentally make them invisible!

Check Out the Ouija Board Museum. . .

2009-10-14T12:08:00.000-04:00

Have you ever played with one of these? They are a little creepy, no? (Just right for this time of year!) Who knew there were so many varieties?

The Museum of Talking Boards has everything from history & lore to theories & directions. Along the way you can peruse the Gallery, check out Interactive Talking Boards as well as boards in books and movies.

The best way to navigate this site is through their Site Map which you can find at the bottom of the main page. (Note: the links on the Site Map page are not highlighted so they don't look like links. Go ahead and click on them anyway. If you dare!)

A Little Raven Ala Christopher Walken . . .

2009-10-13T07:49:00.003-04:00

Enjoy!!!

Carve A Pumpkin Online! TGIFF!

2009-10-09T08:57:00.002-04:00

This is a simple, yet kind of charming, little site that will give your mouse skills some practice.

Carve A Pumpkin

Don't forget to click on the "Done" button when you have finished carving your masterpiece.

Have a great weekend!!!

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Pumpkins.......and Then Some!

2009-10-08T10:53:00.000-04:00

Ok, Peeps, this is the place to go for all your pumpkin informational needs: Pumpkin Nook!

Here you will find info on how to grow them, giant pumpkins, facts & education, recipes, fun stuff and more. Plus lots of links related to the two main pumpkin consuming holidays: Halloween & Thanksgiving.

One of Miss Bun's favorite pages is "Naming Your Baby" which assures us that what name you give your growing pumpkin is very important! (Who knew???)

Enjoy!

What Do You Know About Poe?

2009-10-07T11:54:00.001-04:00

Knowing Poe is an award winning website from Maryland Public Television that aims to introduce us to the literature, life, and times of one of America's foremost writers.

Take your time while visiting this site because there are many interactive activities, videos, and more to look at that have been created especially for students in middle and high school.

Check out the Classroom Connections, For Families, and About This Site links at the bottom of the homepage.
.
"In addition to these interactive experiences, there are lesson plans created by Maryland teachers, primary source documents, links for further research, and materials for fun family activities related to Edgar Allan Poe."

"Throughout the site, watch for the Random Raven to give you some inside information and little known facts about Poe the person and Poe the writer."

Edgar Allan Poe + Halloween = How Cool Is That??? (So says Miss Bun!)

A Haunting We Will Go . . .

2009-10-06T11:39:00.000-04:00

LibraryGhost is all about Willard Library (over 110 years old & the oldest public library building in the state) in Evansville, Indiana and the Lady in Grey who walks alone among the bookshelves there.

There are ghost cams set up in three locations in the library that avid library ghost hunters can watch to their hearts content as well as photos, videos, and related links to explore.

It's too bad that some of the links don't work but that shouldn't stop you from checking out this awesome Victorian Gothic building that any self-respecting phantom would be honored to call home.

Halloween road trip, anyone?

Who ya gonna call????

For All Your Undead Literary Needs . . .

2009-10-05T11:41:00.001-04:00

The Vampire Library "is a resource for readers of vampire fiction, literature and non-fiction books. This site offers lists of vampire books, detailed book information, and links to purchasing information where available."

What a great concept in light of all the Twilight-mania going on at the moment.

Here you can search through 1,048 books for your favorite prince (or princess) of darkness. Books are listed by Novels/Sequels, Fiction Series, Anthologies, Fiction Guide, Non Fiction, All By Title, & All by Author.

There is a blog (although it seems it is not regularly updated) as well as "Related Links" which has some interesting sites to check out. Oh, and they are on Twitter, too.

So, Peeps, get on out there and grow some fangs!!! Enjoy!

It's October!!! Celebrate With Free Haunted Paper Toys!!!

2009-10-01T14:16:00.001-04:00

Just in time to celebrate the start of Miss Bun's favorite month,
Haunted Paper Toys will put you in the right frame of mind to really enjoy October's festivities!

"Here you'll find a variety of rather unusual paper toys, all free for you to
print out and enjoy.

The toys include a hearse playset, coffin gift boxes
(with occupants), a little cemetery, several unusual board games, a
gloomy little haunted house, a rusty old-style robot, and quite a few
other dark delights.

So pick out some toys, print out the pattern pages,and with a few common supplies like scissors and glue you're ready to create all these strange little curiosities."

P.S. The coffin boxes would make great party favors and who could resist a game of Undead Chess???

P.P.S. This is post 200, Peeps!!! Wahoo!!!

A Blog for Self-Learners . . .

2009-09-29T10:29:00.000-04:00

Self Made Scholar is a great blog posted by Jamie Littlefield who is a "self-education enthusiast and former teacher".

"This blog is all about self-education - people learning what they want to know without formal schools or classrooms."

Her take on self-learning is interesting so be sure to read the "Introduction to Self-Education" tab where you will also discover notable people who were/are self-learners.

A glance at the "Bio & Contact" link under About Me explains how she arrived at a passion for learning.

"The goal of SelfMadeScholar.com is to connect people to the resources they need to learn."

The "Free Classes" & "Self-Ed Resources" tabs contain a wealth of links and resources listed under headings such as Free Books Online, University Open Courseware, Language Learning, Organizing Your Library, Educational Podcasts (and more!) for anyone who yearns to further their knowledge in any number of subjects or topics.

What a great site! Check it out!

A Nifty Resource for Local (Central PA) Folks . . .

2009-09-28T11:32:00.001-04:00

Spotobe is the place to go to find out what is happening in our region.

This nifty site aggregates all the events—concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, festivals, parties and much more—so you can view all your options in one convenient place.

It is useful to register (it's free) so you will be able to save events for future reference. Items you save can be found under the "My Spots" tab.

All of the information on Spotobe is organized into three major categories: events, locations and performers. If an event features a local performer or band, it will also have a link to that band's performer page where you can find all of their upcoming gigs.

There is also a Spotoblog that is "updated four times a week with event recommendations, restaurant talk and local news & commentary. The Spotoblog is also a place where Spotobe users can make their voice heard. Feel free to tack on your thoughts on the topic du jour in the comments section of the latest post."

Be sure to click on the "Ongoing Events" tab as well as the "Upcoming Events" tab when checking out Events so you don't miss anything.

Frequently Asked Questions can be found under the "About" tab at the top of the page. This is also the place to go to find out how to list your events on the site.

What a useful site! Enjoy!

It's TGIFF......Go Make a Flapping Crane!

2009-09-25T08:15:00.005-04:00

Even if you think you can't quite grasp origami instructions this 3D animated tutorial will make you a professional crane folder in no time! Really!

How To Make A Flapping Bird

Enjoy!!!

Technology and the New Literacy?

2009-09-24T11:47:00.000-04:00

Check out this interesting article from Wired magazine:

Clive Thompson on the New Literacy

that sheds some much needed light (imho) on how technology just might be responsible for a new revolution in literacy and communication.

Evidently Andrea Lunsford, a professor of writing and rhetoric at Stanford University, has come to some enlightening conclusions in her Stanford Study of Writing project. Who knew?

Be sure to check out the comments and leave some of your own if you get the urge.

Happy Autumn Equinox!

2009-09-22T20:36:00.000-04:00

The Autumnal (or Fall) Equinox begins today and marks the first day of this season for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

Go to The September Equinox Explained on the TimeandDate.com website for some good information on what does and dosen't happen in the sky today. Be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page.

For some insight to holidays and more connected to this equinox please see September Equinox Customs and Holidays which is authored by the same folks as above.

To celebrate the season:

Autumn Fire

In the other gardens: And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires: See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over: And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,: The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!: Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,: Fires in the fall!

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

Check Out This Tres Cool Museum . . .

2009-09-22T10:59:00.002-04:00

"Housed within the walls of San Francisco's landmark Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of hundreds of interactive exhibits in the areas of science, art, and human perception" and was founded in 1969 by physicist and educator, Dr. Frank Oppenheimer.

Their mission is to "create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people nurture their curiosity about the world around them".

The museum has been online since 1993 with over 18,000 web pages as well as sound and video files that explore hundreds of different topics. it attracts 20 million (yes, million!) visitors a year.

Kind of mind boggling, isn't it?

While you explore the website be sure to press the "Do Not Push This Button" button on the home page, sign up for their E-newsletter, check out the more than 500 science experiments that you can print out and have a great time!

Miss Bun is most impressed with the museum's creative, thoughtful use of technology to "focus on investigating the science behind the ordinary subjects and experiences of people's lives. The topics themselves provide "hooks" that get people excited about science. Then, when we investigate these topics, we can also look at the historical and social issues surrounding them, thus providing a context for scientific exploration".

Avast, Ye Peeps!!!

2009-09-19T11:03:00.007-04:00

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day in case you didn't know.

This "international holiday" was conceived by Mark "Cap'n Slappy" Summers, John "Ol' Chumbucket" Bauer and Tori "Mad Sally" Bauer some seven years ago.

Just reading about how this auspicious day got started is entertaining and I recommend having a look: How It All Started.

Obviously the whole thing has blossomed in seven years and you can follow it on Facebook and other social networking sites.

There are trinkets and such to plunder as well.

And there are also off-shoots such as " Pirates for Parkinsons, planning "Walk Like A Pirate" charity walks all over the world to raise money for a good cause while havin' a rip-roarin' good time."

The site is full of good fun. There's Pirate Advice, Fun & Games, Links, How-to's and more.

There are also some pages for Junior Pirates that includes a Pirate Curriculum and Pirate Themed Books.

(Check out the Pirate Name Generators or the Pirate Personality Test under the Fun & Games tab!)

Miss Bun is ready to put on her eye patch and party like only a Pirate Librarian can!

So, Peeps, go get your swagger on and party hearty!!!

A Little TGIFF Word Game . . .

2009-09-18T10:53:00.006-04:00

RobinWords Game:

It's fun. It's simple. It's Friday. What more could you ask for?

Here is how you play:

Change one letter in the four-letter word the computer gives you. The computer will then change one letter in the word you used and so on. You may not reuse words. The first person to use up all possible words wins!

It's always fun to win, but it's so much better to PLAY! (So says Miss Bun!)

Ok, Peeps! Go get your game on!

(This game was created by Jared Rhizor.)

A Digital Rare Book Room . . .

2009-09-17T10:32:00.007-04:00

The Rare Book Room is a fascinating site that gives viewers access to high quality resolution images of some of the world's greatest books from some of the world's greatest libraries.

Who or what is behind this endeavor, you may ask?

Why, that would be Octavo, a company from California, whose " purpose is to use the best in advanced technology to uncover and enhance the seminal ideas of the past in ways that will provide inspiration for the present and future. Through our published editions, Octavo facilitates preservation and enables discovery for a wide range of audiences."

There are about 400 books (all that have been digitized to date) that may be searched by category, author, or library.

These include works by Shakespeare, Ben Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanac & Experiments and Observations on Electricity), Galileo, Lewis Carroll, Charles Darwin and more!

This is truly a feast for the eyes! Enjoy!

A Little Online Story . . .

2009-09-16T09:31:00.003-04:00

The Saddest Bear of All
by David Guy & Minkee

Miss Bun is dedicating this post to ALL her fellow library workers in Lebanon County, PA, Infinity, and Beyond!