Light blogging for a while...

Though summer may be quiet for nearly everyone else, it is the busiest time of the year for a youth services librarian. Summer Reading Program starts next week and will run till August 1 here in Hibbing. Kids come in practically non-stop for those 2 months, checking out books, reading books and returning books to get their prizes. I'll be running the program as it has been since the beginning of time, but I plan to make major changes next summer.

Programs look great: Author Debra Frasier (who did the artwork for this year's theme, shown here) will visit, Underwater Adventures is bringing some sharks, Sparky the Clown will entertain as well as singer Casey Aro, and Creepy Crawlies is bringing, well, creepy crawlies. Plus story times, a puppet show, cooking classes and a chocolate festival. And it all starts off next week with a tie dye party.

Busy, busy. So wish me luck and I'll post when I can.

Great White North

We are back from our trip up to Canada to visit Cole's folks in Terrace Bay, Ontario. That's some beautiful country up there along Lake Superior's north shore.

But I did learn a few differences in seeing the world. In Canada:
1. Milk comes in plastic bags.
2. The dollar coin has a loon on the reverse, so its called a "Looney."
3. You can get ketchup flavored potato chips.
4. They don't say "We kept driving." They say, "We pushed on."
5. The speed limit is only 62 mph (which makes "pushing on" go longer).
6. It doesn't get really dark till 10pm.

I'm glad to be home, eh?

I'll behave. Really.

I really, really, REALLY want to post a snarky comment about Teddy dying and finding Mary Jo Kopechne waiting for him at the pearly gates, having been given the honor of personally sending him to Hell.

But I won't. Out of respect for everything Teddy has done.

Really.

Yeah, but does he want it?

If there is anyone in presidential politics right now with the big capital "L" on his forehead, it is John Edwards. Ignore it, dude!

When professional ethics take on personal opinions...

...ethics must win. Period. So I ordered this highly recommended picture book;

Winston of Churchill by JD Okimoto
"The ice is melting. We are losing our home." Near the town of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, Winston, a great white polar bear, calls a meeting about global warming. The other bears listen as he tells them why "it's getting hotter" and they all join in a demonstration, carrying signs that read "Solar Power," "Recycle" and more. Churchill even gives up his cigar. Of course, the picture book audience won't get the Churchill references ("We will fight them on the beaches...") but adults can talk about the heroic leader and connect the World War II battles with the threat to our home. Trammell's wry illustrations make the huge, bespectacled leader seem both bear and human as he galvanizes his followers (and listeners), encouraging them to burn less gas, make less garbage, and plant more trees. Playful and informative, this has an urgent message that strikes home.

Even though I believe human-driven global warming is an amazing load of polar bear crap. Now give me a medal!

Lost it?

With all of the politcal, military and enviornmental disasters in China, it may be time for the people to rebel. It is an historic truth that the Chinese are obligated to overthrow their rulers when those rulers have lost the Mandate of Heaven. Looks that way, huh?

More TV smash!

As promised, here are more pictures from the TV smash event. The first features essay contest winner Summer Campbell, strapped into a safety harness and ready to go up in the bucket. The TV also stands ready, filled with treats and toys. Next comes a shot of the target painted on the street (that's me in the Aloha shirt. Ya think?). The third picture shows Summer starting her climb, compliments of John from the public works department. Photo number four shows just how high up Summer got John to take the bucket: 65 feet! Lastly, the TV hits the target dead on! Check out the balls bouncing and the kids taking off!

It was a great time and many people have already asked if it will happen again next year. You betcha!

(Photos taken by my boss Ginny Richmond, who let me do this silly thing)

A fine old American political tradition

It is easier than we think to settle the Democratic race between the junior Senator from Illinois and the Shrew. Just set up a duel. If it was good enough for one of the Founding Fathers, then it should be good enough for them!

There are even rules. Dig this:

Code Duello: The Rules of Dueling

Reprinted from "American Duels and Hostile Encounters," Chilton Books, 1963. The Code Duello, covering the practice of dueling and points of honor, was drawn up and settled at Clonmel Summer Assizes, 1777, by gentlemen-delegates of Tipperary, Galway, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon, and prescribed for general adoption throughout Ireland. The Code was generally also followed in England and on the Continent with some slight variations. In America, the principal rules were followed, although occasionally there were some glaring deviations.

Rule 1. The first offense requires the first apology, though the retort may have been more offensive than the insult. Example: A tells B he is impertinent, etc. B retorts that he lies; yet A must make the first apology because he gave the first offense, and then (after one fire) B may explain away the retort by a subsequent apology.
Rule 2. But if the parties would rather fight on, then after two shots each (but in no case before), B may explain first, and A apologize afterward.
N.B. The above rules apply to all cases of offenses in retort not of stronger class than the example.
Rule 3. If a doubt exist who gave the first offense, the decision rests with the seconds; if they won't decide, or can't agree, the matter must proceed to two shots, or to a hit, if the challenger require it.
Rule 4. When the lie direct is the first offense, the aggressor must either beg pardon in express terms; exchange two shots previous to apology; or three shots followed up by explanation; or fire on till a severe hit be received by one party or the other.
Rule 5. As a blow is strictly prohibited under any circumstances among gentlemen, no verbal apology can be received for such an insult. The alternatives, therefore -- the offender handing a cane to the injured party, to be used on his own back, at the same time begging pardon; firing on until one or both are disabled; or exchanging three shots, and then asking pardon without proffer of the cane. If swords are used, the parties engage until one is well blooded, disabled, or disarmed; or until, after receiving a wound, and blood being drawn, the aggressor begs pardon.
N.B. A disarm is considered the same as a disable. The disarmer may (strictly) break his adversary's sword; but if it be the challenger who is disarmed, it is considered as ungenerous to do so.
In the case the challenged be disarmed and refuses to ask pardon or atone, he must not be killed, as formerly; but the challenger may lay his own sword on the aggressor's shoulder, then break the aggressor's sword and say, "I spare your life!" The challenged can never revive the quarrel -- the challenger may.
Rule 6. If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the two greatest offenses), no reconciliation can take place till after two discharges each, or a severe hit; after which B may beg A's pardon humbly for the blow and then A may explain simply for the lie; because a blow is never allowable, and the offense of the lie, therefore, merges in it. (See preceding rules.)
N.B. Challenges for undivulged causes may be reconciled on the ground, after one shot. An explanation or the slightest hit should be sufficient in such cases, because no personal offense transpired.
Rule 7. But no apology can be received, in any case, after the parties have actually taken ground, without exchange of fires.
Rule 8. In the above case, no challenger is obliged to divulge his cause of challenge (if private) unless required by the challenged so to do before their meeting.
Rule 9. All imputations of cheating at play, races, etc., to be considered equivalent to a blow; but may be reconciled after one shot, on admitting their falsehood and begging pardon publicly.
Rule 10. Any insult to a lady under a gentleman's care or protection to be considered as, by one degree, a greater offense than if given to the gentleman personally, and to be regulated accordingly.
Rule 11. Offenses originating or accruing from the support of ladies' reputations, to be considered as less unjustifiable than any others of the same class, and as admitting of slighter apologies by the aggressor: this to be determined by the circumstances of the case, but always favorable to the lady.
Rule 12. In simple, unpremeditated recontres with the smallsword, or couteau de chasse, the rule is -- first draw, first sheath, unless blood is drawn; then both sheath, and proceed to investigation.
Rule 13. No dumb shooting or firing in the air is admissible in any case. The challenger ought not to have challenged without receiving offense; and the challenged ought, if he gave offense, to have made an apology before he came on the ground; therefore, children's play must be dishonorable on one side or the other, and is accordingly prohibited.
Rule 14. Seconds to be of equal rank in society with the principals they attend, inasmuch as a second may either choose or chance to become a principal, and equality is indispensible.
Rule 15. Challenges are never to be delivered at night, unless the party to be challenged intend leaving the place of offense before morning; for it is desirable to avoid all hot-headed proceedings.
Rule 16. The challenged has the right to choose his own weapon, unless the challenger gives his honor he is no swordsman; after which, however, he can decline any second species of weapon proposed by the challenged.
Rule 17. The challenged chooses his ground; the challenger chooses his distance; the seconds fix the time and terms of firing.
Rule 18. The seconds load in presence of each other, unless they give their mutual honors they have charged smooth and single, which should be held sufficient.
Rule 19. Firing may be regulated -- first by signal; secondly, by word of command; or thirdly, at pleasure -- as may be agreeable to the parties. In the latter case, the parties may fire at their reasonable leisure, but second presents and rests are strictly prohibited.
Rule 20. In all cases a miss-fire is equivalent to a shot, and a snap or non-cock is to be considered as a miss-fire.
Rule 21. Seconds are bound to attempt a reconciliation before the meeting takes place, or after sufficient firing or hits, as specified.
Rule 22. Any wound sufficient to agitate the nerves and necessarily make the hand shake, must end the business for that day.
Rule 23. If the cause of the meeting be of such a nature that no apology or explanation can or will be received, the challenged takes his ground, and calls on the challenger to proceed as he chooses; in such cases, firing at pleasure is the usual practice, but may be varied by agreement.
Rule 24. In slight cases, the second hands his principal but one pistol; but in gross cases, two, holding another case ready charged in reserve.
Rule 25. Where seconds disagree, and resolve to exchange shots themselves, it must be at the same time and at right angles with their principals, thus:If with swords, side by side, with five paces interval.
N.B. All matters and doubts not herein mentioned will be explained and cleared up by application to the committee, who meet alternately at Clonmel and Galway, at the quarter sessions, for that purpose.
Crow Ryan, president, James Keough and Amby Bodkin, secretaries.

ADDITIONAL GALWAY ARTICLES
Rule 1. No party can be allowed to bend his knee or cover his side with his left hand, but may present at any level from the hip to the eye.
Rule 2. None can either advance or retreat, if the ground be measured. If no ground be measured, either party may advance at his pleasure, even to touch muzzle; but neither can advance on his adversary after the fire, unless the adversary steps forward on him.
N.B. The seconds on both sides stand responsible for this last rule being strictly observed; bad cases having accrued from neglecting of it.

The Irish Code Duello was followed to the letter by most gentlemen duelists of the Emerald Isle, but was often altered to suit the notions of contestants in England, Europe, and America. For example: although the Clonmel rules specify that the challenger is to choose the distance, it was the challenged, Bainbridge, who was given the privilege. It will be recalled that it was Stephen Decatur who insisted on the murderous distance of four paces when he acted as the second for Bainbridge in his duel with James Cochran at Malta.

I guess the hard part would be to get the duelists from Florida and Michigan to follow the rules so their duels would count!

And how to deal with that bad patron

Once again, I am a bad person

22,000 inocent people are killed in Myanmar, but does my heart go out to them? No. All I care about is the fact that the typhoon wiped out huge areas of rice production. Now, food prices will go up yet again. Honestly, I am starting to worry about the future; things like this tend to start revolutions. And, with one notable exception, revolutions kill more people than they help. First, a revolution kills the "oppressors," then those opposed to it. Then it turns on itself, and the real killing begins. Oh, and the bystanders. It kills them, too.

Worst. Patron. Ever.

And you thought you had bad patrons at your library...

Parasites from Mexico

So it isn't just the illegals who are parasites.