anybody make any new year’s resolutions for 2010? I haven’t even had time to think about it, really. I always think I am going to get more exercise, get more organized at work, and really focus on a hobby, like playing the guitar or learning how to speak Irish. I definitely want to do some traveling this year – but I think that every year! What about you? Got something specific in mind? College plans, a new job, a bad habit you want to kick? Maybe the Library can help. Might sound weird, but we have tons of books, databases and videos that can help you dream big and learn something new. If you feel like it, tell us what your new year’s resolutions are here. Have a great 2010.
Archive for Uncategorized
Christmas Cheese?
No, I mean those wonderfully cheesy movies we watch over and over again until they become classics. At least, I think Scrooged is a classic by now: Bill Murry as Scrooge? What’s not to love? No other holiday captures Hollywood’s imagination like Christmas. Sure, there’s Easter Parade and Pieces of April (Katie Holmes before she married TC), but the silver screen LOOOVES Christmas.
Do you have a favorite holiday flick? Each decade seems to have one, but they don’t seem to become “classics” until they’re at least ten years old, so I’m not up on the current favorites. Although I did watch Twelve Men of Christmas on Lifetime last weekend – I love Kristin Chenoweth. Here’s my guess at the best of the last six decades of holiday movie madness:
Forties: Christmas in Connecticut (a little like Julie and Julia, but during the war) and of course, It’s a Wonderful Life (occasionally sappy, but Jimmy Stewart remains charming).
Fifties: White Christmas (Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen snap, crackle and pop.
Sixties: A Charlie Brown Christmas (can you believe it’s that old?) and The Grinch.
Seventies: frankly, I couldn’t find anything good. Lots of lame TV movies and bad animation. Can you think of anything?
Eighties: A Christmas Story (Ralphie dreams of a BB gun)
Nineties: Home Alone (of course) and Miracle on 34th Street (an excellent remake with adorable Mara Wilson)
Aughts: Elf . . . and what else?
Tell me what you’re watching these frosty evenings!
Generation Z
The major marketing research company, Nielson, has this (and more!) to say about you teens.
It says that radio is the top source of music consumption for 16% of teens globally and the secondary source for another 21%. Hmmm – what does that mean?
37% of teens in the WORLD listen to radio sometimes? 37% doesn’t seem like much. But what about you?
Especially, you students related to the well organized high school radio station WMTH.
Do you listen to radio stations online, or through the airwaves? What about WMTH? Word has it that the station just had its 50th anniversary celebration.
So somebody’s listening. Is it you?
Need a Twilight Fix?
The young woman who approached the desk looked like she needed a fix. Whether a book, DVD or CD fix I couldn’t tell, but perhaps I should have guessed from the look in her eyes that she needed a Twilight fix.
There’s a lot of that going around. And hope springs eternal–at least in this young woman’s eyes–for she wanted to know if we had the New Moon movie, which opens in theaters on Friday, November 20th.
Curious about the release date of New Moon on DVD, I checked Internet Movie Database, Amazon, and a few other websites, but alas, the DVD release date is still cloaked in darkness. (I did learn that there’s a New Moon musical jewelry box and a New Moon wallet, however. Who knew!!)
So what’s a Twilight fan in need of a fix to do?
If you’ve already devoured the books, check out the soundtrack to Twilight and/or put a hold on the soundtrack to New Moon, which is on order. The Twilight soundtrack includes music by Muse, Paramore, and yes, Rob Pattinson! New Moon features the music of Death Cab for Cutie, Thom Yorke and many others.
Also, if you don’t mind a bite-sized Stephenie Meyer fix, check out the anthology Prom Nights from Hell, which includes the Stephenie Meyer short story “Hell on Earth,” in which “a prom is nearly destroyed by warring biblical demons; then dreamy half-angel Gabe comes to the rescue.” The other prom nights in the anthology are “surreal, scary, and often populated with monsters and zombies” (Booklist).
If you’ve read all the Stephenie Meyer books and you’d like to find some titles in a similar vein, check out this list and/or stop by the Readers’ Services desk on the 3rd floor for other suggestions.
Hate Twilight? Stop by the Readers’ Services desk anyway and we’ll try to find something more to your liking!
Little Words Make Me Think, You?
A book of memoirs came out last year – a very short book of memoirs. In fact, each writer had to write his or her life story in six words. Since I tend to be, well, rather verbose, this was a daunting challenge but I came up with the following:
Ballerina dreams, bad feet, library school
Or
The last kiss always a doozy.
Or
D.O.B. , B.A. Mrs., M.L.S., I.R.A., R.I.P.
Okay you twitterers… let’s see some short memoir!
Blog of….Apathy?
Writing a blog takes time, energy, dedication….it’s hard work! Coming up with a topic can be a real challenge sometimes. So let’s hear it teens of Des Plaines. This is YOUR blog! What do you want to read about? Music, tv, books, programs, games? Or better yet- if you’re a teen DPPL TAB member you can write for the blog.
So comment away! What do you want to see here? And if you’re interested in writing short posts just email me: tab AT dppl.org
Teen Read Week a mere week away!
Starting on October 18, the entire world past, present and future celebrates the teen book. What is your favorite teen book of all time? I have two favorites and coincidentally, people tried to ban both! The first is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The narrator Holden Caulfield sets the standard for all the confusion every teen who is ever walked this planet experiences day after day. (Holden’s favorite word? – phony)
The second book is The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. How can teens be so cruel to one another? How can authority be so injust?
So what’s your favorite teen book? It can be a book written specifically for teenagers or a book about a teenager. (A Catcher in the Rye, for example, is also an adult book but since it’s main character is a teen, it qualifies.)
Are you a fan of fanfic?
Have you ever written a story based on a character from one of your favorite books, TV shows or movies? Created an alternate reality or history for that character? Wanted to read what other fans have imagined happened after the story ended? Then check out these sites highlighted in the featured article “When Harry Met Bella” from the August 2009 issue of School Library Journal:
The article also pointed out some dos and don’ts when writing fanfic.
- Do use the same standards when writing fanfic that you do when writing anything else. Use good grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
- Do edit your story before submitting it. Ask a friend to proofread it for you.
- Don’t send your fanfic to the author.
Have you written any fanfic? Was it posted? Do you have a favorite place to read stories by other fans? Have other tips for teens interested in writing fanfic? Share what you know.
Teens’ Top Ten – your chance to vote
Voice your choice, vote for your favorite books in the Teens' Top Ten
The American Library Association wants to know what you – yes, you – considered the best books of the last year. It’s easy, just click the picture on the right and vote, or, use the link that follows: Teens’ Top Ten Survey
The Teens’ Top Ten for 2009 will be announced after voting is complete on September 18, 2009, so hurry up and make your opinions known. If you don’t vote, you can’t gripe if you don’t like the winners…
