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| New This Week for October 30, 2008 |
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This Week Whew -- we're back just in time to display our new Halloween and election finds. Bon appetit, Happy Halloween, and VOTE from librarians Charlotte, Jennifer, Maria, and Wendy. Tip of the Week After three weeks away from the database we're itching to catch up on weeding out the lost and the lorn. If you find any dead or otherwise unhappy links, please let us know via the contact form. |
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Arts and Humanities
5th of November in Boston
"This online exhibit collects recollections and rare images to explore a forgotten facet of Boston's religious and political history. In Britain that holiday was 'Guy Fawkes' Day,' but New Englanders called it Pope's Day or 'Pope-Night'"; in the 18th century, Bostonian "5th of November processions became closely linked to the town's protests against Parliamentary taxes." Includes background about Guy Fawkes' Day, Boston celebrations, and the end of a tradition. From the Bostonian Society.
URL: http://display.5thofnovember.us/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24928
Anoka, Halloween Capital of the World: History
Brief historical material about Halloween in Anoka, Minnesota, which "is believed to be the first city in the United States to put on a Halloween celebration to divert its youngsters from Halloween pranks." Includes historical photos and an image of the "Anoka The Halloween Capital" insignia embedded in the sidewalk in downtown Anoka. From a website promoting Halloween events in Anoka.
URL: http://www.anokahalloween.com/history.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26875
Bedecked, Bedazzled & Bejeweled: Costume Ornamentation at New York City Ballet
Online exhibit and accompanying article about New York City Ballet costumes. "In photographs, the costumes bloom with a fierce poetry, products of wild imagination and painstaking industry. The tutus and tiaras, the grand gowns and flirty skirts, the formal men's jackets and dapper vests worn by generations of New York City Ballet dancers can now be viewed here." View images highlighting details of ballet costumes. From the New York City Ballet.
URL: http://www.nycballet.com/researchers/archive/bedecked.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26702
Europa Film Treasures
Watch hundreds of the treasures of European cinematographic heritage online. "All genres and time periods are on the playbill! From comedy to science fiction, from westerns to animation, from erotic to ethnological movies." Also includes background about each film. Available in several languages. As the site notes, users may experience viewing difficulties due to high traffic. Developed by a film restoration company "in collaboration with the legal successors (when they have been identified) and depositories."
URL: http://www.europafilmtreasures.eu/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26660
The Goody Parsons Witchcraft Case: A Journey to 17th Century Northampton
"Mary Parsons is perhaps the most infamous resident of Northampton's early settlement period. She was involved in witchcraft-related trials in 1656 and 1674, and possibly again in 1679. Her story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the workings of the Puritan mind and the complicated social and cultural situation of the period." Includes material about the trial, witchcraft, and related topics. From the Center for Computer-Based Instructional Technology (CCBIT), University of Massachusetts.
URL: http://ccbit.cs.umass.edu/parsons/hnmockup/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25806
Pieces of a Puzzle: Classical Persian Carpet Fragments
Examples of fragments of 16th and 17th century Persian rugs, including "three principal surviving fragments of one spectacular 16th-century Khorasan rug [which] are reunited in this exhibition. ... These pieces also fit together like a puzzle, allowing us to glimpse the grand scale of the original carpet." Includes an overview of the Khorasan region (in modern Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan), diagrams of rug knotting techniques, and images of carpet fragments. From the Textile Museum.
URL: http://www.textilemuseum.org/pieces/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24239
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize
Website for this competition inaugurated in 2008 that presents prizes for "The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under" and "The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen." Includes lists of nominated books, an article about the science of humor, and links to site about author Roald Dahl. From Booktrust, a British organization "that encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading."
URL: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/show/feature/Home/Funny-Prize
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26987
Business
Failed Bank List
"This page contains useful information for the customers and vendors of these [failed] banks. This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership. This list includes banks which have failed since October 1, 2000." Banks listed include Washington Mutual and IndyMac. From the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
URL: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26988
Government
The 2008 Electopedia
"A guide to (almost) everything there is to know about presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, from the important issues (Best Speech) to the really important issues (Hairstyle)." News and opinion on topics such as "most embarrassing gaffe," "most amusing YouTube video," and pets. From New York Magazine.
URL: http://nymag.com/news/politics/2008/electopedia/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27034
Ballot Measure Database
Database of state ballot measures, covering the current election and selected elections back to the early 1900s. Search by state, topic area, date, and election type (general, primary, or special). Entries include ballot number, title, status, and summary, when available. From the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
URL: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/dbintro.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26700
Ballotpedia
"Ballotpedia is a free, collaborative, online encyclopedia. It focuses on ballots, ballot measures, ballot access for initiatives and candidates, petition drives, the supporters and opponents of initiatives and, in general, all things ballot. Ballotpedia is a wiki, which means that anyone -- including you right now -- can edit." Includes news and a page for each state, with current and historical material. Sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance.
URL: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26699
The Choice 2008
Companion website for this PBS Frontline program that examines "the rich personal and political biographies" of John McCain and Barack Obama. Watch the full program, view slide shows for each candidate, and read interviews with journalists, advisors and aides, and friends of the candidates. Also includes a producer Q&A, classroom guide, readings and links, discussion, and more.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/choice2008/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26543
The U.S. Naturalization Test
Material about the testing for becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. As of October 1, 2008, a new naturalization test covering English vocabulary and U.S. history and government ("civics") will be used. Includes information about which test will be administered (depending on timing of filing forms), exemptions, and links to sample test questions. From the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
URL: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27023
United States Citizenship Resources
"Multilingual guides, exam practice questions and community resources" for the new U.S. citizenship exam (starting October 2008). Includes material in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Russian on topics such as organizations that can help with citizenship, English as a Second Language (ESL) providers, and the naturalization process. From the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL).
URL: http://sfpl.org/citizenship/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27032
Home & Housing
10 Recipes for a Howling Good Gluten Free Halloween Party
This collection of gluten-free recipes features caramel apples, deviled "ghoul" eggs, "boneyard BBQ drummies," and "ghost-topped" mini-brownie cupcakes. Also includes recipes that could be used for Halloween or other holiday parties, such as gluten-free caramel corn and snack mix. From About.com.
URL: http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/glutenfreekids/tp/glutenfreehall...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27030
Halloween Pumpkin Carving Templates
Tips and instructions for jack-o-lantern carving and pumpkin selection. Features material on how to carve a fancy pumpkin, paint a pumpkin, decorate a pumpkin with flowers or vegetables, and printable pumpkin carving patterns and monogram templates. From eHow.
URL: http://www.ehow.com/halloween/templates.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27033
Punny Costumes
"Punny Costumes are easy-to-make, no-sew, Halloween costumes based on word plays. Rather than elicit shrieks and screams from fear, they'll elicit moans and groans from bad puns. Here are directions to make 24 Punny Halloween Costumes." Suggested costumes include "Behind the Times," "Dressed to the Nines," and "Face the Music."
URL: http://www.bonnieneubauer.com/costumes.shtml
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26885
Vintage Poison Labels
"These are vintage (some modified) Poison labels. Feel free to print them out -- in color if you can -- and use them on old bottles or jars" and use them for your Halloween party. Also includes links to galleries of other Halloween-themed collections (such as Halloween patents and treat bags). From an enthusiast.
URL: http://www.spookshows.com/poison/poison.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26888
Recreation
PBS Kids: Halloween
Collection of links to Halloween-related activities and content for children, such as a card creator, coloring pages, spooky sounds music maker, games, and write-your-own stories. From PBS Kids.
URL: http://pbskids.org/halloween/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26877
Regional: California
California Ballot Endorsements: November 4, 2008 General Election
Table showing organization endorsements for California November 2008 ballot propositions. "For in-depth analysis, click proposition number to see IGS Library Hot Topic pages on each initiative." From the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) Library, University of California, Berkeley.
URL: http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/hot_topics/2008/Nov2008Election/endors...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26944
Regions of the World
Not Just Halloween: Festivals of the Dead From Around the World
This classroom feature "can be used as a framework for discussing with your students Festivals of the Dead in their manifestations across different cultures." It features discussion of and links to websites on Halloween's origins in the Celtic festival of the dead (Samhain), Japan's Festival of Lanterns (Obon), Mexico's Days of the Dead (Los Dias de los Muertos), and more. From EDSITEment, a website of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
URL: http://edsitement.neh.gov/monthly_feature.asp?id=116
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26876
Society & Social Science
Polling Place Photo Project
"The Polling Place Photo Project is a nationwide experiment in citizen journalism that encourages voters to capture, post and share photographs of this year’s [2008's] primaries, caucuses and general election. By documenting local voting experiences, participants can contribute to an archive of photographs that captures the richness and complexity of voting in America." As of October 2008, also view photos from general election early voting. From The New York Times.
URL: http://pollingplaces.nytimes.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26834
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Thanks for reading LII New This Week!
Jennifer English, Liaison to Califa Library Group
Wendy Hyman, Senior Editor
Maria Brandt, Associate Editor
Charlotte Bagby, Senior Weeder
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