Cauli Le Chat

Cauli Le Chat
Cauli Le Chat, MPL Feline Roving Reporter

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Just Roll With It, Pumpkin

In this week's early literacy video blog (vlog), Crafty Gal was sans Sammy the Toucan or any puppet replacement.  But her Pumpkin Friend dropped by to visit.  Well, more like rolled by.

Miss Michelle @ MPL:  Early Literacy Vlog
Halloween Fun Episode
Guest Star: Pumpkin Friend

Happily, Pumpkin won't be a permanent replacement for Sammy.  We're planning on further puppet interviews.  Maybe Cap'n Arrrrrgyle will make a comeback!  Not if we're lucky.

That ghost you made looked fairly scary to moi, Crafty Gal.  So did the pumpkin in that book.  Great Halloween reading for youngsters, I'd venture.  Kid people love to be scared!

Frankly, I couldn't understand a word Pumpkin said.  Sounded like a slobberdog toy squeaking to moi.

A little winged dinner told this feline roving reporter that next in the puppet interview line was a cow.  Go bovine, moo or less.  (What a terrible pun!)

If you'd like less roll in your pumpkins, we have a version of the video for that.

Miss Michelle @ MPL:  Early Literacy Vlog
Halloween Fun Episode (Minus Rolling Pumpkin)


Pull Out That Squeaker, Somebody (or Some Slobberdog),

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Early Literacy News Beat


P.S.  Speaking of rolling, Steve Winwood released "Roll With It" as a smash single and an album (1988).  Could be Pumpkin Friend's theme song.  Just saying.


P.P.S.  "Roll With the Flow" is both a slogan and a philosophy, which is precisely what Michael Nesmith intended when he wrote this California-lifestyle tune.  The song finished side two of his solo LP entitled And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' (1972).  Papa Nez was being ironic with the album title.  He had some solo single and album hits, but nothing compared to the glory days with the Monkees.  He did, however, invent MTV, and his mother invented Liquid Paper.  True story.  You can look it up.


P.P.P.S.  The Smashing Pumpkins had some big hits, like "1979," from the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1996), which is reminiscent of some of Michael Nesmith's solo album titles [e.g., Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma (1979)].  Hey, Infinite Rider was released in 1979! Coincidence?  Could be a conspiracy!  Or not.

Millions (Billions?) Scared by This Horror Duo

Millions (possibly billions) of readers have been plenty scared by this horror duo.  We're talking Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer.  (Okay, Stephenie Meyer is more of a vampire romance writer, but there are scary bits in the Twilight series.)  I suppose we could have been referring to Savvy and Programma Mama, but I'm guessing their audience hasn't reached millions.  Yet.

MEG-A-RAE #13
A Very VERY Special Halloween Episode
by Miss Rachel & Miss Meghan
 (Savvy & Programma Mama)


Be sure to watch all the way to the end of the video.  You won't want to miss it.  Not scary, as such.  Pretty funny, though.


Nice Witch's Hat, Programma Mama,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Video Blog News Beat


P.S.  It wouldn't be Halloween without "Werewolves of London," by Warren Zevon, from the LP Excitable Boy (1978).

Monday, October 29, 2012

Which Cemetery Did You Visit?

Yesterday (October 28) was Visit a Cemetery Day.  Sorry I missed it. Which cemetery did you visit?  Well, if I'd paid closer attention, I'd have visited a local cemetery I used to walk through on my way to various fine dining establishments in Mooresville, Indiana. Can you guess which one? Cemetery, not fine dining establishment.  Let's keep those two ideas completely separate, shall we?

Did you guess yet?  Come on, already!

Okay, here's the answer.  You'll have to read one of Scowl-Face's blog posts, which is asking an awful lot of my readers, but there's no getting around it.  Well, you could just watch these local history videos my Library has created.  Or just read this handout.





Lots of famous Mooresvillians are buried in the Old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Cemetery.  Perhaps we should drop by sometime and pay our respects, even if we didn't yesterday (who knew?  Just saying).  Flowers are nice, but I'm thinking just a few silent moments of reflection would be fine.


Visit a Cemetery on Halloween Night For Fun,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Holiday News Beat


P.S.  "Cemeteries of London," by Coldplay, appeared on the CD Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008).  Some reviewers said this album seemed darker than Coldplay's earlier work, but I'd just say that it's thought-provoking, like much of Coldplay's other songs.

What Everyday Should Be Called

October 29 (today, I'm thinking) is National Cat Day.  Shout-outs to Sparkle the Designer Cat, whose keen nose for news alerts the world to all things feline.  Well, it takes a celebrity to know these things, and Sparkle is a worldwide phenomenon.

Celebrate this most important of all holidays by treating your favorite feline to something special.  We all know what I'd like.  Name brands only, if you please.  In oil, not water.  Shaken, not stirred.  (Wait--That's James Bond's line.)

Strangely, my Library has no videos honoring National Cat Day.  (Minions, make it so.)  But there are plenty available on YouTube.




A Great Day For Us Cats,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Feline Holiday News Beat


P.S.  Since I'm sort of a library cat, on this special day I'd like to pay homage to the late Dewey Readmore Books, the world's most famous library feline.



Thursday, October 25, 2012

Casey Returns to Bat for MPL

Remember Casey at the BatShe interned at MPL during summer 2011 in our youth services department.  Then she became one of our circulation teamsters and served as seniors outreach coordinator.  She even had photo ops in the local newspaper while conducting children's outreach programming.  In spring, 2012, Casey left MPL to become children's librarian at Brownsburg (Indiana) Public Library.

Now Casey returns to bat for MPL.  She has accepted the position as MPL youth services director, replacing Broadway Gal.

Library life goes full circle.  Welcome back, Casey!  Now knock a few out of the park.

Let's reprise that local newspaper photo op from November 2011:
   



Good to See Casey Playing Again For Our Home Team,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Staff News Beat


P.S.  In keeping with the baseball analogy, here's "Warm Fuzzy Feeling," by Fastball, from the CD All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998).  There's a line in the lyrics about "waiting for you to hit one out of the park."  Seems especially appropriate, since the 2012 World Series is now underway.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

No Pancakes For Moi

In this week’s episode of MEG-A-RAE, the Library’s readers’ advisory video blog (vlog), Programma Mama and Savvy discuss books about ghosts.  Sorry–no pancakes for moi.  Observe that the MPL Indiana Roving Reporter Room apparently now has a clumsy poltergeist.

 MEG-A-RAE Episode #12
A Very Special Pancake Ghostly Episode

Now, if the pancakes were tuna-flavored, I'd be on board in a heartbeat.



Better Polish the Top of That Book Shelf, Technigal -- Just Saying,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Readers' Advisory News Beat

P.S.  Want a 1920s-style song about making pancakes?  Sure you do.  Campbell and Monson have got you covered with "1920's Music Style About 'How to Prepare Flossy and Fluffy Pancakes'" (2012).  (It's a Vimeo video, so you'll have to click this hyperlink to watch.)


Monday, October 22, 2012

Avast, Moi Swabbies, Hoist the Jolly Roger!

Once again, your feline roving reporter has scooped all the other news outlets by posting this week's puppet interviews for Crafty Gal's early literacy blog.  Puppet candidate #3 is (say it with moi using your best pirate voice) Cap'n Arrrrrgyle the Pirate.

Crafty Gal interviews puppet candidate #3
Cap'n Arrrrrgyle the Pirate

Sammy the Toucan interviews the good captain, too

Now that all three puppet candidates' videos have been posted on the MPL YouTube Channel, be sure to cast your vote to choose Sammy the Toucan's replacement as Crafty Gal's early literacy sidekick.  Let's review the particulars in our promo trailer (below).

MPL Promo Trailer:  Puppet Interviews
(with instructions how to cast your vote)

Need to review the interviews with Doctor Hooticus Maximus and Bippidy Bag?  Can do.

Doctor Hooticus (Whoticus?) Maximus Interviews:



Bippidy Bag Interviews:



Want to watch all three Sammygrams interviews in a single video?  I can do that, too.



Cast your vote NOW! by sending a message online to my Library.  Vote for ONE of the following:

1)  Professor Hooticus Maximus, Ph.D.
2)  Bippidy Bag
3)  Cap'n Arrrrrgyle the Pirate
4)  Dude, you need to interview more puppet candidates.
5)  Cauliette

Okay, I added Cauliette without asking permission from Crafty Gal or Boss Lady.  But I promised!  All right. Cauliette is not an official candidate.  But the other four choices are on the ballot.



We Await the Will of the Patrons,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Puppet Election News Beat

P.S.  Talking about candidates and elections reminded moi of "Center of Attention," by Guster, from the CD Lost and Gone Forever (1999).  Most candidates act like they are (or should be) the center of everyone's attention.  But that's totally bogus.  I should be the center of universal attention.  'Nuff said.



Our Secret Sunday Sojourn to McCormick's Creek

When the Lady With the Red Hair was just a wee lass, her father would pile everyone into the family station wagon and set out on a secret journey to explore somewhere in central Indiana.  Only her dad knew the ultimate destination, and the rest of the family would have to wait until they arrived to find out where they were headed.  He called these the family's "secret Sunday sojourns."

In keeping with this tradition, Kindly Couple rounded each other up (their kids are now adults and have actual lives), jumped into the family junker, and hot-rodded to destinations unknown (even to them) on their version of a "secret Sunday sojourn."  Driving aimlessly is their trademark.  I was invited, naturally, but there was some question about whether or not I could sneak into whatever restaurant they would undoubtedly stop at, so I politely declined.  Then I stowed away in the back seat.  I'm not missing fine dining, let moi tell you.

Click Images to Bigify

After about 45 minutes of hapless driving, we pulled into McCormick's Creek State Park, just a few miles east of Spencer, Indiana.  Did you know that this was Indiana's first state park?  So they say at the state Department of Natural Resources.  We stopped at the Canyon Inn for lunch.  "Pets" not being allowed into the restaurant (adding insult to injury, I'm denied food AND am saddled with an offensive moniker), I had to sneak around to the back where "kitchen waste" was discarded into various dumpsters.  Being a pro at dumpster diving, I was all set for some tasty cuisine.  Humans throw away perfectly good food in enormous quantities.

Canyon Inn at McCormick's Creek State Park

Take a moment to watch the video on the state's Canyon Inn web page.  It does a much better job than I can in describing its amenities.

Apparently, there were some delicious fried winged dinners on the buffet, because (A) I discovered a TON of chicken bones (still plenty of meat left over) in the aforementioned dumpsters, and (B) I could smell chicken on Kindly Couple's collective breaths.  (Also mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, lettuce [etc.] from salads, heavily buttered dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, possibly peas, and some sort of sweet confectionery desserts.  As a feline, I have a superb sense of smell.)

After stuffing themselves (and moiself) with a delicious meal, we set out for some much-needed exercise (just look at Scowl-Face).  The park is a wonderland of natural splendors in which visitors may leisurely bask. Make with the basking, minions!

First, we walked a short trail to warm our walking muscles.

The Lady With the Red Hair and I
strolling along a trail (well, I'm sitting)

There was plenty of time to sit, waiting for my minions to huff-and-puff up and down those hills along the trails.  You can see that the hiking took its toll.

Scowl-Face after just a few minutes of hiking the first trail

Just kidding.  He was doing fine.

C'mon, Scowlly.  Those legs don't walk themselves

The Lady With the Red Hair looking refreshed
after tackling the first trail

Time to undertake tougher trails, I'd wager.  We drove over to the McCormick's Creek falls, which were rather light on the falling water. Given the terrible drought we endured this past summer, it was nice to see any flowing water.  We felines prefer drinking from moving water sources.  It stays fresher that way.  Just saying.

The canyon near the falls was quite steep, and so climbing down was somewhat treacherous.  The state DNR helpfully posted warning signs for visitors to exercise caution.

Oh, for crying out loud!

Why am I not surprised?

We made it down to the observation areas to take some photos.

On a drought-fortified sandbar in McCormick's Creek

Water levels in the creek were a tad low
(still quite beautiful, however)

 McCormick's Creek Falls

 Let's try an "artsy shot"

Zoom lens appears to work

Sadly, we did not have my Library's fine digital camera on our excursion. Kindly Couple's digital Kodak was satisfactory, but one gets spoiled with those really good cameras.

On one of the stone outcroppings near the falls, there was a nature spirit's face in the living rock.  (Rocks are alive.  Everything is alive.)  Can you see it?  There are eyes, nose, and a round mouth.  Keep looking.

 Nature Spirit's face in the living rock

The Lady With the Red Hair's face
also in a rock formation

That last rock formation was unusually symmetrical.  That hole is perfectly square.  It looks like a window!  Nature does some amazing work.

We drove around in circles along the roads through the park, primarily because Scowl-Face doesn't pay attention to signs or directions or compass points or maps.  In fact, we had no map of the park.  Great planning, dudes. With these two, navigation by "dead" (actually, ded, i.e., deduced) reckoning is an adventure in itself.

We completed our adventure just in time for din-dins.  Timing is everything.



Pass the Winged Dinner Leftovers, If You Please,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Sojourn News Beat


P.S.  If I remember correctly, "You and Me" opened side two of the Moody Blues album, Seventh Sojourn (1972).  What a great band.  Kindly Couple once chased the group's limo after a concert back in the 1980s. True story.  Justin Hayward waved to them as the limo turned (and they drove past).  It might have been John Lodge.  Those limo windows were darkly tinted.



P.P.S.  My Library has a couple book trailers for titles about nature spirits and other elemental beings.  Want to watch?  Sure you do.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Two Hundred is Truly Grand

Sometime today, our videos on the MPL YouTube Channel passed 200,000 viewings.


Out of our current 342 uploaded videos, which one was the median?  That would be video #171.  It happens to be a book trailer (made by one of our patrons and volunteers) for a mystery novel, and my Library just held its mystery dinners yesterday and the day before.  Coincidence?  There's no such thing in my experience, said Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Well, he said something like that in Star Wars Episode IV, which, as everybody surely knows, was the first movie in the series (1977).

MPL Patron Book Trailer #2
Murder Past Due, by Miranda James

We're pleased that so many viewers have taken the time to watch our videos.  Not bad for a project that began less than three years ago with the thought of making perhaps one or two book trailers as a lark (or some kind of winged dinner).



Wish It Were Two Hundred Thousand Cans of Tuna-in-Oil,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Video News Beat


P.S.  In honor of our recent visit to see Tober, the Thorntown Public Library Boss Cat, we made a special promo trailer, but Tober was also included in our book trailer for one of the Dewey the Library Cat children's books.  Watch for Tober at the start of our worldwide tribute to library felines everywhere.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Celebrating Finding Day With Tober

Yesterday (Friday, October 19) was Tober's Finding Day, and it was indeed a day to celebrate his becoming Boss Cat at Thorntown Public Library.  It was also cold and rainy, neither of which is acceptable weather to moi, so I decided to remain indoors at one of my several "homes" in my Library's neighborhood.  (Unlike Tober, I am still officially cattona non grata inside my Library.)  So I dispatched my senior minions to Thorntown, neatly nestled in Boone County, Indiana.  (The town is nestled, not my minions.  No nestling on the clock, minions!  Relax on your own time!) 

We have pictures, naturally.  Some of them were even in focus (Scowl-Face is slightly improving as MPL photographer).  But before we take a look at those, I'd like to showcase my contribution to Tober's happy day:  a promo trailer featuring the fine feline fellow in all his mancatliness.

Promo Trailer Celebrating Tober's Finding Day
(October 19, 2008)
A Cauli Le Chat Video

In honor of Tober's Finding Day, The Music Man, who composes all of my Library's original musical soundtracks for videos, has declared the compositions used in the promo trailer to be ceremonially re-titled Tober's Theme.  Well, since there are two compositions featured, it should probably be plural.  Just saying.

A great big shout-out thank you to Thorntown Public Library for having posted all those great photos of Tober online.  (I would have had one of my minions ask permission beforehand to use them in the video, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise.  Hope it's okay.  Otherwise, the agency and I disavow all knowledge of the mission impossible team, and . . . well, you know the rest.)

Minions, make with the photos!  As Tober would say, click the images to bigify.

The Lady With the Red Hair
congratulates the Big Man himself
for four years as TPL Boss Cat

Naturally, my minions came bearing gifts.  We fondly remember Tober's n'yum n'yum surprise he and his AB & AABs kindly sent to us along with "Flat" Cauli following her historic library world tour.

AAB Christine and The Lady With the Red Hair
stand prepared to assist Tober in opening his gift treats

We gave Tober some tasty party snacks plus a catnip bag.  Minions reported that he liked them quite nicely.

Then Tober showed a treat of which he is particularly fond.  And get this! It's not even an actual kitty treat!  You'll never guess what it was.

Tober knows those n'yum n'yums
are in here somewhere
(AB Karen and AAB Christine help out a bit)

Kinda sticky, these n'yum n'yums
(AAB Christine records the moment

After downing a few nibbles of these "sticky treats" (his AB and AABs police this consumption quite carefully so bellyaches are avoided), the big fella tried our catnip bag.

T.L.W.T.R.H. is pleased that Tober
appears to enjoy his catnip bag present

For those unfamiliar with Tober's blog, I should explain that AB Karen is his "assistant boss," and AAB Christine is his "assistant assistant boss." There are several AABs at Thorntown Public Library, but there is only ONE boss cat.  That's as it should be.

It's hard to imagine who wouldn't be following Tober's blog.  Don't dillydally!  Click my hyperlinked Tober image near the bottom of my blog. Keep scrolling down until you see it.  You can't miss it.  The handsome dude is easy to spot.

My minions enjoyed visiting Thorntown Public Library and meeting Tober on his special day.  We hope he enjoys many more years as TPL Boss Cat.

Now, if only Boss Lady would allow moi to live inside my Library like Tober lives inside his.  Perhaps Boss Lady could be persuaded if we made a date with a Mister Washington.

A Vintage Year?



Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink, Say No More!  (Apologies to Eric Idle and Monty Python),

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Tober News Beat


P.S.  We tried using just one of The Music Man's original compositions as the music soundtrack to our Tober promo trailer, but we prefer the two-theme version.  To comply with the equal time doctrine (even if it's irrelevant to this scenario; better safe than sorry), here is the alternate soundtrack promo trailer celebrating Tober's Finding Day.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

"It's All About Moi-ow" Sounds Like a Better Title

We have just completed a book trailer featuring the children's book, It's All About ME-ow, by Hudson Talbott.

MPL Book Trailer #164
(Click Image to Play Video)

Perhaps the book title should have been It's All About Moi-ow.  That's how I would have written it.

It is just amazing how much information Talbott packs into his picture books.  You learn a whole bunch of cool stuff without even knowing you're doing it!  Talbott clearly knows a great deal about felines.  His descriptions are both funny and insightful.  The drawings convey nearly as much information as the words.  The illustrations are both cute and true-to-life.

The recommended reading age is 4-8 years, but, frankly, anybody who likes cats, regardless of age, should immensely enjoy this book.  (Misplaced modifier?  Where?  If you can spot it, you get a free pawtographed picture of moi.  Just leave a comment below.)

This is a wonderful book to read-aloud.  It's a great silent-reader, too.  It's just plain wonderful on all accounts!  You should check it out using your Evergreen Indiana card, if you have one.  The book is available in the Evergreen Indiana online catalog.



Love Those Big-Eyed Kittens,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Children's Readers' Advisory News Beat


P.S.  Jimmy Scott included "The Cat Song" on the album Tonight I'll Sing For You (2012), which is available from iTunes.  Here's the song showcased in a sweet video.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

"Flat" Cauli Captures a Friend's Heart

I am not--repeat--NOT going to catch that rattermeece that came out of the hole in the floor in the Library's Grand Hall.  Minions, make with the capturing.  Wait--That's a job for "Flat" Cauli, who needs to redeem herself anyway after that cow-tipping episode.

"Flat" Cauli, cow-tipper
(Click images to bigify)

Okay, "Flat" Cauli.  Here's the plan.  You'll hide near the hole in the floor and wait for the rattermeece to either climb out of, or (if s/he's already out somewhere) to return to, it.  Then--BOOM!--you spring for the capture. Piece of tuna-in-oil, I'd wager.

Something's different about that hole

Let's take a closer look-see, shall we?

That hole's been plugged

Well, that plug will keep the rattermeece from exiting the hole, if s/he's still inside it in the Library basement.  What if the rattermeece is upstairs somewhere?  Take cover!  I'll be hiding in the Indiana Roving Reporter Room.

Shhhhhhh!  The rattermeece is looking
for a way past the plug

Okay, "Flat" Cauli, you know what to do.

Great capture, "Flat" Cauli

"Flat" Cauli has "bagged" herself a rattermeece!  Great work!  Now we need to release the rattermeece into the wild.  Let's transfer him/her to a box.  Don't forget the air-holes.

Careful, or the rattermeece will escape!

Looks like the rattermeece is fascinated by "Flat" Cauli's smile

What's this?!?

Nose-touching between felines (or even felines and other critters) is a universal sign of affection and mutual respect.  What about the predator/prey relationship, "Flat" Cauli?  You can't be good buds with a rattermeece.

Rattermeece and "Flat" Cauli working together
at the MPL Circulation Desk

Apparently, you can.

You know what this means, of course?  We'll have to give this rattermeece a "Cauli" name.  I think Technigal already has a name picked out, however. Let's use that.


Technigal, Make It So,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Critters News Beat


P.S.  "One Brown Mouse," by Jethro Tull, appeared on the LP Heavy Horses (1978).  Who is in that cage, indeed?


P.P.S.  Hey, that rattermeece reminds moi of one of our book trailers.

What Would Your Choice Be?

Magic  brought Leafman (easier to type that way than Leaf Man) to life for a single day.  What would he do with that precious time?  Leafman could have all types of exciting adventures, but instead he chooses to help a little girl in need.

The Adventures of Leaf Man
(a Short Fairy Tale)
by Rebecca Shelley
(MPL Book Trailer #163)

Advertised as "a short bedtime story . . . Now with color illustrations," this is an extremely short tale--25 pages in the Wonder Realms Books edition (2011)--and its target audience of grades 4-6 (ages 9-12) seems a trifle old to moi.  I'm thinking ages 4-8 would be a better fit.

You may peruse a free sample of the book in various  formats by visiting the Smashwords website.  It is also available to download to an Amazon Kindle from Amazon.com.

Some readers who left reviews on websites such as Good Reads and Amazon were obviously not amenable to the story's uplifting message of helping others before indulging one's own personal desires.  I'm not surprised.  People today in Western societies are so narcissistic that the idea of helping others first would be anathema to their world views.  Of course, many of these negative reviewers can't spell or even create complete sentences, so their opinions carry a worth comparable to their efforts demonstrated in writing their critiques.

For moi, I pay no attention to reviewers, either amateur or professional. Felines are smart enough to decide anything for themselves.  People should be, too.  Try reading the free downloadable samples to see if the book's plot interests you or its themes resonate with you.  If not, as famous horror author Stephen King says, wish the writer and the book well and send them on their way to other readers.

I enjoyed the book.  I especially liked the child-like color illustrations, which should help young readers connect with the story.  ("That's how I draw!" I can imagine some youngster saying to her/his grown-up.)

I didn't find the book in our Evergreen Indiana catalog or in the Indiana Digital Library.  Hint, hint, children's library collection developers.


What Would You Do With Your Single Day?  Just Asking,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Children's Readers' Advisory News Beat




P.S.  Two 1960s folk-rock songs talk about brown leaves amongst winter's cold.  "Hazy Shade of Winter," by Simon & Garfunkel, was recorded and first released in 1966 and, then again, on their album Bookends (1968). "California Dreamin'," by the Mamas and the Papas, was recorded and released in 1965, but it may have been written as early as 1963.  Was Paul Simon influenced by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips?  Does it matter? Weren't both songs' lyrics about living in winter in New York City? Anyway, each is a great tune that we've featured before as musical closers on this blog.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Minions, Call the S.W.A.T. Team!

Something suspicious has appeared on my Library's floor in the Grand Hall.  As always, click images to bigify.

Odd That Hole Being There

I wonder if we might have meeses in the Library?

Such a Perfect Circular Hole

The hole is remarkably circular.  Looks like it was cut with a power saw.  I wonder if meeces have gotten their paws on any jigsaws or circular saws that we have in the Library basement?

That hole is eight centimeters (i.e., three inches) in diameter.  That's huge!  This could mean more than meeces.  We could have slitherdarts wintering in our basement.  Really BIG slitherdarts.  We're talking ten feet long (or longer).

I think I'll just sit here for awhile and see what crawls out of this hole.  Minions, ready the camera!

Something's poking its head out!  We'll wait until s/he climbs all the way out to take his/her photo.

That's a Rattermeese!

That's no ordinary meese!  It's a rattermeese!  We need heavily armed back-up!  Minions, call the S.W.A.T. team!!



Not MY Job to Deal With a Rattermeese,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Nocturnal Mammals News Beat



P.S.  Hey, that rattermeese reminds moi of one of our book trailers.

P.P.S.  The theme music to The Three Stooges movie shorts was a variation of "Three Blind Mice."  Classic slapstick humorists, these three.  Watch moi do the Curly shuffle!

P.P.P.S.  Is meeces or meeses the proper spelling?  Minions, make with the reference queries. 


You Can Look It Up, Thanks to Noah Webster

October 16 is Dictionary Day.  Noah Webster's birthday.  Go ahead--look it up.  I can wait.

Click to Bigify

Noah Webster (1758-1843) published his first American dictionary of the English language in 1828.  He has become known as the "father of American scholarship and education" because of his pioneering work in reading and spelling school books.  (See what a Yale education can do for you?)  He was an important political writer, too, particularly during the post-Revolutionary War period.

If you can't spell, then don't blame Webster.  Generations of American people-students learned to spell (and, consequently, to read and write) using his primers and dictionaries.  If he were still alive today (he would be really, really old), Webster would be the first to agree that software spell-check is no substitute for a handy dictionary.  We're talking paper, here, folks.  Old fashioned, perhaps, but learning to use a printed dictionary helps your people brain learn to systematically organize, sort, and analyze. Spell-check is a convenient tool, but it's no substitute for learning to spell correctly.

To celebrate Dictionary Day, we're going to feature one of the Music Man's compositions entitled "Dictionary Music" (2009).  We used it as the soundtrack to a couple of the Library's book trailers.

Conversations Beyond the Light, by Dr. Pat Kubis & Mark Macy
(MPL Book Trailer #81)


The New Doublespeak, by William Lutz
(MPL Book Trailer #53)


Noah Webster Would Have Liked That Music, I'll Wager,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Holiday News Beat


P.S.  For my musical closer, how about a song about dictionaries?  Sure, why not?  Here's "Dictionary Song"  (2007), described by the person who posted this YouTube video as "written and sung on a very out-of-tune guitar by my lovely friend," who remains unnamed.  I can understand that.