A Quadrangle of Aitches

Did you know the plural of the letter H h is aitches, or, in some dialects, haitches?  You can look it up.  What happens when you get a quadrangle of aitches together?  It would look something like this:

Yes, the new display case in MPL Youth Services is getting the proverbial workout.  It currently houses a cool 4-H diorama.  Need a closer look? Easy to do, when you know how.

Click to Bigify Photos

I'd tell you whose 4-H display this is, but I didn't get permission first to post it on the Internet, so I'd best not.  First-rate job, I must say.  Quite nicely done.

Scowl-Face's father was big into 4-H, back during the late 1930s/early 1940s (before World War II caught up with the USA).  In fact, one of his hoggerpigs was Grand Champion at the Indiana State Fair. That's a really big deal, even if it happened a gazillion years ago.

Drop by the Library and take a look at this display.  You will learn many interesting facts about 4-H.  In a historically agricultural state like Indiana, it is important to remain connected with the land and a way of life that truly made Hoosiers the people they are today.  As for moi, farm felines made us cats what we are today.  Hungry.  Suppertime!

Now Serving Moi, Minions Had Better Be,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Library Display News Beat

P.S.  "County Fair," by the Beach Boys, appeared on the LP Surfin' Safari (1962), which was the group's debut album.

P.P.S.  I've used this song before as a musical closer, but "County Fair," by Bruce Springsteen, really strikes a chord.  It appeared on the album The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003).

MY Special Day (February 22)

At this month's library staff meeting this morning, Boss Lady announced that we would be celebrating Cat Appreciation Month (February) by declaring a special day just for moi.  I was really excited about that!  My own special day, when minions wait upon moi hand-and-foot, satisfying my every need.  Actually, isn't that everyday (or every second), as Sparkle the Designer Cat noted?  Still, it's an honor just to be recognized.

When's the bigbash scheduled?  Mark your calendars:  Wednesday, February 22, 2012 is Cauli Le Chat Appreciation Day at my Library.  Want to celebrate?  Sure you do.  Here's how.

Donate a can of cat food or dog food to the Library (sorry, cans only, please and thanks), which will be delivered to the Morgan County Humane Society (once we have finished collecting them, probably by month's end).  Think of all the wonderful pets who need good homes.  The extra food will certainly be most welcome, and you will enjoy that warm, wonderful feeling that only goodness from your heart can bring.

On February 22 "Flat" Caulis II, III, and V will be present for photo-ops with patrons.  (I will be out roaming, as a good reporter should, to track down and deliver the news that you need and want to know.) There will be free commemorative bookmarks, if Scowl-Face gets off his duff to make some.  There's bound to be more celebratory stuff.  I'll keep you posted.

This is a great honor, Boss Lady.  I am proud to have this day, and everyday, to serve my Library and our patrons.

Canned Tuna-in-Oil is Always Welcome--Just Saying,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Holiday News Beat

P.S.  Let's celebrate my day with another great song about felines. "Walking My Cat Named Dog" (1966) was a hit single for folk/pop singer Norma Tanega.  In fact, it was her only hit, reaching #22 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles chart.  Tanega was a camp counselor in the Catskills when she signed a recording contract with New Voice Records in 1966. Tanega wrote the lyrics to several Dusty Springfield songs.  The two remained close friends until Springfield's death in 1999.

It's Back!

IT'S BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This thing creeped moi out last year.  Decorinator has been busy putting up Valentine's Day adornments throughout the Library.  We have all our old favorites from last year, along with a few new faces.

Warm & Fuzzy Slobberpup

Front Display Case is All Set For Smooching

It's not like mistletoe, Scowl-Face.  So you can stop hanging around the display cabinet by the Library's front entrance.  Ain't happenin' -- just saying.

Plant a Big Smooch on Hank There





Don't Forget Willie, Too

Scowl-Face, either use the camera flash or get the tripod.  I'm not telling you again.

This Dude Will Be Appearing in My Nightmares



Cherubs Are Kinda Cute, Kinda Creepy, Too

My Weird-O-Meter is Off the Scale Now

Shouldn't the Frogger Say, "Hold Me," Since This is the Holds Shelf?

(Just Saying)

Bound For Plainfield, Apparently



Remember Your Valentine on February 14,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Holiday Decoration News Beat

P.S.  The Beatles wrote many classic rock-and-roll love songs.  "P.S., I Love You," from the LP Please Please Me (1963), is one good example.  Please Please Me was the Beatles' debut album.  Don't have it?  For shame.





Cosmic Consciousness Sounds Like This, I'll Venture

The Music Man has been experimenting with orchestration and arrangement of various modern and classical musical compositions.  He sent moi one today that knocked my socks off (if I wore socks, that is).  He orchestrated "Nuper Rosarum Flores" (1436) by Guillaume Dufay (or Du Fay), and we liked it so much, we immediately made a book trailer showcasing the piece as our video soundtrack.  The gravity of the music required a similarly suitable book.  I think we found a good match.

MPL Book Trailer #144

The Interpretation of Cosmic & Mystical Experiences

by Robert Crookall

The Interpretation of Cosmic & Mystical Experiences, by Robert Crookall, was first published in 1969 and has been intermittently available since via various booksellers (e.g., Amazon.com). The book is available through interlibrary loan from various libraries, but finding a circulating copy becomes more difficult with each passing year. Fortunately, it appears that Google Books has a complete digital version of the book.

The Music Man tried to explain how he was orchestrating the original score, but he used compositional terminology that was frankly way over our heads, so we will simply quote from the email.

"I have finally finished orchestrating Nuper Rosarum Flores by Du Fay, and I have to say this one proved to be the most challenging yet. But after the last couple of months of orchestrating and re-voicing many of the parts, I believe that I have presented it in a grandeur orchestral format while at the same time maintaining the homophonic texture that is so characteristic of Isorhythmic  Motets of the late Medieval-early Renaissance era. I'm pretty happy with this one, and I hope that you [. . .] will enjoy it, too."

I'll admit that I don't know much about the technical aspects of music, but I know what I like.  Another fine bit of orchestration and arrangement, Music Man.

Hope You Enjoy the Music and the Book Trailer,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Readers' Advisory News Beat

P.S.  If you'd like to hear all of the Music Man's orchestration and arrangement of Du Fay's composition, click above.  Music should play.  Isn't technology wonderful when it works?

Agua Muy Caliente (or Not)

The staff lounge at my Library is now in hot water.  Cold, too.  Also room temperature.  All kinds of water.

What Be This New Beastie?

Hmmm.  Curiouser and Curiouser

See those round disks beneath the spots marked "hot, cold, room"?  Looks like a miniature version of the transporter from Star Trek.

Transporter Pads from original Star Trek TV series (1966-1969)

It's too small to transport my human co-workers, who are, frankly, on the beefy side.  (Just kidding!)  Even I couldn't fit into that transporter space.  So what else could it be?  Once again, I consult my authoritative source for all things sci-fi in appearance.

"Odd.  I didn't ask for Earl Grey," mused Captain Janeway

(Kate Mulgrew) as she stood beside the food replicator

(Still from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

That's what it must be!  A food replicator.  But what type(s) of food will it replicate?

Again with the picture

See that little mug-looking thingee that has the warning symbol inside it?  That looks like a mug.  That's definitely a clue!  And atop the transporter pads are those markings, "hot, cold, room," which I'm guessing have something to do with liquid temperatures.  (I am that good.)  Then there's the brand name, Culligan, which appears on the upper left side of the unit.  Culligan is known for water-related products.  Ergo, I conclude that this grey box is actually a beverage replicator from Star Trek.

"But I wanted ice cream, not low-fat yogurt,"

whined the guest-starring youngster

to Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry)

on the original Star Trek TV series

(Dialog Replacement Theater courtesy of moi)

So Boss Lady sprang (sprung, as a past participle, would require a helping verb) for a beverage replicator for the Library staff.  That was both kind and thoughtful.  But what about a full-fledged Star Trek food replicator?  Something that could replicate, say, canned tuna-in-oil.  Imagine moi telling the computer to replicate that.  "Canned tuna.  In oil.  Room temperature."  It works better if you imagine that my voice sounds like Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).



"Tea.  Earl Grey.  Hot."

(Click to play video clip)

 

 

Apparently, our beverage replicator is not voice-command enabled.  You have to press the buttons above the words "hot, cold, room."  Then water pours into your mug or cup or whatever at the appropriate temperature.  Not exactly 24th century technology, but it will do nicely, thank you very much.

Tuna-Flavored Tea Works For Moi,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Staff Amenities News Beat

P.S.  Ensign Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) argues with a replicator in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager.  I can just imagine how many times this would happen if replicators really existed.