Watch this video and find out -- Herding Cats!

Warning could be seriously funny!!

And for a bonus round this video made me laugh so hard I was crying:

Probably the funniest cat video you will ever see

Enjoy!

Jill

The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment That Transformed Their Lives... is the true story of thirteen women from southern California who go in on ONE diamond necklace they named "Jewelia" and how they share it amongst themselves and others, where they wear it, how they use it for philanthropic purposes and most interesting to me is how they come to agreement regarding the "guidelines for using/lending etc.".

It is fascinating to me how 13 women can come to agreement, go back and read that again, I said agreement without it being a unanimous group decision. It's a good example of letting go of one's point of view and beliefs.

I can share from personal experience the amazing power a piece of fine jewelry can have.  A number of years ago I was attending a workshop for women in Northern California and one of the participants designed and sold jewelry items that were worth thousands of dollars.

She happened to have a necklace with her that she had just finished which if I recall correctly she was going to sell for around $7500. She was gracious to let each of us try it on. What I remember about the experience was that the necklace (made out of precious stones) looked different on each woman that tried it on and each woman who tried it on looked different while wearing it. And it felt different than any other piece of jewelry I've ever wore, maybe it was because of the value, I don't know but it was an experience I'll always remember.

So get the book and read how one woman, convinced 12 other woman to go in on a piece of jewelry and how that rippled out touching hundreds and thousands of lives in the process.

Jill

Enjoy this recent article from the Chicago Tribune titled Librarians Helped Tame Wild West.

While there have been many changes and advancements in the Library profession in the past 100 years, I think Betsy Hearne's ending statement about librarians, "The librarian was a kind of apostle for culture. They were missionaries for literacy, knowledge and culture," continues to be true in today's world.

When was the last time you visited your Public Library?

Jill

A few years back I stumbled onto Chicago Public Radio's This American Life radio program by Ira Glass which tells the most amazing stories of ordinary people. I can't tell you how many times I sat in my car to hear the entire story although I was at my destination. Now it is available for FREE as a podcast from iTunes (usually ranked 1) so I keep up with it at my convenience.

In 2007 they created a television version of the radio show which is broadcast on Showtime. Since I don't subscribe to Showtime I wasn't able to view it, until now with it being released on DVD. So I wanted to share this great news so that you too can now own and watch This American Life - Season One without being a subscriber to Showtime. 

Two particular segments that I liked were the story about a famous tame Brahma bull named Chance (who appeared on Letterman and elsewhere) that was cloned, and the clone was named (no kidding) Second Chance. The other one was about genetically modified pig farms that was very enlightening.

Besides it was just fun getting to see what Ira Glass looks like after listening to his voice all these years.

Highly recommend both the radio and the television show.

Jill

From NPR Weekend Edition, check out this feature, "Paging Through History's Beautiful Science" regarding new exhibition at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California called "Beautiful Science: Ideas That Changed the World." The exhibition focuses on four areas of science: astronomy, natural history, medicine and light.

A must hear segment for the rare book lover!

Jill

Terry Practchett announced earlier this week on his DiscWorld illustrator's site that he has been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onsest Alzheimer's.

And he reminds all of us that, "I still aten't dead, even today."

Amazon buys one of only seven handmade copies in existence of J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard at Sotherby's London auction. The proceeds from the £1,950,000 purchase price will be donated to The Children's Voice campaign.

Read more about it and view pictures of the actual book at:
Auction for J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard

I checked out the DVD of "Stone Reader" from my local library over the Thanksgiving holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Mark Moskowitz (the film maker) chronicles his journey of trying to find Dow Mossman, the author of  the book, "The Stones of Summer" published in 1972.

A very well told story with interviews and discussions with several authors, editors and critics, with a surprising ending.

Anyone interested in literature would enjoy this movie and added interviews.

 

 

 Deadline: November 15, 2007; and April 15, 2008

 The Institute of Museum and Library Services ( http://imls.gov/ ), in cooperation with the American Association of State and Local  History ( http://www.aaslh.org/), is offering two thousand free  copies of the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of  books, DVDs, online resources, and an annotated bibliography that are essential for the care of collections.

 The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It will address such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.

 Priority will be given to smaller institutions, but large museums and libraries with special collections are also eligible to apply. Federally operated institutions, for-profit institutions, and libraries that do not hold special collections are not  eligible to receive the bookshelf.

 The bookshelf will be awarded free in two application periods:

 September 1 to November 15, 2007; and March 1 to April 15, 2008.

 Instructions, qualifications, and the content of the IMLS Bookshelf, along with the online application, can be found at the  AASLH Web site.

 RFP Link: 

 http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10009214/aaslh

One of the faculty members at the Antiquarian Book Seminar last week in Colorado Springs was Terry Belanger founder of the Rare Book School in 1983, now at the University of VA.

He encouraged us to apply and to spread the word that they have 90 scholarships to give out this fall which can be used for courses in the next 2 years.  DEADLINE TO APPLY IS AUGUST 31ST.

Some additional information:

Most courses are aimed at someone who knows nothing. The only requirement is ignorance of the subject. 

Applications need to be turned in 3 months before course date.

Class size is small with only 10-12 people in class. 

For more information go to: Rare Book School

Scholarship Application & Procedures

Read Course Evaluations for more information about the courses and instructors.