Animanga Club Sept. 16 6:30-8:45
Join us for our monthly meeting of the animanga club! We've gots lots in store: pocky to eat, a raffle, karaoke, and a mystery anime to top it all off. What is it this month? Sorry, no hints! Come hang out and let your inner otaku run free...

F. Paul Wilson's latest Repairman Jack book, Ground Zero, will be released this week. In his recent newsletter, Wilson described the book: "A woman has been posting anonymously on 9/11 Truther sites...you know, the folks (like Van Jones) who think the Trade Tower attack was all a government conspiracy. Well, she says they're right about the conspiracy, but it wasn't Bush or Cheney manufacturing a second Pearl Harbor to get us into Iraq...and it wasn't Big Oil...and it wasn't the New World Order… The truth is stranger, darker, and more evil than anyone can imagine. Those behind the plot will do anything to stop her. But they've made a fatal miscalculation. They don't know about Jack. ...They don't know this woman has a guardian who is armed to the teeth and can be just as cold-blooded as they. Maybe more so. Many Truths are revealed in GROUND ZERO .

Are you thinking of adopting a vegetarian diet? Many people have, but there are important facts to know to make sure you stay healthy and get all the nutrition you need on a restricted diet. How to Become Vegetarian: 5 Key Steps (& Famous Vegetarian Celebrities) offers information and lots of links for further research that you may find helpful if you're considering vegetarianism. Even if you're already veggie, there is a lot of good info here that you may not have seen before.

So, you liked Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. You like a good fantasy with some adventure to it, some excitement. No slow, bogged down stories where nothing really happens for you. Well, check out these titles for a little magic thrill:

• Sabriel by Garth Nix
• Pendragon: The Merchant of Death by D. J.

You've played the Prince of Persia video games, you've heard there is a movie in the works, now read the graphic novel. It's written by the same creator as the award winning video games. The Prince of Persia storylines have always been some of my favorite bits of storytelling, and this new tale in graphic novel form is no exception. Check it out.

Book two in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire is here! If you have yet to read Hunger Games now is time! Book three in the series is expected to be out sometime in fall 2010.

The Crime Writers Association has announced the 2009 CWA Gold Dagger Awards' shortlist.  The winners will be announced on October 21, 2009 at the SpecSavers Crime Thriller Awards in London and will be shown on ITV3 later in the month.

If you like mysteries where all of the main characters are stuck in some kind of confined environment (a large, scary, old house) trying to solve some kind of crime or love the Agatha Christie novels when Poirot dramatically explains the crime's solution at the end of his books to the group of suspects, should enjoy these authors/characters:

Margery Allingham's Albert Campion 

Carolyn Hart's Henrie O'

M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin 

Ever wondered what's in those delicious fast-food hamburgers? Just beef right? Not exactly. Check out the documentary film King Corn to watch two friends as they return to the land of their ancestors, small-town Iowa, to uncover the corn industry and its impact on the American diet. The film also discusses the environmental impact of industrial farming. The film may not answer all of your questions but it will surely get a conversation started.

Many parents use web monitoring software to keep track of what their children do online - it's the next best thing to being there, right? Maybe not. The Associated Press reports that several major brands of this type of software offer kids' chat message logs to businesses hoping to tailor their marketing messages to children. There are some software companies that do not sell information to other businesses - you may want to check to see what practices your web monitoring software engages in. CPL also has lots of resources for parents and kids on Internet safety.

With the increasingly digital nature of our culture, will writing become a lost art? No!
A recent study showed that the time young people spend on Facebook, texting, and other digital (text-based) interactions actually improves their writing. They are, on the whole, better able to write effectively to specific audiences and have far more experience writing than previous generations.

photo by Zawezome used under Creative Commons license

President Obama addressed students today in a back-to-school speech focused on staying in school and trying your best. He encouraged them to set their own goals including "spending time each day reading a book." As a new school year begins, Raising Bookworms, can help parents instill the love of reading in their child. Author Emma Walton Hamilton also has written 16 books for children with her mother, Julie Andrews.

O.K., you can officially be excited now; Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, has a new manga coming stateside this October: Hero Tales. It's an historical fiction / fantasy action series about a boy who's destined to be a hero and the magical sword he's questing after. Yeah, you've heard that set up before, but this is Hiromu Arakawa we are talking about! I for one can't wait to see what surprises are in store for this...

Join us Saturday, September 5th between 1:00 and 5:00PM for our Pokemon Tournament. Bring your Nintendo DS and your copy of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum for a tournament style poké-throwdown the likes of which you’ve never seen! No registration required.

In a state report released today, Michigan schools are showing improvement in meeting federal education standards. Check out how your school did here and to boost your academic potential check this out, High School Advantage. It's an interactive learning resource that combines lessons, exercises and quizzes for a fun approach to studying.

September is National Sewing Month, and whether you're an experienced seamstress, a novice, or just an appreciator of the art, CPL has the resources for you. You can check out materials on how to sew or stories about sewing. Admire the amazing textile creations pictured in Camio, the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online.

Hey Kids!
There's a wonderful reason to celebrate this week. No, not just because it's Labor Day. The first week of September is National Waffle Week! I like to eat mine with honey. A friend of mine eats her's with peanut butter, chocolate chips and whipped cream. Some people like to top theirs with fruit. How do you like your waffles? Try some adventurous eating this week by having breakfast for dinner. Check out one of our Breakfast Cookbooks for ideas. Or read the book Everything on a Waffle as a family. And don't forget about waffle cones and waffle fries! There are plenty of ways to celebrate all week! Mmmmm, I'm hungry!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures by Amanda Blake Soule
This book includes over thirty projects you can easily make from materials you may have around the house or could easily find in thrift shops or on clearance at retail stores. The projects range from hot pads to tote bags to blankets to hats, and all are easily accomplished by someone with basic sewing skills. The photographs feel like those you'd find in your old family albums and the handmade items have a homey, very doable feel.

Our digital photo contest celebrates the theme for Teen Read Week, "Read Beyond Reality". We are looking for photos that are beyond real. Entries can be almost anything as long the photo is your own. Instructions and official entry form will be posted on October 1st.

Staying in Canton during Labor Day weekend? Enjoy a walk along the Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail. The walk is Monday, September 7^th from 5-7pm and Trail Bingo will be provided by the Canton Leisure Services Staff. Having just recently taken a bike ride on the trail, I can tell you first hand that it is a beautiful piece of Canton that everyone should go out and enjoy.