SuzyQ's Blog
Fascinating Stories Behind Everyday Things
You've probably heard the expression "Every picture tells a story." Well, it seems that even the most familiar objects have a story to tell. If you've ever wondered about the origins of your microwave, or why teacups have handles, or just where did those foam peanuts in your package came from, then this is the place for you!
Books
At home: a short history of private life by Bill Bryson — While walking through his own home, a former Church of England rectory built in the 19th century, the author reconstructs the fascinating history of the household, room by room. The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade, and on and on.
Civil War Anniversary
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. The first shots were fired on April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Confederate forces let by Brig. General P.G.T. Beauregard demanded the surrender of the fort and opened fire when the Union commander, Maj. Robert Anderson, refused. He was forced to evacuate the next day, however, and this battle became the first engagement of the war. It raged on for four more years until Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulyssses S. Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.
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Green Gardening
Join us at the Library on Tuesday evening, April 19 for a presentation by Jodi Cook, a local horticulturalist and green living advocate. Jodi will be speaking on how your garden impacts our environment, and how you can become a responsible caretaker while still having a beautiful garden. The program will take place in the Community Room from 7:00-8:30PM, as part of the Library's Earth Week celebration.- Login to comment
Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
Now that Spring is finally here and Opening Day is only a couple of weeks away, it's time to get back into the baseball swing of things! You can do that by watching some of the many great baseball themed films and documentaries in the Library's collection — or by reading up on your own Detroit Tigers. Batter up!
Feature Films
The Bad News Bears — In the orignal version, Walter Matthau is a grumbling beer-guzzling former minor-league pitcher who gets roped into coaching a band of half-pint misfits somewhat loosely called a team.
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2010 National Film Registry Inductees
The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress recently announced its list of inductees for 2010. Among the titles is George Lucas' 1967 short film which inspired the movie THX 1138. Established in 1989, the films are selected for their enduring importance to United States culture. Also included among the list of 2010 entries are:- Airplane! (1980)
- All the President's Men (1976)
- Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB (1967)
- The Exorcist (1973)
- The Front Page (1931)
- Grey Gardens (1976)
- It's a Gift (1934)
- Malcolm X (1992)
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
- Newark Athlete (1891)
- The Pink Panther (1964)
- Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- Star Wars. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
The complete list can be found here.
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Remembering Sargent Shriver
Sargent Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps, died yesterday at the age of 95. A true public servant, he was never elected to any political office — he was, however, George McGovern's vice-presidential running mate in the 1972 presidential election. In addition to his work with the Peace Corps, Mr. Shriver became a chief architect of President Johnson's War on Poverty, served as ambassador to France, and headed the Special Olympics which was founded by his wife Eunice Kennedy Shriver.- Login to comment
Year 2010 Top Movie Picks
Adam — A romantic character study examining the obstacles to intimacy and the compromises we make in the name of love, Adam stars Hugh Dancy as a man living with Asperger's syndrome who does his best to reach out to his pretty new upstairs neighbor.
Avatar — Jake Sully is a former Marine who uses a wheelchair. But despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth's energy crisis.
The blind side — Taken in by a well-to-do family and offered a second chance at life, a homeless teen grows to become the star athlete projected to be the first pick at the NFL draft in this sports-themed comedy drama.
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New Year's Holiday
Let the Canton Public Library and this Special Collection help you learn about, prepare for, and celebrate the New Year!
Books
Encylopedia of Christmas and New Year's celebrations by Tanya Gulevich — Entries are arranged alphabetically discussing the history, traditions, symbols and observances of Christmas and the surrounding holidays and celebrations.
The book of the year: a brief history of our seasonal holidays by Anthony F.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Mark Twain, one of America's best-known and well-loved authors, was born on November 30, 1835. His works have been translated into hundreds of languages, and Hollywood continues to produce film adaptations of his books. The following Special Collection focuses on his life and work.
A Walk Through History
Manhunt : the twelve-day chase for Lincoln's killer by James L. Swanson
Krakatoa : the day the world exploded, August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester
Eiffel's tower and the World's Fair where Buffalo Bill beguiled Paris, the artists quarreled, and Thomas Edison became a count by Jill Jonnes
The devil in the white city : murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America by Erik Larson
Isaac's storm : a man, a time, and the deadliest hurricane in history by Erik Larson
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
Triangle : the fire that changed America by David Von Drehle
The worst hard time : the untold story of those who survived the great American dust bowl by Timothy Egan
K blows top : a Cold War comic interlude starring Nikita Khrushchev, America's most unlikely tourist by Peter Carlson
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30 Notable 30s
Canton Public Library is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, so it seems like the perfect time to note some of the other notable 30s in our history and popular culture:- The Thirty Years War lasted from 1618-1648. Fought primarily in what is now Germany, it eventually involved most of Europe. Although it began as a religious conflict it gradually turned into one of the most desctructive in European history
- thirtysomething. This television popular drama about baby boomers in their thirties ran on ABC from 1987-1991.
Made in Michigan
Last night's premiere of the new ABC drama Detroit 1-8-7 was just the latest sign of the success of the burgeoning film industry in the state of Michigan. Although parts of the pilot episode were filmed in Atlanta, future episodes will be shot entirely on location in the Detroit area. The gritty police drama — which stars Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel — joins the HBO comedy-drama Hung — which although not filmed entirely in the area, is set here — in using the Detroit metropolitan area as a backdrop for interesting storytelling. These two programs join a growing list of films that were shot in Michigan over the last couple of years — several of which have already been released.- Login to comment
Sixties: Popular Culture
The critical and popular acclaim for AMC's Emmy Award-winning drama Mad Men has piqued the interest of the viewing public in the culture and society of the 1960s. Set primarily at a major advertising agency on New York City's Madison Avenue, the show depicts the changing social mores of 1960s America while telling the story of Don Draper, the agency's creative director, and the people in his orbit.Emmy Awards
The 62nd annual Emmy Awards will be presented Sunday, August 29. Jimmy Fallon will host the live broadcast which will be shown on NBC at 8:00PM. You can check out some of the nominees by browsing the library's collection:- Login to comment
Elvis Week
Today is the first day of the first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee and the beginning of a week long remembrance of the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' death. Some of the planned events include a tour of the Graceland Mansion, Shake, Rattle & Roll at the Shell (a benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association), the Elvis Presley 5K Run, Walk, Rock & Roll to benefit cerebral palsy, and a tour of the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.- Login to comment