Cauli Le Chat

Cauli Le Chat
Cauli Le Chat, MPL Feline Roving Reporter

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Say What?

Today (Thursday, May 31, 2012) is National Save Your Hearing Day.  Your ears are quite important.  I know--one of mine was damaged in a cat-fight--so you should take care of yours.  Avoid cat fights, for starters.  But there are many other ways you may protect your hearing.  Here are some suggestions.

NOT a Recommended Hearing Aid by
ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)





Waiting to Hear the Dinner Bell, Moiself,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Holiday News Beat


P.S.  Simon & Garfunkel released "The Sound of Silence" on their LP Sounds of Silence (1966).  The song was originally an acoustic folk piece, but the duo's producer added electric guitar to imitate the Byrds.  (Or maybe the producer just liked electric guitar.)
 


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

An Island Worth 30 Large

Sometime today, our book trailer for Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell, should reach 30,000 viewings.  If you haven't seen it already, it's worth a peek.


If it's watched another sixty grand, then it might catch my current blog viewings.




Not Bragging If You're a Feline,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Video News Beat


P.S.  The Moody Blues recorded "Island" (1973) just after the group released its album Seventh Sojourn (1972).  It was composed by Justin Hayward and has been included on some compilations, if memory serves.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Flat Five is Tennessee Travelin'

On her library critters world tour, "Flat" Cauli V, or Flat Five for short, has once again taken to the U.S. Mail, bound for Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Flat Five will be visiting Anna Porter Public Library (APPL) to see Porter C. Bibliocat.  We've borrowed some photos from Porter's picture stash on Facebook (thanks!).  Click images to bigify.



Porter C. Bibliocat
Anna Porter Public Library
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
 
Porter is Boss Cat at APPL and clearly
knows the best way to run a staff meeting

Here are more pix from APPL's photo galleries on Facebook.  I hope they don't mind if I borrow a couple of my favorites.

A Real Fireplace!  How Totally Cool is That?


Okay, Boss Lady.  We need a real fireplace in our Library like this one that APPL has.  Just saying.

APPL's Stained Glass Mountain Range

What an absolutely fantastic stained glass mountain range mural!  Why don't WE have anything as wonderful as this at our Library?  Just asking.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

How can we get some of those beautiful mountains here in Mooresville, Boss Lady?  Check your supply catalogs!  I bet you can order some.  You can get practically everything on the Internet.

We're plenty excited about Flat Five's adventures with Porter C. Bibliocat and the great staff at Anna Porter Public Library.  I'll keep you posted on all the exciting details.




Really Wish I Were Visiting Anna Porter PL Moiself,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Critters World Tour News Beat



P.S.  Here's a promo trailer (from YouTube) for the 4th annual library luau (2009) to raise funds for the APPL building fund.  This video happened three years ago, so you should check the APPL website to see what's happening this year.


A Post-Apocalyptic Centennial Classic

A century ago, when MPL (Mooresville [Indiana] Public Library) was first established as a public library, Jack London published his post-apocalyptic science fiction novella, The Scarlet Plague.  Like most of London's literary output, it became a popular read among teens and preteens.  Adults, too, were impressed by its thoughtful, insightful themes.  Our book trailer gives a hint what to expect.

MPL Book Trailer #154

Post-apocalyptic literature is really huge with young adults and tweens right now.  To provide some sense of perspective in this genre, it is helpful to read the classics.  This is certainly one of them.  It's much easier to read than Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's The Last Man (1826), which is also a post-apocalyptic novel of considerable power.  It is filled with political and social commentaries, just as was her more famous novel, Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus (1818).  But early 19th century Gothic novels are replete with flowery language that modern readers struggle to digest.  That's no reason to avoid reading classic literature--a little cognitive workout is good for your brain--but readers looking for a more modern writing style will definitely find it with Jack London, whose straightforward journalistic tone makes the story move along quite smoothly.

Considering that London wrote The Scarlet Plague a century ago, it is impressive that so many of its elements resonate with 21st century societies.  With modern pandemics emerging, the topic remains fertile for science fiction and keeps London's novella relevant to contemporary readers.

This is a short book, so it will keep you occupied for an afternoon or evening.  You'll be pondering the themes discussed long after you've finished the story.

Is the book available in the Evergreen Indiana online catalog?  There's one way to find out.



Read White Fang Sometime, Too,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Readers' Advisory News Beat

Monday, May 28, 2012

Remembering Three Terrific Slobberdogs

This Memorial Day (Monday, May 28, 2012), I would like to remember two terrific slobberdog pals, Hershey and Spitfire, who, three weeks ago, passed over less than 24 hours apart.  Let's add their slobberdog comrade, Shiloh, who passed 14 months ago.

 Spitfire chows down while Hershey patrols (far left, by hose reel) (2006)

 Hershey with the Lady With the Red Hair (2006)

 Uncle H doesn't let a little snow bother him (2005)

Buffalo Gal with Spitfire as a pup (1996)

Buffalo Gal and the Music Man playing
with Spitfire as a puppy (1996)

The Lady with the Red Hair with Shiloh (2005),
who truly enjoyed her din-dins (Shiloh, I mean)

Spitfire (a girl beagle slobberdog) was 16 years old, and Hershey (a boy whippet slobberdog) was 14 years old.  We called him Hershey, because his dark brown coloring reminded us of the candy bar.  Then, he was known as Uncle Herschel, because of the menu item at the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain (we have an odd sense of humor).  Finally, he was just Uncle H.  Spitfire was always Spitfire.  Never has a name fit a slobberdog so well.  Her furrowed brow and perky, spring-in-the-step always suggested an intelligent, lively, happy pooch.  Uncle H was high-strung, but there was never a more kindly, good-hearted slobberdog to walk the earth.

These were great friends and protectors.  Along with fellow (girl) beagle Shiloh, who passed over in March, 2011 at age 14, this slobberdog trio protected all of us felines and peoples who hung out together at Kindly Couple's house. I always felt safe knowing that they were patrolling the perimeter of the yard.  They couldn't go any further, because Kindly Couple had installed an invisible fence (i.e., electric wiring and collars) to keep the slobberdogs close to home.  They were grand slobberdogs.  Everybody liked them, and they returned the sentiment.

I'm sorry nearly all of my readers never had the wonderful experience of knowing these good friends.  If you have slobberdogs of your own, you know how terrific they are.  I kid around about canines, but they are fantastic buddies.

Hershey appears to have passed in his sleep sometime during the day while his people family were away at work.  He had been in declining health for several months, but there seemed to have been reason for hope that he would improve.  Perhaps this was just wishful thinking.  He did not seem to have been in severe distress the day before.

Spitfire was arthritic but otherwise healthy when Hershey passed.  That night, she was heard howling pitifully.  She realized she was without her last canine companion, and it broke her heart and spirit.  The next day, she was discovered already half-departed.  Kindly Couple rushed her to the V-E-T, but there was only one humane choice.  That didn't make it less painful.

The world is a sadder place without Spitfire, Hershey, and Shiloh.  But I know that they are all together in the Summerland.  That's a certainty that is some small comfort, at least.  They will greet moi when my time arrives, and I will be most happy to see them again.  We will have many fun adventures to come, of that we may be assured.




Remembering My Great Slobberdog Pals Today and Everyday,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Memorial Day News Beat

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Your Very Own 4th of July Basket




By Junior, of Junior's Farm
MPL Special Feline Correspondent
Arts & Crafts News Beat





Learn to make this basket!

Genuine Fourth of July Basket
(click to bigify)

But how, you might wonder?  That's where Baskets From Junior's Farm can help!

Space is limited, so please register soon!  It's a fun way to create functional art.  Everybody wins!


Saturday, May 26, 2012

Flat Five Bears Gifts From Browser

Browser, the Pine River (Minnesota) Public Library Cat, has sent gracious gifts along with "Flat" Cauli V (Flat Five), who has just returned in the U.S. Mail.  Click images below to bigify.





We have a special travel log for Flat Five as she journeys on her library critters world tour.  Browser's thoughtful gifts will be included, for sure.  We would have included Tober, the Thorntown (Indiana) Public Library Cat's kind gift of swimming dinner shavings, but we ate them.  (Burp!)

To where is Flat Five next bound?  (That sounded more poetic in my head.)  You'll have to follow along to see.



Flat Five Had a Great Time, Browser; Thanks For Hosting,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Library Critters World Tour News Beat


P.S.  Check out this video of Browser the Library Cat meeting Bo (or Beau) the Hardware Store Slobberdog.  Everyone was friendly, but, as Browser demonstrates, "meet 'n greet" with slobberdogs should be "short and sweet."


2012 Summer Reading Kicks Off

On Friday, June 1, 2012, my Library is having its annual Summer Reading bigbash.  Here's a nice little flyer that has all the details.

Click to Bigify


Fun activities!  An outdoor movie!  Food!  Sign-ups for Summer Reading!  What more could you want?




Maybe Some Canned Tuna-in-Oil For Moi,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Summer Reading News Beat


P.S.  "What More Could You Want" was the B-side on a Canadian single release of "Star," which graced the single's A-side.  This is a 45 r.p.m. hard-vinyl single disk, from way back in the day.  Love those pops and scratches!  Both songs were by Stealers Wheel, from the LP Ferguslie Park (1973), which, for my money, was the group's best album.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

More Skywatching at Goethe Link Observatory

In my previous posting, we saw some photos of the Library's staff field trip to the Goethe Link Observatory.  Want to see more pictures?  You bet you do.

The Observatory casting a long shadow

Big Telescope scanning the heavens
for Mars and Saturn and other universe stuff


Boss Lady & Handyman Dude
should be looking up, right?

This dude is really huge
when you're standing close by

Attitude controls help you know where to point

This behemoth is moved by a tiny half-horsepower electric motor

Computer monitor tells you what you're looking at


Looking through the roof slit tells you the same thing.  Pretty much.


Stargazerman explains it all
(Note those neat wooden battens)

Nifty observatory factoid:  The dome is constructed entirely of wood.  Well, there are some metal tracks on which the whole business spins around.  Pretty cool!


Auditorium downstairs is just the place for
astronomy classes to meet and learn

Flat First gives an astronomical lecture
(Thanks for the boost, T.L.W.T.R.H.)


Lots of great photos on display there

Flat First in the observatory's research library

Guess my library card won't work here


Goethe Link's old summer cottage is about a
hundred yards from the observatory

Hey!  The observatory used to have a baby dome!

The outbuilding was used to study asteroids
back in the 1950s and 1960s
(but has since been removed)


It was quite an adventure.  We got to see Venus (through another telescope in the field behind the observatory), Saturn (with its rings and larger moons), and Mars (I think--Flat First didn't personally get to see the Red Planet, but I think some other folks did).

You should visit Goethe Link Observatory sometime. The observatory is located at 8403 Observatory Road, Martinsville, IN 46151, on the west side of state road 67.

For information on events, contact Jeff Patterson at the Indiana Astronomical Society.
 
 

STILL Waiting for My Sandwich, Boss Lady,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Staff Field Trip News Beat


Seeing Stars (Planets, Actually)

Last Saturday evening (May 19, 2012), as a reward for all of our hard work for the Library's 100th anniversary bigbash, Boss Lady and the BigBoard hosted a field trip to the Goethe Link Observatory, which is just south of Mooresville, Indiana.  Thanks to Programma Mama for making the necessary arrangements for this exciting adventure.

There are lots of historical factoids that will undoubtedly fill Scowl-Face's blog later on, so I won't repeat them here.  Instead, we'll look at pictures, which is more fun anyway.  Click the images to bigify.

N'yum n'yums already in progress
(Where's MY sandwich?  Just asking)
Yep, yep.  Must be the right place.


MPL Staff, Volunteers, and Families chow-down

"Flat" Cauli I (or Flat First for short) accompanies
the Lady With the Red Hair

Observatory's backside

Boss Lady gives Flat First a bite of din-dins

Nice old wood inside
(Smelled like it was from the mid- to late-1930s)

Yes, I can actually tell the age of finished wood from its odor.   I am that good.  (The observatory was completed in 1939, the brochure said.  But I didn't see that until later.)



Really cool stairway leading to the big telescope

The big fellow himself
(Or is it a girl telescope?  Where do you look
to tell the difference?)

One of the places you look through to see the stars, planets,
asteroids, galaxies, and other celestial stuff

Broadway Gal sees Saturn's rings and larger moons

I.U.-Columbus astronomy professor John Shepherd
(whom I call Stargazerman) shows us how it all works

Flat First and the Lady With the Red Hair
move the telescope around

Flat First is stunned by Saturn's rings!

Those moving doors (to open the roof)
weigh a couple of tons


 Big drop from the observatory open roof, Flat First!

Hey, Flat First!  Out of that tree!  This isn't play-time


In my next posting, we'll see more photos of Goethe Link Observatory and the surrounding estate.




Still Waiting on My Sandwich, Boss Lady,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Staff Field Trip News Beat



P.S.  Speaking of space always makes moi think of "Space Oddity," by David Bowie (1969).