New Books/ Halloween

2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France the Celtic tribes observed the New Year on November 1 with the festival of Samhain. Marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter this time of year was associated with death, and the Celts believed that on the night before the new year the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory and in the course of the four hundred years that they ruled there, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebrations. First there was Feralia, a day in late October, when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. Second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees who's symbol is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain may explain the tradition of "bobbing" for apples practiced today. As Christianity spread the celebration called All-hallowmas ( meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before, the night of Samhain, came to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Later, in A.D. 1000, the Catholic Church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes. So, this year, as you spend your share of the estimated 5 billion dollars spent in the US each year on Halloween costumes and tooth decaying snacks for your neighbor’s kids, go ahead, feel part of a very ancient tradition, because you are~ Laurie

The Lease Plan is sponsored by the Student Government Association.

NEW IN THE LIBRARY:

Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Seven Days of Rage by Paul La Rosa
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! by Ralph Nader
A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates
The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson
Rough Country by John Sandford
The Defector by Daniel Silva
The Help by Kathryn Stockard
The Spire by Richard North Patterson
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods
Hardball by Sara Peretsky
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

Image: "Black Domestic Cat Silhouetted Against Sunset Sky, Eyes
Reflecting the Light, UK by Jane Burton

Talking Heads

We see them every day on the internet, on television, in magazines and newspapers, or hear them on the radio. They are Talking Heads* broadcasting on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, PBS, the BBC and all the other media outlets. They’re liberal, conservative, moderate, extreme right or left and they all talk, talk and talk, about what they think. They agree with us, annoy us, anger us, entertain us and sometimes change our opinions. But how do we know if any of them are right? Written over 220 years ago the US Constitution is the foundation of our government and remains under daily scrutiny by lawmakers, representatives and the public. Our voice and our freedoms are guaranteed by this piece of paper, but do we remain familiar with its content? When a politician makes a campaign promise do we know if he has the power keep that promise? If a law is challenged do we have a grasp of the reasoning behind the challenge? If an editorialist claims to know what a politician can or cannot achieve do we know if they’re right? If we want to insure that we think freely for ourselves do we have the tools? We're all keen to be familiar with our bank statement, insurance policies, work contracts and our wills, but how much do we remember from school about the US Constitution? Take a little time this upcoming Constitution Week of September 14th and become reacquainted with the most important document in your life, The United States Constitution. Go beyond the beauty of the preamble and review the structure of our government, its powers and limits. Because after all, we are the government, it says so, right at the top of the page……. ~Laurie

Related Links:
Constitution Overview
Constitution Day Facts
Observing Constitution Day
Constitution of the United States
Primary Documents in American History -- Constitution
Constitutional law
Constitution Center
Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalist Papers

* "Talking Heads" are in no way affiliated with
David Byrne and the rest of the boys in the
band, who are TheTalking Heads.

Hurricane: The Bright Side

"The danger is that if you say there's a beneficial effect, you come off sounding like a nut.” Sidney Maddock, Environmental Analyst for The Center of Biological Diversity

Today is the start of Hurricane season, but there's more to a storm of this kind than just damage.

Aquifer: We've all been hearing about it due to the state drought. Enough rain and it will be replenished, maybe this year. One hurricane storm could take care of the problem in a matter of days. Frank Marks, research Meteorologist for the hurricane research division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explains: "A hurricane can dump 5 to 15 inches of fresh water on a place that desperately needs it, replenishing the aquifer. It also can clean out clogged-up and polluted bodies of water."It flushes out all the garbage."
Reefs: Hurricanes even help some things they're accused of hurting, such as the coral reefs in Florida's Biscayne Bay. "In Hurricane Andrew, people worried about reef damage," Marks said. "And the reefs were damaged. Pieces of the reefs were broken off. But they looked later and saw that the pieces of the reef that broke off were starting new reefs."
Cute guy in the picture:
The Piping Plover is a seashore bird. It makes its nest in sandy stretches of beach. If too much vegetation grows on the beach, the piping plover can't nest there. If they can't nest, they can't mate. And the piping plover already is classified as a "threatened" species. "A storm like this is so powerful," says Sidney Maddox, "that it will push massive amounts of sand and water across the island and you'll have large areas of open sand without vegetation, and those are the areas where next summer the shore birds will breed."
So as you purchase your supplies, pack your car, learn your routes and hope the house is there when you get back, try to look on the bright side. Maybe one or two eco-system problems were worked out while you were riding out the storm. ~Laurie

Pack, prepare, tune to news, and take an evacuation order seriously.

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Swine Flu: Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1)

Due to the recent global outbreak of Swine Influenza, EBSCO Publishing and the DynaMed Editors have made DynaMed’s information about Swine Influenza free to health care providers and institutions throughout the world. The DynaMed topic on Swine Influenza consolidates information from multiple sources for health care providers to stay current with recommendations for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating patients with flu-like illnesses during this outbreak. DynaMed Editors will continue to monitor information and update this topic as needed throughout this global crisis. Please click on the following link for information regarding Swine Influenza: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/swineflu/.

Writing Center in the Library!

For this week and next (until May 1st), the writing center will station a staff member in the library conference room to provide additional “walk-in” writing assistance to students for the following hours.

Mon: 10:00 – 2:00
Tue: 1:00-5:00
Wed: 9:00-1:00
Thur: 1:30-4:30

The Writing Center in BACA 207 will remain open during our normal operating hours

Visitors on the Beach

April is already bringing warm summer temperatures, and beach season is upon us. But starting in May people won't be the only visitors on the beach, as that is the beginning of Florida's Loggerhead Turtle nesting season. Loggerhead Sea Turtles reportedly grow to a weight range anywhere from 250 to 400 lbs and live up to 30 years. Most of the time they go unnoticed in the ocean, but for several months out of the year they come ashore to lay eggs where they were born, then go back into the sea. It takes about two months for the hatchlings to surface and make a run for the sea, and this means we are playing on the beaches while the newborn Loggerhead is fighting for survival. Scientists estimate that only 1 in 1000 to 10,000 hatchlings will make it to adulthood. Granted, they meet with dangers at sea, but it’s our responsibility to avoid being a hazard for them on land. It’s estimated that up to 80% of the Loggerheads in the U.S. are in Florida, so as we go into beach season lets be conscious of their presence and observe the recommendations listed below. For more information drop by the BLRC or visit the links in blue. ~Laurie

*Keep outside lights off during turtle season from May through October.
*Report injured or sick turtles and those who endanger turtles or disturb the nests. (1-888-404-FWCC)
*Make sure to remove chairs, umbrellas and other gear from the beach each night.
*Level all sand castles and fill any holes dug during play.
*Please pick up all trash. Sea turtles mistakenly eat debris, especially plastic, which results in death.
*Never buy products made from sea turtles or any other endangered species.
BE AWARE ON THE BEACH!

Turtle Time: http://www.turtletime.org/
See Florida Online: http://www.seefloridaonline.com/turtles/
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute: http://research.myfwc.com/features/category_main.asp?id=1289

Tell us what to get!

What do you want to watch? Listen to? Read? We want to know!
We will be purchasing new DVDs, CDs, & paperback books for our recreational collections, and we want to know what suggestions you have. We will do our best to purchase all recommendations if they are available and appropriate for the collections. Feel free to submit your request(s) on our Online Form or in person at the library front desk.

Many thanks to the Brandon campus Student Government Association for funding our recreational collections!!!

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