Is It Just Me? Or is it nuts out there?

The title sets the stage for Whoopi Goldberg's observations on how society just isn't as civil as it once was. Everyone will recognize and nod their head in agreement when Whoopie discusses drunk driving, texting while driving, blogging, manners (or lack thereof), cell phones, bullying and the myriad of occasions when respect for fellow humans is nonexistent. After reading this book, I thought that an outline of it could be used in school situations to teach students on how not to behave!

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

I needed an escape. An escape from reality shows, bad news, and the tacky banter of today's sitcoms. I went and picked up Oklahoma! What a relief. Great dancing, absurdly funny lyrics, lifestyle situations that make you cringe in that way that old movies do, but still... worth seeing, if you haven't seen it. I love the songs--heard them all my life but I never bothered to see the musical.

Oklahoma!

I was very impressed by the dance numbers, and laughed audibly at the song "Can't say No"

Go ahead, put it on hold.

So You Got a New Puppy!

All of these books come highly recommended for raising and training a puppy.

How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With

by Clarice Rutherford

The Puppy Whisperer: a Compassionate, Nonviolent Guide to Early Training and Care

by Paul Owens

My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective and Easy Puppy Training

by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

Puppy Preschool: Raising Your Puppy Right-- Right from the Start

by John Ross and Barbara McKinney

Oregon Career Information System

For students or anyone who is interested in exploring careers, the Oregon Career Information System is one of the most helpful resources I have ever used. Although the database focuses on Oregon schools and programs of study, the user can expand their search to includes schools throughout the United States. It's a highly interactive site and what I have found is that the more you use it, the more you find with each new search. One of the most valuable aspects of the database is that it covers not only the two and four year schools, but also those institutions that offer short-term study programs or certificates for various occupations. Included in the detailed information:

• Overviews of individual occupations with details on specific work activities, common work activities, working conditions, physical demands, skills and abilities, knowledge, interests, preparation, helpful high school courses, hiring practices, wages, employment and outlook, advancement, and further resources. It then allows you to search schools that offer programs of study in that occupation.



• The program section addresses program admission, graduate admissions, typical course work, things to know, and other resources. The schools offering those programs are listed by geographical region in Oregon (or you can choose an out-of-state location) and then give detailed information about the school, student body, costs, financial aid, admissions, academics, student life, housing, student services, and career services. Website links are also given.



• If you aren't sure about a particular job title but are interested in a specific field of work like health care or business, the clusters index lists appropriate occupations within a variety of fields.



• The financial aid section is extremely useful in that it allows you to narrow your search to certain types of financial help like scholarships, grants and loans. The scholarship list is very detailed and there is a section specifically for Oregon residents.


• The exploration tools section is helpful in that it lets the user sort through various areas such as occupation, undergraduate or graduate schools, financial aid and one of the most interesting tools, the Reality Check which gives a very realistic picture of how much money you will need to live and which occupation will may for those needs.

Check it out!

Foodies and Reading

Memiors and biographies of chefs and cooking are so popular these days!  Blood, Bones and Butter; the inadvertent education of a relucantant chef  by Gabrielle Hamilton and Life, on the Line: a chef's story of chasing greatness, facing death, and redefining the way we eat by Grant Achatz are two recent and popular titles.  Here are a couple of older titles that may also be of interest.

Never Eat Your Heart Out by Judith Moore

Nobody Know the Truffles I've Seen by George Lang

Stand Facing the Stove: the story of the women who gave America the Joy of Cooking by Anne Mendelson

Beaverton Library has amazing magazines

If you are looking for ways to save money maybe it is time to look at your magazine subscriptions.

Beaverton Library has some AMAZING magazines. And, all the past issues may be borrowed!

If you like Art, we have Art in America












If science and technology is more your interes check out ieee spectrum, the magazine of technology insiders.
This month's issue reviews the top 10 tech cars!


Concerned about the environment? Check out



E - The Environmental Magazine







We have so many more...stop by soon and check them out!

ReliefWeb

ReliefWeb was launched in October 1996 and is administered by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This site contains reliable and timely information regarding humanitarian emergencies throughout the world. It is highly interactive in that it allows the user to see in-depth profiles, updates and reports on individual countries and disasters. For example, the latest information regarding relief efforts in Japan were listed and as I was creating this blog, several updates to the site were made. Jobs and training opportunities are also listed, letting the user focus on a particular country, type of job, organizational source, etc. This is an incredible resource for anyone interested in humanitarian efforts throughout the world.