Farewell Maya...

MAYA ANGELOU
4/4/1928-5/28/2014

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

Riveting talks by remarkable people!

 http://www.ted.com/

Wall of Films

Over 500 films designed to change the world,
one mind at a time!

http://www.filmsforaction.org/walloffilms/

International Day of Happiness - March 20

A profound shift in attitudes is underway all over the world. People are now recognizing that 'progress' should be about increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just growing the economy at all costs. All 193 United Nations member states have adopted a resolution calling for happiness to be given greater priority and March 20 has been declared as the International Day of Happiness - a day to inspire action for a happier world.

Action for Happiness Cheers Positive News Secretary General's Message Take the Pledge UN International Day of Happiness

One Billion Rising

Raising Awareness about Violence against Women
Violence against women is an issue that crosses all ethnic, cultural, and class boundaries and it is our collective responsibility to see that such violent behaviors become socially unacceptable. In the words of novelist Ursula K. Le Guin, "Having intelligence, we must not act in ignorance. Having choice, we must not act without responsibility."

One Billion Rising Website
http://www.onebillionrising.org/

International movement created to raise awareness and stop violence against women.

One Billion Rising Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl2AO-7Vlzk&feature=player_embedded
A 3-minute film to raise awareness about violence against women (contains disturbing imagery).

"Break the Chain"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5N8rSy4CU&feature=player_embedded
Music video of the One Billion Rising theme song.

Violence against Women
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/series/violence-against-women-1bn-rising
Excellent series of videos from The Guardian UK including celebrity endorsements.

March 8th is International Women's Day

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
see http://internationalwomensday.com/

International Women's Day Resources
http://internationalwomensday.com/resources.asp
This series of videos focuses on women's history, the status of women,  violence against women, and the ongoing struggle for equal rights around the world.

"One Woman"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnq2QeCvwpw&feature=player_embedded#!
An inspiring music video from UN Women.

The Nightingale Pledge

      

The Nightingale Pledge, as recited at every Nursing pinning ceremony:   I solemnly pledge myself before God and presence of this assembly; To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

Universal Human Rights Month

Article I
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article II
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article III
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Happy 47th Birthday to J.K. Rowling!

According to Biography.com, J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Chipping Sodbury, England.  She became an international literary sensation when the first three installments of her Harry Potter book series took over the top three slots of The New York Times best-seller list. In the year 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire became the fastest-selling book in history. One of the wealthiest women in Great Britain, she now lives is Scotland with her husband Dr. Neil Murray and their children David and Mackenzie. She also has a daughter, Jessica, from a previous marriage.

April 26th is Poem in Your Pocket Day

Text a short poem to friends
Add a poem to your email footer
Use a poem for your screen saver or wallpaper
Send a poem to a friend or loved one by snail mail
Post a poem on your blog or social networking page
Browse the links in the National Poetry Month post
Read a poem by an author you’ve never heard of before
Be creative and compose your own poem

Read a poem to a friend, colleague, or classmate
Use a poem on your voice mail or cell phone greeting

April 22 is Earth Day

Earth Charter Earth Day Network Earth from Above Earth Island Institute Earth Site Green File Nature Conservancy Rainforest Site We Earth Worldwatch Institute

April 19th is Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Musem Holocaust Studies at Aish I Witness Israeli Knesset's Yom Hashoah Page Jewish Virtual Library Holocaust Site Nikzor Project Yad Vashem Yom HaShoah Zachor Foundation

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

A baker’s dozen ways to celebrate National Library Week

1. dust off your favorite book and read it again
2. see the National Poetry Month display in the library
3. browse our assortment of new books
4. leisurely read one of our current magazines
5. leave a comment on one of our blog posts
6. take advantage of our nice selection of movies
7. hang out in the library between classes
8. return overdue books with amnesty (fines will be waived)
9. buy the newest book by your favorite author
10. bring your laptop and use our Wi-Fi connection
11. do Spring cleaning and donate unwanted books to the library
12. borrow one of our children’s books and read it to a child
13. suggest a book to a friend and then discuss it over dinner

My favorite poet or poem is...

Is there a certain poem that really rings true for you?
 
Or perhaps the overall style of a certain poet? 

Take this opportunity to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Poetry Resources

Poetry... is the opening and  closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what was seen during a moment. -Carl Sandburg		Academy of American Poets Bartleby Great Books Online Modern American Poetry National Poetry Almanac National Poetry Month Poem Generator Poetry Center Poetry Daily Poetry Foundation Poetry Society Poetry Society of America Image used with permission of Galway.net. Links verified April 4, 2012.

April is National Poetry Month

We start off the month with a wee bit of mystery.
The fellow at left has a place in our history,
Might you be aware of this chap's claim to fame?
Well, prithee, please tell us then, what is his name?

You think you don't know him, but trust us, you do!
To help you we've even embedded a clue.
To leave us your answer, post a comment below.
If you're first to guess it, the whole world will know!

Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment

March is National Women's History Month and March 8th is International Women's Day. Please help celebrate the important contributions of women in our history and in today's society.

Gifts of Speech
International Women's Day
National Women's History Project Blog
Women Working
Women's Hall of Fame
Women's History at the Library of Congress
Women's History Sourcebook

SAF-T-NET

Statewide weather warning system sends text messages and email alerts on a street-by-street basis. Sign up at the following link to receive breaking news, National Weather Service alerts, traffic, sports scores & updates, school closings and more as text messages on your mobile phone or PDA. 

http://my.textcaster.com/ServePopup.aspx?id=1415

Celebrating Black HIstory

Watch this inspiring video about opera diva Barbara Smith Conrad.

The Star Thrower

An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach.  One day, as he looked along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.  As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."

"But young lady, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it?  You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying:

"It made a big difference to that one."

Adapted from the story "The Star Thrower"
by Loren Eiseley (www.starfishcharity.org)