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This website is an informal communication forum for staff members of the University of Oregon Library Staff Association. Contents and opinions expressed herein or on linked personal or external pages are those of individual authors and do not represent official statements, policies, or positions of the Libraries, the University of Oregon, Oregon University System, or State of Oregon. Page maintained by the LSA Web Committee LSA News is published 8 times a year by the Library Staff Association of the University of Oregon Libraries. LSA News Team:Terry McQuilkin, Editor and chair Laura Damiani, Photography editor Jennifer Rowan, Editor Harriett Smith, Editor Jen Lindsey, Editor-Photographer Library Staff Association
Executive Council: Contributors
Laura Damiani has been working in the A&AA Library since 1999. When not at work, she prefers the company of trees. Pam DeLaittre regularly reports on activities from Hidden Spring, her farm near Cottage Grove. Pam works in Acquisitions. Jen Lindsey works in Knight's Access Services Department. She really likes the orange punch that is served at LSA events. Terry McQuilkin, of Music Services, has served on the editorial team of LSA News since 2000. He has noticed that our library has few books in the LC class TP577.
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LSA NewsNo. 92, September 2008If you have anything you want in the next newsletter, send it to lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu
We Want Gonzo
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(L-R) Janis Weeks and Marilyn Mohr |
One of the best things about the Gonzo Revue is that you never know what you're going to end up watching. This year's installment (the "112th annual," in case you were wondering) took place on August 19 in the Browsing Room, and definitely did not disappoint. The LSA's Program Committee designed a theme to work around, the "Library Olympiad," and the proceedings began with all of the flair and pageantry of the Summer Olympics that had taken place a few of weeks before in Beijing. Our version, however, was slightly less expensive. To the strains of "Bugler's Dream," Dan Cogan carried the torch to the front of the room with all of the Gonzological pomp and dignity required by the occasion. The crowd oohed, aahed, and applauded as he wended his way through the crowds (getting lost along the way) to place it in the ceremonial vase.
John Russell served as emcee this year, and he presided over three separate Olympic events, each with a library theme (sort of, anyway). The first event was an LC classification showdown between Jon Jablonski and Ann Miller. When both were stumped by where underwear would be cataloged, John asked for answers from the audience. Jen Lindsey shocked the crowd when she answered correctly with GT, winning the first gold medal of the day.
The first act brought an old Gonzo favorite back to the stage. After a hiatus of a few years, music lovers were delighted to see and hear the triumphant return of flautist Bruce Tabb and Eugene-area pianist Nathalie Fortin, who delivered profoundly moving performances of two short French pieces. Bruce's witty dialogue with the audience between the pieces made for a nice balance of humor and seriousness.
Marilyn Mohr, an accomplished mbira player, was also joined by a guest musician — fellow mbira player and UO biology professor Janis Weeks; together they played two Zimbabwean songs on the mbira dzavadzimu: "Bangidza" and "Wafa Warova." Before Marilyn could return to her seat, though, our intrepid emcee challenged her to a thumb-wrestling grudge match. Though she seemed outmatched, Marilyn delivered a crushing blow and took the second gold medal of the games.
David McCallum continued the entertainment, delivering a reading of "Dante Goes to the Fair." As he mentioned in his prefatory remarks, the selection would normally have been sung, but was lovely nonetheless. His act was followed by the last Olympic event of the day, an LC subject heading quiz. Our Portland branch staff had been watching Gonzo via teleconferencing equipment (a remarkable addition to this year's festivities), so Karen Munro was challenged to compete with Jeff Staiger. The subject headings for different novels were read, and each contestant tried to identify the title. Jeff took the last gold medal of the day, though Karen was sent a silver medal for effort.
The program concluded with a tribute to Bo Diddley. David Landazuri fronted a band that included Leslie Bennett on piano, Blake Scott on guitar and harmonica, Doug Hodson (looking rather Diddleyesque) on guitar, Tim Erickson on bass, Marilyn Mohr on mbira dzavadzimu, and T.K. McDonald and Betsy Kelly on percussion. A few additional members of the audience joined in the fun onstage. Singing and playing charango, David spurred audience members into singing along. The medley of songs (including "I Want Candy," "Who Do You Love," and "Magic Bus") was well done, each blending seamlessly into the next, and proved a worthy salute to the great rock and roll singer, guitarist and songwriter who died this summer. What will the next Gonzo bring? You'll have to wait another year to find out!
(click here for more photos from the event)
Several issues ago, I had a picture in the "Hidden Spring" column of the large metal object we had dug up, and was asking what it might be. The answer came from my farrier Tony Bray. Tony has BIG horses, draft animals that he uses for farm work, logging, parades and weddings. (See TJ's Big Horse Farm for more information.) He took a look at the piece, and said it's upside down and has a missing piece, but that it is part of a horse-drawn hay swather. It would be pulled along to cut the hay in the pasture to dry.
This spring and summer have been full of changes with the animals. Our lead herd ram Angus damaged his left hind leg and hip, and it became non-weight-bearing in early spring. Most likely the rams were bonking on each other and one hit him in just the right way. He went down and couldn't rise, and we had to euthanize him. As a result, needing a new ram, I went to the Black Sheep Gathering. I didn't care if the new ram was white or natural colored as all of my flock carries colored genes, even the white ones. He had to be a registered Romney, not too huge, well made, balanced and easy-going. Kirk and I looked at all the Romneys there and ended up, once again, buying a champion ram from the Washington breeder Linn Schwider. The Pines Farm is a major producer of Romneys. They have a large flock of both white and natural colored sheep, and they had sold me "Lightning'' ten years ago. (Lightning is now 12 and still "with the program.") We named our new boy "Thunder" and kicked him out to bonk heads with Lightning and Blue. In a week or so he will be visiting with all the ewes.
I absolutely do not like raspberries. You could put them on a light fluffy cloud of angel food cake, topped with lots of whipped cream or chocolate syrup and I still wouldn't eat them. I like all other the kinds of berries—especially blueberries, blackberries, and marionberries. Not the raspberries though. I make my husband eat them.
—Rose Layton, Acquisitions
I assume you mean "again," because there's not anything I won't put in my mouth at least once. In that light: I will never again try sea urchin. Ick. It's the only kind of sushi I refuse to eat again.
—Jon Jablonski, Document Center
Animals and birds.
—Lisa Sieracki, Library Systems
I know most folks won't do snails (Yum! Especially with butter) or okra (I kinda like the slime). But, I can't abide carrot cake. It is sort of a long story, but it involves eating too much carrot cake batter while working at a student-run co-op kitchen in college. I can look at it now, years later, but still won't touch it.
—Annie Zeidman-Karpinski, Science Library
Parsnips. Yuck.
—Harriett Smith, Metadata and Digital Library Services
Shrimp. I associate it with giant ants taking over the planet, so I am unable to eat it, touch it, or be near it.
—John Russell, Reference & Research Services
That's easy: Liver, of any kind, prepared in any way. Smell, taste, texture — I hate it all!
—Julia Simic, Architecture & Allied Arts Library
Well, brains. Not eating it, no matter how the masterful preparation. Snails. Not eating them again. Did it once, under a certain amount of cultural pressure, and will not repeat. Dreadful chewy texture, and don't like using straight pins as table utensils.
—Cathy Flynn, Metadata and Digital Library Services
I don't think I could ever eat a Madagascar hissing cockroach that contestants used to be required to eat on the TV show "Fear Factor."
—Jason Kovich, Center for Media and Educational Technologies
Lamb's brain comes to mind readily: http://recipes.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Fried_Brains_Recipe
—Erik Dahl, Architecture & Allied Arts Library
I refuse to eat Unicorn.
—Stephen Isaac, Access Services
Foie gras.
—Terry McQuilkin, Music Services
Mushrooms, or any other fungus
—Paul Harvey, Metadata and Digital Library Services
Animal brains. Ick ick ick..
—Dvora Robinson , Portland Library and Learning Commons
In our August Fact File, we paid tribute to the Olympic games by asking you to identify some of the champions from previous summer Olympiads. We found that three staffers scored a perfect "10" in our contest. Dvora Robinson, of the Portland Library and Learning Commons, who not only identified all 10 Olympic champs but answered our extra credit question as well, was selected by lot as this contest's "gold medalist," and thus will be receiving a gift card valued at $10.00 toward purchases at the Duck Store. We're not actually handing out medals, but if we were, the silver would go to Bill Murray of MSDP (who, like Dvora, got 10 out of 10, plus the extra credit); Carol Lenocker, also of MSDP, would take home the bronze, having identified all 10 athletes as well.
The answers:
As well as featuring upcoming LSA events, we'd like to get the word out about events staff are involved in that might be of interest to co-workers. If you'd like the world, or at least your co-workers, to know about something cool coming up, please email Harriett Smith or lsaweb.
LSA EVENTS
Thursday, October 16, 2008: It's Speedy! It's Scrabble-y! It's Speed Scrabble! Come win fabulous prizes and bragging rights! Enter the LSA Speed Scrabble tournament to wow your friends and impress your enemies! The Scrabble Scramble will be held in the Knight Library Browsing Room from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or until a winner is found. For more information (like what-the-heck Speed Scrabble is) or to enter, please email Elizabeth Duell, or phone her at 6-1883.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008: The first hint of autumn is here, and sooner than we think campus will be full of earnest students and we'll be heading full tilt towards the holiday season. Time now to think about what you might want to sell at the annual autumn Library Staff Association Holiday Sale. Time, too, to think what special gift you might find at the Sale, among the pottery, fabric arts, cards, jewelry, jams, and interesting rummage table items. Since the Sale will be held earlier than usual in November, checks will also be held, until after December 1. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and the Sale will conclude at 1:30 p.m. For more information about the LSA Holiday Sale or to volunteer to help, email Pam DeLaittre or phone her at 346-1826.
NON-LSA EVENTS
Sunday, September 14, 2008: Join David Landazuri and other intrepid member of Accordions Anonymous at the Rainbow (a.k.a. Saturday Market) stage at the Eugene Celebration, at noon. They'll be followed by Kef, a rockin' Balkan band that features 2 members of AA.
Sunday, October 12, 2008: Although it's not on their web calendar, the Eugene Symphony will be performing the Fauré Requiem at 4 p.m. at the Hult Center. Harriett Smith says this should be a fabulous concert, and passed on the word that auditions for singers interested in singing with the Symphony Chorus, will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16 at the Hult Center. To reserve an audition time, please email Chris Collins at the Symphony Office.
