LSA News

No. 89, May 2008

If you have anything you want in the next newsletter, send it to lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu

Index LSA Spring Sale Blooms Remembering the Perfect Tamale by Rosemary Nigro The View from Hidden Spring by Pam DeLaittre Random Question Events of Interest

"Iris Field" by Nancy Loya. For sale at the LSA Spring Sale

LSA Spring Sale Blooms

Sherra Hopkins buys fresh eggs and other goodies from volunteers Megan Dazey and Raina Smith.

The LSA Spring Sale was held on Earth Day, April 22. Although it felt more like winter outside, the Browsing Room was filled with springtime cheer. There were plants and delicious edible treats, lovely flower paintings by Nancy Loya, knitwear by Debi Baker, farm-fresh free range eggs from Risa Bear's Stony Run Farm, wool blankets by Pam DeLaittre and much more. Colleagues gathered, mingled and shopped in support of each other and of LSA.

One special highlight was the magnificent Smith Island Cake baked and donated for the traditional dessert raffle by our resident gourmet chef, Rose Layton. The dessert raffle is always very popular, so Rose's generosity is much appreciated. The lucky winner was Judi Byrum in Facilities and Purchasing. She graciously put out an open invitation to anyone who wanted to mosey on over to her department for a slice.

Victoria Mitchell provided an abundance of plant starts, and by the end of the Sale all had found happy homes. Sara Brownmiller brought in several plates of a scrumptious chocolate peanut butter confection. Thank yous are in order to both Victoria and Sara, who donated 100% of their proceeds to LSA.

There was also the usual jumble table, and Raina Smith's vinyl LP collection was a big hit (pun intended). Some of our library staffers will now be grooving to the Monkees and Styx to name a few, that is if they still own a record player.

The Sale raised a total of $152 for the Library Staff Association. Sale organizer Pam DeLaittre said that the proceeds will be used to support the rising costs of the May Tea and Holiday Potluck. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked the Sale and the generous, talented and crafty folks who provided the merchandise and donated 10% of their sales to the Library Staff Association. An especially big thanks goes out to Pam, who has a long history of successfully organizing both the Winter and Spring Sales.

(click here for more pictures from the sale)

The World Around Us

Remembering the Perfect Tamale
by Rosemary Nigro

I had a tamale for lunch this week, my first since moving back to the West Coast after a more than 15-year absence for points east. I always hesitate when ordering tamales at a restaurant—I'll have the enchiladas, a chile relleno, or maybe the chilaquiles. When it comes to tamales, my expectations are too high and I am inevitably disappointed when the small, golden morsels pale in comparison to those childhood flavors that linger at the back of my mind and on the tip of my tongue. Yet, my recent meal started me thinking on exactly why tamales are so special to me—what is it about this simple food that provokes such strong devotion?

Tamales are traditionally a food of celebrations: weddings, baptisms, Christmas and New Year. The making of tamales is not a task to be undertaken lightly. It literally involves days of work—from preparing meats and sauces to whipping masa (the fluffy corn based dough that encases the filling) and assembling the tamales. Cornhusks must be soaked (or in the case of Salvadoran tamales, banana leaves must be boiled), chiles must be roasted, meats must be shredded. I remember my mother gathering with other women from the neighborhood to prepare tamales assembly-line style. One woman would spread masa on a banana leaf, another would apply a generous dollop of filling to the center of the dough, and yet another would fold and tie the bundle, placing it in the steamer. It was a social occasion, full of gossip and good cheer, which resulted in dozens and dozens of tamales that would be divided among the women. My favorite part of the ritual was sneaking off with one of those piping hot tamales when my mother wasn't looking, almost burning my fingertips as I unwrapped and devoured my savory treat.

I have never made tamales myself, though I have several books to guide me should I choose to. I am often tempted, but fear they would be as disappointing as those restaurant produced tamales made for sale and not for celebration. Besides, I am still new to this city and I don't know my neighbors—do they even know what a tamale is? Where would I find cornhusks, let alone banana leaves? After a full week of work, will I have enough energy left on the weekend to go through all of the trouble of making home-made tamales? Yet the hope remains—if I can gather enough friends and family around me, perhaps we can recreate the magic of those long lost childhood tamales! As I look back, it seems to me that the process of making tamales is just as important as the tasty, melt in your mouth results.

The View from Hidden Spring
by Pam DeLaittre

Spring is finally upon us, though the four inches of snow we had three weeks ago did make me question the reality of ever seeing beautiful weather again. The eight lambs are growing and bouncing around eating alongside their mothers on the front yard—they are mowers. We are beginning to work outside again, and my greenhouse is full of lettuce, sugar pea pods, flowering stock, and germinating sunflowers, not to mention the zucchini seeds that are in starter pots soon to come up.

One of the ways we know our farm has been here for more than 100 years is the archaeological discoveries we are continually making in the garden when we rototill, or in mole hills. We find broken glass, square nails, fencing pieces, arrowheads, marbles, shards of pottery and china, pieces of bone, and unknown objects. Until this year, however, we have been able to mostly identify any of the objects that have come to light.

Last month when we were clearing blackberries from several small Douglas fir trees, we ran across a piece of metal sticking out of the soil. My archaeological interest was piqued! It took the front-end loader of our tractor to unearth the object, which we took back to the barn to wash off and try to identify. Well, the washing-off aspect went alright, but the identification part is still missing. We have asked friends and family, a forester, a farmer, and a large-machine operator, and as of yet no identification has been made.

So, today I have a stumper for you all: what is this? It is all metal, the "top" (in the picture) does swivel side to side, of the "legs" one is rounded with an intentional hole through it and the other is threaded. The "top" has portions that are broken off, but it appears to be small pieces that are missing.

OK, folks, break out your reference books and personal contacts and apply your curiosity to solve what this is!

Random Question

Of all the films you have ever seen, which one moved you more than any other?

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). The plot to this science fiction classic is certainly familiar: Klaatu, aka "Mr. Carpenter," is sent to Earth with a message of peace. He is killed and later resurrected. And he has a giant robot. Although it has a goofy 1950's low budget aspect (look for wires on the flying saucer), this remains a very thoughtful film.

— Lonni Sexton, Metadata Services and Digital Projects

— Betsy Kelly, Library Systems

— Lynette Boone, Media Services

The Plow That Broke the Plains, although The River is a strong contender too. "Plow" was produced by the U.S. Resettlement Administration in 1936, and "River" in 1937 by the United States Farm Security Administration. Both were shown recently as part of the "Forgotten Films" series. The first film traces the changes in the Great Plains and showed how farming settlers basically devastated the land; the second film shows that process as it affected the Mississippi River area. As the film blurb said, it "shows the consequences of sharecropping, soil exhaustion, unchecked erosion, and flooding." Having just done some intensive reading about the possible effects of global warming, and having spent some time glued to the television during the flooding of New Orleans, I fought against being consumed by tears during both of these movies. Hindsight lent them a poignency that would have been lacking had I viewed them in the 1930s or even the 1960s. Someone said they were great propaganda films, and maybe so, but the scenes of worn-out soil and farms basically turned to desert were actual photographs, and extremely moving. Don't worry if you missed seeing these two movies, or don't have the time to check out the videotape. You'll be seeing it again in real life if you live for another couple of decades.

— Harriett Smith, Metadata Services and Digital Projects

— Nargas Oskui, Center for Educational Technologies

— Elizabeth Peterson, Reference and Research Services

Gone With the Wind (1939). I was 13 years old and my Dad took me on a movie date to see the film. It had just been re-released and I was taking a Civil War history class and Dad knew I should see it. Perhaps if I had seen this film without Dad sitting next to me handing me his hanky and then asking for it back, I might not have remembered it as the film that moved me more than others.

— Laura Willey, Access Services

Events of Interest

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, May 22, 2008: The festive LSA May Tea will be held in the Knight Library Browsing Room from 2 to 3:30 p.m. This year the theme is Cupcake Potluck! Everyone is encouraged to bring home-made cupcakes; LSA will provide fruit and beverages. Don't miss this chance to fête co-workers who are leaving, socialize with co-workers who are staying, and enjoy the lovely ambiance for which the Social Committee is renowned.

If you can bring flowers, have questions or can help in other ways with the Tea, please email Raina Smith or phone her at 346-1837. Former faculty and staff who need a ride to the May Tea should email Stephanie Midkiff or phone her at 346-1661.

NON-LSA EVENTS

Friday, May 23, 2008: The Diversity Film Series, sponsored by the Library Diversity Committee, will present "Between Two Worlds: The Hmong Shaman in America" and "Nalini By Day, Nancy By Night". The films will be shown from noon to 1 p.m. in Studio A. "Between Two Worlds" discusses shamanism in Hmong society; "Nalini by Day" is a picture of the outsourcing of American jobs, through the eyes of an Indian immigrant. See the film series web page for more information.

Saturday, May 24, 2008: Media Services staff member Dave Peterson and his "alt rock" band Used Log Truck will be making their stage debut at the Axe and Fiddle Pub and Music Club in Cottage Grove at 8:30 p.m. Word is the Axe and Fiddle is a great place to hear music—and who can resist a band with a name like that?

Thursday, May 29, 2008: The Forgotten Films series will present "Know Your Meat" (194?), "A Corner in Wheat" (1909), "Human Growth" (1962), and "Poems are Fun" (1954). Screening is currently scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Proctor 41, Knight Library. "Human Growth" was the first sex education film shown in Oregon. Check the film series web page for more information.

Saturday, May 31, 2008: Eliz Breakstone and Susan Stumpf are organizing a bicycle food drive, and would love to see lots of participants! The Spring Roll is a food drive benefitting Food for Lane County. The "race" starts at 3 p.m. Participants will get a shopping list of 10 specific items needed by Food For Lane County. They must find these 10 items at 10 different stores of their choosing and bring them to the finish point. The grocery stores are the checkpoints, and the receipts are your signatures. There's no entry fee, but you have to purchase the items yourself and carry them back. You can race to get back first, or be more relaxed. At the end, there'll be race prizes and beer at Sam Bond's Garage. The organizers will take all of the donations to the food bank.

Bring a lock, a bike and a bag...and friends!

Start: Red Barn Natural Grocery parking lot (357 Van Buren St. at 4th & Blair Blvd.)
Finish: Sam Bond's Garage (across the street from Red Barn)