LSA News

No. 97, May 2009

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

University Day Staff Entrance Planting
by Marilyn Mohr

Garden plan

Would you like to help beautify the area near the Knight Library's staff entrance? Everyone is invited to participate in planting shrubs, bulbs and perennials on University Day, May 14, from 9 to 11 a.m., joining in the campus-wide tradition of clean-up and beautification.

The beds outside the west entrance will include more colorful plantings and year-round interest thanks to a plan drawn up by UO landscape designer Jane Brubaker and prep work done by groundskeeper Dan Lavelle.

Beds awaiting planting

The staff entrance beds have seen increased attention over the past few years, with the addition of a Norway maple, daffodil bulbs, and Golden Gate rhododendrons, as well as repair of the irrigation system. Planting summer- and fall-blooming annual cosmos has been an easy solution to dealing with invasive horsetail while providing a splash of color. The UO Libraries' Gateway to Organizational Learning & Development (GOLD) was inspired to build on this energy and include library staff in the project, and requested a design for the area.

Jane Brubaker took the cosmos as the point of departure for the rich orange, red and pink design for the beds. Plantings along Kincaid and around the corner in the golden chain tree courtyard also inspired the plant selections.

The plan retains the Norway maple (they're established as street trees along Kincaid). The currently scraggly pieris shrubs in the south corner will be pruned and shaped, and the daffodils and cosmos in the north corner will also stay. Golden Gate rhododendrons, compact hybrids with a vivid pink/orange flower, hellebores, and additional pieris will tie in with existing plantings. Oak leaf hydrangeas, native orange lilies, and orange coneflower (which hasn't been used yet on the UO campus) complete the design.

To participate in the planting, e-mail or phone Marilyn Mohr, 6-1962. We'll start around 9 a.m. and refreshments will be provided by the Library Staff Association.

Adventures in Thailand
by Stephanie Midkiff

Ratree, Gary, Aanan & me

While the rest of Eugene was slogging through snow in Eugene in December, I was spending most of December and a bit of January in hot, humid, sunny Thailand. My husband Gary had served as a teacher in the Peace Corps there from 2004-2006, and we decided it was time to go back to visit his Thai host family and other Thai friends. We weren't sure we were going to be able to get there, however, because of the political unrest and the fact that the Bangkok Airport was closed for several days in early December. So we changed our itinerary slightly, flying in a few days later than planned and arriving via Phuket International Airport, on a peninsula in the southwestern part of Thailand.

Welcome ceremony and traditional musical instruments

For about half our visit, we were lucky enough to have a translator with us — a Thai woman named Manisa who had been one of the language teachers for Peace Corps. It was amazing the information we learned from Gary's host family, Aanan and Ratree, in a few days compared to the information he missed out on for 2 years. He had lived in a village called Phra Saeng in Surat Province in southern Thailand. Aanan had been the school's janitor; he's now retired and he and his wife spend their time working on their rubber tree farm about 2 hours from the village, up a road accessible only by 4-wheel drive.

Shortly after we arrived at Aanan and Ratree's, a truck pulled up with several monkeys in the back. Two men got out with a monkey on a rope; they had come to harvest the coconuts from the trees surrounding the house. Of course, we hurried outside to watch the show. Someone said in Thai, "Don't get close to the monkey; he's fierce." The men sent the monkey (who weighed about 70 pounds) scurrying up a tree and he started wrestling with coconuts and dropping them to the ground. The men called directions up to the monkey and when he had finished harvesting the ripe coconuts from one tree, he proceeded to the next one. How do monkeys know which coconuts are ripe? They go to monkey school to learn!

(story continued)

Treats & Treasures at the Spring Sale

Keri Aronson enjoys a workday shopping spree

The Library Staff Association Sale was held on March 31st which just so happened to be payday! What a great idea. Our library cohort did not let us down as they flocked to the browsing room, checkbooks in hand, in search of treats and treasures in support of LSA.

A delightful coconut cake was baked and donated for the cake raffle by Cathy Flynn. Sheila Gray was the lucky winner and graciously put out an open invitation to share. There have been reports that the cake was to die for and even caused some swooning.

Michiyo Goble’s elegant pottery was extremely popular as always. Her spring collection featured gentle hues of yellow and green and made for perfect Mother’s Day gifts. Sale goers gathered around the table en masse and scooped up armfuls.

Cupcake Bites

Another of our resident Martha Stewarts, Jen Lindsey, came up with another unique idea with her Cupcake Bites and Cupcake Pops. She painstakingly made each mini delectable cupcake treat by hand down to the tiniest detail. This particular shopper now looks forward to seeing what new creative idea she will come up with for each LSA Sale.

Thanks to all the contributors and shoppers, LSA raised $150 from the sale. And of course a big shout out to Pam DeLaittre for organizing it and all the volunteers that gave their time and energy to help run the sale.

(click here for more photos from the sale)

Law's Loss: Mary Clayton Celebrates Retirement
photos and story by Jennifer Rowan

One of two gorgeous cakes

A large and animated crowd gathered in the Law Library on March 13th to wish Associate Law Librarian Mary Clayton a long and happy retirement after 24 years in the Law Library. It was a celebration necessarily delayed — the original party, scheduled in December, was canceled due to the untimely intrusion of blizzard conditions and snow accumulation that kept many of us trapped at home that day. Friends and co-workers encountered no such obstacles this time around and arrived in force, prepared to offer their enthusiastic congratulations in person and to hear firsthand accounts of Mary's first post-retirement extravaganza, her recent trip to India to visit son Will.

Mary has the distinction (among many others) of beginning her UO career under one Hyatt and completing it under another. Dennis Hyatt was Law Librarian when Mary started at UO on July 30, 1984.

Jaye Barlous serves up a piece of cake for Mary	Stephanie Midkiff and Dennis Hyatt (background)

Notes on a Flute: Bruce Tabb Enchants
by Jennifer Rowan and Terry McQuilkin

The Library Browsing room was a place of sensory transcendence in the early evening of February 27 when a packed audience thrilled to the combined sounds of flute and piano played by our own Bruce Tabb and his accompanist, Nathalie Fortin. The recital was part of the Music Services Department's "A Little Knight Music " series, and it was clear from Bruce's announcement that one would do well to come early to snag an available seat. It read (in part): "The program is all French music, most pieces in art-song style. It will last about an hour with a reception following. Leslie Bennett will make some of her glorious bars and cookies, and I two chocolate cheesecakes, same recipe, but one with Callebaut and the other with Scharffenberger. " By 5 pm, it was standing room only and they kept on coming.

Bruce and Nathalie

As some may know, Bruce holds a graduate degree in flute performance from Yale University where he studied with Thomas Nyfenger. He has also taken instruction with Julius Baker and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Although Bruce performed in orchestras and placed in competitions back east, since his 1992 move to Oregon, his performances, he tells us, have been limited to a small and unappreciative audience of two cats, or at the Gonzo Revue where he has been more favorably received. His accompanist, Nathalie Fortin, studied piano at the Montreal Conservatory under Madame Anisia Campos and received her Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and a doctorate at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Much in demand as a performer, she now makes Eugene her home.

There is a wealth of French flute-and-piano music dating from the latter part of the nineteenth century and early part of the twentieth, much of it little known. Part of Bruce's mission was to bring some of this underappreciated music to light. The two musicians made a compelling case for each piece, and Bruce offered engaging prefatory remarks between pieces, peppering his factual information with wit and humor.

The pair opened with a work by Gabriel Fauré, who influenced a whole generation of French composers. The quasi-impressionist Albert Roussel was represented on the program, as were three members (Francis Poulenc, Germaine Tailleferre and Arthur Honegger) of the neoclassical group "Les Six," and the relatively obscure flutist-composer Philippe Gaubert. Bruce concluded the recital with "Syrinx," Claude Debussy's groundbreaking work for unaccompanied flute which still remains the most admired work in that genre.

From beginning to end, the two musicians met fully the high expectations of their audience. It was a joy and privilege to be in attendance.

For those who were not able to attend the recital or (gasp!) forgot, we are fortunate indeed that David Landazuri taped Bruce and Nathalie's performance and has posted selected works on YouTube, for which we are able to provide a link to the multi-part piece by Albert Roussel , "Joueurs de flute: Pan; Tityre, and Krishna" (three parts available of four): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYb3WbNrTEU&feature=channel_page . (This YouTube video, by the way, has already acquired a bit of minor fame; as of this writing, it's viewable at the website for the Pytheas Center for Contemporary Music.

As for the cheesecake, suffice to say that one look at the post-recital crowd storming the refreshment table was enough to decide to avoid possible injury and defer culinary pleasure to another occasion.

"Forgotten Films" Series Returns

On Friday, May 1, a new series of classic film screenings will commence. The Forgotten Films Series will feature noontime shows on Fridays during May, all in Proctor 42, Knight Library. Bring a brown bag and enjoy some of these rarely-viewed treasures!

On May 1 we'll start at 11:30 a.m. with the classic Ed's Coed, which will run til around 1:15 p.m. The 1929 silent film was produced and directed by students at the University of Oregon. (115 min.).

On May 8 from noon to 1 p.m. we'll see the dramatic film The Battleship Potemkin (1925; silent; directed by Sergei Eisenstein; restored and edited by Blackhawk Films; 57 min).

On May 15 it's Nanook of the North from noon to 1 p.m. (1922; silent; documentary directed by Robert Flaherty; 54 min).

On May 22 we'll enjoy the Clio Awards 1976 (the best of international advertising) from noon to 1 p.m. (45 min).

We'll end on May 29 with a screening from noon to 1:15 p.m. of Speedy (1928; silent with music added; produced & directed by Harold Lloyd; 72 min).

As always, the lineup may change at the last minute depending on how well the prints hold up in the projector. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for the "Forgotten Films" Series, contact Elizabeth Peterson.

LSA Bird Walk Report
by Ron Renchler

photo by Glenda Claborne

About a dozen hearty souls braved the cool (some would say cold) temperatures and brisk breeze on March 23 to look for and learn about some of the bird species we co-exist with on campus. The occasion was a noon-hour LSA bird walk led by Ron Renchler and Sara Brownmiller.

Despite the inclement weather, we were treated to an immediate sighting of a mixed flock of lovely songbirds — Bushtits, Black-capped Chickadees, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets — alighting in trees near our initial gathering point, as if they were looking for us rather than vice versa.

Other sightings during the short walk near the library included American Crows, an American Goldfinch, and Dark-eyed Juncos.

Another LSA bird walk is planned for Monday, June 22, the weekday closest to the summer solstice. Watch for future announcements about this walk.

From the Fact File
by Terry McQuilkin

Our language is rich with words borrowed from Italian or having Italian etymological lineage. Words about food (linguini, zucchini) and music (allegretto, soprano) come to mind quickly. But the English dictionary is rich with entries with Italian roots from other fields as well, including terms dealing with commerce, biology and politics. This month we're challenging you to sit down with a cup of cappuccino (and perhaps some biscotti) and identify the common words described in the ten clues below.

1. This word, central to a modern democracy, comes from the word for "little ball" in Italian. Although the means of exercising our electoral wishes has changed drastically over time, it is worth remembering that the word "blackball" stems from the practice, dating back to ancient Greece, of voting by placing balls into a box.


2. This term for a military unit typically under the command of a colonel comes to us from French, but the French word was derived from an Italian word whose verb form, brigare, means "to fight."


3. Students who hope to be admitted into the program of study leading to the bachelor of architecture degree (as is true for many other programs) will need to submit a compilation of their work in this area. The word we use of the compilation of such work comes from the Italian words for "carry" and "sheet."


4. One of the most visible reminders of the economic downturn is the frequency with which we hear that yet another business no longer has the capital to pay its creditors. The adjective we use to describe this condition shows us that in earlier days, business transactions were conducted on a bench in a public place. Our word may have come from Middle French, or just as likely from Old Italian; if you know the Italian words for "bench" and "broken," you'll probably know this word.


5. In March of this year, a commentator on CNN mentioned the "AIG debacle," and a short time later used a synonym for "debacle." We know that the second word he used is of Italian origin, and etymologists have several theories of how it got into English. One theory stems from the fact that Venetian glassblowers were known for producing glass objects of great beauty. When a mistake caused an object to be imperfect, it was turned into a common bottle or flask, hence the Italian word for "flask" is our word for a complete and humiliating failure.


6. Venice, of course is also known for its canals. On the first Sunday in September, a procession of decorated boats in the Grand Canal is followed by a series of gondola races. English speakers use the same Italian word that the Venetians use for a boat race, since the word has been in our language since the middle of the sixteenth century.


7. From Venice, let's travel all the way down to the southern coast of Italy. Named after a provincial capital, this arthropod has inspired many a myth as well as an Italian dance form, but despite its menacing size and hairiness, the creature's venom poses no serious danger to most humans.


8. As long as we're visiting seaports, let's sail up the western coast to the capital of Liguria. The name of that historic city gave us (via Old French then Middle English) the name for a type of durable twilled cotton, and later the term for a garment made of this material. We're looking for the word (used almost exclusively in the plural form in the U.S.) that describes an article of clothing that has become one of the mainstays of any student's wardrobe.


9. Moving from clothing to accessories, give us the word that denotes an item familiar to anyone living in the Willamette Valley, a place that receives 40-45 inches of annual rainfall, Of course, the way we Oregonians use this item differs from the way it would be used in sunny Italy, as evidenced by the etymology of the word.


10. The Italian version of the name John is Giovanni, and a diminutive version of the name – in a dialectical spelling – refers to the masked clown in the Commedia dell'arte. As a noun, the word describes an individual who acts in a silly or buffoonish way; more commonly, we use the word as an adjective to describe such a person.

Staff and faculty of the UO Libraries are invited to submit their answers to Fact File by May 25. The reader whose submission contains highest number of correct answers will receive a gift certificate worth $10.00 toward purchases at the UO Bookstore, courtesy of the Library Staff Association. In the event of a tie, a single winner will be selected by lot.

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

Tuesday, May 12, 2009: The LSA May Tea begins at 2:00 and goes until 3:30, and is a dessert potluck this year! People are encouraged to bring in their favourite recipes, and we mean that literally — if it's not a family secret please provide a few copies of the recipe for the dessert you create to share at the Tea. LSA will provide coffee, tea, punch, and a fruit tray. Let's sweeten the gloom of the economic report and solidify our social ties and baking prowess over afternoon sugar! We'll also be honoring the Law Library's Mary Clayton, who retired last year. If you have any questions about the May Tea or would like to help with the event, please email Sherra Hopkins or phone her at 6-3096.

NON-LSA EVENTS

Each Friday in May: The Forgotten Films Series returns with some noontime screenings during May, all in Proctor 42, Knight Library. See article above for more information.

Saturday, May 9, 2009: The University of Oregon and the American Cancer Society are sponsoring the UO Campus "Relay for Life" relay to collect money for cancer research, bring awareness of cancer related issues to the campus community, and support cancer survivors and families affected by cancer. Dean Walton and his family are sponsoring Team Bea for the relay and write that if anyone can donate 1-2 hours from noon to 11 p.m. they would love to have you participate on their team or on a team of your own. There is a $15.00 registration to support the event, but if you just want to show up on May 9th without registering, they would welcome you to walk with them.

Saturday, May 9, 2009: Eugene's Nineteenth Annual Multi-Cultural Storytelling Festival, featuring nationally known storytellers: Motoko, teller of Japanese tales; Ricardo Provencio, teller of Chicano tales; and Gay Ducey, teller of Appalachian tales. The event takes place at the Very Little Theatre at 2350 Hilard Street. Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per family. There will be a collection of canned food for Food for Lane County. CDs and books will be available for purchase. Call 344-7751/344-8176 for information.

Do You Collect Anything?

Do you have a personal collection....license plates, baseball cards, Beanie Babies, funny hats, or anything else interesting? We've had a few people tell us about their collections, but we need a few more. Tell us what you collect, or send us a picture we can use in an upcoming issue of the LSA News. Send to lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu.