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In Memoriam: September 11

by amy

On the fifth anniversary of this unprecedented event in American history, the Library remembers with the exhibit New York, September 11; a staged reading of the "The Guys" by the Purple Rose Theatre Company; a panel discussion for survivors and families; a community forum with a panel of experts from the UM Department of Psychiatry; plus dozens of books and videos.

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Dawn Farm's 33rd Annual Jamboree

by amy

Dawn Farm's 33rd Annual Jamboree will take place Sunday, September 10, from 1-6 p.m. at Dawn Farm, 6633 Stoney Creek Rd, Ypsilanti. This year's events include a midway, pony rides, live music, hayrides, and tours of the 74-acre farm.

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Dylan's "Modern Times" is number one

by Bertha

No. 1 on the music charts, (and no, it's not Danity Kane) is Bob Dylan, with his first CD in five years, called Modern Times. My favorite music critic, who played locally with the Ragnar Kvaran Band in the 80's, says, "the cd has a spirited earthy feel, which is often lost in the technology of most modern recordings." It's reminiscent of Howlin' Wolf, with the sounds of rockabilly and country-blues on other tracks.
bobdylan.com
Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Daily

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Local author's book featured on PBS today

by amy

Local author Nancy Shaw's, Sheep on a Ship will be featured on Between the Lions today at 1:30 p.m. on the Detroit station, WTVS, with a repeat next Tuesday, September 12, at the same time. Click here to find out the PBS schedule for channels 23 and 28.

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Fabulous Fiction Firsts #32

by muffy

Playwright and actress Pamela Gien was commissioned by Random House to turn her 2001 Obie-Award for Best Play The Syringa Tree into a novel.

Set in her homeland of South Africa during the turbulent 1960s, Gien tells the story of 6 year-old Lizzie, a child of privilege, her Xhosa nanny, Salamina, and their fierce devotion to each other. As the meaning of apartheid unfolds, Lizzie takes her worries to sit in the welcoming arms of the large lilac-blooming syringa tree in her backyard, trying to make sense of the violence, the injustice and racism amidst the intoxicating beauty of the land.

Moving and illuminating, it will interest readers of social issues and modern history.

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'Crocodile Hunter' killed by stingray

by amy

Steve Irwin, the energetic 'Crocodile Hunter' and wildlife warrior, died over the weekend after being stung by a stingray while snorkeling off the Australian coast. Irwin was filming pieces for a show called "Ocean's Deadliest" with Phillipe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau.

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Blog Post

What New Car?

by Robb

It’s never too late to buy that 1946 Chevy or other car you’ve forever had on your mind. In the meantime, while you’re deciding the Library has several magazines to help you dream and plan your next move. With over 600 pages the monthly Hemmings Motor News a favorite of mine has for years offered classified ads for both collector cars and parts ads in addition to informative articles on how to repair cars, rallys, auctions, and other auto related subjects. Auto Restorer is a How-To Guide for Car & Truck enthusiasts with more emphasis on the” How To”. Another great magazine with a British twist is “Practical Classics” with lots of great color pictures. I especially like the articles with good color photos of parts being repaired. These magazines can all be found at the Downtown Branch.

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Idlewild

by amy

According to Sunday's Ann Arbor News, Idlewild, the new film opening this week, is named after the famous Lake County Michigan resort, otherwise known as the Black Eden of Michigan in the 1920s and '30s and the Summer Apollo of Michigan in the 1950s and '60s. Idlewild, Michigan, hosted great jazz acts in its day, including Duke Ellington, and was the vacation spot of choice for such black luminaries as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. Even W.E.B. Du Bois owned a home there. But the film itself is set in Georgia and its "Idlewild" is a small-town speakeasy. It does take place during the same period and features the music of OutKast (a bit of a historical stretch, but oh well). So far, reviews are mixed but Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gives it an A-.

You can read more about the real Idlewild in Idlewild: the Black Eden of Michigan by Ronald J. Stephens.

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2006 Emmy Awards

by amy

Conan O'Brien hosts the Emmy Awards this Sunday, August 27, at 8:00 p.m. Here are a few of this year's contenders:
Made for TV Movies:
Flight 93 (on order, September)
Flight that Fought Back (not yet available)
The Girl in the Cafe
Mrs. Harris (on order, September)
Yesterday (on order, September)
Drama series
Grey's Anatomy
House
Sopranos
24
West Wing

Check out the Emmy Awards website or the Saturday Ann Arbor News for a complete listing.

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Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

by amy

This week marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Below are some of the titles recently added to our collection.

Books
After the Storm: Black Intellectuals Explore the Meaning of Hurricane Katrina, edited by David Dante
Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City, by Jed Horne.
Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster, by Michael Eric Dyson
Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, by Douglas Brinkley
The Storm: What Went Wrong and Why During Hurricane Katrina: The Inside Story from One Louisiana Scientist, by Ll Ivor Van Heerden

DVDs
Inside Hurricane Katrina (National Geographic)
The Storm (PBS Frontline)
The Storm that Drowned a City (WGBH)

Also available in our reference collection or online: Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-73): as signed by the President on September 23, 2005; Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-135) as signed by the President on December 21, 2005: law, explanation and analysis.