Today, March 16, is the birthday of Alice Hoffman, author of more than twenty books and several screenplays. Her latest book for young teens, Aquamarine about a wise mermaid, has recently been made into a film. Hoffman's books are infused with magic so that sometimes it's dificult to tell the real from the unreal. Ghosts can be as important in the development of the story as the flesh and blood characters like in The River King and the moral concerns can be both contemporary and timeless.

All Systems Go!
This is the temporary place for all zine materials, namely reviews of Manga and Anime, as well as video games that have related material (why not?).

I'll start:
Bleach--The Manga(don't even know if its done yet), that Anime (71 episodes so far)
Basic storyline: Boy meets Shinigami(Soul Reapers, who kick the dead into the next level of existence), boy takes Shinigami's powers, boy fights monsters created by damaged souls (Hollows).
Best thing about the books: humor plus action= great entertainment. More informative than the anime.

Magazine editor Amy Goldwasser wants your writing for a collection of essays. She's looking for:

"...girls, age 13-18, who’d like to submit a piece of personal non-fiction for consideration ... Those are about the only guidelines — absolutely any subject matter (so far everything from a Christian acoustic guitar player on the importance of dressing modestly to an obsessive diatribe against Condi Rice to making out with a gay prom date to learning to cook to a parent’s drinking), any geography (great to get away from LA-NY), any length, and from writers of any race, class, etc. If she’s more comfortable, the writer can remain anonymous — as long as she gives me her age, location, and a promise that she’s not making s[tuff] up. They can be important or fun, about shopping or stealing, whatever."

Visit the Freakonomics blog for more information. Submissions and correspondence should go to amyg@earthlink.net with “my essay” in the subject line. The deadline is Friday, April 7. Good luck!

At the end of the nineteenth century in Libya, eleven-year-old Malika simultaneously enjoys and feels constricted by the narrow world of women. This slim piece of historical fiction draws a picture of Malika's daily Muslim life, which includes generous and understanding parents, well-drawn family and cultural roles, and a compelling story to keep the pages turning. Shadows Of Ghadames is a timeless glimpse into a traditional Muslim village.

To better understand what makes Coach Knight tick, you may want to check out, Knight : My Story or the book by Steve Alford, Playing for Knight : My Six Seasons With Coach Knight. It's probably already decided as to who fits the current profile of that one needed player on Texas Tech anyway. If you're inspired to get ahead of the fitness game and start conditioning now, these titles might give you a jump start:
Bigger, Faster, Stronger by Greg Shepard
Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook
Complete Conditioning for Basketball 50 Court Drills for Players by Greg Brittenham

With the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament coming up, get inspired by the following 2 books and expanded dvd.

Transition Game by L.Jon Wertheim, writer for Sports Illustrated, is the story of Wertheim's return to his alma mater, Bloomington North High School where he witnesses the transformation of the game from crisp cuts and mid-range shooting to the hip-hop high flying style of the current NBA. He takes off from this example to examine changes in basketball nationwide. To underline the bittersweet nature of success, he follows the fortunes of one Sudanese family whose sons get basketball scholarships. Also, check out a two disc collector's edition of the 1986 film, Hoosiers that includes footage of the Milan vs. Muncie 1954 Indiana High School championship game.

National Public Radio's Story Corps seeks oral histories from ordinary folks "as a record of the way we live today--and how we got here." In the case of Blanca Alvarez this is very literally a story of how she got here. In the Story Corps interview with her daughter, Connie, Alvarez describes crossing the border from Mexico to the United States over thirty years ago and the jobs she held to support her family in those difficult early years.

Creative Catharsis: Writing with Judith Dewoskin

Community High School's well-known creative writing teacher extraordinaire will talk about the writing process and offer tips to aspiring writers.
Tuesday, March 7, 4:00 - 5:30 pm

Don't miss an opportunity to ask questions and get advice from one of Ann Arbor's best creative writing teachers. Get some insights that might help you finish that short story and get it turned in for the Short Story Writing Contest deadline March 20th.
No registration required.
Call 827-8301 for any questions.

Having just gotten back from Disney World, I'm interested in seeing if you know more about Asia than Epcot. Really fabulous prizes will be awarded March 15, 7pm at NEB for the most truthy, and perhaps factual answers.

Question number 6: What is important about the Edo period in Japan?
(1603-1867)

Past questions:
5: What or when is Edo?
4: What is a "kitsune"?
3: Is Xellos Good or Evil? Explain.
2: What is the Japanese name for Japan?
1: What is the difference between a Japanese and Chinese Pagoda?

Looking for something that's a little off the beaten path (or at least off the current pop charts)? Take a stroll through the charming little collection of alternative rock selections we've got. There are some beauties from the eighties and ninties, such as Pavement's 1997 Brighten the Corners and the Jesus and Mary Chain's singles. I have a particular soft spot for Pavement, as well as their ex-singer's new solo work, since it has that slacker quality of sounding both lazy and intense.

For some hints on searching for music by genre in the catalog, follow the "read more..."