If five guys in heavily embroidered matching blue leisure suits with cowboy hats aren't cool, then I just don't know what is anymore. Los Tigres del Norte, or The Tigers of the North, are one of the most popular bands in Mexico playing in the Norteno style of music. Norteno, or Northern, music often includes a blend of accordion, banjo, violin and brass ensembles. Here's the press release for their latest album, Raices, and a feature article from the Boston Herald. Look for them in the World--Latin/S.America--Mexico CD genre.

Today is the eightieth birthday of Maya Angelou. It is also the fortieth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Ms. Angelou and Dr. King were close friends, and for years she refused to celebrate her birthday.

After a turbulent and traumatic childhood, Ms Angelou went on to develop an extraordinary career as a poet, singer, memoirist, actress and civil rights leader. Her most well-known work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was nominated for a National Book Award. She was the first poet since Robert Frost to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration: “On the Pulse of Morning” at the first Clinton inauguration. Despite the critical acclaim she received, she tried to remain close to ordinary women, becoming Oprah Winfrey’s mentor and even appearing on her show several times.

The assassination of Dr. King is especially being covered this year on cable channels. CNN had a special documentary about it last night, and the History Channel is also having a special Sunday night.

Study your ABC’s in a book, a movie or a video online. Put on your cape for the Superhero ABC, or ride your firetruck to the Alphabet Rescue. Join a band of pirates on the quest to capture the rest of the alphabet besides R in Shiver Me Letters: a Pirate ABC, or party at the Alphabet Fiesta and learn your letters in English and Spanish.

For your viewing pleasure, learn your ABC’s with the Sesame Street crew in Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet or Winnie the Pooh: ABC’s.

Fans of Blade Runner may want to check out the 3 disc 25th Anniversary soundtrack. This is the first release to contain the film score in its entirety. It also adds several bonus tracks, and an entire disc of new marterial composed by Vangelis to mark the 25th anniversary of the film. And If you haven’t done so yet, HURRY over to the Michigan Theater, there are only two days left to catch Blade Runner – The Final Cut in all its glory on the big screen. It’s the best version of the film so far, arguably, of course. If you miss probably your last chance ever to see it at the cinema, don't fret too much, we have it on DVD.

UM Exhibit Museum of Natural History presents the last Polar Science Adventures in the series! Explore the effects of the melting of land ice and sea ice. How will it affect polar animals or people? What can we do to help right now?

Join this workshop for children ages 6-11 and an adult to learn about the Artic and Antarctica. Activities are designed to be accomplished with collaboration between adults and kids. Register at any public services desk or call the library at 327-4200 and choose a session. Walk-ins are also welcome!
Pittsfield Wednesday, March 26th, 4:30-5:30 PM
Malletts Creek Saturday, March 29th, 10-11 AM
Northeast Saturday, March 29th, 2-3 PM

Bring a partner or find one here and play in our Doubles Tennis Tournament on the Wii console. Show off your backhand or serve up an ace. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams. See you on Saturday, March 22nd at 1 PM at the Downtown Library Multipurpose Room. All ages are welcome. We’ll battle across the net until 5 PM.

You may have noticed that at AADL we’re into green: our new branches feature elements of sustainable design, such as bioswales and convective cooling, and our newest branch, Traverwood (opening this summer!) even boasts the use of ash trees reclaimed from the site. This January we also transitioned from disposable plastic bags to more environmentally friendly, reusable canvas totes, which are available at any circulation desk for $2.

Following that train of thought we’ve added “green living” to the records of titles that focus on practical applications of environmentally friendly ideals—like alternative energy for your home, reducing your carbon footprint and even raising your children “green.” A simple keyword search for “green living” does the trick, bringing up over 70 recent titles. Standouts include Organic Housekeeping and How to Live Well without Owning a Car, a favorite of the people at GetDowntown.

Make candy sushi, create Pokemon pals, play impromptu battles on your Nintendo DS or Game Boy Advance and revel in Pokemon glory. Bring your trading cards for some spontaneous trades.

Spend the beginning of your school break at Malletts Creek Branch on Monday, February 25th form 1-3 PM for a poke-fun good time!

What animals live at the poles and how do they survive? Discover how polar bears swim in ice-cold water and other sub-zero animals live through extreme temperatures through hands-on experiments. Find out all about artic animals in this fun-filled adult/child workshop presented by the UM Exhibit Museum of Natrual History. Call any information desk to register your spot in a branch or drop in. Workshop for children ages 6-11 with an adult.

Pittsfield Branch, Wednesday, February 20, 4:30-5:30 PM
Malletts Creek Branch, Saturday, February 23, 10-11 AM
Northeast Branch, Saturday, February 23, 2-3 PM

Listen to the Rundown to find out about upcoming events in the beginning of February. Also, catch an insider interview with Sophia, a 5th grader, who talks about many of the programs for her age that happened this summer, including Library Lego League, Eggcellent Engineering and a Tween Ice Cream Party.

Hear about TweenSpace, for 4th and 5th graders, on February 5th for Masters of Disguise at the Northeast Branch from 4:30-6 PM. And come back to the Northeast Branch on February 12th for Sock Puppet Theatre.

Welcome to the first Weekly Rundown Podcast! Every week, you will be able to come to our webpage and listen to the programs and events happening for children and teens at the Ann Arbor District Library.

This week, stay glued to the podcast to hear the insider interview at the end. Librarian Elizabeth interviews five Pokemon enthusiasts who frequent the library Pokemon tournaments. Hear Michael, Ben, Brandon, Danny and Nathan speak their thoughts on the AADL Pokemon tournaments and how the battles work. Enjoy!

Spend the day at the UM Exhibit Museum of Natural History to learn more about the Poles. Check out the Antarctica's Climate Secrets: One Teacher's Story exhibit on the Museum's fourth floor to learn about Robin Frisch-Gleason's recent trip to Antarctica. Robin is an Ann Arbor 4th grade teacher, who took the trip as part of the Antarctic Drilling Project (ANDRILL). Learn how the drilling project collected ocean floor core samples to research the long-term climate changes in Antarctica, and see a real set of Extreme Cold Weather gear.

Padam is an endangered form of poetic vocal composition, in the Carnatic style of Indian classical music. Carnatic music traces it's origins to 14th century India, and is often accompanied by instruments and classical dance. Each performance of a Carnatic composition is unique, being heavily influenced by the interpretation of individual performers, whose role is to bring to fruition the intention of the original composer by vocalizing the scored composition with their own words and phrases, rather than by simply playing the specific notes on an instrument or reciting fixed lyrics. The newest album from Aruna Sairam is an incredible work, one which stands on it's own artistically yet, reflecting the conflict of modernity in India, also seeks to draw attention to the imperiled, ancient song form of Padam.