1937 Hindenburg Disaster Anniversary

Today is the 72nd anniversary of the crash of the Hindenburg. I have always been fascinated by zeppelins...maybe because we share a first initial. Zeppelins were created by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century, based on designs he had outlined as early as 1874.

According to Wikipedia: "The Hindenburg was a large German commercial passenger-carrying airship (commonly referred to as a zeppelin). It was the largest flying machine of any kind (by dimension) ever built. The airship flew from March 1936 until it crashed and was destroyed by fire fourteen months later on May 6, 1937, at the end of it's first North American transatlantic journey. Thirty-six people died in the accident, which occurred while landing at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey. The Hindenburg was named after the late Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934), President of Germany (1925–1934)."

Below is a new sound composite, produced by C. E. Price, of news footage of the Hindenburg explosion and Herb Morrison's reporting of the event. Both video and audio are in the public domain, as well as this particular composite.

The entire film can be downloaded here: Hindenberg Explodes

Video courtesy of archive.org

You Go Girl!

With over 11 million views on YouTube, Susan Boyle has become a very unlikely sensation. Her performance on Britain's Got Talent brought down the house and scored an amazing three "yes" votes from the judges. Here are some lessons to learn from this:

• Don't judge a book by it's cover. It is obvious the audience and judges wrote her off before she even started to sing.
• Susan had a dream and went for it.
• Susan said her performance was a tribute to her mom, who she had cared for and is recently deceased, and what a tribute it was! Moms rule!
• Middle-aged women rock!

Susan definitely has my vote...you go girl!

To keep the YouTube views rising, click on the link below. Watching this video for the first time gave me goosebumps. It is truly amazing!

Susan Boyle YouTube Video

The CBS Early Show has a great follow up interview with Ms. Boyle. Enjoy!

CBS Early Show Interview with Susan Boyle

Read Meme

Photo Credit: Life Magazine Archive via Google Images

I joined this Read Meme on the 23 Things on a Stick Ning. It was originally posted on Booklist Online. If you want to participate in this meme, just answer these and put them on your blog or take it to your next book discussion group (the original use for this meme).

1.Which book has been on your shelves the longest?
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

2.What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?
Current: The Eight by Katherine Neville
Last: Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Next: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

3.What book did everyone like and you hated?
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

4.Which book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?
The rest of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. I've gotten through Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book #4)

5.Which book are you saving for “retirement?”
Not sure. I'm not very good a saving books! Perhaps the rest of the Harry Potter series (refer to Question #4).

6.Last page: read it first or wait til the end?
I usually wait until the end, but if the book is dragging, I have been known to jump ahead just to be sure finishing it is worth my time. My husband and daughter think this is unforgivable. Sorry!

7. Acknowledgments: waste of ink and paper or interesting aside?
Waste of ink. We all know that the author is grateful for the support of his/her publisher, editor, secretary, etc. I do like "dedications." They are usually short and sweet.

8.Which book character would you switch places with?
Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy, enough said.

9.Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)?
Bruce's Loose Tooth by Eileen Landay. It was one of my daughter's favorite bedtime stories and will always have a special place in my heart.

10.Name a book you acquired in some interesting way.
I can't think of anything very interesting other than Christmas and birthday gifts or great garage sale or Goodwill finds.

11.Have you ever given away a book for a special reason to a special person?
I have given the book I Love You as Much... by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Henri Sorensen to several expectant mothers at baby showers.

12.Which book has been with you to the most places?
My Bible

13.Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad ten years later?
I didn't really hate any high school reading. I had a really great English teacher (Mrs. Swanson) who made the reading selections very interesting. She explained each book and we had great classroom discussions about what we were reading.

14.What is the strangest item you’ve ever found in a book?
An airline boarding pass found in a book that my daughter purchased for my husband At Sara's Table in Duluth, Minnesota.

15.Used or brand new?
I prefer brand new. It's like a Christmas gift any time of the year. However, I do cherish my collection of antique books.

16.Stephen King: Literary genius or opiate of the masses?
Opiate of the masses. I can't say I'm a fan of the genre.

17.Have you ever seen a movie you liked better than the book?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm not sure I liked these movies "better" than the book, but it's a close call.

18.Conversely, which book should NEVER have been introduced to celluloid?
Sahara by Clive Cussler. Bad, bad and even more bad! Even Matthew McConaughey couldn't save this one for me!

19.Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?
Denise

Check out these Read Meme participants blog responses:
Not Enough Coffee
Floating Lush
Librarian D.O.A.
J Wiles' 23 Things Times 2 Blog

Happy Friday and Welcome Spring!

Note to self: This is a good reason to stay on track with Weight Watchers. Enjoy the video!

1st Robin Sited

Last Year: March 22, 2008

This Year: March 15, 2009

If You're Gonna Play In Fargo. . .

My friend Sue e-mailed me this song and I couldn't resist forwarding it up to our daughter who attends Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota (Fargo's twin city). I hope you smile when you listen to it!

If You’re Gonna Play In Fargo. . .

Posted using ShareThis

Tag Cloud of President Obama's Speech

tag cloud of obama's speech - red, white, blue
Originally uploaded by emilychang

January 20, 2009

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

Why is the fear of long words called hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

Happy Halloween!

Dino Dog!

My photo was published by Schmap!! New Orleans

I was notified today that one of my photos was selected to be in the current edition of Schmap!! New Orleans. I had placed my vacation photos from New Orleans, Louisiana on Flickr this summer. The photo editors of this publication saw my New Orleans photos on Flickr and asked me to let them consider my photo of the sidewalk sign at the restaurant Arnaud's for inclusion in their new edition. They decided to use it! I placed a Schmap!: New Orleans widget on my blog sidebar. There are several photos for each restaurant, so to find mine, go to Arnaud's and then look for the sidewalk sign! Who would have guessed this small-town girl from Minnesota would help to promote New Orleans!

Happy Dance Like a Chicken Day!

The Chicken Dance (Every Day in May - May 13, 2008)
Originally uploaded by the happy learner

Today, May 14th, is National Dance Like A Chicken Day.
Embarrassing? Yes... but it burns calories!

2008 Webby Awards

It was announced today that Stephen Colbert has won the title "Webby Person of the Year". An article on CNN.com highlights some of the other winners and it was interesting to see some of the "23 Things" on the list (Flickr, Facebook, etc.). Am I the only one disappointed that "23 Things on a Stick" didn't get an award? If it was up to me, the program would have gotten one! Here's a link to the CNN article: Colbert Wins 'Webby Person of the Year'

Happy May Day!

I remember growing up, making May baskets was a huge deal. Do kids make and exchange May baskets anymore? I found this photo of a May basket and the instructions on how to make them. The only thing I would do differently is filling them with chocolate instead of flowers, or maybe a little of each, but definitely add chocolate somewhere!

Instructions How to Make this May Basket

Happy RSS Awareness Day!

Who knew? Thanks to one of my RSS feeds, I found out that May 1st is RSS Awareness Day. Here is a link to the site that is promoting the day: RSSday. The "Common Craft" video explaining RSS feeds is on this site. I think RSS is a useful Web 2.0 tool and want to help spread the word. Happy RSS Awareness Day!

ICK!

2008: The Winter That Just Won't End

We woke up to snow this morning and just heard that Fergus Falls got 15". Who introduced Old Man Winter to the Energizer Bunny? It's the Winter that just keeps going, and going, and going...

On the bright side, my dog is ecstatic about the snow. He was beside himself with glee. At least somebody's happy about it.

It's finals week for my daughter, so I thought maybe we could IM a little this morning and I could find out how much snow Fargo/Moorhead got, but she's not online...must still be sleeping...surprise, surprise! I'll check with her around noon!

Happy Earth Day!

Let's all do our part!

More Signs of Spring!

Last night we uncovered a couple of our flower gardens, and my tulips and daffodils are both about six inches high. They aren't flowering yet, but will be soon (unless the deer get to them first).

Games in the News...The Sims

The Sims games are in the news today. Although this isn't an online game, it is popular, none the less. I'm waiting for a Sims Library edition! Click on the link to read the article:

Global Sensation 'Sims' Hits 100 Million Milestone

Computer Goddess!

There is an English class in the computer lab today and the teacher and students called me the "Computer Goddess". Note to self...maybe should think about ordering business cards. LOL!

You can get your own at: www.kitschcapers.com

Happy Spring!