What Does An Archivist Do?

I know these are getting old, but this made me laugh. Especially because while it takes too long to explain to people why I am in Library school, it takes four seconds to say "Abigail Chase in National Treasure."

via Flickr

Book Talk Y'all

My good friend here at SLIS Callie Ann is starting a new series called "Book Talk Y'all." Check it out. It's awesome. She's awesome. Dr. Seuss is awesome. He has a birthday coming up, on March 2nd, Read Across America Day.

I make my first appearance in "Book Talk Y'all" at 1:39.  At 2:41 it starts going down hill and I get a little Kristen Bell on ya', then by 6:58, I've just lost it.

Dr. Seuss's first children's book

Did you know the book above inspired this CCR song? Learn all about it and more by checking out "Book Talk Y'all!" 

S-ART-urday (Chuck Close)

Check out Chuck Close, a photorealist who does massive scale portraits. Seriously, these are crazy good.  They look so much like real portraits.  Even after a spinal artery collapse in 1988 that left him paralyzed, he still continues to create beautiful works. 

self portrait via MoMA

Brad Pitt via 5election

via 5election

Kate Moss via 5election

 Some other cool portraits have a more abstract approach:

via 5election

Bill Clinton via 5election

View previous S-ART-urday posts: DIY Paint Chips, Tom Slaughter, Eric Carle, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Molly Mattin

Keep on Truckin'

So the half marathon I'm running is only 9 days away. 9 days. I have been so busy with school, I haven't been running as much as I should.  I have thrown my original time goal (which I will not share with you to spare myself any embarrassment) out the window and am just aiming to complete the darn thing.  My new year's resolution was to complete a 1/2 marathon, and by golly, I'm going to.  So thank you Bailey at Peppermint Bliss for the Friday morning motivation below.

via Peppermint Bliss

Happy Mardi Gras!

I spent the weekend in Mobile, Alabama celebrating Mardi Gras with some friends.  Tonight, I am having a low key Mardi Gras celebrating, eating Jambalaya and having an Abita.  Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  I am going to try to quit biting my nails (I failed miserably at this last year) and give up chocolate or Diet Dr. Pepper, maybe both... I can't decide.  What do you think?

What are you giving up for Lent?

Whitney

Today's post is for remembering Whitney Houston.  This song does exactly what it's supposed to, it makes me want to get up and dance.  

It also reminds me of being a little girl and listening to my older sister's cassette tapes dancing in my bed.  

Material Girl by Madonna was another favorite.  No lie, I thought it was "Cheerio girl." Obviously when your six, you have breakfast on your mind more than boys, diamonds, and sports cars.  

But for today, take a few minutes to remember Whitney and dance with somebody you love.  

S-ART-urday, a little early (Molly Mattin on Etsy)

I have been a little behind in my S-ART-urday posts, so here's a S-ART-urday on Thursday. 

(Everybody's working for the weekend; we're almost there!) 

Check out Molly Mattin.  Her funky colorful states are awesome, and her prints are very reasonably priced! One of the best parts: If you don't see your hometown, just let her know, and she will add it! 

Louisiana

Alabama

Roll Tide!

New York

For a limited time, use the coupon code 20sale and save 20% off your order.

View previous S-ART-urday posts: DIY Paint Chips, Tom Slaughter, Eric Carle, Jean-Michel Basquiat

The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show

On February 9, 1964 over 73 million people crowded around their television sets that Sunday evening to tune in to The Ed Sullivan Show for The Beatles first live appearance on the show.

Watch the complete set here: 

After this performance, they would take America by storm, gain a huge following and even a few haters.  Sixty four years later, and The Beatles are still making an impact on us.  Check out this wedding ensemble my good friend Kathryn at Invitation Solutions of Houston, Texas blogged about today that has a Beatles theme.  What an awesome idea!  Have you considered a fun theme for your wedding invitations, menus, etc? 

"All you need is love, love. Love is all you need." - The Beatles, All You Need is Love 

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." - the last line of the last song collectively recorded by all four of The Beatles.

Ed Sullivan tried to provide wholesome family entertainment on Sunday evenings for over twenty years, but it was not without some controversy.  Last semester, I wrote a term paper on music censorship.  Here are some highlights from the section on The Ed Sullivan Show.  

The Rolling Stones' Raucous Fourth Appearance on Ed Sullivan

1957 January 6– Cameramen only show Elvis Presley from the waist up during his third and final appearance on the show.  80% of the nation’s television audience was tuned in that evening.

1963 February – Bob Dylan refuses to appear on the show after being told he cannot sing “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues.”

1967  January – The Rolling Stones agree to change the lyrics to “Let’s Spend The Night Together” for the show. Mick Jagger maintains he sang the original lyrics. 

1967 September – Jim Morrison agrees to change “Girl we couldn’t get much higher” in “Light my Fire” but during the live performance, clearly sings the original words directly into the camera.  


Update: Check out this post from O Say Can You See?, the blog of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History about The Beatles' first concert in America, which occurred just two days after their appearance on Ed Sullivan.  

"23 is old..."

Happy Birthday candles

"Twenty-three is old. It's almost 25, which is like almost mid-20s." - Jessica Simpson

Thank you MTV for the reality gem that was Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. 
Oh, and happy 23rd birthday to me. 

Fire

This song always puts me in a good mood, and I love the Glee twist on it. I love Kristen Chenoweth.  I'm interested to see how her ABC show GCB turns out. 

I also love the original by The Pointer Sisters. This song is the perfect song to play as you wake up, especially on days like today, Mondays.