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Hi. It's the end of the year, and we're thinking about programs for 2008. How can we top this past year at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main-Teen? Please take this survey and share your thoughts with us.

Minutes from the Teen Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance (11/3/2007)

Not too much to report. Only two people came. Please come! We need your support to help keep up the group alive. So if you think the idea is cool but haven't made it out, we beg, plead, and urge you to come!

Next meeting is November 17th, 2:00 PM, at Kiva Han (420 S. Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213)

But onto the discussion:

• Programs: we need something exciting to get people excited about the group... but what? We thought about a party featuring ice cream, movies, face painting, crazy gender-freaking dress-up fun, and more. How does that sound?


• Posters: let's think of poster ideas we can put around the community. We propose Keith Haring-style drawing with a snappy, positive line that gets people thinking. We would then use one corner to suggest some books, and the other to promote the program. What LGBTQ-related books are you interested in featuring? What should our poster slogan be?

Please share your thoughts!

Thanks for making the Teen Halloween Party a huge success!

Number of people: 80
Minutes it took for 6 dozen cupcakes to be eaten: 20
Minutes it took for one gallon of cider and 10 liters of pop to be guzzled: 20
Minutes it took for about 25 pounds of candy to be decimated: 110
Seeing an awesome bunch of Pittsburgh teens rock out to video games, scary movies, and generally enjoy themselves: priceless

See the Flickr set by clicking on the picture below. Boo-yah!


IMG_0259
Originally uploaded by clpteens

Alana’s Horror Movie Survival Tips

In honor of our awesome Halloween party on the 27th, which will feature costume, candy, scary movies, video games, and more, I hereby present to you Alana's Horror Movie Survival Tips. If you ever find yourself pursued by an unstoppable killing machine, possessed by an evil demon, or facing hordes of brain-sucking zombies, please do make sure you consult these notes. So now, without further ado...

Alana’s Horror Movie Survival Tips

1. If there is something suspicious sitting in a chair or dark corner, do not approach it
2. Ignore anything that says “come closer.”
3. Do not investigate any disembodied voices. If they sound sing-song, run
4. If a family member or friend is acting possessed, do not try to reason with them. It doesn’t work.
5. Always hire a backup exorcist
6. Avoid unstable surfaces, especially when you’re high up above the ground
7. I cannot stress this enough: always check behind the door!!
8. When going to investigate something, do not leave your weapon behind
9. If the old nursery rhyme or poem says not to do something, don’t do it!
10. Avoid reading anything out loud from strange books with weird symbols on the cover. Better yet, don’t read anything out loud at all
11. If there is a human-shaped shadow behind a curtain, chances are there’s a human there
12. If you manage to defeat your attacker, make absolutely sure he/she/it is completely, permanently dead before leaving
13. If you find a safe hiding place where nothing can get you, stay there
14. If a creepy noise repeats more than 3 times, it’s not just the wind
15. When going to another room to investigate, take the kids with you
16. Anyone holding a sharp weapon is probably past the “let’s talk this over” point
17. Be the comic relief character, they are far less likely to be killed
18. Don’t trust anyone who seems incapable of moving properly, as they are usually insane, dead, hypnotized, or drunk
19. The sweetest looking child is usually the evil one
20. Never ask a killer “why are you doing this,” as it just wastes precious time
21. Dummies, dolls, and clowns are evil. Period.
22. Make sure you are informed of any possible family curses

To be continued…

Are we scared yet?

I know this is a little early and all, but I wanted to get the word out ASAP.

We are having a wicked-cool HALLOWEEN PARTY for teens on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th from 2:00PM until about 5:00PM. All activities will be in the Teen Department, Main Library.

Of course it is totally free.

This year I am giving a prize to ANYONE and EVERYONE who shows up in costume.

We will be watching a scary movie that I haven't decided on yet. Any suggestions? Please send them along! Remember, as long as it is rated PG-13 we can probably watch it.

We'll play some games, and I'll make sure that there are plenty of freshments.

I am also thinking we could do some Halloween button-making. Buttons are always a hit.

So, please come and join us that afternoon for the festivities.



Did I mention that there is going to a ton of candy?



There is going a ton of candy.



Cheers,
Connie



P.S.

CLP Teen Radio at Pandora.com

Listen up - CLP Teen now has its very own internet radio station run by and for you! Listen to CLP Teen Radio at home or in the library by visiting Pandora.com:

Login: teensmain@carnegielibrary.org
Password: teens

That's all you need to get started, but WE NEED YOU to be a part of this to make it work. Add your favorite music to CLP Teen Radio or create a brand new station full of your music! If you have any questions make sure to ask the Teen staff.

Pandora is a great resource and a fantastic way to find new music. Here's a little more about what they do to get you started.

***

The Music Genome Project©

On January 6, 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever.

Together we set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like.

Since we started back in 2000, we've carefully listened to the songs of tens of thousands of different artists - ranging from popular to obscure - and analyzed the musical qualities of each song one attribute at a time. This work continues each and every day as we endeavor to include all the great new stuff coming out of studios, clubs and garages around the world.

It has been quite an adventure, you could say a little crazy - but now that we've created this extraordinary collection of music analysis, we think we can help be your guide as you explore your favorite parts of the music universe.

We hope you enjoy the journey.

Tim Westergren
Founder
The Music Genome Project

PinkTentacle.com - Dig It!

I grabbed this clip of guerilla artist Shuetsu Sato's colorful duct tape designs from the Japanophile blog Pinktentacle. Manga and Anime fans should definitely love this blog, but it's got enough quirk for everyone. Check it out!



- corey

Minutes from the Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance - Saturday, August 18 2007

Don't forget that we're tabling the Warhol event this Friday! It's from 5-10:00 PM. We'll have books, flyers for the group, podcasting, and more. Here's the flyer, so you can print it and give it to your friends:

We're also working on a poster series for LGBT History Month, which is October. The theme is "LGBT History Is a Living History." Here are who we chose so far (you should be able to remember who you chose out of these):

Jefferee Star
John Waters

Eleanor Roosevelt
Alexander the Great

Rufus Wainwright
Andy Warhol

Make sure you have your information for the upcoming meeting. You can find biographical information in our research databases (I recommend the Biography Resource Center and Biography Reference Bank).

Thanks for coming, everyone! We're gearing up for the next meeting, which is Saturday, September 15th, 2:00 PM @ the second floor of Crazy Mocha (420 S. Craig St. Pittsburg, PA 15213)

Harry and the Potters videos are NOW UP!

Voldemort couldn't stop the rock, and neither could the rain. Close to 400 children, teens, and imaginative adults braved the weather to see Harry and the Potters (and their evil guests, Draco and the Malfoys) give Pittsburgh a night to remember. Check out the clips!

I'm Corey and I'm new here.

Hi everyone, my name's Corey and this is my first week in Teen. I'm super-excited to be here and I look forward to meeting you all. Please feel free to track me down and introduce yourself. My interests include: soul music, dancing, comics (Marvel, Paul Pope, Grant Morrison, etc.), stationery and trees. I'm always good for a recommendation when it comes to music or graphic novels, but I'd be just as happy to shoot the breeze. See you soon!

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Looking for a great graphic novel about friendship and radical art? Try the Plain Janes! Listen to a booktalk here:


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Date announced for CLP Teen Awards

December 14th, 2007.
5:30-7:30 pm.

Drop by for the coolest library awards ceremony in town.


Click Here to take survey

Minutes from Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance - Saturday, August 18,2007

Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance Saturday, August 18,2007

Andy Warhol Museum

Event: GLBTQ Night
When: Friday, September 14, 2007 (6:00 p.m.)
Where: 117 Sandusky St Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 237-8310

What we’ll be doing:
· Rainbow bracelets
· GLBTQ buttons
· Showing short video on GLBTQ teen books & movies

Podcasting Ideas

GLBTQ Hotspots (hang outs)
GLCC Tour
Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance Meeting

GLBTQ History Month

When: October (February in the UK)

What we’ll be doing:
Buttons of well-known GLBTQ people (both past & present), and Gay pride!
Posters & Flyers – of GLBTQ people (both past & present). Including small bullet points of their general contributions, and orientation.

Here is a tiny sample list of GLBTQ People: (more coming!)
Deborah Wilson (MAD Tv)
Lance Bass (Musician)
Glen Burk (Professional baseball player)
Ms. Jay (America’s Next Top Model)
Tyra Banks (Model, Tv host)
Jeffery Star (Transgender singer and performer)
John Waters (Movie director)
Elton John (Musician)
Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady)
Frieda Kahlo (Artist)
Alexander the Great (Macedonian ruler)



Publications:
Monthly compilation of interviews with local GLBTQ people

Miscellaneous:

Books recommended (so far) for Andy Warhol film:
Hello, Groin
The Geography Club Series
Rainbow Boys Series
The Center of the World (Die Mitte Der Welt)
Luna
Hard Love
The Full Spectrum
GLBTQ* Survival Guide for Queer & Questioning Teens

Movies recommended (so far) for Andy Warhol film:
But, I’m a Cheerleader
D.E.B.S.
Adam & Steve
Fire
Kinky Boots
Brokeback Mountain
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything

World Map
Color in every country/state that has legalized Same Sex Marriage.

Next Meeting: Saturday, September 1st, 2007 (2:00 p.m.) @ Kiva Han Cafe

First Annual CLP Teen Awards

We're having our first ever CLP Teen Awards in 2007. You can now enter your nominations in the following categories:


1. Teen Fiction Book
2. Teen Non-Fiction Book
3. Manga or Manga Series
4. Graphic Novel or Graphic Novel Series
5. Music CD
6. Video Game*


Enter your nominations now. Happy Voting!

Click Here to take survey


You have until the end of September to nominate titles. Our next round of voting will feature the top results in every category. Then, we'll reveal the winners at an Awards party in December. We'll be releasing the date soon!

*Just added!

Eli Reviews Stan Lee’s Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book 2

Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonderwoman, The Flash, Robin, and Shazam are all your favorite DC heroes. Now put them in the hands of the greatest comic book dude in the world and you’ve got yourself one SSSSSSUUUUUUUHHHH-WWWWWWWEEEEEEETTTT comic. Now in the last book Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonderwoman all were warped by Lee and the marvel team, so just add the flash (also featured in this book) and bam you got yourself the first Marvel JLA issue. Loaded with explanation and villains, JLA is a fun read.

But don’t stop there. What about the ever loved, ever cool side kick of Batman, Robin. I won’t give it all away but here’s the gist of the comic, Robin is controlled by the big baddie of all the Stan Lee DC comics. Fallowing Robins fateful (or not as much of one as they have in DC) turn to the to good, Shazam steals the spotlight for the final comic of this book. In well I think its in the middle east (because of all the sand), A young man, Rob, finds Merlan and the story launches. The drawing of Shazam is pretty sweet so check it out.

After all the comics are said and done, Stan Lee adds in goodies and bios that explain a lot. If you’re a DC/Marvel fan you enjoy checking this book out. Don’t forget this is book 2, so read book one first.

Zoe, an art club regular, created this lovely drawing for your viewing pleasure, and for her own fine forgiveness pleasure! Ask us how we can help you reduce your fines.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is still reeling from the wizard rock

Now that the 7th book's over, the party's just begun. I hereby give you The Remus Lupins, who strummed, drummed, sang, and saxed on July 31st:





Don't forget to check out Harry and the Potters, on Sunday, August 19th @ 5:00 PM

Zoë reviews Leepike Ridge, by N.D. Wilson

Tom Hammond, 11 years old, but he feels older, due to the fact that his father has been gone for three years. Elizabeth Hammond, Tom’s mom, who is finding the strain of being a single mother difficult. Tom runs away from home when his hated Elementary School teacher proposes marriage to Elizabeth. He gets swept up by a creek and winds up deep under Leepike Ridge. I thought the book was well written, and that it was captivating. I was intrigued. I can’t wait to read more!

Guitar Hero Rocks! Guitar Hero II Tournament Ruled!

Scientists unleash a new & exciting task for robots... playing Guitar Hero 2

If the Terminator could headbang, it would probably be a direct descendent of the Guitar Heronoid, a robot created for the purpose of, well, SHREDDING ON GUITAR HERO. It uses image processing code to "follow" the path of the little nodes on-screen and responds accordingly. Check it out in action.



Thinking of your own robotics projects? Check out our over a hundred books on the subject.

Oh, by the way, we are still having the Guitar Hero 2 tournament on Monday. It starts at 12:00 PM. Even if you aren't registered, we have door prizes for just showing up. Yes, that ties in with my new library theme: "Our giveaways. Let me show you them."