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FEBRUARY 29, 2012
Job Fair for Teens

The 2012 Jeffco YouthWorks Young Adult Job Fair is coming up! Explore career possibilities and visit with businesses who are hiring teens and young adults, ages 14-21. Companies who will be there include: Bandimere Speedway, Bruegger's Bagels, Colorado Air National Guard, Foothills Park & Recreation District, Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse, Pirate's Cove Family Aquatic Center and many more.

Dress for job interviews and bring copies of your resume for employers. They're looking for employees for full-time, part-time, and summer work. Registration is not required for this free job fair but create an account with Connecting Colorado before you go. And don't forget that JCPL librarians can help you find books on creating a resume and interviewing for jobs!

Tuesday, March 6th
1:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
15200 W. 6th Avenue in Golden

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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FEBRUARY 28, 2012
Expecto Patronum!

Way back in the day, fully embroiled in a Harry Potter reverie, I tried to figure out what I would want my Patronus to be. You remember the lovely silver animal guardians that could be summoned in extreme circumstances to render graceful protection against the dark forces of the world? Harry’s was a stag; Hermione’s was an otter and Ron’s, naturally, was a Jack Russell terrier.

I thought mine would be a magical dragonfly or maybe an adorable though deadly jackalope… but I’ve just changed my mind. I want THIS GUY to be my Patronus.

Seriously. Can't you just picture him chasing away dementors? What would your Patronus be?

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posted by Tana, Arvada Library

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FEBRUARY 27, 2012
Movie Monday - The Secret World of Arrietty

A family of four-inch-tall people lives in the walls of a house. They are a lot like any normal family, except that they have to borrow everything they need from the tall people who live there. When Arrietty is seen by a human boy, everyone's lives will change.

Based on The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arrietty was created in Japanese and was released in Japan in 2010. It is now in theaters here in the US. Have you seen it? Do you prefer your anime dubbed in English or subtitled?

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 26, 2012
Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicle #1)

Katelyn McBride’s mother dies and she is forced to move from L.A., giving up her dance and gymnastics career as well as BFF Kami, to Wolf Springs, Arkansas to live with her one remaining relative, her grandfather.  Katelyn endeavors to fit in at her new school, to make friends, live within her grandfather’s rules and try not to get too distracted by Trick, her handsome school mate and the convenient ride to and from school that her grandfather arranged. Meanwhile, Katelyn discovers that Wolf Springs is not quite the sleepy little hamlet she expected.  The town has secrets; she’s not allowed to go out after dark – it’s not safe!
Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie has the makings of a fun new paranormal series with a lupine bent.  It’s suspenseful and eerie with a strong female lead and romantic triangle elements.  I hope I don’t have to wait to long for the second book.  I really enjoyed the first!

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Science Saturday: Earth 2.0?

A planet light years away, with (maybe) everything a human would need to live…

Nasa

Sound like a book you’ve read? Maybe a movie you watched? Yep, I totally thought so too. Glow, Ender’s Game, The True Meaning of Smekday, Men in Black, Avatar, the list goes on.

It seems humans have been thinking about the possibility of another planet like our own forever, so now that NASA is saying it might be true, what do you think? Are you hoping for a planet we could colonize? Aliens that might come visit us? Hoping it all turns out to be a fluke? Or something else…
 

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 24, 2012
Calling all Teen Girls! Check out Rookiemag.com!

 I recently discovered a great new website specifically designed for teen girls, RookieMag.com The site was founded by 15 year old fashion wunderkind Tavi Gevinson, creator of the popular fashion blog, thestylerookie.com. The site features monthly themed content (February’s theme is Obsession) and is updated three times a day, five days a week. The site also accepts submissions from its readers like photos, articles, illustration or anything else. So if you’re looking for a place to share some of your creative endeavors, this might be a good place to start.
There are numerous sections to choose from like: music, eye candy, live through this, movies & tv and tech to name a few. There are photo essays, celebrity interviews, fashion and make-up tips and much more. Stories range from Texting Your Crush to Owning up to Weird Obsessions to Confessions of a Fangirl to How to Approach the Person You Like Without Throwing Up. This is a site to spend some time on. Enjoy!

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Let the Games Begin!

The Hunger Games, that is. On March 16, six Jefferson County libraries will be converted into action-packed arenas in a winner-take-all Hunger Games challenge. Space is limited for this after-hours teen program.

 
Sign up at your local library starting February 24. (Tomorrow!)

Friday, March 16
5:30pm-8:30pm

Belmar Library
Columbine Library
Evergreen Library
Golden Library
Lakewood Library
Standley Lake Library

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Job opportunity!

I just received a huge pile of blank applications for the Jefferson County Open Space Youth Work Program

The YWP "provides much of the physical labor required to maintain natural surface trails each summer...Each YWP worker can expect to cover 200 miles in seven weeks by hiking to and from the job site for trail maintenance." 

Some of the minimum requirement qualifications:
Jeffco resident.
Age 14 to 18 on June 18, 2012.
Be able to provide your own transportation.

To find out the rest, pick up an application at any Jeffco library location, and while you're there, grab a book about writing a resume or job interviews

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 21, 2012
Books + Music = AWESOME!

music

I was about halfway through Ready Player One (an awesome book btw), when a friend posted on Facebook that she was loving the book's playlist on Spotify.com. I started listening immediately and then wanted more soundtracks that go with books!

Ready Player One references all sorts of '80s culture, including video games and songs. Being able to listen to the songs and sort of know what they were talking about made the book a lot more fun to read.

I wanted more playlists for more books immediately! I found that Stephenie Meyer made a playlist for Twilight and there are a few others floating around, too. What book do you think needs a playlist? What would you put on it?
 

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 20, 2012
The Chaos Walking Series

Have you all read the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness? Lionsgate, also producing the Hunger Games movie, has picked up the feature rights for the series, Chaos Walking!

KnifeCoverAskCoverMonstersCover

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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FEBRUARY 19, 2012
Pop-up videos…in book form!

Weird facts are my favorite, and VH1's Pop-up Videos serves 'em up, like in this video of "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele.

I have the same love for annotated books and director's commentary on DVDs. Annotated books are essentially pop-up videos for literature. The whole original book is there, and then around the edges there are all sorts of random information about the text. How the author came up with an idea, drawings, stuff that was cut out of the book before it was published, what was going on when the book was written, randomness! If you like knowing the inside info try Annotated Alice or The Words We Live By, an annotated U.S. Constitution. What book would you like to see annotated?

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 18, 2012
Science Saturday - 10 Killer Animals

Here are some of the most deadly animals on earth:

 

1. Mosquito - It may be small but the mosquito accounts for around 2 million deaths per year.  This little blood sucking fiend may transmit malaria, yellow fever, elephantiasis and many other diseases.  They live all over the globe and some breeds can even reproduce in salt water.

2. Inland Tiapan or "Fierce" snake - The venom of this snake is so powerful it could kill up to 100 people. While this snake has the most potent venom it is docile and does not have a high death rate.  The King Cobra of Asia holds the title for most kills.

3. Blue Ringed Octopus - The venom in this octopus can kill a grown man in 15 minutes.  Luckily this little critter is only 4 inches in length.  Another interesting fact about octopus is they have three hearts.

4. Box Jellyfish - Each tentacle has about 5,000 stinging cells.  These are set off by the presence of a chemical on the outer layer of its prey.  The neurotoxin in the stinging cells can cause heart failure, disrupt the nervous system and leave angry red welts on the skin.  Unlike many jellyfish that just drift through the water Box Jellyfish can propel themselves up to 4 knots per hour. 

5. Poison Dart Frogs - They may be colorful but don't mistake them for your prince in disguise.  The use of bright colors to repel predators is called aposematic coloration.  The lipophilic alkaloid toxin secreted through their skin.  It is believed that the toxin is not created by the frog but rather is a byproduct of the poison in the insects they eat.  The Golden Dart Frog is the most poisonous of the breed.   

 6.  Crocodile - With a burst of speed the crocodile will erupt from the water and grab it's prey with a sideways motion of it's jaw.  This descendant of the dinosaur can be found in most tropical and subtropical parts of the world.  You can tell a crocodile from an alligator by the 4th tooth.  When it's jaw is shut you can see the 4th tooth on a crocodile but not on an alligator.

7.  Elephants - Surprisingly, this seemingly docile creature can account for between 150 and 200 deaths per year.  The elephant trunk contains around 100,000 different muscles. 

8.  Hippopotamus - The hippo has an average weight of 5 tons.  These river dwellers are extremely territorial and will charge if they feel threatened.  Their teeth grow to an average of 2 1/2 feet long.  Right now they are facing possible extinction but they still account for 100 deaths a year.

9.  Tsetse Fly - This blood sucking fly is native to Africa and carries the disease trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness.  Unlike mosquitos, both the male and female drink blood to survive.  The Tsetse fly doesn't lay eggs like most insects but rather gives birth to it's young.

10  Duck Billed Platypus - While not a large percentage of people are killed by this animal I am including it in this list because it is not something you would think of as being dangerous.  The male platypus has venomous spines in its hind feet.   Platypuses live in rivers on the eastern side of Australia.

Want to know more about animals?  Check out our online databaseInternational Wildlife or the National Geographic Website.

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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FEBRUARY 17, 2012
Word of the Day

Want to expand your lexicon? Increase your verbage? Optimize your phraseology? Check out Word of the Day by wordnik. You can even sign up for a daily email.

My favorite new word is kipple: "useless objects, like junk mail or match folders after you use the last match or gum wrappers or yesterday's homeopape. When no one's around, kipple reproduces itself."

Then try Tell Me More, from the JCPL Databases to improve your writing, reading, speaking, and vocabulary in English, French, Italian, German or Spanish. Just create an account the first time you login.
 

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 15, 2012
Alex Awards

The Alex Award recognizes adult books that have a special appeal to teens. Do any of these 2012 winners appeal to you?

 

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posted by Chandra, Belmar Library

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FEBRUARY 14, 2012
Meet Erin, New Teen Librarian!

Meet Erin, the new Teen Librarian at Golden!

 

Favorite Teen Book: Oh man this is a tough one.  I LOVE Neil Gaiman and I’ve read his Sandman series more times than I care to count. It’s debatable if it is appropriate for teens, but I first started reading it as a teen so there you go. I’d also go with Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher or the classic, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Recently I loved The Fault in our Stars by John Green, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and the Hunger Games trilogy (natch!).
 
Favorite TV shows: Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Parks and Recreation, Doctor Who, Fringe, Vampire Diaries, Raising Hope & Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Joss Whedon still rules!).
 
Favorite all time movie(s): I so cannot choose just one here. I love movies! Here’s a shortlist of movies I love that you’ve probably never heard of: The Philadelphia Story, Rear Window, Now, Voyager, The Sweet Hereafter, Lola Montes, The Band Wagon, Rushmore, Goodfellas. I do enjoy ridiculous comedies too with Happy Gilmore and This is Spinal Tap at the top of the list. My favorite movie of last year was probably Drive.

Music I like: I am a pop music fan (Beyonce, JT, etc.) for the most part and that’s usually what I end up listening to when I’m cleaning and whatnot. I’m a rap fan too with Jay Z and Lupe Fiasco being my favorites. I love Kanye West’s music but not his irritating personality.  I also love P.J. Harvey, Liz Phair and Lyle Lovett.
 
Favorite sport to watch: Oddly enough, golf.
 
Favorite sport to do:
Yoga, softball, golf.
 
Favorite food to make: Pasta. (I’m lucky to have a husband who loves to cook, so I let him.)
 
Favorite food: I don’t have a particular favorite. I do consider myself a foodie though so I love to try all kinds of different things. 
 
Places I have lived: Colorado, Georgia, Iowa

Places I have traveled: Thailand, Singapore, Mexico

Where I want to go next: Prague

Do I have a pet? I have three: A big, black lab named Royal (any Royal Tenenbaums fans out there?), a black cat named Tupelo and a fish named Pike.  

Stop by Golden and say hello to her!

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Shiver Coming to the Big Screen

Fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series (Shiver, Linger and Forever) will be excited to hear that Shiver will be adapted for the big screen with a possible release date of 2012! I for one am super psyched about this as I always felt the books had a very cinematic feel, not to mention unique, thoughtful characters. There is a writer attached to the project but no casting choices have been made.  Even though she is not involved in the casting, Stiefvater has her own ideas about who she would like to see play the lead roles. Check her blog to find out who she prefers. Personally I always thought Aimee Teegardin of Friday Night Lights fame would make a perfect Grace. Who did you have in mind when your read Shiver?  Post your ideas in the comments!

Stiefvater is one of the Keynote Speakers at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference on March 31st this year and I’m sure she will not disappoint.  (See yesterday's Crazy Readerz blog post for more details on the CTLC) She’s an engaging public speaker with a great sense of humor.  If you want to see what you might be getting for her Keynote address, check out Maggie’s presentation at the TEDx conference. Very inspiring!



 

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Colorado Teen Literature Conference

The Colorado Teen Literature Conference will be on March 31st with keynote speaker Maggie Stiefvater and Todd Mitchell.  Local authors will also be in attendance: Amy Kathleen Ryan, Brenna Yovanoff, Denise Vega, Dom Testa, Robert Spiller and Terri Clark.

At the conference you can meet these authors, learn about writing or poetry slams or much more!  Free lunch is included in conference registration.

Are you interested in going?  There are many grants available so you may be able to go for free!  Reforma grants are available to students with a Hispanic / Latino background and CLAS (Colorado Language Arts Society) grants are available to all students. 

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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FEBRUARY 11, 2012
Science Saturday - Pond Scum

Algae may be the next big winner in the alternative fuel race.  The University of Texas has a lab testing the viability of Algae as a fuel.  Algae need three things to thrive: carbon dioxide, dirty water and sunlight.  At the UT lab the algae is grown in huge glass tubes, thus saving space and creating a controlled environment.  Algae needs less energy and space to grow than other alternative fuels like the corn based ethanol.  Instead of go for the gold, go for the green!

Want to know more about alternative fuels?  Check out our online science databases!

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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FEBRUARY 10, 2012
2012 Colorado Blue Spruce Award Winner

The results are in!

Winner: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Runners Up: The The Maze Runner by James Dashner and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Announcing the 2013 Nominees:
Behind the Gates (Tomorrow Girls #1) by Eva Gray
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Charlie in the Underworld (Charlie Small #5) by Nick Ward
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare
Comets Curse (Galahad #1) by Dom Testa
Crescendo (Sequel to Hush, Hush)  by Becca Fitzpatrick
Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate
Forever (Shiver Trilogy #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler
Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan
Matched by Ally Condie
Mission Unstoppable (Genius Files #1) by Dan Gutman
Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renae Russell
Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Read at least three of these titles and vote for your favorite. Ask your teen librarian for more details.

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Mardi Gras Masks

Join us for this month's Teen Time at Columbine where we'll be making Mardi Gras Masks. I have feathers, glitter, sequins, and much, much more. (Not into feathers on your face? The supplies work just as well for superhero masks! Animal masks! Plant masks?!? Whatever you can think of.)

Hope to see you there!

Mardi Gras Masks
Columbine Library
Monday, February 13, 4pm

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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FEBRUARY 8, 2012
Got Dead Withdrawl?

AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead resumes Feb. 12th (finally!).  Feed your zombie appetite with these other brain-munching suggestions:

Zombies Don’t Cry: A Living Dead Love Story by Rusty Fischer
After being hit by lightning on her way to a party, Maddy awakens happy to be alive, but soon realizes she's become one of the living dead.


Ashes by Ilsa Bick
Survival story of seventeen year old Alex, an 8 year old girl Allie, and Tom a soldier on leave from Afghanistan after an electromagnetic pulse changes everything, turning some people into zombies.


I Kissed a Zombie and I liked it by Adam Selzer 
It’s common for girls Allie’s age to date vampires, werewolves and zombies, but Allie (human) wants no part of it.  Instead, she ends up dating a serious goth guy who may not be quite what he seems.


Zombies vs. Unicorns by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black
Who’s Better? Some of my  favorite  authors – Cassandra Clare, Garth Nix, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld and others – attempt this question in a series of 12 short stories.  Who will you choose?

The Dead by Charlie Higson
After a disease changes everyone over sixteen into mindless, flesh-eating creatures, a group of teenagers head to London to learn more and happen upon an adult who is immune.

 

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posted by Pam, Standley Lake Library

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FEBRUARY 7, 2012
New Hunger Games Trailer

Did you see the new Hunger Games trailer that aired before the Super Bowl? 

I love the footage of the Capitol! According to an imagined map of Panem, the Capitol sits right on top of Denver. What do you think that means for us?

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posted by Erin, Golden Library

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FEBRUARY 6, 2012
Miss Peregrine: Yet Another Book to Movie?

We have done a few different blog posts about the book Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. This is a really unusual book because the author's inspiration for writing the book was his collection of Victorian photographs.

Cover.MissPeregrine'sThe main character, a young man named Jacob, was very close to his grandfather. Upon the death of his grandfather, Jacob starts trying to figure out his grandfather's past. This quest leads Jacob and his father to stay for a while on a remote island off the coast of Wales. A home that Jacob's grandfather stayed in during the war is on this island. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is in ruins when Jacob finds it. However, there are some strange things going on... Could some of these children from long ago still be alive?


Word is a sequel will be out the Spring of 2013.

And, yes, this book has also moved one step closer to becoming a movie! Screen writer Jane Goldman, X-Men, is in talks with 20th Century Fox about adapting Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to the big screen.

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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FEBRUARY 5, 2012
Test Your Knowledge

Try answering these brain teaser questions:

1. If it takes three people to dig a hole, how many will it take to dig half a hole?
2. What is at the beginning of eternity? 
3. How many books would you have if you took two books from three on the shelf? 
4. Which word when pronounced right is wrong but if pronounced wrong is right? (wrong)
5. Some months have 31 days and some have 30 days.  How many months have 28 days?
6. What can you hold in your right hand, but not in your left?
7. If a plane crashes on the Colorado/Wyoming border, where do you bury the survivors?
8. If you are in a house where all four walls face south, what color is a bear that walks past the window?

Answers:
1. It is not possible to dig half a hole
2. The letter e
3. You would have two
4. Wrong
5. All of them
6. Left hand/elbow
7. You don’t bury the survivors
8. White because you are at the north pole

Interested in doing more intelligence tests?  Try the Mensa Test or other IQ tests online.

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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FEBRUARY 4, 2012
Science Saturday - Snakes and Lizards

 

I took my son to the new exhibit "Lizards and Snakes" at the Museum of Science and Nature last week.  Here are some things I learned about snakes and lizards:

The Basilik lizard can run on water.  It does this by pushing down on the water with it's wide back foot, creating a pocket of air, and then pulling it's foot up before the pocket refills with water.

There are snakes that can fly through the air. (Luckily, they live in Asia)  They can go up to 76 feet and can change direction in mid flight.

We have 26 bones in our back while snakes have over 100.

The Collard Lizards will run on their back feet.  They can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. 

Want to know more about snakes and lizards?  Visit our science databases online at the library!

 

 

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posted by Arra - Lakewood Library

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FEBRUARY 2, 2012
Evergreen Teen Time

Join us next week for an anti-Valentine's Day party. We'll have crafts, games and fun in anti-celebration!

Wednesday, February 8
4-5pm
Evergreen Library

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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FEBRUARY 1, 2012
Upcoming Teen Books -- February

I just can't wait for all the great teen books coming out this month! Get your name on the list today--right after mine, of course! 

Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon: Nick must stay alive while everyone is trying to kill him. Chronicles of Nick #3. (2/1/12)

 

 

The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion: Exactly what it sounds like. Bet you didn't think I would be able to squeeze Hunger Games into this blog post. (2/7/12)

 

Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard: Emma still hasn't found Sutton's killer, but one person keeps popping up on the top of the list of people who wanted her dead. The Lying Game #3 (2/7/12)

 
  

Fever by Lauren DeStefano: Rhine and Gabriel have escaped, but how long can they evade her previous captor? Sequel to Wither. (2/21/12)

 

 

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg: Just before her sixteenth birthday, Brie Eagan literally dies of a broken heart when her boyfriend tells her he does not love her, and she then must go through the five stages of grief, while watching her friends and family try to cope with her death. (2/21/11)
 

Partials by Dan Wells: Partials, or engineered beings that look just like humans, have nearly wiped out the human race and time is running out for the few human survivors stranded on Long Island. (2/28/12)

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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