Type on the Cob Wayzgoose

After two highly successful annual conferences in Asheville, North Carolina, the Ladies of Letterpress is sponsoring its first regional wayzgoose on June 27-29, 2013 in Printers' Hall on the grounds of Midwest Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. A full complement of workshops and presentations led by leading printers, graphic designers, and book artists is scheduled. Registration is now open and further details may be found online.

Saving Our Heritage: MayDay 2013

Since 2006, the Society of American Archivists (SAA) has designated May 1st as MayDay, or a day of action for both individuals and organizations such as archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies to improve their capacities to deal with emergencies that can threaten or destroy historical collections. The ravages of recent tornadoes in Alabama and other states is just one example of the physical risks facing cultural heritage institutions.

Although the landmark study, A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America's Collections (2005), systematically documented that most institutions lack an adequate disaster preparedness plan, the SAA has worked to mitigate these deficiencies. The SAA web site provides recommendations for MayDay activities, as well as a compilation of resources, including technical literature and tools, disaster plan templates and examples, tutorials and courses, bibliographies, and other resources.

National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest

Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest. Begun in 2005 by the Fine Books & Collections magazine for bibliophiles, the competition is now jointly sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies, as well as the Center for the Book and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress.

A number of contests are currently held at colleges and universities around the U.S., with Swarthmore College's competition being the first in the 1920s. College-level students from all educational institutions, however, are encouraged to participate. Entries for the 2013 competition are due by May 31, 2013. Contest rules and further information are available at the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America website. The Library of Congress will be the site of this year's awards ceremony on October 18, 2013.

4.20 Is Record Store Day 2013

Ambassador White says "Gimme the combo platter." Find a participating shop near you at the Record Store Day website.

Books over Bloomberg

On April 9, 2013, the Occupy movement scored a victory when a settlement was reached in the case of Occupy Wall Street (OWS), "an unincorporated association," against the City of New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and other city officials and individuals. The suit was filed because of the seizure and destruction of books, library furnishings, and equipment of the People's Library at Zucotti Park in New York City on November 15, 2011. Among other things, the settlement provides for the payment of $47,000 to the OWS Library Working Group and $185,000 in attorneys' fees for the plaintiffs. The full text of the settlement can be read online. Further information about the People's Library and its history can be found at its blog.

Moon Hoax Not

Moon Hoax Not by S.G. Collins is a quick-paced video describing the technical implausibilities and impossibilities that would have been involved in any attempt to fabricate the visual documentation of NASA's moon shot in 1969. The Common Curator also has these earlier offerings for All Fools' Day, including its putative origin and other notorious hoaxes.

The Twist and D-Day Broadcast among Latest Entries to the National Recording Registry

In the eleventh year of the National Recording Registry, Librarian of Congress James Billington has selected 25 sound recordings as the official entries for 2012, stating: "Congress created the National Recording Registry to celebrate the richness and variety of our audio heritage and to underscore our responsibility for long-term preservation, to assure that legacy can be appreciated and studied for generations. Our challenge, however, continues to be finding collaborative and innovative ways to protect and make available this unmatched legacy to the public."

In reverse chronological order, the selections for 2012 are as follows:

1. "The Audience with Betty Carter," Betty Carter (1980)
2. "Einstein on the Beach," Philip Glass and Robert Wilson (1979)
3. "Saturday Night Fever," The Bee Gees, et al. (1977)
4. "Ramones," The Ramones (1976)
5. "Wild Tchoupitoulas," The Wild Tchoupitoulas (1976)
6. "Music Time in Africa," Leo Sarkisian, host (July 29, 1973)
7. "The Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd (1973)
8. "Cheap Thrills," Big Brother and the Holding Company (1968)
9. "Sounds of Silence," Simon and Garfunkel (1966)
10. "Hoodoo Man Blues," Junior Wells (1965)
11. "Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s," Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, et al. (1960-1962)
12. "The Twist," Chubby Checker (1960)
13. "Crossing Chilly Jordan," The Blackwood Brothers (1960)
14. "The Shape of Jazz to Come," Ornette Coleman (1959)
15. "A Program of Song," Leontyne Price (1959)
16. President's Message Relayed from Atlas Satellite, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Dec. 19, 1958)
17. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Van Cliburn (April 11, 1958)
18. "Descargas: Cuban Jam Session in Miniature," Cachao Y Su Ritmo Caliente (1957)
19. "South Pacific," Original Cast Album (1949)
20. "Just Because," Frank Yankovic & His Yanks (1947)
21. D-Day Radio Broadcast, George Hicks (June 5-6, 1944)
22. "You Are My Sunshine," Jimmie Davis (1940)
23. "Begin the Beguine," Artie Shaw (1938)
24. "Bacon, Beans and Limousines," Will Rogers (Oct. 18, 1931)
25. "After You’ve Gone," Marion Harris (1918)      

The full National Recording Registry currently numbers 375 recordings, and can be viewed here. The Registry solicits nominations for inclusion on the registry; further information on the criteria and procedures for making nominations is available at the Registry website.       
  

Complete Route for RAGBRAI XLI

The complete route for the 2013 Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa has just been announced. Beginning in Council Bluffs on July 21 and concluding in Fort Madison on July 27, the overnight and pass-through towns are shown on the map above, which can also be downloaded as a PDF. Registration for RAGBRAI XLI is still open online, with an April 1 deadline for week-long riders.

A Song for International Women's Day 2013

Launching on International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, "One Woman" is "a rallying cry that inspires listeners to join the drive for women's rights and gender equality." The song was written for UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

The theme for this year's International Women’s Day is "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women." Violence against women is "a gross human rights violation that affects up to 7 in 10 women and a top priority for UN Women." For further information and a schedule of events sponsored by UN Women, including a live webcast, visit the IWD 2013 website.

The Emancipation Proclamation at 150

The sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation was observed by the U.S. Postal Service on January 1, 2013 with the issuance of a commemorative stamp at the National Archives. While marking a momentous event in American history, what is unusual about this stamp is that the design is based on a letterpress-printed broadside. Designer Gail Anderson and art director Antonio Alcalá collaborated on the graphic design, with printing executed with the assistance of Jim Sherraden at Hatch Show Print. Photos of the process can be viewed at the Felt & Wire web site. In addition, the U.S.P.S. is offering a limited edition of both numbered and signed and numbered prints, as well as the stamps themselves with and without the first day of issue cancellation.

WFMU Marathon 2013: Freedom Is Free-Form!

Love free-form radio? Then consider supporting independent station WFMU during its annual fundraising Marathon that runs March 4 through March 17, 2013. WFMU first hit the airwaves on April 24, 1958 at the now-defunct Upsala College and has never looked back. Currently based in Jersey City, New Jersey, WFMU broadcasts at 91.1 Mhz and via a second signal at 90.1 Mhz in Mount Hope, New York. WFMU has also long been an Internet pioneer, streaming its programming 24/7 in multiple formats, including iPhone and Android. Past shows are archived at the station's website, which also features WFMU's entertaining and content-rich blog.

What is free-form radio you might ask? WFMU describes itself as follows:

WFMU's programming ranges from flat-out uncategorizable strangeness to rock and roll, experimental music, 78 RPM Records, jazz, psychedelia, hip-hop, electronica, hand-cranked wax cylinders, punk rock, gospel, exotica, R&B, radio improvisation, cooking instructions, classic radio airchecks, found sound, dopey call-in shows, interviews with obscure radio personalities and notable science-world luminaries, spoken word collages, Andrew Lloyd Webber soundtracks in languages other than English as well as country and western music.

And because WFMU is 100% listener-supported, with zero corporate, government, or other underwriting, WFMU DJs have for years maintained complete autonomy and control over their own programming, which is indeed extraordinarily eclectic. Check out the current WFMU audio smorgasbord, and see for yourself!

Obama Zong-Tong: 大力支援农业 !

"Vigorously support agriculture!" Would that it were so. Editorial cartoon by Scott Stantis in the Chicago Tribune, February 21, 2013. For linguistic commentary, see the Linguistic Log.

Wrestling in Jeopardy at Olympics

Olympic wrestling champion Dan Gable joins Iowa Governor Branstad and others at a press conference on February 15, 2013 to organize opposition to the International Olympic Committee's recent decision to drop the ancient sport of wrestling from the Olympics beginning in 2020. Let's Keep Wrestling is a new web site devoted to the cause, and an online petition has already garnered over 22,000 signatories.The petition reads as follows:

WE PETITION the International Olympic Committee to ensure wrestling remains a summer Olympic competition by including wrestling on the roster of events for the 2020 summer Olympic games. As one of the oldest non-running sports in the history of the world, wrestling has transcended generations in nearly 200 nations and has proved to be an inclusive sport providing opportunities for all genders and backgrounds. No sport captures the essence of the Olympics as does wrestling, and future generations should not be denied this opportunity that dates back to the ancient Olympic games.

Democracy Now! Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Civil Rights Activist Rosa Parks

RAGBRAI XLI Overnight Towns Announced

The eight overnight towns for RAGBRAI XLI (July 21-27, 2013) were announced yesterday at the annual Route Announcement Party: Council Bluffs > Harlan > Perry > Des Moines > Knoxville > Oscaloosa> Fairfield > Fort Madison. The pass-through towns of the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa will be announced in the near future.

Registration for the world's oldest, largest, and longest recreational bike touring event is currently open; the deadline is February 15, 2013 for paper applications and April 1, 2013 for online applications. Lottery results are announced May 1, 2013.

The Boone River Watershed: Why Strip-Till and Cover Crops Matter

This short video features the Smith farm in north-central Iowa, and was produced by the Nature Conservancy, which is working to improve conservation practices among farmers. The organization notes that, "For farmers in Iowa's Boone River watershed, the change to strip-till and cover crops can make sense both economically and environmentally."

For further information about the initiatives sponsored by the Nature Conservancy and its partners in Iowa, as well as other recent videos such as "Restoring Ox Bows on the Boone River" and "How Bioreactors Are Making a Difference in the Boone River Watershed," visit the Nature Conservancy's web site. An index of project areas in Iowa can be found here.

Letterpress Now: A Do-It-Yourself Guide

Jessica C. White, proprietor of Heroes and Criminals Press and co-founder of the Ladies of Letterpress, has authored the recently published book, Letterpress Now: A DIY Guide to New and Old Printing Methods. Published by Lark Crafts, the volume offers how-to information for getting started with letterpress printing, as well as projects and techniques for cylinder presses and both tabletop and full-size platen presses. In addition, the book features seven letterpress printers, a glossary of terms, recommended reading, and other resources.

Wapsipinicon Almanac No. 19

The latest annual installment of the eclectic Wapsipinicon Almanac is now available. Published and letterpress printed since 1988 by Timothy Fay of Route 3 Press, the present issue, as with previous numbers, features an engaging mix of essays, reviews, fiction, poetry, art, wit and wisdom. For those in the Iowa City area, Fay and other contributors will be giving readings from the almanac at Prairie Lights bookstore at 7 pm on January 25, 2013.

Number 19 can be purchased at bookstores or directly by writing the publisher at Wapsipinicon Almanac, 19948 Shooting Star Road, Anamosa, Iowa 52205. Single copies are $8, plus $2.50 for postage; Iowa residents should also include 56-cents for sales tax.

The cover shown here is based on an linocut by artist Lindsay Whitmore. A brief history of the publication can be viewed at the Almanac's website.

Winter Solstice 2012: Of Beer and Bollocks

Well, time has run out for time to run out. The pseudo-Mayan apocalypse has not transpired, although that did not stop Stevens Point Brewery from manufacturing a novelty beer called 2012 Black Ale:

Thousands of years ago the ancient Mayans of Central America developed a "Long-Count" round calendar that ends ominously on December 21, 2012. Some predict this symbolizes the end of time as we know it. Inspired by this mystery, we offer Point 2012 Black Ale to help contemplate this 'end of time' or perhaps a 'new beginning.' Dark rich roasty and complex, Point 2012 Black Ale is hand-crafted with Pale, Munich, and Roasted Malts with Cluster, Saaz, and Cascade hops for the robust flavor and finish. Enjoy--while there's still time.

The brewery even recommended food pairings for its Long-Neck-cum-Long-Count libation:

Point 2012 Black Ale pairs well with steak tips, grilled salmon or pork chops. The mild burnt/roasty flavors and malty sweetness tends to complement grilled meats very well and are perfect for pairing up with dark chocolates.

While referencing the Mayan calendar was merely a clever marketing ploy for this particular company, the widespread gullibility of a scientifically illiterate public compelled NASA to publicly counter such misinformation. For reassurance, one can check out their end-time FAQ entitled, "Beyond 2012: Why the World Won't End." Cheers!

12.12.12

 
A One, A Two, A Cha Cha Cha! by Barbara Boylan & Bobby Burgess on the Lawrence Welk Show. Carpe diem!

Human Rights Day 2012

 
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10 to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted on this date in 1948. The Declaration was proclaimed through United Nations General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III):

. . . as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Although not itself a binding legal document, it has "inspired more than more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights."

The Declaration has been translated into more than 300 languages and dialects, from Abkhaz to Zulu. The English version is available here, while other versions are available via an online database. A guide to UN Human Rights documentation as well as various related UN databases are also accessible on the UN Human Rights web site.

In the video above, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay presents her message for this year's Human Rights Day, December 10, 2012.

Plant Ahead! 2013 Seed Savers Exchange Catalog Now Available

Founded in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy, Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is now the largest non-governmental seed bank of its kind in the United States. With over 13,000 members, SSE conserves and maintains heirloom seeds for thousands of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Its mission is:

. . . to save North America's diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity.

Located on the 890-acre Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa, SSE is open to visitors from April to October, and sponsors special events such as seed starting, grafting, and gardening workshops. It also hosts an annual conference and campout. To learn more about Seed Savers Exchange and the benefits of membership, visit its website.

The amazing 2013 Catalog can be downloaded as a PDF, or a copy in print can be requested free of charge. Also of interest is the book authored by co-founder Diane Ott Whealy, Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver.

The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa 2013

In 247 days, RAGBRAI XLI will commence its annual mass bicycle ride from Iowa's west coast, the Missouri River, to the east coast, the Mississippi River. Registration for the week-long event (July 21-27, 2013) begins today, November 15, 2012. For full details and registration forms, visit the RAGBRAI website. The Common Curator rode on the fortieth anniversary RAGBRAI last summer and is contemplating next year's ride.

Vote Early, Vote Mad

The Iowa City Song Project

As part of its year-long centennial celebration, the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, Iowa has collaborated with Maximum Ames Records to produce the Iowa City Song Project, commissioning 31 musicians and bands to craft new music inspired by the city of Iowa City. With a release date of November 6, 2012, the album can be pre-ordered through Maxiumum Ames Records. In addition, the Englert Theatre and The Mill Restaurant will be hosting record release shows on November 2 at 7pm and November 3 at 8pm, respectively.