Now that 2010 is Decided, Expect 2012 Campaign Ads to Begin Next Month

For those who voted, waking up the day after an election can feel like Christmas morning. The rolled up newspaper/darkened TV screen/booting up computer can bring forth the same queasy feelings of future happiness or crushing disappointment that a stack of wrapped presents could trigger in a child. It's a feeling of uneasy potential. A blissful state of ignorance in which everything is possible and maybe, just maybe, you got everything you asked for.

But of course you didn't. No one does. As soon as you see the results, you have to contend with feeling both good and bad (and probably a fair amount of indifferent). That's the terrible beauty of democracy... no one's ever really that happy. So, if for some reason you haven't seen the news yet, enjoy that momentary euphoria of mystery because below are the results of some of the larger elections that took place yesterday.

- Elected youngest Californian governor in 1974, Jerry Brown defeated Meg Whitman to get the title of oldest Californian governor in 2010. In related news, Gavin Newsom got the Lieutenant Governor position meaning that a hair care shop in Sacramento will now reap the benefits of his pomade addiction (seriously, even in high winds, I've never seen it disheveled).

- Barbara Boxer was reelected over Carly Fiorina for the U.S. Senate. Had the election tipped the other way, she could have fallen back on her career as a novelist.

- Disappointing marijuana advocates and national news channels dying to refer to all Californians as being high, it looks like it's still just for medicinal purposes.

- With the defeat of Proposition of 23, California reaffirms that we are a bunch of treehuggers. Though, with the defeat of Propostion 21, voters decided they don't care about hugging the trees in state parks so much. Not if it requires $18 extra dollars on their car registration at least.

- With the approval of Proposition 25, California has told the state congress that when it comes to passing a budget, just a good old fashioned majority will do the trick. No need to try to be overachievers and make it "super."

- Locally, it looks like you'll still see some familiar faces around city hall.

- Nationwide a "bunch of people I don't know were elected for a bunch of states I've never been to and probably never will." Most years this is the general reaction to the elections in other states. But this time around it does matter. Congress is now divided. If you've been annoyed by the Congressional bickering over the pass two years (or if you like that sort of thing), keep in mind that happened when one party was in power. Now the Democrats have the Senate and the Republicans/Tea Party have control of the House of Representatives. Hi-jinx ensue. Meanwhile, cable news channels are preparing to shout/talk themselves hoarse until they literally can only point fingers at one another for the next two years in response to this development.
posted by jw

Have a Spooktacularly Safe Halloween*

It's the end of October, and you already know what that means....Halloween! And you know what Halloween often means to kids across the country....Trick-or-Treating!

There are so many great and fun things about Halloween: costumes, haunted houses, all sorts of candy, parties, etc. It's also a time of year to remember that safety comes first.

Here are some tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (modified a little by me) about how to have a safe and happy Halloween:

1. Safety comes first. While your costume might be awesome without accessorizing with extra glow-in-the-dark tape or glow sticks, add some on so that people in passing cars can see you.

2. Look both ways before crossing the street. Be sure to hold hands with younger kids so that they cross the street safely, too.

3. Trick-or-Treat in groups and be sure that everyone knows where you are so that you stick together.

4. You have a cool mask, right? Be sure you can see clearly when wearing the mask. This will help prevent you from tripping!

5. Oh, and your really long superhero/witch/wizard cloak or cape? Consider getting it shortened because you don't want to trip on that either.

6. With a trusted adult, take a close look at your trick-or-treat loot before taking a bite. Be sure that none of the wrappers are open -- this way you know they're safe to eat.

7. Be sure you are supervised by an adult when carving out your Jack-o-Lantern masterpiece. And use a flashlight instead of a candle to light up your pumpkin.

8. If you expect to receive trick-or-treaters, be sure your house and all paths leading to your front door are clear and well-lit.

Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for more safety tips or ask a Youth Services Librarian for help finding other resources.

Posted by ws. Jack-o-Lantern [source].*I had to use "spooktacular" somehow!

Surviving Bipolar and Depression Made S.I.M.P.L.E.

Join Santa Clara authors David and Diane Mariant for a first-hand account of bipolar disorder. Hear one family's personal story about the challenges of living with this devastating illness. They will provide practical advice for controlling bipolar disorder and will offer strategies for helping avoid depression, mania, and mixed bipolar states.

David Mariant has been living successfully with bipolar disorder for 11 years; he and Diane also have a child with this illness. They are the authors of Surviving Bipolar's Fatal Grip available at this library.

In the Cedar Room from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Sign up for this free program at the 2nd floor Reference Desk or call (408) 615-2900.

posted by mb for jb

Beep, Beep, Beep! Fire Prevention

This year's annual Fire Prevention Week was from October 3-9.  Each year, Fire Prevention Week is sponsored by National Fire Prevention Association, whose mission is to "reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education." Fire safety is so important that some areas of the country extend the week through the whole month of October!

This year's theme was "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With," and consumer education focused on the importance of smoke alarms.

Here's what you can do at home to help prevent fire and be safe in case there is one:

1. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms every time you change the clocks one hour forward or backward (every 6 months).

2. Check the smoke alarm once per month to make sure you can hear it beep and that the batteries are working.

3. Sit with your family and create an escape route and a safe place to meet away from your house in case the smoke alarm beeps and there's a real fire. Practice, practice, practice!

4. Avoid leaving burning candles unattended, turn off your clothes dryer before leaving the house or going to sleep, and use a flashlight instead of a candle in your Halloween Jack-O-Lantern.

5. Be careful when cooking, especially around a stove with an open flame. Be sure that fabric, utencils, and children stay at least 3 feet away from the stove.

These and other helpful tips are available on National Fire Prevention Assocation's website. Visit firepreventionweek.org for more information about Fire Prevention Week.

As always, ask a Youth Services Librarian for help finding books and more information about fire safety!

Posted by ws

Join this free, 2-hour workshop where small business owners and prospective small business entrepreneurs will learn how the programs of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can help them start, manage, and grow their companies. Experts from SBA and its resource partners will provide practical information on SBA's three main program areas:

• management training and counseling


• access to financing


• access to federal government contracting opportunities

Program benefits, elgibility requirements, and application procedures also will be covered.

If you are thinking of starting a small business, or simply want to expand your existing business, this SBA workshop is for you!

Stop by the Reference Desk or call (408)615-2900 to reserve a place at this free workshop.

posted by mb for jb

A Liberal Interpretation of the Word "Teamwork"

On the news this morning at 5 AM, the camera turned onto a person waiting outside AT&T Park (is that what they are calling it these days?... It's so hard to keep up with the ever changing corporate sponsorships). Dressed head to toe in black and orange (fitting colors considering the season), he proceeded to scream "GIIIAAAAANNNTTTSSSS!!!!!!" into the camera while first pointing to his hat (which said "Giants"), then to his shirt (which said "Giants"), then back to his hat. And just when you think he's going to point at his shirt again, he puts on a large (some might say "giant") foam finger (which says "Giants") and points to the ballpark wall (which has a sign that says "Giants"). I'm not entirely sure, but I think he might have been excited about seeing the Phillies.

Oh sports fans, I adore you and your clinically insane enthusiasm. I love the fact that you have tickets for a 4:30 PM game, but show up at 5AM knowing that you'd be useless in the office since you are way too excited to do anything except proclaim your love for the team (also, the dress code doesn't allow face paint or fake beards). I love the fact that you will spend hundreds of dollars on tickets and another hundred on really ugly merchandise. And I love the fact that you have this delusion that you are on the team and speak of their accomplishments as if they were your own. This is best manifested in the way sports fans speak in a collective "we" when talking about wins ("We dug deep tonight and really played our hearts out."). Interestingly enough, the proper pronoun of "they" is used whenever the team loses ("Those bums! They played like garbage tonight!")

I know this sounds like I'm being some nebbish elitist who scorns sports. Not so. When I was a kid, I played a ton of them. Enough to know that playing sports is hard work. Really hard. Professional athletes train for years to get to the point where they can play so that it looks effortless. Do you know how far a pitcher's mound is from home plate? Or how fast 92 MPH is? Do you know how frightening it is to have a line drive flying directly at your head? These are not simple things that they do. That's why we admire them. Sure, their salaries might be on the ridiculous side (looking in your direction Yankees), but let's just ignore that.

Fact is, singing "Let's Go Giants! (clap. clap. clap clap clap)" is not the same as pulling off a double play. Waiving a towel in the air is not the same as sliding into home headfirst and angling your arm just so that you avoid the catcher's mitt but touch the base. The win doesn't belong to you. You watched it happen and you screamed your guts out, but they did the footwork.

This is not to say that the crowd is not important. It is. It forms a feedback loop which has the potential of affecting how a team performs. Happy crowds reward happy events in the hopes of leading to more happy events resulting in a deliriously happy crowd. This is done through cheering and sloppy hugs where beer is spilled on the other person's back. Unhappy audiences provide negative reinforcement hoping to break the chances of a downward spiral. This is done through unkind statements about the players' mothers and questions regarding their gender (the player's, not the mother's). And that's about as much as the audience does.

So tonight when the Giants win (yeah, that's right... when), give the athletes some credit. They won. You cheered a really good game though, and don't you forget it.

Get Artsy this Month

Did you know that October is National Arts and Humanities Month? Every year, Americans for the Arts sponsors this month-long celebration to help people become more aware of "the importance of arts and culture in our daily lives."

How can you get involved? Try these tips:

1. Attend our storytimes! You and your children will be exposed to popular children's songs and stories. You can learn the words to sing at home, too!
2. Have a dance party in your house. Play fun kids' dance music and have a contest to see who can dance the longest and make up the most creative moves. Find music here.
3. Download some of our booklists and work your way through them together.
4. Pick up your local paper to see what events are happening around town. Many may even be free!
5. Get a large piece of paper and use it as a tablecloth. Encourage your kids to draw on it before or after dinner.
6. Does your child have a natural talent -- singing, dancing, acting, painting, writing, etc.? Encourage their talent and if possible, enroll them in classes to foster their interest and skills.
7. Be a role model. Show your kids how creative you can be, too!

In addition, explore some of Silicon Valley's offerings this fall (with or without kids):

30th Annual Fall Auction Exhibition
Presented by San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Located at San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Oct. 1-Oct. 23, 2010
Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 12pm-5pm

This comprehensive exhibition features more than 150 art works by some of the finest artists in the Bay Area.

Exploratorium
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Free Day on the first Wednesday of each month

Visit the Exploratorium in San Francisco for a fun, hands-on science and art experience with the whole family.

Finding Home: A Kaleidoscope of Musical Journeys
Located at Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) - Finn Center
230 San Antonio Circle
Mountain View, CA 94040
Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

Pianist Patricia Cheng explores music of artists in search of national identity; works by Taiwanese composer Hsiao, Smetana, Chopin, Grieg, Dvorak. Part of Sunday Arts Live series. $10 suggested donation.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
151 Third Street (bet. Mission and Howard)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free Family Day
Sunday, Oct. 17, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Act fast, as SFMOMA is offering one of its quarterly Free Family Days on Sunday. Visit the museum with the entire family to "Enjoy art activities, presentations, and performances for the whole family."


San Jose Museum of Art
110 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Visit the San Jose Museum of Art, tour the permanent collection, and take a look at the "Let's Look at Art: Build It" exhibit that's open until September 18, 2011.

Silicon Valley 1st Annual African Film Festival
Located at Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) - Finn Center
230 San Antonio Circle
Mountain View, CA 94040
Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010

Daily screenings start 11 am. Weekend showcase of 30 films/16 countries reflecting the stories, dreams, hopes of Africa! Dialogue with filmmakers, drumming, dance, more. Purchase tickets online.


Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
Location varies based on film. Check schedule for details.
Saturday, Oct. 9 - Friday, Nov. 12, 2010

Read about the movies, and order tickets in advance on-line (or by calling 1-800-838-3006).

As always, ask a Youth Services Librarian for help finding books and other resources about the arts and humanities!

Posted by ws