Turkey Shoot Movie Created by Teens @ HPL

Created by Justin Dobbs and Shannon Gragg for the Turkey Shoot Contest.
Thanks guys, great job!

One of the best video book ads (from the New Zealand Book Council)

May advertising awards and chocolate fish* rain down upon the clever people at Colenso BBDO for creating an ad for the New Zealand Book Council that manages to avoid the multitude of cliches available to do with books and reading, and just does something creative and original. ~from the Market Intelligence for Librarians website.

*the internationally recognised token of appreciation amongst librarians

Ms. Jackson & Ms. Heather participate in the Oreo DoubleStuff Race @ HPL

Oreo DoubleStuf Racing at HPL

Organizing Music, Podcasts, & Audiobooks in iTunes

I use my iPod most every day in three distinct ways. When I run or bike, I want my iPod set to shuffle through random songs. When I’m working, I listen to technology related podcasts in chronological order. Commuting to work in the morning can sometimes take up to an hour, and then I usually put on an audiobook to pass the time, and I want my audiobook to hold its place when I turn my iPod off, and pick back up in the same spot when I want to listen again.

The problem with these three uses is that by default, iTunes treats all these media in the same way. If I set my iPod to shuffle, I’ll get random songs, then all of a sudden shuffle to an hour long podcast. To get back to music I’ll have to concentrate on taking the player out of the armband, and fiddling with the click wheel to skip the podcast or navigate back to the music menu, which is not very safe if you’re biking on a public road. I’ve also invested three or four hours in an audiobook, my battery run out, then when I go back to my book it starts at the beginning, and I have to click forward trying to figure out where I left off.

So I finally took the time to learn to configure iTunes to treat all my media differently.

MUSIC

I leave my music albums in their default settings, which iTunes will play sequentially or in shuffle mode.

PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS....

If you don’t want your podcasts popping up in your shuffle mode RIGHT CLICK on the title of one of your podcasts in the iTunes podcasts menu. This will bring up a menu and you’ll click on “GET INFO”.

Click on the fourth tab from the left labeled OPTIONS.

The third checkbox is labeled MEDIA KIND. You can categorize your podcast in two ways. If the dropdown menu shows MUSIC, your podcast will start from the beginning each time you play it. If you’d prefer iTunes to hold the podcast’s place if you have to stop listening and pick up later, click the dropdown arrow and choose AUDIOBOOK, then in the fifth checkbox(REMEMBER POSITION) choose YES.

To keep your podcasts out of your shuffle mode, check the fifth checkbox(SKIP WHEN SHUFFLING) and choose YES in the dropdown menu. iTunes will now skip all podcasts when shuffling your music.

Repeat the same steps for your audiobooks and iTunes will automatically tag and sync your media to your iPod with your new settings.

--kb

Talking with Alabama Comic Book Writer Jason Aaron

PODCAST
Ever want to hear about comics and graphic novels from someone who actually creates them? Well, then tune in to the newest Homewood Hotcast, as Alabama comic book writer Jason Aaron – creator of Scalped and The Other Side – talks to us about his career, his influences, and his upcoming projects. Mr. Aaron has also worked for DC on Hellblazer and Joker’s Asylum and for Marvel Comics on Ghost Rider, Wolverine and Black Panther.

New Avengers The Illuminati One Shot from The Road to Civil War graphic novel, written and drawn by Bendis and Cheung

PODCAST
Did you see Iron Man in the theatres? Or The Hulk? If so, you’ll want to tune into the newest Homewood Hotcast to hear the discussion on the comic book version of Iron Man and exactly why the Hulk is angry with him. All this, and Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic! Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange! Professor Charles Xavier of the X-men! Black Bolt, king of the Inhumans. And Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner! Yes, that's right, the secret history of the Marvel Universe!

Part 2: Discussion of The Immortal Iron Fist, The Last Iron First Story, by Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction

PODCAST
Homewood Hotcast returns with another Fantastic Podcastic edition (Part 2) and your hosts Mojo JoJo and Neptune's Own finish the discussion on The Last Iron Fist Story. This time they get around to talking about the art of David Aja and Matt Hollingsworth, Luke Cage's fashion choices, kung fu dialog, and of course SPOILERS. Join us for the fun!

Discussion of The Immortal Iron Fist, The Last Iron First Story, by Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction-Part 1

PODCAST
And make my fist into a thing of iron!
Sweet Christmas!
August Personage in Jade
Lei Kung the Thunder
Hail Hydra!

If you're familiar with these phrases, then you will want to tune in to the Fantastic Podcastic edition of Homewood Hotcast to hear Mojo JoJo and Neptune's Own discuss the newest reboot of Marvel's Iron Fist collected in this graphic novel. If none of that is sounding familiar, tune in anyway. We promise fun and SPOILERS!

Is There Really A Human Race? By Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

PODCAST
Donna Steele from the Children's Dept. reads one of her favorite children's books.

Homewood's Discussion of Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer

PODCAST
Heather, Teen Librarian, along with patrons Melissa and Amber talk about why they like the Twilight series including the books Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. They discuss which camp they're in, ie., Jacob vs. Edward, should Bella wait to become a vampire, will Bella and Jacob still be friends, and what about Bella's behavior? Warning, possible spoilers!

Review of Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

PODCAST
Melissa Frennea, a senior at Homewood High School, relates the premise of this anime series and what makes it worth watching.