Sunday, January 31, 2010
Decorate T-Shirts Program
On Thursday, January 28 we decorated t-shirts. I also had the DDR set up in case anyone wanted to take a turn on that. I was truly amazed at the wonderful t-shirt art everyone created! Everything was drawn and written freehand using fabric markers and puffy paint, and one teen even got creative by creating cut-and-tied sides on her t-shirt. Take a look!
Ski Jump
The first known ski jumper was a Norwegian lieutenant named Olaf Rye, who, in 1809, launched himself 9.5 metres in the air before an audience of other soldiers. By 1862, ski jumpers like Sondre Norheim were tackling much larger jumps travelling longer distances and competing in official ski jumping contests.
The desire to jump longer led to the radical new development in 1985 of V-style, where a ski jumper holds his skis in a V-shaped position (instead of parallel) while in the air. Credited with this new style was Swedish ski jumper Jan Boklöv. At the time, most ski jumpers laughed at this innovation and Boklöv was penalized for his unorthodox style. Eventually sport science caught up with Boklöv’s advancement and realized that V-style produced 28 per cent more lift.
Men’s ski jumping has been part of the Olympic Winter Games since the first Games in Chamonix, in 1924. The large hill competition was added for the Innsbruck 1964 Winter Games.
An athlete skis down a long ramp, referred to as the in-run, and launches into the air at speeds of up to 95 kilometres per hour. Technique is integral to ski jumping as athletes must perform a very precise and well-timed takeoff. Once in the air, jumpers assume the V-style and adjust their position to maximize lift and minimize drag. Competitors are evaluated on distance and style and while there is a very close relationship between the two, the skier with the longest jump will often have the highest style points. An exception to this can be found in the landing portion of the jump as long jumps can make landing in a controlled telemark position more difficult. The quality of landing can be a determining factor in deciding the finishing place when the distances are similar.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
This is a cool slow-motion shot of the ski jump qualifications at Whistler Olympic Park.
The desire to jump longer led to the radical new development in 1985 of V-style, where a ski jumper holds his skis in a V-shaped position (instead of parallel) while in the air. Credited with this new style was Swedish ski jumper Jan Boklöv. At the time, most ski jumpers laughed at this innovation and Boklöv was penalized for his unorthodox style. Eventually sport science caught up with Boklöv’s advancement and realized that V-style produced 28 per cent more lift.
Men’s ski jumping has been part of the Olympic Winter Games since the first Games in Chamonix, in 1924. The large hill competition was added for the Innsbruck 1964 Winter Games.
An athlete skis down a long ramp, referred to as the in-run, and launches into the air at speeds of up to 95 kilometres per hour. Technique is integral to ski jumping as athletes must perform a very precise and well-timed takeoff. Once in the air, jumpers assume the V-style and adjust their position to maximize lift and minimize drag. Competitors are evaluated on distance and style and while there is a very close relationship between the two, the skier with the longest jump will often have the highest style points. An exception to this can be found in the landing portion of the jump as long jumps can make landing in a controlled telemark position more difficult. The quality of landing can be a determining factor in deciding the finishing place when the distances are similar.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
This is a cool slow-motion shot of the ski jump qualifications at Whistler Olympic Park.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Short Track Speed Skating
Short track speed skating originated in Canada and the United States in 1905 with the first known competition having taken place in 1909. By the 1920s and 30s, the sport was gaining popularity in Great Britain, Japan, France, Belgium and Australia.
In 1988, short track speed skating was a demonstration event at the Calgary Olympic Winter Games. Four years later, it was included as a full medal event at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
Short track speed skating takes place on a 111.12-metre (364.57 feet) oval track within a hockey rink. Tight corners make it difficult for skaters to maintain control.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Skaters Lee Ho-Suk, Kwak Yoon-Gy, Francois Hamelin, and Li Ye give an exciting performance - ignore the rather cheesy music that plays with the slow-motion repeat and pay attention to how the skater from South Korea just slips into first place!
In 1988, short track speed skating was a demonstration event at the Calgary Olympic Winter Games. Four years later, it was included as a full medal event at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
Short track speed skating takes place on a 111.12-metre (364.57 feet) oval track within a hockey rink. Tight corners make it difficult for skaters to maintain control.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Skaters Lee Ho-Suk, Kwak Yoon-Gy, Francois Hamelin, and Li Ye give an exciting performance - ignore the rather cheesy music that plays with the slow-motion repeat and pay attention to how the skater from South Korea just slips into first place!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Pet Photo Contest
To support Spay Day, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International host the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest, presented by VISA and Zazzle—a great opportunity to celebrate our pets, raise funds for spaying and neutering, and win great prizes! You may be any age to enter the contest and win prizes - if you are 13 years old or younger, you may participate in the SPAY DAY ONLINE PET PHOTO CONTEST with the permission and assistance of your parent(s) or guardian(s). You may enter as many photos and stories as you would like in the contest. Entries must be submitted before February 26, 2010. For more contest rules visit the website.Spay Day is The Humane Society of the United States' and Humane Society International's annual event to inspire people to save animals' lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Spay Day officially takes place on the last Tuesday of February—but events will be running all through the month! The 16th annual Spay Day will be Feb. 23, 2010.
Hockey
The word hockey comes from the old French word “hocquet,” meaning “stick.” The British most likely brought the idea of using a stick to propel a snowball along the ice of a pond or lake to North America in the 1600 or 1700s. In 1879, college students at McGill University in Montreal organized competitions and developed the first known set of hockey rules.
While men's ice hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games in Antwerp, it was moved to the Winter Games since the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix. Women’s ice hockey debuted at the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games.
A team must not have more than six players on the ice while play is in progress. The object is for one team to get the puck past the other team’s goaltender and into the net, similar to soccer.
A regular game consists of three 20-minute periods, with a 15-minute intermission after the first and second periods. If a tie occurs in a game in which a winner must be determined, a sudden-victory overtime period is played. During the gold medal game, a 20-minute, sudden-victory period is played. In the event of a tie after a sudden-victory period, a game-winning shoot-out determines the winner.
The 2010 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey tournaments are played on a North American ice surface which is twelve feet narrower than international rinks.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
http://www.wikipedia.com
You may have heard of the Miracle on Ice, or maybe you've seen the film. The "Miracle on Ice" was a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York. The United States team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the Soviet Union team, which was considered the best hockey team in the world. As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) picked the Miracle on Ice as the number-one international hockey story of the century. This is a clip from the last few seconds of the miracle game. Listen to that crowd!
While men's ice hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games in Antwerp, it was moved to the Winter Games since the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix. Women’s ice hockey debuted at the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games.
A team must not have more than six players on the ice while play is in progress. The object is for one team to get the puck past the other team’s goaltender and into the net, similar to soccer.
A regular game consists of three 20-minute periods, with a 15-minute intermission after the first and second periods. If a tie occurs in a game in which a winner must be determined, a sudden-victory overtime period is played. During the gold medal game, a 20-minute, sudden-victory period is played. In the event of a tie after a sudden-victory period, a game-winning shoot-out determines the winner.
The 2010 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey tournaments are played on a North American ice surface which is twelve feet narrower than international rinks.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
http://www.wikipedia.com
You may have heard of the Miracle on Ice, or maybe you've seen the film. The "Miracle on Ice" was a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York. The United States team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the Soviet Union team, which was considered the best hockey team in the world. As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) picked the Miracle on Ice as the number-one international hockey story of the century. This is a clip from the last few seconds of the miracle game. Listen to that crowd!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Freestyle Skiing - Aerials
Freestyle skiing began in the 1960s, when social change and freedom of expression led to new and exciting skiing techniques. Originally a mix of alpine skiing and acrobatics, the first freestyle skiing competition was held in Attitash, New Hampshire, in 1966.
There are three Olympic freestyle skiing events for both men and women - aerials, moguls, and ski cross. Tricks in freestyle skiing include the twister, spread-eagle, iron cross, and the helicopter — an upright 360-degree spin. Freestyle aerials were added for the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
Aerialists tend to come from acrobatic backgrounds such as gymnastics and diving as aerials requires short bursts of energy and explosive movements which caters to small, compact and strong athletes.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Xiaopeng Han, the Olympic aerials gold medalist from Torino, was fifth after the first jump in the finals but routed the field to take the world title in the second jump, scoring 119.40 on a back-layout double-full-full.
There are three Olympic freestyle skiing events for both men and women - aerials, moguls, and ski cross. Tricks in freestyle skiing include the twister, spread-eagle, iron cross, and the helicopter — an upright 360-degree spin. Freestyle aerials were added for the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
Aerialists tend to come from acrobatic backgrounds such as gymnastics and diving as aerials requires short bursts of energy and explosive movements which caters to small, compact and strong athletes.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Xiaopeng Han, the Olympic aerials gold medalist from Torino, was fifth after the first jump in the finals but routed the field to take the world title in the second jump, scoring 119.40 on a back-layout double-full-full.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Changes in the Teen Room
You may notice some rearranging going on in the Teen Room this week! We will be moving more series books onto the shelf that used to hold paperbacks and mixing the paperbacks that used to be there in with the fiction by author's last name.
We will also no longer be carrying Cliff's Notes. That kind of information is so easy to get online now, and of course we can get something for you from another library branch, and we'd rather use the space to bring you more stuff you really want! Keep an eye on that space - we'll be working on it soon!
We will also no longer be carrying Cliff's Notes. That kind of information is so easy to get online now, and of course we can get something for you from another library branch, and we'd rather use the space to bring you more stuff you really want! Keep an eye on that space - we'll be working on it soon!
Cross-Country Skiing
The first civilian cross-country ski event took place in Tromso, located in Norway’s far north, in 1843.
Racers use two basic techniques in cross-country skiing: classic technique, where the skis move parallel to each other through machine-groomed tracks in the snow, and free technique, where skiers propel themselves in a manner similar to speed skating, pushing off with the edge of their skis. Free technique uses shorter skis and is slightly faster than classic.
High-performance athletes train twice a day, six days a week and up to 700 hours yearly. Because ski wax has such a big impact on Nordic skiing, athletes work with their wax technician during practice as well as race time to figure out the winning formula for them.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
1984 Sarajevo olympic games, women's 20 km cross country skiing. This video is taken from Finnish television and is therefore not in English.
Racers use two basic techniques in cross-country skiing: classic technique, where the skis move parallel to each other through machine-groomed tracks in the snow, and free technique, where skiers propel themselves in a manner similar to speed skating, pushing off with the edge of their skis. Free technique uses shorter skis and is slightly faster than classic.
High-performance athletes train twice a day, six days a week and up to 700 hours yearly. Because ski wax has such a big impact on Nordic skiing, athletes work with their wax technician during practice as well as race time to figure out the winning formula for them.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
1984 Sarajevo olympic games, women's 20 km cross country skiing. This video is taken from Finnish television and is therefore not in English.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Bobsled
Bobsleigh, bobsled or bobsledge is a winter sport in which teams make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled. The four-man bobsleigh was on the program of the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924, in Chamonix, France. The two-man bobsleigh event joined the Olympic Games program in 1932. Women began competing in bobsleigh for the first time in 2002, at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games.
The temperature of the steel runners is taken electronically immediately prior to each race. Heating the runners is illegal. At the finish line, the sled and crew are weighed to ensure they are below the maximum weight.
Taken from:
http://www.fibt.com
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Athletes "Point of View" from a ride in the 2002 Olympic Bobsled track in Park City Utah.
The temperature of the steel runners is taken electronically immediately prior to each race. Heating the runners is illegal. At the finish line, the sled and crew are weighed to ensure they are below the maximum weight.
Taken from:
http://www.fibt.com
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Athletes "Point of View" from a ride in the 2002 Olympic Bobsled track in Park City Utah.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Biathlon
Biathlon — which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting — did not start as a sport, but as a way for northern European hunters, as early as 2000 BC, to put food on the table. Beginning in the mid-16th century, however, Scandinavian countries began using troops on skis to defend against their enemies.
The word “biathlon” comes from the Greek word for “two tests.” Today, biathlon consists of 10 separate events that involve both cross-country skiing and target shooting. The objective in biathlon is to complete the course in the least amount of time, hitting as many targets as possible to avoid time penalties.
Taken from: http://www.vancouver2010.com
This video is from the World Championship in 2008. Oksana Khvostenko is from the Ukraine. The video is not in English, but this will give you an idea of what competitors do in the biathlon.
The word “biathlon” comes from the Greek word for “two tests.” Today, biathlon consists of 10 separate events that involve both cross-country skiing and target shooting. The objective in biathlon is to complete the course in the least amount of time, hitting as many targets as possible to avoid time penalties.
Taken from: http://www.vancouver2010.com
This video is from the World Championship in 2008. Oksana Khvostenko is from the Ukraine. The video is not in English, but this will give you an idea of what competitors do in the biathlon.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Alpine Skiing
Alpine skiing originated in the European Alps, when skiers began to adapt cross-country ski techniques and equipment for the steep, downhill slopes.
Alpine skiing has been at every Winter Olympics since 1936, when it debuted in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Alpine skiers travel down a vertical slope, often reaching speeds of more than 80 miles per hour. The slopes, which can range from 180 - 1,100 meters in length, also feature gates the Olympic skiers must pass through during the competition. If a skier misses a gate, he or she must climb back up to the gate and pass through it or they will be disqualified.
In the 2010 Winter Olympics, there are five different skiing competitions within the alpine skiing event: slalom, giant slalom, downhill skiing, the super-G, and the super combined.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://winterolympicgames.suite101.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
This is a trailer from the video game Vancouver 2010 - The Official Videogame Of The Winter Olympic Games. The game is set to be released on January 12th in North America and January 15th in Europe. It will be released on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. I am not trying to sell the video game, but this clip gives you an idea of what Alpine Skiing is all about.
Alpine skiing has been at every Winter Olympics since 1936, when it debuted in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Alpine skiers travel down a vertical slope, often reaching speeds of more than 80 miles per hour. The slopes, which can range from 180 - 1,100 meters in length, also feature gates the Olympic skiers must pass through during the competition. If a skier misses a gate, he or she must climb back up to the gate and pass through it or they will be disqualified.
In the 2010 Winter Olympics, there are five different skiing competitions within the alpine skiing event: slalom, giant slalom, downhill skiing, the super-G, and the super combined.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://winterolympicgames.suite101.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
This is a trailer from the video game Vancouver 2010 - The Official Videogame Of The Winter Olympic Games. The game is set to be released on January 12th in North America and January 15th in Europe. It will be released on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. I am not trying to sell the video game, but this clip gives you an idea of what Alpine Skiing is all about.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Singles Figure Skating
Figure skating starts February 14th with the pairs short program. The men compete on the 16th and 18th, and ice dance runs the 19th, 21st, and 22nd. The ladies don't compete until February 23 and 25 and the Exhibition Gala, where everyone gets to strut their stuff, is scheduled for February 27th.
Figure skating was an Olympic sport before there was an Olympic Winter Games. Figure skating first appeared at the London 1908 Olympic Summer Games with events for pairs and singles. Ice dancing joined the Olympic Winter Games in 1976, when the Games were held in Innsbruck, Austria.
In singles skating, skaters must complete both a short program (maximum 2 minutes 50 seconds) of required steps, jumps, spins and combinations, and a longer free skating program (4 minutes for ladies, 4 minutes 30 seconds for men), both set to music. The free skate — worth two-thirds of a skater’s final score — allows the athletes to demonstrate their creativity, innovative moves and technical difficulty.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Evgeny Plushenko during the skater's exhibition (after the competition) at the 2006 Torino Olympics. Normally there would not be a live musician on the ice, but since the exhibitions allow skaters to do what they want and not just what they are required, they get to pull a few extra tricks out of their hats. He is the 2006 Winter Olympics gold medalist, three-time World Champion, five-time European Champion, a four-time Grand Prix Final champion and an eight-time (1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2010) Russian national champion.
Figure skating was an Olympic sport before there was an Olympic Winter Games. Figure skating first appeared at the London 1908 Olympic Summer Games with events for pairs and singles. Ice dancing joined the Olympic Winter Games in 1976, when the Games were held in Innsbruck, Austria.
In singles skating, skaters must complete both a short program (maximum 2 minutes 50 seconds) of required steps, jumps, spins and combinations, and a longer free skating program (4 minutes for ladies, 4 minutes 30 seconds for men), both set to music. The free skate — worth two-thirds of a skater’s final score — allows the athletes to demonstrate their creativity, innovative moves and technical difficulty.
taken from:
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Evgeny Plushenko during the skater's exhibition (after the competition) at the 2006 Torino Olympics. Normally there would not be a live musician on the ice, but since the exhibitions allow skaters to do what they want and not just what they are required, they get to pull a few extra tricks out of their hats. He is the 2006 Winter Olympics gold medalist, three-time World Champion, five-time European Champion, a four-time Grand Prix Final champion and an eight-time (1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2010) Russian national champion.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Snowboard Cross
The first official snowboard competition was held in Colorado in 1981. Parallel giant slalom replaced individual giant slalom at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games and snowboard cross was introduced in 2006, at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.
In the parallel giant slalom, two snowboarders race head-to-head down a course, turning through a series of gates. The fastest goes on to the next round. The top finishers compete in a total of nine runs.
In snowboard cross, four racers start in a pack down a course, racing against each other over rolling terrain and a series of jumps and ramps. The fastest two racers from each heat move on to the next round.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Also called boardercross, snowboard cross will be in the Olympics for the second time. TIME's Sean Gregory learns how to explode out of a start gate (sort of) with Olympic hopeful Nate Holland.
Also called boardercross, snowboard cross will be in the Olympics for the second time. TIME's Sean Gregory learns how to explode out of a start gate (sort of) with Olympic hopeful Nate Holland.
In the parallel giant slalom, two snowboarders race head-to-head down a course, turning through a series of gates. The fastest goes on to the next round. The top finishers compete in a total of nine runs.
In snowboard cross, four racers start in a pack down a course, racing against each other over rolling terrain and a series of jumps and ramps. The fastest two racers from each heat move on to the next round.
taken from:
http://www.vancouver2010.com
Also called boardercross, snowboard cross will be in the Olympics for the second time. TIME's Sean Gregory learns how to explode out of a start gate (sort of) with Olympic hopeful Nate Holland.
Also called boardercross, snowboard cross will be in the Olympics for the second time. TIME's Sean Gregory learns how to explode out of a start gate (sort of) with Olympic hopeful Nate Holland.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Olympics Are Coming!
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, will be held on February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the resort town of Whistler and Richmond nearby.
The 2010 Winter Olympics will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British Columbia. Previously, Canada was home to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
Every day until the Olympics start, I will be highlighting an Olympic event here, including videos to give you an idea what each sport s like. Come back to check them out while we wait for the Opening Ceremonies to begin!
taken from http://www.wikipedia.com
The 2010 Winter Olympics will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British Columbia. Previously, Canada was home to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
Every day until the Olympics start, I will be highlighting an Olympic event here, including videos to give you an idea what each sport s like. Come back to check them out while we wait for the Opening Ceremonies to begin!
taken from http://www.wikipedia.com
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon: King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches.[1] A Baptist minister,[2] King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.
In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.
Taken from wikipedia
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thinking About College?
It's never too soon to start thinking about college. If you believe you might someday want to go, here are a few websites to get you started.
KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College is a great starting place if you're not sure where to go or how to get the money for school. It has links for middle schoolers and high schoolers, and even a quiz to find out how much you already know about getting into college.
College.gov has lots of good information, including descriptions of the different kinds of colleges out there, online resources to help you pick the best school for your needs, and what you need to know about scholarships, grants, and loans.
How much does a farmer make? How about a secretary, or a lawyer? Find out what your earning potential might be at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Learn what kind of training you'll need, what will likely happen with that kind of position in the future, and what it really means to do that job.
KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College is a great starting place if you're not sure where to go or how to get the money for school. It has links for middle schoolers and high schoolers, and even a quiz to find out how much you already know about getting into college.
College.gov has lots of good information, including descriptions of the different kinds of colleges out there, online resources to help you pick the best school for your needs, and what you need to know about scholarships, grants, and loans.
How much does a farmer make? How about a secretary, or a lawyer? Find out what your earning potential might be at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Learn what kind of training you'll need, what will likely happen with that kind of position in the future, and what it really means to do that job.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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