Today is the first birthdayof the Eleventh Stack blog! To celebrate we’re offering a team smorgasbord of wit and wisdom on libraries, blogging, or, well, whatever:
One year ago today, Eleventh Stack sounded its barbaric yawp over the rooftops of Pittsburgh. Our fans seem to enjoy both poetry and film, so here’s a little gift that combines both:
You can, of course, continue that trip down cinematic memory lane by borrowing the film from us. Thanks for reading along with the blog team, and don’t be shy about making those comments and suggestions…we want to make this the best darn library blog ever, but we need you to help us keep it real and relevant, Pittsburgh.
xoxo
–Leigh Anne
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Lorenzo Pickle (Larry Pisoni) with the Pickle Family Circus
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Now might be a good time to listen to Marilyn Monroe breathily singing “Happy Birthday” to JFK.
— Tim
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I like to pick a birthday ritual and do it for as many of my friends and family as possible for one calendar year. Happy Birthday to You by Dr. Seuss read aloud was the ritual a few years ago. I would show up at peoples’ places of work or on their phone, etc. I know it’s not this year’s ritual (haven’t figured one out yet, better get on it ) but it’s really appropriate for this occasion. So please check it out and read it to yourself. All of you. It is very trippy and if you don’t enjoy it something is wrong.
– Jude
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Happy 38th, Sean
I’m proud to say that the Eleventh Stack blog shares a birthday with one of the greatest actors of our time, Sean Astin. Not only did he portray the heroic Mikey in the most important movie of the last twenty-five years, The Goonies, he also played the role of the hobbit Sam in the film rendition of the deservedly hyped Lord of the Rings trilogy. Oh, and let’s not forget his role as the inspirational Rudy.
–Wes
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According to The Secret Language of Birthdays, those born on February 25 are strong individuals with a belief in universal goals and a higher purpose. And sharing a birthday with George Harrison, Marcel Pagnol, and Jim Backus isn’t too shabby either. Happy birthday, Eleventh Stack!
-Irene
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After a year’s worth of blogging, I believe I’ve now learned why, throughout the centuries, the writing, publishing, and reading of personal journals was so popular. By roundabout way of sharing my surmise, I’d like to point you to a poem by one of my favorite poets, Gerald Stern, Pittsburgh born and bred, that celebrates, at least in part, a very specific place: the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, where you can get the above mentioned journals, Mr. Stern’s oeuvre, and Eleventh Stack, which, when you think about it, is something of a journal of this very American institution.
Stepping Out of Poetry
What would you give for one of the old yellow streetcars
rocking toward you again through the thick snow?
What would you give for the feeling of joy as you climbed
up the three iron steps and took your place by the cold window?
Oh, what would you give to pick up your stack of books
and walk down the icy path in front of the library?
What would you give for your dream
to be as clear and simple as it was then
in the dark afternoons, at the old scarred tables?
Gerald Stern
Don
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If today is Eleventh Stack’s birthday, then that makes her a Pisces. I love Pisceans—no wonder we get along so well!
-Renée
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Happy Birthday, Eleventh Stack! In the tradition of the unreality of social networking, I’m giving you a virtual (read: imaginary) handmade birthday gift! Although you may be able to use a lovely knitted item – you know, in case your, uh, wires get cold – I think a handmade journal might suit you best. Especially with a retro card.
-Kaarin
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Happy Birthday, Eleventh Stack. I wanted to make you a birthday treat. I couldn’t decide if I should make you cupcakes or a birthday cake…so I made you both….enjoy!
– Lisa
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Eleventh Stack, you may only be one, but you make us laugh, you give us book recommendations, you challenge our ideas about the world, you teach us, and you make us love libraries more than we ever thought possible.
Happy birthday, you cute little one-year old baby library blog!
–Bonnie
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–Eleventh Stack
Eleventh Stack 