Hey guys!

[While I was at it, I figured I'd post my American Idol experience, because it's these types of experiences that shape you into who you are going to become, as a person and a singer. It was very inspirational to me. And you all know how much I value inspiration!]

So this funny thing happened the other night when I was at the computer, on YouTube.com, and I just happened to see an ad for a competition called “YouTube Caroling!” It looked cool and I decided to go ahead and make a video to send in to the contest. The contest is sponsored by TJ Maxx and Marshall’s and you could choose between four different songs to sing. Two of the songs were modifications of traditional Christmas carols: “Deck Yourself Out,” from “Deck the Halls,” and “We Wish You a Better Way to Christmas Shop,” from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

These songs are called the “Spendervention” carols! I like them! Anyone who sends in a video singing one of the Spendervention carols could win the grand prize of a $5,000 shopping spree to TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Yes, please!

We’ll see what happens! All I know is, as of tonight (Saturday, December 5, 2009,) I have 176 views on YouTube and it got on the web just yesterday afternoon! One thing that was cool, that I noticed just a few minutes ago, was that if you type in the name of the contest on Google: “YouTube Caroling,” my video appears under the first Search Result!? Who knows what will happen, but I hope this is a sign of good things to come!

Love y’all,
Will

I am so interested in the American tour that Sarah Palin will be promoting this week for her book Going Rogue: An American Life. I think there is something we all can learn from this. If anything, it is a media spectacle unlike anything ever seen before: Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska, who makes history as the first female Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party, dishes her perspective on the inside story behind the McCain campaign. While I haven’t read the book myself, (I plan on buying a copy soon,) it will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end and how it will bode for the future of national and global politics, if at all.

Yesterday at 11:45  I pulled up to the Shipley Street side of the Delaware Historical Society to run in with my pot luck item for our staff lunch and to pick up my parking pass.  Our parking lot is occupied with scaffolding as the museum building (which sits next to the parking lot) is getting a partial new roof.  So, the staff is now scattered among a few parking lots in the neighborhood.  I was off the last part of last week and in these times of paying for parking, we do our best to share our spots.  My pass was used by a volunteer on Friday so I needed to get it back.

The library is open from 1:00-9:00pm on Mondays, except for once a month when the entire Society staff gathers at 12:00 for an all-staff meeting/lunch.  We regularly schedule pot-luck lunches as we have a fair number of good cooks and it is always nice to cook for others.  Any crankiness I might feel about having to head into work an hour early, (I covet my Monday morning free time) is usually quickly dispelled as our pot luck gatherings are usually relaxed and enjoyable meals and today’s lunch was just that.  Vegetarian chili, dips and cheeses with crackers, bean and corn salad, tomato pie, potato salad, carrot cake and cookies to give you a hint…yummm.

At the lunch meetings, the different staff teams take turns updating the rest of the staff about upcoming programs/projects/etc.  Today we heard from the development, marketing and membership team.  Greg Coin, the head of the team is always percolating all sorts of things, so it is good to hear from him.  He brought us up to date about upcoming partnerships/promotions and programs relating to the railroad exhibit- the major exhibit scheduled for next year.  He then turned the meeting over to our social networking guru, Andrea, who presented a spiffy powerpoint presentation about Web 2.0 and social networking.  We at the Society have been on the blogging/twittering/flickring gig for almost a year, leaning heavily on Andrea the whole way, but most of the staff is just now working to get up to speed.  It was a great presentation and a few more of the staff now more fully understand the potential for the Society in utilizing/participating in the wave of interactive web activity.  Picture in your head a bunch of history-professionals, all over the age of 40 except one (there are more young ones- they happened not to be in attendance)with puzzled looks on their faces- trying to pretend we “get it!”

Every generation puts its stamp on the world.  The “gen y’s” have certainly made their mark already and it is dizzying to see all the potential that is out there for those who wish to participate.  But how do we get the word about the Society out to people who would want to know, especially if they don’t have a clue that they would like to know about our collections and our work?!!!  We’ve been grateful for a few pats-on-the-back along the way from you all- telling us you’ve read “Making History 11:45”  Today I learned from my parents who live nearly 1000 miles from Delaware and are in their 70s that occasionally they check in to see what’s happening!  Pretty cool!  Let us know what you like, want more of, would like to see.  We’re all ears (or should I say computer screens!!).  It’s been fun sharing some of the things that fill our days with you.

I’ve been working on a book project and ran across a broadside that I thought you’d like to see.  It was posted in Delaware City about 150 years ago and was encouraging citizens of the town to visit the traveling photographer to have their portrait taken.  Who knew then that photography wasn’t just a passing fad?!

I’ll be in touch-

Ellen

Philadelphia’s Eric Bruntlett made an unassisted triple play to end Philadelphia’s 9-7 win Sunday over the Mets. He’s just the second player in big league history to get the last three outs of a game on his own.(AP)

We’re Making Progress!, originally uploaded by Delaware Historical Society.

Today, Joan Hoge, our executive director, called to tell me that all the scaffolding was out of the library reading room and that the new HVAC system was working. The library was actually cool and quiet! That’s a real change from our old system, which was noisy and ineffective.

All of the work and disruptions of the past several months are coming into their final phase. But it will still be a while before we can open to the public, so researchers, be patient a little longer! There’s still a lot of cleaning to do, and we have to put all the books back in their accustomed

places.

We could use some help with putting things back together, so if you have a few hours to spare we would appreciate it. We’re hoping to reopen in mid-August.

Connie, Library Director

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Check out this new campaign for Lego’s 50 years celebration. I love the smartness of the pay off: Making History.

History has been made by the company which provides the ferry service to the Outer Hebridies.  Caledonian MacBrayne will start a service from the Island of Lewis to Ullapool on the mainland which will run on a Sunday. 

There has always been resistance from the islanders about the possibility of this change – a ferry on the Sabbath.  The demand for the service has been particularly high this year because of the Hebridean music festival which is ending at the weekend and visitors will be unable to leave the island until Monday without starting a Sunday sailing.

  In the words of Yves Saint Laurent, “Fashion is temporary. Style is forever.” R.I.P Michael Jackson.

MJ was spotted recently sporting Balmain. See here and here. Who’s bad?

sabre-rattling years,
ceremonial action,
just plan that reacted
ragged end of time
language were to
knights nails of aloud
faithful sick leave

Lines you don’t talk
to children died while
walking through sound

mind remapped;
lick the arse
of such liberal dying act,
an image of frightening spank

and if our earth,
shrivelled whore brothelkeeper,
is one word,
sharpen flies of
erupting sweat

infantry veteran weaklings
each worse processed down
took off reckless journey
a particle that explains
ornaments crashed in my head
explain your universe
where evil matters,

it starts here now,
came hardly through the set of keys
you’re the one that should cool
down, half of those beloved
stood on the bottle of supervision

she smoothed his back,
her snorts of smile had him
yet changed around too
close to read clarifying silver of
doped-out comic.

Fold in poem from: Stephen Fry’s, Making History, Random House 1998.
(Though I think that ornaments came out from my head, not Fry’s)