York Woods District Blog

Looking for a good laugh this April Fool's Day?

Nothing says April Fool's like a great prank.  But pranks like humour depend on the audience. You can tell by the look on a person's face when you've hit or missed the mark.  I was telling some of my young colleagues (by now they're all young) about working on a weekly newspaper when one of my cronies stuffed a ball of burrs in my typewriter just to watch my reaction to the explosion. Hmm, times have changed.  But seeing someone duped - some things just never lose their joy.  That's what I don't get about facebook humour - you don't get to see the facial expression, but then I'm probably missing something "after my time." But that's another story.

 I decided to update my skills and share some sources with you.  Humour and pranks are appreciated not just today but any time so lets have a look:

    Bart Simpson Prince of Pranks                   

But why should we read about others when: "Now you can amuse and embarrass yourself live, by performing the silliest, stupidest, funniest pranks and parlor tricks right in the comfort of your own living room. Or better yet, at any fancy restaurant, cocktail party, classroom, or business meeting.       Best of Stuntology

 

 

If you don't want to do-it-yourself how about laughing at someone else's expense?

Politicians are always a favourite target and if you don't remember Frank magazine Rick Mercer may be more your style.

Franks Pranks

                                  A Nation Worth Ranting About

 

 It's not possible to talk about humour without women's humor and remembering the late, great Nora Ephron's:  I Feel Bad About My Neck   followed by I Remember Nothing 

                             And the very alive Tina Fey's:  Bossypants

              

Which brings me back to the point of humour being such a subjective beast.  Hope I've hit something you can relate to or otherwise use to bring a smile to someone's face.

 

As someone once told me:  "If you're good for a  laugh, you're good for something." 

You've heard about "people learning from the mistakes of others" and then there are those of us who are the "others." If you want company check out   Three Bricks Shy of a Load culled from newscasts and newspapers from around the world by Peter Taylor who spent 40 years in publishing in Toronto.

Enjoy April 1 - leave them laughing.  Final suggestion:  The Mammoth Book of 10,000 Zingers.

Oh, and if you have a young person in your life:

Where do animals who've lost their tails shop for a new one?     (A retail store) 

 

 

 

 

 

Straphanger : how subways, buses and trains are saving our cities from the empire of the automobile

     I recently read a fantastic book by Taras Grescoe, it's very current, (okay, it was reviewed in the Globe and Mail a year ago) but published in 2012. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/straphanger-by-taras-grescoe/article4103113/  

   Grescoe lives in Montreal but travelled around the world looking at how cities succeed or fail at providing public transportation.  The Toronto chapter is titled "The Toronto Tragedy" so you know he gets our current situation.  I'd love to see him as part of the eh List Author Series.  Maybe along with Edward J. Levy whose webbook, Rapid Transit in Toronto: A century of Plans, Progress & Paralysis is available to see and copy at : http://levyrapidtransit.ca/

   Taras Grescoe was interviewed by Library Thing and you can read their recommendations for similar reads at: http://www.librarything.com/work/12059718

However, in closing the interview with Grescoe http://www.librarything.com/author/grescoetaras/interview  the proverbial favourite question was asked:   

What types of books do you like to read? What have you read recently that you enjoyed?

I read a lot of fiction. I just finished Murakami’s massive IQ84, but I enjoyed Ferenc Karinthy’s Metropolis, about the predicament of a linguist who accidentally lands in a city where everybody speaks a totally unknown language, a lot more.

Don't look for Metropolis in the TPL catalogue, the book seems to be titled:  Metropole and the blue form is in so we'll have it soon.

Oh and check out: Unlocking the Gridlock for more folks we could invite to Thought Exchange. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/unlocking-the-gridlock/article10255098/?service=mobile

Hope to catch you reading on the TTC,

Paula

 

March Madness at Downsview

March Madness is in full effect at Downsview this March break with a full slate of children's programming.

 

 

Here's a full breakdown of the week ahead:

 

Saturday March 9 Dr. Seuss Storytime 11:00-12:00pm

Oh the stories you'll hear when we celebrate the one and only Dr. Seuss. And to Think I Heard It on Keele Street!

 

Monday March 11 Reptilia 2:00-3:00pm

Would you like to meet a Python? Join us on Monday March 11 for Reptilia!

    Reptilia features a wide variety of reptile from tortoises to alligators! Free limited tickets will be available 30 minutes before the start of the program

 

Tuesday March 12 The Secret Life of Arrietty 2:00-3:30pm

Based on the book The Borrowers, Arrietty and her parents are tiny people who live under the floor boards of a human house. Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program

 

Wednesday March 13 Game-A-Ganza Day 1 2:00-3:30pm

Join Downsview Branch this March Break for some carnival type games.  See if you can beat the "skill" testing games. Win some prizes! Have some fun!  Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program.

Thursday March 14 Game-A-Ganza Day 2 2:00-3:00pm

Thursday's event will feature a Wii-Archery competition. The tournament will be played round robin style and a prize will be awarded to the winner!  Free limited tickets available 30 minutes before the start of the program.

 

Friday March 15 Spectacle de Magic 2:00-3:00pm

Dans un spectacle hautement interactif que vous ne serez pas prêt d'oublier, vous tomberez sous le charme du seul et unique Jean Deshaies.Billets gratuits disponible 30 minutes avant le spectacle. All welcome but please note program is in French.

 

Saturday March 16 Seed Planting Program 11:00-12:00pm

Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?  Visit us for storytime and find out!  Afterwards, children will be given seeds to plant in order to grow their own plant.

 

Come to Downsview for March Madness week.

 

  

 

What's new at the Downsview? February Spotlight

It is freezing cold outside but our children's programming slate is heating up this February!

Come in and join us at Downsview for one of our many upcoming programs. 

Join us on Mondays at 3:30pm for Minute To Win It

         An after school program for kids ages 8-13 featuring all sorts of activities and prizes. Activities range from the simple (blowing plastic cups off of a table) to video games and scientific experiments!

    

 Also on Mondays, beginning February 25, we will resume our legendary Chess Club at 6:30pm

 

           The chess club is open to beginners and experienced players alike and is for all children ages 7-13

 

On Tuesdays we have Baby Time at 1:30pm

Half an hour of bouncing, tickling, singing and laughter for parents/caregivers and their babies ages 0-18 months.

             On Thursdays we have Toddler Time at 11:30am

 

Join us for stories, rhymes and songs for parents/caregivers and their toddlers ages 18-48 months.

 

Finally on Saturday February 9th come join us for Valentine's Day Card Making and Stories from 11:00am - 12:00pm

Come and decorate fun Valentine's Day cards for your family and friends! Fun Valentine's Day stories before the craft.

  

 

Come on in and beat the cold this winter!

The Whole She-Bang

Join us at the Downsview Library on Thursday, December 6th, 1pm and meet authors Rosemary McCraken and Steve Shrott - two contributors to The Whole She-Bang: 20 stories by Sisters in Crime Canada.

Rosemary McCracken is a Toronto-based fiction writer and journalist.  Her first mystery novel, Safe Harbor, was shortlisted for Britain’s Debut Dagger award in 2010.  Safe Harbor was published by Imajin Books the year.

 Steve Shrott is an award-winning writer whose crime stories have appeared in many publications.  He has also crafted material for well-known comedy, stars and written a ‘how to’ book on humor writing.  Some of his jokes are in The Smithsonian Institute.

Capoeira!

What's "capoeira" ?

  

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, music and game. What I love about capoeira is the physical conditioning all while singing, dancing and having some playful competition!

 

Marcio Mendes from Muiraquita Capoeira will be at the Downsview Branch on Saturday September 29^th, at 12:30 pm for a one-hour workshop to talk about the history and culture of capoeira. His students will demonstrate an energetic round of capoeira and teach everyone some basic capoeira moves!  

To give you a sneak peek of what to expect, here’s a short interview with Marcio!

D!ana: You mention on your website (http://www.muiraquitacapoeira.com/) that your first contact with capoeira was in a spontaneous way...could you tell me a bit about that experience?

Marcio: Everyone in Brazil tries capoeira at least once in their life and most people start like me… right on the streets! Capoeira is everywhere in Brazil. Every afternoon after school, my friends and I would hang out in this little soccer field to play soccer. Some of us imitated capoeira movements we would see capoeira players doing in the rodas (a circle formed by capoeira players when they practice the movements).

D: What inspired you to open a school in Toronto?

M: It was when I became a capoeira instructor in the early 90s! Capoeira was in every aspect of my life. Everything I did, I associated it with capoeira such as my course at university and my volunteer work at the YMCA and the Red Cross.

D: Do you have any memorable moments/experiences with capoeira?

M: Yes, a lot! But the two that are most important to me was when I met my capoeira master Mestre Bezerra and my first capoeira graduation.

D: There are so many great benefits to learning capoeira! What can someone new to capoeira hope to get out of it?

M: A sense of balance in life…not just physically, but spiritually and mentally!

Thank you Marcio for the mini interview!

 

A capoeira workshop + demonstration is not to be missed out on especially if you've never seen one before!

The workshop is FREE and open to everyone. Parents must accompany kids under 14 years of age. No registration required. Please call the branch for more information.

Want to learn more?

The Toronto Public Library has great books and DVDs about the history of capoeira, the philosophies behind the art and basic to advanced instructional material!

For more information about Muiraquita Capoeira, please visit http://www.muiraquitacapoeira.com/

For a listing of the Culture Days Programs at the Toronto Public Library, visit http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/culturedays.jsp

For more information about Culture Days and the different activities, visit http://culturedays.ca/

 

*The first 10 people to post a response to this capoeira post will receive a special Culture Days treat! The treat will be sent to any Toronto Public Library branch you visit!  Post your response below about whether you'll be attending the capoeira program or which Culture Days program you'll be checking out! :)

Good Stories about Bad Men

by Nate Hendley

 

by Nate Hendley

 

Join author Nate Hendley, on Thursday, September 20, at 1:00 pm, for a fascinating presentation about infamous Canadian criminals throughout history, such as the notorious Donnelly family and the flamboyant Toronto bank robber, Edwin Alonzo Boyd.

 

 

  

 

 More books about these infamous Canadian bad men by different authors:

          

In keeping with the theme of Good Stories about Bad Men, check out Downsview's library display on True Crime. True crime books chronicle the crime, but also dig deep into the criminal mind and uncover the bizarre and disturbing thoughts of serial killers.

Prepare to be engrossed in this unsavoury side of human nature!

From Serials Killers   

                   

To Bizarre Murders

          

To Mass Murders

           

To Organized Crime

          

To Great Criminal Mysteries

             

Job Interview Workshop

Are you the right person for the job? 

This workshop focuses on interview preparation and practical skills that will help you get that perfect job for you.  This workshop, presented by Humber College Community Employment Services, will guide you through the stages of an inteview and will help you with strategies to respond effectively to those "tough" questions.

Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 1:00 pm

If you have any questions, please call Downsview Library at 416-395-5720. 

Registration is not required for this workshop.

 Check out some of these books to help you prepare for the interview.

         

Check out some of these ebooks to help you prepare for the interview.

                   

Check out this DVD to help you prepare for the interview.       

                                            





 

 

Downsview Book Club

 Join in the lively discussion of books old and new.  Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.  Travel to the Yorkshire moors, Ceylon, Prince Edward County, inside a marriage and to the devastation of Coventry.  Click on the images below to read more details and reviews.  It's never too late to become part of the group.  Register at the main floor information desk.  Copies of upcoming books are available at the branch.        

    

 September 5, 2012          September 19, 2012           October 3, 2012           October 17, 2012                

 

     

October 31, 2012              November 14, 2012          November 28, 2012          December 12, 2012   

        

Downsview Day is Coming!

Downsview Branch will be hosting its 3rd annual Downsview Day for kids. 

What is Downsview Day? 

In one sentence, Downsview Day can be described as an indoor branch party for kids! 

When is Downsview Day? 

Downsview Day will be on August 21, 2012 from 1:30 to 4:00.  Children can arrive any time after 1:30 but it is best to arrive early!

How does it work? 

Upon arrival, children will receive a passport.  Children will then participate in activity stations in order to collect "stamps" for their passports.  Activities include: Plinko, Math challenge and Mini Basketball.  For each stamp collected, children will receive a raffle ticket that gives them a chance to win one of the many prizes available.  There will also be contests for kids as well as several storytimes for children under 4 years of age.

Who is invited? 

Children of all ages.  Most of the children that have attend were from 4 to 11 years old.  This year we have activities for younger children as well.

Where is Downsview Branch? 

Downsview Branch is located near the intersection of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue.  Click on this link for more information on Downsview.  Feel free to contact us for more details!  

Why have a Downsview Day? 

It's a day to celebrate the end of the TD Summer Reading Club at Downsview.  It's also a day for children to be rewarded for reading and a day for the branch to give back to the kids!  Above all, it's about fun!

See you there!