Sno-Isle Public Library.

Since my days, as of right now, of being at University of Portland have taken a pause. I get the pleasure of going to my public library. As I said in my closing statement of the spring semester's blogs, it's definitely not the same. I knew right away walking in that I was, for the most part, the only student here who was going to a university rather than a community college, but hey, college is college.

So right now though, I'm sitting within the stacks only because almost every flippin seat seems to be taken. Also, it feels really weird being one of the few people with a laptop ...

As for my reasons coming to my library though, it's not just because I have this void in my heart that says "RICK GET TO THE LIBRARY!" I'm here because 1) I lost my library card from my junior year of high school, so obviously I had to get a new one. They look different, but 2) Like my friend Tarra, reading used to be something I enjoyed, but then I got to high school and then college rolled around. I don't think I've found the time to truly just sit down on my couch at home and read a good book for the hell of just reading it. Maybe even connecting with the characters. Finding all of those underlying messages that the author is trying to get the reader to understand. So I'm here to check out some books to read this summer.

Well, I'm off to go check out some of those books, especially Crime and Punishment!

To our followers: Are you guys reading anything this summer that isn't a text book? I'm not going to lie, I would love to know what you guys are reading, if you're reading anything at all. I'm pretty sure Tarra would enjoy knowing too :)

PS. As for the atmosphere here, people need to SHUT UP because they are talking so flippin loud. It definitely is weird being in a library with high school and even middle school students. eh.

Introducing...

MADISON BLAKE!

She's not a stranger to this blog since she has been included in several adventures over the past semester.  She works at the library, giving us the inside scoop of life as a library worker.  Because of this, she's the newest author to this blog dedicated to adventures at the UP library.  Seeing that Rick and I will be absent from the library for the duration of the summer, Madison will not because she was able to secure a position for the summer months.  She'll be remarking on any interest activity going on during the summer months. 

So please, continue to check out the blog over the summer because Madison will add a couple posts now and then! :D

See you guys in August!

Last time I wore this yellow shirt it was someone's birthday! :D

Anyways, I just want to say that I'm leaving the University of Portland campus today to go home and get some R&R!!

But just because I won't be here at the UP Library to blog, just keep an eye out because Tarra and I might periodically post something up? Maybe even from my library back at home!? HEY!!

Keep it real guys and I can't wait to see everyone in August!!

What if...

there was a flash mob in the library?! hahaha Complete with music and dancing! Ah...it would be pretty funny and awesome!! :D

Inspired by Glee:



Even if that doesn't happen, there is a flash mob happening in Portland on July 29th.  Contact Andrew Hansen if you're interested. :)

One more thing...I was also watching "Silent Library," but that Japanese-based game show wouldn't work at the UP library. It's already so loud, unless you're in the basement. Bahahaha...it could happen. Maybe...

F@#$. S%^&. B@$%&

Call #: REF PE 3724.03H84 2006

Have you ever wondered why we swear? Click here for a psychological reasoning as to why people do it.

First off, I have to say thanks to Tarra for even showing this book to me. Had it not been for her I don't think I would have ever seen this book.

To quote Tarra on something really quick. Looking for this book was like looking for a book in the "restricted section of Hogwarts library" (bahahaha)

Just like the last book, I'm going to do another trio of words (in this case) to at least showcase the book off. The only difference is they'll be the most commonly used swear words in the United States.
------------------------------------------------------------
Starting with the 3rd most commonly used swear word: B*tch

Bitch has the longest history among animal terms as an insult, extending from the fourteenth century to the present, during which time it has steadily lost force through generalization. Although the etymology lies in late Old English bicche, a female dog, the word was not used demeaningly in the earliest period of the language, as the cognate Old Norse term bikkja was.

Aside from a quick excerpt taken from the book itself, the word was used originally to talk about a promiscuous or sensual woman.

Today the term can be used as a wounding personal insult in both British and American English, but is less prominent in Australian and other global varieties. The overall semantic trend in modern English has been generalization, since it can also be applied to a man, to a difficult situation or a complaint, and used as a verb meaning "to complain or criticize." In American slang a "shift to opposite" is also apparent in that bitching and bitchin' can be used to mean "very, wonderful or excellent," a sense recorded from about 1957.

2nd most commonly used swear word: Sh*t
There is evidence that the term for "shit" stemmed from the excretion from the body. This is seen in different languages and their forms of the word "shit."

The word itself has always been seen as an insult, in the form of a noun that has always had a picturesque history. Funny thing is, it's always had a male reference.

The origin of this word, as well as its use, was not always the negative connotation that it has now. It was a common term in the Anglo-Saxon for diarrhea.

As much as I would love to write more on this word, there's just a bunch of information behind its usage throughout films and text, which essentially show the evolution of the word from its everyday use to its negative connotation is has gained through the years.

Although, for the sake of viewing pleasures here's a table that was in the book :)

(I advise clicking on the photo for a larger view)

Most commonly used swear word: F*ck

First off, there is quite a lot of information on this word, bahaha. It's considered the "most powerfully taboo term for copulation over several centuries." In fact, it is still regarded as unmentionable by the vast majority of middle-class people.

Did you know: It was unlisted in the dictionary from 1728 until 1965 only to be removed anyways by a man by the name of Dr. Johnson.

Obviously, this word has its roots grounded in vast obscenity or pornography, which was brought to court in 1959.

Because of its modernity, etymologist actually do not know where the the origins of this word come from. Despite having similar words in other languages mean "copulation" the origins just don't match up.

To this day, the word still has its ties to copulation, but the popularity of this word has come, unfortunately, from Hollywood and its usage in many films. Sadly, that's about all there was to grab from this section. Wish I could write more, but it is time to do some homework :)


Sorry that this wasn't as great as it could have been. I'm not one for etymology, which is probably why this wasn't all that interesting to myself either. If you're into that kind of thing, shoot look up these words for yourself. Also, the book was kind of dry, BUT it is funny knowing that we have this book here at the University of Portland.

PS. If you couldn't tell, this was definitely written in two different days. I've been sick for the past week and the last place I wanted to be was ... the library. Although there aren't many people using the library, it's still a place where germs can be spread. Being sick over the summer is totally not fun, so it wouldn't have been fair for others to get sick because of my account.

sorry guys.

I feel I should write a post letting everyone know that I've been sick and that's why I haven't been able to finish up the "swear word" post. In fact, I'll probably continue this segment of "Books you didn't know were in the library" into the school year because I'm going to be gone by the end of next week.

Man this summer semester went by REALLY fast.

Again sorry guys, I've been sick. The library is one of the last places I'd like to spread my germs, haha.

On the plus side - I've gotten some reading, some bibtrad-ness done while I've spent time out of the classroom/library and inside my covers :)

Changes.

The Adventures of Rick & Tarra is undergoing some changes....

1) Obviously, the layout changed.  Blogger came up with new designs, and this one fits perfectly! Seriously...library books as the background for a blog about the library! YES! :)

Forgot how the old one looked?  Here's a piece of the past:

2) Rick is going to need some additional contributions since I graduated.  Different perspectives and such. As I stated before, I'll be dropping in though every once in a while.

3) Look out for other changes...more videos, interesting segments (i.e. Books you didn't know were in the library), more pictures and other surprises!

If you have any ideas about what you want to see on here, let us know! You never know...it just might make an appearance on our blog!

P.S. Let us know what you think of the new layout too.

Continuation from yesterday's post :)

As promised, I'm now sitting in the library sifting through the Encyclopedia of Christmas & New Year's Celebrations

If any of you would like to give this book a look the call number is: REF GT 4985.G79 2003

Because I don't want to look through the whole book, I've decided to just flip to three random places in it, ha.

Flip #1: Grandfather Frost
According to this during the era of Communist rule (1917-1991), Grandfather Frost became Russia's official winter season gift bringer. In other words - Russia's Santa Claus. Grandfather Frost first was known to symbolize the piercing cold of Russia's winters. Later though the image of Grandfather Frost had changed and gained a more kindly reputation. Unlike our Santa though, Grandfather Frost only gives gifts to the behaved children and simply ignores those that behave poorly (I guess that Communism for you, haha).

Flip #2: Christmas in the Philippines (A bit ironic)
Funny that I flipped to this, seeing as I am (and Tarra) Filipino. Something that I already knew was that the Philippines is one of the only Asian countries where majority of the people are Christian. Obviously this was because of the Spanish people brought Christianity over. Unlike the United Sates where Christmas season begins after Thanksgiving, in the Philippines the Christmas season begins on December 16. From December 16-24 there are nine morning masses known as Simbang Gabi in Tagalog, or in English - Rooster's Mass. Like an American Christmas, decorations are probably the most important part of the Christmas spirit (aside from the gifts ... haha). In the Philippines though the most cherished Christmas decoration is the parol, a star shaped lantern. Again, funny thing is my family and I have one that is hung up every year.

(Sorry if I've written a lot, there's just a bunch of stuff I didn't know) I guess Filipino parents don't have to worry about telling their children that Santa isn't real because most Filipino children know that the presents come from mom, dad, and friends. Although they know, many still regard Santa as a Christmas Figure.

Something I didn't know though is something called Holy Innocents' Day. I find it funny, so I'm actually going to quote it rather than paraphrase it, haha.

Filipinos observe December 28, Holy Innocents' Day, by playing practical jokes on one another. According to custom one cannot complain if one is fooled by a friend. In addition, anyone who succeeds in borrowing something on this day is not expected to give it back.

I find this rather funny because I did not know of this at all. I guess it's because I was raised here in the states, haha.

Flip #3: First Night
First Night is an alternative name for a New Year's Eve celebration that began in Boston in the year 1976. It was an event promoted as an alcohol-free, family-oriented New Year's celebration. Because it rapidly became so popular, there is now an organization by the name of "First Night"

The idea of First Night caught on so fast that cities that wanted to partake in "First Night" activities had to join the organization and pay a fee. As of now (according to this encyclopedia) 150 American cities host these festivities on December 31. These First Night celebrations have also spread to a number of locations in: Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.


That's about it for today's segment of "Books you didn't know were in the library"

Stay tuned for more as I go on an excursion around the library to find more books that even some of the library workers don't know exist.

PS. I'm fully aware that my shirt is green as well as the book cover, this was no way planned out, it was just coincidental.

Encyclopedia of Christmas ...

*This post will be short, I'll write more later though when I have the chance :)

I hope most of you guys enjoyed Tarra's last words, but it's time that this blog gets going again.

In light of summer vacation, there is barely anyone here in the library. So I thought I'd do like a segment of "Books you didn't know were in the library"

Note to readers: I honestly don't know what kind of books we have in the library, so it'll be a scavenger hunt for me to be able to do this.

Anyways, today while I was working on my BibTrad paper I decided to take a break and walk around the library and see what was on the shelves...

Did you guys know that the library has an encyclopedia of Christmas? I didn't know that, obviously, but I wish I had the chance to look through it. That darn BibTrad paper that I put off all weekend kept me from looking at it.

I promise though that I will take a look and let you guys know exactly what's in it!