By: Shannon Hazard,
on 12/26/2015
For some time now, I have been among those who have argued that the fandom associated with the Star Wars franchise is akin to a religion. There are those who will quarrel with the word choice, but it is hard to gainsay the dedication of fans to the original films
The post Mythology redux: The Force Awakens once again appeared first on OUPblog.
By: ChloeF,
on 11/30/2012
What do anaesthetists do? How does anaesthesia work? What are the risks? Anaesthesia is a mysterious and sometimes threatening process. We spoke to anaesthetist and author Aidan O’Donnell, who addresses some of the common myths and thoughts surrounding anaesthesia.
On the science of anaesthesia:
Click here to view the embedded video.
The pros and cons of pain relief in childbirth:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Are anaesthetists heroes?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Aidan O’Donnell is a consultant anaesthetist and medical writer with a special interest in anaesthesia for childbirth. He graduated from Edinburgh in 1996 and trained in Scotland and New Zealand. He now lives and works in New Zealand. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2002 and a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 2011. Anaesthesia: A Very Short Introduction is his first book. You can also read his blog post Propofol and the Death of Michael Jackson.
The Very Short Introductions (VSI) series combines a small format with authoritative analysis and big ideas for hundreds of topic areas. Written by our expert authors, these books can change the way you think about the things that interest you and are the perfect introduction to subjects you previously knew nothing about. Grow your knowledge with OUPblog and the VSI series every Friday!
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View more about this book on the 
By: Mark Miller,
on 7/19/2012
I guess it's been a while, but Olivia and I have finally put together the fourth episode of Sons of the King. In case you are not familiar with it, this is the Christian sci-fantasy that I am co-writing with my nine-year-old daughter.
By: Master Jedi Zack,
on 6/24/2009
Hello everyone in the land of Boys Rule Boys Read, Master Jedi Zack here once again.
I hope everyone is having a great summer. Here at the Matthews Branch Library we have been busy busy busy with lots of fun programs. Last night I had a group of Jedi Padawans here for The Jedi Way. They all created their very own lightsabers and designed space ships. They are nearly ready to go out and defend the galaxy from the sinster Darth Bill and his Sith spawn!
Here are some pictures of the super elite Padawans crafting the lightsabers.
By: Darth Corder,
on 1/28/2009
Hello all,
It is with a heavy heart that I must post this exclusive interview I found on the news this mourning. I must warn you all it is very shocking, so be sure to be sitting when you watch!!!! You should also be warned that the video is a little shaky as the heroic interviewer did this interview during a full scale earthquake!!!!!
Shocking Exclusive News From "The Boys Rule Boys Read" Blog Investigative Team
Now I know this may come as a shock to you all that "Jedi Master Zack" is actually an evil Sith Lord. As for myself, I always had my suspicions. Now Darth Bill's perspective on baby animals is that they are need and should be taken care of and even loved. I guess this Sith just has a soft spot in his heart for puppies and kittens - plus they are potential sith in the making. Well we tells it like it is here. Shame on you Jedi Master Zack for your views on small animals and your unprovoked attacks on me):
Sad and Shaken,
Darth Bill
P.S. I want everyone out there in the land of Blog to know that I am taking the high road in not telling everyone that in some quarters "Jedi Master Zack" is also known as "Jedi Sweetie Zack." Oh I just told everyone didn't I. Tell you what, forget you ever heard me say it.
P.S.S. Yeah for Mr. Gaimen!!!!! Your books rock!!!!!
By: Darth Corder,
on 10/2/2008
Hello all,
It is with some shock and a bit of sadness I have to ask Jedi Master Zack to stop his petty personal attacks. If you go back and look at my earlier post you will see it was something I dug up prior to the Boys Rule Boys Read Blog. He reports that I have been demoted, which could not be further from the truth, and even altered the ancient Sith Reading Club poster I found. It is with great pride that I now reveal my Sith Master who taught me all I know. The Great and Noble Darth Daffy:
So Jedi Master Zack since we have found agreement in the most excellent "The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli," I will forgive you of this slander on this occurrence. Just don't disrespect the Duck.
Peace all,
Darth Bill
By: Darth Corder,
on 10/1/2008
Hello all, it is I again Darth Bill. I see that I have been publicly bashed by the so called Jedi "Master" Zack!!!! I just want to point out that I am taking the high road in regards to his comments about myself and my fellow Sith. I could say something like - Jedi rarely read any book that has multiple syllable words in them or Jedi only like to read really long books with lots of arguing and lots of camping or even Jedi are just plain stinky. But I am above doing such, so I will not (classy of moi, no?). Sigh, why does "Master" Jedi Zack feel the need to attack me publicly. I guess he is just jealous that I am better looking, but as I said I won't go there for it is below my Sith Honor. One last note about Sith's love of reading. I bet many of you have at times wondered where we got the name for this blog. Well just look at the poster I recently found that was around before we even started this blog:
this volume the Capt'n Eli Graphic Novel Series hits another gear and really takes off!!!!! As it was left off in the previous volume Capt'n Eli is still with Commander X aboard his super high tech submarine "Sub Zero." They reach the underwater city of Aquaria only to find it under attack by a race of underwater denizens known as the Outcast. It seems Aquira and it's people are now ruled by Commander X's former World War II partner, known then as The Sea Raider. We also find out that Commander X is Aqurian's sworn Lord Protector and it is his duty to protect them from all threats and enemies. Let's see what else happens in this story, we learn the history of Aquaria and its relationship to Atlantis, we learn the secret origin of the ruler of the Aquarians known by many names such as - Rex Noble, The Sea Raider and The Sea Ghost among others, Lord Hydro is back with all his evilness and Hydrons and much. much more!!!!!!!!!! I promise you if you pick up this Graphic Novel you will be unable to put it down until you have finished reading it and then you will still be wanting more. Look for it in the PLCMC System soon!!!!!!!!!
Hulk: The Incredible Guide (Updated Edition) by Tom DeFalco and Mattew Manning - This book is just too cool!!!!! It has the answers to everything you may have wondered about the Incredible Hulk and more stuff you probably did not even have a clue about. This book covers everything Hulk from his creation in the 60s to present day. Along with all the facts about the Hulk, his friends, his enemies, his history, etc., it is loaded with incredible artwork by the various artist that have told his tale from his first appearance to his latest. This really is a must read for true fans of old Greenskin (and other colors to as you will find out if you check this great book of knowledge out).
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four: Monsters, Moles, Cowboys & Coupons written by Steve Niles, Daniel Way, Kristen Sinclair and Joe Lansdale; art by Leonard Kirk, Steve Scott, David Hahn & Ronan Cliquet - Wow!!!!!!! I really think this is my favorite Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four so far. This volume has it all!!! From a good old slug feast with the Incredible Hulk, to a rough and tough western staring the Ever-Loving-Blue Eyed Thing, along with a comedic shopping story and a soul searching story that asks why does the FF do what they do. Highly recommended!!!!!!!
By: Darth Corder,
on 5/7/2008
Hello all, it is I once again. The Sith who is a legend in his own mind: Darth Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yikes, I think I just scared myself) I hope most of you out there in the Land of Blog have not forgotten about our recently completed Boys Rule Boys Read Book Series Tournament, because the story I have to tell will curdle your blood I tell ya! As you may or may not recall, the person who came in first of our little competition was the The Mysterious Anonymous (Zonks, I scared myself again. Must be the bold type face.). Well the Mysterious Anonymous turned out to be no other than, drum roll please, the one, the only, Jedi Master Yoda!!!!!!
Jedi Master Yoda, up to no good I'm sure, coming to claim his prize.
made to give Master Yoda his Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Graphic Novel, I still got to make fun of him when he was not looking behind his back (oops, you don't suppose he will read this blog, eh????? Better develop a quick exit strategy from library in case he does, but I want to make it clear I'm not scared or nothing. Yea that's the ticket, gulp!).
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman - This is officially one of the funniest books I have ever read!!!! Now you may think from the title that this book is going to be sad or certainly something depressing, but brother you could not be more wrong. This book is told through multiple characters perspectives and these main characters are Wallace Wallace (no this is not a typing mistake; Wallace is both his first and last name) - an unlikely/reluctant football hero, Rachel Turner - head of the Drama Club, Trudi Davis - Rachel's boy crazy best friend, Mr. Fogelman - Wallace's eighth grade English Teacher and others. It all starts out when Wallace Wallace, who for reasons you will learn, writes an honest book report about Mr. Fogelman's favorite book Old Shep, My Pal. Basically he writes that he hates the book. Why do you ask? Here is a short excerpt from the book concerning this event that gives you a taste of the humor that this book is infused with:
Guan Yu: Blood Brothers to the End - A Chinese Legend by Dan Jolly and Ron Randall - This Graphic Novel tells the story of Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese Warrior, who leaves his village and home at a young age to seek his fortune. Not long after leaving his home he encounters two men, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, at a tavern. The two men had just begun recruiting men to fight a group of rebels known as the Yellow Scarves. They invite Guan Yu to join them and he agrees to help them put down the rebellion. As they talk, they know that something very special is happening and start to feel a special kinship with one another. Before leaving the tavern the three men agree to be Blood Brothers and to never abandon their brotherhood. They put down the Yellow Scarf Rebellion that threatened the Chinese Government and go on to have many adventures together and separately. Guan Yu, especially, goes on to accomplish many great feats and becomes renown throughout China. So much so, that many years after his famous death (read about it), he transcends mortality to myth becoming a Chinese God of War. His mythological status also comes to represent Honor, Righteousness, and most of all Brotherhood. This is a really good read about a real warrior who achieved greatness and beyond through honor and integrity. I found this to be both an interesting and fun book.
By: Darth Corder,
on 4/5/2008
Can you guide Mr. Basketball threw the Sith Basketball Backboard of Terror? Probably, I'm pretty sure (I think I did, or maybe I cheated) you might.
Yes it is I once again, the man of many names. Captain/Darth/007/Ninja/No More Mr. Nice Guy Bill welcomes and thanks you for visiting the blog (Aaaarrrrrrhhhhhhh!!!!!!!). Well the voting for the Boys Rule Boys Read Book Series Tournament has been fast and furious. If you have not voted, as a reminder, you have until April 7th, Monday at 9:00 p.m. to get your votes in. Also keep shooting those 3 pointers. I have a feeling they may have a serious impact on who comes in the top three places of our little contest. I can feel it in me bones, I tell ya!!!!!
Just got the following vote cast by Mace Windu (those darn Jedi):
Harry Potter
Narnia
Har, Har, Har, it will be interesting indeed to see who are the two last books standing to compete for the Championship.
One other contest I would like to mention on this blog is the StoryTubes competition that is going on nationwide.
Rather than me just blab away about the contest, check out the following press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public libraries partner in national online video contest:
StoryTubes encourages kids to talk up their favorite books on YouTube
April 3, 2008 (Charlotte, N.C.) – From New York to California to North Carolina, kids in grades 1-6 are talking up their favorite books in an online video contest that supports public libraries, including the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC). The contest, which runs through April 20, 2008, is called StoryTubes, and your children can join in the fun, too!
Along with your parent or guardian, kids can follow these simple steps to participate:
1. Make a 2-minute or shorter video about your favorite book;
2. Upload the video to www.youtube.com; and
3. Click on www.storytubes.info and send in the link to your uploaded YouTube video using the online contest entry form.
There are four video categories: Hair-Raising Tales; From or For the Heart; Of Heroes and Heroines; and Facts, Fads and Phenoms. When entering, please don’t use your last name in the video. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, content and performance. Parents are encouraged to read the complete contest rules and regulations at www.storytubes.info/rules.
The video becomes part of a national contest!
The deadlines for entries is April 20, 2008. Voting mania will happen each week in May. At the end of each week, one lucky contestant will win $500 in books. The sponsoring organization they choose (school, library or designated organization for home-schooled youth) will receive $1,000 in books.
Bill Corder, a children’s librarian at PLCMC’s ImaginOn is excited about the project. “It’s so much fun to see kids having a blast creating these videos. They get to talk about their favorite books and have their 15 minutes of fame on YouTube. And they have a chance to win a prize. It’s really cool!”
Want help creating your video?
Kids and parents can come to ImaginOn’s Spangler Library on the following dates and times. Library staff will be on hand with all the equipment needed to help create your video.
- Monday, April 7 from 11 - 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 8, from 11 - 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 9 from 2 - 4 p.m.
- Friday, April 18 from 7- 9 p.m. (during the “Red Read Party” at ImaginOn)
For questions about the video sessions at ImaginOn, call 704-973-2720.
Everybody wins when kids get excited about stories!
Sponsoring publishers are: Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Eaglemont Press, DK Publishing, Charlesbridge Publishing and Shenanigan Books.
The StoryTubes partner libraries are: Northeast: Middle Country Public Library of Centereach; NY; Southeast: The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County/ImaginOn, Charlotte, NC; Midwest: Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL; Northwest: King County Library System, Issaquah, WA; and Southwest: Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena, CA.
Sounds pretty cool to me. You get to be a star on YouTube and could win $500 worth of books!!!! Man I wish I could compete, but alas I'm not quite in the age range (I'm in the 7th grade; okay not really I'm in the 8th(; ). So guys (and maybe some girls) look into this and remember we will be videoing people here at ImaginOn!!!!
Lastly I would like to talk about some really cool books I have read recently:
Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four – All 4 One, 4 For All by Zeb Wells and 
The Fantastic Four are back and better than ever!!!!! This graphic novel includes four stories that concentrate on each of our heroes. The first story focuses on everyone’s favorite rock guy The Thing. The Thing and a new friend learn the hard way that true beauty lays beyond one’s outside appearance while battling The Absorbing Man. The second story takes a look at The Invisible Woman. Susan Storm is beginning to feel that she is taken for granted by her teammates. So when Nick Fury approaches her about being a spy for the Government, she faces a dilemma in whether to stay with the FF or leave. The third story puts Mister Fantastic in the cross-hairs of
The Midnight Library: I Can See You by Damien Graves – If you like scary stories, and I mean scary stories, this series is just wicked!!!!! The first story in this book is about Michael who 
along with his parents has relocated from the city to the country. Michael has trouble making friends, but finally seems to have made some in Stephanie and Jack. They tell him about the house he has moved in which once belonged to old Farmer Axby whose wife and children left him. Farmer Axby eventually went mad and the last time he was seen alive he was out in the fields with an old lantern looking for his children. The whole time screaming: “I can see you!” Well, he must have fallen sometime in the night because there was a massive fire and the only remains of Farmer Axby that were found were his broken lantern and the remains of his burnt coat. Ever since that night the kids in the area play a game on the anniversary of the fire called I Can See You. Stephanie and Jack invite Michael to play this year and he agrees. Maybe that was not the wisest of decisions? This is some super spooky stuff and if you like this story you will love the other two in the book. A word of warning however, these stories do not always have happy endings and, perhaps, could cause nightmares. If you like real scary stories this series and book are for you.
Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams – This book rocked and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel. The main character of the book is 14-year-old Will Burrows who along
with his archaeologist father, Dr. Burrows, shares a passion for digging tunnels into the earth in search of buried historical items. Will’s family is extremely “different” and to say the least dysfunctional. His father is always involved with his work and little else, his mother watches TV non-stop, and his younger sister runs the families finances. Will is an extremely pale boy and picked on non-stop at school. That is until he befriends another outcast by the name of
gets him interested in digging. Life is going pretty good for Will between digging with his father and digging independently with his new friend
One last note, I want to say it is so good to see so many Sith posting lately! It really warms my black little heart so much.
Well take it easy all you out there in Blogland (and remember to get your votes in along with 3 pointers). Peace,
Bill
By: Sondra Santos LaBrie,
on 2/18/2008
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 9/18/2007
About * Books & Pictures * Workshop * Contact
The book that I have is called Treasure Fever! The author's name is Andy Griffiths. This book is very exciting!!! In this book the principal told a student about a treasure and the student told his friends. Then his friends told half of the school and the substitute teacher. Everyone who knew got treasure fever!!! This was an enjoyable read! Happy reading guys!!!