American Libraries editor: ‘Community engagement’ is library theme for 2013

Viking fans Brett Gardner and his mother, Tami Gardner, watch  a video
on the TC Rover TV with John Brewer and C.J. Sinner of TwinCities.com.
From Steve Buttry/The Buttry Diary

“If I were predicting a library theme for 2013, it would be community engagement,” American Libraries editor Laurie D. Borman writes in the January/February 2013 edition that arrived in my mailbox today.

2012 in Review: Cat overpopulation in Lake County

Lake County Animal Care and Control, veterinarians and concerned residents worked in 2012 to reduce Lake County's overpopulation of cats.

Original fiction: Monkey's Christmas Tree

The appearance of humans was not unusual as far as Monkey was concerned. Normally he shared his home with one mature human female, but today brought the arrival of one of his human's grown cubs and her mate.

Self-advocates and allies need to combat autism prejudice

Lydia Brown has posted a photo on Facebook of herself displaying a sign that reads: “I’m not afraid to say I’m autistic.” She explains:

“I posted this because of the unfortunately legitimate fears that many members of the Autistic community and parents of autistic children have about being visibly and openly Autistic in the wake of the tragic and baseless conflations of autism with violence. It isn't safe for everyone (particularly those who can pass) to be openly Autistic right now, but I'm doing so anyway because I'd rather not be afraid (even if I have every right to be).”

I think media coverage like that directed toward the shooting in Newtown, Conn. makes it more difficult -- and yet so much more essential -- for self-advocates and their allies to combat misinformation and prejudice.

League bowling: Season high score, women's handicap game

With the completion of bowling last night at Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce league will take a two-week break.

Shawn Garrison, Kevin N. Hume, Jonathan Donihue and I bowled for the Lake County Record-Bee. Latest stats, encompassing Dec. 11 bowling, showed me with a season high score, third place for women's handicap game.

My bowling average crept up by one to 79 pins. Last night I bowled 80, 83 and 70. Team scores (with handicaps) were 782, 781 and 749.