Special Programs / Programas Especiales

BIG READ MEXICO - Sept. 19 - Oct. 31
LEAMOS JUNTOS / READING TOGETHER

The El Paso Public Library was awarded a grant
from The National Endowment for the Arts to
organize a reading initiative with Mexico.

In this program, Big Read Mexico,
both the United States and Mexico
will be asked to read the same book together
(Sun, Stone and Shadows:
20 Great Mexican Short Stories).
<<<Click here to request your copy today!>>>

The program will run between September 19 and October 31, 2008.
To celebrate the program, EAM will host Big Read activities. Join us!

To read more about Big Read Mexico, please click on the following link:
<<<BIG READ MEXICO>>>

Rick's Movie Review

Films at the Plaza

Once upon a time, people would go to a movie house that played ONE movie, two if it was a double-feature. Today, it’s all multiplex: six, eight, fifteen different films in one place. Sometimes you can see the same feature on TWO screens: a big screen, and a bigger screen.

I have nothing against multiplexes. However, watching movies should be an experience rather than an activity. The film series at the restored Plaza Theater was an extraordinary and rare event. I don’t know about others, but for myself, it made me love movies even more.

I saw seven films: Casablanca, The Omega Man, Planet of the Apes (1968 version), From Here to Eternity, Jason & the Argonauts, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and The Road Warrior: Mad Max 2. All were in the main theater (Kidd Hall) except for Mad Max 2, which was in the smaller side theater (the Philanthropy). They were an extraordinary two weeks.

I recommend all these movies, but for my favorites…

Well, I thought From Here to Eternity was the weakest. This Best Picture winner was superior over a film similar in theme & setting: Pearl Harbor, but I wasn’t as enthusiastic about it now as when I first saw it. To me, it hasn’t aged well, but for first-timers it’s a treat. The Road Warrior wasn’t as violent as I thought it would be; the word sparse is best used to describe it. Still, it told its story well, with good action, strong acting, and limited dialogue. If I’m involved in the story and characters, it’s on its way to being good.

I enjoyed The Omega Man slightly more than I Am Legend (the third version of this story, The Last Man on Earth being the first), but the original Planet of the Apes trumps the barbaric remake. I took my brother to see it, since he’d seen the remake first and hadn’t seen the original. Gabe’s conclusion: the first is better. The ending of the ‘68 version is still shocking, while the 2001 version had audiences groaning or laughing.

Casablanca will always have a special place in my heart. It Is One Of THE Great Films, for those who give it a chance. However, for sheer enjoyment, my favorite is still 20,000 Leagues. Even now, the special effects outshine most anything done via computers. It’s exciting, full of adventure, good for all ages but most of all, it’s just fun.

If there’s a repeat next year, here are some of my recommendations: Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, The General, Nosferatu, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Evil Dead, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Seven Samurai, The Way We Were, Predator, Saturday Night Fever, Rear Window, Strangers on A Train, Duck Soup, Aliens, Rebecca, The Phantom of the Opera (1925, 1943, 2004 versions), The Adventures of Robin Hood, Lawrence of Arabia, Mommie Dearest, Double Indemnity, and finally, Citizen Kane. If you have suggestions, let me know.

Derek's Book Review

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Book 4 - Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series
Having recently read the fourth book of Mr. Riordan’s debut fantasy series for kids and young adults, or those just young at heart, I am still very impressed with his ability to tell a story and leave you wanting more. If you enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, you may definitely love reading the four books that have been published so far in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series. If you’ve never heard of it, here’s a quick background:

Imagine that the ancient Greek gods were actually real and still alive today, only as a human mortal you can’t see clearly through what is called “the mist,” a sort of screen that prevents us from seeing the ancient monsters and delightful creatures that still wander the Earth while every now and then the gods themselves come down and interfere with daily life when they’re not on Mount Olympus (now above the Empire State Building in New York City) or other far-flung reaches of the world. What’s more is that the gods still have children with mortals, half-bloods, and there’s even a magical camp out on Long Island where they train to use their special abilities granted at birth. Nowadays, however, a full-fledged, nasty war is threatening to break out between the Olympians and the Titans, the older generation that was overthrown by Zeus. Percy Jackson, who seems like your average young teen, is probably the only one who can save the world from total doom and destruction.

If this sounds like exciting reading to you, I recommend you start with the first three books in the series, The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters and the Titan’s Curse. Each one is thrilling, page-turning and hard to put down because they are written very much like mystery books, which is Mr. Riordan’s specialty. He has written many adult mystery books, and he was inspired to try writing for a younger audience when his son responded well to a story he made up for bedtime. It has grown into popular and successful novels because not only do they provide entertainment but make you feel like one of the characters because you can easily identify with Percy and his friends, who are just like you and I but face way difficult circumstances. They have their flaws, and Percy himself struggles with dyslexia just like any other young person. Ms. Rowling also created real, believable characters in the Harry Potter books.

This fourth book won’t be the last, but for me, it was the best one so far. I was completely wrong about a lot of my guesses as I tried to put many of the clues together. The book, like the others, cleverly adapts many of the Greek myths and legends into modern times, and it’s also funny at times. Mr. Riordan is also a great expert at blending the serious with the humorous, intense with the everyday stuff and really describes battle scenes with a lot of imagery and imagination. Check these books out!
<<<Click here to request your copy today!>>>

Citizenship Class / Clase De Ciudadania

FREE! GRATIS! FREE! GRATIS! FREE!

Citizenship Class
Every Wednesday @ 5:30 - 7:30pm
For more information, please call 921-7001.

Clase de Ciudadania
Se ofrecerán clases los miercoles
de 5:30 - 7:30pm
Para más información,
favor de hablar 921-7001.

ESL Classes / Clases de Ingles Como Segundo Idioma

FREE! GRATIS! FREE! GRATIS!
Socorro ISD - Community Education
Classes offered every Saturday
from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Se ofrecerán clases los sábados
de 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
INSCRIPCION CERRADA

For more information on available ESL classes,
please call the Literacy Center @ 543-5494.

Para más información de clases disponibles en El Paso,
favor de llamar al 543-5494 (Literacy Center).

Computer Lab / Laboratorio de Computadoras

The Digital TV Transition - Request Coupons Online
To help you pay for the digital-to-analog converter box,
the US Government is offering two $40 coupons per household.
For more information on the coupons visit the following link:
<<<www.DTV2009.gov>>>

Transición a la Televisión Digital – Solicite Cupones por Internet
Para ayudar a los consumidores a comprar la caja
convertidora, el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos
está ofreciendo dos cupones de $40 por hogar.
Si desea más información sobre los cupones, visite
la pagina electronica:
<<<www.DTV2009.gov>>>

Clubs & Associations / Clubes y Asociaciones

Friends of the Library / Amigos de la Biblioteca
The Friends of the EAM Regional Library meets
in the Bookstore at 6:00 p.m. on the last
Wednesday of each month.
The next meeting will be at
6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24,
and the public is invited.
Please call 921-7001 for more information.

Los Amigos de la Biblioteca Regional EAM tienen su
junta en la Librería a las 6:00 P.M. el último
miércoles de cada mes. La siguiente reunión será
el miércoles 24 de septiembre a las 6:00 p.m., e invitan al público.
Los Amigos les hacen una cordial invitación para que
convivan con ellos en las actividades a beneficio de la Biblioteca.
Llame al 921.7001 para más información.

Las Tierras Neighborhood Association
Join the ranks of your neighborhood association!
For more information, please visit their website below:
>> http://www.lastierrasneighborhoodassociation.com/ <<