A Look Back at the History of the New York Mets

Hi All,

This blog entry is dedicated to all you New York Mets fans out there.  Newsday wrote an online article entitled, '50 Years of the New York Mets'. Here is the link. 

So, what exactly does this article include?  Excellent question and the answer is, 'How the 1986 Mets Were Built', 'Mets in the '80's: Success & What Might Have Been', 'Mets in the 21st Century: Never a Dull Moment' and 'Mets Trades To Remember (and Forget)...among other articles.

Diehard Mets fans might also want to visit this team site from Baseball-Reference.com - one of my all-time favorite baseball websites to look at. Click on this link for the team history and team encyclopedia page from Baseball-Reference.com that deals with the New York Mets. Very cool stats and assorted baseball stuff.

And finally, click on this link to visit the New York Mets website where you can find current statistics, buy tickets, get news, directions and more about the Mets.

Enjoy!

Stu

Long Island Beach Guide 2012

Hi All,

If you haven't visited the Farmingdale Patch website, you should. It is a hyper local news website that cover the comings and goings-on in and around the local Farmingdale area. 

Click on this link to go to the main page of the site.

So, what else does the site offer? It has a big news section and other sections on topics like events, a directory section, a commuting section and a Pics and Clips section.

The part of the section that jazzed me was the 2012 Long Island Beach Guide. Click on this link to go to the beach guide.

The 2012 LI Beach Guide is divided geographically.  That is, there are sections for the  South Shore - Nassau County, Western Suffolk County, The Hamptons, North Shore - Nassau County, Western Suffolk County, and the North Fork.  Each section has a 4-5 sentence summary for the beach that is being discussed.  Very interesting information is included in each summary.  Beach highlights are notable aspects are discussed in varying amounts of detail.

I would be remiss if I didn't include a link from two other sites: Newsday and the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation. Click here for a the super-comprehensive summary from Newsday about Long Island beaches.  Wow - the site is easy to navigate and is colorful to look at.

Finally, click on this link from the NYS Parks site portion of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation.  You can find even more information about parks, beaches and more on the site. 

Now - if only the weather would cooperate and it would turn sunny and warm from now until, say, October 31st.  :)  Enjoy the sites and the beaches and the parks this summer.

Regards,
Stu

Do You Have Computer Problems?

              

              Hi All,

Whether you are having problems with Windows 7, Microsoft Word, your router, how to print or if you have a question on how to use Picasa, you’ll find half of a 'Baker’s Dozen' (which means 6) websites that will help you get started solving your computer problems/issues. 

Oh, look for part 2 of this list in forthcoming weeks...possibly around the beginning of July...

1. Bestdownload.com - great for updates and computer downloads

2. Cnet.com - great for computer news and currents events, trends and more

3. Google.com - got a question? type it in and you'll get a list of websites that more than likely answer your question

4. Majorgeeks.com - serious computer site that covers Admin Tools, Android, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus, Back Up, Benchmarking, BIOS, Browers, Data Recovery,  Drivers, Firewalls, Graphics, Macintosh, Mail Utilities, Messaging, Multimedia, Networking, Office Tools, Registry, System Info, Video and more...amazingly organized and useful.You'll spend lots of time at the site!

5. Oldversion.com - non-new version of dozens of pieces of software...

6.  PCAholic.com - free tips, free videos, resources and more available...

Enjoy the links - hope they help you solve your computer-related problems.


Regards, 
Stu

Eight Is Definitely Not Enough!!!

Hi All,

I had fun generating the list for '7' a few weeks ago.  So, I wanted to write about the number '8' today.  There are many, many subjects and topics that relate to the number 8...and here comes the list!

8 Tracks For Sale - the old 8-track tapes are still available at auction on eBay.com.  Click here for the fun link to the auctions.

845 Area Code - this is the area code that serves the Hudson Valley New York counties of Rockland, Putnam, Orange  Ulster, Sullivan, most of Dutchess, parts of Delaware, Green and Columbia counties in New York State. FYI, the area code 845 split from the area code of 914 on June 5, 2000.  FYI, 914 was retained by Westchester County.

Eight is Enough - a comedy/drama from 197701981 that dealt with a family with eight very independent children. Cute show and you can catch some episodes on YouTube.

Eighth Amendment - of the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments. Click on this link for a link to a blog called the Federalist Blog that talks about the original meaning of 'cruel and unusual punishments' discussed in the Eighth Amendment.

The Noble Eightfold Path - is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering and the achievment of self-awakening. 

Eight Men Out - Movie which dramatizes the 1919 Black Sox scandal in which underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.  Great movie.

Enjoy the varied links!  Have a good Memorial Day.
Stu

Healthy Children - Immunization Information

Hi All,

Just a quick blurb about a very helpful site that gives a nice chart of Immunization schedules for children.  Basically this page leads users to a pdf document that can be printed out.  Users might want to keep the chart in an easily accessible location so that you know which immunizations your child needs when he/she visits the pediatrician.

Users can can also find Growth Charts,  Newsletters and Safety checklists (for children up to 10 years old) on this same page. 

Finally, the site, Healthychildren.org is an offshoot of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and brings users a whole lot of information for children.  The AAP is the authority of children's health in the United States so the information is authoritative, clear and well written. 

To visit the AAP site, click on this link. By and large though, users will want to use the healthychildren.org website for children's health and child related information.

Some of the various headings that HealthyChildren.org has are:  Ages and Stages, Healthy Living, Safety and Prevention, Family Life, Health Issues, News and Tips/Tools.

Regards and I hope you enjoy the site.

Stu

Farmingdale Village Hall - Services and More!

Hi All,

Just realized that I have yet to explore one of Farmingdale's best loved - and centrally located - resources!

 I'm talking about Farmingdale Village Hall. The previous link - in blue - will connect you to the Farmingdale Village Hall's website (hereafter noted as FVH - it'll save some time and typing) - and a huge amount of information for users!  Try it out - you won't be sorry!

So, what does FVH have for residents?  They've got a fax number - nice long hours (8:30am-4:30pm, Monday - Friday) and a very  helpful website.  Let me navigate you through it quickly.

Users can get Permits and Applications, learn about the Village Beautification program, view the Village Calendar, learn about Stormwater Management, download the BOA/DGEIS plan (Environmental Impact Statement and the Proposed Downtown Master Plan), find a list of Village Shoppes, Specialty Stores, FVH Restaurants, Nursery Schools , Automotive businesses, Services, Food Suppliers, and a long list of houses of religious worship located in Farmingdale. 

There is also a very helpful directory for FVH departments (FVH Clerk, Public Works, Farmingdale Water District, Building Department, Garbage Collection, Code Enforcement, Justice Court, Records Department, Registrar, Marriage Ceremonies, Auxiliary Police, Civil Defense, Village Historian, and the Summer Pops Concerts

Wow - that's a comprehensive and helpful website!  Enjoy the links - hope this helps!

Regards,
Stu

Q is For...

Hi All,

In our never ending quest for interesting and unique websites, we're up to the letter 'Q'.  Q has lots of interesting websites.  For example...

QVC - website for shopping from home and online.  Viewers and surfers can buy shoes, handbags, jewelry, beauty products, kitchen implements, home and garden products, electronics, health and fitness goods and more!

Quest Diagnostics 
Best known for its laboratory diagnostic testing services (aka - giving blood that you need to have during your annual physical examination).  Check out this list of locations for Quest Diagnostics!


Queens College - one of the jewels in the CUNY crown, Queens College awards bachelor's and master's degrees in the arts and humanities, education, mathematics and the natural sciences, and social sciences.  Certificate programs provide additional training in specialties in education, library science, psychology, and risk management. QC also participates in doctoral programs overseen by CUNY's Graduate Center - many of which involve lab work or clinical studies!

Quotes About Life - lots of quotes about life!


Quotes (stock)
Simple interface, easy to use - and you get quotes from the NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX...

Quantum Mechanics - click here for the link to the Wikipedia entry for Quantum mechanics.  Tough stuff but it really can help you you get a job - provided you have a degree in physics...

Quiz - via Quiz Rocket...has lots of personality type quizzes, funny quizzes and fun tests.  A bit of entertainment in an all together too serious world.  Sort of.

Enjoy the sites!
Stu

TED - Ideas plus Videos= Great Way to Learn Site

 Hi All,

Simply put: Click on this link to TED - no, not the person who's real name is Theodore...

TED is a website where viewers can see great lectures/talks/speeches and more by folks who have 'Ideas Worth Spreading'.  Amazing topics - amazing speakers.

And it is free.  
Users can view talks related to specific topics like technology, entertainment, design, business, science and global issues/geopolitics.

Great stuff - and you're the learning is fun!

Enjoy the site - and the weekend.
Stu

Dressing For a Job Interview

Hi All,

So...you've nabbed that job interview and your resume is in tip-top shape.  Your cover letter was perfect - heck, that's how you got this interiew - and your ready to ace the interview because you've prepared for all the possible questions: education, past jobs, biggest accomplishment, etc...

Now it is the night before the interview and you need to know what to wear to the interview!

Click on this link from About.com for some no-nonsense, down-to-earth advice on what to wear on the interview. The information is simple, not lengthy, and certainly not complicated: think simple!

For a bit more specific manner of dressing for various industries, click on this link from Monster.com - a well known job search website.

Finally, click on this link from Forbes.com for 'Dressing For Success'.  Note that there is a link in the middle of the page for viewers to actually see pictures of 'Dressing For Success'.

Enjoy the sites and I hope they make you feel confident and help on the job interview.

Regards,
Stu

Americans' Health Report Card

Hi All,

I was listening to the radio while driving to work today and I heard about this report from the CDC (Center For Disease Control).

The name of the report is 'Health, United States 2011' and is essentially the annual state of the union's health. According to the news report that I link to - click here for the link - there is both good news and bad news: the good news is that Americans are living longer - the bad news is that we are gaining weight.

This years' report has a special section on how our socioeconomic status and health are related. 

Click on this link for the actual report from the CDC.  Note that on this page you'll see a section of 'What's New' in the 2011 Edition, the Complete Report, an 'At a Glance Table', 'Highlights' of the Report, 'Trendtables, and the Index. Finally, there is a link entitled, 'Socioeconomic Status and Health'. 

On the 'Health, United States, 2011' page, there is a box titled 'Selected Topics'.  This is a great place to get data on Children and Adolescent Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Older Population Data and Poverty data and more! 

What a treasure chest of data - interesting, relevant and timely!  Great stuff. 

Enjoy the link and the sites and the data!

Regards,
Stu

Clean Most Anything

Hi All,

Well, now that Spring has sprung (proof of that is Mother's Day - which we celebrated yesterday), its time for some Spring cleaning. Doesn't everyone like the smell of clean bathroom or a freshly washed sink?  Just imagine a bedroom filled with the scent of fresh air and crisp new sheets when you go to bed!

Now isn't that a pleasant way to go to bed or to walk into a kitchen?  Yep - I thought so.

So - without further ado, you might want to click on this link for How to Clean Stuff.

The site is very easy to navigate with a long list of Cleaning Guides on the right side of the webpage.  Cleaning Guide topics include Automotive, Clothing and Fabrics, Floor and Carpet,House, Kitchen and Bath, Outdoors, People and Pets,  and Things You Own.

Finally, click here for the sites' blog - its interesting, helpful and pretty frequently updated. 

Enjoy the site - here's to keeping clean and staying dirt-free.  As if that can ever happen :)

Regards,
Stu

What Do You Know?

Hi All,

So, 'what do you know?'.  According to this website, there is a list of '50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do'. 

Some of the things (like 'How To Actually Win a Fist Fight') are a bit tongue-in-cheek (but that doesn't mean there isn't valuable information there...).  Other suggestions are spot on - as in 'How to Change a Tire', and others are just really good career suggestions (like 'How To Write an Informative Speech').

Notice that the site has 3 sites for each of the '50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do' - that is, there is a backup for each suggestion.  That way, if one of the links is broken, or if the site is down, there are at least 2 other sites to get the information.

Interesting site - I especially liked number 28 ('Give a Compliment'), number 29 ('Negotiate') and 36 (Take Useful Notes').

By the way, this site is similar - in theory at least - to Ask.com and and eHow.com - both of which act as repositories of 'how to do things' type websites.  All three are helpful and useful - its just a matter of which site you are more familiar with more...

Enjoy the answers - I hope the questions are good :)

Regards,
Stu

Staycations in Farmingdale

Hi All,

Interesting article on the Farmingdale Patch website on May 7th titled: 'Readers' Choice: Best Staycation Spot in Farmingdale'.  Gist of the article was that Farmingdale Patch wanted to get readers' views on the top local staycation destination for this summer - which, even though the weather doesn't show it - is right around the corner!

So, what is your choice for best local staycation destination?  Oh, you can click on any of these links to visit the website for the staycation discussed.

Adventureland
Farmingdale Lanes
Town of Oyster Bay Beach
Battle Row County Park
Bethpage State Park
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
BounceU
Allen Park


And...click on this link to find books on family vacations that we have in the Farmingdale Public Library.  FYI, this is the link to the card catalog!

Finally, click on this link from Newsday - the subject of which is ExploreLI (Explore Long Island) - which is more geared to things to do on Long Island.

Enjoy the links!
Stu

Haven't Done This in a While! (The Number 7)

Hi All,

I haven't done this type of entry in a long time!  Forthwith, the number '7' - and the various subjects, topics and ideas related to the number 7.  There are lots of meanings -both hidden and obvious - to this common integer.

Seven Deadly Sins - a detailed look (with explanations) at just exactly what the seven deadly sins are.

Seven Wonders of the World- link from About.com/Geography that covers both the ancient and modern 7 wonders of the world. 

Se7en (film)
The 1995 Brad Pitt/Morgan Freeman/Gwyneth Paltrow film about two detectives hunting a serial killer who uses the Seven Deadly Sins as his modus operandi.

Seven Train (New York City) - aka the 7 Flushing Express. Did yoiu know that the 7 operates with 11-car trains - which is more thank any other NYC Subway service?  Click the link and you'll find lots more fascinating facts about the 7 train. 

7 For All Mankind - the leader in premium denim for women, men and kids! Check out the online store.

Seventh Heaven
This is the Wikipedia link to the phrase 'Seventh Heaven'.  The term has relevance to topics like religion, Television/Theatre/Film, Music and Literature.


Seventh Generation - the leading brand of green cleaning products, baby diapers, laundry detergent, paper towels, dish soap, tissues, paper towels, and baby wipes.

Enjoy the links,
Stu

Organ Donating and Facebook - Too Much Social Networking?

Hi All,

Click on this link to an interesting new program that Facebook has announced.  Basically Facebook has made it easier for users to sign up to register to donate organs via Facebook.  Users can identify themselves as organ donors on their Facebook page. Question:  Will this new program increase the number of organ donations?  Excellent question.  Click here for another article about Facebook's organ donation program - this time the article is from USA Today. 

Click on this link to visit the site that Facebook has partnered with for the organ donation program: Donate Life America.

Finally,click here to learn about all the pro's of organ donation.

I hope you found this blog entry interesting and useful!

Regards,
Stu

Attention All Bird Lovers (Birdwatcher)!!!!

Hi All,

I just came across a very interesting website for all fans of birding.  Simply put, the site - which can be found by clicking on this link - helps birders identify birds by various attributes like 'shape', 'size', 'bill shape', 'wing shape', 'song or live call', and more.

Users can follow iBird on Twitter or participate in the iBird forums, Ask Experts and more.

Note that the iBird app works for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and other smartphones!

And now that you have a resource to help identify the birds, you might just need a group to go birding with and to share your passion. Click here for a website that has information on bird sightings, seasonal spots to birdwatch in, and links to other, helpful birdwatching sites.

Enjoy,
Stu

Volunteering Websites

Hi All,

Just found a great website for volunteering on Long Island.  Appropriately enough it is called 'Long Island Volunteer Center' and can be reached by clicking on this link or the title just mentioned.

So, just what is the LIVC? It is an all-volunteer agency the provides support to, and promotes, and advocates, for volunteer service on Long Island.  Click here for a brief history of the organization.

And of course, click on this link to find volunteer opportunities.

If you need o contact the LIVC, click on this link.  This next link is a list of organizations that actually entertain volunteers from LIVC.  This is a very long alphabetical list of organizations so you might have to scroll down a bit to get to the name of the organization you are looking for.

Finally, if you click on the name of the organization, you find an organization profile, a link, and the organizations address...great stuff to help you contact them!

Regards,
And here's to volutneering - what a great way to spend time!
Stu