How Stuff Works?

Hi All,

How do things work? I'm talking about things like 'Are Married People Happier Than Singles?', or 'What are The 10 Worst Foods to Eat?', or 'How Does Your Computer Know How Much Ink is Left in Your Cartridge?', or  'Why Can't We Remember Being Babies?'

Well, for all of the above listed questions, readers can click on the link to answer that particular question.

One really, really excellent feature of HowStuffWorks.com is the search box at the top right corner of the screen. Users can type in a phrase or search term and results will appear after you click on the magnifying glass (aka the 'enter' button).  Great stuff because links appear at the bottom of the page.  One possible negative to the site - there are Google Ads after each search. This can be disconcerting, but the actual HowStuffWorks? results appear right after the advertisements.

And with that nugget out of the way, searching for the exact result or answer that you need is a snap!

Readers can click on this link from 'HowStuffWorks.com' to find a plethora (a lot! - not a google however) of answers to a huge variety of questions.  Topics range from Adventure, Animals, Auto, Culture, Entertainment, Health, Home & Garden, Lifestyle, Money, Science, Technology and more.

In addition, HowStuffWorks has links to Video, Shows and Quizzes - click on links just listed for more information on those topics.

My favorite link is the Technology link.  Currently there is an article titled, '10 Internet of Things Nightmares', and 'Could You Put a Camera in a Contact Lens?'  But wait, there is more!

Other categories in the Electronics section of How Stuff Works? include: Family Tech, Everyday Tech, Gadgets, Cameras and Photography, Future Tech, How-to-Tech and Tech Myths...

Whew!  That was a mouthful!

Enjoy the site, find an answer - and get on with your life!  Kind of helpful, useful and easy to use!
Regards,
Stu

Library Book Club

Hi All,

I don't know if you know this or not, but the library has a book club.  Yep. We do. Actually we have two book clubs.

The first book club meets on Monday morning at 10:30am and second book club meets on Monday nights at 7pm.

Click on this link to the Farmingdale Public Library Eventkeeper calendar.  You'll be able to search for all future book club events - and other library related events for that matter. 

Click on this link from the Iowa Center for the Book for an insightful article on 'How to Begin and Lead a Book Discussion Group'.  This is a great gateway article as it includes 'Great Resources to Get Started' and 'Articles' about book discussion groups. 

Here is just a smattering of the variety of links:
1. American Library Association - Book Discussion Groups  - link has a long article about book discussion groups.  Headings include 'Resources for Getting Started', 'Selected Print Resources', 'Websites', 'Quick Start Guide', 'How to Structure a Meeting', 'Basic Ground Rules', 'Meeting Format', 'How to Select Books' and 'If You're Leading a Book Discussion'. Insightful, unbiased, clearly written and very, very authoritative!

2. Seattle Public Library - Book Group How-To's - Has sections on 'Choosing Good Books for Discussion', 'Leading the Discussion' and 'Learning More About an Author'.

3. About.com - Top 5 Resources For Starting and Maintaining a Successful Book Club - entry has topics like 'How to Start a Book Club?', 'How to Lead a Book Club Discussion?', 'How to Structure a Book Club Dinner Group?', 'Ready-to-Go Book Club Discussion Questions', and 'One Year Book Club Reading List'.

So there you have it....3 great links on how to start, maintain and grow a book discussion group!

Good luck and regards,
Stu

Pet Day in Farmingdale!

Hi All,

The North Shore Animal League is having a charity event on Saturday, June 28th, 2014.  Click this link for more information about this event.

There will be a doggie fashion show, dogs and cats can get groomed and have their nails cut from Mobile Grooming which will be on premises.

Food will be available to buy for attendees.

When: 12noon-4pm on Saturday, June 28th, 2014
Where: Village Green - Main Street in Farmingdale
Who: North Shore Animal League
What: A charity event for dogs and cats!
Why: Click on this link for adorable pictures of cats and dogs from the North Shore Animal League!

Click on this link to find books in the Farmingdale Public Library about puppies. 
Click on this link to find books in the Farmingdale Public Library about kittens.


Enjoy - maybe you can make a new best friend by adopting puppy or kitten!

Regards,
Stu

Nine is Just Fine!

Hi All,

Just a quickie post to end the week on a fun note.  If you remember, okay, I didn't - I had to look this up!  Back on Friday, May 25th, 2012, I wrote a blog entry titled, 'Eight is Definitely Not Enough'.  Click on the blog title previously or the here to see the blog entry.

Today, I'm going to write about the number 9.

1.  International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-9). 
Do you remember seeing those little codes next to your doctor bills that you receive?  Basically the ICD is a health care classification system that provides for a systemof diagnostic codes by classifying diseases. A bit like the Dewey Decimal System, but for diseases.  ICD includes 'nuanced classifications of a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal finding, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or disease.  ICD-9 is the ninth version of the system.

2. 9Lives - is the name of a brand of cat food owned by Del Monte Foods and introduced to the market in 1959. It is best know for its mascot, Morris the Cat.  See more about Morris the Cat by clicking on this link.

3. Nine West - is a fashion wholesale and retail company.  Initially founded as a fashion footwear brand, Nine West expanded into handbags, sunglasses, legwear, outerwear, jewelry, beelts, watches, cold weather accessories, hats, scarves, wraps and eyewear.  Nine West was acquired by Jones Apparel Group in 1999.

4. Culturally, the number nine is considered a good number in Chinese because it sounds the same as the word 'longlasting'.

5. Nine is also associated with the Chinese Dragon - a symbol of magic and power.

6. The nine Muses in Greek mythology are Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia and Urania.

7. The phrase 'cat-o-nine-tails' suggests perfect punishment and atonement....

8. In urban culture, the 'nine' is a slang word for a 9mm pistol or homicide.

9. There are nine circles of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy.

10. In Tolkien's Middle-Earth world, there are nine rings of power given to men.   In the Fellowship of the Ring, there are nine companions, representing the free races.

11. Casting out nines is a quick way of testing the calculations of sums, differences, products, and quotients of integers. 

12. Click here to find a list of highways numbered 9.

13. Click here to learn about Ninth Avenue - a major avenue in Manhattan.

14. Finally, a human pregnancy lasts nine months....

Enjoy the list - and have a great weekend.

Stu 

Consumer Action Handbook

Hi All,

The new, 2014 Consumer Action Handbook (CAH hereafter in this blog entry) is now available for download now.  Readers can download the CAH by clicking on this link.

A good summary of the CAH is that, 'Users can use the Consumer Action Handbook (CAH) to get help with consumer purchases, problems and complaints. Find consumer contacts at hundreds of companies and trade associations, local, state, and federal government agencies, national consumer organizations, and more'

The 2014 CAH is 148 pages long and is divided into 4 parts:
Part I - Be a Savvy Consumer
Part II - Filing a Complaint
Part III - Key Information Sources
Part IV - Consumer Assistance Directory

In the 'Be a Savvy Consumer' section alone the reader will learn about 'Service Contracts and Extended Warranties', 'Identifying and Stopping Fraud', 'Shopping From Home', using 'ATM/Debit Cards', using 'Prepaid Cards', 'Buying a New Car', 'Buying a Used Car', 'Financing', 'Leasing', 'Lemon Laws', 'Car Repairs' and much, much more. 

this part on 'Being a Savvy Consumer' has further sections on 'Credit Reports and Credit Scores', 'Dealing with Debt', 'Paying For College 101' and more. 

The book is 148 pages for a reason! It is extensive, comprehensive and chock full of useful information for consumers of all needs and interests. And it is free!  What a helpful resource!!!!

Other sections that are notable in the 'Be a Savvy Consumer' section include: 'Insurance' - which covers Auto Insurance, Health Insurance, Homeowners/Renters Insurance, Life Insurance and more, 'Privacy and Identity Theft', 'Telemarketing and Unwanted Mail' (National Do Not Call Registry', 'Travel' (Resolving Air Travel Problems, Cruises, Travel Safety) and 'Utilities' (Billing questions and starting Utility Service).

There is one section in particular that users should be aware of: Part III - Key Information Resources contains a list of  various federal agencies that deal with various products.

For example,
 - Animal Products safety hazards are dealt with the Food and Drug Administration
 - Automobile safety hazards are dealt with the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration
 - Consumer Household Product hazards are dealt with by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Finally, 'Key Information Resources' has information regarding Drugs, Cosmetics, Medical Devices, Toys, Baby Products and Play Equipment in this section. 

So there you have it.  A blog entry that might be short on additional links, is very, very long on useful, helpful, time-saving and money-saving information!

Enjoy the free download - and remember that you can access the CAH by clicking on this link!

Regards,
Stu

Floral Decorating - Who Would Have Thought?

Hi All,

Who would have thought it? I'm writing about floral decorating and various and sundry topics that are associated with it!

Well, first...what exactly is floral decorating? From Wikipedia, comes this extensive and comprehensive definition of floral decorating.  Evidently floral decorating has a long and established history throughout the world. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romand and Chinese all practiced floral decorating.  See the Wikipedia entry for more information.

For an alternative definition and description of floral decoration, readers can click on this link from Encyclopedia Britannica!

And...readers can see this link - under Floristry - to learn more about floral decorating.

The internet is a wonderful place to meet people who share the same hobbies that you do.  In addition, there is a vast trove of 'how to' information on virtually any hobby you can think of.  Click on this link from MarthaStewart.com for an article entitled, '30 Floral Decorating Ideas'.  And, of course, it comes from the doyenne of domesticity - Martha Stewart. So it has to be good.

Another excellent resource is Better Homes and Gardens - this link is titled, '10 Flower Arranging Tips' and is very nicely organized.  And, too boot, the pictures are very nice!

Finally, this next link comes from a magazine called Real Simple - and it bills itself as 'Making Life Easier'.   The title of this entry is 'Decorating With Florals'.  The real takeway from this entry is the 1-5 list of decorating with florals. For example, item 3 is 'Florals can go anywhere'; item 4 is 'Mixing florals creates energy'...you get the idea - the entry is a quick look at how readers can user florals in a modern setting.

And finally, now that I've whetted your floral appetite, blog readers might want to attend the floral decorating class at Farmingdale Public Library on Thursday, June 19th at 7pm. The class is being led by Scott Lucas, Greenhouse Supervisor at Old Westbury Gardens and will be one hour long.  Attendeeds will be introduced to the craft of floral design using materials readily available fro myour garden or garden center.  Sounds like fun!  Don't miss it!

Regards,
Stu

Road Repairs - Winter Took a Toll on Nassau Roads

Hi All,

I just spotted this article on the Farmingdale Patch - always a good site to learn about local goings-on in Farmingdale - entitled 'Cuomo: 300 Miles of Road Repairs Planned For LI'.  One of the highlights of the article is that '...Hempstead Turnpike between the MSP and NY Route 110 in the towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, Nassau and Suffolk Counties' will be one of the many areas targeted for the road repair project.

And with that out of the way, lets go to the New York State Department of Transportation to look at their website in just a bit more detail!

Click on this link for the 'About NYSDOT' blurb that they have on their website. It is a good introduction to the 'who-what-when-where-why-how' of the NYSDOT.  There is an interesting link to the Interstate 50th Anniversary (happened in 2006) on this part of the site to boot.

From the DOT homepage users can click on a variety of links including Jobs, Commissioner, Forms, News & Events, Projects, Programs and Services, Safety and Webcasts.  There is also a very helpful 'How Do I?' link at the top right part of the homepage.  

Digging a bit deeper on the site yields a great deal of useful information.  For example, clicking on the 'Safety' link brings the user to another page that has links for Amber Alerts, Safety First For Kids, Safe Routes to School, Safe Summer Driving, Safe Winter Driving, Standard School Bus Safety Inspection Manual, Rail Safety Grade Crossings and Operation Lifesaver. 

Finally, at the top right part of the NYSDOT homepage are 8 graphics - each of which represents a mode of transportation.  Click on any of these links takes the users to another part of the NYSDOT website on the topic of Auto, Truck, Pedestrian, Bike, Rail, Bus, Waterway, or Aviation.

Some of the topics users can find include: NYS Rest Areas, License and Regulations for trucks, an interactive map to view on-road, off-road, shared trails, park and ride, Historic/Tourist Railroads and Railroad Museums and much, much more!!!

So there you have it!  An extensive - at least by blog standards - summary of the NYSDOT website....

Seriously, who would have thought that the NYS DOT website would have all these gems and great links to information that folks need?

Enjoy the links!

Regards,
Stu

All Things Rain

Hi All,

It is a rain, dreary Monday morning - and I need a topic for a blog post.  What could be better than a blog post about 'All Things Rain' on a rainy, dreary, Monday morning?  Promise, I'll give you just a sprinkling of links and I also promise not to make the entry cloud - as a matter of fact, it'll be clear sailing from this point on.


A good place to learn about rain is by clicking on this link from Wikipedia. Titled 'Rain', the entry (if printed) would be 29 pages. The entry is organized into 12 different parts (links below). 

1. Formation
2. Causes
3. Characteristics
4. Measurement
5. Forecasting
6. Impact
7. Global Climatology
8. Outside of Earth
9. See Also
10. Notes
11. Reference
12. External Links

Click here for a link that lets users search local weather archives for a particular day in history.  Users can enter the city, satte or zip code or airport code to find a particular location.  Then users can enter a particular date in order to view information about temperature, moisture,  precipitation and wind Daily weather graphs appear at the bottom of the page for temperature, barometric pressure and wind speed.

Click on this next link from Arizona State University for the World Weather/Climate Extremes Archive.  Users will find a lot of information about extreme weather - including, rain, temperature and much, much more.  

Wikipedia to the rescue!  Click on this link for a list of weather records - in particular rain records - from Wikipedia.

Finally, for information on what happens when too little rain falls, click on these links that discuss drought and the southwest portion of the United States.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought in the United States
Drought - April 2014 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Enjoy the links - and stay dry!

Regards,
Stu

Pride of the Yankees

Hi All,

On Tuesday, June 3rd (yes, it is June already!) the Farmingdale Public Library is proud to show the 1942 movie titled, Pride of the Yankees.  The quick blurb about the movie goes as follows: "Lou Gehrig, the Yank’s great first baseman and the son of poor immigrants, rose to heights of baseball fame only to be cut down at the peak of his career by an incurable illness known as ALS."

But there is far, far more to that!

Lou Gehrig was a Hall-of-Fame caliber first basement for the Yankees.  Click here for Lou Gehrig's vital statistics (baseball statistics at least) from  Baseball-Reference.com.

Several things: note that he was called 'The Iron Horse' because he played in 2130 straight games. Also note that he had quite a few nicknames: Biscuit Pants and Buster. I wonder how he got the name of Biscuit Pants.  Now that would be a great story to hear!

Well, a simple Google search using the phrase 'Lou Gehrig biscuit pants' turned up this result.  While it might be apocraphyl, it sounds like it could be true....click here for the answer to 'How Lou Gehrig got his nickname 'biscuit pants?'.

For even more information about Lou Gehrig, click on this link which goes to the Wikipedia entry for 'Lou Gehrig'.

Readers might also want to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame website and, in particular, click on this link from the site.  Again, it is a link to Lou Gehrig.

Finally, click on this link from the library card catalog for 'all things Lou Gehrig' - including books, movies that we have in our circulating collection.

Enjoy the movie - and the books.

Regards,
Stu