More Computer Security - Why? Because It's Important!

Hi All,

I just came across an interesting New York Times article on the web titled, 'How Many Times Has Your Personal Information Been Exposed To Hackers?'

Indeed...using the interactive features on the site, readers can find out how many times your information has been exposed to hackers in categories like:

address information,
birthday,
credit/debit card,
email,
employment history,
financial history,
fingerprints,
health history,
password,
phone number,
social security number

Users are asked to answer basic questions and check off which of the various services they used - then the numbers in the various categories change based on which the user checks off.

The United States Government, AOL, Ebay, Twitter, Anthem, Kmart, Home Depot, Target and UPS are among the larger companies listed in the article as to whether or no users had any affiliation to the organization.

The article goes on to explain what readers should do now, why this keeps happening to websites and how you can protect yourself in the future....

Click on these links to learn more about how you can protect yourself online so you are less likely to become hacked, spoofed or have your identity compromised.

Online Safety - USA.gov
Tips For Online Safety
Secure Your Computer
FCC - How to Protect Yourself Online
FBI - How to Protect Your Computer
US Department of Justice - Protecting Yourself While Using the Internet

Hope the links help protect you while you are online!

Regards,
Stu

What is Your Car Worth?

Hi All,

In the library world, one of the more popular and useful Reference Desk resources is the ever-popular (and well-used) Kelley Blue Book! Users have access to a whole multitude of resources on the KBB.com website - click here for the link. And, too boot, the site is free!  Read on for more information about the resources and tools available on the site.

On the sites' homepage, users can Price New/Used Cars, Check Your Own Cars' Value and See Reviews and Ratings of cars.

There are also links for Cars For Sale, Links to Car Awards and Top 10 Lists and a link with Research Tools For Prospective Car Buyers.

One of the best features of the site is the Car Review section. Users need to enter the zip code so that KBB can personalize the information they present - but once that is done users face a very helpful part of the KBB site. At the top of the page is an article titled (at least for now), 'Class of 2016: New Cars Ready to Roll'. Toward the bottom of the article, users see pictures of various cars - which are linked to an article and (sometimes) video of the car chosen.

Beyond that feature though, users can find cars that meet their specifications by using a set of drop-down menus.  Options on these menus include the 'Make', 'Model', and 'Year' (limited to either 2014 or 2015 at this time) of the car they are interested in.

Once the user finds a car of interest, various car topics are displayed. In the narrative are sections titled, 'You Might Like This Car If...' and 'You Might Not Like This Car If...' and 'What's New In 2015?'.  Interesting and clever way to present the information.

On the side of the page are tabs for the user to learn more about the car.  Tabs include 'Pricing', Compare Car with Other Cars, Photos/Videos, 5 Year Cost to Own, Specifications, KBB Expert Review, Consumer Reviews, Ratings and Rebates/Incentives.

Whew...that's a lot of information to digest!

So there you have it...an unbiased website dedicated to new and used cars...and the information is free, timely and the site is easy to get around!  Awesome!!

Finally, we have the hard copy of the Kelley Blue Book at the Reference Desk.  We keep the last few months or so of the books so users can see the price change (if any) of a particular car over the several months or so.

Good luck finding your new or previously owned car!

Regards,
Stu

Kaspersky Cyberthreat Real-Time - Get Your Computer Geek On!!!

Hi All,

This very short blog post is was written for the inner-geek in all of us.  Yes, you've probably read a bunch of my posts talking about computer security, spam, viruses and other privacy issues...well...this post is similar to that....

Check out Kaspersky Cyberthreat Real-Time Map (KCRTM hereafter in the post) to get your inner geek-on - and you might even learn a thing or two about cybersecurity. 

KCRTM is a way of visualizing cyberthreats on a country-wide level. 

Why is this important you ask?  Well, to the regular web-user it isn't that interesting.  But to professionals who deal with cybersecurity (think CIO or CTO - Chief Information Officers or Chief Technology Officers - of corporations) this is a vitally important topic.  Viruses, cyberattacks and the like are proliferating at a geometric rate....(just do a simple Google search for 'number of cyber attacks' and you'll find hundreds of links and articles and websites...) and that can slow down or cripple an organizations website and/or operations....

Okay...back to the KCRTM site...users can rotate and manipulate a globe on the screen to focus in on a particular country.  Users are treated to a bevy of computer security acronyms like OAS (on-access scan), ODS (on-demand scan), WAV (web anti-virus), MAV (mail anti-virus), IDS (intrusion detection scan), VUL (vulnerability scan) and KAS (Kaspersky Anti-spam) which are all Kaspersky security products and services that they sell.   Basically the site is showing the user the number and location of various types of cyberthreats all over the world - in real time.  That is the unique part of the site - the real-time nature of the information!

And of course, the graphics are just way cool.  Check it out.

Finally, click on this link which goes to the US Cyber Security Command entry on Wikipedia.  The formal US Cyber Command website is restricted, so, while I have the link to the site here, users won't be able to get in since the domain has restricted access....

Enjoy the links!
Stu

Finding an Honest, High Quality Auto Mechanic?

Hi All,

I've got an interesting post lined up for today!  Its about car repair and mechanics!  What do you think the current average annual maintenance cost for a car is?  In 2011 it was $514 - in 2012 it was $537...click here for the article that gives these figures...(article comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics - a unbiased organized!) 

Click on this link from Consumer Reports which discusses the cost of vehicle ownership in 2012. 

And click on this link from the AAA - for an article entitled 'Cost of Owning and Operating Vehicles in U.S. Increases Nearly Two Percent According to AAA's 2013 'Your Driving Costs' Study'.

My point is that it can be expensive to own a car...repairs, accidents and insurance all take their toll and end up costing drivers money.

So, if you do need a repair, due to an accident or for routine maintenance, how do you find a qualified, honest car mechanic?  Read on for the answers!

Edmunds.com has an article titled, 'How to Find a Good Car Mechanic?'.  Click on prior title for link.
(Note that this article discusses Yelp, Angie's List, Google, Message Boards and the Edmunds Dealer Locator service to help users find good car mechanics.

But what are the qualities that you should look for that makes a good car mechanic?  Wikihow has a good primer - in 8 steps - that can start you on your way to finding a good mechanic. A blog/website called the Simple Dollar has an article called 'Finding an Auto Mechanic You Can Trust' (written in September 2014) and it practical for readers to follow!

About.com/Money has an article called 'How to Find a Good Mechanic' - common sense rules seem to be the order of the day in the article...

Finally, the Mechanics Files.com (which is part of a website called Car Talk - by itself it is a useful site...) has zip code finder.  Users can put in a zip code and auto mechanics in the zip code appear.  Reviews are available and auto mechanics are ranked by category:

They are always honest
They are competent
Their repair price is reasonable
They complete the work in a timely manner
They respond well when they screw something up
They take the time to explain the problems and necessary repairs
They treat male and female customers in the same manner
I would use this mechanic again
I would recommend this mechanic to others

Other facts you may want to know

They fix the problem the first time
The shop is located in a safe neighborhood
The hours of operation are convenient for customers
They are near public transportation (or provide loaners, shuttle bus, rides as needed)

Enjoy the links and I hope the repairs you have are inexpensive and easily fixed!

Regards,
Stu

Historic Landmarks in Farmingdale

Hi All,

Farmingdale is a historical town - check out these various links to sites in and around Farmingdale that are historic!

Newsday wrote an article about Republic Aviation (they built 9087 P-47 Thunderbolt fighters for the USAAF during World War II) on 7/21/15...

The American Airpower Museum is another of Farmingdale's historic sites - click here for a link to the museum!

Click on this link from YouTube for a video in which local historian William Johnston discusses origins of Farmingdale village and more. 

This link comes directly from Farmindale Village Hall and is a quick summary of Farmingdale's history - from its Hardscrabble start to the current day.


For an excellent overview (and for contact information) about various famous local landmarks in and around Farmingdale, check the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society page - clicking here.

So there you have it - five links to Farmingdale's esteemed history!

Enjoy the links!
Stu

Presidential Libraries

Hi All,

Presidents are special.  Not for the least reason that there have only been 43 unique presidents in United States history.  They are rare and, generally (okay, sometimes) popular.  But they do command respect and, at times, have been called 'the most important man in the free world'. 

Presidential powers are vast - click here for more on that topic. And for that reason alone, Presidents of the United States have libraries.  What is a presidential library?  Well, it is a place where a presidents keeps his/her papers, documents, histories and more so historians, political scientists, researchers, biographers, writers and others can do original research on a particular president.

Click here for a few links about presidential libraries.  Note that on the site users can visit the presidential libraries and museums, research presidential documents, explore public and education programs and more.

Click on this link from the White House which links to brief biographies of prior United States Presidents.  Note that the links are chronologically organized.

Finally, click on this link from the Internet Public Library which has biographies of every United States president. 

Enjoy the links.

Regards,
Stu

Beer - A Refreshing Subject

Hi All,

It is summer. It is warm outside.  And humid.  And sticky. Are you thirsty?  Yep - me too - and that's what got me thinking about beer!  (A subject close to my heart and which makes my taste buds perk up).  Drink up because today's blog entry will discuss two really interesting and relevant beer sites on the web.  Note that there are hundreds and hundreds of beers sites on the web...just doing a simple Google search for 'beer united states' yields over 100 million hits.  A ridiculously large number of beer related 'stuff'.

One of the more geographically relevant sites on the web dealing with beer is the site "Long Island Beer Guide.com".  Click prior link to go to the site.  The site has sections on Upcoming Beer Events on Long Island, Large Craft Breweries in Suffolk County, Small Craft Breweries in Nassau County, Small Craft Breweries in Suffolk County,  Brewpubs in Suffolk County, Beer Bars in Nassau/Suffolk  County and Restaurants That Highlight Great Beer in Nassau and Suffolk County.

But wait...there is more.  There are links for craft brewing, homebrewing, and beer enthusiast clubs on the site.  Links to blogs, podcasts and home brew supplies are listed on the site as well.  Whew...just from typing that I'm thirsty.  I'm glad my next set of links discusses Beer Retailers That Fill Growlers in Suffolk and Nassau County and Long Island Beer Festivals!

Next is a website called BeerAdvocate.  What is BeerAdvocate you ask? It 'is a global, grassroots network, powered by an independent community of beer enthusiasts and industry professionals who are dedicated to supporting and promoting beer'.

The site has links to the BeerAdvocate magazine, Forums (a great place to talk about drinking, making and anything related to beer), Beers (find recent beer ratings and reviews by BA members - links to Top Beers, Beer Styles and Beer 101), Places (a beer travel guide to find breweries brewpubs and more), Events (find festivals and more) and a Store (buy ti-shirts, hats, stickers and more).

Users can also subscribe to the BeerAdvocate by submitting their email address on the homepage.

So there ya have it...two useful, interesting and thirst (oops..I mean thought) provoking beer sites.  

And of course, some awesome links to books that discuss the history and brewing of beer that we have in the library!

Enjoy the links and beer!

Regards,
Stu

Useful, Free Web Tools For Lifelong Learners

Hi All,

You've heard about it and read about it on the web and in magazines and in school and on tv...lifelong learning. Its not just a fad - its here to stay - and now with this extensive set of link (all from one page I might add) you don't have any reason for your life and your career not to soar anymore!

What is distance learning or distance education?  Click on this link from Wikipedia which discusses the comprehensive nature of the phrase. The  link also has explanations of what an open college is, what an open university is, criticisms of distance learning and benefits of distance education.

More to the point though, click on this link of 100 Useful, Free Web Tools For Lifetime Learners from  AdvangateEdu.com.

My favorites are: MIT Open Courseware, Open Courseware Consortium,  Tufts University Open Courseware, and the University of Pennsylvania Online Books Page.

Okay...one more...the Open Education Database link is very, very useful and well, educational!

Enjoy the links and the classes - and remember, the classes are free!

Regards,
Stu

The First Hundred Days

Hi All,

The first hundred days....of school, of summer, of the new year and of a new administration. Its a time for bold plans, sweeping agendas and new, vibrant policies. Great stuff - and it makes for an interesting blog post.

Click on this link which comes from Wikipedia and discuss just exactly what the 'First hundred days' really means to a politician and his/her administration.  

For a bit of a scholarly summary of the 'First hundred days', click on this link from Houghton Mifflin.
Finally, click on this link from Time Magazine which discusses just exactly where the One Hundred Day Rule comes from ...

And....the venerable New York Times had a blog titled '100 Days' which, you guessed it, discussed the first hundred days of various US Presidents.  Click the link to follow to the site and blog!

Listed below are links to websites for various US Presidents' 'First Hundred Days'.

President Roosevelt's First Hundred Days
President Obama's First Hundred Days
President Clinton's First Hundred Days
President Reagan's First Hundred Days
President Truman's First Hundred Days 
President Bush's First Hundred Days 
President Carter's First Hundred Days 
President Johnson's First Hundred Days

Enjoy the links and information.

Regards,
Stu

A Little Summer Turbulence in Farmingdale

Hi All,

Summertime means fun in the sun and days at an amusement park or beach or park or kayaking on the water or well, anything to do with the 'great outdoors'. 

So what better way to say summer than an article about Farmingdale's Adventureland?

Indeed, a brand new, $5 million roller coaster opened at Adventureland amusement park recently. 
Click on this link to read more about this - directly from The Farmingdale Observer - from an article written on 6/2/15!

Click on this link from Adventureland to see a few pictures of the new behemoth roller coaster. While on the site, users can buy season passes, get park information, learn about birthday parties, where to eat, shop the online store and see pictures of the various rides/attractions at the amusement park.

Enjoy the summer - enjoy your trip to Adventureland!

Finally, if you like roller coasters or amusement parks, click on this link which goes to the library card catalog where you'll find books on amusement parks and roller coasters - we have - or can get any of the books on the list for you!

Enjoy the links!

Regards,
Stu

Perpetual Calendars and More

Hi All,

Time is definitely going on and on and on...its just the way it goes.  That's why today's blog entry is all about perpetual calendars.  What is a perpetual calendar?  Click here for a quick overview of what a perpetual calendar is. Suffice it to say that a perpetual calendar is a 'calendar valid for many years, usually designed to allow the calculation of the day of the week for a given date in the future'.

This next link from Infoplease gives the reader a perpetual calendar for any month or year in the Gregorian calendar.

For example, July 4th, 2055 will be a Sunday...perpetual calendars are useful to see when various holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and other special days are set to occur at some time in the future.

Click on this link for more information and fun stuff on calendars and how they work and how you can use them to figure out what months in a particular year have Friday the 13th's and more about the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

This next link is from the University of Notre Dame archives and is a simple page where users can display a calendar for a particular month and year...you'll get to see the whole calendar and the days of the week all on one page.

Enjoy the links and the pages and the calendars.

Regards,
Stu


 

Things to To on Long Island This July 4th

Hi All,

The July 4th holiday is right around the corner once again!  What is there to do? Plenty!  Just read on!

Regular readers will know that this site that I've mentioned the site LongIsland.com...well, its still a good, local area website with timely and useful articles. The site has an interesting article titled 'Long Island's 2015 4th of July Weekend Guide: Fireworks, Fairs, Fun in the Sun & More!' 

Click on this link from Mommy Poppins (Get more out of LI with kids) which also talks about 4th of July Fireworks on Long Island.  Click on this link for a list of Free Summer Concerts on Long Island (from About.com Travel).

Finally, click on this link for the current version of the Explore Long Island/Funbook from Newsday.

Happy 4th of July - and enjoy the summer weather!

Regards,
Stu