kimba's Blog
Small Business Saturday® is November 24th
Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is another day, one dedicated to the businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country. It's Small Business Saturday®, and this year it’s happening on November 24th. Remember that while shopping small can help boost the economy, shopping local can also help the environment.- Login to comment
Winter CSA: Locavorious
Locavorious has partnered with several small farms in communities around Ann Arbor to offer frozen produce subscriptions. They are similar to shares offered by regular CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) but only available during the winter months. They prepare and package local produce when it is fresh and preserve it in a community freezer to distribute to subscribers during the winter months. You can find more information about local CSAs by visiting CSAFarms.org. Also, check out what the library has on the topics of local foods and organic foods.- Login to comment
Alzheimer's Prevention Resource
100 simple things you can do to prevent Alzheimer's and age-related memory loss by Jean Carper provides some simple tips that you can add to your everyday routine now that may help prevent dementia in the future. Some tips are basic to all-around good health, but others might surprise, like consuming apple juice and vinegar. Readers young and old will likely feel motivated to make some simple lifestyle changes to help push mental decline even further into the future.
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Check Out an Energy Meter
Did you receive your last energy bill and wonder where all that money is going? You may want to "check out" the Kill A Watt energy meters (available for check out at CPL). The Kill A Watt energy meter can help you find out how much energy your appliances are consuming. By connecting appliances to the meter it will assess how efficiently they are running. The LCD display will count consumption by the kilowatt-hour, same as your local utility. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month, even an entire year.- Login to comment
West Nile Virus Resources
Because the West Nile virus has reached epidemic levels in Michigan and has lead to five deaths in the area, the Michigan Department of Community Health is urging people to take preventative measures over the holiday weekend and throughout the mosquito season.
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Ron Palillo 1949-2012
Ron Palillo, an actor whose signature role was Arnold Horshack in the 1970s TV sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter,” died at 63. Palillo died of a heart attack in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His work also includes a performance as the voice of the Ordinary Guy in the children's animated film Darkwing duck.[Photo courtesy of AP Images]
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Buy Michigan Now Festival, August 3-5, 2012
The fourth annual Buy Michigan Now Festival begins today, August 3rd, and runs through the weekend. The festival takes place in Northville and is a celebration of the state’s annual Buy Michigan Week. It includes sidewalk sales, street vendors, live music, and children’s activities, all highlighting Michigan-based businesses and Michigan-made products.- Login to comment
Unusual Pets
Pot-bellied pigs: a complete and up-to-date guide by Dennis Kelsey-Wood
The chinchilla handbook: filled with full-color photographs by Sharon L. Vanderlip; illustrations by Michele Earle-Bridges
Cockatiels: everything about purchase, care, behavior, and health by Thomas Haupt and Julie Rach Mancini; illustrations by György Jankovics; [translated from the German by Rita Kimber]
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Outdoor DIY Projects
Birdhouses: from castles to cottages—20 simple homes and feeders to make in a weekend by Alison Jenkins
The bat house builder's handbook by Merlin D. Tuttle & Donna L. Hensley
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Crazy Weather
According to the NOAA National Climatic Data Center's State of the Climate: National Overview June 2012 Report the last 12 months have been the warmest on record for the mainland United States. Although alarming, this does not come as a surprise to most people with the extremely high temperatures experienced over the last several weeks. But what is going on? To help you understand this crazy weather, you may want to check out CPL resources on climate change and in particular:
Waking the giant: how a changing climate triggers earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes by Bill McGuire
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"Sleuth It" Surprise Packages
What is inside these wrapped packages? It's a Connect Your Summer mystery (or maybe a romance or a graphic novel)! The package contains two unknown items for your delight. Look at the outside of the package for possible clues as to what is inside. To check out a package, simply place the package on the self-checkout machine (make sure two items show up on the screen and turn black) or take it to one of our friendly check-out staff for assistance. Read, listen, watch at least one of the items and you have completed a Sleuth It activity as part of Connect Your Summer!
Discover Michigan's Wilderness
Michigan rivers less paddled: the rivers, the towns, the taverns by Doc Fletcher
The wolves of Isle Royale: a broken balance by Rolf O.
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Sailing!
Fifty places to sail before you die: sailing experts share the world's greatest destinations by Chris Santella
The sailing bible: the complete guide for all sailors from novice to expert by Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, Barrie Smith
We, the drowned by Carsten Jensen; translated from the Danish by Charlotte Barslund with Emma Ryder
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2012 Green Street Fair
The Fifth Annual Green Street Fair will return to the streets of Downtown Plymouth on May 4, 5 and 6, 2012. Founded to help educate people about the benefits of green, organic and eco-friendly products and services, the Green Street Fair promotes "global interest, personal well-being and offers insight to those interested in having a softer footprint on the planet." Admission is free.- Login to comment
Beginning Microsoft Word
Date: Saturday, May 19, from 1:00-2:30 PM in in the Internet Lab.
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