The In-Site Bank

Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell recently announced a new edition of the One Thing movement in the state: a new website– http://onethingct.com/

“A OneThing is a simple step you take to save energy. But it’s more than that. It’s also the mindset that you can make a difference. A movement to get everyone involved. And a solution to help ensure a better energy future here in Connecticut.”

Here at the Essex Library, we would also encourage everyone to do another thing every day: Read. Read for pleasure, read for intellectual pursuit, read to be a role model for your children, read for whatever reason motivates you.

Want to know what mileage you’re getting with your car? Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Vehicle Guide to look up your car model and see its highway and city fuel economy statistics.

http://epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do;jsessionid=8230fd1ea45a325b1866

The CIA, yes, the Central Intelligence Agency, provides some of the information they gather about world countries in a nicely organized format that is available for free online. If you want to know more about Myanmar, for instance, just look it up–under Burma. There you will find information on the geography, politics, people, economy, government and more. The Fact Book is now updated regularly instead of annually.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

If you’re looking to improve your PC or laptop’s performance, look no further than the Windows Secrets newsletter- “Everything Microsoft Forgot To Mention.” The particular article I’m referring readers to today is the one about nine free-ware must-have applications. They, like Consumer Reports, have test driven apps that have been recommended by others (PC Magazine, Computer Shopper, PC World, for instance) and here are the nine that pass muster.

http://windowssecrets.com/2008/04/24/02-Nine-must-have-freeware-apps-rise-to-the-top

If you’re looking for an amicable blog with erudite things to say about books–both adult and children’s–and other interesting cultural swimming pools, check out Roger Sutton’s Read Roger. Written by The Horn Book’s Editor-in-Chief, who has also been a children’s and young adult librarian, Read Roger is serious opinion with a humorous icing.

Whether you are nearing — or already enjoying — retirement, it pays to stay on top of your finances. Nearly one-third of all U.S. investors are between 50 and 64 years of age, and approximately 5 million senior citizens succumb to financial abuse each year. The SEC provides a website with advice for being a smart and safe investor–no matter what your age. Specific topics of advice include:

• avoid investment scams that target particular groups, such as seniors.
• the basic questions you should ask about your investments and the people who sell them.
• what you need to know about managing risk and not keeping “all your eggs in one basket.”
• how to identify and steer clear of potential frauds.
• your legal rights, how to deal with cold calls, and how to stop them.
• questions you should ask yourself before you invest a large payment.
• what you need to know about professional designations.

http://www.sec.gov/investor/seniors.shtml

For some instant amusement watch this YouTube film starring film maker and writer Terry Jones with a unique colony of penguins. Thanks again to the talented scouts at Very Short List for tipping us off to the video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9dfWzp7rYR4

Saturday, May 3rd is Free Comic Book Day. “Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free* to anyone who comes into their stores. * Each retailer will decide the guidelines for receiving comics.”

The website provides a zip code search for participating stores.

http://freecomicbookday.com/

With strokes receiving more attention these days as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., here are 2 websites with information on strokes. The first is the Centers For Disease Control which provides basic facts and statistics on strokes with links to more information. The second, is the website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke which offers information about treatment, prognosis and research being done.

“Knowing the symptoms of stroke, calling 911 right away, and getting to a hospital are crucial to the most beneficial outcomes after having a stroke. The best treatment is to try to prevent a stroke by taking steps to lower your risk for stroke.”

http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm

Looking for inspiration for your own garden? Try visiting one of The Garden Conservancy’s gardens through their Open Days program.

“Here at the Garden Conservancy, we believe that the best way to learn about gardens and to appreciate them, is to simply spend more time in them. Through the more than 300 gardens that will be open in 2008, we invite you to explore first-hand examples of outstanding design and horticultural practice that are growing in America’s gardens.”

You can search through their 2008 schedule online or, we have copies of the print schedule available at the Library.

http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/