Big Bird Book

No Sesame Street characters involved, this is a big book about birds. Huge, in fact. I didn't get more than half-way in before I was so chock-full of avian knowledge that I had to quit. But I'll be back. And gorgeous? The cover photo is accurately indicative. Pictures are amazing - there is one of a sleeping flamingo that looks just like a lush pink flower on a leafless stem. How can they sleep like that, balanced on one incredibly skinny and fragile leg? Looks mighty precarious to me. The book includes your garden-variety birds - sparrows, bluebirds, finches, crows. (Garden birds, get it? Ha!) Then there are those that appear to be creatures from another planet. I'm looking at you, Shoebill. When you get a chance, pick this one up. (Use both hands. I told you it was big.)

Bird : the definitive visual guide

Flood Kits Update

As of today, the Red Cross would like flood victims to pick up flood kits at their local office, 2116 Grand Avenue.

Oenowhat?

Oenophile. How it is that means 'wine lover' is beyond me. It's not a sensible, easily -recognizable word like bibliophile or audiophile. But there it is, hanging around the bottles of Hair of the Dingo, Yellow Tail, and Smoking Loon. By the way, don't bother producing a new line of wine unless you are prepared to give it a name that invokes the image of a garage band. You are probably aware that Iowa has a thriving wine business, ranking 14th in number of wineries per state in 2007*! And there's quite a range of wines to choose from - the sweet wines of the Amanas to Summerset's dry Marechal Foch or Seyval Blanc. Here is a link to the Iowa Wine Growers Association. Here are some books to help you pick out wines you like. Or as the oenophiles would no doubt say, 'to assist you in becoming your own sommelier'.
The wine club : a month-by-month guide to learning about wine with friends

Andrea Immer's wine buying guide for everyone.

Educating Peter : how I taught a famous movie critic the difference between cabernet and merlot, or, how anybody can become an (almost) instant wine expert

*Des Moines Business Record, 2008, 02/25/08 p. 3
Graphic Credit:http://www.clipartguide.com/

Flood Cleanup Information

The South Side and East Side libraries are currently out of flood kits. These kits were provided by the Red Cross, and you can call the Red Cross at 243-7681. Also, for reliable information on coping with the aftermath of the flood click on this web site adapted by Iowa State University. The web site also offers this information: "Household cleanup questions can be answered by ISU Answer Line at 1-800-262-3804. Additional information can be obtained by calling Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985".

Slice of 'Life'

Remember when smoking was healthy (Santa Claus smoked!)? When Margaret Mead was cutting-edge? When Norman Rockwell ruled American magazines? No? Sputnik maybe? Even if you don't remember this stuff it was plenty interesting and we have the magazines that reported it as it happened. They give you a glimpse of American culture at the time. Well, at least the print media's idea of American culture. And for those of you finishing up your degrees that need primary sources, some of these may do the trick. Oh, who am I kidding? Mostly we just want to see those full-page black-and-white ads for cars with fins and push button starters. Cutting edge!
A selection of magazines and newspapers we have that are of an historic nature, housed at the Central Library, as of June 2008:

Ladies Home Journal: 1893 - 1908; 1911 to present

Life: 1883-1909; 1911-12; 1936-1972; 1978-2000

Look: 1938-1971

National Geographic: 1910 - to present

New York Times: microfilm1851-1870; microfilm 1939 - to present

Newsweek: bound 1933-50; microfilm 1950-to present

Scientific American: 1859 – present

Time: 1924- to present

Wall Street Journal: microfilm 1950 - to present

We Don't Have It, Maybe We Can Get It

Even if we don’t own the book you want, we have options! For Des Moines residents with Des Moines Public Library cards we offer an Inter-Library Loan service. We check the entire United States to find a library that will loan out the book you want. Here’s how it works. Let us know what you want, and if the book is at least 12 months old we’re in business. (Libraries want keep their new books for their own customers). We relieve you of $1.25 because we do charge for the service, whether or not we can get the book. This is a processing fee as the service uses a large amount of staff time. We fill out a form (of course); send it off and wait for the book to appear. This can take up to six weeks but it's generally closer to 2-3 weeks. Once we receive the book it usually has to be returned in 2 weeks, so the faster you can pick it up the better. I’ve used this service often and it’s amazing, so keep it in mind! To inquire about this service please call us at 283-4152 and press 3. Please have your Des Moines Public Library Card ready when you call. Thank you!

Link Week - Occupational Outlook

So you're looking for a job or maybe a career, something long-term. You need information about different kind of jobs - what the work's like, training needed, etc. This site is tailor made! A sample search: click on the A-Z Index. Select the letter E. Recover from the amazement at seeing all the occupations listed: Earth drillers, except oil and gas to Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders. Admit it, you didn't even know that second one existed. Let's pick something more general like Economist. Now your information choices are:

Nature of the Work
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Employment
Job Outlook
Projections Data
Earnings
OES Data
Related Occupations

OK I don't know what OES is either, but if you need it you'll know it. Time to read everything you can possibly stand about the life of economists. And then some.

Recommended Links

Link Week: VegWeb.com

Here is a treat for the vegetarian/vegan community. Recipes! Hundreds of them! And not a one of them with a hint of meat. So get your tofu ready to be used in ways it never imagined. Among the favorite recipes: Incredible this-will-become-your-favorite Veggie Pot Pie! Unbeef Stew! Kale Chips--a.k.a Seriously Addictive Snack! Indulge your recipe addiction to your heart's content. Those of you who like to cook and those who like to read recipes will be in some-kind-of-vegetable heaven. I just like to look at the pictures. And then feel sad because no one's cooking any of it for me.

Recommended Links

Link - The Auto Channel

They take a different approach here at the Auto Channel. One useful feature is that they will directly compare 2 autos - not individual cars, but the models. You can also get the vehicle's floorplan which is so cool, especially with the RV's. Did I mention they cover RV's? And trucks. Crash test results and monthly payment calculators are two other modules included. The Auto Channel really is a impressive source of information, one of the most varied and in-depth web sites I've used. You'll love it.

Recommended Links