Our 2 cents on the frugal front

Number one, of course - get a library card! The card is free! CD's magazines, audio books, print books, free free free! Now back to our program. Any women's magazine from the last 50 years will include tips on money-saving, although you might not be interested in making your own mop heads. Some of our books on the frugality are from the 90's but let's face it. Saving soap scraps in an old pantyhose leg hasn't changed much. For those of you solvent enough to own a computer stop surfing the internet looking for things to buy! If you actually need something and want to get it on eBay DON'T LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE!!!!! Set up a timer, have a significant other come drag you off the computer, wait until you're done shopping before you feed the cat. The cat will come get you. Or stop in at a library and use our free internet, then your time is automatically limited. Here's hoping things get better soon!
Frugality aids

Not getting better all the time.

As the job situation remains tight you may need extra assistance in finding a position. If you're still a little stunned and need some help jump-starting your job search, the Des Moines Public Library web site had some useful links for you. First of all, if you've been laid off you can go straight to file for unemployment benefits. Then you can narrow your job search to Federal jobs. Dick Bolles, Mr. "What Color is you Parachute" operates a site - JobHunters Bible.com - with excellent resources. The links to resume and cover letter aids look especiallly useful. And Iowa Workforce Development's site includes a listing of Job Fairs in Iowa. Good luck with the hunt!

Last Chance for the Adult Reading Program

Sunday is the last day to get your book reviews in! Now you want to read short books so you'll have more review slips and that will increase your odds of winning a Borders gift certificate! You're no dummy. With these titles you can get several books read and catch up on your modern classics at the same time!

The old man and the sea / Ernest Hemingway
The stranger / Albert Camus
Daisy Miller / Henry James
A Christmas carol / by Charles Dickens

Make it Up as You Go Along

Today is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day! At least according to Wellcat Holidays in Lebanon Pennsylvania, who apparently take the whole holiday thing one step beyond Hallmark. Haven't you always wanted to have a day set aside to celebrate things you like? Oprah showcases her favorite stuff all the time in her magazine. Hey, instead of Pufferbilly Days you could celebrate puppy bellies! Because puppy bellies are so fat and the fur is so soft.... OK, that was lame. You could come up with a much better one! My Favorite Sweatshirt day! This could be a good thing. Or very, very bad.

Source: Chase's Calendar of Events

Graphic Source: LEARN NC

Howdy, Doody!

On a television show called The Triple B Ranch, puppet Howdy Doody was first exposed to an adoring public. In 1947! Who knew there was TV back then? And why do I care, you ask? Because I found this really cool graphic from the patent application for the Howdy Doody puppet. It never occurred to me that you'd patent a marionette. Mr. Howdy here doesn't appear to have especially complex string array. It's not like he's itchin' to be a real boy. But hey! We have an entire book devoted to the phenomenon that was Doody. Enjoy.

Say Kids! What time is it? : notes from the Peanut Gallery/ by Stephen Davis.

Graphic Source: COLLECTIBLES.ABOUT.COM

AViD Action

The Authors Visiting in Des Moines series is here (Yay!)and as usual the line-up is great. Lawrence Block is speaking Friday May 22nd, 7 PM at Hoyt Sherman Place. I read Hit and Run, one of his newest books, because I wanted to get a taste of his work. It didn't hurt when the reviews mentioned part of the book takes place in Des Moines. I always get a kick out of reading fiction that mentions where I live and this was no exception. Block got most of it right, but a Denny's appeared a couple times and I don't think there is a Denny's in Des Moines anymore. Sloppy research or wishful thinking? Hit and Run is the latest in a series about hit man John Keller and you might want to start at the beginning and work your way up. Dot, who is the 'sidekick character' - some of us will recognize it as the Eve Arden/Joan Cusack role - is especially entertaining. Here's the series, in order:

Hit man

Hit list

Hit parade

Hit and run

Latin Mottos (the dead language, I mean)

It's Friday, so you need a new generator, right? Pop into the Latin Motto Generator and whip up something profound. Say you're all about knowledge and fame. Your battle cry will sound much better as 'Scientia et Fama'! Or if you live your life based on the principle 'From Steadiness, Beauty', say instead 'Ex Constantia Pulchritudo'! Pulchritudo. It deserves being said more than once. Something a little (a tiny bit) intellectual? 'Memory Chose the Wise Ones' equals 'Memoria Sapientes Elegit'. Unfortunately you can't type in your own words and the ones they offer are pretty limited, but still. A little effort and you sound mighty smart. To someone who doesn't speak Latin anyway.

Want the real thing? Knock yourself out with our Latin Dictionaries

Reruns - Returning Options

Did you know that you can return your items to any of our six buildings, no matter which library you checked out at? Well you can! Plus as a bonus you can use our drop boxes for any-time returns. Check out Monday morning at East Side, return to South Side Saturday evening - all over town, any time of day! Could it be more convenient? Well probably, but this is pretty darn cool.

St. Patrick's Statistics

So maybe everything can be reduced to statistics. Or not. Here are some fun numbers for St. Patrick's:

1. More than 80% of Americans avoid being pinched by wearing green. Didn't know about that custom? Got a green marker?

2. Four-leaf clovers are rare, with only one for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers.
3. The most leaves ever found on a clover? 18 18! I'm not sure if that's glorious or gross.

4. The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City 247 years ago.

5. Americans spend almost $4 billion on St. Patrick's Day.

6. Let's hope it's not all on green beer. I made this last one up. It's not a statistic anyway.

Our Ebscohost online resource has great articles on St. Pat's. Access it from home with your Des Moines Public Library card number and PIN

Source: Fast Company; Mar2009 Issue 133, p28-28, 1/5p