Got Skunk? See This!

Dear Readers,
Last night Miss Bun's Terrible Terrier (aka, The Great White Land Shark) got himself embroiled in a bit of an altercation with a skunk. If you have never experienced ground zero skunk spray thank your lucky stars because, believe me, you don't want to!  It is now the next day but the smell is still upon us with a vengeance. So Miss Bun mustered all her mad librarian skills under fire and came up with this informative video to share with other victims of random skunk attacks. Watch it! (And be warned!)

Hot Chocolate on a Stick from The Giver's Log blog

The Giver's Log is the place to go for ideas on gift giving, gift wrapping and more!

AmberLee has collected ideas on gifting, wrapping, thoughtful gestures, and gift etiquette from friends, bloggers, and herself.

There are do-it-yourself projects as well as links to nifty things on the Web. She also has gift ideas by category such as teacher, hostess, grandparent, client, farewell, new baby, & teens, to name a few.

Here is one that would be a perfect treat to make for this time of year:

Hot Chocolate on a Stick





'Tis the season for giving.....Go forth & be inspired!

Draw Your Own Mandala On This Rainy TGIFF!

How To Draw A Mandala is the place to go to do just that.

While you are there take some time to look at the rest of this unique blog. Find out a little more below:

Art is Fun! is a great little art blog by Thaneeya McArdle that evolved from the many questions she was asked on her personal art website www.thaneeya.com


From the About Page:
"On this website, I provide a background and overview of many aspects of art, organized by medium, subject matter, and style. Using mainly my own paintings and drawings as examples, I cover topics such as:

• art supplies/materials used
• thought process behind the art
• actual process of building the artwork
• the basic elements that make each piece "work"

Accessible, low key, and passionate are words that work for this site.

Enjoy!

THE place to go for free computer training & more!

GCFLearnFree.org comes highly recommended by our in-house computer tech/YA Librarian person, Vicki.

She uses this site when teaching our basic computer classes at the library and has had only good things to say about it.

This is from their About Page: "GCFLearnFree.org® is supported by the Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (GCF®) whose mission is "to create and provide education, employment, and life enrichment opportunities for people who desire to improve the quality of their lives".

GCFLearnFree.org exists to serve the educational part of the GCF mission. We create and provide quality, innovative online learning opportunities to anyone who wants to improve the technology, literacy, and math skills necessary for them to be successful in both work and life. We believe there's freedom in the ability to learn what you want, when you want, regardless of your circumstances. That's why we're 'GCFLearnFree.org.'

So if you are in need of basic computer skills (0r know someone who is) this is the place for you (them)! (The site also offers a Spanish language option as well.)

Under the category of Computer Training you will find several courses for getting started: Computer Basics, Windows, Internet Basics, Email Basics, Internet Safety, Mozilla Firefox, and Facebook 101.

There are also courses on using Office software: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Office, OpenOffice.org, Outlook 2003, and Publisher 2003.

All the courses are free and it is beneficial to sign up for an account because GCFLearnFree will keep track of the courses you've taken & the progress you've made. Each class is self-paced so you can learn when you have the time.

Besides Computer Training they also offer classes in Everyday Life, Math & Money, Online Classes, & Work & Career.

There is a huge amount of good info to be found at this site so be prepared to take your time and check it out.

A Social Network for the Do It Yourself Crowd . . .

Instructables (The World's Biggest Show & Tell) is " a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others."

What that really means is that this very active site is full of member contributed step by step how-to projects on anything and everything from the ridiculous (Gummi Bear Surgery) to the more serious (How to Build Your Own Electric Car).

Warning: There are some "projects" that are not for the faint-hearted (like taxidermy for instance) or may be somewhat dangerous so this is not a place for unsupervised children. (In fact, you are supposed to be aged 13 or above to use this site.)


You can search for projects under 17 subject categories such as Art, Craft, Food, Games, Green, Kids, Sports, Tech and more.

It's a good idea to read the comments before starting a project as there are usually suggestions on how to do a step better, cheaper, safer, etc.

To participate in this site you do have to sign up but that is free.

If, however, you get really hooked and would like to have a few more services (like the ability to keep track of your favorites, having all instructions on one page, or less adverts) you can opt for a pro membership which starts at $1.98 a month.

Be sure to check out the contests! It's just amazing to see what people come up with! Oh, and there's a book, too!

Ok, Peeps, go forth and get in touch with that mad scientist inventor that I know is in all of you! Enjoy!

Nifty DIY Recycled Bookmark Recycled From A Nifty Blog . . .

I found this great idea for a bookmark on Lauren Kilberg's blog: doubletakes: things that make you look twice (which she has been writing since 2007). Her blog is definitely worth a look!




Here is the link to the bookmark page: DIY Corner Bookmark

Lauren evidently found in on a blog she likes called d.Sharp Journal (check it out....very cool).


This is a great example of how the Web works. It's all about links & nodes & people & information making connections.

Take a look at an example of a social network map on the right. The bigger the round ball (node) the more connections (links) it has. Kind of amazing, yes?

Anyway....go make some creative recycled bookmarks and hopefully you will never loose your place (or connection) again.

Check Out This Great Learning Resource!

The Study Guides and Strategies website made its first appearance in 1996 and "has been researched, authored, maintained and supported by Joe Landsberger as an international, learner-centric, educational public service" since then.

Here you will find an amazing amount of information contained in 17 broad categories such as Preparing, Learning, Studying, Learning With Others, Online Learning/Communicating, Classroom Participation, Project Management, Research, Preparing For Tests, Taking Tests, and more!

The Guides have been translated into, and are currently available, in 31 different languages and Mr. Landsberger invites readers to help translate a Guide if they are so inclined.

(The site is also continuously revised and updated.)

Some sections are interactive and the ones I've looked at are concise and to the point. While the Guides seem to be targeted at college students I think anyone (high school students, home-schoolers, life-long learners) seeking to improve study skills would find this site extremely helpful.

(Miss Bun is exceedingly upset that nothing like this was available to her when she went to college! On the other hand, she is quite happy knowing that today's students have so many useful resources at their disposal!)

Be sure to click on the "Visitor Center" button on the top right of the home page where you can sign up for the newsletter, check out visitor stats, find a list of updates, additions, & revisions, as well as a history of the site.

CookingByNumbers.....

CookingByNumbers.com

This is another fun & interesting site from the UK that could be a blessing in disguise for those who are grocery shopping & cooking challenged. (Miss Bun would rather read than cook!)

There is a list of 50 things from a fridge and cupboard that you check off if you have them. Click on the "Find Recipes" button and you will be given recipes to make based on what you have on hand. (Intriguing, isn't it?)

You can browse their shop, send an e-card, look at cooking skills videos, give feedback, and play a fun little online game called Tomato Attack.

(The "Vodka" page is promoting a new book called "The Art of Vodka Jelly". FYI.....Evidently the word "jelly" on our side of the Pond translates to "shooters" , i.e. cocktails.)

Enjoy!

A Site to Help You Use It Up....

How Can I Recycle This? is a website authored by Louisa Parry and John Leach and hails from the United Kingdom.

Hate to throw anything out? Convinced that there has to be something you can do with [whatever] but you haven't got a clue? Then this is the place to turn to!

According to the About Page "This site started from a bowl of pistachio nut shells". (You never know where inspiration will come from, do you?)

The authors aim to add a new item every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can suggest an item and add your own comments.

At the bottom of each page you will find Recent Posts, Categories, Recycle This Guides, Tags, and more.

I was especially intrigued with the "How can I reuse or recycle disposable diapers/nappies" post. And then there was the "How can I recycle a dead pet" post.

Caution: some responses are a bit more serious than others.

(I have a feeling that this site subscribes to the "one person's trash is another person's treasure" mantra.)

Check it out!

Ultimate Paper Mache = Amazing!

Here is a site that will inspire you to try your hand at sculpting with this artistic (and low budget) medium.


Ultimate Paper Mache is the creation of Jonni Good and has wonderful instructions on how to make several animals (including the dragon above), a mask, and Christmas ornaments. Currently she is working on a horse.

Be sure to look at the recommended books on the "About Paper Mache" page.

On the "About Tab" she says: "I created this blog about paper mache sculpture so I'd have an excuse to make some wonderful messes with paper and paste. I'm enjoying the projects that are shown here, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy!"

I have to say that I enjoyed this site very much!

This is another example of the generosity and creativity of folks on the Internet.

Meet Robert Sabuda ...

If you have never seen one of Robert Sabuda's pop-up books you are in for a treat! They are nothing short of amazing and delightful. (Miss Bun and I love paper art so we are especially enamored of these!)


Visit his website: Robert Sabuda to find out more about the man and his work. Be sure to look at his "Simple Pop-Ups You Can Make" section to try your hand at paper engineering!

I have found many children's book authors to have a very generous spirit and I think that is evident here. Mr. Sabuda obviously doesn't mind promoting the work of other artists on his site. (Don't you just love people who love to share?)

Under the "Pop-Ups" tab you will find an international gallery of pop-ups, info on The Moveable Book Society, and a whole lot more! (There is a newsletter you can sign up for too.)

Don't forget to have a peek at the video below. You'll be glad you did.

Enjoy!

Dear Miss Bun...

Q. What's this library thing called the Dewey Decimal System? I must have been asleep in library class when they talked about this.

A. Miss Bun offers her condolences on your selective narcolepsy but would like to say that you are not alone in this search to uncover the mysteries of the DDS (that's library speak for Dewey Decimal System).

Miss Bun finds that most people are involuntarily force fed the intricacies of this system of classifying books (so that we may easily retrieve them when we want them) way before they have the mental faculties (or dire need) to absorb the information. Thus they go through life with a feeling that something is, indeed, missing in their bag of library skills.

Not to worry! Miss Bun has a delightful website she would like to gently direct you to in the hopes of alleviating your plight. It was developed by 5th & 6th graders at the Nettleton Intermediate Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas and is a wonderful, interactive place to explore Dewey. (Miss Bun is most impressed with the "Dewey and the Alien" story.) Who said learning about libraries has to be boring?

Here's the link: "Do We" Really Know Dewey

Library Thing...

If you love books (Miss Bun wants to know what's not to like?) & you have lots of them or you just want to keep track of them & you want to connect with others who have the same predilections ......... you need this!

As their homepage states, LibraryThing is:

A home for your books.
Enter what you're reading or your whole library. It's an easy, library-quality catalog.

A community of 600,000 books lovers.
LibraryThing connects you to people who read what you do.

The thing about LibraryThing is that you can enter 200 books for free or you can upgrade for a small fee. If you are shy, you can elect to keep your library private (or not). There are a slew of groups you can join and 31 languages to choose from. Tons of recommendations, reviews, widgets and lots more.

What are you waiting for? Take the tour here: LibraryThing Tour.

(Miss Bun suspects that this would be an excellent place for all those who have been harboring a deep-seated, secret desire to be catalogers.....for whatever reason.....)

Origami = TGIFF!!!

THE ORIGAMI CLUB

Here is a way cool origami (LOVE those paper crafts!) site that has:

• lots of origami to try
• difficulty ratings
  
• little animations to go along with the diagrams (brilliant!)
• nifty origami paper you can print out

(I think the origami alphabet would be neat to use for scrapbooking titles.)

Have tons of fun with this!

Bookmarks & Goldfish:

Google Earth 5 = The World's Oceans!

What can you say about Google? (Believe it or not...I'm speechless!) Want to see below the surface of the oceans? Want to track sharks, whales, & other sea life? Want to go to the undersea lab? Then go.....download Google Earth 5 .... and start exploring!!!

I suggest going to the Google Earth Blog before you get your feet wet and check out their "getting started" links on the right. (You can also download Google Earth 5 from there as well.)

For a very brief introduction take a look at the GEarth Blog video below.

This is really too cool!

Everyone needs a little Martha on a Monday...

Click on this link for a Martha Stewart how-to on cleaning your computer (complete with video).

Clean Your Computer with Martha
(It's the least you can do for one of your best friends!)

Isn't Monday wash day?

Do You Doodle???

Here is a free online coordination tool that makes scheduling things with several people (like meetings) a breeze.

Instead of having to go back and forth with a million emails everyone gets to see the dates and times and choose what works for them. They can also see what other folks choose. Doodle can also be used for other things like polls. Pretty nifty! Check it out!

Doodle

Have questions?
Here is their FAQ (frequently asked questions) page: http://www.doodle.com/about/faq.html

R U Facebook Challenged???

A Lebanon County colleague of mine (Thanks, Mo!) sent this out to all her Facebook challenged friends. (What does that tell you about me?)

Okay, I admit that I am not up to speed on using this remarkable social networking site. However, as one of the ten signs of being a librarian is a compulsive need to share good info (and I happen to be a librarian) I feel compelled to share this with you:

Facebook 101: 25 tips and tricks