I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that everything feels really weird right now. I have never lived through anything like this before. The CDC and many other helpful sources have offered great information on protecting your physical health during this pandemic, including hand washing and social distancing. The anxiety surrounding COVID-19 along with the isolation required to prevent its spread present a potent combination that can really take its toll on your mental health. While I am just a humble library associate and therefore cannot fix all of your problems, I have some suggestions that I will hopefully implement myself. Continue reading “Protecting Your Mental Health During a Pandemic”
My 10-year-old daughter was struck down with the flu two weeks ago. This is the second year in a row that she has gotten the virus even after receiving a flu shot. Indeed, throughout the months of January and February nearly all her friends and acquaintances were struck down with either influenza A or B. All them had gotten the trivalent vaccination. At the same time as the bizarre infections among her cohorts in Mid-Missouri, the coronavirus was spreading rapidly through China and causing terror throughout the world. Humankind seemingly cannot escape flu-like illnesses and viruses, no matter hard we try. Continue reading “The Flu and Other Friendly Neighborhood Viruses”
It is the time of year set aside for recognizing Black history and culture. The Columbia Public Library has a lobby display set up throughout February for this purpose. Much of the early history of Black people in the United States is a horrible reminder of how cruel a society can be. We must never forget, and live with determination for a better future for our country as a whole. To this end, several slavery and Civil Rights books are on display.
Much of the display, however, celebrates the triumphs and joy of Black people in America. Contributions are evident in music, science, art, sports, literature, business, and the list goes on. Here are a few items I hope you will enjoy from our collection:
I am no physicist but I still enjoy hearing Neil deGrasse Tyson speak about just about anything. He is witty and sharp as a tack. Thankfully, he has written a book right at my level, entitled “Astrophysics For People In a Hurry.” (He means it, too, as it is a very small book.) Continue reading “Celebrating Black Culture”
About halfway through February, we take a day to celebrate the special people in our lives. That day is February 13th — Galentine’s Day! While Valentine’s Day is great and romantic love is definitely worth celebrating, there are a million other kinds of love that are equally special! There’s the love you have for your pets, your family, your coworkers, and for your best friends, just to name a few. Parks and Recreation protagonist Leslie Knope, in recognition of the value of friendship, created her own holiday: Galentine’s Day. To quote her description,
“Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”
Continue reading “Happy Galentine’s Day!”
December brings with it a whole host of fun holidays and traditions. Some of these traditions, like transforming socks into decor, are a bit puzzling. Here are the origins of traditions surrounding three of the most popular December holidays! Continue reading “Holiday Traditions”
We’re fast approaching the time of year when people all across the country engage in the long-observed holiday tradition of gathering family members together and bickering with them. Most of us are familiar with the stereotypical dinner scene. Your cousin refers to the dish you’re passing as yams, and your sibling insists the correct term is sweet potatoes. Then tempers flare over whether marshmallows should be put on top of root vegetables. Meanwhile at the other end of the table, your dad and your uncle are feuding over capital gains tax rates. Continue reading “Harmonious for the Holidays”
Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get?
How to get to Sesame Street
Welcome to the final post for my 50th anniversary series celebrating important events that took place in 1969. This last entry is near and dear to my heart, the 50th anniversary of the great show “Sesame Street!” “Sesame Street” first aired on November 10, 1969 and has since produced over 4,500 episodes. It was created to help children prepare for school. To learn more about Sesame Street check out the titles below. For a more titles, including ones for children, a more extensive list can be found in our catalog. Continue reading “50th Anniversary: Sesame Street”
Wandering through many early spring forests in mid-Missouri in search of wild morels, I’ve never been lucky enough to discover a secret cache of these fairytale figures. Although I’ve found one or two random fruits, not enough to make a meal or brag about to other mycophiles, I can’t complain, because morels, while magical in appearance, to me seem rather insubstantial and bland. Chanterelles on the other hand, oh, la, la — are not only intriguingly shaped and a stunning orange hue, but are also meaty and have a woodsy, floral flavor that is truly unique. This past summer while hiking deep in the Ozarks woods, near the Current River, I stumbled upon a generous outcropping of these bright beauties — my first ever wild mushroom bonanza. I picked a hatful and brought them back to camp. There I consulted with a local mushroom expert to double check that the mushrooms I’d picked were chanterelles, and not look-alikes … because some mushrooms are poisonous, and can even be deadly. For this reason, the golden rule of wild mushroom gathering is: never eat one if you can’t positively identify it as safe. Turns out, the mushrooms I’d found were the real deal, so I was able to cook and enjoy them in a sauce over rice. Mmmm! Continue reading “Good Reasons to Mushroom Hunt”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become a cultural icon, and it is easy to see why. RBG has pioneered the rights of women for the entirety of her impressive career. Also, if having a designated dissent collar isn’t iconic, I don’t know what is. First in her class at Cornell and Harvard (undergraduate and law school, respectively), Ginsburg faced discrimination and was constantly underestimated. Through her tenacity, intelligence, and work ethic, she worked her way up in the justice system, winning several victories for equality along the way. RBG is a fun figure to study, and luckily we have several materials about the esteemed Supreme Court Justice in our collection. Continue reading “The Notorious R.B.G.”
And now for something completely different.
October 5 marks the 50th anniversary of when the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus aired on television in 1969. Monty Python is a British surreal comedy group. The television show was conceived, written and performed by its members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Besides the television show, there were several well known movies made by the Monty Python group. To learn more about Monty Python check out the suggestions below. You can also find a more extensive list on our catalog. Continue reading “50th Anniversary: Monty Python’s Flying Circus”
