Quick Tip: Clean Flu Fostering Places to Banish Bad Bacteria [Health]

Quick Tip: Clean Flu Fostering Places to Banish Bad Bacteria [Health]: From LifeHacker

Flu season is in full swing, and we're all 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon away from contracting some form of pork virus. Even if you keep your home spic and span, there's still a chance you might have missed some easy-to-overlook spots.

Photo by DanBrady

During cold and flu season, it helps to take a few extra precautions so we don't end up like one of the 20+ people on our Facebook pages plagued with the flu. It can be easy to keep common surfaces like counter tops and floors tidy, but what about those out of place nooks and crannies? Here's a few to be on the lookout for.

1. Personal Hygiene Bottles: Although we all brush our teeth and wash our hands multiple times a day, when was the last time you wiped down your hand soap bottle, or your tube of toothpaste? They are often touched, but rarely washed!

2. Car Interiors: For those across the country that aren't blessed to live in a city with working mass transportation, it can often feel as if you're living in your car at times, scooting back and forth between work and play. Even if you keep things tidy, giving the hard surfaces in your vehicle a once over is a smart move. Don't forget the little places, like underneath the doorhandles, the lock and window buttons, and the steering wheel column.

3. Electronics: Even though most of us are already cleaning our electronics in our daily or weekly routines, take extra care to include things like the buttons on your remote controls or those on your dvd player. Places like keyboards and scroll wheels on your cell phone are also tight spaces, try using a cotton swab to help out.

4. Hardware: Things like handles, pulls, and knobs in your home get a great deal of action. There's more than you think throughout your home, try wiping down the pulls to the cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom and doorknobs throughout your space. They are all places you touch frequently.

5. Appliances: Most of us use our appliances on a fairly regular basis. Take extra care to clean the handles or pulls on things that see a great deal of use, like the lid or door to your washing machine, or the handle to your refrigerator or coffee pot.

Still, if you're looking to keep healthy and prevent the spread of diseases like the flu, washing your hands is still numero uno. That said, what places in your home do you take extra precautions with when the flu is running rampant? Do you just keep up with your normal routine, or kick it into high gear? Share your tips in the comments.

Upcoming Events at Hackley Public Library

	Monday Storytime Monday, November 2, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Toddler Storytime November 2, 2009 11:00 am Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Evening Toddler Storytime November 3, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	MCGS Board Meeting November 3 4:30 pm at the Torrent House

	Morning Storytime November 3, 2009 11:00 am Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Family Genealogy Workshop November 7 10:30 - 11:30 am Learn how to do Genealogy research in the Local History Department.  For more information call 231-722-7276 x 233

	MCGS History Book Pickup November 7 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Hackley Public Library

Picturing America November 7, 2009 2:00 pm Youth Services. Explore multicultural history in this book-and-art program.  Lewis and Clark, harlem jazz days, and more are celebrated in books at HPL.  A short Museum tour will feature American landscapes.  A Picturing America contest will let kids draw their own landscapes. Entry forms are available through December 6.  The best entries will be featured on HPL bookmarks. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	MCGS History Book Pickup November 10 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the Torrent House

	Michigan's Winter Wonderland November 10, 2009 6:30 pm Dianne Stampfler tells humorous and upbeat stories about the things that make Michigan winters so special. For more information call 231-722-7276. For more information or to register call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	Rotary Club Meeting November 10 12:00 pm in the Torrent House

	Ulysses Group November 10, 2009 10:00 am Julia Hackley room. Book Discussion Group.  This month's book is The Man who loved China by Simon Winchester.  For more information call 231-722-7276.

	MS Support Group November 11 5:30 pm Torrent House.

	Mini class on Downloading Books November 11, 2009 2:00 pm Drop by the Julia Hackley room for a mini class.  Feel free to bring your own laptop, otherwise the class is a watch-and-learn. This week's class is downloading books with Overdrive. For more information or to register call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	Yarnspinners November 11, 2009 7:00 pm Torrent House.  Storytelling Group.

MCGS History Book Pickup November 14 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Hackley Public Library

My Halloween Revenge

My Halloween Revenge:From GovGab
Normally, I am a law-abiding citizen and not prone to perpetrating Halloween pranks. However, earlier in the week my trainer, Mike, made me do push-ups. He claims he did not get my memo stating my “No Push-Ups Policy”, but when he denied
it, he had a shifty look on his face. Anyway, I am very sore. I can't even lift my arm to offer a friendly wave or other friendly gestures. I want some payback. This friendly gal is going to get some revenge by toilet papering Mike's yard on Halloween night.


I like to bring professionalism to everything I do, so I have done my homework and I have come up with a plan:

• I have hired some of the best toilet papering commandos in my neighborhood .
• My team has done reconnaissance in Mike's neighborhood. We know where the street lights are located, how to handle the barking dogs, and which neighbors are prone to nosiness.
• We have identified an escape route should things go south.
• I have purchased black face paint and selected the perfect black outfit, with matching accessories, for the big event.

The surprise element in my whole plan is the actual papering medium we will use. Now that I have been forced to perform push-ups, I am “strong like bull.” Instead of cheap, wimpy, toilet paper, we will be going hard core and using double rolls of 2-ply!


For those who have been following my blog regularly, you know that I am kidding... or am I? Bwah Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Have a scary, but safe Halloween. The Halloween page on USA.gov features links to Halloween facts, healthy Halloween treats, safety tips, and pumpkin carving tips. For those of you who are interested, here is my Halloween blog from last year and the Halloween blog from 2 years ago by Samantha. Enjoy!


P.S. To Lazy Ghoul, who left this comment last year,



“I live on a hillside in a suburban community, my front door is a good 20 feet above street level. Rather than subject the children to climbing my steps i sit and throw candy to (at) them from my porch. Some kids really get into it. I've learned to judge candy by it's loft to drag ratio and found that Dum Dums get the best range, followed by Tootsie Pops, then Blow Pops...”


I hope to hear from you again. Did you try my suggestion to build a candy catapult with a mouse trap, some duct tape, and a bobby pin? Let me know, because I can think of all kinds of uses for that thing if it works!

Book Review: Hello Goodbye

I read about this book, Hello Goodbye, on a list of first time authors.  It sounded interesting so I thought I'd give it a try.

The story is about a family dealing with cancer.  Helen was diagnosed with a brain tumor and now here husband, Elliott, and daughter Abby have to adjust to how it has affected Helen.  Abby is a freshman in college and is still a bit self-absorbed.  Elliott is trying to decide if he should tell Abby that the cancer is terminal.  He has already decided that he will not tell Helen. 

Elliott arranges a 20th anniversary party and invites his and Helen's best friends.  It is a way for them to say goodbye to Helen.

The story is very well done.  You really get a good feel for each characters complicated feelings about life.

Hello Goodbye By Chenoweth, Emily 2009-08 - Center Point Large Print 1602855390 Check Our Catalog The summer after Abby Hansen's first year of college -- and several months after doctors find a malignant tumor in her mother Helen's brain -- she and her parents drive to northern New Hampshire to say goodbye to a lifetime of friends. During a single week at a historic resort, the family welcomes a small procession of visitors, and shares with them the heartache of Helen's imminent passing. As the week progresses, the Hansen's and their guests deal with Helen's illness in varied, sometimes surprising ways, and Abby, drawn to the youthful, mischievous staff of the hotel is torn between her duties to her family and the pleasures of her new life as an adult. For all involved, the occasion unexpectedly becomes one of awakening rather than farewell, as they discover how life inevitably blossoms in the face of death. …More

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Put Together a Winter Car Emergency Kit [Winter Upgrades]

Put Together a Winter Car Emergency Kit [Winter Upgrades]: From Lifehacker
Earlier this week we talked about an emergency kit for your home, now it's time to focus on your car and how to be prepared for the unpleasantness of being stranded in a winter wonderland.
Compared to creating a home winter emergency kit a car emergency kit has two principle differences. First, you're severely limited on space compared to home preparations—and you burn extra gas hauling your loot around. Second, when the power goes out and the party stops at your house, you're still at home safe and sound. When your car gets stuck in the middle of no where and it's 12F out, it's a radically worse situation that could end tragically.

Keep Your Car Topped Off and Well Serviced

You can't avoid every curve ball Old Man Winter will throw at you, but if you run out of gas on a lonely and frozen highway because you'd passed a half dozen gas stations while running on less than a quarter of a tank, you can't exactly point your finger at anyone. The same goes for having your tuned up and road-ready. We know it's not cheap and owning a vehicle can be quite a monkey sink, but nobody huddled in a broken down car on the side of a deserted road and slowly losing the feeling in their limbs has thought 'Man I'm glad I skipped that $200 tune up.' Photo by Tome Lemo.

Assess Your Driving Patterns and Plan for the Worst

The amount of inclement weather preparation you'll need to undertake is largely dependent on the kind of driving you do. Winters can be bitter in New York City, but you won't need the kind of gear in your trunk that someone who commutes on the rural highways of North Dakota would need.
When it comes to planning for the worst, you don't need to plan for the absolute worst mind you, nobody expects you to keep a surgical kit and a guide to field surgery in your car. Most emergency kits fall woefully short through. What if the accident/stranding/car breaking down leaves you stuck in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard for a day or more? It sounds preposterous to a city dweller, but the US is a very big place and in bad weather you'll find many a road goes untraveled for long stretches of time. Having an ice scraper, a half eaten bag of Combos, and some frozen gum isn't going to buy you a whole lot of time or comfort. At minimum you should plan to be stuck with your car for a day—it's a rarity to be in such a situation but the cost of being prepared versus the cost of being unprepared makes it a veritable bargain to make sure you have the right supplies.

Hydration and Heat are Critical

Staying warm and staying well hydrated are the most important things to consider when contemplating being stranded in your car. You can go a long, albeit uncomfortable time, without food. If you're an average American you can go a very long time without food. You won't last very long frozen solid and you won't last very long without water, and you'll hasten the former by getting the water you need from the icy snow around you.
The water situation can be a tricky one, after all if you've been driving for hours out in the cold the giant jug of water you've got in the trunk is likely as frozen as the snow on the back bumper. This is where having smaller water containers is much handier, smaller bottles are easier to thaw out in the heat of the car. Alternately you can keep your water in a small cooler. I have a $19 Coleman cooler that can keep drinks cold in my trunk for almost a week, it could certainly work in the opposite direction and keep things unfrozen longer. If you live in a particularly rough and isolated area, you might consider keeping an emergency stove and small camp pan in your kit for melting snow—the two will run you under $15.
Food is, as noted above, not as critical as water but you should include it anyway. You'll want to focus on packing calorie-dense, non-perishable foods. Energy bars, nuts, granola and dried fruit are all great choices. It is best to select food you actually normally enjoy eating and then rotate it out of the car every few weeks. That way you won't be stuck gnawing on a four year old protein bar when you eventually have to bust into your emergency kit.
Have a sleeping bag—winter weight!—in the truck, along with winter boots and additional winter clothing. The clothes don't need to be fancy they just need to keep you warm, so throw in some older winter gear that doesn't see much use. Don't overlook hats, scarves, and gloves here, they help keep heat in at high loss points like the neck and head. Photo by Muffet.

Be Able to Signal

You know what a light colored car, in a ditch, in a snow storm looks like? Nothing. You don't want to be looked over by other motorists and rescue workers as you sit in your car freezing. You need a way to signal. Plan on your car's electrical system being out of commission and have an LED emergency beacon or two in your car.
They aren't particularly expensive, you can pick them up at backpacking and outdoor stores and they even have ones designed for automotive emergency use at many auto supply stores. For the unfamiliar it's essentially a battery powered strobe, like the kind of little and intense strobes above emergency exits. It's highly visible for long distance, even in a snow storm, and it lets emergency workers know that you're in need of help. While you're shopping for a beacon, don't forget to get an LED flashlight or two. Aim for getting a lower power flashlight with a long battery life, some of the high-intensity models chew up batteries really fast. Photo by S. Diddy.

Dealing with the Little Things

Our list up to this point has leaned towards the extreme side of things like preparing to make sure you don't freeze to death on the side of the road, a rather important thing to be prepared to ward off. On the less-fatal side of things, and certainly the more common, you'll be dealing with things like getting stuck but having assistance nearby.
Here having things on hand like a bag of sand in your trunk for additional traction and a tow rope or chain if you've got a good Samaritan at hand but the tow truck is no where to be found are extremely helpful. In addition to a bag of sand, a shovel is always handy. Look for a sturdy one sized for a child, it'll fit in the trunk better and still have a fairly wide surface area compared to a tiny emergency shovel. Photo by Kennymatic.
Think of something we didn't include in our list? Have a story or two about being stuck in the snows of the great white north? Let's hear about it in the comments.

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend:  From Gov Gab
Here's a big reminder if you don't have it on your calendar yet.

Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend!

Starting on Sunday at 2 a.m. Daylight Saving Time will end (for the places that observe it) and we'll all need to set our clocks back one hour.
Personally I love the extra hour of sleep, but hate the shorter days that come with switching back to standard time. I'm also not always the best at remembering to change the clocks. I usually remember at the last minute Saturday night. Forgetting to change your clocks can cause mild chaos for some people, like a friend of mine who went the whole day without remembering to switch her clocks and almost ended up being late for work the following Monday. (This was in the spring, when we were supposed to spring our clocks ahead an hour.)
Curious as to why this whole Daylight Saving Time and changing clocks thing even exists? National Geographic did a nice job explaining the history of DST.

Have you ever forgotten to change your clocks? Feel free to share your stories in the comments.

Put Together a Winter Home Emergency Kit [Winter Upgrades]

Put Together a Winter Home Emergency Kit [Winter Upgrades]: From Lifehacker
You likely have all sorts of things in your home right now that would serve you well in an emergency, with a few additions and some organization, you'll have a functional kit and contingency plan. Photo by Clairity.
Creating a home emergency kit can be a simple to enormous undertaking depending on the level of energy and preparation you want to invest into it. Most people are on the 'Stay warm and fed until the power comes back on' camp, not the 'Prepared for zombie apocalypse' camp, and though it never hurts to prepare for the worst we'll be focusing more on the former than the latter.
Once you read over the following tips you can adopt them to fit your needs based on your locale and weather, size of your homef, and how much storage space you have available.
Know The Lay of the Land: Before all else you want to know how to control your home in the event of an emergency. Do you know where the water shutoff valve is? The emergency shut off valve for the gas? Which circuit breakers go to which part of your home? Many home emergencies can be quickly neutralized by knowing how to shut down the infrastructure of the home. Make sure the rest of the people in the house know how to do things like kill the water or electricity. It may not seem critical now, but if a pine tree comes crashing through your kitchen and water is spraying everywhere, knowing how to stop the geyser of water becomes quite important.
Rotate Your Semi-Perishable Food: Canned goods and bottles of water keep well enough, but not forever. Arranging your pantry so that cans don't linger at the back ensures that when you're snowed in you'll be eating fresh canned fruits and vegetables instead of the dusty cans from three Thanksgivings ago. You can go all out and build a rotating shelf to keep your canned goods fresh, but for smaller scale storage a simple wire-frame can dispenser will fit on most pantry shelves.
Keep Batteries and Flashlights on Hand: You'll always want batteries on hand. When it comes to keeping the lights on when the power is out, flashlights are king. Candles are a tragedy waiting to happen. Hundreds of house fires are started every year during power outages as people light up candles en masse to brighten their dark homes. It's 2009, you can buy ultra-efficient LED flashlights for less than the cost of a DVD. Even with the power out there's no excuse for lighting your home with fire.
Have Alternative Heat: If you're preparing for a winter storm you most likely live somewhere with icy winter conditions and deep snow fall. When keeping warm during a winter storm there are two levels of warmth: safe and comfortable. If you're wearing layered clothing and have lots of blankets, 40-50F in your house is safe but not particularly comfortable. Nobody will get frost bite and pipes won't freeze. Comfortable is a personal thing—I'm comfy at 55F, most people prefer at least in the upper 60s—and you'll need to plan accordingly for it. Fireplaces, kerosene space heaters, and other combustion-based sources of heat are less than ideal compared to the efficiency and safety of a central furnace but when operated properly can help keep you warm until power and order are restored.
You absolutely need to make sure that whatever alternative source of heat you plan on using during an outage is clean, operational, and that everyone who will be using it understands how to use it safely. Clean out the chimney before you need it and give that kerosene heater a trial run when you're not under pressure. Unfortunately, unlike swapping candles for LED flashlights, there isn't an ultra modern replacement for ditching combustion-based heat for something fancy. Safety first!
Tools and Materials for Emergency Repairs: You don't need to be ready for a full scale remodeling project but you do need some basics. What if a tree branch falls and breaks a window? In the middle of summer it an annoyance, in the middle of a winter outage it's a giant icy hole to the outside world that will drop the temperature of your home below freezing in a matter of hours. Some heavy duty plastic sheeting and duct tape might not have the insulation value of a triple-pane window but it will keep hot air from drafting right out into your yard.
Communicating from the Winter Wonderland: Phone lines can be damaged by winds and ice, but it is very rare for a winter storm to wipe out the cellular network in an area. Keep your cellphone charged and make sure you have a car charger for it—if the power outage is extended you'll need to top it off at some point. If cellphone service is spotty, you may want to consider sending an SMS message to communicate with friends and family. Often times SMS messages go through just fine when trying to place and actual voice call is sketchy due to weak signal. If you live in the country side you might consider investing in a couple GMRS/FRS hand-held radios with some neighbors. You can pick up a modest but functional walkie-talkie set for around $30.
Stay Well Stocked: If you live in an area where weather can keep you holed up, you need to get into the practice of shopping ahead. When you're buying your regular groceries, purchase a few extra non-perishable things to stock in the pantry. Don't wait to do your grocery shopping until it is critical that you get out that day to do so. The same principle applies to non-food items like batteries, salt and sand for your walk and driveway, and keeping your gas tank full in your car.
Scaling Preparation for Your Situation and Budget: Finally, as we mentioned above, you'll need to scale your level of preparation to your budget and needs. If you can afford it and live in an area with frequent power outages, although a bit pricey, a home generator is a great investment. An apartment dweller that experiences extremely infrequent and brief outages could simply stockpile some batteries under the bed.
The important part in preparing for inclement weather and power outages is to run through potential and reasonable scenarios and what you need to do in various situations that may arise. What if an ice-laden tree falls onto your house? What if the power is out for more than a day? How will I heat food with no electricity? Does the heating system of your home require electricity? Have I told my roommate, spouse, or child what the plan is in the event of an emergency? Asking and answering questions like these well before you're under the stress of the actual situation helps you plan properly and keep stress to a minimum when that Douglas Fir actually does come through the picture window or the guy on the emergency weather radio says power won't be restored until next Tuesday. A small amount of planning now yields a lot of comfort later.
Have some tips and tricks for winter-preparedness? Survived a week-long power outage in comfort and style? Let's hear about it in the comments.

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Constitution Monday-Amendment 1: The Bill of Rights

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Upcoming Events at Hackley Public Library

	Pumpkin Carving Workshop October 24, 2009 1:00 - 3:00 pm Youth Services Department Bring your own pumpkin to this family event! Create a Pumpkin Masterpiece using your own ideas, or our Super Stencil Spooky Faces.  Safe carving tools are provided.  Adult accompaniment recommended. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Monday Storytime Monday, October 26, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Toddler Storytime October 26, 2009 11:00 am Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Evening Toddler Storytime October 27, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required.  Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Morning Storytime October 27, 2009 11:00 am Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Mini class on Downloading Books October 28, 2009 2:00 pm Drop by the Julia Hackley room for a mini class.  Feel free to bring your own laptop, otherwise the class is a watch-and-learn. This week's class is downloading audio ebooks from NetLibrary For more information or to register call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	Monday Storytime Monday, November 2, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Toddler Storytime November 2, 2009 11:00 am Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Evening Toddler Storytime November 3, 2009 6:45 pm Youth Services Stories and activities aimed at 18 to 36 month olds.  Toddlers and grownups attend together.  Registration is required. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Morning Storytime November 3, 2009 11:00 am Youth Services.  Storytelling, picturebooks, fingerplays, holiday tales, and special fun.  Each session ends with a craft project.  Signup required.  Call 231-722-7276 x 230.

	Family Genealogy Workshop November 7 10:30 - 11:30 am Learn how to do Genealogy research in the Local History Department.  For more information call 231-722-7276 x 233

Picturing America November 7, 2009 2:00 pm Youth Services. Explore multicultural history in this book-and-art program.  Lewis and Clark, harlem jazz days, and more are celebrated in books at HPL.  A short Museum tour will feature American landscapes.  A Picturing America contest will let kids draw their own landscapes. Entry forms are available through December 6.  The best entries will be featured on HPL bookmarks. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 230.