How Does Your Beach Rate?

Sooner or later this summer--even if it's after the Bar exam for some of them--most humans will head to the beach.  But what kind of water are you running into?  Find out how your local or vacation beach rates by taking a look at "Testing the Waters 2013:  A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches."  This guide and report on beach water quality on the East and West coasts and around the Great Lakes is prepared annually by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a well-known environmental advocacy organization.  It includes a chart rating 200 of the nation's popular beaches, including a sampling of favorites in Nassau County and New York City, based on their water quality, monitoring frequency, and notification practices.  In addition, you can find information about the data used in the report and the most common pollution sources,  data for both rated and unrated beaches, and special coverage of the Great Lakes. Check it out before you dive in. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Fun with Tech

One of my favorite places to keep up with my virtual colleagues and technology generally is with David Pogue.  He is a technology columnist for the New York times and Pogue's Posts - the Times' technology blog.  He reviews tech gadgets, tools and site - all with a sense of humor and in language you humans can understand.  His latest State of the Art Column reviews Wearable Devices that Nudge You To Health .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Five: Bureau of Education Home Reading Courses

Once upon a time—beginning during the World War One era, and extending into the 1920’s, to be precise--your federal government would grade you on your reading of Dante’s Inferno, among other works. Those who successfully completed the program received a certificate.

All this was part of the Bureau of Education Home Reading Courses of the time. See an example here (scroll down to read more about the program).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Summer Hours!

Begginng July 1, 3013 and ending Aug. 11, 2013 the Hostra Law Library will have the following hours:

Monday -Thursday: 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am -6pm

 Remember to Plan Accordingly! Happy Summer!!!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

ConSource: The Constitutional Sources Project

From the ConSource "About" page:

The mission of The Constitutional Sources Project is to increase understanding, facilitate research, and encourage discussion of the U.S. Constitution by connecting individuals — including students, teachers, lawyers and judges — with the documentary history of its creation, ratification, and amendment.

The countless letters, speeches, and journals of the Framers and later Amenders of the Constitution are housed in hundreds of libraries, archives, and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. These documents together embody the “best” history of our Constitution and its amendment over time. Yet many of these documents are virtually inaccessible to most of us, whether a fourth grader or a Supreme Court Justice. Even diligent researchers cannot gain access to all of them. As a result, far too many Americans lack an understanding of the ideas that influenced the Framers, many of which still lie at the root of current conversations and debates concerning our government and our laws.

To address this lack of access, ConSource.org is building the preeminent online resource for constitutional research and education. Continually expanding in scope, it provides free public access to what is fast becoming the world’s most comprehensive online library of source documents related to the U.S. Constitution.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Measure of America 2013-2014

There are hundreds if not thousands of reports published each year measuring the economic health of the United States--its gross national product, interest and employment rates, or growth in manufacturing.  This week a report was released that focuses not on economic measures but on measures of "well-being" in the lives of Americans.  "The Measure of America 2013-2014" is a project of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), an independent, nonprofit leader in international social science research. It uses a tailored and updated version of the Human Development Index, first used by the United Nations, in order to measure the key factors in human development that shape the everyday lives of ordinary Americans, their opportunities and potential for living "freely chosen lives of value."  The latest Measure of America report is a revealing portrait comparing states and 25 metropolitan areas--and demographic groups in each--over time and with each other, based on a wide range of indicators, including most prominently life expectancy, educational attainment, and median earnings. It makes for fascinating reading and is also a good source of statistical information for public policy research.   

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Email for the truly lazy

How many times have you typed out the same  message repeatedly (directions for the non-gps enabled?) . . .   In Gmail, you have an option for "canned responses".   To set this up, you need to go to Labs (a tab in the Settings menu) and enable the feature.   Then, type out your message in Compose.  Click on the drop-down next to the Trash and you will see an option for "Canned responses".  Highlight it, click on "new canned response" , name your response and save.

Happy Summer - enjoy some good naps in the sun!!!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Four: Sea Turtles Coloring Book (in English and Hawaiian)

In honor of the International Year of the Ocean, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service jointly produced a coloring book devoted to sea turtles, with text in both the English and Hawaiian languages. Click here to see more (the arrows at the bottom of each page allow you to click through the work).


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

“Happy Birthday to You” Hits a Sour Note

It is a song recognized by all of us.   From Stevie Wonder’s lively ditty to Marilyn Monroe’s sultry rendition, “Happy Birthday to You” has been sung by or to most of us. But did you know that anyone who performs the song publicly risks a $150,000 fine if they don't agree to pay a fee to Warner/Chappell Music?  While the music group wouldn’t come after Aunt Becky as she soars towards those sometimes ear-splitting high notes, they do claim to own the copyright to the 120-year-old, 16-word song that is widely credited with being the best-known piece of music in the English language and do request a fee anytime the song is sung on a television show or in a movie. 

Well, don’t blow out those candles just yet.  “Happy Birthday to You” is the subject of a new lawsuit against the publishing arm of Warner Music Group.  Last week, a complaint was filed in federal court that claims the song has been in the public domain since at least 1921.

Click here to read more.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Video on Instagram

If you love Instagram and have been waiting for video to arrive as part of Instagram's features, wait no more!  Instagram has announced that video has arrived.

For the basics on this new Instagram service read more here.

Do you want the quick and dirty version? Here are the facts about Instagram video in 7 steps.

And finally, if you are a Vine user...well, the war is on here where you can read about why Instagram video may be better than Vine.  You be the decider.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat