tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91455679921126893252024-03-13T14:03:19.995-04:00Questions & AnswersMalloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.comBlogger403125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-36305450154910830682019-02-23T12:42:00.000-05:002020-07-21T12:46:57.656-04:00How did the waffle iron get its name?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
This question was answered by Kelly McCorkle, our library intern! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A patron wanted to know how the name “waffle iron” came about. Digging into the history of the waffle iron, we learn from <i><a href="https://www.ecnmag.com/blog/2015/08/today-engineering-history-waffle-iron-patented">Electronic Component Magazine (ECM)</a></i> that modern waffle irons date back to the late-1800s. On August 24, 1869, Cornelius Swartwout of Troy, New York applied for a patent for his invention: the stovetop waffle iron. Created for wood or gas stoves, Swartwout hinged together two cast iron plates to create what would forever be known in America as the “waffle iron.”<br /><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">While the waffle iron did not become patented until 1869, <i>ECM</i> cites the Netherlands as the place of origin in the 1300s. Waffles were cooked over an open fire using a long, wooden-handled device consisting of two iron plates. <a href="https://www.cooksinfo.com/waffle-iron">CooksInfo.com corroborates this story</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
Furthermore, waffle irons have come a long way since the 1800s. <a href="https://www.cooksinfo.com/waffle-iron">CooksInfo.com</a> states that the Charles M. Cole of Oakland, California improved upon the waffle iron design in 1926. His invention was electric, and it allowed two waffles to be made at once.
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">While the waffle iron may not be made of cast iron anymore, the name remains the same and people all around the world still enjoy them. In fact, August 24th is National Waffle Day in celebration of the day Swartwout patented his waffle iron invention. Be that as it may, waffles are good any time of year!
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">For waffle recipes and information about other inventions, please consult the following books: <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:670967/one"><i>1001 Muffins, Biscuits, Doughnuts, Pancakes, Waffles, Popovers, Fritters, Scones, and Other Quick Breads</i> by Gregg R. Gillespie</a> and <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2383505/one"><i>The Greatest Inventions of the Past 2,000 Years</i> by John Brockman.</a></span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-75086658946259769972019-02-16T18:49:00.014-05:002020-07-21T12:45:16.850-04:00What's the weather like in Alaska during the summer?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This question was answered by Kelly McCorkle, our library intern!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A patron considering a trip to Alaska wanted to know what the weather is like and the time difference from Ohio. To answer the weather question, </span><a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/anchorage-ak/99501/june-weather/346835" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">AccuWeather.com provides a month-by-month view of the historical average temperature for each day</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. Looking at June, we learn that the average high temperature ranges from 62-67 degrees with an average low of 46-52. July has an average of 68 for the high and average lows in the 50s. In August, the temperatures at the beginning of the month start out in the high 60s, but steadily decline towards the end of the month. Similarly, </span><a href="http://alaska.org/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alaska.org</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> states that daytime temperatures range from 60-80, depending on the area with nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s. </span><a href="http://alaska.org/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alaska.org</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> also notes that Alaska experiences exceptionally rainy summers. That being said, it explains that </span><a href="http://www.alaska.org/advice/best-time-to-visit-alaska" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">the best time to visit Alaska weather-wise is June 15th to July 15th</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. One of the biggest perks of visiting Alaska during this time is the extra daylight hours. June 21st is the longest day of the year everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, but because Alaska is so far north, it receives more sunlight than most places. So from late May to late July, Alaskan tourists can experience what </span><a href="https://www.alaskacenters.gov/explore/attractions/midnight-sun" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">AlaskaCenters.gov explains is called the “midnight sun”</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> because it stays light so late into the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />To <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">answer the question about Alaska’s time difference, we head to </span><a href="http://worldtimeserver.com/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">WorldTimeServer.com</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. </span><a href="https://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_US-AK.aspx" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This website states that Alaska is four hours behind Ohio</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">More information about Alaska can be found in the following books: <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2746723/one"><i>Alaska</i> by Janie Freeburg</a> and <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/results?qu=alaska+bush+pilot+chronicles&te="><i>The Alaska Bush Pilot Chronicles: More Adventures and Misadventures from the Big Empty</i> by Mort D. Mason.</a></span></span></div>
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Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-27412258416962910352019-01-26T16:57:00.000-05:002020-07-15T16:18:15.071-04:00Why are hedgehogs illegal in Pennsylvania?<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">This question was answered by Kelly McCorkle, our library intern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">While
attending college in Pennsylvania, an Ohio native and Newton Falls Public
Library patron became aware that it was illegal to have a pet hedgehog in the state
of Pennsylvania. However, she did not know why this was the case. To answer
this question, we started with a simple Google search which led to the website
for The International Hedgehog Association, a non-profit organization devoted
to creatures. IHA reports that hedgehogs do not emit odors like most small
rodents, are easy to litter train, have a gentle demeanor, and require no
immunization shots. Given these rather positive characteristics, why would
hedgehogs be considered illegal? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">A
news article on Pennlive.com about illegal animals in Pennsylvania provides the
short answer to this question. According to the article, the concern regarding
hedgehogs is that “they could hurt the local ecosystem if they were somehow
released into the wild.” Furthermore, Hedgehogged.com states that the law was
originally intended to prohibit the importation of hedgehogs into Pennsylvania
but that breeders continued to do so which led to banning hedgehogs entirely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
current Pennsylvania Law against the importation of wildlife can be found in
Title 34: Game under Chapter 21, Subchapter D, and Subsection 2163. However,
this law does not specify hedgehogs or any other animals directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">We
found our information on the <a href="http://hedgehogclub.com/index.html">IHA website</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">, the article</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">These pets are banned
in Pennsylvania” by Teresa Bonner, and the article “<a href="http://hedgehogged.com/">Places Where It’s Illegal to Own Hedgehogs and the Laws Around Them</a>," as well as the</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/2B2S3DC">Pennsylvania Law on wildlife importation</a></span><span style="color: #a3aaae; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">General
information about hedgehogs can be found in the following books: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6039570/one">Hedgehogs: Everything About Purchase, Care,and Nutrition</a></i> by Sharon Lynn Vanderlip, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1365083/one">GuideTo Owning an African Pygmy Hedgehog: Housing, Feeding, Breeding, Exhibition,Health Care</a> </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">by
Dennis Kelsey-Wood.</span></div>
<br />Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-11738836371077673002018-11-16T16:48:00.000-05:002019-02-07T17:05:15.172-05:00What are the black spots on stingrays?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“I
was at the aquarium and I noticed that the stingrays all had patterns of black
specks on their backs. Was something wrong with them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">After
doing some research, we found that there was probably nothing wrong with the
stingrays. Most likely, our patron was seeing the rays’ ampullae of Lorenzini,
special sensory organs shared by sharks, skates, and rays. The ampullae are
pores leading to jelly-filled canals that end in nerve endings, and they can act
as electroreceptors, sensing the electrical pulses given off by the muscle
activity of other creatures.They can also detect changes in temperature and
water pressure. If our patron had looked closely at the underside of the ray,
they would have seen many more ampullae, most clustered around its mouth. These
help the rays find food on the sea floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
ampullae were first discovered by Marcello Malpighi in 1663, but were not
described in detail until 1678. Stefano Lorenzini was the first to describe
them, which is why they’re named after him. Though scientists were aware of the
ampullae, they did not understand their purpose until the 1960s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">We
found our information in <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/67758/10-stunning-facts-about-stingrays">Michele Debczak’s article “10 Stunning Facts about
Stingrays” on </a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/67758/10-stunning-facts-about-stingrays">Mental Floss</a>, </i>Barbara
E. Wueringer and Ian R. Tibbetts’ research paper comparing the ampullary
systems of shovelnose rays in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/journal/0960-3166_Reviews_in_Fish_Biology_and_Fisheries" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries</span></a></i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1130481/one">The Encyclopedia of Sharks</a> </i>by Steve and
Jane Parker, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6659351/one">Sharks: Ancient Predators in a Modern Sea</a> </i>by Salvador Jorgensen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-67471690827616407592018-08-31T09:38:00.001-04:002020-07-17T14:19:41.828-04:00What is this yellow fungus on my lawn?<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A
patron came in and described something that had appeared on their lawn
overnight. At first, they’d thought a dog had been sick in their yard, but on
closer inspection it seemed to be an ugly yellow fungus. The patron reported
that when it rained, the mass released a smoky-looking cloud of spores. It also
appeared to bleed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We
had noticed something similar growing in the mulch in front of the library a
few weeks earlier. It had eventually disappeared on its own, and we’d never
tried to identify it, but we knew what our patron was describing. Because we
thought the yellow mass might be a fungus, we checked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:875690/one">The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms</a>, </i>David
Arora’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2853306/one">Mushrooms Demystified</a>, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2935316/one">Peterson’s Field Guide to Mushrooms</a>. </i>However,
we couldn’t find what we were looking for.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Searching on Google for an image of yellow fungus led us to <a href="https://wimastergardener.org/article/dog-vomit-slime-mold-fuligo-septica/">an article by Susan Mahr on the Wisconsin Master Gardener Program websit</a></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="https://wimastergardener.org/article/dog-vomit-slime-mold-fuligo-septica/">e</a></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. There were several pictures that
our patron recognized as the organism growing on their law, which the website
identified as the “dog vomit slime mold.” Technically, it’s not a fungus at
all. While scientists used to place slime molds in Kingdom Fungi, they were
moved to Kingdom Protista, which serves as a catch-all for eukaryotic organisms
that are not plants, fungi, or animals. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">According
the Mahr, the dog vomit slime mold begins its life as a spore. These spores
develop into cells, which join up to form the slimy-looking yellowish-brown
plasmodium. The plasmodium creeps across the land, consuming the bacteria and
other organisms that thrive in decay. When it runs out of food or gets too dry,
the plasmodium transforms into an aethelium, or a “fruiting body” – the puffy
yellow mass that will release spores and begin the cycle anew. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
aethelium will continue to develop, hardening and darkening in color. It may
start to liquefy in spots, which can make it appear to bleed, as our patron
noticed. Once the hard crust is broken, it will release its clouds of spores.
This may have been the “smoking” that our patron noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Despite
its unappealing name and appearance, the dog vomit slime mold is almost
entirely harmless. (The spores may aggravate asthma or allergies.) It will
eventually dissolve on its own after a few days, though it can also be broken
up. A slime mold needs moisture, so they’re usually spotted in hot, humid
weather. Watering less, or raking up damp mulch, can be another way to be rid
of them.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-4997526622932802592018-04-13T11:01:00.000-04:002020-07-17T15:20:51.247-04:00What does lorem ipsum mean?<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“I
was setting up a newsletter on the computer, and all the examples were in a
foreign language! Why?”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">After
asking for more details, we found that the language in question was lorem ipsum,
not a language at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Typically
beginning “lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetueur,” it’s a pseudo-Latin
nonsense phrase mostly lifted from a treatise on ethics written by Cicero in 45
B.C. According to the Microsoft support website, the original phrase by Cicero
is “Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet,
consectetur, adipisci velit,” which translates as "There is no one who
loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it
is pain."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lorem
ipsum, however, has had letters added and removed to the point where it’s no
longer proper, meaningful Latin. For example, according to </span><a href="http://generator.lorem-ipsum.info/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">http://generator.lorem-ipsum.info/</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">,
a webpage for generating lorem ipsum and other text, sometimes the letters K,
W, and Z are added randomly, just to give an idea of what they would look like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Because
it’s meaningless, lorem ipsum is often used as filler text in design, such as
in our patron’s newsletter example. It’s supposed to give an idea of what the
finished product will look like without distracting the eye.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-17916025297184089082018-02-09T14:14:00.000-05:002018-06-12T11:00:42.021-04:00Why do I have to tell the computer that I'm not a robot?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Sometimes
when I’m online, a website will ask me to type in a bunch of weird letters and
numbers, or pick out all the pictures that have a car or a street sign, or just
click a box that says ‘I’m not a robot’ before it lets me go any further. Why
does this happen?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">These
are a few different examples of a CAPTCHA, an acronym that stands for
“completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart.”
According to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6487619/one">Architects of the Information Age</a>, </i>edited by Robert Curley, the CAPTCHA was developed in 2000
by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University. Yahoo requested their
help keeping bots (which are automated computer programs) out of their chat rooms.
The bots were collecting personal information and filling the rooms with spam.
However, the programs couldn’t recognize distorted text. By asking users to
identify twisted or crossed-out letters before they could enter the chat, Yahoo
ensured that only people, not bots, could enter their chat rooms. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
official CAPTCHA website gives us a few more examples of what it does. It can
prevent bots from sending spam comments, stuffing the ballot boxes of online
polls, and slowing down email services by signing up for thousands of accounts
at a time. If you forget your email password and have to make a few guesses,
the site may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA. This protects your account by keeping
bots from running through every possible password until they get in.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">There
are ways to circumvent CAPTCHA. Artificial intelligence has gotten good at
solving the ones that are only text, which explains why newer CAPTCHAs can
involve images. There are also CAPTCHA solving services, where workers are paid approximately fifty cents to a dollar for every thousand CAPTCHAs they solve.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-27754412635646197562018-01-12T14:09:00.000-05:002018-06-08T14:17:11.157-04:00How do frogs survive the winter?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">One
of our patrons, who has in the past been concerned about how deer and birds
stay warm, was recently concerned about how the tree frogs and peepers around
their house make it through the winter. We found the answer in <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5196918/one">Frogs: A Chorus of Colors</a></i> by John L. Behler and Deborah A. Behler and a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/">Scietific American</a> </i>article helpfully titled <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-frogs-survive-wint/">“How do frogs survive winter? Why don’tthey freeze to death?”</a> that cites Rick Emmer, a former zookeeper at the
<a href="https://clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo">Cleveland Metroparks Zoo</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">While
aquatic frogs will hibernate in the water, resting on the mud, and toads will
burrow beneath the frost line, peepers can’t dig as well. They’ll find cracks
and crevices to nestle down in, or find old leaves to hide under. When the
weather gets cold, though, these can’t protect them from freezing. Fortunately,
some frogs have found a way to adapt. As temperatures gradually dip, their
bodies become saturated with glucose, which acts as an antifreeze protecting
their vital organs. The rest of their bodies freeze, their hearts stop beating,
and they stop breathing. Once the weather is warm again, they thaw and return
to life.</span></div>
<br />Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-47350702114009352212017-12-22T10:06:00.000-05:002018-02-06T16:52:50.270-05:00What's Christmas like in Sweden?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One
of the library’s book clubs was reading <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6756613/one">A Man Called Ove</a> </i>by Swedish author Fredrick Backman. Since it’s close to the
holiday season, they were wondering how Ove and the other characters would be
celebrating. We found the answer on <a href="https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/christmas/">Sweden’s official tourism website</a> and in <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2051843/one">The Folklore of World Holidays</a> </i>by Margaret
Read MacDonald, <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1131009/one">The World Encyclopedia of Christmas</a> </i>by Gerry Bowler, the <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1444060/one">Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations</a></i> by Tanya Gulevich, and <a href="https://www.thelocal.se/20161208/traditions-you-need-to-follow-for-a-swedish-christmas">a
tongue-in-cheek article about Swedish Christmas traditions by Emma Löfgren for </a><i><a href="https://www.thelocal.se/20161208/traditions-you-need-to-follow-for-a-swedish-christmas">The Local</a>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Christmas season begins with St. Lucia’s day on December 13. Families may
celebrate by having one of their daughters get up early and serve coffee and
baked goods while dressed in the traditional St. Lucia costume of a white
dress, red sash, and a wreath on her head with seven lit candles. Towns and
schools elect their own Lucias, and a national Lucia is chosen and announced on
television. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Swedes
celebrate many customs that Americans would be familiar with, such as setting
up a Christmas tree and exchanging gifts. It used to be that the gift-giver
would write a short verse about what the present contained, but this doesn’t
seem to still be widely done. A tradition that has held is the Disney Christmas
special, broadcast at 3:00 PM nationwide every year since 1959.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As
everywhere, food is an important part of celebrations. A classic Christmas
smorgasbord (or <i>julbord) </i>includes
herring, sausage, ham, meatballs, rice pudding, and lutfisk, a dish made of
lye-soaked dried fish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Decorations vary from family to family, but often
involve candles, Advent calendars, fresh flowers such as hyacinths, and the
Christmas goat, or julbock, often made of straw. The julbock is thought to have
originated with the goats that drew the Norse god Thor’s chariot. At one point,
it was the julbock and not Santa Claus that delivered the gifts. Though Santa
has taken over, the goat remains a part of the season. Since 1966, the town of
Gävle has built an enormous straw goat at the beginning of Advent, but it’s an
irresistible target for vandals and has been burned down nearly every year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Christmas season doesn’t officially end
until St. Knut’s Day on January 13, at which point the tree is taken down and
everything is put away until next year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Our patrons can see Frederick Backman’s own
take on the holidays in his recently published novella, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:7506450/one">The Deal of a Lifetime</a>.</i></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-35030670395977900752017-12-01T18:04:00.000-05:002018-01-31T18:57:38.942-05:00What’s the white powder on grapes? Is it a pesticide?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You
may have noticed a whitish coating on certain fruits. It’s particularly visible
on grapes, plums, and blueberries. It’s epicuticular wax, also known as “bloom,”
a natural and harmless part of many plants. The coating protects the plants and
seals in their moisture. It’s what makes water slide off fresh kale, and it
gives blue spruce trees their distinctive color. You can also find in on
certain succulents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fruit
in the supermarket has often been artificially waxed to make it last longer and
look more appealing, and because the process of picking and washing it stripped
it of its natural protective coat. Sometimes, epicuticular wax from other
plants is used. Carnauba wax (which can be found in everything from cosmetics
to furniture polish) comes from a species of palm tree that grows in Brazil;
the wax is harvested by beating the dried palm fronds. Other petroleum-,
shellac-, vegetable-, or beeswax-based waxes may also be used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to <i><a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-herbicides/easy-way-to-remove-pesticides/">Consumer Reports</a></i>, there is concern
that the wax coating may help trap pesticide residue. They recommend buying
organic when possible and making sure to thoroughly wash produce. In <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-herbicides/easy-way-to-remove-pesticides/">an article from October of this year</a>, Catherine Roberts suggested that soaking fruits and
vegetables in a baking soda solution may be effective in removing some
pesticides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We got our information from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-carnauba-wax-607371">ThoughtCo</a>, <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health/natural-health/pesticides/index.htm">Consumer</a>
<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-herbicides/easy-way-to-remove-pesticides/">Reports</a>, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/04/why-fruit-has-a-fake-wax-coating/524619/">The Atlantic</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">,
<a href="http://www.succulentidentifier.com/white-powder-on-succulents/"><i>Succulent Identifier</i></a>, <a href="http://postharvest.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/N2I2A">Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center</a>, </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://demystifiedvine.com/2013/11/15/bloom-what-is-it/">The Demystified Vine</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">and </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://botanistinthekitchen.blog/2012/12/28/the-most-interesting-layer-of-wax-in-the-world/">The Botanist in the Kitchen</a></i>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you
want to learn more, Aliza Green’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:4943652/one">Field Guide to Produce</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5250281/one">Melissa’s Great Book of Produce</a></i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">by Cathy
Thomas both give tips on how to buy, store, and use fresh fruits and
vegetables, while Richard Gianfrancesco’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6712997/one">How to Grow Food</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and Barbara Pleasant’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:7349167/one">Homegrown Pantry</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> explain how to grow your own.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-7680001703258504982017-11-17T19:27:00.000-05:002017-12-20T19:27:57.453-05:00Is there a difference between seltzer, sparkling water, mineral water, club soda, and tonic water?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">One
of our patrons bought club soda instead of seltzer and they wanted to know what
the difference was. It turned out that they all taste about the same, except
for tonic water, even though they come from slightly different sources. We
found the answer in several sources, including <a href="https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/differences-mineral-water-tonic-club-soda-seltzer-article">Epicurious</a>, <a href="https://www.today.com/food/difference-between-seltzer-sparkling-water-club-soda-tonic-water-t114161">Today.com</a>, and
<a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-club-soda-seltzer-and-sparkling-mineral-water-word-of-mouth-211869">Kitchn</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sparkling
water seems to be an umbrella term that encompasses any kind of carbonated
water, but it’s usually used in reference to seltzer or mineral water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Seltzer
is plain water that’s been carbonated to give it fizz. It may also be flavored.
LaCroix, Scweppe’s, and Canada Dry all sell seltzers. (On their website,
<a href="http://www.lacroixwater.com/nutritional-faqs/">LaCroix</a> maintains that they’re a sparkling water and not a seltzer, alleging
that sparkling water is sodium free and does not contain artificial flavor, but
other sources did not note a difference.) The word “seltzer” comes from
“Selters,” a German brand of mineral water that’s been around since the 17<sup>th</sup>
century at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sparkling
mineral water, such as Perrier or San Pellegrino, comes from underground
springs and contains naturally occurring minerals. It may be naturally
carbonated by gases in the spring or carbon dioxide may have been added. Since
it’s typically imported from Europe, it’s more expensive than seltzer, club
soda, or tonic water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Club
soda is seltzer with added ingredients that make it taste more like a mineral
water. It usually includes sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda), sodium
citrate, and potassium sulfate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Tonic
water is the most dissimilar. (It’s also the only one that glows under a
blacklight!) While other sparkling waters may or may not be flavored, tonic
water is always flavored with quinine, a bitter-tasting compound found in the
bark of the cinchona tree, and typically sweetened with sugar or corn syrup.
Quinine was once used to treat and prevent malaria; the gin and tonic cocktail
originated when British soldiers in India were attempting to make their
anti-malarial more palatable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">For
more interesting uses for sparkling water, Anton Nocito provides recipes for
homemade soda and cocktails made with syrup and sparkling water in </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6573600/one">Make Your Own Soda</a>, </i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">available for
borrowing at the Newton Falls Public Library or as an <a href="https://clevnet.overdrive.com/media/1144048">ebook.</a></span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-17279532128503504492017-11-03T09:58:00.000-04:002017-12-16T10:20:52.662-05:00When did scarecrows first come about?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According to <a href="http://thomasandguinevere.com/overview-scarecrows/">Thom Sokoloski and Jenny McCowan at thomasandguinevere.com</a>, <a href="https://www.grit.com/farm-and-garden/reign-of-the-scarecrow">Cindy Murphy’s article for <i>Grit</i></a> and <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/scarecrow-history-effigy/">Lori Rotenberk’s article for <i>Modern Farmer</i></a>, scarecrows have been around as long as people have
grown crops, but they haven’t always looked like the ones you might be familiar
with. The early Egyptian scarecrows, constructed along the Nile River, didn't
look like people at all. Egyptian farmers had a problem with wild quail, so they
built wooden frames with nets and had people herd the quail into them. Famers
in pre-feudal Japan sometimes used a scarecrow called a kakashi. A kakashi
consists of old rags and other bad-smelling items mounted on a pole with bells
and other noisemakers and set afire. The smell and smoke would keep birds away.<br />
<br />
Ancient Greek and Roman scarecrows were more humanoid. They built statues of
their fertility god in their gardens and fields to protect against birds and
other thieves. In Britain during the Middle Ages, actual children would work in
the fields as “crow-scarers,” knocking together blocks of wood to scare away
the birds. Some Native American tribes and early settlers also employed the
human bird-scarer technique. With population fluctuations and a need for more
farmers to be working the field, this job was passed on from actual people to
stuffed sacks gourds for heads, the precursors to scarecrows as we know them
today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Today,
farmers can use high-tech gadgets to scare away birds, such as chemicals or
ultrasonic waves, but the old-fashioned scarecrow is iconic. In America it is
used as a symbol of the autumn, particularly of Halloween, and many towns have
festivals celebrating scarecrows of all shapes and sizes. Scarecrows can be
used to frighten and to entertain, but they will always be associated with the
harvest.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-39597065098657292542017-10-06T16:30:00.000-04:002017-11-20T09:57:39.281-05:00Where do stinkbugs lay their eggs?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Now
that fall’s here, stinkbugs are starting to appear inside again. A patron
called asking about their lifecycle and reproduction, hoping to catch them
before they hatched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Brown
marmorated stinkbugs only arrived in the U.S. in the late 1990s, but they’re a
widespread pest now. We found a lot of information online, such as <a href="https://live.washingtonpost.com/stinkbugs.html">the <i>Washington Post</i> livechat with University of Maryland entomologist Michael Raupp</a>, and pest control websites like <a href="https://www.assuredenvironments.com/pest-library/profile/stink-bugs">AssuredEnvironments.com </a>and <a href="https://www.terminix.com/pest-control/stink-bugs/">Terminix.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Stinkbugs
like to come inside to stay warm through the winter, but they don’t eat or
reproduce until they go back outside in the springtime again. Once the weather
gets warm and the days get longer (usually in April or May), you’ll see them
appear again as they make their way outside to feed for a few weeks and then
mate. A female will be ready to lay eggs as early as five days after mating,
according to <a href="https://www.assuredenvironments.com/pest-library/profile/stink-bugs">AssuredEnvironments.com</a>, and she can lay from 100 to 400 in her
lifetime. (We found different figures – it probably depends on the climate of
the state where she’s found. A stinkbug in warmer climes will be outside eating
and reproducing longer.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
stinkbugs will only lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. The eggs are
barrel-shaped and about a millimeter in diameter. The female lays twenty to
thirty at a time and they take four to seven days to hatch. It takes a little
over a month for the baby bugs (or nymphs) to grow into full adults – they go
through five stages (or instars) before they’re fully grown, each lasting about
a week. When they first hatch, they don’t look much like the adult bug. First
instar stinkbug nymphs are rounder, resembling ticks, and black and orange in
color.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">If
you come across these eggs or nymphs underneath a leaf, you can scrape them off
and drown them in soapy water. (This also works on the adult bugs and keeps
them from releasing their smell.) Scientists in New York and Oregon, where the
bugs cause a lot of agricultural damage, are experimenting with biological
control in the form of samurai wasps. These tiny parasitic wasps lay their eggs
inside stinkbug eggs, killing them before they can hatch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If
nothing else, you can take comfort in knowing that stinkbugs only live for about
six to eight months, and the bugs bothering you this fall won’t be back next
year – but their children might.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-29754052141684423932017-09-01T14:41:00.000-04:002017-11-08T16:26:05.368-05:00What makes tomatoes go from green to red?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
checked several of our gardening and food science books to no avail, although
we did learn from Lynn Coulter’s <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5311692/one">Gardening with Heirloom Seeds</a></i> that tomatoes,
native to South America and members of the nightshade family, took a while to
catch on among Europeans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">However,
<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/12317/why-do-tomatoes-change-color-they-ripen">Brian McMahon at MentalFloss</a>, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/origin-of-fruit-ripening/">Mandy Kendrick at <i>Scientific American</i></a>, and the
<a href="http://intobiology.org.uk/colour-changes-during-ripening/">University of Cambridge’s IntoBiology website</a> all had the answer to our question.
Chlorophyll makes the tomatoes green and, as they ripen, the chlorophyll begins
to dissolve. Lycopene, a chemical in the tomato that has a red color, shows
through as the chlorophyll dissolves. As this happens, the tomato will also
become sweeter, softer, less acidic, and ready to eat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fruits
produce a chemical called ethylene in certain conditions, including as they
ripen, and other fruit will respond to it. According to </span><a href="https://www.growveg.com/guides/the-best-ways-to-ripen-green-tomatoes/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Jeremy Dore at GrowVeg</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
and </span><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/12317/why-do-tomatoes-change-color-they-ripen" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">McMahon at Mental Floss</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, a green tomato in a paper bag with a ripe banana
will respond to the ethylene given off by the banana, and it will begin to
ripen itself.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-7486769658590600962017-08-25T14:38:00.000-04:002017-11-02T14:40:28.231-04:00Did the eclipse have any effects on the wildlife?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Newton
Falls wasn’t in the path of totality for the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21
(though it will be in 2024), so things didn’t go completely dark. The moon only
covered about 80% of the sun. However, in parts of Georgia, Nebraska, Missouri,
Illinois, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Kansas, Wyoming, Tennessee, and the
Carolinas, the moon covered the entire sun and it briefly appeared to be night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
moon is simply following its normal path, but when everything suddenly gets
dark, some animals are confused into beginning their twilight rituals,
according to John Dvorak in his book </span><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:7107206/one" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Mask of the Sun</i></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. Frogs and crickets may
begin to sing. Chickens will roost, cows will head back to the barn, and bees
will return to the hive. Plankton will rise toward the top of the water and
trout will head toward the bottom, just as they do at twilight. Once the
eclipse is over, the animals resume their normal daylight behavior. Dogs, cats,
horses, and deer are among the animals that did not appear to notice the
eclipse.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-89723401197319483952017-08-11T14:31:00.000-04:002017-11-02T14:36:19.814-04:00How do you treat a chigger bite? What causes it?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It
turns out that there is no one creature called a chigger – the word actually
refers to the larval stage of a trombiculid mite. The mites are usually reddish
in color and are also known as red bugs, harvest mites, and berry bugs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One
of our patrons had heard that chiggers burrowed into the skin or laid eggs in
the flesh. While this is true of certain parasites (ticks and botflies,
respectively), it isn’t a problem with chiggers. What they’re actually doing is
drilling tiny holes in the skin with their specialized mouthparts and injecting
a fluid that breaks down skin cells and allows the chigger to digest them. The
itchy red bump accompanying a chigger bite is the skin’s adverse reaction to
all this abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Often,
several chiggers will bite at once, causing a rash of red welts. They typically
bite in folds of skin or where clothing is tight against the body (like
waistbands or the tops of socks). Wear insect or tick repellent to minimize the
chance of bites. <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/chigger-bites#overview1">Healthline</a> recommends trying not to brush against vegetation,
but that may not be feasible. Since chiggers usually take about an hour to
attach to the skin, showering after spending time in wooded areas might be enough
to avoid bites. If you have been bitten, it can take anyway from one to three
weeks for the bites to heal. While chiggers don’t carry diseases, the bites can
get infected if they’re scratched too much. Keep them clean and relieve this
itch with ice, hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or a baking soda and
water paste.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We
found our information on </span><a href="http://boyslife.org/outdoors/wilderness-first-aid-qa/29247/how-do-you-treat-chigger-bites/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">boyslife.org</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/chigger-bites#overview1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">healthline.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6992890/one">The Complete Guide to Camping and Wilderness Survival</a></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> by Vin T. Sparano. While it didn’t
have anything on chiggers, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6459866/one">Wilderness Medicine</a></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> by William Forgey includes
information on how to treat snake bites, stingray stings, and scorpion stings.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-12380244936793053362017-07-21T15:39:00.000-04:002017-08-24T15:39:59.336-04:00How long do fireflies live and where are they during the day?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One
of our younger patrons wondered where fireflies spent most of their time, if
she only saw them at night. <i>The National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects
and Spiders</i> told us that fireflies are nocturnal and enjoy moist places, with
some living under bark, decaying plants, or other debris. The website
<a href="http://www.firefly.org/">www.firefly.org</a> added that they also like long grass: it hides them during the
day, but at night, they can climb up and get a good vantage point to signal
with their lights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">They
mainly use their lights to attract mates, though the writers at firefly.org
hypothesize that they may also use them to warn away predators. Different
species have different flashing patterns. Some female fireflies will mimic the
patterns of other species to lure the males, which they will eat. However, some
species of adult fireflies have not been observed eating at all – they likely
only live long enough to lay eggs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">According
to <a href="http://www.firefly.org/facts-about-fireflies.html">the basic lifecycle on firefly.org</a>, a firefly spends more of its life in the
larva stage – about one to two years. The larvae are carnivorous, feeding on
snails and worms, and also often light up. They spend three weeks as pupas
before maturing into adult fireflies, which only live for about a month. If
they’re successful, the fireflies lay eggs which take approximately three weeks
to hatch.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-59000617190111933622017-07-07T12:34:00.000-04:002017-07-27T12:34:47.472-04:00Is there anything I can do for my cracking fingernails?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Although
we are not dermatologists here at the library, we found some tips in the book <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5284179/one">A Complete Guide to Manicure and Pedicure</a></i> by Leigh Toselli and the Globe and
Mail article “<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/ask-a-health-expert/why-do-my-fingernails-peel-and-crack/article598727/">Why do my fingernails peel and crack?</a>” by Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe
that our patron may be able to use. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Both
sources suggest protecting nails from water and harsh chemicals – wearing
gloves while cleaning and washing the dishes, for instance, and using a
non-acetone nail polish remover when necessary. Commercial nail oils and
strengthening formulas are available, but we cannot vouch for their efficacy. Toseli also suggests using almond oil or even
just a regular hand cream or lotion to keep nails moisturized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to Toseli and Wijayasinghe, calcium and vitamins A, D, and B12 are important
for healthy nails. Calcium can be found in bitter greens, tofu, dairy, and
nuts; vitamin A is in fish, liver, egg yolk, milk, and many vegetables; vitamin
B12 is also in eggs and dairy, and vitamin D can be absorbed from a few minutes
of sunlight or found in fish, liver, and milk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Nails
grow slowly, so it may take up to six months for them to show significant
improvement. </span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-8692465693356826142017-06-23T09:24:00.000-04:002017-07-21T15:06:06.246-04:00Why are my plants rotting?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“I
keep potted succulents indoors, and a few of them that I’ve had for years
suddenly got mushy and rotted away. What’s wrong and how do I keep it from
spreading?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6572985/one">Succulents Simplified</a></i> by Debra Lee Baldwin and <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6942567/one">The Idiot’s Guide to Succulents</a></i> by Cassidy Tuttle, root rot is a common malady affecting succulents.
Caused by overwatering, root rot causes the roots to have a mushy texture and
is often fatal. If it’s the suspected culprit, our patron can try to remove the
infected roots, let their plant dry out, and repot it in clean soil, but this
may or may not save it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">If
our patron does not believe that they have been overwatering their plants, or
if the roots still seem healthy, diseases that could be causing the problem. We
couldn’t get an exact diagnosis since the symptoms were so similar, but all of
our sources suggested the same basic treatment: cut away the infected tissue if
possible, and then repot the plant in new soil in a sterilized container, and
throw away the old soil. It also would be a good idea to quarantine the plant
to lower the risk of it infecting its fellows. If the disease hasn’t gotten
into the roots, the prognosis is better, but it still may not be salvageable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately,
we found that succulents are some of the easiest plants to propagate, so our
patron may be able to produce a clone of their plant if healthy leaves remain. Though
the method of propagation depends on the plant, many succulents will grow from
leaves or cuttings.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-60228481534181531802017-06-16T13:19:00.000-04:002017-07-18T09:18:39.208-04:00How are essential oils made?<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Aromatherapy
and natural beauty have been popular recently, and so have essential oils,
leading some of our patrons to wonder: where do they come from, exactly?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Essential
oils come from different plants, and there are several methods of extracting
them, according to <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6967946/one">Essential Oils: Natural Remedies</a></i> which is published by
Althea Press. The method used can depend on the plant. Citrus oils are
cold-pressed, which means the rind is put in a press at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ginger,
frankincense, and myrrh are some of the oils typically extracted through CO<sub>2</sub>
distillation. There are two methods of CO<sub>2</sub> distillation: cold and
supercritical. Both involve passing carbon dioxide through the plant matter,
but in cold distillation, the CO<sub>2</sub> is cooled to between 35-55 degrees
Fahrenheit, and in supercritical, it’s heated to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Steam
distillation is a common method and involves passing steam through the plant to
collect the oils and then condensing the steam and separating the oil from the water.
The water left over from this process is called hydrosol and can be used in
scents and beauty products. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Chemicals
such as methylene chloride (which can also be used as a paint stripper, degreaser,
and component in drinking bird toys and bubble lights, among other things) can
be used in place of water or CO<sub>2. </sub>After the oil has been extracted,
the remaining solvents are removed, but tiny traces may remain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Finally,
there’s the very old method of enfleurage. Plants (typically flowers, as
suggested by the name) rest in a bath of warm fat or fatty oil. The fatty oil
absorbs the essential oils from the flowers. Once it’s saturated, alcohol is
added, which absorbs the essential oils from the fat or fatty oil and then
evaporates, leaving only the essential oils behind. Like hydrosol, the fat
remains scented and can be used in other products.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">For
more information on aromatherapy and essential oils, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2011996/one">Complete Aromatherapy Handbook</a></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi and </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:290808/one">The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy</a></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> by Julia Lawless are both available at the Newton Falls Public
Library for checkout.</span></div>
</div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-57930749380780163492017-05-26T11:03:00.000-04:002019-01-26T10:01:01.551-05:00How do I get a flag on my relative's grave for Memorial Day?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“I
recently found out that one of my relatives fought in the Civil War. How do I
make sure that he gets a flag on his grave for Memorial Day?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our
patron’s relative was not buried in Newton Falls, but we were able to easily locate
the rules and regulations for the cemetery where they were buried on the
internet. The rules stated that the Memorial Day flags were property of the
township and would be displayed for “a reasonable time.” We decided that our
most straightforward option would be to contact the township directly, so we
called the cemetery sexton, who had listed his phone number on the website, and
he was able to solve the problem. We also could have called the local chapter
of the American Legion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/clevnet/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:1547456/one">Holiday Symbols and Customs</a></i>, edited by Sue Ellen Thompson, Memorial Day,
first called “Decoration Day,” originated as a day to honor Civil War soldiers.
The first official observance was in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866, though
other towns were decorating soldiers’ graves before then, including women in
Columbus, Mississippi, who gathered on April 25, 1866 to decorate the graves of
both the Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
first nationwide Decoration Day was held by the Grand Army of the Republic, a
Union Army veterans’ group, on May 30, 1868. As Union Army veterans were the
first to mark the day, several southern states felt that it was only for them,
so states instituted their own Confederate Memorial Days on different dates
ranging from late</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">April to early June.
This custom mostly ended after World War I, when the American Legion took over
planning the holiday.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-73433364691457405492017-05-19T10:23:00.000-04:002017-05-30T14:31:08.061-04:00Do big cats like lions get hairballs?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One
of our patrons has been dealing with his cat’s hairballs as the weather warms
up and the cat sheds more of its winter coat. Since they groom themselves by
licking their coats just like their domestic cousins, wildcats have this same
undignified issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hair
typically passes through a cat’s digestive system without causing any issue,
but sometimes it collects in a hairball which, if not </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">vomited</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> up, can cause an
intestinal blockage that must be surgically removed. These troublesome
hairballs have made it into the news at least twice in recent years – <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/surgeons-remove-4-pound-hairball-from-400-pound-tiger/">in 2013, CBS reported on a 4-pound hairball that was removed from a 400-pound tiger</a>, and
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/lion-surgery-remove-38-pound-hairball-stuck-stomach/story?id=34686766">in 2015, there was an ABC news story about a 450-pound lion that needed a 3.8-pound hairball removed</a>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Grooming
is important for cats, and not only because it keeps them clean. According to
</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2279592/one">Wild Discovery Guide to Your Cat</a>,</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> grooming can regulate body temperature, with
cats aligning the hair to better retain heat in cold weather and using saliva
as a coolant when it’s hot out. Mutual grooming allows cats to exchange scents,
and may help strengthen social bonds. Grooming also seems to serve as the cat
equivalent of nail-biting, with cats using it to displace anxiety.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-37251102664836624822017-05-05T10:16:00.000-04:002017-05-30T10:22:53.575-04:00Have the same birds been nesting at my pond for years?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“A
pair of mourning doves have nested at my pond every year for the past ten
years. Are they the same birds?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
looked in Noah Strycker’s <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6665514/one">The Thing with Feathers</a></i>, Julie Zickerfoose’s <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6333710/one">The Bluebird Effect</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5118345/one">Ohio Bird Watching</a></i> by Bill Thompson III and found that
there’s no real way to be sure. The average lifespan of a wild mourning dove is
a year and a half, but some have been known to live for ten years or longer.
According to <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/lifehistory">AllAboutBirds.org</a>, the oldest dove was at least thirty years old
when he was killed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mourning
doves travel in flocks but tend to be monogamous during the breeding season.
The male stays close to his mate while she forages, guarding her and showing
off by inflating his crop to display the iridescent feathers on his neck. The
pair can produce 2-6 clutches in a season. The female lays two eggs at a time,
which both parents incubate for about two weeks. Once the young hatch, they
will remain in the nest for two more weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Birds
that return to the same nesting place have a good chance of pairing up with the
same mate, so it’s possible that our patron is seeing the same two birds,
though their short lifespans make it unlikely. Mourning doves will sometimes
reuse their own or other species’ nests, and that tendency may also be in play.</span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-20356857628959842832017-04-28T11:36:00.000-04:002017-05-05T11:36:30.752-04:00When did Macy's start having balloons in their Thanksgiving Day parade?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Though
it can be hard to think about November with the spring weather we’ve been
having, the question came up in one of our library book discussions. Brad
Ricca, in his book <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6506768/one">Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – the Creators of Superman</a></i>, mentioned the Superman balloon in the 1939
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. One of our patrons wondered how long the big
balloons had been part of the parade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to Kathleen Curtin and Sandra L. Oliver’s book <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:5171577/one">Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie</a></i>, Eliza Berman’s <a href="http://time.com/4117164/macys-thanksgiving-parade-1948/">article on Time.com</a>, and Kate Hogan’s <a href="http://people.com/human-interest/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-balloons-history/">article on People.com</a>, the first giant balloons appeared
in 1927 – most famously, the cartoon character Felix the Cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Macy’s parade began in 1924, but the custom of Thanksgiving parades in New York
dates back to the 1780s, according to Curtin and Oliver. “Fantastical
companies,” as they were called, were groups of working-class young men
dressing in costume and carousing in the streets on Thanksgiving morning. The
Macy’s parade itself may have originated with the company’s employees, immigrants
who wanted to celebrate with a European-style parade including clowns, floats,
and zoo animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In
the parade’s early years, officials had no plans for deflating the balloons.
They set them free and offered a reward if people could bring them back. This
practice ended after a balloon nearly brought down a plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">For
more information, <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6973052/one"><i>America’s Favorite Holidays</i> </a>by Bruce David Forbes and <i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:734535/one">All around the Year: Holidays and Celebrations in American Life</a></i> by Jack Santino
are available for checkout at the Newton Falls Public Library, along with Melissa
Sweet’s picture book biography of Tony Sarg, <a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6216168/one">Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145567992112689325.post-11784641919694982262017-04-07T13:37:00.000-04:002017-05-03T13:37:44.177-04:00How many people survived the Titanic sinking?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">After
a presentation by </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Carol Starre-Kmiecik,
who told the story of the “unsinkable” Margaret “Molly” Brown, a famous Titanic
survivor, one of our patrons was curious about how many other people had
survived. Ms. Starr-Kmiecik remembered that around 1,500 had died, but no one
could remember the number of survivors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The answer was in Andrew Wilson’s book
<i><a href="https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/nwfl-main/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:6294844/one">Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived</a></i>. 705
people survived the sinking. Wilson tells some of their stories, from Jack
Thayer, a seventeen year-old who jumped from the rail of the ship in its final
moments and managed to swim to an overturned lifeboat, to Dorothy Gibson, an
actress who went on to star in <i>Saved from the Titanic</i>, a silent film about
the tragedy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The website <a href="http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/">www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/</a>
provides lists of survivors that can be sorted by lifeboat. According to the
site, there were twenty-three other people on Margaret Brown’s lifeboat – less
than half its full capacity. These other passengers included several other
people from first class and their maids, two crew members, an a third-class
passenger. One of the women, Mrs. Elizabeth Rothschild, is said to have snuck
her Pomeranian aboard and refused to board the rescuing Carpathian without it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Malloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00929291460201886547noreply@blogger.com0