Chinese Medicine Day

Chinese Medicine Day was first celebrated in 1929 in mainland China in the month of March, and has since become a yearly tradition. The Chinese medical community of Northern California has been celebrating this important day annually for the past thirty-five years in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

In celebration of the 2012 Chinese Medicine Day, the Fremont Main Library is co-sponsoring a FREE health evaluation event with United California Practitioners of Chinese Medicine (UCPCM) and Citizens For Better Community (CBC) in the Fukaya Room, 1PM to 4 PM, on Saturday, March 10, 2012. In addition to free consultation (no needles), the Chinese medical doctors will offer free massages, time permitting.

 

There will be two bilingual health seminars conducted in English and Mandarin:

 

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Treating Obesity with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Dr. Gorge Chen

 

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Perspective Of Alzheimer’s Disease by Dr. Xibin Liang

 

All are welcome to this FREE event!

 

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My Computer Died: The Buying Decision

Well, do I have a new computer? Not yet.

I’m suffering from the Goldilocks syndrome. What is “just right” for me? I don’t want to spend a fortune but I also want more than a “budget” computer that won’t keep up with improvements. After reading reviews, I realized I need to understand what’s under the hood first before reading reviews and looking at manufacturer’s websites for specific models.

Some things will be a given. Thanks to Microsoft, a new personal computer will have Windows 7 as its operating system and it will be a 64 bit machine. It means the computer will handle information more effectively.

The best advice is to consider what I do with the computer and what I might do in the future.

The Alameda County Library’s “Resource Guide for Consumers” has given me some useful starting places to begin my search for the “just right” computer.

Here are two guides that I have found helpful:

1. “Before You Select a Desktop Computer System,” by Mark Kyrnin. Kyrnin explains processors, memory, storage, optical drives, video cards and more. He has also updated parts of his guide so it’s basically current. (Please see www.about.com)

2. CNET also publishes an online guide, “Desktop Buying Guide,” which, although helpful, was published in 2010.

Under its Lab Tests, trusted Consumer Reports, in its March 2012 issue, has just published “Desktops hit new highs.” So, I do have a reasonably current starting place to check out specific models next.

Thanks to the library’s guide, another place that will be helpful as I hone in on specific models is http://www.retrevo.com, a site that summarizes experts’ and users’ reviews of electronics products.

Stay tuned! My husband has been generous with his computer but it’s time for me to make a decision.

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Spring is Coming and So are Storytimes!

          This week we’ve had beautiful, clear, warm days.  It almost seems like Spring is already here.  Don’t be fooled, we have some chilly weather, and hopefully rain, coming our way.  But don’t  worry, it will officially be spring come March 20! With that comes Spring showers, and Spring flowers, and also some fun preschool storytimes at two of your local Fremont libraries.  

We are offering  storytimes this Spring beginning Tuesday, March 27 at the historic Niles Library, which is in the heart of the beautiful Niles district of Fremont. Storytime will be weekly at 11:00 AM , and will last approximately 30 minutes.  We read books, we dance to the music, and enjoy the Hokey Pokey! This program will run through June 5.  Bring your 2-5 year old and join the fun. You don’t need to register and there is no fee,  so just drop in.  If you have any questions,  call Sally any Tuesday at the Niles Library (510)795-2626.

We are also offering storytimes for 2-5 year olds at our busy Irvington Library.  We are located in the  park near the Community Center which is across the street from Irvington High School. Storytimes there will be weekly, every Wednesday beginning March 28  and concluding June 6.  Our storytimes there are from 11:30 AM to 12 PM.  We offer the same program as Niles Library, so pick which is best for you and your child. Please call Sally any Wednesday at (510) 795-2631 if you have questions regarding this program.

This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your smaller local libraries.  We may not have as big a selection of materials as the larger libraries, but we are able to offer more personalized service.  Come check us out!  You just might be pleasantly surprised.

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Sat Practice

Do you  have a  teenager  at  home?  Is  he/she  thinking of  going  to  college. Is  your  teen  prepared  for  the SAT?   The  library  can  help.   We have  books,  and an on line test data base,Learning Express that can help. Also, at The Fremont Main Library, we are having a practice test. It will be held on March 3rd , from 12 – 4pm The follow-up,where scores will be given as well as hints for test taking will be given March 13 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

To sign up for this test Go here

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Come “Meet” the “Chinese Joan of Arc” Qiu Jin (1875-1907)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come “meet” the “Chinese Joan of Arc” Qiu Jin (1875-1907) at Fremont Main Library, Tuesday, March, 6, 7:00-8:30 pm.

Qiu Jin is Modern China’s first feminist. She was a radical women’s rights activist who defied tradition to become the leader of a revolutionary army. Qiu Jin spoke out against foot binding and other oppressive practices and demanded equal opportunities for women. She attempted an armed uprising against the corrupt Qing Dynasty, for which she was arrested and executed. She became the first female martyr for China’s 1911 Revolution and is celebrated as a national heroine today.

Autumn Gem is the first documentary feature on Qiu Jin in the U.S. The hour-long film was produced and directed by two San Francisco Bay Area Chinese American filmmakers, Rae Chang and Adam Tow. Due to the mature subject matter, this documentary would be best for ages 10 and up.  The film is narrated in English and has both English and Chinese subtitles.

Join us for the screening of Autumn Gem at 7:00-8:30 pm, Tuesday, March, 6.

Contact: Fremont Main Library Information Desk (510) 745-1401

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Northern California Wanderings

One of my favorite places to head for on a day off is Santa Cruz, CA. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get there from Hayward. It is a great place to take kids, especially during the summer break when it’s hot outside and there’s nothing going on closer to home.

 

The Boardwalk (http://beachboardwalk.com/) is open daily after Memorial Day and through Labor Day Weekend. The beach is usually very crowded during the summer months, but never to the point that you can’t find a spot of your own. There are mini showers to wash of the sand once you’re ready to hit the boardwalk for some rides, food and arcade games.

Think old-fashioned fun like a ferris wheel, haunted house, deep fried Twinkies and corn dogs, and a dime toss. The best ride of all? The merry-go-round (and make sure to grab a horse on the outer rim). If you manage to snag the coveted outer-ring horses, you’ll have a shot at grabbing the metal rings that slide down a chute. Once you have a ring, throw it at the clown on the back wall and try to make it in the clown’s mouth. You’ll set off the ringer if you do and you’ll have bragging rights all day long.

If you’re tired of being out in the sun, or are looking for a little more upscale entertainment, head towards downtown (http://www.downtownsantacruz.com/index.php) for shopping, an amazing bookstore, Bookshop Santa Cruz (http://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/) and coffee shops, restaurants and a movie theater. For those looking for live music, check out the Catalyst Night club right in downtown on Pacific Avenue (catalystclub.com).

(photos by Mary Ayers)

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Valentine Blog Honors the Dog

Happy Valentines’s Day!

Cosmo and Uggie (courtesy of the Huffington Post)

If you are a dog lover, you might agree that 2012’s Academy Award program should feature a Year of the Dog theme—can’t remember so many great canine performances in films nominated in one year. The film Beginners (actually a 2010 film) features a plucky performance by Arthur the dog (played by Cosmo the terrier): actor Christopher Plummer has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work in Beginners.  In the silent film The Artist, there’s an engaging performance by The Dog (played by Uggie the terrier): French actor Jean Dujardin is up for Best Actor in The Artist (it has also been nominated in several other categories, including Best Picture).  The Adventures of Tintin(which should have been nominated in the Animated Feature Film category but is only up for the Best Original Score category) features Tintin’s canine companion, Snowy the terrier. All the dogs were so good, it makes you think there should be a Best Performance by a Canine category (even if one of them was animated!)

Snowy (from Adventures of Tintin)

(By the way, the Westminster Kennel Club will be broadcasting day 2 of the dog show February 14!)

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