Middle Country Public Library Podcast

We celebrate the Year of the Tiger by chatting about the Chinese Zodiac and Lunar New Year.  As a bonus, Nicole has this month's Book Horoscopes!  Here are Your Zodiac Animal Book Recommendations from Penguin Random House that Sara mentioned. Plus information on the Chinese Zodiac here and history of Lunar New Year here. PLUS - Take a look at your Book Horoscopes for February.  

Did you know you might be quoting Shakespeare? Nicole discusses a Mental Floss article (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60264/21-phrases-you-use-without-realizing-youre-quoting-shakespeare) and Sara has some opinions about it. Plus Sara has a preview of next month's DVDs. Want to read some Shakespeare? Check him out here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/search?/ashakespeare%2C+william/ashakespeare+william/1%2C3%2C707%2CB/exact&FF=ashakespeare+william+++++1564+++++1616&1%2C704%2C Looking for the new DVD list? Reserve your copies here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/search?/ftlist^bib02%2C1%2C0%2C6/mode=2 Plus some housekeeping: The Youth Services Department now has an excellent way of organizing their collection. Next time you visit, you'll see items broken up into easy-to-browse categories: Favorites, Action/Adventures, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and General Fiction. Check it out on your next visit to MCPL!    

Join us for another trivia episode that may just make you a little bit hungry... Did you know you can visit the library to access an amazing database that includes The Oxford Companion of Food, An A-Z of Food and Drinks, An Encyclopedia of Food & Drinks in America, and more? Come down and ask a librarian on how you want access these resources. Plus don't forget the hundreds of books related to cooking, food history, and diet recipes in our collection, including The Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, The Cambridge World History of Food, and the classic Joy of Cooking. All of this and much more is available using that little powerful piece of plastic in your wallet: your MCPL library card! Also...comment and let us know if you think Taco Bell is the best fast food restaurant.

Nicole remembers illustrator Steve Jenkins; Sara asks what your favorite color is and what it means. PLUS There's plenty to do this winter at the library, both virtually and in person! Make sure to check out our online programming catalog for all the wonderful things we have to offer at MCPL!  Steve Jenkins https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/88266-obituary-steve-jenkins.html Check out one of his many books at the library : https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/search?/ajenkins%2C+steve/ajenkins+steve/1%2C5%2C84%2CB/exact&FF=ajenkins+steve+++++1952&1%2C69%2C Want to learn more about Color Psychology? Take a gander at this e-book with your MCPL library card: https://livebrary.overdrive.com/media/2679348 A reminder: VITA is virtual once again this year and provided by our friends at Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Registration opens on 1/18/22. Use this link to get more information and to apply for an appointment: http://lovebethpage.com/vita

We kick the new year off with a movie chat!  Sara's cinephile co-worker suggested this one: The Matador, from 2005 starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, and Hope Davis. Written and directed by Richard Shepard. Julian Noble is an unshaven, unnerved and unpredictable freelance assassin, who happens to encounter desperate businessman Danny Wright in the bar of a modern Mexico City hotel. Danny is intrigued when Julian reveals that he's a "facilitator of fatalities," and his wife becomes equally fascinated when Julian shows up unexpectedly, six months later, at Danny's home in Denver. Having lost his touch as a reliable hit-man, Julian needs Danny's help with "one last job," but the logistics of Julian's lethal profession brings them both in contact with other employees out to get Julian. You can watch this movie instantly with your MCPL library card and a free Hoopla Digital account here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/13972517 Or if you like, you can watch it (albeit with commercials) here at IMDb TV:

As we wrap up 2021, we look forward to what's coming in 2022. The podcast team presents their picks! Nicole is looking forward to: Top Gun: Maverick https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Perfect Equation / Elizabeth Everett https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-593-20064-3 Reminders of Him / Colleen Hoover https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/colleen-hoover/reminders-of-him-hoover/?page=2 Pam and Tommy (Hulu) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13659418/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 House of the Dragon (HBO Max) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11198330/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 The Continental (Starz) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6486762/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Sara is looking forward to: The Agathas https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678467/the-agathas-by-kathleen-glasgow-and-liz-lawson/ The Fervor https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667268/the-fervor-by-alma-katsu/ Refused - Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent https://www.officialrefused.com/ Jurassic World Dominion https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8

It's that time of year once again when the podcast team discusses their favorite things of the year. Here's the list: Books Act your age, Eve Brown / Talia Hibbert https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2045961 The Christmas pig / J.K. Rowling https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2056566 30 / Adele https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2077625 Nothing But Thieves https://www.nbthieves.com/music/ The Metallica blacklist / Metallica https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2069205 Equals / Ed Sheeran https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2072200 Megan Thee Stallion https://megantheestallion.com/ The Bridge / Sting https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2074345 Starting Now / Toad the Wet Sprocket https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2079974 I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself / Colin Hay https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2079973 Star Climber / 7and5 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kfxHfQXRmHabLyqT8W4w--H3LumZ7TNFM Ultra Chill / Mars Lasar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bY4gx7InJc Ha

Once again Nicole digs deep into the huge bag of goodies that Book Riot sends her to pull out another set of Book Horoscopes! This week she concentrates on our summer-born listeners. If your horoscope isn't mentioned, no worries... here's the link where you can view all of December's Book Horoscopes from our friends at Book Riot : https://bookriot.com/december-2021-horoscopes-and-book-recommendations/ Plus Sara is here to warm up our cold nights with some cozy murder mysteries for the holiday season. Sara's picks (use the link to reserve or download your copy with your MCPL library card): Holiday buzz / Cleo Coyle http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1590422 Homicide for the holidays [electronic resource eBook] / Cheryl Honigford http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1843083 Christmas cupcake murder / Joanne Fluke http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2021747 Mrs. Claus and the Santaland slayings / Liz Ireland http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2025359 The diva wraps it up [electronic resource eBooks] / Kr

For our 200th episode, we thought we'd just...chat. So sit back and prepare to dig deep into the inner recesses of Sara, Nicole, and Sal as they answer the burning questions you've all been afraid to ask. We cover a lot in this episode, so here are some of the links to the things mentioned: All our Movie Chats are here : https://www.mcplpodcast.com/?s=movie+chat Sara's least favorite commercial : https://youtu.be/_o_st1zmDHw Sal's favorite long form commercial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52roM4-5GWs Sal's favorite commercial : https://youtu.be/hQKoOSy-8C0 You can watch Xanadu on Tubi for free : https://tubitv.com/movies/469625/xanadu This is Nicole's Cartoon Crush : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140749/ Keanu Reeves, just because : https://people.com/tag/keanu-reeves/  

Nicole discusses elusive street artist Banksy...there's a new children's book available that you might be interested in:  Banksy : graffitied walls and wasn't sorry / Fausto Gilberti http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2052167 Here's some info on the artist : https://banksyexplained.com/ Plus, the TikTok account of the woman who may or may not have an original : https://www.tiktok.com/@colalex? Banksy also directed a film which we have in the collection : Exit Through The Gift Shop http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1545743 And speaking of DVDs...Sara has a preview of the new DVD list!

Happy Thanksgiving, listeners! As is tradition here at the podcast, we pull out some trivia for Thanksgiving week. But this year we are doing something a little different: unbeknownst to Nicole, Sara and Sal will try to stump her with romantic comedy descriptions! Is Nicole the Romantic Comedy Queen of MCPL? Listen to find out...and maybe find your next movie to take out at the library for the long holiday weekend. A reminder that while the library is closed on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, we are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you want to skip the busy stores and sales, come visit us! Listen to our other Thanksgiving episodes: Episode 41 - https://mcpl.podbean.com/mf/play/2vrs49/wp-content_uploads_podcast_mcpl_episode_41.mp3 Episode 94 - https://mcpl.podbean.com/mf/play/vju7uq/mcpl_episode_94.mp3 Episode 146 - https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/qacurg/mcpl_episode_146.mp3

Sara has interesting history to chat about that happened this week; Nicole is relaxed after her trip to Aruba and has facts to share; Sal and the team discuss the increase in price of this year's Thanksgiving meal. This week in History: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/baby-fae-dies https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oklahoma-enters-the-union https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/railroads-create-the-first-time-zones https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-delivers-gettysburg-address https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-heidi-bowl Aruba Facts https://www.aruba.com/us/our-island/island-facts Culturegrams Trouble Free Travel with Children  Thanksgiving Dinner Costs 21% More Than it Did in 2020 https://www.thebalance.com/thanksgiving-dinner-cost-5209487 Thanksgiving Dinner Money-Saving Tips https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/11/09/thanksgiving-budget-tips/ Do you or someone you know need help getting a meal this Thanksgiving? Check out these re

Star Wars, which can arguably be called one of the greatest cinematic series of our time, has recently become a somewhat divisive subject among fans. Even more unbelievable, our very own Nicole had not seen the majority of the movies. This is the first episode of a three part series in which Sara and Sal try to "make it right." (By forcing Nicole to watch!!!) Join us for a super-sized and downright lively Movie Chat as the team discusses the first three chapters of the Star Wars Saga: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. We have so many things Star Wars in our collection, from movies to books to much more. You can check it all out here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us:2084/search/?searchtype=Y&searcharg=star+wars&sortdropdown=-&SORT=D&extended=0&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=aa  

We are thrilled to have Middle Country native and author Douglas A. Bass on this week's show to chat about his novel Ebenezer: The True Life Story of Ebenezer Scrooge.  MCPL patrons can reserve their copy to read here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1808142 You can also get your own copy: https://amzn.to/3BBFsUs See him on Good Morning, Rochester here! Also: Our Annual Scales & Tails Pet Fair is back for 2021! Join us on Saturday, November 13th from 11am to 2pm in Centereach for a fun and educational day centered around the health and safety of Long Island's pet population. Exhibiters from local and regional organizations including rescue groups, shelters and pet therapy groups will be in attendance. No registration is required.

It'll probably be a futile attempt, but to celebrate Halloween this year, Sal and Nicole will try to stump Sara with horror film descriptions. Will she prevail? Hey, it's Sara...she's the Queen of Horror Movie Trivia at MCPL! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Last year we read from some spooky stories to get you into the mood for Halloween... you can listen to that episode here: https://www.mcplpodcast.com/e/episode-141-scary-stories/ This year we have some more scary stuff to share. If you'd like to read them yourself, check this out: Sara's picks: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides The Hunger by Alma Katsu Nicole's picks: Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz R.L. Stine's Fear Street Series Carrie by Stephen King Sal reads Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Haunted Houses

Our next Movie Chat is a spooky one just in time for Halloween: The Descent (2005) starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, and Alex Reid. Directed by Neil Marshall. This UK horror flick is sure to stir up some emotions...but be warned: there be big spoilers ahead! Watch the film on demand using your MCPL library card on Kanopy here. Or reserve a DVD copy here. Here is the alternate ending (also known as the "UK" ending or the "better" ending) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kxz2ueA3ok  

Kanopy, the streaming service available to MCPL patrons, has recently announced the addition of the majority of the MGM catalog! We discuss some of the films that you might like. Plus Sara has a few additional picks from the Kanopy library. To browse what MGM titles are available, click here.

It's a week of "B" words! It's the American Library Association's Banned Books Week. Check out their information site here. Nicole has a list of the top 10 "banned and challenged" books of last year, you can also read it as well. Sara started watching the new season of the Great British Baking Show and wanted to discuss some of the interesting baking words that are used that we may not quite be familiar with, along with some great books here at the library. A baker's life : from childhood bakes to five-star excellence / Paul Hollywood The great British baking show: Love to bake / project editor, Judy Barratt The big book of amazing cakes / Linda Collister You can also catch up on older seasons (DVD) here.

Do you, or someone you know, face obstacles in getting to the library? If so, please contact us to learn more about the possibility of having library materials delivered to your home. In addition to the library’s continuing service for homebound patrons, the library will be starting a three-month trial this fall of an additional delivery service, specifically designed for patrons who have difficulty getting to the library, such as those dealing with transportation or mobility issues. Please contact 631-585-9393 ext. 302 for more details. For more information on the Stony Brook Healthy Libraries Program, click here. There are still seats for a number of great teen and children's programs at the library, check out our new handy dandy online calendar for more information! Sara is here to delight us with another preview of October's New DVD list...and it's pretty solid this time.