Free Movies for the Holidays

Get free movies from the Hulu Holiday Movie Widget in the left hand menu. Recent feature is Jack London's "Call of the Wild" starring Charleton Heston. The classic book of the same title will be the Canandaigua Big Read in February 2009. Hulu movies may be watched on your computer or laptop. You can also connect your laptop to a large flat screen TV using HDMI cables and ports.

Hulu.com offers a selection of feature films from major studios and TV series reruns. Just register and read the privacy policy. Besides high speed Internet you will need Flash 9 to enjoy the films. Hulu is free and legal through an advertising supported model--there will be brief sponsor interruptions. PCWorld named Hulu the No. 1 Product for 2008.

Adult Services Librarian Barbara Henry recommends this Hulu feature film: "The Madness of King George" starring Nigel Hawthorne as King George III and Helen Mirren as Queen Charlotte. It's the late 18th century... England's King George III suddenly takes ill, and shows signs of mental instability -- opening the door to court intrigue, and the usurping of the throne by his worthless son, the Prince of Wales. MGM|1994|1:50:25|PG-13.

Cafe Sing Along

Here are some video highlights from Wood Library Cafe Sing Along with music man Geoff Clough. The Cafe traveled out into the community to Wilcox Lane Senior Apartments on Wednesday, November 19. We met up with old friends and made some new ones. Thanks to Terry, her staff and her residents at Wilcox Lane Apartments for letting us visit. Just a reminder--the cafe will not be held in December, but it will return for a 6th Birthday Celebration on January 28, 2009. Drop by the Community Room at Wood Library between 10am and Noon. Call 394-1381 for details.

How to Keep Kids Safe Online

How can you make sure your kids are safe on the internet when you don't know much about computers?

How to Keep Your Children Safe Online, by Michael Gorzka is "a free computer help eBook (in PDF format), for 'computer shy' parents who are concerned about online dangers that children are especially vulnerable to. This easy-to-read manual also provides a brief introduction to computer and web technologies."

Author Michael Gorzka is a former Adult Services Librarian and visiting professor at the University at Buffalo. His company "Help for the Computer Shy" creates DVDs to teach adults how to use computers.

Download the book now or vist Help for the Computer Shy website.

'S Wonderful Cafe Coming Up

Someone to Watch Over Me? Love Is Here to Stay? What's your favorite Gershwin song? Sing it out at the special Wood Library Cafe on November 19 from 10am to noon at Wilcox Lane Apartments. Geoff Clough on the keyboard will lead us in a George Gershwin Sing Along beginning at 10:30am. The public is invited to attend this final cafe of the season at Wilcox Lane Apartments dining hall. You may drop-off at Wilcox Lane Apartments but parking ONLY at Wood Library parking lot. Drop by to enjoy homemade cafe fare, coffee and a fun, community sing. Wood Library Cafe has been meeting the 4th Wednesday of the month (except July and December) since its founding in January 2003. The cafe is operated by volunteers. Donations to the cafe have been used to support other projects such as the cafe cookbook and adult literacy services.

Bounty of Good Reads

Getting ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday? Start with A Bounty of Good Reads, a book list from the Pioneer Library System. It includes holiday-themed fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, murder mysteries, and that most needed information on how to prepare, cook and serve the turkey. Each book links to the OWWL catalog for details and to place holds.

Here's a sample: The Case of the Tough-Talking Turkey by Claudia Bishop, a Finger Lakes author. Veterinarian Austin McKenzie has met plenty of snakes--and none meaner than turkey farmer Lewis O'Leary. So its no surprise when O'Learys dead body is found in a Dumpster. Circumstantial evidence points to a turkey feed salesman, but the doc has a feeling the guy was framed.

Got French? Get it now!

November 2 - 8 is French Conversation Week. What better time to reactivate your French skills or get started for the first time. There's lots of options for plugging in.

** French Conversation Cafe starts tonight 6pm to 8pm at Wood Library. Meets four Mondays in November. There is still time to register by calling Wood Library at 394-1381. $20 registration fee due at the first class.

** French in Action is an online video learning series at Annenberg.com's Learner.org site. You can learn from home on your internet connected computer. Just register--it's free. Learn to speak French with the "Capretz method" -- immersing yourself in the language -- in French in Action.

** Get downloadable French language learning audio programs at OWWL2go.org. Search "french" in Quick Search to bring up a list of four programs to choose from. Download to your computer and transfer to a mobile device. Some programs can be burned to CDs.