Keeping New Years Resolutions made easy with BPL

12/31/2014 04:35:00 PM maze
'Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions! Making resolutions is the easy part, unfortunately keeping those resolutions can get more difficult as time goes on. How many times have you started off the New Year determined to lose weight, learn a new language or skill and forgotten all about it by March? Well not this year! This year Bossier Parish Library is here to help. Each week in January we'll be featuring a way to keep those resolutions, with free resources from Bossier Parish Library.

This week: Learning a New Language


Bossier Parish Library has several resources available for those who want to learn a new language this year.



Books and DVDS

If you are looking for physical books and DVDs that you can hold in your hands, Bossier Library has some available on everything from Russian to Spanish to Creole!  Visit our Catalog to find these and more!

If you'd rather learn on your smartphone or tablet, we also have eBooks and Audio-books available through Overdrive and Hoopla!  If you need help using Hoopla, view our instructional post here! 



Free Online Courses with Pronunciator

Pronunciator is a free online service that allows you to master a language online. All you need is a Bossier Parish Library card! You can find a link to Pronunciator on our website: www.bossierlibrary.org. If you're looking for in depth instructions and reviews you can view our post about it here. 




Stay tuned for more information on resources for keeping your New Years Resolutions in the coming month!



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Gift Guide - for the home cook

12/22/2014 03:00:00 PM maze
In our last gift guide post for the season, we'll be discussing gadgets for the kitchen. In a past New Tech Tuesday post we have discussed larger high tech appliances, like stoves and sous-vide machines, but this post will be dedicated to the smaller gadgets you never even knew you needed.

Crock-Pot® Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo® from Belkin


This Crock-Pot comes with an app for your smart phone or tablet which allows you to adjust and monitor cooking times and temperature from anywhere. Of course, it can also be controlled manually if you are at home. It has all of the same features as other Crock-Pots, including cool-touch handles. 

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Bag Re-sealer

This gadget allows you to re-seal open bags of food, such as chip bags. They can save lots of much on storage bags as you are able to store food in their original packaging. These keeps food fresh longer than clips. There are several versions of the Bag Re-sealer available, including this one from iTouchless. 

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iPad Sleeves

iPads and tablets have become an important part of the kitchen, giving you recipes, cooking videos and even entertainment at your fingertips as you cook. But the kitchen can be a dangerous place for tablets and smart phones, the liquid and dry ingredients can cause damage to the screen and get into the grooves. There are several sleeves available to keep the iPad safe and dry while in the kitchen, like this one from The Orange Chef. 

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What is your favorite hi-tech kitchen gadget? Tell us in the comments! 


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Gift Guide - For Music Lovers

12/19/2014 01:00:00 PM maze
Christmas is only a week away, so hopefully this will provide some gift inspiration. This week we're talking about gadgets for Music Lovers.

Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers allow you to play music from your phone or device without plugging in. This allows you to control your music from your device while giving the freedom to move around. These come in all shapes, sizes and prices. 


Rocki 

If you love your old-school analog speakers but want to play music wirelessly from your phone, laptop or tablet, this is gadget for you. Rocki connects to your current speakers and allows you to stream music using WiFi. The only downside to this device is that you can only play music that is on your device - no Rhapsody, Pandora, or Spotify.

Picture from Rocki

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to listen to music without the hassle of tangled cords. These headphones are especially popular with runners.There are several different kinds of wireless headphones that come at various prices. The rapper 50 Cent has a line of headphones that are sweat-proof and water resistance, making them perfect for athletes. 

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USB Turntables

These turntables are perfect for those who want to combine their love of old school vinyl and the convenience of MP3. Just hook these turn tables into your computer and you can convert the music to MP3. This gives you these sound of the vinyl record on any device. 
For more specific information and product reviews, check out ComputerWorld.com's review of  USB Turntables. 
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Gift Guide - Tech for Fitness Lovers

12/12/2014 04:54:00 PM maze
This time of year everyone seems to be thinking of the holidays, but January is right around the corner, and with it, New Years Resolutions. This week we're looking at gadgets for athletes and fitness buffs. 

Finis Neptune


Music can be a huge part of any workout, and now thanks to this gadget and others like it, swimmers can have music to pump them up for an extra lap as well. This gadget attaches to your swim goggles and plays music through bone conduction audio. It sounds odd, but this technology is used in everything from lollipops to toothbrushes. Bone conduction audio removes the need for earbuds and cables. It also makes for clearer music when underwater.

Image via Finis. 


Sportiiiis

This product is great for cyclists and runners. It gives you statistics, like heart rate and speed, without having to take your eyes off the road. This gadget is mounted to your sunglasses and displays information when prompted by the users voice. 

Image from 4iiii

One of the biggest part of keeping fit is watching what you eat, but for most of us that's easier said than done. For those really committed to portion control, the HAPIfork is here to help. The HAPIfork has built in sensors that can tell you how fast you are eating and how many bits you've taken. The fork will even vibrate to alert you if you're going over your preset limits. 

Image via HAPI

Misfit Shine

This is an activity tracker that can be worn as a bracelet or necklace or kept in your pocket. You can set goals on your mobile phone and the Misfit Shine will help you track your progress. 

Image via Misfit

If you have an idea for blog posts or questions/comments, you can contact us on Facebook or Twitter. 

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Gift Guide - Tech to Make Chores Easier!

12/05/2014 11:40:00 AM maze
'Tis the season for giving, so this month we'll be giving you some tech gift ideas for people in your life. This week we're talking about gifts for the person who likes to work around the house (or better yet, these will make things easier for those who hate working around the house). .

Black and Decker AutoSense Drill

This drill and many others like it, take the guesswork out of drilling. This drill can sense when the screw is fully seated in the material and will stop drilling. This keeps it from 'stripping' a screw so that it's difficult to remove and from drilling so tightly that it splinters the material you are working with. It also has built in lamp so you can always see where and what you're drilling.

Image via Gizmodo


RoboReel

This is a motorized, automated garden hose. Now, we know what you're thinking: Who could possibly need a garden hose that fancy? After reading about online, we do! This hose is housed in a hard shell on wheels that allows you to pull it around your yard without worrying about kinks or tangles. It also has a remote that allows you to turn it on and off. There's even a timer that allows you to regularly water your lawn for up to a month. When you've finished watering a battery powered motor carefully winds the hose back into the housing, keeping it out of the way.



Image via RoboReel

Roomba and Scooba

iRobot has several devices to help you around the house. You've probably heard of the Robot Vacuum cleaner Roomba by now, but did you know they have a machine that will scrub your floors? They also have a mopping robot and even ones for outdoor chores like cleaning your pool or gutters. 

Image from iRobot

ECOVACS Window Cleaners

Just about the only thing iRobot's devices don't do is clean your windows. That's alright, ECOVACS has a robot that can do that for you. 


Image from the-gadgeteer



These amazing new gadgets could help with chores in almost every room, but unfortunately for us the price tag on most of these items makes this more of a wish list than a likely purchase list. We'll just have to hold out for the ultimate in housework technology. 

Image from Boomerang


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