Podcast Review

Contributed by Taryn Tranby, Patron Services

If you’re a big goofball, married to a goofball, are dating a goofball, or are friends with a goofball, I’ve got another podcast for you! Even if you’re not a goofball or don’t know one nearby, you’ll probably enjoy the podcast: Wonderful! 

If you remember my podcast reviews of The Adventure Zone, you’ll recognize the name, Griffin McElroy! Wonderful! is a podcast where Griffin and his wife, Rachel McElroy, talk about things that they find truly wonderful! Sometimes the topics are little things, like tiny syrup bottles from Cracker Barrel. Some topics are larger, like the Society for Creative Anachronism. 

They start each episode with “small wonders” and things they’ve thought about recently for a short discussion. As they discuss, they move on to bigger wonders that they go more in-depth with, sometimes talking about the topic's history or how the said topic came to be. Another lovely detail of Wonderful! is Rachel’s “Poetry Corner” when she brings up a poem that resonated with her and reads it to listeners. The episodes are about an hour long and so fun to listen to while cooking or cleaning throughout the day. With shutdowns resuming, it’s nice to have some charming voices to keep you company while gushing about fun silly things that make them happy.

I’ve listed various wonders mentioned in Wonderful! and a few poets that Rachel reads works from below! 

Some recent episode small wonders:

• Rachel ordering their Thanksgiving meals ahead of time.

• Griffin’s adventures in discovering ASMR to help his sleep issues. 

• Heating pads for aches and pains

• Sea glass

• Language development in children

• Backgammon

Some recent larger wonders and topics discussed:

• Flash mobs

• Snake reproduction

• Seafood boils

• Fencing

• LARP-ing (Live Action Roleplaying)

Poets Rachel has read from:

• Jacqueline Woodson

• Rita Dove

• Louise Glück

• Michael Palmer

Wonderful! can be found on the Maximum Fun Network or wherever you get your podcasts.

Marylandia Collection: Update for November

 

Marylandia Collection: Update

Contributed by Jordan Farinelli, Collection Development Librarian

However you choose to spend this Thanksgiving, be sure to incorporate some traditional Maryland recipes into the usual menu. Check out this title and discover that Maryland food is more than just crab cakes.

Cooking

DBC 05306 – Dishing up Maryland: 150 Recipes from the Alleghenies to the Chesapeake Bay, by Lucie L. Snodgrass

Narrated by Beth Bugnaski

From the Chesapeake to the Alleghenies, Maryland offers a rich diversity of native foods and traditions. Lucy L. Snodgrass’s compilation of 150 delicious recipes from the Old Line State’s most celebrated chefs will have you feasting on Corn and Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Mint Dressing, Smith Island Cake, and – of course – crab cooked every which way. Add Southern favorites to your repertoire with recipes for fried chicken, boiled dressing, corn fritters, and strawberry shortcake with biscuits. Savor seasonal produce in fresh recipes for soups, salads, and side dishes, and learn how to clean and fry a soft-shell crab. It’s all here for your dining pleasure!

 

Tech Tips: AUDIO TEXT MESSAGES NOW AVAILABLE WITH iOS 14

Contributed by Jerry Price, Assistive Technology Specialist

How many times have you asked Siri (the voice assistant with iOS devices) to send a text message to someone and the text turns out to be flawed?  Now, instead of a written text message, you can ask Siri to send an audio text message.  Siri will record about 90 seconds of speech.  Pausing for two seconds will prompt Siri to ask you if you wish to send the message.  Siri will even play back audio text messages that are sent to you.  If the “Hey Siri” functionality is employed, the process can be done hands free.