Why Would Anyone Make a Ransomware Attack on a Library System?

 

All 66 branches of the Queens Public Library system in New York suffered a system-wide ransomware attack. The incident knocked out the main website, mobile app, public Wi-Fi, on-site computers, and digital media services. Branches remained open for manual check-outs and returns, and late fines were waived during recovery.  As of today, some services have been restored, but one can not search the library's online catalog to find books.

I have used the Queens Public Library for many years and am saddened to hear about this.  I use the local Mitchell-Linden branch which is small and has a limited collection.  I often search the catalog for books that are obtained from other branches.

Is someone trying to extort the library for money?  Hopefully there are backups so they system can be restore without having to pay the ransom to some lowlifes.

Growing Up Rego Park by Ronald Marzlock

 

Over the years I have written numerous journal entries about Rego Park.  In many of the entries I described many of my experiences growing up in the 1950s and 60s.  In other I described my walking tours of the community in later years.  As soon as I found about Ronald Marzlock's new book I ordered it.  When the Amazon delivery came, I immediately opened the book.  I took a cursory look at it, but i must read in more detail.  It contains mostly photographs, but there is a fair amount of text.

There are photographs of:

• Alexanders
• Howard Johnson's
• Boulevard Night Club
• Ben's Best Deli
• Fairyland
• Lefrak City
• Parsont's
• Movie Theaters
• Trylon
• Drake
• Elmwood
• Many others too numerous to mention

I was especially pleased to see:

• Bob Mendel's Candy Store of Eliot Avenue - Leon, his competitor on Queens Blvd was not mentioned.
• Remo Hall at 61-40 Saunders Street.  I grew up in this building from 1951-72

He couldn't include everything, but I would have liked to see a photo of Mr. Simmon's toy store on  63rd Drive.

In this journal I have also documented videos by Ronald Marzlock and Jeff Gottlieb documenting Rego Park History

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot

 

I am two days early.  The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes bulk carrier that sank during a fierce storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, resulting in the loss of all 29 crew members.  The ship left Superior, Wisconsin, on November 9, 1975, carrying 26,000 tons of taconite iron ore pellets bound for a steel mill near Detroit, Michigan.

Today I Will Receive Bob Dylan’s The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings

 

It is now 3:19 PM and I still haven't received my package with 39 CDs from Amazon.com.  I guess I'll have to be a little more patient. Dylan scholar Ray Padgett gives a review of this boxed set.

Happy 85th Birthday to Art Garfunkel

 On his birthday I am featuring Art's solo of Bridge over Troubled Water that he sang on the David Letterman show.

Bob Dylan Has Met Two Popes

Bob Dylan's meeting with Pope Leo XIV may be described in the Vatican News.  His late 2026 tour titled Lights of Autumn has already reached a number of European cities, and is now in Rome.  Even when meeting the pope he still wears a hoodie.  Can't he wear a suite and tie?
Bob Dylan famously performed for Pope John Paul II in September 1997 at the World Eucharistic Congress in Bologna,

I wonder how many Americans excluding presidents have met two popes.

Piano Man by Billy Joel - Random Oldie of the Day

 

I just checked Joel Whitburn's Top Pop book and noted that Piano Man only peaked at #25 on the Billboard chart in 1974.  It obviously gained popularity in later years.  It is often played in the 8th inning at Citi Field.