Get out of the way Emily Post - Kinky Friedman's here

You can toss out Emily Post's books on proper behavior. Kinky Friedman is the new politeness guru. Kinky Friedman's Guide to Texas Etiquette (976.4 FRI) isn't like hers.

It's one of those humorous, politically incorrect books which attacks everyone - not even Texans are safe. After reading this book, you'll understand why he "lives with one cat, four dogs, a pet armadillo, and many imaginary friends," as reported on the book jacket.

Sometimes it's nice to know that there's a book that you can read that requires no thought. This is one of them. It's just fun and dumb. Some of the dumb quotes from famous Texas politicians are a riot - they'd fit right in with John Stewart's "Daily Show."

On second thought, don't throw out Emily Post. You'd better keep it by your side. You'll need it to write letters of apology to your former friends for insulting them with quips from this book. After all, it'd be awful if you only had pets and imaginary friends for comfort.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

Donny Osmond isn't a bad apple

It seems like I can't get away from him - I mean Donny Osmond. I grew up listening to Donny, since he's younger than I am. While visiting Cedar Rapids a few weeks ago, I came upon his old albums in "antique" stores. Then I saw in the paper recently that he's making another comeback; he's released a new album.

I had to call my friend Lisa with the news. She's had a crush on him ever since she heard "Puppy Love." She's married with two kids and, if I remember correctly, she still has some of his vinyl albums stored in the attic. (I forgot to ask her if that's right.)

If you're like Lisa, you'll enjoy his autobiography called Life is Just What You Make it: My Story So Far. Written with Patricia Romanowski, this breezy book is a lot of fun to read. It follows his career, beginning with "The Andy Williams Show" through the 1990s when The Osmonds are performing at Branson, Missouri. He has gone through some dry spells where he couldn't get a record contract and he was told by his accountant that he was close to bankruptcy. But, as a whole, he's been very lucky - making hit records, being a television star, and having an extremely long run in live theatre.

His book is filled with humor ("What was I thinking?") on some of his missteps. I really liked his stories about trying to make a comeback during the disco days, with all the wild clothes. I know what he means - I saw his album covers in Cedar Rapids.

Life is Just What You Make It: My Story So Far is in the Biography section on the second floor under the Dewey # 781.64 OSM.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

Merv Griffin: July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007

The media has been talking a lot about Merv Griffin after his death last Sunday. If the news reports have you interested in learning more about him, the library has his autobiography, Merv: Making the Good Last.

Written in a very conversational way, this light reading will give you an insight into his life, from his childhood to 2003 (the publication date of this book). He's not shy about revealing how he spends his incredible wealth. Plus, he drops quite a few names of the rich and famous that he has hobnobbed with. He's a guy who was able to live the life that he always dreamed of as a child.

Merv: Making the Good Last is located on the second floor in the biography section under the Dewey # 791.45 GRI.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

End verbal abuse

I wish I could claim credit for the witty caption, but I can't. It represents the humor that author Patricia T. O'Conner intersperses in her book about the written English language.

Since this is the beginning of a new school year, I thought Woe Is I (Dewey# 428.2 OCO) would be a good book to promote. After all, those who are back in school will be writing papers. This isn't one of those dry books with all the picky rules for footnotes and bibliographies. She offers advice on informal writing, something even I need help with every now and then. A little refresher course never hurts, especially when it's written with a sense of humor.

Remember how I've talked about my best friend, Tom -you know, the guy who loves to go to museums for the food? Well, he teaches English to foreign students at UNI. Know what's on his bookshelf? That's right - Woe Is I. I figure if it's good enough for him, I say it's good enough for you and me.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

Before e-mail, we had pen pals

I like Geraldine Brooks, author of Foreign Correspondence. We're a lot alike: about the same age, and we both think Bob Dylan has absolutely no vocal talent. We both enjoyed science when we were younger, purchasing different science books. And (this is the big one) we thought that the original "Star Trek" was the best TV show when it first aired.

We do differ in a few areas: she grew up in Australia and she had pen pals. I have never lived outside of the US. Because of my shyness, I had enough trouble talking to other students without even thinking of writing to total strangers.

Although she never traveled to other countries during her school days, Geraldine knew much more about other countries than I did. She recalls many of the big events that happened in the US with more clarity than I, like President Kennedy's assassination and President Nixon's downfall.

Ironically, she had pen pals from around the world from 1966 to 1979, but did not associate with the immigrants who were moving into her Sidney neighborhood: Italians, Poles, and Lithuanians. However she did make friends with some from Lebanon, and Egypt.

This book will appeal to more than those who are interested in getting to know people from other countries, whether it is through writing letters or using MySpace. Anyone who wants a first-hand account of events in Australia will also enjoy Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal's Journey From Down Under to All Over. It's in the biography section on the second floor under call # 070.4332 BRO.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

This book has pictures

I've traveled to a lot of places with my best friend, Tom. He's probably one of the few people who can put up with me, since I always want to spend all day at the art museums. Because of my art history background, I just go crazy. Tom is so patient. He'll just wait in the cafe and gift shop when he's done.

He's one of those guys who will politely walk with me for a while asking questions about this or that painting. But, after an hour or two, he's done.

I've only been to New York once and I still remember the day we went to the Guggenheim. We went as soon as it was open. I was pumped. Do you know what he did? He had the gall to say that he was hungry; he had to eat before walking through the exhibit. Because you always need to compromise when you travel, I very reluctantly agreed to sit in the cafe with him. Well, even eating just a light snack takes hours for him. I'm sure it was less, but it seemed that way. If you asked him what his favorite part of the day, he'd probably say it was the cafe and gift shop.

So, How to Read a Painting ( 753.09 HOW) is just right for people like Tom who want to know a little about the history of painting, but don't want a lecture - which I'm inclined to give. In addition to all the biggies like Michelangelo's "Sistine Chapel: The Last Judgement" and Leonardo's "Mona Lisa," author Patrick De Rynck talks about other works you may not know, but are still important works. Each work is succinctly discussed in just a few pages which are filled with color illustrations.

This book would be a great primer for understanding 12th through the 19th century art. Consider this book if you are planning on going to any major art museum in the near feature. And remember, if you're one of those people who zips in and out of art museums in just a few hours, don't bother asking me to go along.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

I think we need the large print of "Dave Barry Turns 50"

One of my close relatives is turning 50 in a few weeks. Last week I visited with her husband who said that she does not want to be reminded about her age.

I know I have a cruel heart, but I can't help it. I thought of buying her Dave Barry Turns 50 ( 814.54 BAR). Heck, I'm older than she is - I turned 50 last year. And I was a good sport, enjoying all the insulting cards and black birthday cake. I loved it - especially the cake.

In case you don't know, Dave Barry was a humorous newspaper columnist for many years. You might have seen his articles in the Courier years ago. He's old now, so he retired from doing a weekly syndicated column.

In this book, he reminisces about the days gone by, which will have you rolling on the floor with laughter. That is if you can read the print. You see, we don't have this book in large print. However, you can check out a magnifying glass to help you read it. Just ask for it when you pick up this book.

I've just thought of the perfect birthday gift: I'll write up a free gift card to use at the library for her to pick up this book and one magnifying glass. I know, I know, I'm cheap as well as mean. But revenge is sweet: She's the one who got me the black birthday cake.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

Old McDonald's

Although this book is several years old, Big Mac (338.766 BOA) by Max Boas and Steve Chain is still a fun read. It's the story of the fast food empire called McDonald's.

When most people think of McDonald's, the first person who comes to mind is Ray Kroc. As with most prominent people, Ray Kroc did not invent the idea of McDonald's. While traveling to California just off Route 66, Ray discovered a McDonald's hamburger stand. He noticed several good qualities, thinking that this restaurant would be a success anyplace.

The owners were brothers: Maurice "Mac" and Richard McDonald. After much persuasion, Ray had them sign a contract allowing him to set up restaurants in other cities.
The authors don't portray Ray as a nice fellow. In his greed, Ray pushed the original brothers out of the company. The book continues discussing the phenomenal growth of the company.

Ironically, the brothers set up their establishment to discourage kids from loitering - customers were to come in, get the food, and leave. Now, the advertising shows youth and families hanging around the restaurant. Advertising was one of the major reasons for the success of McDonald's.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

The history of Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest - one of the most ubiquitous names in publishing. All of my relatives had them. One person I was introduced to many years ago had all of the Reader's Digest magazines in correct order going back for many years sitting right there in his living room prominently displayed on the bookshelf. In publishing, there is nothing more American than this small sized magazine, with millions of subscribers.

Author Peter Canning knows a lot about that company. He was editor for the magazine for 25 years until he resigned in 1987. So he knows what he's writing about in American Dreamers: the Wallaces and Reader's Digest.

DeWitt and Lila Wallace began the magazine in 1922 in a basement in new York City. They thought people would be willing to subscribe to a reading service that would condense and combine articles from other magazines.

Amazingly, when they approached other well established magazines, they were given permission to use articles free of charge. Ladies' Home Journal, McClure's, Vanity Fair were just a few. They thought of the reprints as free advertising for their own magazines.

The magazine became incredibly popular from the beginning. By the end of 1929, there were 290,000 subscribers, bringing in $900,000 a year. Because the Wallaces wanted to stay on good terms with these other magazines, they voluntarily gave money to the magazines for articles they used.

This type of goodwill was also used to entice and retain good help when they started expanding their business. They gave their employees bonuses. By 1936, there were 32 people working on the editorial staff alone. The pay for his his managing editor in 1934: a whooping $102,467. This was during the depression!

Things changed after the Wallaces left the business. The jacket states it succinctly: "this beloved American institution lost its innocence when corporate lawyers and Wall Street wrested control from the men the founders chose to preserve their business 'in the Wallace mode.'"

This fascinating book, American Dreamers, can be found on the second floor, in the biography section under the Dewey # 070.5 WAL.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

Some of the U.S. governments secrets revealed

The Freedom of Information Act helped reporter/author Linda Hunt tremendously with this book. Because of it, she's written an extremely shocking book: Secret Agenda: the United States Government, Nazi Scientists, and Project Paperclip, 1945-1990 (353.0085 HUN).

In Project Paperclip, the U.S. government deliberately blocked criminal trials for Nazi scientists. After World War II, we had the Cold War with the USSR. To ensure that the Soviets did not obtain the Nazi scientists' knowledge, the U.S. actively recruited these individuals. To make it easier for the government, these new recruits entered North America through Canada and Mexico, then simply came across the border into the U.S.

According to Hunt, thousands of soldiers were used in experiments with drugs between 1957 and 1966.

The book includes photos of some of the abuse the prisoners were subjected to in the name of science.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

The life of "Dick Tracy"

Birth date of Dick Tracy: 1931. That's the year that Chester Gould's classic cartoon first appeared in newspapers.

If I remember correctly back in the '70s, when I was a teen, "Dick Tracy" was in the Courier. At that time I wasn't interested in the strip.

It wasn't until I was older that I actually grew to appreciate the man with that distinctive profile.

Jay Maeder's Dick Tracy: the Official Biography (741.5 TRA) gives information on all the hardened and grotesque criminals Dick Tracy had to fight. Being a fan of superhero comics, I really admire Gould's ability to create such distinctive characters throughout the years.

Now Rich Fletcher and Max Allan Collins produce the comic since Gould's retirement in 1977.

Bit of "Dick Tracy" trivia: Max Allan Collins is the same writer of the extremely popular Road to Perdition - and he lives Iowa.

Check it out.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

What would Ayn Rand think of Hillary Clinton?

In The Voice of Reason, editor Leonard Peikoff compiles the essays of Ayn Rand (author of The Fountainhead) written from 1961 through 1981. They are in three sections: philosophy, culture, and politics.

Even though some of these articles are over forty years old, believe it or not, they still have relevance today. Although I don't believe with everything she writes, I do admire her guts to write it - and they do make me think about timely issues in a different way.

One of her essays is titled "About a Woman President," emphasizing that a woman should not be president. She states it's not the lack of intelligence or dedication that a woman cannot hold such an office. Read it for yourself to find out why. Again, I stress that these are not my views, but Rand's.

She also gives her views on socialized medical care (which has been a subject of debate with political candidates), "intellectual bankruptcy," and pubic television - just to name a few. As I mentioned, I may not agree with everything (in fact a lot of what she says), but she still gives me something to think about, just like a newspaper's opposing editorial. It's important, too, to remember the time social climate it was written in.

The Voice of Reason (call # 191 RAN) is located on the second floor.

c Waterloo Public Library 2007

An ironclad book

I still remember that fateful day, early in the school year, when the history instructor told everyone in my class a term paper, complete with footnotes, was required.

This was my first major paper. What made it even worse was that this was before computers were common (a computer took up an entire room). Plus, the typewriter my parents had wasn't even electric. (I think I'm turning into my father who said he had to walk 2 miles in the cold snow to get to school.)

For the paper, I decided my topic should be the Monitor. The Monitor was a Union iron-clad ship that the Union built during the Civil War.

I was reminded of that when I saw this book, Ironclad: The Monitor and the Merrimack by Arthur Mokin. The Merrimack was a battleship built by the Confederates that was damaging Union ships. To counteract, the Union military built the Monitor.

For Civil War history buffs, or if you need a resource for your own paper, check out Ironclad, located on the second floor with the call number 973.757 MOK.

Oh, and by the way, I found my paper. The typing was rather bad, but still received a B- (pretty good for a kid who didn't know what he was doing).








c Waterloo Public Library 2007