The development of the electric chair

This past week, I saw newspaper articles discussing the banning of the electric chair in Nebraska.

That article reminded me of this book that I read a while ago: Edison & the Electric Chair by Mark Essig (364.66 EDI). In 1879, the lightbulb launched the electrification of cities. In the 1880s, various large cities were getting electricity. However, because this was new technology, there was no standardization for wiring, which was a haphazard and extremely dangerous. In 1889, Manhattan was morbidly curious about a lineman who was electricuted and was hanging in the air. (Actually, human nature has not evolved that much - even now many people are still fascinated by gruesome images.)

Edison was one of many who saw the possibility of using electricity for killing convicted criminals. He lobbied for it, calling the electric chair more humane than the guillotine or lethal injection.

The book is rather gruesome when the author talks about Edison's experiments on animals to determine how much electricity it would take to kill a man instead of just disabling him.

Before reading this book, I had never thought of Edison in this way - experimenting with ways to kill people.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

What a way to go!

When my friend Tom and I take road trips, we like to read humorous books to each other. Being Dead is No Excuse (393.09 MET) is a good book to remember for the next time we go some place. The subtitle explains the subject matter: "The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral."


Don't get me wrong. I am one of those people who gets really emotional at funerals, but I can't help but laugh at some of the things authors Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays write. I dare you to not at least crack a smile at this excerpt:

"For a really big funeral, dual membership - in St. James' and Alcoholics Anonymous - is the ticket. Episcopalians who have belonged to AA attract a standing-room-only crowd, without increasing the liquor bill for the reception. St. James' is so welcoming of mourners that, at a funeral, even if you accidentally sit in somebody else's pew, nobody really gets mad." (When I was growing up, all the church regulars had their particular spot, also.)

This book is not all fun, though. There are a lot of serious recipes in here so you can host the prefect funeral. Potato salad, a regular at some funerals I have been to, is one of them. The recipe sounds divine, or as Lori, a good friend of mine, would say, "It's to die for."

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

This book is trash!

A few weeks ago, the reference department received a phone call asking questions about the Black Hawk County landfill. Many times, when that happens, my mind goes back to different reports I have read about garbage.

In fact, USAToday (I believe that's where I saw it) had an article about a rather ingenious New York City artist. He's been going around the city picking up trash, placing it in clear plastic boxes, and dating them. People have been buying these up rather quickly. Now that's what I call recycling!

Back to today's book: Judd H. Alexander has a different take on the issue of garbage. Alexander writes in In Defense of Garbage (363.7288 ALE) that he feels we are obsessing about a problem that is not really there.

When I was taking Human Geography at UNI, the book we used had a large section on the overpopulation of certain metropolitan areas and the huge problem with their poor santitation and waste management. The book had disqusting photos of piles of trash and litter. Because of this class, I feel there is a problem with controlling the amount of garbage the U.S. produces.

Even though I don't agree with his final conclusion, I still was fascinated with his description of the history of refuge. From my studies in anthropology and ancient art history, I know very well that we can learn a lot about long-lost societies by sorting through their garbage.

He also brings up a good point, although it's a generalization. He says that the rich do not produce as much trash as the poor. The rich buy quality products that last. Once they want to get rid of them, they donate or sell them. The poor buy low quality products that break much sooner or they buy second hand items. By the time these products wear out, they are no longer useable.

Well, it's time for me to end this report. I think I saw some paper cups being blown by the window outside. If I hurry, I can maybe catch them before they travel down the street. After all I could use a few extra bucks while helping out the environment.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

dinner is served

When I first saw The Rituals of Dinner (395.54 VIS), I thought that this book was just another ettiquette book like those done by Emily Post. I was wrong; this one is actually interesting to read. It's not stuffy at all.

Author Margaret Visser gives us a good history of eating, everything from ancient Greeks to cannibalism to contemporary formal dinners.

Considering the bad behavior by some diners, there are a lot of people who should read this book.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

Tankers in trouble

Pulitzer prize-winning author Eric Nalder originally wrote a Seattle Times article on the dangers within the shipping industry. That experience just whetted his appetite to learn more about it, which led to this book.

In Tankers Full of Trouble (387.245 NAL), Nalder takes us on board the Arco Anchorage, a huge vessel for hauling oil. It's so large that five stories of the tanker are below water. He's able to wander through the corridors and report his conversations with the crew.

We are given a brief history of the tanker. There is the conflict between the engineers who want to make the ship as safe as possible, yet as light as possible so that it can carry as much cargo as possible. Because of the different standards set up by a number of associations who cerify the ships, a company may go through another country which uses a more lenient inspection.

Considering all the flaws in the shipping industry, I am amazed that he was given permission to actually be a passenger on the Arco Anchorage.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

Don't worry - not all the photos are of winter

Yesterday I posted a book with humorous photos of a particular cat. Today, I'm following that same theme with another photo book, The Polar Bear Waltz ( 779.09 POL) by the editors of "Outside" magazine. Although the book does have some wonderfully wacky animal photos like the cover, it's filled with a diversity of subjects - some are landscapes, some are of very strange shots of people within the landscape.

If this type of book interests you, we carry another book in this same series by the editors of "Outside" magazine. Hip-Hop Hares can also be found in the same area under the Dewey number #779 HIP.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

Ernie, the cat

Because I'm a cat lover, I have a few relatives who send me e-mail with humorous pictures with captions of cats in strange poses.

Ernie: A Photographer's Memoir by Tony Mendoza (779.329 MEN) is in this same genre. The writing is unusual. Authors "Ernie" and Tony Mendoza alternate.

The black and white photos are charming, funny, goofy. Everyone who has ever had a house cat probably saw their cats display the same personality as Ernie. A cat squeezing into a slim space left after the clothes are put into a suitcase. A cat hiding under the couch, ready to grab at a passing foot. A cat playing with an empty box.

This cat book will put a smile on your face - even if you're allergic to them like some people I know.

c Waterloo Public Library 2008