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Thursday, May 29, 2008

DVDs and Books on CD ordered May 28

Below is a list of the DVDs and Books on CD recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs

Jazz singer
The music man
Smokey and the Bandit


Books on CD

Fiction
Snuff by Palahniuk, Chuck
When you are engulfed in flames by Sedaris, David

Nonfiction
The age of Reagan by Wilentz, Sean
Final salute by Sheeler, Jim

New books we ordered May 28, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, and Non-fiction. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!



Fiction
The bridesmaid by Abbott, Hailey
The unsung hero by Brockmann, Suzanne
Elementary, my dear Watkins by Clark, Mindy Starns
When it happens by Colasanti, Susane
The garden of last days : a novel by Dubus, Andre
Finding Nouf by Ferraris, Zoe
Money hungry by Flake, Sharon
Beijing coma by Ma, Jian
French kiss by Manning, Sarra
Rome 1960 : the Olympics that changed the world by Maraniss, David
Dead silver by McMahon, Neil
My sister, my love : the intimate story of Skylar Rampike by Oates, Joyce Carol
Snuff by Palahniuk, Chuck
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict by Rigler, Laurie Viera
Don't tell a soul by Rosenfelt, David
When you are engulfed in flames by Sedaris, David
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Shaffer, Mary Ann
Generation dead by Waters, Dan
Heartbreakers by Wells, Pamela
Pharmakon by Wittenborn, Dirk


Nonfiction
The new self-sufficient gardner.
Save energy save money! : 201 do-it-yourself projects, tips, and ideas
Your government failed you : breaking the cycle of national security disasters by Clarke, Richard A.
Solar power your home for dummies by DeGunther, Rik
One minute to midnight : Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the brink of nuclear war by Dobbs, Michael
What happened : inside the Bush White House and Washington's culture of deception by McClellan, Scott
Nixonland : the rise of a president and the fracturing of America by Perlstein, Rick
The monster of Florence by Preston, Douglas J.
Descent into chaos : the United States and the failure of nation building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia by Rashid, Ahmed
Superclass : the global power elite and the world they are making by Rothkopf, David J.
The age of Reagan : a history, 1974-2008 by Wilentz, Sean

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Admiral Kimmel


It's time for another peek into the archives ...

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

“Kimmel stood by the window of his office at the submarine base, his jaw set in stony anguish. As he watched the disaster across the harbor unfold with terrible fury, a spent .50 caliber machine gun bullet crashed through the glass. It brushed the admiral before it clanged to the floor. It cut his white jacket and raised a welt on his chest. ‘It would have been merciful had it killed me,’ Kimmel murmured. . .” Edwin T. Layton gives us this emotional description of Henderson native Admiral Husband E. Kimmel as Pearl Harbor was attacked December 7th, 1941. Recreated in the classic movie Tora! Tora! Tora!, the scene of the incredulous commander-in-chief would prove to be one of the most dramatic in cinematographic history.

As a boy growing up at 512 North Green Street, Hubby Kimmel was serious and studious. Never one to play a prank, he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class at the age of sixteen. The love of the water did not come as easily to Husband as one might expect. As a young teenager, he and a group of his friends, floating down the Ohio River, capsized their boat, forcing the boys to swim for their lives. After their rescue, the would-be admiral, now disgusted with the thought of returning to the river, hung on the boat a large sign, which said “This boat for Sale Very Cheap – H. E. Kimmel.”

Nevertheless, Husband graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1904 at the top of his class. In February 1941, he became Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and Pacific Fleet, with the temporary rank of Admiral. On December 6th, 1941, Admiral Kimmel, now stationed at Pearl Harbor, debated sending his ships to sea in anticipation of a Japanese offensive. However, without adequate evidence to support his premonition, he felt obligated to hold his fleet. The following day, the harbor was attacked, and Kimmel became a scapegoat. He then reverted to the rank of Rear Admiral, and in March 1942, prematurely retired. Though Husband Kimmel spent the remainder of his life attempting to prove his innocence, it was not until after his death that it was determined that the attack on Pearl Harbor was the result of poor communication by U. S. intelligence in Washington, D. C.

To read more about Husband Kimmel’s life and astounding military career, come visit us at the library! You may also want to check out one of the following books:

“And I Was There”: Pearl Harbor and Midway – Breaking the Secrets by Edwin T. Layton
Scapegoats: A Defense of Kimmel and Short at Pearl Harbor by Edward L. Beach
Admiral Kimmel’s Story by Husband Kimmel
Pearl Harbor Betrayed: The True Story of a Man and a Nation by Michael Gannon

To find out more about the archives, you can visit our genealogy page or read more “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” entries.

Image is a caricature of Admiral Kimmel as posted in the June 5th, 1944 Louisville Courier Journal.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Career news and information 24/7

Find out what you need to succeed in a new career by learning about the trade directly from the professional literature.

The Library is committed to serving your "need to know" in all manner of subjects and interests. We wanted to make sure that you knew about ProQuest Career and Technical Education. This website is a great place for those who need access to information on all aspects of career studies. You can search the content of over 400 journals, magazines, and trade publications that deal exclusively with career and vocational information.

Whether you’re an expert in the field or thinking about a new career, ProQuest Career and Technical Education delivers vital information directly to your desktop. Career areas include:
  • Agriculture
  • Building trades
  • Business
  • Computer science
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mechanics and manufacturing

Search by subject, publication, company, person, or location and get all of the articles related to your search. Save, print or download as many as you like. With this resource you can track trends and current innovations in the fields that interest you.

ProQuest Career and Technical Education is free for anyone with a valid library card. Get started now! If you have a question or need help, please call (826-3712), stop by, or email the library.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered May 21

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
Around the world in 80 days
The bank job
Blade II
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Family man
Gator
Midnight clear
The perfect marriage
Shallow Hal
Vantage point

Family
Spy kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams

Regular
The Carol Burnett Show: Let's bump up the lights! & Showstoppers
Hit the spot: Hip hop workout with abs
Monarch of the glen: Series 5
Monarch of the glen: Series 6

Books On CD
Ficion
The final warning by Patterson, James

Nonfiction
I don't believe in atheists by Hedges, Chris
Vienna, 1814 by King, David
The wise heart by Kornfield, Jack
The day freedom died by Lane, Charles

Music
Bishop Paul Morton: Smooth Jazz Tribute
The chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

New books we ordered May 21, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
City of thieves by Benioff, David
Desperately seeking a duke by Bradley, Celeste
Legacy by Brian, Kate
Sunshine & rain by Desiree, Dawn
Summer of joy by Gabhart, Ann
Outsourced by Hillhouse, R. J.
The climax by Hobbs, Allison
The ex-debutante by Lee, Linda
Perfect family by Lewis, Pam
Changelings by McCaffrey, Anne
Maelstrom by McCaffrey, Anne
Something he can feel by Monteilh, Marissa
A deeper blue by Ringo, John
The Pagan Stone by Roberts, Nora
The road home by Tenney, Tommy
The cure for modern life by Tucker, Lisa
The other side of you by Vickers, Salley
Harlem on lock by Williams, Karen

NonFiction
ACT comprehensive program
Lace style : traditional to innovative, 21 inspired designs to knit by Allen, Pam
Vampires in their own words : an anthology of vampire voices by Belanger, Michelle
A wolf at the table : a memoir of my father by Burroughs, Augusten
True stories of Law & order: SVU : the real crimes behind the best episodes of the hit TV show by Dwyer, Kevin
Quantum wellness : a practical and spiritual guide to health and happiness by Freston, Kathy
High wire : the precarious financial lives of American families by Gosselin, Peter
Are you there, vodka? It's me, Chelsea by Handler, Chelsea
Ghost girl : the true story of a child in peril and the teacher who saved her by Hayden, Torey
The return of history and the end of dreams by Kagan, Robert
Escape from the deep : the epic story of a legendary submarine and her courageous crew by Kershaw, Alex
The wise heart : a guide to the universal teachings of Buddhist psychology by Kornfield, Jack
The day freedom died : the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction by Lane, Charles
Crazy good : the true story of Dan Patch, the most famous horse in America by Leerhsen, Charles
Cracking the ACT : with DVD by Martz, Geoff
The CR way : using the secrets of calorie restriction for a longer, healthier life by McGlothin, Paul
Moyers on democracy by Moyers, Bill
Rosie O'Donnell's crafty U : 100 easy projects the whole family can enjoy all year long. by O'Donnell, Rosie
1,000 places to see before you die by Schultz, Patricia
Lives per gallon : the true cost of our oil addiction by Tamminen, Terry
A time to fight : reclaiming a fair and just America by Webb, James
Georgia cooking in an Oklahoma kitchen : recipes from my family to yours by Yearwood, Trisha

Children
Little bee : finger puppet book
Are you a bee? by Allen, Judy
The Four-Story Mistake : a Melendy book by Enright, Elizabeth
The Saturdays : a Melendy quartet book by Enright, Elizabeth
Spiderweb for two : a Melendy maze by Enright, Elizabeth
Then there were five by Enright, Elizabeth
Barry's buzzy world by Frantz, Jennifer
Who leads our country? by Gorman, Jacqueline
The clay marble by Ho, Minfong
Ark angel by Horowitz, Anthony
Point blank by Horowitz, Anthony
Scorpia by Horowitz, Anthony
Skeleton Key by Horowitz, Anthony
Diego's buzzing bee adventure by Inches, Alison
Stormbreaker by Johnston, Antony
Bees by Morgan, Sally
Ricky Ricotta's mighty robot : the first adventure novel by Pilkey, Dav
Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter : the fifth robot adventure novel by Pilkey, Dav
Ricky Ricotta's mighty robot vs. the mecha-monkeys from Mars : the fourth robot adventure novel by Pilkey, Dav
Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn : the sixth robot adventure novel by Pilkey, Dav
Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus : the seventh robot adventure novel by Pilkey, Dav
Don't close your eyes by Stine, R. L.
Freaks and shrieks by Stine, R. L.
Ghouls gone wild by Stine, R. L.
Have you met my ghoulfriend? by Stine, R. L.
Let's get this party haunted! by Stine, R. L.
Little camp of horrors by Stine, R. L.
One night in Doom House by Stine, R. L.
Who let the ghosts out? by Stine, R. L.
What are the parts of government? by Thomas, William
What is a constitution? by Thomas, William
Busy, buzzy bee by Wallace, Karen

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Revisiting Henderson's Past: The Unsettled Virginian


It's time for another peek into the archives ...


The Unsettled Virginian

General Thomas Posey overcame his share of life’s hardships to become a Kentucky state senator, a Louisiana senator, and, eventually, Indiana’s last territorial governor. Born in 1750, in Fairfax County, Virginia, on a plantation adjacent to Mount Vernon, famed home of George Washington, he never led a privileged existence. He served in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian wars and fought in the American army for seven years during the Revolutionary War. In 1778, he lost his beloved wife of just six years. Even after his death in 1818 of typhus fever, rumors that he was the illegitimate son of President Washington plagued his family’s name. So, how did he wind up in right here in Henderson County?

A pioneer at heart, Posey set out for the frontier early in life. He moved to western Virginia in 1769 in hopes of finding fortune, and by 1797, an expedition to the newly formed, largely unsettled Kentucky commonwealth enticed his restless spirit. With the help of the Transylvania Company and an old war buddy, General Samuel Hopkins, Thomas Posey moved his family to “Longview,” a vast plantation located on present-day Highway 60 between Henderson and Spottsville, where they lived for over a decade.

The primitive living conditions in Kentucky proved trying but toughening for Mary Alexander Posey, Thomas’s second wife, as well as for the Posey children. Though the separation from their Virginia family and their comfortable lifestyle was difficult, Thomas and Mary managed to prosper and to build a rich life on their land here. Although Thomas proceeded to go into politics in Indiana and Louisiana, some of his family stayed behind, generating many of the Poseys in the area today.

To read about the Revolutionary War adventures and the political life of General Thomas Posey, check out General Thomas Posey: Son of the American Revolution by John Thornton Posey, or just come visit us in the archives to view our Kentucky files. To trace the Posey lineage or to begin your own family tree, you can start by visiting our genealogy page. You may also want to check out other “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” entries.

Image is of Thomas Posey.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Back by popular demand - tai chi classes


Summer tai chi classes will once again be offered by the Library beginning in June. Our last sessions filled up quickly so sign up now! The classes will be taught by Diana Hobgood, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and certified massage specialist.

We will be offering 1 class that will meet for 8 weeks at 2:00 pm on Wednesdays, June 11 - July 30 .

There is a $40 registration fee which is due before classes begin. Class size is limited, so please register early by stopping by the Library at 101 South Main Street. (Checks or cash only, please)

Benefits of tai chi exercise, which is a slow, gentle exercise system based on Chinese martial arts, include:

  • improved posture
  • flexibility
  • balance
  • lower body strength
  • coordination
  • physical endurance
  • breath control
  • stress management

If you have questions, please call the Library at 826-3712.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Memorial Day weekend closings

The Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, May 25-26, 2008, in observance of Memorial Day. The Library will re-open on Tuesday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m.

Please remember, your online Library is available every day, 24 hours a day, through iPac, the library catalog, and the Research Center.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Technology information at your fingertips

The Library is committed to serving your "need to know" in all manner of subjects and interests. We wanted to make sure that you knew about ProQuest Computing™. This website is the premium resource for those who need access to information about computers. You can search the content of over 390 computer and technology journals, magazines, and trade publications.

Whether you’re an expert in the field or an undergraduate, ProQuest Computing™ delivers vital information directly to your desktop. Subjects include product reviews, database design and management, software, hardware, e-commerce, Web site development, intranets and extranets, and technology management.

ProQuest Computing™ is an excellent resource for students and instructors who need information on virtually any computing topic including:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Computer games
  • Computer graphics
  • Computer networks
  • Computer programming
  • Computer security
  • Computer systems
  • Database management
  • Electronic data processing
  • Hardware
  • Information science and information theory
  • Software

ProQuest Computing™ is free for anyone with a valid library card. Get started now! If you have a question or need help, please call (826-3712), stop by, or email the library.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Investing Tip: IRA Dos and Don'ts

Investing tip of the month from Morningstar Investment Research Center, by Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance

It's easy to see why investors often put off setting up an IRA. Nothing is altogether simple when the IRS is involved, so there are three key IRA types--the Roth, the deductible IRA, and the nondeductible IRA--all of which have varying pros, cons, and eligibility requirements. That can make it difficult to determine what type of IRA is right for you given your income, your time horizon, and your goals.

And even if you've identified the right IRA type, you'll have to navigate an even bigger, badder maze of choices. Having too many options can lead to what behaviorists call "choice overload." That means that when individuals are confronted with too many options, they often choose to do nothing at all.

If you've been putting off funding your IRA, don't let choice overload bury you.
Here are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind:

Do
Think of the IRA as a way to take control of your finances amid an unpredictable market. You know that old saying about having the wisdom to know what you can and can't control? Well, you can't control the market's ups and downs, but you certainly can make sure that your investments are as good as they can be, your investment costs are low, and you're taking advantage of every tax-sheltered opportunity available to you, such as contributing to an IRA.

Evaluate whether a conversion from a traditional IRA to a Roth makes sense. In 2010, this question will be relevant for a lot more savers because investors of any income level will be able to make the conversion and will also be able to spread the tax hit over 2011 and 2012.

Consider tax-managed funds. If you're eligible to contribute only to a traditional nondeductible IRA, yet another option to consider is a tax-managed fund. Planners often steer those who earn too much to contribute to a Roth to a nondeductible IRA, but you'll have to start taking withdrawals at age 70 1/2 from the IRA. A tax-managed fund, by contrast, offers no such strictures but offers the same tax-deferred compounding. I'm a big fan of Vanguard's suite of tax-managed funds.

Bear in mind your overall asset-allocation plan. Before you pick securities for your IRA, use Morningstar Investment Research Center's Portfolio X-Ray tool to size up your whole portfolio's stock/bond/cash/international mix and take note of any big sector or style biases; also note whether you have any gaping holes in your portfolio. If you find you need to add to your holdings in a certain asset class or investment style, your IRA is a logical place to start.
Pay attention to asset location. By that I mean you should try to optimize what types of securities you hold in your taxable accounts and what you hold in your tax-sheltered ones. There's no need to go out of your way to find investments that incur a lot of taxes, such as fast-turnover stock funds or high-income bond funds. But to the extent that you hold such vehicles, you may want to do so within the confines of your IRA.

Be a contrarian. Although you may be a long ways away from retirement, it's always worth considering whether it's a good or bad time to buy a given security. (There's no faster way to decimate your investment results than to use the one-year performance tables as a shopping list!) Morningstar's equity analysts have identified a number of good-quality companies that they believe are trading cheaply right now. Just click on Stock Recommendations on the main page of Morningstar Investment Research Center. Contrarian fund investors might also take a look at some recently reopened offerings whose managers say they're finding attractive opportunities; two of my favorites include Longleaf Partners and Dodge & Cox Stock. These funds would make fantastic IRA options.

Don't
Forget about your spouse. Married couples that include a working and non-working spouse can maximize their after tax results by setting up IRAs for both individuals. A so-called spousal IRA is an option as long as you file a joint return and the working spouse has earned enough qualifying income to fund both his or her own IRA and that of the spouse.

Assume you need a lot of cash on hand to invest in an IRA. You can spread your 2008 contributions throughout the tax year. Such a strategy, called dollar-cost averaging, helps ensure that you're not putting money to work when the market's peaking. It also makes an IRA a more affordable option for those who don't have the full contribution amount on hand. Ask your brokerage, supermarket, or fund company to help you set up regular monthly contributions to an IRA.

Shelter investments with tax benefits, such as variable annuities or municipal bonds, inside an IRA. IRAs already offer tax-deferred (or in the case of a Roth, tax-free) compounding, so there's no need to stash tax-advantaged instruments like municipal bonds or variable annuities within them. Save those tax-favored options for your taxable accounts, and consider them only after you've maxed out your tax-sheltered options.

Let assets languish in a lackluster 401(k). Are your retirement assets sitting in your 401(k) account at your former employer? That's fine if your ex-employer fielded an ultra-cheap plan with great investment options, but many 401(k) plans aren't particularly distinguished and are larded with extra fees. Think about rolling the plan assets into an IRA, which opens up a huge array of investment choices.

Put off investing in an IRA because you may need the money for a shorter-term goal. Newer investors might steer clear of an IRA because they assume they'll be socking away the money forever and ever. Not necessarily. In fact, you can withdraw money from an IRA, free of penalty, to pay for qualified higher-education expenses or to fund a first home, among other financial needs. (You'll have to pay tax on a qualified withdrawal from a traditional IRA, however.) IRS Publication 590 provides complete details on when it's possible to tap your IRA penalty-free.

Assume that you don't need to contribute to an IRA if you already contribute to a 401(k). If you're maxing out your 401(k), pat yourself on the back; after all, you can contribute $15,500 to a 401(k) in 2008. But even dedicated 401(k) savers might want to consider an IRA as well. That's because IRAs can help you diversify the tax treatment of your retirement assets. For example, if you're contributing the max to your 401(k), you'll owe taxes on a motherlode of assets when you retire and begin tapping the assets. Withdrawals on Roth IRA assets, meanwhile, will be tax-free. By hedging your bets among the two vehicles, you have less riding on a wager about whether tax rates will be higher or lower in the future; you also maximize your tax-deferred savings.

Christine Benz is Morningstar's director of personal finance and the editor of the Morningstar PracticalFinance Newsletter.

Morningstar Investment Research Center is great tool for new and veteran investors. It's chock full of unbiased analyst reports, tools for evaluating your portfolio, and lessons on how to invest. The best part is that it's free to all valid library cardholders! Begin now or learn more.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered May 14

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
The air I breathe
American outlaws
Bella
Benny & Joon
Christine
The color of money
The hunt for Red October
Keeping the faith
Lake Placid
Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

Regular
Rough diamond

Books on Cd
Fiction
Divine justice by Baldacci, David
Paul of Dune by Herbert, Brian
Bowdrie passes through by L'Amour, Louis
The Sackett Brand by L'Amour, Louis

Nonfiction
The last campaign by Clarke, Thurston

Music
Alan Jackson: Good time
Barbara Mandrell: Greatest country hits
The Boondock saints
Dierks Bentley: Every mile a memory
George Strait: Troubadour
I am legend soundtrack
Punch Brothers: Punch
Toby Keith: 35 biggest hits
Trace Adkins: American man

New books we ordered May 14, 2008

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, LargeType, and Children. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
The white tiger by Adiga, Aravind
A fatal waltz by Alexander, Tasha
Divine justice by Baldacci, David
The reserve by Banks, Russell
Ambition by Brian, Kate
Inner circle by Brian, Kate
Privilege by Brian, Kate
Revelation by Brian, Kate
The Virginity Club by Brian, Kate
The wedding officer by Capella, Anthony
The Crossley baby by Carey, Jacqueline
Eggs in purgatory by Childs, Laura
Blackman's coffin by De Castrique, Mark
Renegade by Dekker, Ted
Winter haven by Dickson, Athol
Black ship : a Daisy Dalrymple mystery by Dunn, Carola
Waterloo sunset by Edwards, Martin
Shades of grey by Fforde, Jasper
Begging for change by Flake, Sharon
The serpent's tale by Franklin, Ariana
Bright shiny morning by Frey, James
Paul of Dune by Herbert, Brian
Comfort food by Jacobs, Kate
Long journey home by MacLaren, Sharlene
Forbidden magic by McCray, Cheyenne
Seduced by magic by McCray, Cheyenne
Shadow magic by McCray, Cheyenne
Wicked magic by McCray, Cheyenne
Virgins and martyrs : an Aria Quynn novel by Merkel, E. L.
Final justice by Michaels, Fern
All we know of heaven : a novel by Mitchard, Jacquelyn
Cezanne's quarry : a mystery by Pope, Barbara
Assassins at Ospreys by Raichev, R. T.
Holy moly by Rehder, Ben
Separated at death by Rusch, Sheldon
The enchantress of Florence : a novel by Rushdie, Salman
The rabbi's cat by Sfar, Joann
The becoming by Stein, Jeanne
Blood drive by Stein, Jeanne
Legacy by Stein, Jeanne
The watcher by Stein, Jeanne
In the heat by Vasquez, Ian
Stolen innocence : my story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride, and breaking free of Warren Jeffs by Wall, Elissa
Approximately heaven by Whorton, James

Nonfiction
Everything you know about God is wrong : the disinformation guide to religion.
The poem I turn to : actors and directors present poems that inspire them
The dumbest generation : how the digital age stupefies young Americans and jeopardizes our future (or, don't trust anyone under 30) by Bauerlein, Mark
Why is God laughing? : the path to joy and spiritual optimism by Chopra, Deepak
The last campaign : Robert F. Kennedy and 82 days that inspired America by Clarke, Thurston
Harry S. Truman by Dallek, Robert
Zachary Taylor by Eisenhower, John
A time it was : Bobby Kennedy in the sixties by Eppridge, Bill
How I helped O.J. get away with murder : the shocking inside story of violence, loyalty, regret, and remorse by Gilbert, Mike
Catching life by the throat : how to read poetry and why : poems from eight great poets by Hart, Josephine
The downhill lie : a hacker's return to a ruinous sport by Hiaasen, Carl
A voyage long and strange : rediscovering the New World by Horwitz, Tony
Up till now : the autobiography by Shatner, William
Experiencing God's power today / Smith Wigglesworth. by Wigglesworth, Smith
The power of faith by Wigglesworth, Smith
Smith Wigglesworth on faith by Wigglesworth, Smith
Smith Wigglesworth on spiritual gifts by Wigglesworth, Smith

LargeType
Divine justice by Baldacci, David

Children
Buzz, buzz, buzz by Barton, Byron
Buzz-buzz, busy bees : an animal sounds book by Bentley, Dawn
Good night, sweet butterflies : a color dreamland by Bentley, Dawn
The very clumsy click beetle by Carle, Eric
Ladybug Girl by Davis, Jacky
Alfred digs by George, Lindsay
Five little ladybugs by Gerth, Melanie
Eclipse by Hunter, Erin
Ladybug and Caterpillar : the way to friendship by Pova, Rosie
Crawl, ladybug, crawl! by Rau, Dana
Yum-O! : the family cookbook by Ray, Rachael
All kinds of families by Simon, Norma
Helpful ladybugs by Smith, Molly
Against the empire by Watson, Jude
Dark warning by Watson, Jude
Death on Naboo by Watson, Jude
The desperate mission by Watson, Jude
Return of the dark side by Watson, Jude
Secret weapon by Watson, Jude
A tangled web by Watson, Jude
Underworld by Watson, Jude

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Paul McDaniel


It's time for another peek into the archives ...


Paul McDaniel: The Rumble from Robards

World War II veterans vividly remember the events of August 6, 1945, but none more graphically than Henderson County native Paul William McDaniel must have. When the first nuclear bombing mission was executed on Hiroshima, Japan, Paul knew that he had been part of the team that would bring an expeditious end to the Second World War, and despite the inevitable and regrettable death and utter destruction in Japan, he firmly believed that more lives would have been lost had the war continued.

Paul McDaniel graduated from Robards High School in 1932 as class valedictorian at the age of 16, before going on to obtain a degree in chemistry from Western Kentucky Teachers College. By 1941, the same year he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserves Chemical Warfare Service, he was the first student at Indiana University to earn a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Nuclear Physics. A few months later, McDaniel was assigned to uranium research at the University of Chicago for what would later become known as the Manhattan Project, the endeavor responsible for the development of the atomic bomb.

In 1945, after a long tour of active duty in Australia and the South Pacific, McDaniel was stationed in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he was a part of the Manhattan Engineer District Research Division. Here, he assisted in some of the first atomic testing, which would lead to the August bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At the conclusion of the war, Paul accepted a position with the Congress-created Atomic Energy Commission, and from 1960-1972, he served as its Director of Research and was responsible for the supervision of atomic energy testing sites in Oak Ridge, Brookhaven, Argonne, Los Alamos, Berkeley, and Livermore.

Prior to his death in 2004, Paul McDaniel published his biography, in which he remembers his life, not only as a nuclear physicist, but as a kid from Robards, Kentucky. He recounts small-town entertainment, such as hog-killing days and gambling on local races, and reminisces about the tears in his father’s eyes as he boarded the train for college. With all the things he accomplished in his life, Paul never forgot his upbringing Henderson County.

To read more about Paul McDaniel, come visit us in the library archives, or check out The Autobiography of Paul William McDaniel. Want to read more “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” entries?


Photo is of Paul McDaniel raising the flag in a ceremony at the NAL Village, near Batavia, Illinois in 1968.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

DVDs, Books on CD, and Music ordered May 07

Below is a list of the Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
Amistad
Moondance Alexander
Reservoir dogs
The wager

Family
Rapunzel

Regular
Sea monsters
Why we fight

Books On CD
Fiction
Twenty wishes by Macomber, Debbie
The copper scroll by Rosenberg, Joel
Dead heat by Rosenberg, Joel
The Ezekiel option by Rosenberg, Joel
The last days by Rosenberg, Joel
Child 44 by Smith, Tom Rob

Nonficton
The man who loved China by Winchester, Simon
The post-American world by Zakaria, Fareed

Music
Colbie Caillat: Coco