Campaign Madness

by Dr. Betty Middleton Rowan Public Library

          Do you think you are well informed about the upcoming primary elections?  We have learned more than we ever wanted to know about the candidates (those who are left and those who fell by the wayside)!

Between the caucuses, debates and primaries already held, we should have a fairly good
opinion about who we will vote for.  But do we really?  Doing a little research I discovered that many books have been written about the process and many have been written about the candidates.   You might be amazed at what you will learn.

            Narrowing the field down to the top two contenders (at this hour) we will look at the

Publications available for Hillary and Donald.

Both Hillary and Bill have written several biographies about themselves and others have written about the events the Clintons chose to leave out of their biographies.  In Hard Choices, Hillary writes about her role as Secretary of State.  She offers her views on what it will take for the United States to compete and thrive.  In Living History, Hillary tells about the White House years and helping save her husband from impeachment. 

After interviewing hundreds of colleagues and friends with unique connections to the Clintons, the prize-winning journalist and author Carl Bernstein has written: A Woman in Charge.  He enables the reader to learn about some of his questions – What is her character?  What is her political philosophy?  Who is she?  What can we expect from her?  Will you be surprised??

The majority of the books about Donald Trump have been written by Donald Trump.   In Crippled America: How to Make American Great Again, Donald states that it is time for action. His blue print for that is not hard we simply must:  (1) Fix our failing economy, (2) Reform health care so that it is efficient and cost effective; (3) Rebuild our military and start winning wars again; (4) Ensure our education system offers the resources to allow our students to compete internationally so that as job seekers they have the tools to succeed; (5) Bring back jobs to America by closing our doors to illegal immigrants. 

            One of the books not written by Donald was Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success by Michael D’Antonio in which the author states that Donald Trump is a man whose appetite for wealth, attention, power, and conquest is practically insatiable.  D’Antonio also states that Trump was a product of the media age and the ME generation, and has developed a larger than-life persona.  But if you still wonder “Just who is Donald Trump”?  This book will supply the answers.

          Ted Cruz wrote A Time for Truth, Reigniting the Promise of America that was published in June, 2015.  Ben Carson’s book A More Perfect Union: What People can do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties was released in October, 2015. American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone written by Marcio Rubio released in October 15.

Buzzing Bees

by Marissa Creamer Rowan Public Library

On a mild day in early February, I sit on my porch and enjoy the warm sun, a special treat after a long cold spell. I notice a lone honeybee gently buzzing in the violas, which have bloomed steadily through the cold and snow. It is a welcome reminder that spring is on the way. I’m always happy to see bees because I know how essential they are to pollination, and eventually, a good harvest from the garden.

To learn more about bees and the important role they have played not only in the garden, but in art, religion, literature, and medicine, read “Honey Bees:  Letters from the Hive,” by Stephen Buchmann.  This children’s book discusses bee biology and behavior and examines our relationship with bees from prehistoric times to the present. Humans have cultivated bees since ancient times; in Lower Egypt bees and honey were so important to the economy that the honeybee hieroglyph was chosen as the symbol for the entire region. Early Egyptians also appreciated honey’s healing properties, and honey prescriptions appear on clay tablets and papyrus dating as far back as 1550 BC. Beeswax was used in a number of ways, including mummification, shipbuilding, and as a gel to slick down their elaborate wigs.

Buchmann also provides information about how bees produce honey and how we collect and use it today. He provides descriptions of many varieties, from the pale white clover honey to the more exotic and rare Tasmanian Leatherwood honey, as well as tips for using honey in cooking and a few simple recipes. More importantly, he explains the critical role that bees play in sustaining our food supply and in the ecosystem.

Concerns over the decline of honeybee populations have caused an increased interest in beekeeping as a hobby, even in urban areas.  If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping, Rowan Public Library has a number of books for the aspiring apiarist. “Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees,” by Malcolm T. Stanford and Richard E. Bonney presents a thorough overview of bees and their care. This guide will help you understand how to plan a hive, acquire bees, install a colony, keep bees healthy, maintain a healthy hive, understand and prevent new diseases, and harvest honey crops.

Concerns about the overuse of chemicals in maintaining hives has led some to take a more natural approach to beekeeping. “Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture” by Ross Conrad offers holistic alternatives to conventional chemical practices. In addition, “Top-bar Beekeeping: Organic Practices for Honeybee Health” by Les Crowder describes the use of top-bar hives, in which the shape of the interior resembles a hollow log. These hives allow bees to build comb naturally, rather than simply filling prefabricated foundation frames in a typical box hive.

If you would like to learn more about the rewarding endeavor of beekeeping and its importance to our ecosystem, visit Rowan Public Library for these and other books.

                                                                                                                                               

Travel Guides

by Paul Birkhead  Rowan Public Library
     
    Deep into winter, I often find thoughts of springtime filling my head.  Some of those thoughts are about traveling and places I’d like to visit in the warmer months to come.  If you find yourself daydreaming about places you’ve been or would like to go, stop by Rowan Public Library and check out some of our newest travel guides.
    Chances are you may have heard about the book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.  A New York Times bestseller, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die was first published in 2003 and has remained extremely popular over the years.  The book has even spawned its own website and an app to boot.  In the past few months, a completely revised second edition has been published.  With even more color photographs inside, the book is chock full of new information and a more experience-driven and budget-friendly approach to visiting sites around the world.  The author of the original and revised edition is Patricia Schultz, a veteran travel journalist with over 25 years of experience.  I’m confident you’ll find her travel advice helpful and her descriptions of sites thoroughly inspiring.  It will definitely make you want to pack a bag and go exploring.
    While global travel can be exciting to read about, a typical person’s travel plans generally center on one or two destinations at a time.  For more focused research, there are travel guides that allow you to thoughtfully plan everything from lodging to meals to must-see attractions.  Fodor’s, a division of Random House, has been publishing travel guides since the 1930’s.  The 2016 editions of some of their most popular destination guides can be found at the library.  Fodor’s London 2016, for instance, would be great to check out if you are planning a trip to England’s capital city.  Because London is so densely populated, most people find it intimidating to explore.  However, Fodor’s breaks the city up into manageable portions.  Up-to-date information and plenty of maps are helpful in planning out activities.
    A similar set of travel guides is put out by Rick Steves, an American author and television personality.  Rick’s laid-back style makes his television series on European travel very popular.  His personality comes through in these guidebooks as well.  While not as “slick” as the Fodor’s books, Rick Steves’ series makes up for it with advice that is not only helpful, but candid and humorous at the same time.  If you are planning on visiting “the City of Light” in the coming year, Rick Steves Paris 2016 should definitely be consulted.  Even though Paris is largely seen as a romantic destination for couples, the guide does have a special section for visiting Paris with children.
    When you think of traveling with children, you almost certainly entertain visiting Disney World in central Florida.  Walt Disney World with Kids 2016 is another Fodor’s product.  The author, Kim Wright Wiley, has been faithfully releasing an updated version of this book every year since it debuted in 1989.  Because it is so up-to-date, you’ll find helpful advice on the newest attractions at the park.  You will also find tips on negotiating the popular and time-saving systems such as Magic Bands and Fast Passes.  Visiting Walt Disney World can be very expensive.  Taking time to read through a guide like this one will help you make the most of your trip.
    Are you anxiously awaiting spring’s arrival?  If you’ve caught the travel bug or are always ready to hit the road, make sure to plan a side trip to Rowan Public Library.  There you will find helpful guides to make trip planning easy.