University of Nebraska Press

Tuesday Trivia: October 13, 2008

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press, is The Grace Abbot Reader edited by John Sorensen and Judith Sealander.  Grace Abbot (1878-1939) was a “tireless and brilliant social reformer” in the early parts of the twentieth century. She used her writing talent to help develop social programs devoted to mothers, children, immigrants, and child laborers.  U.S Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter said he didn’t think “the American experience would disclose a finer illustration of the rare art of public administration” than Abbott.
Taking a nod from Ms. Abbott, Tuesday Trivia is going to provide a few facts about the state of poverty around the world and encourage you to also celebrate on October  15th for the 2008 Blog Action Day, Poverty.  On this Wednesday, blogs all over the world will be devoting their efforts to educating on poverty. Please take a moment to check some of them out here.

1.    At least 80% of humanity lives on less than how much a day?
2.    True or False: According to UNICEF 26,5000-30,0000 children die each day due to  poverty
3.    Each year there are how many million cases of malaria, with how many fatalities?
4.    Africa represents  how many of these deaths?
5.    Access to piped water into the household averages about how much for the wealthiest 20% and how much for the poorest 20% of the population?
6.    In the U.S. the foreign born poor make up how much of all poor persons?
7.    True or False:  100 million school age children are not in school?
8.    What percent of children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted?
9.    In the U.S. in 2007 how many people were in poverty, up from 36.5 million in 2006?
10.   For the 1.9 billion children in the developing world?
How many go without adequate shelter?
How many go without access to safe water?
How many go without access to health services?

Ok readers, these are not just facts or statistics. This information is relaying the way a large portion of our world lives, and how they go without. I encourage each of you check out the 2008 Blog Action Day and see where your efforts could be best placed. If you’re looking for a bit more inspiration, then check out The Grace Abbott Reader by John Sorensen and Judith Sealander,  at the University of Nebraska Press website. Have a great day!

This Week in History: October 6-10, 2008

Well readers, it’s been a pretty interesting few weeks. The bailout passed last Friday, and some of us are ecstatic, while others are terrified. We’ve got two of the three presidential debates out of the way, and I don’t know about you, but I think my candidate is doing quite well. I’ve even been sporting shirt plastered with his face, now that is true patriotism for ya! But if you’re not a fan of politics, then we still have a great week of facts for you. Everything from the 1919 World Series scandal to the Day of Six Billion, six billion people that is. Oh, and there are a few great books too…. Care to join me?

October 8, 2001: U.S. President George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security.

War has always led to a change in any society. For Americans after 9/11 and the start of the ‘war on terror’, this was Homeland Security. To see the how other societies may have been affected by non-peaceful times, check out World History of Warfare by Christon I. Archer, John R. Ferris, Holger H.  Herwig, and Timothy H.E. Travers.

October 9,1919:  Black Sox scandal where the Cincinnati Reds “win” the World Series.

    Eight baseball players were banished from baseball, despite being found innocent in court. Most famous among them was Joseph Jefferson Jackson or “Shoeless Joe”. For a closer look into his perspective, the innocence he proclaimed until his death, check out Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball, by Harvey Frommer.

October 10, 1967: The Outer Space treaty, signed by more than 60 countries, enters into force.

Now I’m not exactly sure what the outer space treaty is, but to me it sounds like it could have come straight out of the pages of Miles J. Breuer’s,  The Man with the Strange Head and Other Early Science Fiction Stories. 

October 11, 1906: San Francisco public school system clashes with Japan by ordering Japanese students to be taught in racially segregated schools.

It is no secret that the U.S. has often made it hard for minorities to receive fair and equal treatment under the law. Racially segregated schools are no exception, and have often been one of the more pervasive tools. Yet athletics has often been the forerunner in pushing those boundaries. Wally Yonamine: The Man who Changed Japanese Baseball, by Robert K. Fitts, is one of these remarkable stories. To see how he helped alter the roles of Japanese in sports, check it out at UNP.

  October 12, 1999: The Day of 6 billion. The sixth billion human is born in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Well 6 billion is a  lot of people! I think to fit all those people in one place, it would have to be a “wide open” place. Ok yeah, that’s my segue into The Wide Open: Prose, Poems,  and Photographs of the Prairie, by Annick Smith and Susan O’Connor. It probably wasn’t smooth, but the book is still good. Check it out!

Ok readers, you can find these books and more at the University of Nebraska Press website. Join us Tuesday for a little trivia. Have a great weekend guys!

Linking in Lincoln: October 9, 2008

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press is Blue Skies, Black Wings: African American Pioneers of Aviation by Samuel L. Broadnax. After a love of flying and years spent as a pilot at the Tuskegee Army Air Base, Samuel Broadnax began to research the experiences of other black pilots and “pioneers” of aviation. This book is a culmination of those tales, from Charles Wesley Peters who flew his own plane in  1911, to the 1945 Freeman Field mutiny against segregationist policies. This week Linking in Lincoln will pay tribute to the struggles and fights of these men with a few links to widen our horizons on what they might have went through.

To see what life was like for African Americans in the military, during any war, head to Africanamericans.com.

Another famous African American, who also fought injustice but on a more public front, is Ella Fitzgerald. Check out her staggeringly good rendition of “Blue Skies” on youtube.com now.

Tuskegee Army Air Base, where Broadnax trained as a pilot, is now called Sharp Field. Go to Wikipedia.com for a full history.

To find out more about the pioneers, in the U.S. and beyond,  in Aviation, check out aviation_calderara.com.

I can remember the first time I saw Glory. I was sick on the day they showed it in history, so my dad let me watch it at home. For more information on this stunning movie, and how it depicts African Americans in the military, head to imdb.com

In 12006, the Tuskegee Airmen won the Congressional Medal of Honor. To find out more about this unparalleled honor head to the cmohs.org.

Well readers, do you feel more informed? More equipped to head out and get your own copy of Blue Skies, Black Wings, if so check it out at the UNP website.  And don’t forget to join us tomorrow for another installment of This Week in History.

This Week in History: September 29-October 3: 2008

Well readers, this has been another fascinating week. The economic crisis we are facing is coming to a head. One proposal has been shot down, and another one is being decided today. Regardless of what happens, we are in the throes of history folks! To keep you from biting your fingernails, This Week in History has a dating service, famous photographers and O.J. Simpson to keep you occupied. Lets not waste another minute!

September  29, 1650: Henry Robinson opens his office of Addresses and Encounters- the first documented dating service in Threadneedle Street, London

Everybody knows the secret to a great date is to be yourself, and to have a fantastic bottle of wine. Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French wine county by Robert V. Camuto. Just be sure to limit yourself to one glass, otherwise there might not be a second date!

September 30, 1962: Mexican American labor leader Cesar Chavez founds the United Farm Workers.

Cesar Chavez  is a famous activist, a hero to the Mexican people, and a leader to the rest of the world. Have no fear though; we have a few of these kinds of people in our generation as well. Samira Bellil, born in Alergia, was raped at fourteen and rather then silent like so many women in her community, she spoke out against her attackers and got justice through the French legal system. You can check out her story in To Hell and Back: The Life of Samira Bellil by Samira Bellil.

October 1, 1939: After a one-month siege of Warsaw, hostile forces entered the city.

War is not the only thing to mark Warsaw. If you spoke to Gary Gildner, a former teacher at the University of Warsaw, and coach of the baseball team, the Warsaw Sparks then you might see a very different city. Check out The Warsaw Sparks: A Memoir by Gary Gildner  for the whole story.

October 2, 1949: Annie Liebovitz, American photographer is born.

    Often through art, especially photography, we are allowed to see the world through new lenses. This is the beauty of it. Now while Ms. Liebovitz focuses her skills on photographing famous people, the photographers in The Wide Open: Prose, Poetry, and Photographs’ of the prairie edited by Annick Smith and Susan O’Connor, are focusing on the beauty of America’s prairies. Don’t miss it!

October 3, 1995: O.J. Simpson found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman.

    Prison writing by inmates, guards, teachers, and chaplains has long since been a tradition analyzed  by critics and scholars. Now while O.J. Simpson wrote his book “If I Did It." outside the big house, I can’t help but wonder if it would have been a bestseller if he had written inside. Either way, check out Jail Sentences: Representing Prison in Twentieth Century French Fiction by Andrew Sobanet for more on this remarkable genre.

Thanks for joining us readers! Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you Tuesday with another installment of Tuesday Trivia.

This Week in History: September 8-12, 2008

It’s a new week, bloggers! I don’t know about you but I’ve been enjoying the new cooler weather (though not all the rain) and the series premieres of all my favorite shows! I’m not going to lie, Gossip Girl has become a guilty pleasure…..the couture is just so beautiful but lets face it, what high school kid dresses like that?  This week we’ve got a real variety for you guys! Starting with Star Trek and ending with a tribute to those lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Ready to start bloggers?

Sept 8, 1966: The first Star Trek premieres on NBC.
    Are you a science fiction lover? I’m a secret one…though not now, I suppose. If you are then may I present The Man with the Strange Head and Other Early Science Fiction Stories by classic Scifi author Miles J. Breuer.

Sept 9, 1543: A nine month old Mary Stuart is crowned “Queen of Scots”.
    Powerful women in the government- it’s one of the great gifts the generations before us paved the way for. For a more local legend, please check out Mayor Helen Boosalis by Beth Davis Boosalis about the first female mayor or Lincoln, NE.

Sept 10, 1945: Mike the headless chicken is decapitated, but will survive for another 18 months before choking to death.
    Now I have no book to connect this to. I can only appeal to your general sense of wonderment and hope you recognize the sheer greatness of this little story. Here is a link to miketheheadlesschicken.org for more info.

Sept 11, 2001: I can assume this date needs no introductions. Rather than focusing on the horror of this event, may I suggest following this link to the memorial and putting our efforts towards remembering those who lost their lives.

Sept 12, 2005: Hong Kong Disneyland opens in Penny’s Bay Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

I LOVE Disney movies! Beauty and the Beast was the first movie I saw in theatres, and the whole experience has always stayed with me. Now this new book from UNP, Cinderella Ball: A Look Inside Small College Basketball in West Virginia by Bob Kuska, is not the same kind of fairy tale, but I can assure you that you will walk away with the same inspiration.

Ok bloggers another week down! Be sure to take a look at the University of Nebraska Press website for these books and more. Please join us next Tuesday for a little trivia!!

This Week in History: August 4-8, 2008

This Week in History: August 4 - 8, 2008
Well, August is officially here, and let me tell you we are sure feeling the heat here in Nebraska!  Hopefully the weather in China is a little milder because this week the summer Olympics officially begin in Beijing where over 10,000 athletes from around the world will be competing. It seems like the Olympics get bigger and bigger all the time! Did you know that even though the Olympics can be traced back to ancient Greece the modern Olympics didn’t begin until 1859? Just a little fun fact I thought I’d share. Here are some more fun facts about what was happening this week in history.

August 4, 1693: Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon's invention of champagne.
Nothing symbolizes celebration quite the way a bottle of champagne does!  However, it is unlikely that champagne will ever be able to compare to the popularity of its ancient counter-part: wine. If you are a self-proclaimed wino or just like learning about wine, you should be on the lookout for Corkscrewed where author Robert V. Camuto takes his readers on an incredible journey through France’s wine country. 

   
August 5, 1962: American actress Marilyn Monroe is found dead at the age of 36 from a drug overdose in her Hollywood home. As most of us know one of Monroe’s claims to fame was her marriage to legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Their marriage was highly publicized and quite dramatic.  For those of you wanting to dig into a little more baseball drama check out Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball. 

August 6, 1965: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was made to help eliminate discriminatory voting practices that were being used towards blacks and other minorities in an effort to discourage them from casting their votes; the Act is seen as a landmark in the Civil Rights Movement. Pieces from Life’s Crazy Quilt is a riveting novel/memoir that retells of a time when racial turbulence was still a major part of life for African Americans in this country.

August 7, 1945: President Harry Truman announces the bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic bomb while returning from the Potsdam Conference aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.The dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan can (unofficially) be seen as the beginning of the Cold War, one of the most panicked times in American history.  In his book, Wildfire and Americans, Roger Kennedy brilliantly explores the “untold history” of the Cold War, and for you political history buffs out there, this one is a must! 

August 8, 1794: Joseph Whidbey and George Vancouver lead an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage near Juneau, Alaska.
Even today, Alaska seems to be a place shrouded in mystery.  It’s so extraordinary that people were exploring this northern wilderness in 1794!  Authentic Alaska is a great way to start exploring this isolated land for yourself while in the comfort of your own home. This book is an amazing way to learn about America’s last frontier and its people. 

New in August from the University of Nebraska Press

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press: Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother's Life in Politics by Beth Boosalis Davis.

As a 1950s housewife and League of Women Voters volunteer who spearheaded the city of Lincoln’s switch to a "strong mayor" form of government, Helen Boosalis never anticipated that she herself would one day be that strong mayor and chief executive of Nebraska's capital city.

Helen Boosalis's story, told by her daughter, Beth Boosalis Davis, is the story of a true pioneer of women in politics. The daughter of Greek immigrants, Boosalis achieved national prominence as the first woman president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and as an outspoken advocate for economically distressed cities facing President Reagan's "new federalism." Winning the Democratic nomination for governor of Nebraska in 1986, Helen Boosalis ran against Kay Orr in the first gubernatorial contest between two women in U.S. history. The interwoven tales of conflict and challenge, from the mayor’s office to the campaign trail, combine personal insight into one woman’s trailblazing political history with a compelling memoir of a half century of public service and private devotion shared by two remarkable women.

Learn more about Mayor Helen Boosalis here.

This Week in History: July 21-25, 2008

Well bloggers, it’s been awhile. You try and try, but sometimes life (or in this case summer classes) just gets in the way.  What’s important though, is that we’re together again and that even though we haven’t seen each other, history has prevailed. This week we’ve got everything from Jesse James to Praibha Patil, and a little Italian fascism just for fun.  Ready to pick up where we left off?

July 21, 1873: Jesse James and the James-Younger gang attempted and succeeded in pulling off the first successful train robbery in the American West.

Well I think it’s safe to say that Jesse James was a rebel of sorts (rebel, robber, murderer…you know) but if you’re interested in another kind of “bad boy” then please check out REBEL: The Life and Times of John Singleton Mosby by Kevin H. Siepel, which chronicles the life of this bipartisan Commander.

July 22, 1882: American Painter Edward Hopper was born today.
If you fancy yourself an art connoisseur   then please take a look at Beyond Madness: The Art of Ralph Blakelock by Norman A. Geske.

July 23, 1929: Fascist Italy bans the use of foreign words.
In the wake of a burgeoning bilingual culture, Americans are well versed in the foreign word controversy. If you find that you’re an advocate of words, regardless of their origin, then you may enjoy the book of poetry Modern Archaist by Osip Mandelstam.

July 24, 1783: Simon Bolivar, the South American liberator is born today.
There is so much to South American culture, the politics, literature, food, entertainment and sports. If the latter is what really appeals to you the please take a look at Venezualen Bust Baseball Boom: Andres Reiner scouting on the New Frontier by Milton H. Jamil.

July 25, 2007: Pratihba Patil is sworn in as the first women president in India.
The position of women in politics has risen considerably in the past 50 years. For a look at Lincolns first female mayor please take a look at Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics by Beth Boosalis Davis.

Ok, bloggers that’s enough history for today check out the UNP website for more titles.  Join us next week for a little Trivia and a few Links!

Tuesday Trivia: July 21, 2007

Well bloggers it hotter than … (well, you know) outside. So to try and get our minds out of the heat this week’s Tuesday Trivia is going to take a look at UNP’s new book, Authentic Alaska II: Voices of the Far North, edited by Susan B. Andrews and John Creed.  Showcasing writers from the Arctic Ocean to the Southeast Alaska rainforests, their stories account for the diverse and unique culture this state has to offer. Their sometimes intimate pieces touch on everything from Global Warming to a mothers fight for her son to go to college. This sequel to Authentic Alaska features both native and non native writers from primarily rural communities. If nothing else then reading this book in the dead heat (like today) might cool you down just a bit!

A.    Alaska is derived from the word Aleut meaning what?
B.    5% if the state speaks one of how many indigenous languages?
C.    The Highest point in Alaska is what?
D.    True or False: Alaska is one of two states not boarded by another.
E.    Alaska is the largest state in the US and covers how much ground?
F.    In 1964 the “Good Friday Earthquake” killed how many people.
G.    80% of Alaska’s state revenues comes from what?
H.    True or False: Alaska has one of the highest individual tax burdens in the country.
I.    How many volcanoes reside in Alaska?
J.    True or False: It was purchased from Russia in 1867 for less than 2 cents per acre.

Ok, bloggers check back tomorrow for the answers!

Author Guest Blog: Beth Boosalis Davis

Reaching for the Brass Ring

By Beth Boosalis Davis, author of Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics

Flat on my back and sick as I’d ever been, I managed to write on the back of a nearby dental reminder card a specific timetable to do something I’d never before considered – write a book about my mother, Helen Boosalis, and her political life. Days later, after I recovered, I studied my scratchy bedside notes expecting to dismiss them as some delusional sickbed rant. Instead, I realized writing my mother’s story had not come out-of-the-blue but rather from a desire buried deep within. Perhaps my illness had knocked me into a rare state of stillness, a state where something deeper than the next to-do item on my list could command my attention.

Even with clarity of purpose I still had practical matters to consider, such as the fact that I knew nothing about what was involved in writing a book.  I may not have doubted the goal but I certainly doubted my ability to achieve it. That’s when I recalled advice my mother was given when she hesitated to jump into her first race for mayor:  “the brass ring may not come round again.”  I had my timetable, I had my parents still with me, I had my husband’s support.  Time to reach for the brass ring.

I didn’t presume to think I could just sit down and type out a book, no matter how familiar the subject.  First I converted a little-used 8 X 9 feet space to a “room of my own” for writing.  I started journaling, and on my daily walks along Lake Michigan I practiced by writing three descriptions of the lake each day. I bought several books on writing and even read a few, hoping the rest would be absorbed through osmosis.