Nerd Nite 18: Garbage, Boobs, and Hot Sauce

Posted On: Jun 12, 2013 In: In the Spotlight, Other, Uncategorized

Forget Dan Brown’s Inferno, add some of these nerd nite reads to your summer TBR list!

What is nerd nite you ask?

We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in more than 50 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along. And there are often bands, acrobats, trivia, and other shenanigans as well. Imagine learning about everything from math feuds or the science of the Simpsons, to the genealogy of Godzilla or debunking beer myths. Fun, right? As nerds and non-nerds like to say, Nerd Nite Is Like the Discovery Channel™…with Beer! (from http://nerdnite.com/)

Check out our local nerd nite here http://lawrence.nerdnite.com

Garbage 101: Everything You Never Knew About Your Own Stinking Garbage Shelly McNerney

How does our garbage compare with census data? Is recycling worth it? What’s up with mummified garbage?

Rubbish: The Archeology of Garbage William Rathje & Cullen Murphy*

The Green Book Elizabeth Rogers

The Big Necessity Rose George

Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash Edward Humes

Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage Heather Rogers

Trash Andy Mulligan

Oggles & Goggles: Viewing KU Boobs Through Feminism’s Many Lenses Rachel Smalter Hall

Objectification, the male gaze, body worship, choice feminism? You decide.

The Feminist Promise Christine Stansell

The Second Sex Simone de Beauvoir

Sexual Personae Camille Paglia*

Feminism is for Everybody Bell Hooks

Full Frontal Feminism Jessica Valenti

Tabasco is for Wimps. Welcome to the World of Extreme Hot Sauce Kevin Freese

Crazy From the Heat: Dave’s Insanity Cookbook Dave Hirschkop*

Scoville scale, carrots as additives, capsaicin can actually kill you.

Barbecue! Bible: Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades, Bastes, Butters, and Glazes Steven Raichlen

Any Book by Dave Dewitt

*We don’t own these, but we can totally get them for you!

Nerd Nite 17: faking it, breaking it, making it

Posted On: May 8, 2013 In: In the Spotlight, Other

LPL has teamed up with nerd nite Lawrence to give you a list of books, movies, and websites that our nerd nite speakers highly recommend to dig even deeper into their talks.

What is nerd nite you ask?

We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in more than 50 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along. And there are often bands, acrobats, trivia, and other shenanigans as well. Imagine learning about everything from math feuds or the science of the Simpsons, to the genealogy of Godzilla or debunking beer myths. Fun, right? As nerds and non-nerds like to say, Nerd Nite Is Like the Discovery Channel™…with Beer! (from http://nerdnite.com/)

Check out our local nerd nite page here http://lawrence.nerdnite.com

Here’s the recommended reads/watches of our Nerd Nite 17 presenters:

From Bedroom Performance to Performance Art: The Rise of Air Guitar and the Dream of World Peace Eric “Mean” Melin

To Air is Human *

“To Air Is Human is the riotous tale of one man’s journey through a world of wheelchair-bound Christian air rockers, spandex-jumpsuit fittings, Finnish stunt wolves, catatonic ’80s guitar heroes, air groupies, Aireoke, Air Supply, dry-ice injuries, and ultimately, good vs. evil (in the form of Björn’s rival pretender to the air guitar throne). But it is also a sincere and penetrating account of the pursuit of an elusive, intangible, and perhaps nonexistent goal: to achieve ‘airness’–that is, when air guitar transcends the ‘real’ art that it imitates and becomes an art form in and of itself’

Air Guitar Heroes **

Air Guitar Nation *

If punk helped democratize music by prizing energy over virtuosity–then air guitar takes it even further, removing musicianship and playing altogether. The world championships began in 1996, and the contest has been a part of the Oulu Music Video Festival in Oulu, Finland since. The U.S. Air Guitar Championship began in 2003, with two regional competitions, in New York and Los Angeles, with the finals in LA. The film follows the fierce competition between David “C-Diddy” Jung, (who rocks a Hello Kitty breastplate) and Dan “Björn Türoque” Crane, eternal challenger and perennial runner-up. After the US championship, they move on to Finland, where they are the first Americans ever to compete. The Europeans have several years head start, take air guitar very seriously, and really know how to thrash. Air guitar is performance art for those who never lost touch with their inner child. This documentary is a lovingly hilarious portrait of a bizarre pastime, bearing the message that people are people no matter where you find them.

Dan Crane’s (aka Bjorn Turoque) TED Talk

http://usairguitar.com/

http://www.airguitarworldchampionships.com/

Very Naughty Boys: The Story of “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” Abby Olcese

First 20 Years of Monty Python *

Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years

A raucous account of the author’s prime years as a member of Monty Python describes the group’s international travels, battles over censorship, and collaborations on celebrated films, in an intimate record that is complemented by descriptions of Palin’s present experiences as a family man.

Youtube footage of Palin & Cleese vs. Muggeridge & Stockwood

The cover of Jai Nitz’s new comic The Dream Thief

Iconography: The Art of Judging a Book By Its Cover

Jai Nitz

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, this innovative comic book provides a detailed look at the history, meaning, and art of comics and cartooning.

Chip Kidd: Book One: Work: 1986-2006 *

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross

Celebrates the talents of DC Comics artist Alex Ross in a collection of his drawings, sketches, limited edition prints, and other artwork, all reproduced in full color, accompanied by a study of his creative process.

*We can score it through interlibrary loan.

** Unfortunately this title is only for sale through a third party on amazon.com.

Have You Read Bentley Little?

Posted On: Dec 26, 2012 In: In the Spotlight, Other

Bentley Little is one of the horror genre’s best kept secrets. He has been writing for twenty years and has penned more than a dozen novels and over one hundred short stories but almost never gives interviews, doesn’t have a website, and rarely appears at book signings. He published his first novel in 1990 and it won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel, the genre’s highest annual honor for new novelists. Since then, he has gone on to develop a unique voice that has won famous fans such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Read More..

Stamberg’s Shortlist

Posted On: Mar 22, 2012 In: Other

Last week, the crantastic wonderful NPR broadcaster Susan Stamberg was in town to headline an event for the Library Foundation. When asked about her favorite storytellers, she responded that Studs Terkel, Joan Didion, John McPhee and Philip Roth are all on her shortlist. The authors she noted are all hugely acclaimed and brilliant, of course, but something else they share is a keen ability to unearth and examine different facets of life in America – which is maybe not a surprising preference for a journalist. So here’s a few books from Susan Stamberg’s favorites, each reporting on uniquely American experiences (if you find that you like them, maybe shoot a couple bucks to NPR during their next pledge drive as a thank you to S.S.): Read More..

Pretty City: Things to Look at While Stuck in Traffic

Posted On: Feb 2, 2012 In: In the Spotlight, Other

The question “what is art” can be quite simple or complex. When we think about art in cities, things get even murkier. Who is art for? Is it statues of long-gone military heroes? How does art enhance the public realm? Author and urbanologist Max Grinnell will talk about the role of public art in American cities, via illustrative materials from his travels at the Lawrence Public Library (February 20, 7 pm). Read More..

What Book Would You Read 10 Times?

Posted On: Jan 24, 2012 In: In the Spotlight, Other

Over on our Facebook page, we asked “If you had to read one book ten times, what would you pick?” We got so many great responses that we decided to share them here! Click on the titles to view them in our catalog and place a request if you like! Read More..

Meet and Greet: Sustainable Ranching in Kansas

Posted On: Jan 13, 2012 In: In the Spotlight, Other

On January 26th, you can celebrate Kansas Day at Lawrence Public Library by meeting Kansas ranchers practicing the art of sustainable animal husbandry! Free tasting portions of beef, elk, turkey and buffalo will be provided by Local Burger. In the meantime, beef up on your reading by checking out these recommendations by Hilary Brown of Local Burger: Read More..

Gurl Talk

Posted On: Dec 20, 2011 In: In the Spotlight, Other

Here’s a fun fact: Katy Perry’s fans refer to themselves as “Katy Kats.” I gleaned this info off an SUV I’ve noticed parked around my neighborhood. This vehicle has been painted sky blue and cotton candy pink and is bedecked with a giant rendering of Ms. Perry’s head. It’s really something else. Hats off to the crew over at Maaco. Read More..

Bubbly Personalities

Posted On: Dec 11, 2011 In: In the Spotlight, Other

Much like professional wrestlers and wives of philandering politicians, every comedian of even middling success is mandated to write a book. I don’t think that a week goes by where I don’t notice another questionable addition to this already underperforming sub-genre. It’s not hard to see why these books are being published, with Tina Fey and Chelsea Handler having penned such monster bestsellers. But when Ms. Handler’s hangers-on start getting book deals (even Chuy), it’s a signal that we are in the midst of a comedy book bubble – and like all bubbles, its chief characteristic is a wanton disregard for quality control. Read More..