Artists Honored, Legends Return

Written by Jon Williams

It’s been a big week for news and events in country music.

First and foremost, the American Country Awards were held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. It was a star-studded affair, hosted by Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick and featuring performances by Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Kellie Pickler, among others. The awards, voted on by fans, recognize the best of the past year in a variety of categories. The big winners on the night were Florida Georgia Line (six awards) and Blake Shelton (four awards), as well as Luke Bryan, who was named artist of the year. For a complete list of the night’s winners, click here.

That same day, it was announced that a new Johnny Cash album will be released in March, featuring unheard music from the country legend. Out Among the Stars was recorded in the early ‘80s and then never released. The material was mostly forgotten and assumed lost, and has only recently been rediscovered. This will be the fourth album release since Cash’s passing in 2003, the first since American VI: Ain’t No Grave in 2010. Stay tuned for ordering information on the upcoming album.

Finally, Garth Brooks announced this week on Good Morning America that he will begin touring again in 2014. Brooks shocked the music world when he announced his retirement from touring and recording in 2000, at the height of his immense popularity, saying he wanted to spend time with his wife (country singer Trisha Yearwood) and children. Now, with his youngest daughter about to graduate from high school, Brooks is ready to get back to what he does best. In preparation, Brooks has released a 6-disc compilation, Blame It All on My Roots, which features his take on songs which have influenced him over the course of his life and career, a mixture of classic country, classic rock, and more. There’s no word yet on any upcoming releases of new original material, but you have to imagine that’ll be the next step.

"Hour of Code" Promotes Computer Knowledge

Written by Kyle Slagley

This week marks the first annual Computer Science Education Week, or CSEdWeek for short. Sponsored by Code.org, the week is intended to inspire K-12 students to learn the basics, and hopefully more, of computer science. The week also serves a double-purpose in that it recognizes the December 9th birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who is widely considered to be a pioneer in computing.

The big push during this year’s CSEdWeek is the “Hour of Code” initiative. Big names like Ashton Kutcher, President Obama, and (unsurprisingly) Mark Zuckerberg have been encouraging people to take part in hour-long seminars where participants are taught the basics of computer code.

Beginning Monday morning, I was very happy to see dozens of tweets by libraries in all corners of the U.S. and Canada advocating for “Hour of Code” and CSEdWeek. Loads of libraries are offering their own Hour of Code seminars this week, or at the very least are directing patrons to other local organizations who are hosting.

In case your patrons want some additional material regarding either code or computer science in general, I’ve pulled together a couple of titles you can order from Midwest Tape that might help.

Learn HTML - Explains what HTML is, web pages, scanners, servers, web page design issues, and more. Learn how to create a page or simply be up-to-date with today's technology. Everything viewers need to learn is at their fingertips.

Mastering Java Programming – Vol. 1 & Vol. 2: Learn how to program in Java with step-by-step video lessons. Presuming viewers know nothing about programming at all, viewers will be walked through each concept necessary to write Java programs quickly and effectively. Then continue the Mastering Java series with step-by-step video lessons and example code. The student will learn about keyboard input, for loop, if statements, while loops, math libraries, and much more.

If your patrons have questions regarding a specific type of computing, SmartBrowse “Information Technology” for a complete list of our available titles.

Hot This Week: December 9

With winter weather rearing its ugly head across so much of the U.S., it was a good weekend to stay inside and enjoy some movies, music, and audiobooks. Last week's DVD titles continued to do well, with Red 2 and Planes joining the list. One Direction takes the top spot on the music chart, with Eminem sliding down just one spot to #2. James Patterson sends his latest title to the top of this week's fiction list, while in non-fiction the only newcomer, Bill Bryson's One Summer, slips in at #10.

DVD

1. The Heat
2. The Internship
3. White House Down
4. Grown Ups 2
5. Red 2
6. Pacific Rim
7. The Conjuring
8. Planes
9. Monsters University
10. The Hangover Part III

CD

1. One Direction, Midnight Memories
2. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
3. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
4. Katy Perry, Prism
5. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
6. Lady Gaga, ARTPOP
7. Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
8. Miley Cyrus, Bangerz
9. NOW That's What I Call Music 48
10. Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience - Part 2 of 2

Fiction

1. Cross My Heart, James Patterson
2. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
3. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
4. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
5. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci
6. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
7. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
8. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
9. The Supreme Macaroni Company, Adriana Trigiani
10. Dust, Patricia Cornwell

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
3. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
4. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
5. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
6. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. Five Days in November, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin
10. One Summer, Bill Bryson 

World Mourns Loss of Nelson Mandela

Written by Kyle Slagley

Today, free men and women from all nations are forced to say goodbye to one of the most influential men in history. Nelson Mandela passed away peacefully yesterday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, amid his family and friends at the age of 95.

After spending his younger years as a political activist, Mandela was eventually arrested and would spend nearly 30 years in prison for his activities. Just four years after being released from prison, Mandela was elected President of South Africa and served one five-year term from 1994-1999 before voluntarily retiring.

As one of the most influential men of the 20th century, Mandela has fittingly been portrayed by some of Hollywood’s best actors over the years; among them are Morgan Freeman, Sidney Poitier, David Harewood, Dennis Haysbert, Terrence Howard, Clarke Peters, and Idris Elba. Mandela also gave the world a chance to know him through his writing; the most popular in recent years would be Long Walk to Freedom, thanks largely to the film version starring Elba.

Thanks to his tireless courage and commitment to ideals like freedom, education, and peace, many nations across the world feel as though they are saying goodbye to one of their own. Celebrities and heads of state across the world are sharing Mandela’s words today, and many national flags are flying at half-mast.

Because it is incredibly difficult to find words that truly do justice to a man as great as Mandela, I will instead leave you with the words that he himself used to find courage during his many years in prison.

Invictus

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

For titles by and about Nelson Mandela, visit our website here.

Hot This Week: December 2

The top titles from last week stay strong, with the Vince Vaughn-Owen Wilson comedy The Internship and the horror flick The Conjuring appearing for the first time. Eminem takes over music's top spot, with four new titles making the list behind him. New releases from Janet Evanovich and David Baldacci storm to the head of the fiction list, while Glenn Beck and a recollection of the JFK assassination debut in non-fiction.

DVD

1. The Heat
2. Grown Ups 2
3. White House Down
4. Pacific Rim
5. The Internship
6. The Hangover Part III
7. The Conjuring
8. Monsters University
9. The Croods
10. The Purge

CD

1. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2. Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell: Volume 2
3. NOW That's What I Call Music 48
4. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack
6. Daughty, Baptized
7. Yo Gotti, I Am
8. Lady Gaga, ARTPOP
9. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red 
10. Katy Perry, Prism

Fiction

1. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
2. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci
3. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
4. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
6. Dust, Patricia Cornwell
7. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
8. The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan
9. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
10. White Fire, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
4. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
5. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
6. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. Good Tidings and Great Joy, Sarah Palin
10. Five Days in November, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin