Bridges: The Spans of North America

Book Description

Whether built of stone, brick, wood, iron, steel, or concrete, bridges have captivated our imaginations more than any other man-made structures. In David Plowden's words, "there is no more overt, powerful, or rational expression of accomplishment—of man's ability to build." And Americans, in particular, have excelled in this structural art. Bridges explores in depth how, when, where, and by whom the most important North American bridges were built, and, with Plowden's superb photographs, we can dwell on their most important engineering and aesthetic qualities. In his extensive text, Plowden vividly records the discoveries, misconceptions, struggles, failures, and triumphs of the men who dedicated their energies to bridge design and construction. Plans of many of the bridges are included to illuminate less obvious aspects of these engineering marvels. Although a number of the bridges herein have been lost and others have been built, this volume stands as a stunning and powerful argument for our continued reverence for these wonderful structures. 184 duotone photographs, line drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Photographs, Engrossing History.......2003-01-28

We bridge difficulties. We like a bridge over troubled waters. We needed a bridge into the new millennium. Bridges have a hold on us in a way that other examples of civil engineering do not. And we often don't notice them as we use them. Although I had traveled on the Natchez Trace Parkway many times, upheld by a bridge in Franklin, Tennessee, I had never looked down and appreciated the span until alerted to it a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful, big, parabolic concrete arch which I now get off and admire fairly often. According to _Bridges: The Spans of North America_ (Norton) by David Plowden, I am not alone. This bridge "is unlike any heretofore built in America and has been the recipient of innumerable awards." Calling attention to the bridges we take for granted, and telling a history of American bridge building, Plowden's book is fittingly big, and displays his beautiful black and white pictures in large format, splendidly reproduced. It is properly sized for the coffee table, but the text is appropriately comprehensive, and as worth reading as the pictures are worth admiring.

_Bridges_ is divided into chronological sections based on the materials used: stone and brick; wood; iron; steel (divided into three time periods, since there are so many steel bridges); and concrete. Erecting a stone bridge was expensive and time consuming, especially compared to using wood. There are more miles of wooden bridges than any other type in America, although Plowden has little good to say about the "cult of the covered bridge" which has obscured the trusswork he thinks is the important part of these wooden bridges. Iron was used for bridges for only a short time, and iron bridges are the rarest of bridge artifacts. Concrete bridges are the way to go for the main bridge-building impetus in America, the highway system. Reinforced concrete does extremely well for piers to hold bridges up, as well as for the flats that carry traffic. Plowden spends many pages on the most famous type of bridge, the steel spans, and his pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge present them in new ways, and he hurtles through the engrossing stories of their construction because they are relatively familiar. The stories of lesser known bridges, such as the wonderful Eads bridge in St. Louis (built by Captain James Eads, of few engineering credentials and no bridge experience) bring to light many surprising difficulties and solutions the bridge builders came up with.

Plowden's history serves as a demonstration of engineering problem-solving. Each bridge is unique in purpose, location, and difficulties of completion. This is true even in replacement bridges. Many of these beautiful photographs show bridges that are no longer existent. There have been bridge failures, of course, but usually bridges built in the nineteenth century show signs of distress, and are called out of commission. Sometimes railroads simply no longer need a particular link. There are, however, new vistas for bridge building, especially in the straits and bays that have needed bridges and now have proposals for bridges meeting new engineering and economic abilities previously unavailable. Plowden is confident that utility will continue to be combined with beauty, and his handsome book supports such confidence.

Average customer rating:
BRIDGES the Spans of North America
David Plowden
Manufacturer: NORTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JV7SPK

Average customer rating:
Bridges the Spans of North America
David Plowden
Manufacturer: W W NORTON & CO @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N6BMCQ

Average customer rating:
BRIDGES, THE SPANS OF NORTH AMERICA
David Plowden
Manufacturer: Studio Book / Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QRUYY4

Average customer rating:
Bridges: the Spans of North America
David Plowden
Manufacturer: Norton, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IXXREK

Book Description

Ever since the first hot-air balloons sailed over the French countryside in the eighteenth century, both delighting and terrifying those watching below, the world has had ambivalent feelings towards air-filled forms. This first up-to-date history explores the fear and wonder evoked by inflatable technologies in all aspects of life: from children 's toys to military craft and everything in between.

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating book. A great gift........2003-04-29

Start dreaming. Let yourself be carried away into an amazing world of Art, Architecture and Design. And order another book for your best friend.

This is what blowup will do to you.
My wife is the design author Ingrid Wenz-Gahler, and when I gave her this book her first words were: How much work to get all this information, to collect all those pictures. She knows what she is talking about.

blowup by Sean Topham is a richely illustrated history of inflatable design and pneumatic technology which encompasses us in all aspests of life. This book takes you through two hundred years of engineering inflatables from the first start of a Montgolfière in France in 1783 to pneumatic dummy Sherman tanks used in World War II by the British and to architectural challenges like the Eden project of 2001 in the American West.

What I like most about this book is the use of inflatables in modern art, the film industry and even fashion. Sean Topham has looked into every corner of this world and came up in this book with pictures of Woody Allen in an inflabable body-suit for the film Sleeper, with fashion created by Jean-Paul Gaultier and many others, and with countless pieces of art like Andy Warhol's Silver Clouds and Hans Haakes Sky Line. - Just to name a few.

What Sean Topham is showing us that inflatable art, architecture and design is adding beauty to our lives. WELL EARNED FIVE STARS.

Book Description

Kagome returns to feudal Japan, where her friends need her help against a wolf-demon. Inu-Yasha then challenges Naraku, the demon who impersonated him and killed Kikyo.

Customer Reviews:

^_~.......2005-08-13

I was really impressed by this book. I was especially surprised to see Kagome's face when he met up with Kikyou again. ^_^ Once again, the love-conflict thickens while rumors of young girls' dead souls being harvested are coming true. My favorite part was toward the end, but you'll have to see for yourself. ^_~

the best inu yasha yet!.......2003-08-07

after reading each of the inu yasha books, like ten times each, i can truly say that this is my favorite. in this book inu yasha comes face to face with kikyo again, and kagome finds out how inu yasha truly feels about the two of them!! this book is filled with close calls, violence, creepy villains, comedy, and of course--romance! what else could you expect from rumiko takahashi-the queen of romantic comedy?! sure, fifteen bucks is a lot to dish out for a 200 page comic book, but it is TOTALLY worth it for inu yasha, and it always WILL be!! BUY THIS BOOK!

THE BIGGEST INU-YASHA FAN EVER!.......2003-04-03

To me Inu-yasha is the best cartoon and comic book series. In this book Kikyo comes back to take care of some unfinished business to do... wonder what happens... sorry don't want to spoil it for others, just read it you'll love it.And for the people who love this book watch the cartoon series on DVD ...

::Smiles::.......2003-03-08

Wow! Thus was a great book. It was easy to read and has a great plot. The drawings are exquisitetly done. The emotion in the story realates well to real life.

Amazing (not so) Little Book!.......2003-01-05

This book is soooooooo cool! I don't exactly own it (i'm borrowiong it from my best friend), I think I can give a pretty basic idea of whats happenig(based off the TV shows). Well, after Inuyasha pushes Kagome through the well that seperates her world from Inuyasha's, she goes back(of course, cuz they can't continue the series without Kagome)! Then they find naraku and they find out all about him and how he came to be and all that. Then they find out that Kikyo is still alive(god forbid) and Inuyasha goes and kisses her in front of Kagome and Kagome gets mad and Inuyasha gets mad and they all get mad and then Inuyasha says he really did have feeling for her, but she's asleep! ASLEEP!!!!!! There are nice sound FX, though, to make up for the [disappointing] ending (so it's only [disappointing] in my eyes...)!

Average customer rating:

LOVE IT!

Excellent book

My First Year As a Journalist: Real-World Stories from America's Newspaper and Magazine Journaists (1st Year Career Series)

Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Journalism | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Associated Press Guide to Newswriting: The Resource for Professional Journalists

The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and The Public Should Expect

Associated Press Reporting Handbook

AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law)

ASIN: 0802774261

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT!.......2005-10-31

This book is wonderful for those who are in journalism school (undergrad and grad) looking for advice from successful journalists. You won't recognize any of the contributors necessarily (no Woodward, for instance), but that's partly what makes it so good. It has honest and exciting examples.

In this book you'll notice that there seems to be a trend from where the contributors have worked and graduated: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Orlando Sentinel, etc. Perhaps the author called upon some friends to write entries for the book? However that doesn't seem to matter, since the experiences of each journalist vary widely and each have something unique to tell.

The 22 inspirational entries were written by several types of journalists; most were reporters, some were editors, but they all started at the bottom. Since reporting can be a difficult field to break into, discouragement can creep up relatively easily. Cue this book. While searching for your first journalism job read one of these entries per day. (I've scribbled notes all over my own copy.) Not only will it keep your motivation up, you'll learn tips and tricks along the way!

Excellent book.......2005-01-03

This book is filled with rich, detailed stories on journalists' rookie years in the newsroom.

Average customer rating:

Journalism: Stories from the Real World

Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Journalists | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Journalism | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Writing Skills | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1555919359

Book Description

Five hundred years before Columbus, a young Viking named Leif Eriksson crossed the Atlantic and became the first known European to set foot in North America. The tale of the crossing and the brief Viking settlement in North America has been passed down for a thousand years. Now, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel retells it to a new audience, painting a vivid picture of what Eriksson might have experienced on his great Viking expedition.

Customer Reviews:

An exciting saga of the Lief Eriksson expedition.......2003-12-14

Before Columbus is an exciting saga of the Lief Eriksson expedition five hundred years before Columbus provides kids in grades 3-5 with an excellent saga which reads like fiction but includes all known facts about his incredible journey. New audiences will appreciate this vivid retelling of what Lief might have experienced on his Viking expedition.

Average customer rating:

The Best Book on Raising Godly Children

Helping Your Children Walk With God
Phil Phillips , and Syvelle Phillips
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0840791380

Customer Reviews:

The Best Book on Raising Godly Children.......2003-03-03

I am amazed this book has not been reviewed. It is absolutely the best, most practical, detailed book on raising children who will walk with God. Phil Phillips gives specific instructions on what we as parents can do to nurture our children in their walk with God. The book is 260 pages long and I think I have highlighting on at least half of those pages. What he says is so relavant. I have read many, many books on growing godly children and this is one of the best if not the best. You will also be encouraged in your walk with God as you go through this book. It is very easy to read. Well worth the investment.

Book Description

- Illustrated with 120 photographs
- Carries the reader from the Alps in WWI to North Africa in WWII
- With many photographs taken by Rommel himself

Customer Reviews:

ROMMEL and his Art of War.......2006-11-29

This is a book about military operations written largely by Rommel and edited by Dr. John Pimlott. Unlike "Attacks" by Rommel which is a volume of accounts of his experiences in WWI, this book is easier to read than are typical military after-action reports. "Attacks" was dry; this book is intriguing. There are many gems of wisdom found inside that are just as applicable in this day and age as they were in Rommels day. I believe the man was honourable and chivalrous. The epitome of a professional soldier. He would have made a great American!

Timothy G. Hudson
Riverdale, Utah, USA

Average customer rating:

Rommel and His Art of War
Erwin; Pimlott, John [editor] Rommel
Manufacturer: Military Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739435299

Average customer rating:

Rommel and his Art of War
John Pimlott
Manufacturer: The Military Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LZBHEM

Book Description

This report uses information from the RAND RaDiUS research and development (R&D) database, complemented by agency interviews, to catalogue international cooperative R&D and to construct a framework for assessing benefits the United States may derive from participation in such research.

Book Description

Voltammetric Methods in Brain Systems offers neuroscientists at all levels of expertise a combination of theory and practical how-to instructions for using in vivo and on-line neurotransmitter measurements in their experimental brain systems. Coverage includes the entire spectrum of applications for in situ, brain slices, transplant media, cell cultures, and single cells. Emphasis is on fast measurements that reveal release-reuptake information on transmitter systems. How-to information ranges from ample detail on the preparation of electrodes, to practical experimental details, to the interpretation of results.

Written by many of the world's leading experts-often those whose laboratories have spearheaded work in the area-Voltammetric Methods in Brain Systems provides insightful views on all the best approaches and experimental techniques, with sufficient introductory material and practical detail to satisfy both newcomers and experienced researchers.

Customer Reviews:

Essential reading for neuroscientists using electrochemistry.......2001-10-15

This text covers most of the areas important for neurobiologists who wish to make electrochemical measurements. It includes chapters on the surface chemistry of carbon microelectrodes, understanding of the environment in which measurements are made (e.g. diffusion), and a number of different biological approaches in which electrochemical measurements have been made. These range from single cell to whole animal studies. Each chapter is written in the style of the presenting lab, and gives a clear insight both into the methodology they use, and the questions they address.

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