Paradise by Design: Tropical Resorts and Residences by Bensley Design Studios

Book Description

All-inclusive guide to designing vacation retreats Hospitality building is todayÆs fastest-growing construction category. Resort Design: Planning, Architecture and Interiors, by international expert Margaret Huffadine, gives you a foundation for working successfully on a wide range of resort projects, casino-based, spa, sport, beach, ecotourism, urban and theme resorts anywhere in the world. This from-the-ground-up guide takes you from feasibility studies through planning,financing, and design stages. Renderings and photographs of architectural and interior design details of public areas and guest rooms at renowned resorts richly illustrate profit-determining concepts. You get critical front-of-house and back-of-house operational details for restaurants and bars...security...housekeeping...structural, mechanical, and electrical requirements...executive and administrative offices...staff working conditions and accommodations...and much, much more, details guaranteed to help your projects go smoothly and cost less.

Customer Reviews:

Exaggerated title.......2000-07-05

The book analyses the subjects at an amateur level and it is lacking in content. As a necessity of my doctoral dissertation I bought it and regret.The letter fonts are unnecessarily too big; according to me the real volume should be about 175 pages.Photographs and drawings(plan, etc.)are inadequate and print quality is not good.I was expecting a satisfying book.

Customer Reviews:

An excelent starting point for any artist or illustrator.......1997-07-24

This is a book about the mechanics of drawing, not the feeling and expression of it. It is an excelent instructional text, absolutely full of illustrations. I was most impressed by the clear logical explanation of how light operates in the atmosphere. Reading it allowed me to control depth in my drawings to a far greater degree than I ever thought I could achieve. I believe this book could give almost any artist, no matter what their style or subject matter, a better insight into how we actually see the world. If you ever need to draw anything at all, buy this book

Average customer rating:

Good book

One of the better books out there

The Magic of Digital Close-Up Photography (A Lark Photography Book

Very solid book with VERY many typos, as though I bought a proof copy

Great treatise on Close-Up Magic!

The Magic of Digital Close-Up Photography (A Lark Photography Book)
Joseph R. Meehan
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | How-to | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Digital Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Subjects | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Digital Photography | Digital Photography & Video | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Magic of Digital Nature Photography (A Lark Photography Book)

Digital Nature Photography Closeup

Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography

Macrophotography: Learning from a Master

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)

ASIN: 1579906524

Customer Reviews:

Good book.......2007-09-12

It's good, only if what you're looking for is a concise guide - for both digital and film photography.
No camera info for the photos! (!)

One of the better books out there.......2007-09-06

Very clearly written for beginner or advanced. A lot of information. Beautiful pictures. I only wish that each picture had the camera info. Like the f stops, shutter speeds, lens etc. But it does cover landscapes, wildlife, color, close ups very well. Nicely catagorized and a good read. If only it would have the camera info like some other books do it would have been a 5 star book.

The Magic of Digital Close-Up Photography (A Lark Photography Book.......2007-01-13

An excellent book. The author doesnt push you to buy the most expensive equipment, but gives honest reviews about the advantages and disadvantages, about different equipment and lets the reader decide how best to match their budget to their requirements. If your starting out in macro photography well worth the read.

Very solid book with VERY many typos, as though I bought a proof copy.......2006-09-22

I would definitely recommend this book if what you're looking for is a concise and informative guide to a wide array of techniques for shooting close ups with your D-SLR, your digicam, or even your scanner (the scanner chapter was particularly inspiring). Mr. Meehan's prose is a bit labored, but he does exactly what I was hoping he would do: he gives examples of different close up photos you might want to take (flowers or insects outside, jewelry in artificial light, model cars with a dedicated macro flash system, ETC.), and then gives a concise run-down of what you need to do and possibly purchase in order to make similar shots.

My only criticism of this book is that it contains an almost unbelievable number of typos, nearly one every three pages, as well as at least one totally incorrect image (an image of what is supposed to be a camera with a bellows extender attached actually shows something completely different). Still, if you can get past all the typos, it's a good basic primer in digital close up techniques, with a few ideas you may not even have thought to try.

Great treatise on Close-Up Magic!.......2006-07-04

Digital cameras have some special advantages when it comes to taking close-up photos, as the author reveals in this excellent book. There are also some pitfalls to avoid, and the author covers them, too. While this book is aimed at intermediate to advanced photographers, even beginners can learn something from the friendly tone and thorough coverage. This book is a great tool for becoming a master of macro photography quickly.

Amazon.com

Sure, Terminator 2 was great, but that was years ago. Want some of the same full-on futuristic action? Check out Japan's Metal Guardian Faust, a classic action-adventure story and a must for robot fans. The action starts off fast and never slows down. Young schoolgirl Rushiha is minding her own business at the local video-game arcade when she is attacked by a robot. Moments later another robot comes to her rescue--a mysterious mechanical being named Faust, whose sole knowledge is that he was programmed to protect Rushiha from nine evil robots who will come to capture her. Where this all leads to is an edge-of-your-seat ride combining artificial intelligence, military secrets, and tons of explosive action sequences. --Jim Pascoe

Customer Reviews:

SOO GREAT.......2004-10-12

It has a great plot with funny scenes. Metal Guardian Faust is da bomb. It's funny to read, has action scenes, and it has the greatest pictures. It has nothing to go against it except for the fact that there isn't any sequel.

Cool Manga.......2000-06-10

This is one of the most awesome mangas out there! If you don't have it I would definitely say you should get it. Awesome storyline and cool robots and ofcourse GUNS! heeheehee

a good booke with a few flaws.......1999-07-20

I thought that it was a wonderful Manga except for the fact that he beats the enemies quickly with one move where the enemies have been pounding him for 1/2 hour. and he could have beat them a lot earlier, but he did not for no reason. The book would be a lot better if there were more battles that were drwn out a lot longer, but they aren't. However the animation is good and so is the storyline.

Average customer rating:

Metal Guardian Faust #3
Tetsuro Ueyama
Manufacturer: Viz Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RJJW2G

Product Description

"Highway Battleground"

Average customer rating:

Metal Guardian Faust #4
Tetsuro Ueyama
Manufacturer: Viz Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RJG98G

Product Description

"Dream of an Angel"

Average customer rating:

Metal Guardian Faust #7
Tetsuro Ueyama
Manufacturer: Viz Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RJJVZO

Product Description

"Revelations"

Average customer rating:

Metal Guardian Faust #8
Tetsuro Ueyama
Manufacturer: Viz Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RJG922

Product Description

"Brief Reunion"

Book Description

Mass electronic commerce--it's a whole new realm of consumerism, a virtual 24-hour, worldwide sales arena, a burgeoning retail revolution--and it's happening right now. Sounds like heaven for retailers and manufacturers. Right?

Then why are so many businesses in electronic shock, risking extinction rather than embracing the inevitable evolution of shopping? This illuminating guide explains why, discusses the growth of electronic shopping--and helps businesses overcome their uncertainty and inertia.

At the heart of e-shock is the "ES test"--designed to help businesses decide how their company is going to be affected by the revolution and determine the level of response required. Then, e-shock provides 10 strategies to help retailers and manufacturers map a path through the new market challenges and develop a clear, long-term strategy for growth and success in the electronic marketplace.

Customer Reviews:

The Electronic Selling Sea Change.......2000-11-28

De Kare-Silver wrote "E-Shock" to help retailers and manufacturers understand the online marketplace evolution. Full of case studies and examples, he provides practical guidelines, tools, checklists, and strategies for decision-makers.

This book gives you the information to make informed choices, formulate heads-up sales strategies, and create savvy 21st century marketing plans.

Good approach !.......2000-04-29

An original book (yes there are with e-something) about dedicated "click and mortar" companies approach to the web.

It comes with a full set of tools (tests, frameworks, ...) that are very useful to practicionners

Most of the facts at the detailled level are relevant and informative the only pitfaall is that most analysis are initiated not truly deepens.

Learn from the past, anticipate the future..........2000-01-28

This book stood out when I first saw it at an American Management Association book store. The author focuses on the successful pioneers of the E-commerce revolution, and he helps us anticipate the future. A number of practical e-commerce business strategies are also offered for aspiring Web-preneurs. You can't ask for much more!

Valuable Content - Poorly Presented.......1999-08-18

There is some valuable info in this book, but nothing you wouldn't find in any other eCommerce publication. The problem here is run on sentences, improper grammar, typographical errors, and a huge rally around business in the UK (rather than the US or international). If you are looking for a great visionary book on eCommerce try Tom Siebel's "Cyber Rules." This book isn't worth the money!

Valuable Content - Poorly Presented.......1999-08-18

Customer Reviews:

needs an update.......2006-05-31

It is now 8 years since this book came out. China has continued to astonish the world with its rapid growth, which certainly does not exclude its banking system. Under these circumstances, an update of this book would be timely.

The issues discussed are still germane. Though today's numbers would be expected to be larger. As I write this, just a few days ago, a major Chinese bank had a very successful IPO. It appears that the key issue of bad loans is being gradually ameliorated by policies of the major banks and, implicitly, by the Chinese government, through repeated capital injections.

A well researched publication, athough biased in argument........1999-03-25

Firstly, let me say the research Nicholas Lardy has conducted is commendable and a welcome addition to the existing literature. His data sources are vast and highly informative. The major limitation of this publication is that the central argument is biased. Lardy selects those data and pieces of existing literature which support his own view. As a result, major sections of the literature concerning financial reform in transitional economies are simply ignored or brushed over. Lardy's view is the typical Western, dare I say "American" argument. Primarily he uses financial criteria to evaluate the economic performance of China's state banks. This methodoloy is extremely poor - particularly in the context of China's trannsitional economy. Financial criteria are a horrible guide to both internal and allocative economic efficiency. If anyone would like elaboration on this point feel free to email me. In summary, Lardy's book is informative and makes for interesting reading. However as a piece of economic analysis, its usefulness is limited. The major reason for this is a total lack of economic theory(as indicated by the previous reviewer) which has resulted in a poor methodology.

Timely, critical but not theoretical enough.......1999-02-12

This timely book by Lardy explains: 1) the intermingling of China's gradualist reform, the inefficiency of SOE and the evolving banking system; 2) the structure and practise of the banking system of China; 3) some of the implications of the looming financial crisis in China. It thus serves as a critical and timely piece for readers to gauge what has been wrong for China and why are the policy implications. There are a few points worth highlighting. First, the cost of the gradualist reform approach is the resulting inefficiency in SOE and the related banking crisis, a cost which is usually forgot in the debate on the pace of reform for emerging economy. Second, the relative size of SOE in China, despite all the measures to stimulate private sectors for the past two decades, is still large, particularly from the perspective of bank lending. This has been reducing the strength of the banks and limiting the availability of funds to private enterprises. Third, due to the lack of other forms of investment, Chinese banking system has absorbed most of the saving from the private sector. However, because of the fragile banking system, deposit rate has been politically controlled at a very low level. This is effective taxing the Chinese household and subsidising the borrowers, i.e. the inefficient SOE. Forth, related to the third point, liberalisation of capital market will post a serious threat to the banking system because it will take away the funding source from the banking system. Fifth, the Asian flu would post limited short term threat to the Chinese system primarily because it is still a closed system. However, long term implication is clear and the Chinese leaders are aware of the similarity of the Chinese symptoms to those of the Asian flu. The only problem from this reader perspective is the level of theoretical underpinning. The piece is full of details in most of the aspects it is addressing. The missing piece however is that it fails to put the banking crisis into a larger perspective of the transformation of socialist system. Although a full discussion in this aspect may perhaps require an entire book itself, a brief discussion seems appropriate given that Lardy commented on some of the more theoretical aspect of the study in Chapter 5.

China and her unfinished revolution, (Her Peoples of the Pacific: I)

Average customer rating:

China and her unfinished revolution, (Her Peoples of the Pacific: I)
Helen Gay Pratt
Manufacturer: American council, Institute of Pacific relations
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

China's Unfinished Revolution: Problems and Prospects Since Mao

Average customer rating:

China's Unfinished Revolution: Problems and Prospects Since Mao
James Ethridge
Manufacturer: China Books & Periodicals
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Amazon.com

When John Halliday arrived at Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Air Base in 1970, he thought the next year would bore him out of his skull. He believed his mission in the Vietnam War would be to fly cargo around Thailand. What could be easier? A couple of nights later, Halliday found himself dodging dozens of anti-aircraft shells in an aging cargo plane over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Flying Through Midnight is his riveting account of his top-secret black-ops assignment--one of the most dangerous of the war.

Halliday flew slow propeller-driven relics at night deep into guerrilla territory in the "unofficial" war in Laos. His task with the 606th Special Operations Squadron was to help pinpoint guerrilla truck convoys for U.S. planes to bomb. Meanwhile, President Richard Nixon denied U.S. forces were fighting in Laos. Halliday wasn't even supposed to tell his wife what he was doing. His mail and phone calls were monitored, and soon he went from being a jittery FNG ("f---ing new guy") to a decorated war hero who logged 800 combat flight hours in Vietnam and the Gulf War. He was awarded the Air Force's Distinguished Flying Cross for one particularly amazing feat of bravery--a nighttime crash-landing on an unlit airstrip amid soaring mountains, which saved his crew. Flying Through Midnight does a remarkable job bringing to life Halliday's dramatic combat experiences, the foibles of his superiors, the brutalities of war, and the colorful quirks of his fellow flyboys, including his roommate whose favorite hobby was reading canned-food labels. There's not much here about the deeper rationale of the Vietnam War, but it's a gripping read. --Alex Roslin

Book Description

Riveting, novelistic, and startlingly candid, John T. Halliday's combat memoir begins in 1970, when Halliday has just landed in the middle of the Vietnam War, primed to begin his assignment with the 606th Special Operations Squadron. But there's a catch: He's stationed in a kind of no-man's-land. No one on his base flies with ID, patches, or rank. Even as Richard Nixon firmly denies reporters' charges that the United States has forces in Laos, Halliday realizes that from his base in Thailand, he will be flying top-secret, black-ops night missions over the Laotian Ho Chi Minh Trail.

A naive yet thoughtful twenty-four-year-old, Halliday was utterly unprepared for the horrors of war. On his first mission, Halliday's C-123 aircraft dodges more than a thousand antiaircraft shells, and that is just the beginning. Nothing is as he expected -- not the operations, not the way his shell-shocked fellow pilots look and act, and certainly not the squadron's daredevil, seat-of-one's-pants approach to piloting. But before long, Halliday has become one of those seasoned and shell-shocked pilots, and finds himself in a desperate search for a way to elude certain death.

Using frank, true-to-life dialogue, potent imagery, and classic 1970s song lyrics, Halliday deftly describes the fraught Laotian skies and re-creates his struggle to navigate the frustrating Air Force bureaucracy, the deprivations of a remote base far from home and his young wife, and his fight to preserve his sanity. The resulting nonfiction narrative vividly captures not only the intricate, distorted culture of war but also the essence of the Vietnam veteran's experience of this troubled era.

A powerhouse fusion of pathos and humor, brutal realism and intimate reflection, Flying Through Midnight is a landmark contribution to war literature, revealing previously top-secret intelligence on the 606th's night missions. Fast-paced, thrilling, and bitingly intelligent, Halliday illuminates it all: the heart-pounding air battles, the close friendships, the crippling fear, and the astonishing final escape that made the telling of it possible.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

One of the best books I have ever read.......2007-08-29

I have been reading aviation books since I was 10 years old. The first one was "God is My Copilot". This book rates at the very top. I read it for 5 hours straight. It is an amazing story, almost not believable. If you like aviation books, books about war, books about human failings and overcoming impossible situations, this is a book for you.

A Gripping Read.......2007-07-15

I read this book because a friend of mine wrote to me about it and picqued my interest in it. I'm glad he did.

I found the first part of the book somewhat disquieting as to what it was like to be twenty-four years old, an air force pilot and sent to the war in SE Asia and end up flying in the secret war in Laos, where the President of the United States said we were not fighting. (but that's another story)

Halliday is introduced to that aspect of warfare by a guy named Wiley, who over time indoctrinates him into what he has to know to both fly and survive. The plane they are flying is the C-123-J Provider. The airframe was initially intended to be a cargo glider, but over time it morphed into a twin engined troop transport and cargo hauler. The J model had jet engines added under the wings to give it extra boost when needed. Their mission, dubbed "Candlestick" is to provide illumination at night dropping flares over enemy troop convoys so that the "fast movers", F-4's and F-105's can come in and bomb the crap out of them.

There are numerous stories that Halliday tells wbout his coming of age as a pilot on these missions, however the one that starts at Chapter 31 and essentially carries through to the end of the book, is as gripping a recounting of flying and surviving as I have ever read.

I am aware that one of the reviews of this book by a reader claims it is fiction. However the other reviews, both by readers and writers do not make that claim and many of them have also been there. I believe Halliday and I thank him for taking the time to share this most remarkable story with us.

Been There...Done That.......2007-06-21

This book is virtually complete fiction. The author gives a hyper inflated description of his "heroic" deeds which is sickening to those of us who served in the same squadron at the same time he did. It's especially disturbing to see that some of his reader's actually buy his apocryphal meanderings. Very, very little of his descriptions of the hazards involved in the Candle Stick mission are true. What makes a person write a make believe tale of their own false heroism?

ONE OF THE BEST WAR BOOKS EVER.......2007-04-17

I have been reading non-fiction war books since I was about 10 years old and this is one of the best I have ever read. As a flyer in my younger days the author made me relive the feelings of being free. This book also tells it like it was in the secret war in Laos and Cambodia when they were asked to do so much with so little and under the type of leaders above them who cared only about their next step up the ladder. J.T makes you laugh, cry, and shake your head in disgust throughout the book. The self thoughts as he is trying to get down with zero fuel is better than any suspense drama ever written. If you have any interest in flying and the war in South East Asia, read this book, You will not be sorry. Thanks J.T for one of the greatest reads of my life. BY the way, I am 76 years old,with a collection of over 300 non-fiction mmpb war books. I have read about 2 times that many more. Happy reading. PS. I hope Mr. Halliday writes another one as I love his style.It keeps you on the edge of your seat.

authentic.......2007-04-06

Very much enjoyed this title, myself, but the acid test was when I handed it to a friend to read who had ACTUALLY BEEN to some of the places cited (at very close to the same time). His mouth locked into perpetual smile mode and every minute or so (at least during the first couple of chapters) he laughed out loud, saying, "Yeah, it was exactly like that. We had a guy in our unit who..."

Average customer rating:

Outstanding photo printing methods.

Out of Date Book

Beautiful high gloss photo's

Great Pix - Lax Content

A macaw is a type of parrot that is not common as house pets

The Encyclopedia of MacAws
Werner Lantermann
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Birds | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Macaws Macaws

The Pleasures of Their Company: An Owner's Guide to Parrot Training

Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot

ASIN: 0793821835

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding photo printing methods........2005-10-27

I am still stunned with the beautiful quality of the photographs in this book. Worth the price if for no other reason than the way these photos were printed. I've never seen it done like this before. Very unusal method.

Out of Date Book.......2003-10-21

The text is probably a direct translation from German. Has some funny expressions, rarely used in English. The information on classification of macaws is out of date. The same goes for the other information in the book. Too often some irrelevant and not so important historical notes are given, like dates of hatching in some zoos from the last century, or first pairing, etc. There is lack of consistence in dealing with the species description. The book is good for its superb photos. It is also maybe the only one to have drawings of the extinct macaw species. Otherwise, ... nay!

Beautiful high gloss photo's.......2003-05-18

4 Stars for the incrediable photos! Outdated material and it's text appears to be translated from German, but the photos are awesome. The test does get into each Macaw type and their respective geographic information that is interesting, but most any other data should be read elsewhere in a more updated, newer U.S. text.

Great Pix - Lax Content.......2000-12-22

If you want some of the MOST beautiful pictures of macaws to ever grace an item in print, this book is for you. Some features include illustrations of extinct macaws, and a discussion of native habitat.

The one complaint I have about this book is the elementary content; add to that the horribly DATED information on diet, behaviour, etc., ...

Still, buy it for the photos alone!

A macaw is a type of parrot that is not common as house pets.......1999-05-10

This book is spectacular it tells u every thing u need to know about macaws from how they eat to how they sleep,bathe,etc. I really enjoyed this book you really should read it I did.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books