Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains

Book Description

hese titles launch Little, Brown's major redesign of all 14 of Ed Emberley's classic drawing books. With brand-new covers and a new vertical trim size perfect for bookstore racks, these books are sure to attract new generations of fans. Using his simple 'alphabet' of a few letters and squiggles, Ed Emberley shows would-be artists how to draw a selection of terrifying weirdos, ghastly monsters, speedy trucks, trains, and other modes of transportation. Each book is packed with pictures that kids love and really want to draw.

Customer Reviews:

Great For Your Older Artist.......2005-06-21

This is a book that uses stick figures and basic shapes to help children learn to draw more complicated pictures. This is an interactive book to teach drawing. Every little artist will enjoy the simple step-by-step drawings and colorful illustrations that Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains contains. Smaller children will learn new words while their older siblings can use the book to learn how to draw more complicated pictures than just stick figures. However, it is somewhat difficult for the four-year-old child. An age recommendation on the book itself would make buying the book a little easier for parents and gift-giving relatives.

Fun with shapes and figures.......2005-05-06

Every little artist will enjoy the simple step-by-step drawings and colorful illustrations that Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains contains. Smaller children will learn new words while their older siblings can use the book to learn how to draw more complicated pictures than just stick figures. While Mr. Emeberley works with some stick figure designs, he cleverly weaves in triangles, circles, rectangles and squares to make learning fun and easy. An age recommendation on the book itself would make buying the book a little easier for parents and gift-giving relatives. While amazon shows an age of 4-8, it was too complicated for my almost four-year-old son to use. It is, however, a book that children that age could grow into with time.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of DIARY OF A MOTHER (2003)
SAHM I AM: TALES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IN EUROPE (2005), resides with her husband and two children near Munich, Germany.

I was disapointed........2004-07-10

I bought this book because my son loves trains and is not very good at drawing. He is six years old. While I could follow the instructions, it was really rather complex for my son and the pictures were rather complex too. I wanted to help him make simple 6 year old drawings that he could be proud of and this wasn't the book to accomplish that.

While alot of the drawings in the books simply require you to be able to make a triangle or a square etc, often it's a tiny traingle placed in an obscure part of the picture. You are also required to change color to follow along step by step or you can get lost, instead of just being able to draw the out line in one color first, then filling in the details. This was just too complex for what I was trying to accomplish.

Drawing Trains!.......2004-05-04

My grandmother's house had train tracks running near by and I spent lots of time watching the trains go by. I loved trains and therefore loved this particular Emberley book. I drew hundreds of complex train and road scenes as a kid.

My kids are artists!.......2003-02-05

We checked this book out at the library, and realized we needed our own copy! Easy to follow diagrams make drawing cars, cable cars, trains, trucks, even horses so easy! I (the mom) am learning how to draw too.

Ed Emberley's Drawing Book Of Trucks And Trains

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Ed Emberley's Drawing Book Of Trucks And Trains
Emberley E
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTQFTW

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Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains
Illustrator-Ed Emberley
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTU56G

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Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains
Takashi Shimizu
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Horror | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Horror | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1417754753

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Don't start your professional photography career without this!

was hoping for more

A good read.

Covers every possible detail

This should be called "the Photographer's Mentor" - an exceelent read.

The Business of Studio Photography: How to Start and Run a Successful Photography Studio
Edward Lilley
Manufacturer: Allworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Professional | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Reference | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | How-to | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (with CD-ROM) (Business and Legal Forms)

The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images

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Photographers Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business: Everything you need to know to run a successful photography business

ASIN: 158115254X

Book Description

Portrait and wedding photographers will find scores of proven-effective strategies for starting a new studio or improving an existing one in this thoroughly updated edition of an industry classic! Filled with real-life insights only a professional studio photographer would know, The Business of Studio Photography provides practical advice and surefire strategies for every aspect of operating a photography studio: from choosing a location, financing, and equipping the business to pricing jobs, negotiating with photo labs, and selling to the public. There are scores of no-nonsense guidelines for devising short- and long-term business plans, handling paperwork effectively, conducting public relations and self-promotion programs, and more. This updated and expanded edition includes an all-new section on the use of digital photography by the studio photographer, as well as completely updated lists of websites, equipment, books, and other photography resources. The book also features dozens of sample equipment checklists and forms, all ready to copy and use immediately. This is the definitive one-stop reference of professional tips and techniques for every studio photographer!

Customer Reviews:

Don't start your professional photography career without this!.......2007-09-06

More than 80% of new businesses fail and photography studios are probably one of the more susceptible to failure. Being a good photographer and understanding the technical skills necessary to be a successful photographer are a good start, but succeeding as a professional photographer and running a studio require a lot more than just being able to handle a camera.

This is where this excellent book comes in. Written by a professional studio photographer, it leads you through setting up your business, dealing with clients, marketing & selling for a variety of market sectors, as well as legal issues, advertising and much more.

Everything is clearly written and explained, backed up by the personal experiences of the author. Easy to read and digest, this is the perfect introduction to the business of photography.

As a professional photographer myself, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today without this book. Being a professional photographer is 10% photography and 90% business. Dealing with that fact can be hard for many of us, but this book is of invaluable help.

was hoping for more.......2007-08-06

I was dissapointed that the author mainly discussed wedding photography. I understand this is the bread & butter of the business, but the book should have therefore been titled: "How to Start & Run a Wedding Photography Business." If you are looking for info on starting other types of photography studios, you may be better suited to look elsewhere.

A good read........2007-06-14

A good book. Very American in style, but lots of useful tips for the young photographer.

Covers every possible detail.......2007-03-21

This book is like having a best friend in the photography
business sit down with you and tell you exactly how it all works.
The author spares no details and covers every single aspect of the business he can possibly think of.
This book has a very practical,down to earth common sense approach that is encouraging but realistic at the same time.
I can't think of anything he has left out.

This should be called "the Photographer's Mentor" - an exceelent read........2007-01-15

This book is a must have and a must read for anyone wanting to begin the business of sudio photography and looking for solid advice and clear instruction on how to do that intelligently. In his many years as a successful photographer, with more than 1900 weddings in his portfolio, Lilley brings to the table the practical do's and don'ts needed to for one to suceed.
Lilley works through all the day to day aspects of how to run a studio, including where to locate your business in the community based upon the market share of the public that your brand of photography is aimed at. He shares his detailed insights on how to handle the images from digital cameras with redundant copies. He gives great instruction on how to solicit the funding for a new business by using a business plan, and how to solicit a customer based through marketing yourself to your public
He provides a strong framework of how to shoot and what to shoot when it comes to weddings, portraits, high school senoirs, etc. and the workflow for each of these widely differing types of photography.
If you are going to buy one book to read before plunging into your own business as a photographer this is the one book you must buy.

Customer Reviews:

first but not least :=).......2001-11-06

the first item of "The Komplete Kat Komics" from Eclipse books/Turtle Island Foundation (1988)

A week by week account of Krazy + Ignatz saga though year 1916

a good first part dealing with the first appearance of Krazy Kat in the "Dingbat family" and other strips from Herriman

should have deserved a bigger size reprint (newspaper size ??)

Book Description

This set presents five of The New Yorker's most popular cover illustrations featuring cats. Includes 15 cards, 3 each of 5 images, and 16 envelopes in a keepsake box. Cards are folded to 3 7/8 x 5 1/8".

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The Flute and Flute-Playing in Acoustical, Technical, and Artistic Aspects
Theobald Boehm
Manufacturer: Library Reprints
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0722260571

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History lesson for the silver flute

Interesting history of the design of the modern flute

Indispensable for all flutists.

A fascinating glance into the history of modern flute

The Flute and Flute-Playing in Acoustical, Technical, and Artistic Aspects
Dayton C. Miller , and Theobald Boehm
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Woodwinds | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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The Flute Book: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers

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How to Play the Flute: Everything You Need to Know to Play the Flute (How to Play)

Amsco Flute Fingering Chart (Amsco Fingering Charts)

ASIN: 0486212599

Book Description

Classic of organology; inventor of modern flute covers history, acoustics, techniques, keying, etc. Includes 50 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

History lesson for the silver flute.......2006-12-04

This publication presents a detailed history lesson on the silver flute and its creator. This book offers inspiration and clarification to many rarely addressed technical issues for those dedicated to the lifetime adventure of playing the flute.
In addition to the method, composition, and other insights, the copied letters, notes, and drawings throughout the book(many still in their original German, handwritten format) are an added treat.

I also like the binding and paper used in the publication. It just feels different than your usual paperback, there is a firmness and longevity in this publication that seems more solid and durable.

Interesting history of the design of the modern flute.......2006-02-27

As an engineer and a long time saxophone player who recently started learning the flute, I had many questions about why the flute was designed the way it was. This book is a translation of Boehm's notes on his life's work of transforming the old simple wooden flutes into the much more advanced modern flute. The translator did an excellent job, and includes many side notes of his own to explain more about what Boehm was talking about and to add interesting historical and technical points. Now I understand why certain notes are harder to play than others, why certain trade-offs were made, and how to play the instrument better. The result is a much simpler and more elegant design than the saxophone, and a professional instrument that you can fit in your glove box! And learning about the flute design has also helped me understand the design of the related saxophone and clarinet better. Boehm was a brilliant and dedicated inventor, craftsman and musician, so his story is both interesting and inspirational.

Indispensable for all flutists........1999-09-09

I lost my copy of this book, which I deeply regret. Boehm, as any flute player knows, invented both the key mechanism and concept of the conical, rather than cyndrilical flute. He also, in addition to being one of the finest flutists of his age, was the first to make flutes from metal, having trained as a goldsmith.

This book details his research into the acoustical properties of the flute, as well as the key mechanism, and why he felt the need to improve them. I feel that any flutist will benefit from an understanding of why the modern flute is as it is.

Boehm also includes invaluable hints on the correct manner of playing the flute. And who better to do so than the man who developed it to its' current level of perfection? His complete knowledge of the instrument is shown in this treatise.

Overall, an indispensable book for flutists, and other windplayers who play on Boehm system mechanisms (eg: clarinets, oboes, bassoons, saxophones). Don't miss!

A fascinating glance into the history of modern flute.......1999-05-28

This book is a journey into the development of the modern flute by Theobold Boehm in mid-19 century. It reveals the combination of the artistic approach mixed with science, craftsmanship and persistence of Boehm to perfect the flute to what we know today. The transition from wood to metal, the new mechanism - all are groundbreaking. Another part of the book deals with flute playing and practicing. A must for anybody interested in acoustics of musical instruments. After reading this book I cannot but admire Boehm and his contribution to the world of music!

The flute and flute-playing in acoustical, technical, and artistic aspects

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The flute and flute-playing in acoustical, technical, and artistic aspects
Theobald Bohm
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006BM0A6

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THE FLUTE AND FLUTE-PLAYING IN ACOUSTICAL, TECHNICAL, AND ARTISTIC ASPECTS

Manufacturer: Dayton C. Miller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GOT6AK

Book Description

A humorous and thoughtful look at the trends, temptations and tribulations of modern life -- from diets to dating, from commuting to coed dorms, from bumper stickers to the Big Bang.

Customer Reviews:

Very unprofessional.......2006-06-18

I picked up this book on tape because I thought it would help me deal with some intense situations at work. I was wrong. The whole discussion was centered on Mrs. Arapakis' former boyfriends whom she described as losers and alternative lifestyle friends. She is obviously an unhappy woman and tries to push her victim perspective on other people. The idea of this book is basically "Think what's good for you and act accordingly". You do not have to listen through 4 hours of low level dating stories and pseudo scientific ramblings on relativity theory (I have PhD in physics and Mrs Arapakis' discussion of something she clearly does not understand really annoyed me). To summarize: do not waste your time listening to these tapes.

I loved this set.......2006-04-05

I have owned this set of tapes for years and have listened to them many times. They've been enormously helpful and I refer to them often when I need help deciding how to handle a particular situation. Friends I've shared them with have found them worthwhile also, and I recommend them to anyone wanting to learn more about boundaries and assertiveness.

Poor style, narration, content...........2003-09-04

One of the lousiest "inspirational" cassete(s) I have ever heard. Maria's style of delivery is untrained and highly irritating. The content and her personality appears such that she wants to preach more individuality rather than fuse her theory with the idea of mutual co-existance - where you give and take. The fact early on in the book, whereby she reveals that she is divorced, further makes her an unlikely candidate to speak on such a topic.
Thank goodness - this was her last audiobook.

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Speak Up, Say No!
Elaine Krause
Manufacturer: Krause House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dysfunctional Relationships | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

ASIN: 0930359011

Book Description

A book for adults to help children learn about sexual abuse in a positive, nurturing way.

This book is designed to help parents and other adults to teach children about "okay" and "not okay" touches. It will help youngsters to come alert and assertive when their personal safety is at stake should strangers or acquaintances try to take advantage of them. On each page, you will find "parent helps" to help you better understand sexual abuse of children and hopefully to prevent it.

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Speak up, speak out, say no
Sylvia Ingle Lane
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Women | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00072YGFQ

Customer Reviews:

The Actual Plan to Invade Japan .......2004-10-04

When Col. Paul Tibbets, flying the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, it was prevent an American invasion of Japan. If the bombs were not dropped and the ensuing cataclysms had not caused Emperor Hirohito to break the tie in the War cabinet, bringing the unconditional surrender of Japan, a massive invasion would have been necessary - one that would have dwarfed the one at Okinawa, which required twice as many ships as are in the entire United States Navy today. Arrayed against the Americans were millions of Japanese soldiers and civilians, all of which the defense minister Anami wanted to mobilize in what he described as "the glorious death of 100 million." For the first time, a book details the actual plan to invade Japan, summarizing the experience and tactics that led up to it and the losses that were envisioned.

Not so fast.......2001-12-13

I must differ with the critic of this book's "failure" to analyze the mechanics of invasion and casualty estimates. Desert Storm is a poor analogy: we were frankly astonished by Iraqi incompetence, while with Japan we were all too familiar with their lethality and tenacity.

I do believe the book dwelled overly on the wildly varying estimates of casualties, but this entire futile pursuit misses the central point of whether the invasion would have been bloody enough to rationalize dropping the bomb. After Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and other island invasions where nearly every Japanese defender died rather than surrender, where kamikaze attacks were orchestrated rather than impulsive, it looked far more than likely. The unanswered moral question is how many American lives were worth how many Hiroshima or Nagasaki Japanese lives.

There are several points that the authors focus on refuting, the key one being that Japan was on the verge of surrender or a negotiated peace. The new piece in the puzzle, according to the authors, is the Japanese messages we decrypted during the war and did not declassify until the 90's, showing Japanese insincerity and duplicity in its peace feelers. Also, a negotiated peace may have been difficult for Americans to accept in light of bitterness over Pearl Harbor, an attack which may have ironically proved to be Japan's most collossal error.

Another interesting argument is that Truman did not see the bomb as an alternative to invasion, but a supplement. Although coupled with the Russian declaration of war, the bomb's success, and perhaps its cruelty, came as a surprise.

That said, this book falls short of the similarly-named but far more comprehensive Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire by Richard B. Frank, which I recommend reading first.

A Very Poor Effort at History.......2001-11-10

Downfall is subtitled "the secret plan to invade Japan and why Truman dropped the bomb". Supposedly this account traces the US plan to invade Japan but starts back in the 1930s and runs out of steam covering the war in episode fashion. Incredibly, the authors employ a useless blow-by-blow summary of the Pacific War, including diversions on minor incidents like PT109. By the time the authors get to the planning for Operations Olympic and Coronet, the authors devote virtually their entire focus on various casualty estimates - were they too high and did this drive the decision to drop the bomb. However these casualty estimates, which range from well considered to wild guesses, do not constitute any sort of "proof" about the efficacy of the invasion plans. Readers should consider just how erroneous the casualty estimates for Desert Storm were (anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000, actual US killed in action 148) and reflect, if Iraq had backed down in 1991 could historians have accurately assessed the viability of coalition plans based on these estimates. Proper history begins with facts, not opinions.

For readers who expect a lengthy discussion and analysis of the US invasion plans, this book is a great disappointment since the authors never discusses the plan in detail. The two sketch maps that depict the US plans "Olympic" (the landing on Kyushu) and "Coronet" (landing on Honshu) depict only US corps-level invasion areas; neither inland objectives, scheme of maneuver or Japanese dispositions are depicted. The orders of battle in the appendix are very generic, listing only US corps and divisions, and no Japanese units are listed. Air units are ignored. The three US corps commanders for "Olympic," generals Schmidt, Hall and Swift, are never mentioned by name. This could have been a great book if he had discussed the units involved on both sides (eg. which units were veteran units and which were untried), the terrain (obstacles, key terrain, avenues of approach), the commanders on both sides, logistics, etc. and discussed the likely timelines of US progress using phase lines. However, the actual account of US invasion delivered by this limp account is overly generic and hence, virtually useless.

Well-researched book on a contentious subject........1998-04-28

While the overall argument of this title is to show why Truman approved the use of the atomic bomb, Allen and Polmar also show the strengths and weaknesses of the grand strategies pursued by the U.S. and Japan during World War II. The American failure to truly appreciate the massive national effort to defeat the Axis powers lead to a reliance on a bombing campaign to knock Japan out of the war, the apotheosis of which were the atomic bombs. The Japanese expected to exhaust America through heroic sacrifice and terror weapons. Code-name Downfall does a better job than most books on this period of the war in discussing the internal Japanese debate over surrender. My main complaint is that the book fails to consider the possible success of the continued American submarine campaign against the Japanese merchant marine. Nonetheless, highly recommended for all those interested in the Pacific campaigns in World War II and those debating the dropping of the atomic bomb.

A fair and surprising look at the bombing of Hiroshima........1996-05-28

In Codename Downfall, Allen and Polmar accomplish an amazing feat. In a book describing U.S. President Harry Truman's decision to use the atom bomb, they make the world's only nuclear attacks seem almost unimportant.

Fifty years have passed since U.S. bombers annihilated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but those events have been debated frequently and furiously ever since. Using insightful research the authors paint so terrible a picture of the Pacific war's escalating destruction it even dwarfs the instant vaporization of two complete cities.

Downfall does not linger on the classic numerical comparison of lives lost to nukes versus invasion. Instead, the authors provide a sweeping account of the Allies' efforts to liberate or capture island after island in their determined drive to seize the Japanese homeland and stop the Japanese war-making ability.

Both sides expected a full mobilization of every Japanese citizen to fight what would be the largest invasion of all time. As Japanese generals preached about "100 million souls" all dying together, the American leaders searched for any alternative to the "decisive battle" as the Japanese military referred to it. The book described how the U.S. leaders grasped at the atomic bomb as a last, desperate hope to avoid this bloody climax their enemies thirsted for.

By the end of the book, the reader no longer wonders why Truman dropped the Bomb, but how the Japanese leaders could refuse the mercy of a peaceful surrender. Responsibility for the bombing finally rests squarely on the shoulders of the Japanese "cabinet."

Codename Downfall gives a fresh and convincing perspective on a very old question.

R. Day: May 29, 1996

Book Description

In exploring the neglected art of statutory interpretation, Scalia urges that judges resist the temptation to use legislative intention and legislative history. In his view, it is incompatible with democratic government to allow the meaning of a statute to be determined by what the judges think the lawgivers meant rather than by what the legislature actually promulgated. Eschewing the judicial lawmaking that is the essence of common law, judges should interpret statutes and regulations by focusing on the text itself. Scalia then extends this principle to constitutional law. He proposes that we abandon the notion of an everchanging Constitution and pay attention to the Constitution's original meaning. Although not subscribing to the "strict constructionism" that would prevent applying the Constitution to modern circumstances, Scalia emphatically rejects the idea that judges can properly "smuggle" in new rights or deny old rights by using the Due Process Clause, for instance. In fact, such judicial discretion might lead to the destruction of the Bill of Rights if a majority of the judges ever wished to reach that most undesirable of goals.

This essay is followed by four commentaries by Professors Gordon Wood, Laurence Tribe, Mary Ann Glendon, and Ronald Dworkin, who engage Justice Scalia's ideas about judicial interpretation from varying standpoints.

Download Description

We are all familiar with the image of the immensely clever judge who discerns the best rule of common law for the case at hand. According to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a judge like this can maneuver through earlier cases to achieve the desired aim--"distinguishing one prior case on his left, straight-arming another one on his right, high-stepping away from another precedent about to tackle him from the rear, until (bravo!) he reaches the goal--good law." But is this common-law mindset, which is appropriate in its place, suitable also in statutory and constitutional interpretation? In a witty and trenchant essay, Justice Scalia answers this question with a resounding negative. In exploring the neglected art of statutory interpretation, Scalia urges that judges resist the temptation to use legislative intention and legislative history. In his view, it is incompatible with democratic government to allow the meaning of a statute to be determined by what the judges think the lawgivers meant rather than by what the legislature actually promulgated.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but..........2007-07-01

First of all, let me make it clear that I think Scalia is a brilliant Justice. I have a very high level of respect for him intellectually. However, I think that he is too conservative, as is this book. I still think people should read it, because I advocate hearing all sides of an argument, but I thoroughley disagree with Scalia's opinions.

Be that as it may, everyone should sill read this insightful and interesting book, if for no other reason than the debate that takes place at the end of the book.

A Lot of Strong Points With a Few Frustrations.......2007-05-24

I think the largest challenge facing Scalia was turning his simple philosophy into an entire book.

When interpreting the constitution we should look at its original meaning.

There it is in 11 words. Scalia manages to expound on his theory a little bit by differentiating it from strict textualism and reinforcing his views here and there. Scalia allows several scholars to give their replies followed by Scalia's rebuttals. This back-and-forth provides an engaging read and expands the simple premise into a full-length, comprehensive read. All in all I enjoyed this book.

I feel compelled to warn potential readers that from time to time this book will sink into the worst of academia. That pseudo-intellectual, acting smart for the sake of sounding smart mentality that plagues universities across the country. These lapses are usually brief and do not greatly detract from what is otherwise a great book on an important debate currently occuring within the highest court in America.

I also recommend you read Active Liberty by Justice Breyer. I have nothing against Tribe, Dworkin or the other respondents in this book, but Breyer takes the discussion out of originalism and into his own philosophy.

Easy reading and food for thought.......2007-05-14

I actually picked this up at the end of my second year of law school and I found Scalia's insight and opinions to be original and thought provoking. I feel that so much time is spent teaching law students how to analyze and interpret case law, without often directing our attention to how judges deal with the vast field of statutory interpretation. Very easy and quick read, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Dishonest and power-crazed judges are the issue.......2007-03-07

This book was not exactly what I expected; it was better. It contains an essay by Justice Scalia about the judicial role in deciding statutory and constitutional questions. His essay is followed by comments by other individuals which, in turn, is followed by Justice Scalia's response. The most fascinating part of the entire book was the recognition by the writers that judges have taken it upon themselves to legislate and decide what government policy "ought to be" in rendering judicial decisions. Some of the writers seem to think this is acceptable and expected. To an attorney who has watched courts reach intellectually dishonest decisions in cases where there is potential economic or political impact (for example, one appellate court went so far as to render an unpublished opinion in one case -- apparently to conceal its dishonesty in letting a state divert millions of dollars from a state retirement plan -- then followed up a few months later with a published opinion by the same judges with a precisely opposite holding on an important legal question decided in the first case), the concerns expressed by Justice Scalia were more than theoretical. While our legislators may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, at least voters can remove them from office or persuade them to change their minds. There is no such opportunity with unelected judges who not only can manipulate facts and law in their rulings, but can issue decisions that never see the light of day and thus escape public scrutiny. Both liberals and conservatives have plenty to fear from judges who believe that they are a law unto themsleves.

What Scalia's Theory Is Not.......2006-12-14

Justice Antonin Scalia may be the most dynamic and melodramatic personality on the United States Supreme Court. His opinions burst with bombast. Oddly, Scalia has written very little about the law even though he served as a law professor before launching a career as a government attorney and judge. He has penned only a handful of law review articles. The articles are slightly more illuminating on his theory of jurisprudence, textualism, than is this thin book, "A Matter of Interpretation."

"A Matter of Interpretation" is filled up with a round table dialogue that Scalia graciously initiated to invite notable liberals to disagree with textualism.

In the brief paragraphs that Scalia allocates to himself, he sets out his principles of textualism, which is a combination of Latin parsing and historical analysis. In short, Scalia looks for a constitutional meaning in the actual words of the constitution, and if he cannot find a meaning in the set text, he embarks on an historical investigation of whether the rule or right existed in English common law at the time of the writing of the U.S. Constitution.

Scalia's textualism, therefore, is a good deal more involved than mere glancing at words written in the late 18th century. In fact, Scalia protests that he is not a "strict constructionist," not a justice who merely looks blindly at James Madison's handiwork. Scalia claims that he does not read the Constitution strictly, but rather he reads the Constitution reasonably.

This will no doubt come as a shock to a generation of law professors, law students, and attorneys, who have maintained that Scalia is a rigid strict constructionist. This revelation may also undermine Scalia's reputation as a writer of court opinions and dissents that are always consistently and impressively logical.

It may also come as a shock that Scalia, the titan of tradition, partly bases his textualist theory on the ideas of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, the man who insisted that law changes with the times, or reflects "the felt necessities of the time."

The weakness in Scalia's historical origins method is that more importance is placed on English common law than revolutionary American experience. A reason perhaps that Scalia is a staunch defender of free speech, long a principle of English law, and lacks sympathy for search and seizure defendants, persons caught up in the Fourth Amendment right, a right inspired by the searching of Boston homes by British troops during the Revolutionary War.

Scalia's textualism, as set out in this book, is a good deal more flexible than many of his disciples or opponents would give him credit for. Scalia tends to apply this "historical "orgins" method most often in areas such as punitive damages, an area of law which has scarcely changed in centuries. However, in cases where the issue implicates modern rights, such as abortion, Scalia has departed from textualism completely for rationales ranging from stare decisis and reliance to a more or less nihilistic rejection of substantive due process.

Nevertheless, "A Matter of Interpretation" places Scalia in the pantheon of legal scholars, such as Holmes and Judge Richard A. Posner, who have bravely put forward their own theories of jurisprudence. And in the end, this theory, rather than his bombastic rhetoric and conservative prosyletizing, will probably be his enduring legacy.

[Hansen Alexander is an attorney in New York City. His most recent book is the comic novel, "The Death of Chauvinism."]

A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law.(Book review): An article from: Yale Law Journal

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A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law.(Book review): An article from: Yale Law Journal
Richard A. Posner
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Yale Law Journal, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2006. The length of the article is 8312 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law.(Book review)
Author: Richard A. Posner
Publication: Yale Law Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 115 Issue: 7 Page: 1699(19)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

The perfect pocket companion for exploring nature trails

This full-colour book is the perfect companion for anyone who likes to take a close look at nature. From bugs to birds, wildflowers to reptiles, this pocket-size book gives key information on the creatures and plants found in parks, woodlands and wilderness areas of Canada's Maritime provinces.
Full-colour illustrations by Jeff Domm are accompanied by concise information that offers readers the keys to quick identification of many common species. Sections include:
* Mammals
* Reptiles
* Birds
* Butterflies
* Insects
* Mushrooms
* Wildflowers
* Trees
As in Jeff Domm's successful Formac Pocket Guide to the Seashore, the pages are designed to convey information through visual and graphic keys and concise text. This book will appeal to nature lovers of all ages who are curious to know more about the environment and the wild creatures and plants of their area.

New Formac Pocketguide to New Brunswick Birds

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New Formac Pocketguide to New Brunswick Birds
Jeffrey C. Domm
Manufacturer: Formac Publishing Company Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Ecology | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0887806740

Book Description

A concise full-colour guide to wild birds and birding hotspots

Birdwatching expeditions are becoming more and more popular. Across New Brunswick there are areas that are internationally recognized for the opportunity to see migrant and breeding birds, such as Semipalmated Sandpipers and Peregrine Falcons.
This book introduces 200 of the top species found all around the province, along the Bay of Fundy in the south and the beaches of the east coast, as well as habitats in the interior. Whether observing spectacular hawks or eagles in the wild or seabirds over the ocean, listening for warblers in the forest, or the first spring birds at the feeder, this guide is designed to allow for quick and easy identification.
Original full-colour illustrations by Jeffrey Domm show prominent features that birdwatching enthusiasts can use to identify a species. Text and graphic keys give helpful tips for observing. They also show habitat preference egg (for in-province breeding species) months the bird can be seen in the area preferred bird feeder type.
The birding hotspot section (with an accompanying map) shows 25 locations across the province where good birdwatching is assured.
The Formac Pocketguide to New Brunswick Birds is a handy reference for beginners and a useful local guide for practised birders.

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