Exploring Wild Central Florida: A Guide to Finding the Natural Areas and Wildlife of the Central Peninsula
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    Exploring Wild Central Florida: A Guide to Finding the Natural Areas and Wildlife of the Central Peninsula
    Susan D. Jewell
    Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
    Natural HistoryNatural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
    South AtlanticSouth Atlantic | South | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Florida | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
    FloridaFlorida | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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    1. Exploring Wild North Florida Exploring Wild North Florida
    2. Exploring Wild South Florida: A Guide to Finding the Natural Areas and Wildlife of the Southern Peninsulaand the Florida Keys (Exploring Wild Florida Series) Exploring Wild South Florida: A Guide to Finding the Natural Areas and Wildlife of the Southern Peninsulaand the Florida Keys (Exploring Wild Florida Series)
    3. Exploring Wild Northwest Florida Exploring Wild Northwest Florida
    4. Florida State Parks Florida State Parks

    ASIN: 1561640824

    Book Description

    Pineapple Press is proud to present four comprehensive guidebooks to the wildlife refuges, state and national parks and forests, city and county parks, and preserves that abound across Florida. For vacationers, naturalists, hikers, campers, canoeists, bicyclists, or anyone interested in Florida's wild places, these books are indispensable as field guides and trip planners.

    Each provides information on location, habitats, and wildlife, as well as recreational and nature study opportunities. Checklists of the common and scientific names for flora and fauna are included as well.

    From New Smyrna and Crystal River in the north to Hobe Sound and Punta Gorda in the south including Lake Okeechobee.

    Taxonomy of the Indian Myxomycetes (Bibliotheca mycologica)
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      Taxonomy of the Indian Myxomycetes (Bibliotheca mycologica)
      T. N. Lakhanpal
      Manufacturer: Lubrecht & Cramer Ltd
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 3768212874

      Footprint Northern Pakistan
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        Footprint Northern Pakistan
        Dave Winter
        Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        GeneralGeneral | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
        PakistanPakistan | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
        GuidebooksGuidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books
        Footprint HandbooksFootprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 1904777066

        Book Description

        Footprint travel guides provide a refreshingly different view and get travelers away from the crowds and closer to their destination with more detail, more local knowledge, and more understanding of the culture. Packed with practical information, they provide everything from critical restaurant reviews to lively descriptions of all the attractions from the "must-see's" to the hidden gems. Footprint Northern Pakistan offers detailed and informative coverage of one of Asia's most fascinating destinations. Features include a special section on the Karakoram Highway - the spectacular overland route from Pakistan to China; a wealth of historical and cultural information, including customs and etiquette; recommendations for restaurants and places to stay for any budget; and transportation info and nearly 80 maps to help travelers find their way. The guide highlights activities such as visiting the archeological ruins of Moenjedaro and Taxila, shopping at bazaars, trekking through goat paths in the mountains, andfollowing the Silk Road.

        The Age of Expansion, 1750-1914 (Options in History)
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          The Age of Expansion, 1750-1914 (Options in History)
          John D. Clare
          Manufacturer: Nelson Thornes Ltd
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 0174351666

          Marine Ecosystems and Climate Variation: The North Atlantic: A Comparative Perspective
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            Marine Ecosystems and Climate Variation: The North Atlantic: A Comparative Perspective

            Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Marine Biology | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Ecology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Meteorology | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Climatology | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
            Marine BiologyMarine Biology | Biology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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            1. Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems: Biological-Physical Interactions in the Oceans Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems: Biological-Physical Interactions in the Oceans

            ASIN: 0198507496

            Book Description

            This research level text focuses on the influence of climate variability on the marine ecosystems of the North Atlantic. The ecological impact of climate variability on population dynamics is addressed at the full range of trophic levels, from phytoplankton through zooplankton and fish to marine birds. Climate effects on biodiversity and community structure are also examined. 40 scientists from around the world synthesise what is currently known about how climate affects the ecological systems of the North Atlantic and then place these insights within a broader ecological perspective. Many of the general features of the North Atlantic region are also seen in other marine ecosystems as well as terrestrial and freshwater systems. The final section of the book makes these generalities more explicit, so as to stimulate communication and promote co-operation amongst researchers who may previously have worked in semi-isolation. The book comprises 5 main sections: background (general introduction, atmospheric and ocean climate of the North Atlantic, and modelling methodology), plankton populations (phytoplankton and zooplankton), fish and seabird populations, community ecology (phytoplankton, benthos and fish), and the final section consisting of six commentaries from scientists working in areas outside the North Atlantic marine sector. In order to enhance integration, a series of introductions link chapters and sections. Throughout the book, numerous examples highlight different aspects of ecology-climate interactions. They document recent progress and illustrate the challenges of trying to understand ecological processes and patterns in the light of climate variations.
            Marine Ecosystems And Climate Variation: The North Atlantic: A Comparative Perspective
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              Marine Ecosystems And Climate Variation: The North Atlantic: A Comparative Perspective
              Nils Ottersen, Geir Stenseth
              Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000OKXR74

              Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Volumes 10-18, Second Edition
              Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
              • 1992 = Pre Web, But Still Useful
              Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Volumes 10-18, Second Edition

              Manufacturer: Academic Press
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              General & ReferenceGeneral & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
              General & ReferenceGeneral & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0122269292

              Customer Reviews:

              4 out of 5 stars 1992 = Pre Web, But Still Useful.......2004-01-04

              A stupendous 6000+ pages that claims to span the technological breadth of civilisation. Quite possibly, there are few to gainsay Meyers in this.

              This edition was published in 1992. Naturally, some sections need revising. The greatest omission to us, now, is no description of the World Wide Web, which is undoubtedly how you are perusing this review right now! The first browser, Mosaic, was released around 1992-3. So unintentionally, this Encyclopedia marks the end of the pre-Web era. Any update, or competing tome, has to acknowledge that in a basic way, something qualitatively different has jelled and is now probably the most common daily interaction of an educated person with technology.

              Related to this is the relatively skimpy discussion of electronic communication in the Encyclopedia. At that time, the ubiquitous email notation of user@company was still struggling against competing mail protocols like DECNET and UUNET. Bulletin Boards were state of the art.

              Plus if you read the descriptions of typical computers, mini and personal, it already has the feel, heck, it is, of a bygone era.

              However, if you turn to the sciences, the descriptions of the basics of each science are still superb.

              No doubt the author and his publisher have contemplated updating. But there is now another factor, caused by the rise of the Web. The prospect of compiling another huge hardcover that will be outdated as soon as it is published is daunting. And, as you might know, the traditional encyclopedia market has imploded, due to CDs, DVDs and the web.

              Books like this Encylopedia may have been the last of their ilk.

              The Geometry of Efficient Fair Division
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                The Geometry of Efficient Fair Division
                Julius B. Barbanel
                Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Applied | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
                General GeometryGeneral Geometry | Geometry & Topology | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
                Number TheoryNumber Theory | Pure Mathematics | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Applied | Mathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                General GeometryGeneral Geometry | Geometry & Topology | Mathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                Number TheoryNumber Theory | Pure Mathematics | Mathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                ASIN: 0521842484

                Book Description

                What is the best way to divide a cake and allocate the pieces among some finite collection of players? In this book, the cake is a measure space, and each player uses a countably additive, non-atomic probability measure to evaluate the size of the pieces of cake, with different players generally using different measures. The author investigates efficiency properties (is there another partition that would make everyone at least as happy, and would make at least one player happier, than the present partition?) and fairness properties (do all players think that their piece is at least as large as every other player's piece?). He focuses exclusively on abstract existence results rather than algorithms, and on the geometric objects that arise naturally in this context. By examining the shape of these objects and the relationship between them, he demonstrates results concerning the existence of efficient and fair partitions.

                Download Description

                What is the best way to divide a 'cake' and allocate the pieces among some finite collection of players? In this book, the cake is a measure space, and each player uses a countably additive, non-atomic probability measure to evaluate the size of the pieces of cake, with different players generally using different measures. The author investigates efficiency properties (is there another partition that would make everyone at least as happy, and would make at least one player happier, than the present partition?) and fairness properties (do all players think that their piece is at least as large as every other player's piece?). He focuses exclusively on abstract existence results rather than algorithms, and on the geometric objects that arise naturally in this context. By examining the shape of these objects and the relationship between them, he demonstrates results concerning the existence of efficient and fair partitions.
                GEOMETRY OF EFFICIENT FAIR DIVISION
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                  GEOMETRY OF EFFICIENT FAIR DIVISION
                  JULIUS B. BARBANEL
                  Manufacturer: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000N5FTVW

                  The Village of Stepanchikovo: And its Inhabitants: From the Notes of an Unknown (Penguin Classics)
                  Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                  • Gogol-lite but good
                  • Off beat
                  • Recommended only for die-hard Dostoevsky fans
                  • In the land of the blind, the one-eyed rules
                  • A bit disappointing
                  The Village of Stepanchikovo: And its Inhabitants: From the Notes of an Unknown (Penguin Classics)
                  Fyodor Dostoyevsky
                  Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  19th Century19th Century | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  Eastern EuropeanEastern European | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  RussianRussian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  ClassicsClassics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  RussianRussian | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  Dostoyevsky, FyodorDostoyevsky, Fyodor | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
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                  1. Netochka Nezvanova (Penguin Classics) Netochka Nezvanova (Penguin Classics)
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                  4. The House of the Dead (Dover Thrift Editions.) The House of the Dead (Dover Thrift Editions.)
                  5. The Adolescent The Adolescent

                  ASIN: 0140446583

                  Book Description

                  Set on a remote country estate, the story concerns a household completely under the sway of the despotic charlatan and humbug Foma Fomich Opiskin. The owner of the estate, the retired Colonel Rostanev, is a meek, kind-hearted giant of a man, cruelly dominated by Opiskin. With deftly controlled suspense and brilliant comic interludes, the novel builds up to a confrontation between these two characters.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  4 out of 5 stars Gogol-lite but good.......2004-09-08

                  The Village of Stepanchikovo is indeed a very strange work for those familiar with Dostoevsky's works. His psychological novels inform our understanding of Russian society and, at the same time, his works transcend their cultural boundaries to reveal truths of human nature. One could go on and on about how great a writer Dostoevsky is. That being said, the Village of Stepanchikovo is an odd book indeed. One could consider this novel his homage to Gogol, a stab at comedy. Although not entirely successful in and of itself, the novel is an important early sketch, raw material to be used in building his masterpieces. In addition, the story moves at a great pace and is never boring. Overall, I found it to be quite entertaining. The novel probably is not a classic but rather quite an enjoyable story.

                  3 out of 5 stars Off beat.......2004-03-26

                  "The Village of Stepanchikovo" is a short novel and unusual for Dostoyevsky in that it's an attempt at comedy, or rather farce. At times, it reads as an adaptation of a play, and I understand from the introduction to this addition that a stage piece was indeed Dostoyevsky's original intent.

                  Young Sergey, the narrator, travels to his uncle's estate at Stepanchikovo and discovers there a strange collection of characters. Chaos reigns. Most of the characters are in thrall to Foma Fomich Opiskin, including Sergey's feckless uncle ("I like poets! They're a good crowd! The way they put everything into verse.") A minority of the characters hate Foma Fomich because of the influence he has over the others. Various strange incidents occur as the outraged and bemused Sergey watches the challenges to Foma Fomich's position.

                  I thought that the novel was an odd work - there are times when the humour more-or-less works, others when it descends into slapstick. It's really not a bad novel, yet not one which will stick in the memory for too long.

                  G Rodgers

                  2 out of 5 stars Recommended only for die-hard Dostoevsky fans.......2002-09-30

                  This is the third book of Dostoyevsky I've read in the ongoing immersion experiment. Before starting, I strongly suggest that anyone interested in Dostoyevsky should read Joseph Frank's masterly five volume biography/literary criticism/russian cultural history immediately. I owe all of the background presented here to Frank's "Years of Ordeal" (why ... is it out of print?).

                  Thomas Mann had claimed that the dominating personality in the book, Foma Fomich Obispin, is "a comic creation of the first rank, irresistible, rivalling Shakespeare and Moliere." Now I read this book, and that was not at all my evaluation. Mann's comment obliges me to delve a little deeper into the text and circumstances.

                  Synopsis: Sergey, a young stugent, goes to visit his uncle's estate. He thereby stumbles into a total Bedlam; he sees that his extremely meek and kind-hearted uncle, Colonel Rostanev, is held in thrall both by his fatuous and vain mother and most of all by Foma the charlatan. There he learns that Foma had acted the buffoon for a now deceased general but now he relishes tormenting his benefactor, the Colonel, by playing the part of a morally righteous man. Foma's theatrics erode the patience of both Sergey and his uncle until it explodes with a surprising denouement.

                  Foma can be best described as a Gogolian Tartuffe in a Dickensian setting. The Gogolian parentage in Foma is apparent in his name (Obispin means a "slip of the pen"). He is also a parody of Gogol himself and his works. Like Moliere's Tartuffe, he is a moral charlatan, expounding lofty principles that he himself flouts. Dostoevsky was definitely familiar with some Dickens, and the generally one-dimensional cartoon-like nature of most characters gives an unmistakeably Dickensian feel.

                  No one will doubt that these are excellent ingredients, but is this '3' better than '1'+'1'+'1'? I don't think so. I'm not familiar enough with Gogol or Moliere's oeuvre to comment in detail, but at least in comparison to Dickens, the sum total seems to me watered down. I think Rostanev can be thought of as a more gullible Russian Pickwick (a bit forced), but comparison with the "Pickwick Papers" comes out to Dostoevsky's disadvantage. More damning is the fact that both Avsey, the translator who wrote a good introduction here, and Frank, in "The Years of Ordeal", more or less rate this book highly because it points to possibilities in Dostoevsky's future masterpieces. In other words, the work by itself cut off from possibilities is not as interesting. This is telling.

                  So why is it inferior to "Pickwick"? My opinion is this: escapism. Stepanchikovo is a little too idyllic, the people are by and large too simple, and there is something of a poised unwillingness to confront the nastier side of life. Shouldn't Dostoevsky have expounded on Nastenka's poverty and plight (or would this weaken the novel)? What about the psychology of Mizhinchikov who will blossom into an evil flower called Svidrigailov in "Crime and Punishment"? It is very unkind to suggest this, but considering the very trying circumstances in which this book was written - most notably marital dissatisfaction - perhaps Dostoevsky's wish for a more fulfilling life got the better of his superb psychological skills.

                  Some defence is necessary. The psychology of Tatyana is well-explored. A woman whose mind is so benighted in self-aggrandizing romance that when she finally emerges from poverty to newfound riches is unable to shake them off - this is classic Dostoevsky.

                  But in summary I would recommend this book only to the die-hard Dostoevsky fans. I notice nothing flagrant in the translation (NOTE: I know no Russian), so it is not the fault of the translator. So if you really want to see the middle stage in the evolution of a great author, you should read this. Otherwise, just go tackle "Crime and Punishment". In fact, EVERYONE should tackle "Crime and Punishment"!

                  4 out of 5 stars In the land of the blind, the one-eyed rules.......2001-02-15

                  This book is very different from the rest of Dostoevsky's production, primarily because it is a satire and not a tragedy. The narrator is Sergey, a young man who goes to visit his uncle at his isolated estate. The uncle is an extremely meek and impressionable man, who is dominated by a pretentious, ignorant and despotic pseudo-intellectual named Foma Fomitch, a master of sentimental blackmail. Foma is an arribist who has everybody in the estate under his capricious control, a situation which astonishes and irates Sergey. Hilariously absurd situations degenerate into the pathetic, as Sergey gets dismayed about everybody's inability to perceive Foma's stupidity and fakeness.

                  Nevertheless, despite the radically different mood of this novel, compared to Dostoevsky's rest, a fact remains: the Russian people seem to behave abnormally in any circumstance, and to be full of deep emotional contradictions and complexities. Read it for a different taste of Dostoevsky's literature.

                  3 out of 5 stars A bit disappointing.......2000-07-14

                  The Village of Stepanchikovo (sometimes translated as "The Friend of the Family"), a comic novel by Dostoevsky, is set during the first two days of the visit of the narrator, Sergey, to the estate of his uncle, Yegor Rostanev.  The affairs of the estate have largely been taken over by Foma Fomich Opiskin, an arrogant pseudo-intellectual who has ingratiated himself with Yegor's mother.  The main conflict of the novel, into which Sergey finds himself embroiled, centers around the attempts of Foma's mother and Yegor to marry Yegor off to a wealthy dimwit and drive out the governess, whom they suspect of being the object of Yegor's affections. 

                  The novel primarily emphasizes the characters of Yegor and Foma.  Yegor is one of Dostoevsky's stock "meek types" (in the same vein as Myshkin in The Idiot, Sonia in Crime and Punishment, and Alyosha in The Brothers Karamazov) and is quick to be self-effacing and lie down in awe before anyone even seeming to have more knowledge of the world than he.  This opens the door for Foma, who despite Yegor's status as head of the household takes every opportunity to insult Yegor and impose his own will--in an amusing example of his excesses, one Thursday he demands that everyone in the household pretend that it is actually Wednesday.  Foma, incidentally, is based partly on Nikolai Gogol, and as translator Ignat Avsey's annotations show, many of Foma's statements were inspired by the infamous Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends, in which Gogol exposed himself as a peasant-hating reactionary.

                  Considering how short it is (just under 200 pages), the plot of the work is fairly engaging, and I certainly found it a pleasant read.  However, I was disappointed that, despite its billing as Dostoevsky's longest comedic work, once I got past the first couple chapters I really didn't find the novel particularly funny.  Apparently Dostoevsky initially envisioned it as a play but made it into a novel for financial reasons.  I can see how it might be more entertaining as a play, as Foma and several other characters could be quite humorous.  As it stands, since it's narrated by Sergey, who is understandably indignant about the state of affairs at Stepanchikovo, Foma's tyranny over the estate comes across as pathetic, not amusing.  Dostoevsky was of course a genius and remains my favorite author, but it seems that in the genre of provincial comedy Gogol was his superior.  If you're interested in something by Dostoevsky with a lighter tone than his most famous works, I'd recommend The Gambler or Uncle's Dream over this novel.

                  All in all, The Village of Stepanchikovo is certainly not boring, and Avsey does a very good job with the translation, introduction, and notes, but unless you're really a fan either of Dostoevsky or of 19th century Russian provincial novels, I frankly don't see much of a reason to choose this particular work.

                  Against the Wind: A Rider's Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally (Incredible Journeys Books)
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • The real flavor of the Iron Butt Crew
                  • Mind travel
                  • Cool book
                  • Great Adventure Riding Book
                  • Impatient Insomniacs On Parade
                  Against the Wind: A Rider's Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally (Incredible Journeys Books)
                  Ron Ayres
                  Manufacturer: Whitehorse Press
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Motorcycles | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                  RacingRacing | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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                  3. Motorcycle Touring: Everything You Need to Know Motorcycle Touring: Everything You Need to Know
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                  ASIN: 1884313094

                  Book Description

                  Ten consecutive thousand-mile days on two wheels in a mental race against imponderable odds and a ceaselessly ticking clock--welcome to the legendary Iron Butt Rally. Against the Wind is a riveting new book, written by sixth-place 1995 finisher Ron Ayres, telling the story of what many call the most grueling test of human endurance in all of motorcycling. With guts and shear willpower, riders must overcome (or succumb to) fatigue and danger, calling upon human reserves buried deep within. Ayres reveals the innermost thoughts of a successful contestant and lets us share the anticipation, the thrill, the fatigue, the heartbreak, the euphoria, and ultimately the controversy of completing this merciless trial. More than the mere mechanics of making it through the eleven-day ordeal, Ayres describes the elegant strategy necessary to be a contender. You'll discover what motivates the riders, how the rally is scored, what takes place each day, how the routes are planned, and what it's like to ride to the very limit of endurance--and then ride some more.As engaging as Ayres own story is, you'll also be fascinated by the experiences of other riders who are attracted to such events. Motorcycle journalist Bob Higdon states in his foreword to the book, "Here, told from the point of view of a participant, the unraveling of human souls proceeds in almost embarrassing clarity." It's an incredible journey most of us would rather enjoy from our easy chair, and now we can with this first-rate book.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars The real flavor of the Iron Butt Crew.......2006-11-06

                  If you ever wanted to try the IBR..... THIS IS THE BOOK... You might change your mind... I know I did. I love to ride... and do it every day... but now I know the IBR is not for me... except for check points perhaps.
                  This is a REALLY GOOD READ. Get it just to vicariously live the story of these crazy people.

                  5 out of 5 stars Mind travel.......2006-03-17

                  The book is the report of a real trip.
                  One can actually travel along the writer whilst he tells the story of "his" Iron Butt.
                  I read it three times in a row since I wanted to grasp as much detaiils as possible. The book is also slightly informative for the mile-bugged biker, although "Going the extra mile" is THE source for long distance riding.

                  3 out of 5 stars Cool book.......2005-10-22

                  I know (and ride with) a couple of IBR guys and this book reads like a whos who of IBR participants. Great book.

                  5 out of 5 stars Great Adventure Riding Book.......2003-02-08

                  Having ridden three Iron Butt rallies myself, I find that this is THE BOOK to describe this unique sport to others. It gives the reader an insight into the challenge of the ride. Short of riding in the Iron Butt, this is your best chance to understand what riders go through competing in this rally.

                  3 out of 5 stars Impatient Insomniacs On Parade.......2002-09-03

                  Eight iron butts sat in folding metal chairs at the Midland fairgrounds rally in July, explaining comfort strategies. Just listening to them made my rear sore. How else to explain the anguish le derriere must tolerate to compress 10K miles in 11 days worth of Iron Butt Rally-ism?
                  Against the Wind author Ron Ayres, who etched an entry in the Guinness Book for most miles ridden in X days (at the tender age of 55 no less) and who led the panel of IBR contestants, acted as though he had seen God and lived to tell the tale. Yet he was short winded on endurance riding tactics.
                  Others dispensed these pearls of wisdom: get comfy; sing in helmet; play math games; run around bike at gas ups; stand on pegs, stick face in wind; dream of next steak; suck fireballs.
                  Held on every odd year, the IBR ought to be classified as an extreme sport. This race makes ESPN's X-Games look like Bambi Goes Hollywood. These crazies crisscross the U.S.A. twice, collecting points by hanging a pink towel at designated side road attractions, taking a Polaroid for proof, catching a catnap on the auxiliary tank before remounting again at 3:23 a.m.
                  The insomniac who can ride 1,000 miles per day on maximum sleep deprivation and minimal state trooper interference, boldly avoiding bodily harm while hallucinating at 100 mpg, wins a $13 trophy.
                  Nearly half the field drops out. Dehydration is common; misjudgments more so. Yet the thrill of completing the world's toughest endurance race is said to change one's life permanently, providing one still has a life to change.
                  As a read, Against the Wind is a page-turning adventure that constantly begs the question, "how?" Evidently there are vast reserves of kidney juice in storage waiting for just such a feat.
                  In 1995, the rally year Ayres' book documents, of the top 10 finishers from a pack of 55 entrants, half rode upon the esteemed BMW K1100, if not the R1100. The winner? A 46-year-old financial advisor from Salt Lake City astride a '94 K1100LT.
                  In these pages considerable time is spent relating individual trials and errors, such as when somebody failed to use his side stand, or when another forgot to remove his sunglasses when applying eye drops.
                  Just reading this grueling account caused me to oversleep and run late for work.

                  Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: The Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels
                  Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                  • Colorful anecdotes and a deeper examination
                  Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: The Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels
                  Thomas P. Lowry
                  Manufacturer: Bison Books
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | 19th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
                  MilitaryMilitary | Specialties | Law | Subjects | Books
                  MilitaryMilitary | Specialties | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 0803280246

                  Book Description

                  During the Civil War, a Union colonel was five times more likely to be court-martialed than a private. Worse, courts-martial of all ranks increased by 400 percent in the winter months. Among the court-martialed transgressors presented in this volume are an officer nicknamed “Stumpy” because he tended to hide behind tree stumps during combat and a man tried for calling his superior a “miserable reptile.” The gallery of offenders also includes a Vermont colonel who became a chloroform addict and a New York colonel who rode his horse into a barroom, ordered a brandy for himself and one for his horse, then fired his pistol through the ceiling. The stories of fifty misdeeds, along with a statistical exploration of twenty-two thousand other courts-martial, provide a pioneering study of the little-known world of Civil War misbehavior and clarify the often-bewildering dynamics between volunteer soldiers and their professional superiors.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Colorful anecdotes and a deeper examination.......2004-03-07

                  Drunkards & Outright Fools: Courts-martial Of Civil War Union Colonels by Civil War enthusiast and expert Thomas P. Lowry focuses on illustrative case studies as well as a broad-based statistical exploration to better understand why, or at least how in the Union Army, a colonel during the American Civil War was five times more likely to be court-martialed than a private. Colorful anecdotes and a deeper examination of the severities of the times make Drunkards & Outright Fools a unique and inherently fascinating addition to any civil war reference collections or supplemental reading list.
                  CURMUDGEONS, DRUNKARDS, AND OUTRIGHT FOOLS: COURTS-MARTIAL OF CIVIL WAR UNION COLONELS. Foreword by William C. Davis
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    CURMUDGEONS, DRUNKARDS, AND OUTRIGHT FOOLS: COURTS-MARTIAL OF CIVIL WAR UNION COLONELS. Foreword by William C. Davis
                    Thomas P. Lowry
                    Manufacturer: Bison Books Corp.,
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: B000N784GW

                    Nerve Center: Inside the White House Situation Room
                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                    • Totally Cool
                    • A must for lovers of the West Wing!
                    • Behind Closed Doors - A Fascinating Look
                    • Life in the WHSR
                    • Great view of the White House Situation Room
                    Nerve Center: Inside the White House Situation Room
                    Michael K. Bohn
                    Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

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                    ASIN: 1574884387

                    Book Description

                    The White House Situation Room is arguably the most important facility in the most important building in the world. As the president’s intelligence and alert center, it provides vital communication and crisis management capabilities to the chief executive and his advisers. It can also be “an island of calm,” as a top adviser for Vice President Al Gore once described it. So little is known about the Situation Room that, until the publication of Nerve Center, the American public’s knowledge of it is almost entirely based on its portrayal by the entertainment industry.

                    Yet, as Michael K. Bohn points out, Hollywood has failed to capture the real drama of the Situation Room. Numerous crises come alive in Nerve Center, from the Vietnam War (when President Johnson made late night visits to the Situation Room wearing his pajamas and went so often that he moved his Oval Office chair there), to the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, to today’s high-tech war on terrorism. Created in the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs fiasco by advisers to President John Kennedy, presidents, cabinet members, and National Security Council staff members have all come to depend on the Situation Room. “I knew that I could always rely on the Situation Room,” President Jimmy Carter recalled, “and it never let me down.”

                    Bohn, who served as director of the Situation Room for the first President George Bush, has recruited numerous officials, including former and current staff, to tell the colorful forty-year history of the Situation Room. In a final chapter, Bohn uses a fictional crisis to describe how the Situation Room will evolve to help the president meet the challenges of an increasingly dangerous future.

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars Totally Cool.......2006-07-26

                    Excellent sneak peak into the White House Situation Room, dispelling myths and showing us the American people how our leaders handle a crisis.

                    4 out of 5 stars A must for lovers of the West Wing!.......2006-02-07

                    I first read this book 2 years ago after purchasing it from Amazon, and loved it the moment I saw it. Sitting down to read it was almost like opening a chocolate box, with wonderful anecdotes from dozens of men and women who have served in the nexus of American Military decision making. I highly recomend this book to anyone who would like to find out more about the White House Situation room and it's impact on the world and the West Wing itself.

                    5 out of 5 stars Behind Closed Doors - A Fascinating Look.......2003-04-15

                    Mike Bohn has succeeded in opening to the reader a portion of the White House that few understand - let alone acknowledge its existence or function. The Situation Room truly is the "Nerve Center" for the country - both in times of crisis and in peace time. It is a central briefing room for the President, and a contact center for countries around the globe. Before reading this wonderful book, I hadn't thought about how calls to heads-of-state were made on behalf of the President, but now I can see why they would all go through the Situation Room.

                    If you are a fan of political movies, and want to know the truth behind the Hollywood fiction, or are just a political junkie, then this truly is the one book you want on your shelf!

                    5 out of 5 stars Life in the WHSR.......2003-02-14

                    Bohn, Commander Bohn. Shakes not stirs events in the White House from the Situation Room. He takes the pulse of the Sit Room and displays it with humor and humanity. This is the first account of the people who watch and report on events that shape our world. Well done and well written!

                    5 out of 5 stars Great view of the White House Situation Room.......2003-02-14

                    I enjoyed reading this book on the White House Situation Room. It offers readers great insight and anecdotes behind the scenes of government crises and every day political happenings.

                    Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species
                    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                    • Avoids controversy
                    Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species
                    Charles C. Mann
                    Manufacturer: Knopf
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

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                    Similar Items:
                    1. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
                    2. Endangered Species Recovery: Finding the Lessons, Improving the Process Endangered Species Recovery: Finding the Lessons, Improving the Process
                    3. Restoring Diversity: Strategies For Reintroduction Of Endangered Plants Restoring Diversity: Strategies For Reintroduction Of Endangered Plants
                    4. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

                    ASIN: 0679420029
                    Release Date: 1995-02-14

                    Customer Reviews:

                    3 out of 5 stars Avoids controversy.......2004-01-24

                    I can't remember where I first saw this book reviewed and recommended, but I do remember that I couldn't check it out in the school library because one of the Range Science professors put it on reserve for his class. That intrigued me enough to just buy it.

                    I found the first 3/4 of the book fascinating as it described a variety of encounters between human activity and species decline. Mann makes a good case that consistency requires the act and its defenders to defend squirmy species with the same fervor as they defend the "cute and cuddly" species. He also points out that some of man's activities which appear benign or even helpful (such as fire suppression) actually harm species who thrive in areas damaged by natural devastation (such as fires and storms). Finally, he relates several tales where species protection interferes with humanitarian activities (such as building roads on native american reservations between the remote areas and the centralized hospital).

                    However, despite all of the story telling and fact gathering, he chickens out in his recommendations. Throughout the book, he foreshadows a dramatic new proposal, but then fails to deliver. He makes a short call for reform and a more thoughtful process - "more of the same, only better." I would recommend the book for the anecdotes, but don't expect a world-shaking ending.
                    Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species. (book reviews): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species. (book reviews): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology
                      T.H. Watkins
                      Manufacturer: National Academy of Sciences
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Digital

                      NonfictionNonfiction | Subjects | Books | Audiobooks | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
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                      ASIN: B00093NKPK
                      Release Date: 2005-07-28

                      Book Description

                      This digital document is an article from Issues in Science and Technology, published by National Academy of Sciences on June 22, 1995. The length of the article is 2630 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: Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species. (book reviews)
                      Author: T.H. Watkins
                      Publication: Issues in Science and Technology (Refereed)
                      Date: June 22, 1995
                      Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
                      Volume: v11 Issue: n4 Page: p80(5)

                      Article Type: Book Review

                      Distributed by Thomson Gale

                      Books:

                      1. Field Guide to Fishing Knots: Essential Knots for Freshwater and Saltwater Angling (Wilderness Adventure Press Field Guides)
                      2. Field Guide to Larger Mammals of Africa (Field Guide)
                      3. Fiji's Natural Heritage
                      4. Geology of Carlsbad Cavern and other caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico and Texas (Bulletin / New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources)
                      5. Glory Days of Logging/Action in the Big Woods, British Columbia to California
                      6. Great Barrier Reef (Reader's Digest Travel Guide)
                      7. Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians of Florida: The Amphibians, Part 3 (Handbook of Reptiles & Amphibians of Flo)
                      8. Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America
                      9. Horses Through Time
                      10. How Nature Works: Regenerating Kinship With Planet Earth

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