Gametes and Spores: Ideas about Sexual Reproduction, 1750-1914

Customer Reviews:

Linnaeus's mistake.......2005-04-20

By the middle of the 18th century, the great Linneaus thought he understood how flowering plants reproduce. Flowers, he wrote have a male organ, the anther and a female organ the pistil and these are comparable to the corresponding sex organs of animals. Within about a hundred years, a music publisher, Wilhelm Hofmeister showed that Linneaus had been wrong. Using a microsco-pe, Hofmeister reconstructed the reproductive cycles of mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants. In each case, he found an alternation of generations in which a sexually reproducing phase produces a stage the reproduces asexually through spores. In flowering plants, for example, the anthers and pistils both produce spores which develop into very diminutive sexually reproducing entities that produce sperm and eggs. John Farley guides us gently through these developments and later ones that led to the discovery of the two modes of cell division, mitosis and meiosis. He also fills us in on the social background, as ideas about human sexuality change in the course of the 19th century.
Surprisingly, the Linnaean misconception still retains its grip on the popular mind and even, according to Farley, on the minds of some biologists. This book should help see to it that we all catch up to, at least, a good 19th century grasp of plant reproduction.

Book Description

Volume 2 of the exhaustive, definitive work covering every cactus in the world. Full botanical descriptions, thorough statement of nomenclature, habitat, detailed finding keys. The one book needed by every cactus enthusiast. Total in set: over 1,275 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Hobbyists beware!.......2000-02-25

This book and its sister volume are much too technical and verbose for the average hobbyist. The illustrations are poor black and white photographs and/or drawings that are not of much help in identifying cacti that most of us would encounter. The material also seems to be dated, and very, very limited in some areas of general interest, (schlumbergera, for example....) I have found these books to be of little help, and certainly not worth the price....

A technical book with a wealth of information.......1999-09-30

This is really a scientific work, but anyone with a knowlege of "Flora's" will find thier way around these books with ease. Although some of the nomenculture is outdated it is still a "Must" for the serious Cacti Species collector.

The Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family Complete in 4 Volumes Bound as 2 Volumes I, II, III and IV In Two Volumes

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The Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family Complete in 4 Volumes Bound as 2 Volumes I, II, III and IV In Two Volumes
Britton and Rose
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JEOHTW

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The Cactaceae Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family
N.L Britton
Manufacturer: Dover Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000H4L1I4

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Book Description

The complete guide to Europe's hottest towns and resorts, highlighting the club and music scene, the best bars, hang out spots, retro shopping, cheap eats and sleeps, the gay and lesbian scene, a fresh take on all the cultural sights, plus tons of insights into the local character. We'll cover Amsterdam, Reykjavik, Paris, Berlin, Nice, Prague, Ibiza, the Greek Islands, Dublin, Edinburgh, Barcelona, and much more -- all with dozens of maps. A young, hip, smart, fun, sophisticated, witty guide.

Customer Reviews:

Good Supplementary Guide--Don't Use as Your Primary Guide!.......2003-05-22

During my three month backpacking trip, I used my copy of "Hanging Out in Europe" as a supplement to the more traditional "Let's Go" guides, and two things quickly became obvious about this book: (1) I was very glad I had it, and (2) I was even more glad that it wasn't the only guide book I had. Some of the criticisms offered by other readers are correct--the maps are absolutely useless, and the information is often dated, inaccurate, or both. Every address has to be double checked, and many phone numbers are wrong. The book is highly irreverent, which means the PC crowd will be offended at some point (the puritanical, the PC folks, or those whose idea of partying is having two glasses of wine with dinner should probably skip this book and go with the guides that the Harvard kids put out instead). But I truly enjoyed the irreverence of this guide--I often found myself reading through the guide just for fun, which I can't say about the other guides. I mean, how could you not be amused, with gems like, "Prague is party heaven--and I'm not talking about where dead communists go"?

The fact is, unlike the other guides, this one is aimed at a very specific subset of backpackers: young people who want to party, experiment, or do things that the other guides probably wouldn't talk about because their lawyers won't let them. (In fact, "Let's Go" has a bad habit of derisively labeling as "frat-like" any bar or hostel populated by people who look like they might have actually been on a date sometime before their senior year of college.) The drug culture in every city is given a thorough treatment and they are pretty precise about where certain things are okay and where they're not. This book does not treat you with kid gloves or worry about the possibility of offending you--it simply tells you everything it can and then leaves you to decide what to do with that information. Use it, ignore it, or be offended, they don't really care.

Another underlooked benefit of this book is that so few backpackers have it. The problem with "Let's Go" and "Lonely Planet" is that EVERYBODY has a copy. This means that every hostel, restaurant, or bar listed in them will be on the tip of most backpackers' tongues. With "Hanging Out in Europe," I had a completely different list of hostels in case the ones in "Lonely Planet" were booked up, and a different set of bars to suggest while everyone else in the hostel was itching to go to the one with the star next to it in "Let's Go." In addition, each city has a section full of suggestions for conversation starters with the locals (from which we got that tidbit about insulting the French Belgians to curry favor with the Flemish Belgians, sparking another reviewer's outrage). But these little tidbits are great and are somewhat unique to this book.

So the skinny on this book is: Buy it if you're part of its target demographic (young, non-PC, itching to party). But make sure you supplement it with a copy of "Let's Go" or "Lonely Planet," where you'll get more accurate info and more tips on where to take in the culture.

A decent reference, but not the authority.......2003-04-10

I am currently studying in France and am using this book to travel around Europe. It's a good reference, but should not be considered authoritative. The book assumes that the reader is a college student who wants nothing more than to pick up, take drugs and party into the wee hours of the morning. If you don't fit this description, you may find the writing style grating and obnoxious.

What's good:
-It gives you a basic overview of each city, the history and the culture, so you get a feeling for the city before you even get there
-It tells you the major museums to see (which you could find out from any tourist guide, not just this one).
-The hostel information was generally good. My friends borrowed the book to find hostels in their travels and they never complained.
-They do point out the hot spots in each city, but they're so obvious once you get to the city anyways. Look at flyers, search online and just explore, and you'll find the listed places and more.

What's bad:
-There was no information on European culture and customs. The typical traveller would not be able to enter many of these places due to their own behaviour.
-The book gave no hints on cheap travel or ways to save money. They should have had information about various rail deals, alternate food and lodging ideas, etc.
-Most of the information was either outdated or false. Phone numbers were wrong, some spots only open a few months a year and prices were way off. Yes, cool spots appear and disappear overnight, but the book led me to places which seemed never to exist in the first place.
-The information is geared to make North Americans feel at home. 'Hanging out' shouldn't mean 'finding American-style places in Europe'. Most of the recommended hang out spots were either public touristy places or American-style bars.
-The book seemed to encourage drug use. Although decriminalised, drugs are still illegal in Europe and should not be consumed by foreign travellers.
-The authors were obnoxious and downright degrading to some cultures. In the Antwerp section, they encouraged the readers to insult the French Belgians to endear themselves to the Dutch ones.

Like any guide book, this one was outdated before it even hit the press. If you use it, double and triple check sites before you go or wind up being disappointed.
It's a good read just to get the feel for a city, but you'll find the same information and more just by 'hanging out' on your own, without a book to tell you how to be cool.

Great book - hilarious and highly recommended!.......2001-12-27

As far as I can tell, the people who gave this book a bad review are too old to be using it in the first place (who else uses phrases like 'jocular' and 'slap-dash'?) I just got back from Europe, and the authors were right on to recommend the clubs, bars, restaurants, hostels and culture for all the cities I went to. I can vouch for the sections on Copenhagen, London, Barcelona, Rome and Prague. However, some of the addresses are incorrect. But the people who have complained about this should have read the disclaimer on Page # 1 advising the reader to double-check any addresses, phone numbers, etc. before simply showing up in a foreign city. All in all, this book added so much to my trip; those of us who don't take themselves too seriously should definitely pick up a copy.

A fairly repetitive and often offensive book.......2001-02-15

This book makes jocular mention of Hitler's regime. It compares modern German police to Hitler's SS and further insults Germans and other nationalities. I find the book offensive and inappropriate. When it isn't making my blood boil, it's a hodge-podge of useless name-dropping and erroneous information.

a perfect pice of frankenstien.......2000-12-29

ok. so i just spent 4 months in good old europe, and in the end, i think i figured out this whole guidebook thing. "Hanging Out" is a great supplement to other guidebooks. It provides snotty sarcastic comentary, and more social scene advice to some of the other more dry guidebooks. just what you need when lonely planet is starting to give you a headache. ok. so here's my humble advice...

seven steps to adventure with a Frankenstien guidebook 1. Buy "Let's Go Eruope" 2. Buy "Hanging Out" 3. Find a friend with another guidebook of interest 4. Select destination and rip out appropriate chapters. 5. Tape or Staple them together. 6. Ditch the rest of the books at the hostel. 7. Head towards some interesting sounding area or location with a sense of humor and adventure- see something that sounds familiar? Voila! You have three different opinions about it if it is in your Frankenstien guidebook. (if not, you have made an exciting discovery! Hurrah!)

don't forget- a gidebook is basicly disposable. it will be out of date by the time you get home. so get messy! rip it up! write all over it! get rid of the chapters you are not going to use! (those things are damn heavy, and really, are you going to use that chapter on iceland?) compare, contrarast and dicover! Buon Divertimento!

Book Description

"I wonder what would have happened if I'd met you before Nesta," said Luke as he took my hand and looked deeply into my eyes. A bolt of electricity shot through me and I snatched my hand back as if it had been burnt. This can't be happening, I thought.

When Luke, the boy that Nesta has been dating, declares passionate love for T.J., she doesn't know what has hit her. She does her best to avoid him, but when the local schools are asked to work together on a project, Luke is chosen as the overall coordinator and T.J. has no choice but to report back to him on a regular basis. Misunderstandings and miscommunications threaten the girls' friendship and split them into two camps: Lucy and Nesta, Izzie and T.J. Will their friendship survive? And what will T.J.'s steady boyfriend, Steve, make of it all?

Customer Reviews:

Mates,Dates and Tempting Troubles review by Alisa Lier.......2007-04-05

I really like this series so far. This is because I can relate to some of the problems the characters run into. Their problems are real life situations that anyone one could have.These books never have a boring point in them you never want to stop reading them. It was hard for me to put it down it keeps you on the edge and wanting to know more.I really like how they make it feel as if your there with them and ond one their friends. Overall I loved the book and hope to read the whole series. I recommand this book to girls who are between 13 and 15 years old and whose friends are a big part in their lives.

Cathy Hopkins does it again!.......2005-08-07

I find it absolutely amazing that an author can make every single book in a series as good as the last one, if not better. When I found out this book was focusing on TJ Watts, I have to say I wasn't quite sure about it. See, I've always seen her as a somewhat boring character. It just never seemed like she had any qualities that made her stand out from the rest. Well, I was wrong! In this book, you see a totally different side of TJ. For one thing, she seems to have a naughty side and she also seems extremely mixed up. In her situation, who wouldn't be? She really proves that the four of them are INCREDIBLE mates by dropping Luke. I'm so glad I gave the next book in one of my favorite series a chance.

good but not great.......2005-07-06

Mates,Dates and Tempting Trouble book #8 had a good plot but throughout the book started getting a bit odd. For one thing Luke, the boy Nesta has been dating, seems much different from the book before, Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles. Also this book just didn't have the same feel as the other books. The others felt comfortable this one felt somewhat desperate.

really good series!!!.......2005-06-14

This is the eighth book in the Mates, Dates series. T.J. is doing a joint-school project and is assigned to work with Nesta's boyfriend, Luke. He tells her that he really likes her and says he will break up with Nesta so that he can go out with T.J. but T.J. is going out with Steve and doesnt want to hurt him or Nesta. Theres also Sian, a girl working with them on the preoject, and she tells T.J. that Luke said the same thing to her. When T.J. confronts Luke, he says that he didnt, and that Sian is just hoplessly in love with him and threw herself at him. Then Nesta starts to find out and she wont talk to T.J. and it becomes T.J. and Izzie against Lucy and Nesta. Read it to find out what happens!!

Falling For a Friend's Fella.......2005-04-07

T.J. is interested in history and historical places. Her friends are not. Then a huge multi-school project is assigned to record the history of London. T.J. finds herself in a group with Nesta's boyfriend.

Nesta's boyfriend seems to have the same interests as T.J. Nesta asks T.J. to be friendlier to him. He talks about breaking with Nesta to everyone but Nesta.

Now T.J. finds herself in the uncomfortable position of liking a guy and not wanting to hurt her friend. But as said boyfriend seems to be playing an even wider field than originally thought, T.J. must make some very tough decisions if she is going to maintain her friendships with the other girls.

Pretty good but with a little less character development than the previous volumes. Certainly T.J. must make decisions and changes but they are not the same type found earlier. It is still a good story and provides a good lesson about dealing with your mates.

7 RANDOM MATES, DATES, AND SEQUIN SIMLES, MAD MISTAKES, SOLE SURVIVORS, SLEEPOVER SECRETS, DESIGNER DIVAS, INFLATABLE BRAS AND TEMPTING TROUBLE (MATES, DATES AND)

Average customer rating:

7 RANDOM MATES, DATES, AND SEQUIN SIMLES, MAD MISTAKES, SOLE SURVIVORS, SLEEPOVER SECRETS, DESIGNER DIVAS, INFLATABLE BRAS AND TEMPTING TROUBLE (MATES, DATES AND)
CATHY HOPKINS
Manufacturer: SIMON PULSE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TPF0ZG

Average customer rating:

Mates, Dates and Tempting Trouble
Cathy Hopkins
Manufacturer: piccadilly press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K769Y4

Book Description

This book is the first monograph in the field of uniqueness theory of meromorphic functions dealing with conditions under which there is the unique function satisfying given hypotheses. Developed by R. Nevanlinna, a Finnish mathematician, early in the 1920's, research in the field has developed rapidly over the past three decades with a great deal of fruitful results. This book systematically summarizes the most important results in the field, including many of the authors' own previously unpublished results. In addition, useful skills and simple proofs are introduced. This book is suitable for higher level and graduate students who have a basic grounding in complex analysis, but will also appeal to researchers in mathematics.

Uniqueness Theory of Meromorphic Functions (Mathematics and Its Applications)

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Uniqueness Theory of Meromorphic Functions (Mathematics and Its Applications)
Chung-Chun Yang
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUGWX2

Book Description

The Body in the Library is a unique tour of the history of medicine and its practitioners. It provides a nuanced and realistic picture of how medicine and society have abetted and thwarted each other ever since the lawyers behind the French Revolution banished the clergy and replaced them with doctors, priests of the body.

Ranging from Charles Dickens to Oliver Sacks, Anton Chekhov to Raymond Queneau, Fanny Burney to Virginia Woolf, Miguel Torga to Guido Ceronetti, The Body in the Library is an anthology of poems, stories, journal entries, Socratic dialogue, table-talk, clinical vignettes, aphorisms, and excerpts written by doctor-writers themselves.

Engaging and provocative, philosophical and instructive, intermittently funny and sometimes appalling, this anthology sets out to stimulate and entertain. With an acerbic introduction and witty contextual preface to each account, it will educate both patients and doctors curious to know more about the historical dimensions of medical practice.

Book Description

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