Foghorn Outdoors: California Wildlife

Book Description

The Golden State is blessed with a diversity of wildlife unrivaled anywhere on Earth. From coastal tidepools to high desert, and from mountain forests to fertile valleys, the ecosystems of California teem with a vast array of species. This encyclopedic guide, written by Tom Stienstra in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Game, profiles over 100 animals, from the formidable black bear and majestic gray whale to river otters, bald eagles, and great horned owls. The guide is cross-referenced and has been reviewed for accuracy by professional biologists.

Customer Reviews:

Bobcats, Bears, and Bigfoot. A Fun Wildlife Reference........2007-05-25

Last weekend my wife and I were hiking near Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. With sunset just an hour away, we were hurrying along the trail but rounding a corner we stopped dead in our tracks. Not 30 yards from us was a bobcat which of course took off in the opposite direction as soon as we saw it. Wildlife encounters like these are treasured moments and we feel blessed to have experienced so many of them.

You can share such experiences too with a little time, a lot of luck, and simply by knowing where and when to go in California's wildlands. This book by Tom Steinstra can help with the third part of that formula. This book discusses 85 different types of wildlife commonly found (or in the case of Bigfoot, occasionally reported) in California. Far more animals than that are described, however, as you will find multiple species under the headings "duck," "deer," "elk," and so forth. Steinstra's descriptions are divided into two parts. The first consists of his own personal observations and the second are loosely classified as "biologists' notes." I found both sections informative and Paul Johnson's illustrations nicely complement the text.

On the whole, this is an excellent reference source. You can find out a lot about California's wildlife and where you can go to see such animals. But references sources usually are not all that fun to read. The reason this book merits 5 stars is that it is an exception to the rule. Steinstra is simply a terrific writer. Who else would think to remark, under biologists' notes for chipmunks, that their predators include "cats, dogs, weasels, hawks, owls, snakes, and many boys." Or again, where else would you find out about the social importance of crawdads for scaring your parents silly. A good reference book is useful. A well written one is a gem. Buy this book and enjoy.

Book Description

The Innocents Abroad is one of the most prominent and influential travel books ever written about Europe and the Holy Land. In it, the collision of the American “New Barbarians” and the European “Old World” provides much comic fodder for Mark Twain—and a remarkably perceptive lens on the human condition. Gleefully skewering the ethos of American tourism in Europe, Twain’s lively satire ultimately reveals just what it is that defines cultural identity. As Twain himself points out, “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” And Jane Jacobs observes in her Introduction, “If the reader is American, he may also find himself on a tour of his own psyche.”

Customer Reviews:

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-15

I think that I must be one of the few people who has read all of Mark Twain's non-fiction and practically none of his classic works of fiction. I think that Mark Twain is one of the cleaverst philosophers who has ever lived. There is more to be learned in reading Mark Twain than in reading Plato or Aristotle as far as I am concerned.
I think that this was the second Twain travelogue that I read. It is a laugh a minute. I just love this guy. When they say the "wit and wisdom" of Mark Twain they are not kidding. He is really too much ... and he is fun! How can you beat it.

Perfect Gift.......2007-03-05

If you don't know the person for whom you're buying a gift, well get them this. It's laugh-out loud funny even for someone who doesn't read much or who has never heard of Twain.

Review of INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain.......2007-01-15

In what must have been the first organized tour by Americans of the Old World, Mark Twain tells of his experiences as a member of a party of 150 taking a cruise steamer to tour the European mainland, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

The "innocents" of the title applies to Twain and his comrades. It shows partly in their naivete such as being flattered by a French shopkeeper into buying a tawdry piece of apparel, and in their assumption that every native guide must be telling the truth. It shows partly in their attempting behavior that seasoned travelers would not attempt, such as riding a donkey all day, or making an evening foray to the shore of Athens--in violation of the quarantine--to observe the Parthenon under the moonlight. It shows mainly in Twain's sense of wonder at the monuments of civilization which tower over him in what seems the first confrontation of American culture with Europe and the East.

There are some memorable moments: Twain's audience with the Czar in the Caucasus; his arduous trek through the Syrian desert to the Holy Land; his measuring the blocks of the Baalbek temples and deciding they were as big as railroad cars; his being harassed by beggars in every town in the Middle East; his being made a virtual prisoner by his guide as he labors up the great pyramid in Egypt. And we realize that throughout this tour of the antiquities, some things remain as they were in 1867. Tour groups are still largely made up of the gray-haired, the Louvre with its miles of art galleries is still overwhelming, the sphinx remains inscrutable, and Arabs still hate Christians.

INNOCENTS ABROAD is typical Mark Twain, full of his humor, irony, and exaggeration. Brevity is not its virtue, however.

I found this non-fiction work useful for its travel information, but even more readable for its digressions: those anecdotes, legends, spoofs, and mini-essays that liberally infuse the book. Twain's reproduction of a fancied playbill for the Coliseum of 2,000 years ago is hilarious. His well-evidenced argument that Egypt is the wellspring of western culture is a startling one. His portrayal of his experience in the Tomb of the Holy Sepulcher shows a devoutness that we do not associate with this American iconoclast. In fact, he marshals a fund of knowledge of the Bible and Christian history in demonstrating that Ephesus, now largely in ruins, is really the most important city in Christendom.

I purchased INNOCENTS ABROAD after I read it. It is the only book of Twain's that I own, because I will want to read its passages again and again, to myself and to others.

As always a wonderful read.......2006-12-02

Twain is not only timeless but his observations may seem all the more timely. This excellent read follows him on a journey to Europe and then the Middle East in the 1860s. We learn much about the time period and his observations are helpful in learning about the past, we see the brutality od the slave market in Istanbul where European slaves are sold, we see the arrogance of the europeans and we see the true view of the 'Holy Land' as Twain puts to shame former romantic accounts of the land of the Bible and brings it to life in its brutal squalor. Twain is ever cynical and whitty and in this the read sheds light on a nascent quinitsential Americanism. The American culture of Twain is not taken in with old europe, he is not impressed by luxory and he is not easily taken in with romance, there is no Lawrence of Arabia in Twain, there is skepticism about religion, about the Catholic church. People are not inherently good or evil, but jaded, Twain has a sense of justice but he dares to challenge his contemporaries and ironically the way his contemporaries viewed say the European or the Arab beoduin, has not changed in 140 years. Twain dared to challenge popular thought and in that he was one of the first Americans.

Seth J. Frantzman

Timeless Twain.......2006-11-14

Journey to the east in 1860's with the best travel writer ever, Mark Twain.
Colorful descriptions of people, places and events abroad with Twain humor. If you love travel stories, this will delight you.

THE INNOCENTS ABROAD OR THE NEW PILGRIMS' PROGRESS - BEING SOME ACCT OF THE STEAMSHIP QUAKER CITY'S PLEASURE EXCURSION TO EUROPE

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THE INNOCENTS ABROAD OR THE NEW PILGRIMS' PROGRESS - BEING SOME ACCT OF THE STEAMSHIP QUAKER CITY'S PLEASURE EXCURSION TO EUROPE

Manufacturer: The Heritage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H40QK8

The innocents abroad, or, The new pilgrim's progress (The writings of Mark Twain)

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The innocents abroad, or, The new pilgrim's progress (The writings of Mark Twain)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Gabriel Wells
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Innocents Abroad and the New Pilgrim's Progress

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The Innocents Abroad and the New Pilgrim's Progress
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: The Musson Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000X8W0RU

The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress

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The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RBAOBM

Product Description

"Being some account of the steamship 'Quaker City's' pleasure excursion to Europe and the Holy Land." Illustrated.

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The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Harper and Brothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JVXS5O

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Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: American Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N5YW1A

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The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Airmont Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KS9H2Y

The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress (Illustrated) - In Two Volumes - Volume II

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The Innocents Abroad or the New Pilgrim's Progress (Illustrated) - In Two Volumes - Volume II
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Collier & Son
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PW1DIQ

Product Description

1911 Harper & Brothers edition Published by Collier. Volume II of two volumes - Illustrated

The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrim's Progress Being Some Account of the Steamship Quaker City's Pleasure Excursion to Europe and the Holy Land

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The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrim's Progress Being Some Account of the Steamship Quaker City's Pleasure Excursion to Europe and the Holy Land
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: The MacMillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000L3GLRC

Book Description

Valerie's life is pretty good. While she's not the most popular girl in school, she does have decent grades, great friends, and a potential boyfriend. All a girl could want.

Then her mother announces that (1) she's gay, and (2) she's leaving Valerie's dad for her girlfriend. Not what Valerie envisioned for her future. And just when Valerie is getting over this bombshell, her father tells her he's gotten a new job as protocol chief for the royal family of some obscure European country.

Valerie's world has come unglued. She can either stay in Virginia with her mom and her über-organized, veggie-burger-eating girlfriend, or go with her dad, leaving everything she knows for some place she's never heard of. Valerie opts to go, and quickly discovers that it was a mistake -- until she meets the prince, and all bets are off!

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-07-02

Valerie Winslow, like any other girl, thought that she had it all: the perfect friends, the perfect family, and the perfect crush. But her world turns upside down and soon Valerie begins to question her whole life. Her mother decides to tell the family, at the dinner table, that she cannot continue in her marriage because she is gay and is going to move out and live with the new love of her life, who happens to be a woman.

Unfortunately, her mother's news not only effects Valerie, but also her father, who breaks the news that the very conservative politician that he works for doesn't believe that he should have an employee who married someone who is gay. But instead of losing his job, the politician finds Valerie's dad another one, just until after the re-election, all the way in Schwerinborg, some European country.

So now Valerie has to make a decision. She can either stay with her mother and her girlfriend in their new apartment, go to an entirely different school, and possibly have a chance with her longtime crush, David Anderson, who is finally showing some interest in her. Or she can go all the way around the world and stay with her dad, who is helping the royal family.

Valerie decides that it's best to go with her dad, maybe so she doesn't have to tell her friends the real reason why her parents got divorced. When she arrives at her new, yet very ugly apartment, Valerie discovers a surprise, a very cute one. Turns out the royal family has a son who is just one year older than Valerie, and isn't too shabby to look at. Maybe moving to Schwerinborg wasn't such a bad idea after all.

ROYALLY JACKED is both unique and hilarious in so many ways. Niki Burnham creates a story that is so unusual and so very cute that it leaves a smile on your face. The relationship with Valerie and her dad and the one with Georg, the son of the royal family, all make ROYALLY JACKED worth the read.

Be sure to watch for the other books in this series, Spin Control (Simon Romantic Comedies) and Do-Over (Simon Romantic Comedies).

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

fun read.......2006-08-14

Valerie Winslow's life has been turned upside-down. First, her mother announces that she's gay and is moving in with her girlfriend. Then, her father announces that he's being transferred from helping the President in Washington, D.C. to helping the royal family in Schwerinborg (or Smorgasbord, as most of Valerie's classmates call it), a tiny European country somewhere around Germany. Not wanting to face facts about her mother, Valerie moves to Schwerinborg. At first Schwerinborg seems kind of gray and dull, but then Valerie meets Georg, and things are looking up. But when she finds out that, in fact, he's Prince Georg, she isn't sure if it will go anywhere. She tries to find out if he's interested, while also trying to learn German so she can understand what everyone is saying, and she's in for some surprises. Another great book from Simon Romantic Comedies.

He is so HOTT!!!!!!.......2005-08-06

This book is a story about a girl named Valerie. Her life is turned in the direction of weird when her mom anouccnces that she wants a divorce because she has found a new love. With another woman!! With this scary detail in mind Valerie's dad has been called on business to a small unknow country in Europe to be a royal chef.
One good thing does happen to her though. When in the library trying to figure out her new school test she mets the Prince. Prince Greog.
To find out more read Royally Jacked.
And remember even if the begining is boring keep going cuz the book does get better and continues to do so.
So enjoy:)

A cute love story.......2005-06-06

Royally Jacked was a cute, fluffy story about a teenage girl, Valerie, who has to choose between staying with her gay mother or opting for a life in a foreign country after her parent's divorce. She chooses to leave her friends and crush behind to follow her father to his new job in Europe. At first she regrets her decision, but then she meets Prince Georg and things aren't as bad as they seem. It was a short, easy-read novel with a cliffhanger ending that kept me reading the entire time. The "gay parent" plot wasn't necessary in my opinion and didn't really fit in with the plot of the story. On the contrary, the slightly predictable love story was an enjoyable read. Otherwise, I think Niki Burnham put together an appealing novel the many teenage girls would enjoy.

Royally Good.......2005-05-31

We thought that this book was pretty good. It reminded us of the Princess Diaries series. We could relate to Royally Jacked better than other books because of the first-hand prospective of Valerie. We would recommend this book for children ages 13-16. Even though it wasn't perfect, it still rated high in our minds. If you like reading teen-girl books and are in for a good read, read Royally Jacked.

Book Description

This textbook is concerned with the mathematical modeling of biological and physiological phenomena for mathematically sophisticated students. A range of topics are discussed: diffusion population dynamics, autonomous differential equations and the stability of ecosystems, biogeography, pharmokinetics, biofluid mechanics, cardiac mechanics, the spectral analysis of heart sounds using FFT techniques. The last chapter deals with a wide variety of commonly used medical devices. This edition includes new chapters on epidemiology, including modeling the spread of AIDS through a population. Coverage is based on courses taught by the author over many years and the material is class tested. The reader is aided by many exercises that examine key points and extend the presentation in the body of the text. All students of mathematical biology will find this book to be a highly useful resource.

Mathematical Models for Society and Biology

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Mathematical Models for Society and Biology
Edward Beltrami
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0120855615

Book Description

Mathematical Modeling for Society and Biology engagingly relates mathematics to compelling real-life problems in biology and contemporary society. It shows how mathematical tools can be used to gain insight into these modern, common problems to provide effective, real solutions.

Beltrami's creative, non-threatening approach draws on a wealth of interesting examples pertaining to current social and biological issues. Central ideas appear again in different contexts throughout the book, showing the general unity of the modeling process. The models are strikingly novel and based on issues of real concern. Most have never appeared in book form. Through the relevance of these models mathematics becomes not just figures and numbers, but a means to a more refined understanding of the world.

Quantitative Aspects of the Ecology of Biological Invasions: Proceedings of a Royal Society Discussion Meeting Held on 26 and 27 February 1986 (Roya)

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Quantitative Aspects of the Ecology of Biological Invasions: Proceedings of a Royal Society Discussion Meeting Held on 26 and 27 February 1986 (Roya)
Hans Kornberg , and M. H. Williamson
Manufacturer: Scholium Intl
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0854033025

Differentiation and frequency distributions of body weights in plants and animals (Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London)

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Differentiation and frequency distributions of body weights in plants and animals (Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London)
J Uchmánski
Manufacturer: The Royal Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007B5KB6

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Mathematical Models for Society and Biology
Edward Beltrami
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OH9WQ2

Book Description

Since the 1960s, many researchers have extended topological degree theory to various non-compact type nonlinear mappings, and it has become a valuable tool in nonlinear analysis. Presenting a survey of advances made in generalizations of degree theory during the past decade, this book focuses on topological degree theory in normed spaces and its applications. The authors begin by introducing the Brouwer degree theory in Rn, then consider the Leray-Schauder degree for compact mappings in normed spaces. Next, they explore the degree theory for condensing mappings, including applications to ODEs in Banach spaces. This is followed by a study of degree theory for A-proper mappings and its applications to semilinear operator equations with Fredholm mappings and periodic boundary value problems. The focus then turns to construction of Mawhin's coincidence degree for L-compact mappings, followed by a presentation of a degree theory for mappings of class (S+) and its perturbations with other monotone-type mappings. The final chapter studies the fixed point index theory in a cone of a Banach space and presents a notable new fixed point index for countably condensing maps. Examples and exercises complement each chapter. With its blend of old and new techniques, Topological Degree Theory and Applications forms an outstanding text for self-study or special topics courses and a valuable reference for anyone working in differential equations, analysis, or topology.

Theory of Degrees with Applications to Bifurcations and Differential Equations

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Theory of Degrees with Applications to Bifurcations and Differential Equations
Wieslaw Krawcewicz , and Jianhong Wu
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This book provides an introduction to degree theory and its applications to nonlinear differential equations. It uses an applications-oriented to address functional analysis, general topology and differential equations and offers a unified treatment of the classical Brouwer degree, the recently developed S ¹-degree and the Dold-Ulrich degree for equivalent mappings and bifurcation problems. It integrates two seemingly disparate concepts, beginning with review material before shifting to classical theory and advanced application techniques.

Degree Theory in Analysis and Applications (Oxford Lecture Series in Mathematics and Its Applications, No 2)

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Degree Theory in Analysis and Applications (Oxford Lecture Series in Mathematics and Its Applications, No 2)
Irene Fonseca , and Wilfrid Gangbo
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198511965

Book Description

In this book we study the degree theory and some of its applications in analysis. It focuses on the recent developments of this theory for Sobolev functions, which distinguishes this book from the currently available literature. We begin with a thorough study of topological degree for continuous functions. The contents of the book include: degree theory for continuous functions, the multiplication theorem, Hopf`s theorem, Brower`s fixed point theorem, odd mappings, Jordan`s separation theorem. Following a brief review of measure theory and Sobolev functions and study local invertibility of Sobolev functions. These results are put to use in the study variational principles in nonlinear elasticity. The Leray-Schauder degree in infinite dimensional spaces is exploited to obtain fixed point theorems. We end the book by illustrating several applications of the degree in the theories of ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations.

Equivariant Degree Theory (De Gruyter Series in Nonlinear Analysis and Applications, 8)

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Equivariant Degree Theory (De Gruyter Series in Nonlinear Analysis and Applications, 8)
Jorge Ize , and Alfonso Vignoli
Manufacturer: Walter de Gruyter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3110175509

Some applications of the topological degree theory to multi-valued boundary value problems (Rozprawy matematyczne)

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Some applications of the topological degree theory to multi-valued boundary value problems (Rozprawy matematyczne)
Tadeusz Pruszko
Manufacturer: Panstwowe Wydawn. Nauk
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

From 1837 to 1861, Thoreau kept a Journal that began as a conventional record of ideas, grew into a writer's notebook, and eventually became the principal imaginative work of his career. The source of much of his published writing, the Journal is also a record of his interior life and of his monumental studies of the natural history of his native Concord, Massachusetts. Unlike earlier editions, the Princeton edition reproduces the Journal in its original and complete form, in a reading text free of editorial interpolations but keyed to a comprehensive scholarly apparatus.

Journal 8: 1854 is edited from the 467-page notebook that Thoreau kept February 13-September 3, 1854. It reveals him as an increasingly confident taxonomist creating lists that distill his observations about plant leafing and seasonal birds. Two particularly significant public events took place in his life in the summer of 1854. On July 4, at an antislavery rally at Framingham, Massachusetts, Thoreau appeared for the first time in the company of prominent abolitionists, delivering as heated a statement against slavery as he had yet made. And on August 9, Ticknor and Fields published Walden, the book Thoreau had been working on since 1846. In Journal 8 Thoreau indicates that these public accomplishments, though satisfying, took a toll on his creative life and did not fully compensate him for the hours spent away from the woods.

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