Yellowstone Country: The Enduring Wonder (National Geographic Society Special Publication, Series 26)

Book Description

Yellowstone country is a living entity composed of a wide variety of animals.

Vast forests, two national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, thundering waterfalls, gurgling hot springs, and more than two-thirds of the world's active geysers lie within one of the most intact ecosystems in the lower 48. Author Seymour L. Fishbein and photographer Raymond Gehman delve into the controversies of the region such as swelling elk herds, grizzly bears that encroach on campsites, logging, mineral exploration, and ranchers' fears of the spread of disease from bison to livestock. Park, forest, and refuge management strive to balance multiple use and preservation in the hope that the ecosystem will remain as vital and as wild as it is today.

Customer Reviews:

A must-read for anyone planning to visit.......2006-11-04

I had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone National Park this summer and decided to pick up a few guidebooks from my local library. This book is marvelous. It discusses in detail the ecology and history of Yellowstone and its natural resources. The photographs are of the caliber you'd expect from a National Geographic publication.

The land of geysers.......2000-06-27

A beautiful book. Get insight into the delicate ecosystem, the people and the wildlife in this amazing natural wonder.

A beautiful book!.......2000-06-27

Another wonderful book from National geographic. Get insight into the world's nest natural geysers. A must have for people planning to visit the beautiful park.

Yellowstone Country : The Enduring Wonder

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Yellowstone Country : The Enduring Wonder
Seymour L. Fishbein
Manufacturer: National Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JR5932

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Yellowstone Country the Enduring Wonder
Seymour Fishbein
Manufacturer: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC@ SOCIETY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000U07ZEE

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Yellowstone Country, The Enduring Wonder
Seymour L., Illustrated by Gehman, Raymo Fishbein
Manufacturer: Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1989
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LV7Z4M

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Yellowstone Country: The Enduring Wonder

Manufacturer: National Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GTNFNO

Amazon.com

Burl Willes has good news--not every island in the Caribbean is completely overrun with resorts and schlock stands. In his newly updated fourth edition of Undiscovered Islands of the Caribbean, Willes presents 42 idyllic islands, places where the pace of life still meanders slowly in the tropical sun--where narrow streets, village markets, and palm-fringed beaches retain their intrinsic flavor and culture, undisturbed by gambling casinos and T-shirt hawkers. From Green Turtle Cay to Barbuda, Marie-Galante to Guanaja, these secluded islands, some completely uninhabited, still offer the beauty and tranquillity old-timers try to tell you are a thing of the past. --Stephanie Gold

Customer Reviews:

Good, but in need of being updated.......1999-03-26

This is a great book to come up with vacation ideas, but the book needs to be updated. There are no URLs mentioned in the contact information. About half the phone numbers are correct.

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Undiscovered Islands of the Caribbean
Burl Willes
Manufacturer: John Muir Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1562610686

Book Description

Elvin Bishop's uncle is a lot like Elvin's father. They're both dead, for instance. But Elvin's cool with that; it's the way it's been for as long as he can remember.

Then one day it turns out that Uncle Alex isn't exactly dead. He is, instead, sitting on the couch, chewing a scone, and preparing to make up for lost time by fixing his sad-sack nephew before it's too late. Not long out of prison and perhaps not long for this world, Alex embarks on a crash course of tough love designed to turn Elvin into a real Bishop man.

Despite his mighty powers of resistance and denial, Elvin is dragged on an odyssey that introduces him to glam tuba, hellfire-hot food, and the horrors of gym membership. Along the way he finds things he never wanted to look for -- lost relatives, history, roots, regrets, and his own wobbly brand of strength.

Customer Reviews:

Comedy and sensitive material.......2005-10-08

Elvin Bishop is a somewhat regular fourteen year old kid, although like every kid, he's a bit different. Along with his widowed mother, Elvin shares a pretty average home. He has two friends, each with their own eccentricities: one has a very parental attitude while the other is so self-absorbed he refuses to use a public restroom. Elvin is enjoying his life until it is thrown into a frenzy by the reappearence of his long believed dead uncle. It isn't a welcome reunion for Elvin. His Uncle Alex's return is a poor attempt to apologize for stealing the Bishop's money. Will Alex be able to win over Elvin to explain why he stole their money? Will Elvin be able to believe him?

Chris Lynch has a very good aspect of a fourteen year old teen. The writing is comical and makes the reader feel as if the main character could be their best friend. Lynch's subtle humor softens the serious nature of the story making it more believable. Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz would make an excellent read aloud book for teachers. It keeps the reader involved with its believablity. I recommend this book to kids who enjoy comedy but caution there is some sensitive material.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

A humorous novel with an appealing, unassuming, and emotionally honest antihero.......2005-09-23

Fourteen-year-old Elvin Bishop, whom readers previously met in SLOT MACHINE and EXTREME ELVIN, is at peace with his life...sort of. He has two good friends and a supportive mom, he can play a mean tuba (even if he often forgets his instrument on band day), and no one can beat him at bowling. Most of the time he doesn't think (too much) about his weight problem, his lack of popularity, or his dead father.

When Elvin's Uncle Alex shows up, calling his visit "unexpected" would be an understatement. Elvin had always been told that his dad's brother died in a plane crash, but it turns out that Alex had just gone missing after stealing and gambling away all of the money Elvin's dad left his family after his death. Now Alex is back in town, seeking redemption from his nephew.

For Alex, redemption means turning Elvin's life around, taking him to the gym, cooking him healthy (and outrageously spicy) foods, and advising him to form a rock band. For Elvin, Alex's sudden appearance is confusing but not entirely unwelcome; after years of believing that he had no blood relatives on his father's side, Elvin sees his uncle as a link to his dad.

Fans of Chris Lynch's earlier books about Elvin will recognize Elvin's sarcasm and particularly wry sense of humor, often directed at his own weaknesses. Although ME, DEAD DAD, & ALCATRAZ can stand alone, readers meeting Elvin for the first time might have difficulties getting into his head. If they persevere, though, readers will discover an appealing, unassuming antihero whose weaknesses provide not only comic relief but also emotional honesty.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

A novel about redemption and finding yourself........2005-09-06

Elvin Bishop is a creature of routines. He and his Mom have been on their own for many years and Elvin likes his family of two plus dog. Then one day his dead uncle Alex appears sitting on the couch in his living room, determined to turn Elvin's life upside down. Alex wants redemption by "fixing" Elvin's life, to make up for running off with the money left Elvin and his Mom by his Dad.

Elvin doesn't want fixing - in fact, he doesn't want anything to change. What follows is a struggle of wills between Elvin and Alex, causing Elvin to question everything and everyone around him.

Like all great stories of finding oneself, much of what Elvin goes through is "cringe-worthy" - most readers will be able to relate to Elvin's experiences and empathize with him. Chris Lynch has created a voice for Elvin that rings with honesty and created a great coming of age story, filled with humour and humanity.

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Me, dead Dad, & Alcatraz
Chris Lynch
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Lynch, Chris | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000LH9Z7Q

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Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz
Chris Lynch
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Lynch, Chris | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OF3NZ0

Average customer rating:
Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz
Chris Lynch
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Lynch, Chris | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OF3OAE

Book Description

Neurobehavioral Genetics: Methods and Applications covers classic and contemporary approaches to the study of the brain and behavior, including basic and clinical research. This book is designed as a reference for investigators wishing to incorporate genetic methods into neurobehavioral research. A broad spectrum of methods are integrated, unlike any other publication currently in print. Neurobehavioral Genetics: Methods and Applications presents different models, from invertebrates to genetically defined mammals. Introductory chapters demonstrate the scope and power of genetic methods that can be applied to neurobehavioral research from statistical methods and linkage analysis to contemporary molecular genetic approaches to search for candidate genes.The second half of the book covers the applications of quantitative and molecular genetics in basic and clinical research. Topics covered include animal behavior and neurobiology and human clinical problems including neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders.

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Another paradigm about the universe

A new spin on the old universe

Good Overview of Computing, Information and Quantum Mechanics

Mumble Jumble designed to con laymen

Computations are everywhere

Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos
Seth Lloyd
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
Quantum Theory | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
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Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information Is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos, from Our Brains to Black Holes

The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next

The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design

Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory And the Search for Unity in Physical Law

Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions

ASIN: 1400033861
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

Is the universe actually a giant quantum computer? According to Seth Lloyd, the answer is yes.

All interactions between particles in the universe, Lloyd explains, convey not only energy but also information–in other words, particles not only collide, they compute. What is the entire universe computing, ultimately? “Its own dynamical evolution,” he says. “As the computation proceeds, reality unfolds.” Programming the Universe, a wonderfully accessible book, presents an original and compelling vision of reality, revealing our world in an entirely new light.

Customer Reviews:

Another paradigm about the universe.......2007-09-18

What would you think of a professor who starts his course this way: " First you ask questions and I'll try to answer them. Second, if you don't ask questions, I'll ask you questions. Third, if you don't answer my questions, I'll tell you something I think you ought to know. Any questions? " And then, when there are no questions, he throws in his own: "What is information?".
Well, this is, apparently, the style of professor Seth Lloyd and I would certainly enjoy to be in his class and , by the way, his question stimulated my brain , so my answer would be: "Information implies some kind of `language', the elements of language being the signs, the syntactic rules and the interpretation (the meaning). Information normally goes from an emitter to a receiver through some channel. Information can also be processed and stored."
So what is this book about? Well, the standard paradigm of the universe is mechanistic and energy is the most important quantity. Lloyd advocates a new complementary paradigm: the universe is a machine that computes and the two primary quantities are energy and information. A phrase summarizes the main idea of the book: "It from bit "or , rather, "It from qubit". The new paradigm solves the problem of the natural emergency of complexity (although Darwin already partly tackled this problem) and does away the need of the God Watchmaker. It all starts from nothing, quantum mechanics provides the random fluctuations and the computer gets self started (according to Lloyd, "Quantum mechanics, unlike classical mechanics, can create information out of nothing"). Yes, there is a new version of the famous story about monkeys (unsuccessfully) trying to type Hamlet or other Shakespeare works with typewriters (by the way, a simulation has only managed to type the first 24 letters of Henry IV, Part 2 after trillions and trillions of monkey-years). The new version is to use computers instead of typewriters and interpret the output as computer programs in one of the standard languages. Yes, there are relatively short programs that produce astounding outputs.
So the book, to explain all this starts to talk about computers in one of the most concise and clear ways I have ever seen . It goes on to describe the universe as a computer, one that computes itself, that is, its dynamical evolution. But since the universe is a quantum computer, quantum mechanics needs to be discussed, in particular the beautiful double slit experiment (an excellent video can be seen at www.hqrd.hitachi.co.jp/em/movie/doubleslite-n.wmv ) and other weird aspects of QM such as entanglement, spooky action at distance, the different interpretations of QM, etc. Well the lay reader will find some difficulties in these chapters about quantum mechanics and quantum computers, but the effort is worthwhile. Quantum computers pose a threat to Internet security, because using Schor's algorithm, a quantum computer could easily factorize 400 digit numbers. However, the technical difficulties in building but the most elementary quantum computers (to insulate them to avoid decoherence) make this threat still a chimera (only a number such as 15 has been factorized by a quantum computer). However, quantum computers have done simulations that no classical computer could achieve.
On the side, you will get some philosophical, physical and mathematical servings. For example, the relation of Gödel's theorem , or the related Turing's halting problem, to free will. "Rationality combines with self-reference to make our actions intrinsically paradoxical and uncertain", claims Lloyd. You will also learn about a fourth road to quantum gravity via quantum computation and some notions of the complexity theory of Chaitin and Bennett.
To sum up, a good book, with some easy chapters and some more difficult ones.

A new spin on the old universe.......2007-09-10

Lloyd examines a fascinating perspective on the universe as a massive quantum computer continually calculating its actions and increasing in complexity. If you have taken a year of college level physics then I highly recommend this book. You'll still get a headache from the conceptual gymnastics quantum theory puts your brain through, but you won't be frustrated to the point of dropping the book. Even though there were no formulas to decipher and Lloyd simplifies concepts tremendously and reiterates, keeping up with understanding quantum physics and the universe is challenging.

He does an excellent job building up to quantum mechanics. He starts from the basic concepts like duality of photons to the theories of Schrödinger. He covers the mechanics of quantum computing and algorithms to a lesser degree. Ultimately he brings the reader to his view that the universe is one enormous computer. A scary thought, in my opinion.

At the end, the concepts get a little more blurry when he discusses the natural increases in complexity the universe experiences. There is a lot of hand waving at that goes on and you start to question some of the things he proposes. I don't doubt that he thought through all the arguments and has strong counterarguments, but sometimes his arguments take large leaps. That's where the reader may find exceptions to his theories.

Good Overview of Computing, Information and Quantum Mechanics.......2007-07-23

Lloyd provides a concise and easy-to-follow overview of some complex topics, including computing, information and quantum mechanics.

I found the coverage of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle -- in general terms, a trade-off between the level of certainty related to one physical quantity versus the level of certainty related to a complementary physical quantity -- to be quite good.

Lloyd effectively explains complex topics in an accessible, yet non-simplistic, manner. I recommend this book to readers interested in learning about the basics of quantum mechanics.

Mumble Jumble designed to con laymen.......2007-04-27

The premise of the universe being nothing more than a giant computer is sexy and the author apparently has been very successful in milking every bit of it to advance his career and make some money selling books on the side. Sadly, the whole thesis is a tautology. It adds no real insight. It predicts nothing. It can neither be proven nor disproved. In short, it is just like String Theory. But considering that there are only a handful of quantum computer cosmologists while string theorists number in the tens of thousands, it is not a serious offense.

Computations are everywhere.......2007-04-23

Computations are everywhere. Sure, your modern day laptop computer is doing a lot of computation. But look further and you will find computation everywhere.

In Seth Lloyds book, we are taken on a journey, where we start with the dance of atoms and light. All we need to produce everything we see. Here quantum fluctuations inject information (virtual particles) into empty vacuum for the laws of nature to process (i.e. to compute).

Pretty amazing computation this atomic dance btw. To simulate accurately just a just a tiny fraction of the universe on a classical computer for just a fraction of second - say just a few hundreds atoms for less than a second - would be outside the reach of modern computers. Here we would need something better - a quantum computer.

Actually, according to Seth Lloyd, the universe is indistinguishable from a quantum computer. The universe supports quantum computation and can be efficiently simulated by a quantum computer. Put another way - when two physics systems can simulate each other efficiently - they are logically equivalent. No easy trick though - to simulate the entire universe - in order to it, a quantum computer would need exactly as many qubits as the universe. Talk about Jupitor sized computers.

Still, quantum computers can do stuff that normal classical computers cant do. With Shors factoring algorithm a quantum computer can factor large numbers far more efficiently than a classical computer. And with Grovers search algorithm quantum computers can find things much faster then classical computers etc.

All very well described in the book. So ok, the book gives an insight into computation with atoms in a quantum world. And perhaps this is more than enough for most readers to come to grasps with - Surely, it alone will keep humanity occupied for decades to come. Still, for a book that claims to take on computation in all its glory a lot of stones are left unturned.

E.g. we all know that work is being done on quantum gravity theories. What is computation like here? I suspect that Seth Lloyd wanted to keep the reading "light" and as compact as possible or perhaps he thinks quantum gravity theories will add nothing new to our understanding of computation - but ignoring these questions in the book, whatever his opinion, seems strange.

If there is no efficient algorithm for simulating quantum systems on classical computers. Then - If a quantum computer can't simulate a quantum gravity computer that would highlight yet another huge leap in computing power? And wouldn't the gates of quantum gravity computer work at scales where there is no causality? If a quantum gravity computer can see its result before running its algorithms - it is essential the same as quantum computer strapped to a timemachine. But not a word about such ideas in Seth Lloyds book?

I.e. Quantum gravity does away with cause and effect. In classical computing one thing follows after another. "if" is usually followed by "then". Even quantum computers has this notion of input followed by output. Quantum gravity computers will not be constrained by such considerations. Noone knows how space and time act on the scale of quantum gravity, but there will certainly be no such thing as a fixed sequence of processing steps.

And what about logic in the world of quantum computers?

I.e. Sets are merely the most familiar example of the more general concept of a topos. A topos is a somewhat technical concept. But all topos share one feature, they give rise to their own variety of logic. Sets obey the laws of standard logic and boolean alegebra. For a general topos one would new definitions for AND, OR and NOT operations. Boolean algebra would normally allow a statement to be either true or false. However, this turns out out to be the exception in the world of topos. Normally one find statements to true, false and all shades of grey in between. E.g. in the world of quantum physics - the associated topos might allow a statement to be both true and false and all in between..

This is all only hinted at in lloyds book. One might suspect that he thinks such ideas are above a casual reader. But come on - would a casual reader pick up a book on quantum computations anyway?

And what about the brain - what kind of computations do we have here? If Seth Lloyd thinks that we have nothing but classical computation here - he should have said so. But he gives us nothing here.

A comment about physicists Freeman Dysons remark that mind and intelligence are "woven into the fabric of the universe" would have been appropriate imho.

But ok - quantum computers are only getting started and something like IBMs Blue Gene computer with these 280 trillion calculations per second - the current record - would have been hard to imagine back in 1942, when classical computers got started. So we shouldn't be surprised that not all is crystal clear in the world of quantum computers as we speak.

-Simon

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Miss Marple's Final Cases
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: HARPER COLLINS 0 PUB
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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The Hound of Death (Agatha Christie Collection)

Poirot's Early Cases (Poirot)

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Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)

ASIN: 0007208618

Book Description

A highly recognized sleuth, Miss Marple unravels seven engaging mysteries, among them: "Tape Measure Murder," about an ordinary housewife found dead; "Case of the Perfect Maid," where a servant turns up missing; "Case of the Caretaker," in which Miss Marple's doctor procures a very strange remedy for the flu; "Miss Marple Tells a Story," where a husband faces a trial for his wife's murder, and "Greenshaw's Folly," about men becoming privy to a will that spawns a bizarre murder.

Download Description

"E-book exclusive extras: 1) Christie biographer Charles Osborne's essay on Miss Marple's Final Cases; 2) ""The Marples"": the complete guide to all the cases of crime literature's foremost female detective.

Despite the title, the stories collected here recount cases from the middle of Misss Marple's career. They are: 'Sanctuary'; 'Strange Jest'; 'Tape-Measure Murder'; 'The Case of the Caretaker'; 'The Case of the Perfect Maid'; 'Miss Marple Tells a Story'; 'The Dressmaker's Doll'; 'In a Glass Darkly'; 'Greenshaw's Folly.' The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts): 'When it all becomes clear as day, the reader can only say, "Now why didn't I think of that?" But he never does. Mrs Christie at her best.'

"

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Miss Marple's Final Cases and Others
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: Fontana
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Poirot's Early Cases (Poirot)

ASIN: 000616207X

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Miss Marple's 6 Final Cases and Two Other Stories
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: Book Club Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J315UC

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MISS MARPLE'S FINAL CASES
CHRISTIE
Manufacturer: COLLINS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S65O16

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Miss Marple's Final Cases (The Agatha Christie Collection)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christie, Agatha | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Christie, Agatha | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000B76PII

Product Description

25th printing Part of the Christie Collection. Author Agatha Christie six stories "The Man Found Dying in the Church Sanctuary, the Puzzle of Uncle Henry's Hidden Legacy, The Question of The Murderer With the Tape-measurer, The Curious Conduct of the Caretaker, The Case of Miss Skinner's Maid, The Baffling Mystery of the Stabbing of Mrs. Rhodes"

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Miss Marple's Final Cases and Others

Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000G9QIOC

Miss Marple's 6 Final Cases and Two Other Stories: Sanctuary; Strange Jest; Tape-Measure Murder; The Case ofthe Caetaker; The Case of the Perfect Maid; Miss Marple Tells a Story; The Dressmakers Doll; In a Glass Darkly

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Miss Marple's 6 Final Cases and Two Other Stories: Sanctuary; Strange Jest; Tape-Measure Murder; The Case ofthe Caetaker; The Case of the Perfect Maid; Miss Marple Tells a Story; The Dressmakers Doll; In a Glass Darkly
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2ZGQ2

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Miss Marple's Final Cases

Manufacturer: Fontana
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRO1HA

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Miss Marple's Final Cases
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8RHV8

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Miss Marple's Final Cases
Agatha Christie
Manufacturer: Collins Crime
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8KRF6

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