Everglades Forever: Restoring America's Great Wetland

Customer Reviews:

A highly edcuational and conscientious-minded introduction .......2005-04-11

Everglades Forever: Restoring America's Great Wetland by Trish Marx is impressively presented for young readers augmented by photojournalist Cindy Karp's vivid photography. In Everglades Forever, children will learn of a class study by the students of an elementary school class on the majestic wetlands in Homestead, Florida. They will learn of the negative effects of pollution and disrupted water flow, and how people, environmental agencies, and governments seek to control such damage. And they will learn of the Everglades Restoration Plan, an ecological intervention designed to restore and preserve the natural water flow, plants, and animals of the Everglades. A highly edcuational and conscientious-minded introduction to one of Earth's environmental wonders, is especially recommended for school and community library Environmental Studies collections for children.

An Exciting Trip Through the Everglades.......2005-02-03

Trish Marx takes us on an exciting trip through the Everglades, where we learn painlessly about an area unique in the world, a eco-system that is really "a wide, slow-moving river," filled with plants and animal life found nowhere else on Earth! Our fellow travellers are students from a school perched on the eastern edge of this environment. As fifth-graders Robert, Tiler, Vedantee and Conrado begin to appreciate the significance of their neighborhood and want to participate in preserving it, so do we.

Marx has done a first-rate job of involving young readers in the
preservation and restoration of the Everglades. This award-winning book should have a place in the ecology section of every library. Photographer Karp's images enhance and complement the the text.

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"And I realized with a shock that he was never going to understand. He was a man," laments Atalanta about her overbearing father. Atalanta, Andromeda, and Psyche--three Greek heroines bound by love, or by the harsh bonds of a patriarchal society? In these feminist retellings of classic love stories, Clemence McLaren, author of Waiting for Odysseus and Inside the Walls of Troy, tells it like it really was for women back in the Greek day--early marriage followed by complete sacrifice to a husband's sometimes selfish will. But these women refuse to accept that fate, and try instead to somehow get around their father-chosen futures. The story of Atalanta, the haughty girl athlete who refused to marry, is turned into a poignant tale of an obedient daughter doing her best to please her arrogant father, despite his unreasonable demand that she compete with her suitors--to the death. Andromeda is reluctantly resigned to marrying her father's old fogy friend, until fate intervenes in the form of a giant sea monster and a dashing young hero. But it's poor Psyche, so beautiful that people worship her instead of the goddess Aphrodite, who has to confront the most unpleasant creature of all--an angry mother-in-law who also happens to have the power of Mount Olympus at her fingertips. Three women, three marriages, three stories that riot grrrls of today will easily relate to, thanks to McLaren's savvy way of showing how real Greek women were far from being seen as goddesses, and just as unlikely to be treated as such. Divinely recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

The goddess Aphrodite was adored and feared by gods and mortals alike; none were immune to her power. Young lovers offered gifts and prayers to her, the goddess of love and beauty, in hopes of receiving her blessings....

Content as one of the best athletes in her father's kingdom, Atalanta rebels against attempts at an arranged marriage. What she doesn't know is that Aphrodite has given her blessing to a race that will change everything.

Then there is Andromeda whose beauty rivals that of any goddess. She is devastated by her father's choice of a husband but Aphrodite has another plan for her too.

Finally, nobody wants to marry the beautiful Psyche. A mysterious suitor is finally found, but Aprhrodite decrees that Psyche must descend into Hades to earn his love.

In three love stories spun from Greek myths, Clemence McLaren, author of Inside the Walls of Troy and Waiting for Odysseus, presents these new retellings -- with all their longing, hope, fear, and love -- from the woman's point of view.

Customer Reviews:

four thumbs up! .......2007-04-02

My daughter and I both loved this book. Traditional Greek myths are retold through the eyes of Atalanta, Andromeda, and Psyche. The tales are fairly true to the originals, with a few slight departures. The mortal characters are wonderfully human, and even the gods and goddesses are rendered as multifaceted beings. These are love stories but there isn't any overt sexuality. I enjoyed the author's notes at the end, as Ms. McLaren provides information about the myths, ancient Greek culture, and women's roles. If you are considering this book for a young reader, you may wish to know that these notes do refer to homosexual relationships, which were a well documented part of the ancient Greek culture.
I recommend this book most highly to all myth lovers at a 4th grade or higher reading level.

I love it!.......2006-07-11

I loved this when i first read it back in 8th grade. Now that i bought it and re-read it again, i love it even more! I have loved greek mythology and romantic stuff for a long time and this book provides both. It first inspired me to write my own greek mythology love story back in 8th grade. But now that i have re-read it and another one of the author's books, i'm going to fix my story and make it better.

Great!.......2005-04-04

This book was pretty good. I definitely enjoyed reading it. Aphrodite's Blessing is a book about three Greek myths. In these myths, Aphrodite plays a main role in the lives of the main characters: Atalanta, Andromeda, and Psyche.

In the first myth, Atalanta is of an age to marry. But she doesn't want to be married off and to get out of it, she races against her suitors. If Atalanta wins, her suitors will be executed. If she loses, she will be married off to the winner. Atalanta ends up winning most of the races and tying only one time. She stays unmarried, until Aphrodite decides to change all that.

In the second myth, Andrommeda is going to be thrown in a loveless, arranged marriage. Until her mother brags about them being more beautiful than the water nymphs. In consequence, Andrommeda must be sacrificed to a sea monster. Until her secret hero comes and saves her.

The third myth is my favorite out of the book. It's about Psyche, who's beauty is enough to make Aphrodite herself jealous.
A prophecy has been made that Psyche is not to marry any mortal being and so she's ends up being married to an immortal. But there are sacrifices she must make. Psyche is not allowed to see the face of her husband and must trust him. But thanks to the meddling of her sisters, she breaks that trust and finds out he is Eros, a.k.a. Cupid. Now she must complete three tasks for jealous Aphrodite, Eros's mother, to ever see him again.

These are great stories and it gets more in depth than the original myths. I found out that some of the stories contradict the original myths, but i liked them anyway.

Not the best Greek myths book, but an interesting one.......2005-03-30

McLaren's other book "Inside the Walls of Troy" is better than this one, but I really enjoyed this short book.

Atalanta has been raised since birth to be her a son to her father, rather than a daughter. So when her father proposes a marriage, she is furious. She outruns all her suitors in a marriage-or-death race, but one.

Andromeda is betrothed to someone whom she wants nothing to do with. Her mother makes the mistake of proclaiming that both she and Andromeda are more beautiful than the goddesses. Andromeda is sent to death, but something happens that changes that.

Psyche is one of the most beautiful women alive. One day, a nameless immortal asks for her hand in marriage. Psyche goes to the man's home and is never happier, until she makes a horrible mistake.

I LOVED Psyche's story and I wish that McLaren had made Psyche's story a book alone. While this is not my favorite Greek myths book, it is worth reading.

~Atalanta

Two Thumbs Up!.......2004-06-13

This book has got to be one of the best books I've ever read, and I liked it so much that I'm now absolutely obsessed with all Greek myths! My favourite has got to be Psyche's story, for it's the story with the most feelings. When I read retold myths, they are somehow rather vague. I recommend waiting for Oddyseus too.

Aphrodite's Blessings : Love Stories from the Greek Myth

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Aphrodite's Blessings : Love Stories from the Greek Myth
Clemence McLaren
Manufacturer: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBNV7Q

Book Description

This volume emphasizes methods for the assay, purification, and characterization of adenylyl cyclases, guanine nucleotide-dependent regulatory proteins (G proteins), and guanylyl cyclases.

Key Features
* Adenylyl cyclase: determination of activity
* Preparation of materials useful in purification of components of hormonally responsive cyclase systems
* Purification guanine nucleotide-dependent regulatory proteins
* Purification and characterization of g proteins: labeling and quantitating of G proteins
* Reconstitution guanylyl cyclase: assay
* Preparation of materials used for study of the cyclase
* Purification
* Regulation

Adenylyl Cyclase, G Proteins, and Guanylyl Cyclase, Volume 195 (Methods in Enzymology)

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Adenylyl Cyclase, G Proteins, and Guanylyl Cyclase, Volume 195 (Methods in Enzymology)
Roger A. Johnson
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OH6T22

Book Description

In the ten years since the scientific rationale for the design, synthesis and application of inorganic and organometallic polymers (IOPs) was first conceptualised, we have witnessed the first tentative exploration of IOPs as precursors to new materials, with efforts focusing on the design and synthesis of novel ceramic precursors. Developing expertise led to precursor studies combined with the characterisation of the transformation processes that occur when IOPs are converted to ceramic materials. Now at maturity, the science presented in this volume reveals the polymer precursor approach to materials synthesis together with examples of processing ceramic shapes for a range of mechanical properties, the development of sophisticated, noninvasive analytical techniques, and IOP design rationales relying on well-defined processing-property relationships. The production of multifunctional IOPs is described, providing ion conductivity, gas sensing, bioactivity, magnetic properties, etc., combined with processability.
The existence of well-defined IOPs and the exquisite control that can be exerted on sol-gel systems now provide access to such a variety of mixed organic-organometallic and/or inorganic hybrid systems that their exploitation is likely to develop into an entirely new field of materials chemistry. Future exciting avenues of research are also being opened up with the advent of buckyballs, Met-Cars, dopable preceramics, rigid-rod organometallics, and molecular tinkertoys.

Book Description

An authoritative, entertaining examination of the ultimate thrill ride
Until recently the stuff of sci-fi fiction and Star Trek reruns, teleportation has become a reality-for subatomic particles at least. In this eye-opening book, science author David Darling follows the remarkable evolution of teleportation, visiting the key labs that have cradled this cutting-edge science and relating the all-too-human stories behind its birth. He ties in the fast emerging fields of cryptography and quantum computing, tackles some thorny philosophical questions (for instance, can a soul be teleported?), and asks when and how humans may be able to "beam up."

Download Description

"An authoritative, entertaining examination of the ultimate thrill ride
Until recently the stuff of sci-fi fiction and Star Trek reruns, teleportation has become a reality-for subatomic particles at least. In this eye-opening book, science author David Darling follows the remarkable evolution of teleportation, visiting the key labs that have cradled this cutting-edge science and relating the all-too-human stories behind its birth. He ties in the fast emerging fields of cryptography and quantum computing, tackles some thorny philosophical questions (for instance, can a soul be teleported?), and asks when and how humans may be able to ""beam up."""

Customer Reviews:

Very disappointed In this one.......2007-01-10

When I had originally ordered this, I was really intrigued about an entire book devoted to the topic of teleportation. I had read everything on the internet about the subject and felt I wanted to go deeper in to the complexities and possibilities of current and future research. And based on the title "Teleportation, the Impossible leap" that's what I expected this book to deliver. But sadly, that was not the case. The first 130 pages are devoted to what I would kindly refer to as "fill". Darling basically just regurgitates the history of physics and at such a simplistic level that any first year physics student would find it pedantic. I realize Darling, or his supporters, would say that such information is necessary because the book has to appeal to a mass market and the least knowledgeable reader. This would be fine if the book had plans to go deeply in to the subject of teleporation in later chapters. But at only 251 pages, over half of the book is gone before the subject of teleporation is even touched upon. Darling has a nice little physics chronology in the back that basically just restates everything in the first half of the book. In my opinion, he should have just included this at the start of the book and doubled the section that dealt with the real subject, teleportation.
I have to admit that Darling in an excellent writer and makes complex subjects easy for the reader to understand. But after paying $19 for this book, I would have expected it to be longer and more in depth.

Fascinating But Frustrating.......2006-05-10

This book is a peculiar mix of interesting science blended with frustratingly bad writing and poor editing. It slogs through (granted some slogging is appreciated) the entire history of physics, somewhat breathlessly leading you toward teleportation and quantum computing ... which should have been the START of the book, not the END. And the whole thing is book-ended by some heavy handed and sophmorically written sci-fi vignettes about some future dork trying to make up his mind about which planet would be suitable for tonight's dinner date ...

I counted several typos throughout the book, like "teleportee" instead of "teleported" or "heath death" instead of "heat death". Such small nits like this slipped through as tell-tale signs that this book was both written and edited in haste. It reads like nothing more than someone's assembled notes about physics history: "Person A did this experiment, which showed A. Then Person B did another experiment which showed B. They published their results in Journal B. Then guess what. Person C did an experiment and found C. Then person D discoved D. Then ... blah blah blah" ... until 200 pages of this mind-numbing chronology later, you finally get to the letter Z, if you haven't thrown the book across the room by then.

Even worse, the author goes through tortuous verbal gymnastics in an attempt to explain arcane photon experiments. Seriously, a few simple diagrams would've done wonders, but instead the reader is forced to imagine lasers and tubes and layered mirrors and all kinds of abstract junk based on the author's cryptic descriptions. Why not a nice historic diagram of Newton's apparatus, or a scematic of how the EPR paradox plays out? This lack of even a single basic diagram is the book's biggest flaw.

The comment on the book's jacket that this writer "brings characters to life" is laughable. That is the one thing this book DOES NOT DO. Explain photons and quantum entanglement for the lay-person, Hmmm, OK. It does that. List endless experiments published in journals X, Y, Z .. OK, it does that too. But it is devoid of personality, unless you find personality in a bland chronology of experiments. Which physicists may, in fact. Who knows how they think?

This is a book that is worth reading, but be prepared to skim when it is obvious that the writer is neither writing (just "listing") and the editor has stopped editing and fallen asleep (teleportee!). At the very least, drink some coffee first. If this guy is "one of the best science writers" around, as others claim, then the state of scientific writing must be in a shambles.

Review from Author of Quantum Mechanics Demystified.......2006-02-14

David Darling is one of the best science writers around, and in this book he tackles one of the most mysterious of the latest breakthroughs in quantum physics, teleportation. Entanglement, the spooky action at a distance connection between particles, allows teleportation to occur. Learn all about this in this well written account by David Darling, a skilled science writer whose penetrating prose has kept me up thinking at night many times. Also try to get a copy of his excellent work "Equations of Eternity".

Science FACTion.......2005-12-17

First of all, bravo! The insight that organic teleportation could not take place before quantum (sp?) computing is something that breezed through my mind, but I thought I did not understand enough for it to be true. And then I read it in this wonderful book! Helped my self-esteem and also showed me that Darling is not only brilliant, but open-minded. There is science of course: that which has been established as fact, science fiction: that which is fantasy and need not be at all rooted in science, and a third realm: the realm of the scientific imagination which I like to call "science faction." And Darling embraces the importance of imagination and inspiration as necessary to any scientific progress of any significance. If one cannot dream it, or will not dream it, it will NEVER happen. But if one dares to dream, much more is possible than that which has already been established as fact. A lot of people think space initiatives are unimportant to us humans, but they've got it wrong: we must, MUST see our species as one people searching for friendship both on terra firma and well, wherever else. Who does not look at the stars at night without dreaming of what (or who) may be in that vast sea of existence. And out of such imaginings come ideas that have led young scientists to actually try to do "the impossible": to teleport information, then things, and then perhaps people. When you think of the death rate on today's roadways, how could anyone complain about possible dangers? We must dare to dream to make life better.

This does not seem so impossible!.......2005-12-14

This book presents current information regarding scientific leaps regarding teleportation, sorry for the pun, in a way that is very accessible and interesting. Now all we need are quantum computers! "Teleportation depends on entanglement. If nature has already been kind enough to entangle large portions of itself, then it seems that a lot of the work needed to teleport macroscopic objects has already been done." (p. 221)

Customer Reviews:

Poor translation.......2005-05-31

I agree that the translation is inadequate, sometimes to the point of misconstruing Rousseau's intent. The omission of the majority of Rousseau's footnotes in the Second Discourse is a poor choice, and the editors' own notes are rarely illuminating. The additional material, however, is appreciated.

good background materials, but shoddy translation.......2004-03-02

Although this edition contains some excellent background materials, the translation is less than professional and sins by omission. Some important parts of the texts are inexplicably left out, such as Rousseau's dedication of the "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" to Geneva, in which he clearly and passionately explains some of his basic theories of government, through a utopian fantasy about his hometown. Not only does the dedication give an important political context to the "Discourse," it also adds a touching and pathetic autobiographical dimension to the text. As such, it is an essential part of the "Discourse." Also omitted are many of Rousseau's own notes on the text, which are both amusing and illuminating. Finally, the translation itself leaves out certain phrases, seriously distorting the meaning of key passages. The above comments only apply to the "Discourse on the Origins of Inequality," but if they are any indication of the general carelessness of the translator and/or the editors, readers would be better off with another edition, for example Donald Cress's translation of the "Basic Political Writings," published by Hackett ...

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