Kinky Cats, Immortal Amoebas, and Nine-Armed Octopuses: Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Behaviors in the Animal World

Book Description

Which insect, from the moment she becomes pregnant, is eaten from the inside by her own brood until she is nothing but a dry husk? Which mollusk sometimes engages in sex so rough that its penis breaks off and is absorbed into the body of the female? Which fish, while still in its mother's oviduct, gobbles up as many as a dozen of its siblings so that by the time its born it is the only survivor?

There's a reason they're called animals they don't behave like people. The various ways they do behave, however, are fascinating, particularly when they're explained as entertainingly as they are in Kinky Cats, Immortal Amoebas and Nine-Armed Octopuses. Divided into 25 chapters on such subjects as marriage, adultery, divorce, incest and birth control, this extraordinary collection of bite-size bits of information will forever change the way readers look at their neighbors in the animal world.

For the curious, the answers to the above questions are: (1) midges, (2) octopuses and (3) sand and mackerel sharks.

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Kinky Cats, Immortal Amoebas, and Nine-Armed Octopuses Weird, Wild and Wonderful, Behaviors in the Animal World
Raymond Obstfeld
Manufacturer: Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF8JT0

Book Description

Let the adventure begin! Ride a camel across the sun-scorched Gobi, feast by moonlight at the bottomless lake of Uureg Nuur, and experience traditional archery and wrestling at the Naadam Festival. Escape to the ends of the earth in the footsteps of the first Mongol nomads. All you need is a strong pair of boots and this bestselling guidebook.

• FIND YOUR WAY - detailed maps and GPS coordinates for hundreds of key sites

• CONNECT WITH THE LOCALS and sleep in a ger, Mongolia's famous felt-tent abode - expanded reviews describe the country's best ger camps

• STRIDE ACROSS THE STEPPES with our inspiring itineraries through the Land of Blue Sky - witness magical monasteries and spectacular ice canyons

• TALK THE TALK - our Language chapter makes communication easy

• GET UNDER THE SKIN of Mongolia with dedicated Culture and History chapters packed with fascinating insights and little-known facts

Customer Reviews:

You'll Be Lost Without.......2007-08-03

This is a great book offering really useful info such as phone numbers, maps, addresses, etc. It even featured a picture of my guide for my horse-trip when he was a wrestler. Amazing.

Sure, the info is getting out of date but anyone who has been to Mongolia will know how impossible it is to keep up with the changes. And keeping in mind that Mongolians don't tend to adhere to strict schedules, you can't expect it to be perfect.

My friend and I went, each carrying this book, and my only regret is that he gave one away.

PS: When desperate for good food, you can always count on the Great Mongolian.

Excellent.......2007-07-09

In the past year I have spent six months in rural Mongolia. There is not much choice of guidebooks in English and we are fortunate that Lonely Planet has put out a small book that nevertheless conveys an awful lot of really good information. My copy was in constant use. On my visits to Ulaan Baatar I found the guide to be indispensable. Practically everything worth visiting was listed and described.

For a lot of western travellers, Mongolia will be a fairly daunting experience. The book identifies potential difficulties and suggests how to minimise problems. That being said, Mongolia is a great place to visit - fascinating coutry and wonderful people.

If you are going to Mongolia, "Don't leave home without it!"

The Best Practical Guide out there.......2007-05-31

Mongolia is a difficult country to travel. No infrastructure, roads, cities, familiar modes of transportation, hotels or food.
This guide is practical and detailed to help plan and execute a safe, memorable, fun trip with out having to spend thousands of $'s on tour groups.
The best guide out there!
Janice Jaffe

Pretty much your only choice...........2007-05-24

This guide is pretty much your only choice when it comes to travel guides of Mongolia. Nevertheless, I found it helpful and up to date everytime I came to rely it during my time in Mongolia.

Mongloia is indeed a huge country and this guide is small, but seemed complete and well researched and presented. Mongolia is indeed a remote place with little in the way of modern conveniences. This book is a good place to start when planning your trip or to find what you are looking for when you are on the road.

Mongolia's development hotly debated.......2006-07-05

I think one of the reasons why this guide book comes in for criticisms has to do with Mongolia's mixed development since the collapse of communism. There was initially a great deal of optimism that the economy would take off and that Mongolia would become another asian tiger. At that time the Ghengis Khan hotel was thrown up. But in fact the country has endured a topsy turvy road to economic stability, with widespread poverty and crumbling infrastructure. People look at China, and its breakneck development, and think Mongolia must be improving at the same pace.

Tourists seeking the sanitised and comfortable journey they can experience in China, end up feeling very disappointed. Tourists must be forewarned: Mongolia is still an adventure destination and one that takes an adventurous spirit to tackle successfully. Don't expect things to work well, or food standards to be high, or the infrastructure to be new. It is a ramshackle country with a fantastic culture and great people.

The people's pride comes in to this. Being a democracy, Mongolians hotly debate the state of their country, and many are not happy with the path taken so far. This pride and anger comes out in its attempts to pretend the place is more advanced than it is, or to take offence when people comment frankly on the true state of the capital. But it is better to tell the truth because then people will know what to expect. I can think of equally volatile debates over guidebooks about the UK. But I had to agree with LP,since its writers point out the true state of a place.

Lonely Planet Mongolia Country Guide (Lonely Planet Mongolia)

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Lonely Planet Mongolia Country Guide (Lonely Planet Mongolia)
Michael Kohn
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1741045789

Book Description

Kylene Beers

To write cohesively means doing many things at oncewrestling with ideas, balancing form and function, pushing words this way and that, attending to syntax and diction, and employing imagery and metaphor until a coherent message emerges. Though full of promise, student writing typically lacks cohesion. But does the fault lie in students or does the method of teaching writing lack the cohesion it expounds?

Carol Jago offers an approach that is the very example of the kind of cohesion she expects from her students' writing. Neither a lock-step lesson plan nor a simple recipe, it is an organized, coherent method that works by offering clear and complete guidelines for the most common types of writing: informational and persuasive writing, narrative writing, and writing about literature. Jago's method centers on her core beliefs:

In order to learn to write, students must write.
Authentic tasks and topics generate the most cohesive student writing.
Students need both supportive and critical feedback.
There is no cohesive writing without revision.Complete with worksheets, rubrics, and graphic organizers, plus student samples and stories that are both engaging and familiar, Jago's book provides the strategies for teaching writing that result in significant student growth.

Send a message to students that cohesive writing matters not only as preparation for high-stakes tests, but also as a tool for life. Teach them cohesively and cohesive writing will follow.

Book Description

Over 160 different, accurate, highly lifelike illustrations depict nearly every species you can think of, from aardvark to zebra. Primarily depictions of mammals, the immediately usable animal art in this collection will be an invaluable resource for a host of art and design projects.

Book Description

After completing his conquest of the Persian empire, Alexander the Great maneuvered his army across the Hindu Kush and into India. During his two years there, he traveled from dry frigid mountains to humid tropical lowlands and then back across one of the most punishing deserts on the planet. He fought a series of desperate battles against strange foes mounted on war-elephants, suffering wounds that nearly killed him. And when he eventually turned homeward, he brought with him specimens of a rare, magical species, a bird that could speak with a human voice.

Introduced to Europe by Alexander, parrots were quickly embraced by Western culture as exotic and astonishing, full of marvelous powers, and close to the gods. Over the centuries they would become objects of veneration or figures of folly, creatures prized for their wit--or their place on the dinner table. Ultimately, they would become emblematic of the West's interaction with the world at large. Identifying a deeply rooted obsession with these beautiful and loquacious birds, Bruce Thomas Boehrer provides the first account of parrots and their impact on the Western world.

Parrot Culture: Our 2500-Year-Long Fascination with the World's Most Talkative Bird traces the unusual history of parrots in Europe from the Graeco-Roman love of oriental luxury, through the great age of New World exploration, to the contemporary ecological crisis of globalism. Boehrer identifies the poignant irony in the way parrots became ubiquitous as symbols and mascots, while suffering near extinction at the hands of those who desired them. Exploring the presence and meanings of these birds in the art, literature, and history of Western civilization, Parrot Culture also celebrates the beauty, intelligence, and personality of these birds, whose fate will say as much about us and the world we have created as it will about them.

Customer Reviews:

Such great potential..........2006-12-26

I was very excited when I bought this book. After reading it once, I still found it quite wonderful, but since I`m writing a book of my own (on african greys), I had to check up on some of the "facts" I wanted to use myself. I`m sorry to say that some of the historical facts don`t add up to other, reliable sources. For instance, one painting is dated to 1889, but the painter died in 1883, and according to the book it was the French who invaded The Canary islands in 1402. It was the Spanish... A few other dates are wrong as well. I haven`t found (or searched for) many errors, but this makes me question the rest of the book as well. But if you`re not really "hung up" on historical accuracy, this is a very good book indeed. The facts themselves still hold water, although some dates and such may be wrong.

Average customer rating:
Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 1990-1991 (Price Guide to Antique & Classic Cameras (McKeown's hardcover))
James M. McKeown , and Joan C. McKeown
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0931838142

Book Description

The visual guide to more than 700 herb species from around the world. Authoritative text, crystal--clear photography, and a systematic approach make this the most comprehensive pocket guide to the herbs of the world. Packed with more than 1,500 full--color photographs of over 700 species, the Smithsonian Handbook of Herbs is designed to cut through the process of identification, enabling you to recognize herbs easily. Photo--Encyclopedic Approach: Each expertly written entry combines a concise description with annotated photographs to highlight the herb's distinguishing features and chief uses. Color illustrations show the whole plant or tree in its most typical form, while color--coded bands provide at--a--glance facts for quick reference. In--Depth Guide: For beginners and established enthusiasts alike, the Smithsonian Handbook of Herbs explains what an herb is, identifies which parts are collected and prepared, and describes the different uses to which they can be put -- from cooking and medicine to beauty treatment, aromatherapy, and crafts. Essential details of the species' size, habitat and natural range complete every entry, and a concise glossary gives instant understanding of the technical and scientific terms used.

Customer Reviews:

A rookie heralist's "must have".......2007-01-12

This is a wonderfully compact but complete, easy to use reference book. I bought one for my bookshelf and one to carry in the car for roadside identification of herbs. The color pictures are clear with all the pertinent details to make an accurate identification. Well worth the investment!

The Best.......2005-03-09

I'm an avid reader oh herbal lore and gardening.This is the most informative book I've yet seen. This book has color photos and detailed descriptions for over 700 herbs. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in herbs.

best field guide for identification.......2003-12-15

this book along with "edible wild plants:a north american field guide" by thomas elias and "a field guide to medicinal plants and herbs: of eastern and central north america" by james a. duke will provide all the information necessary for positive identification. cross referencing the various photos and other information leaves no doubt.

Book Description

Philip Hubbard's life story begins in 1921 in Macon, a county seat in the Bible Belt of north central Missouri, whose history as a former slave state permeated the culture of his childhood. When he was four his mother moved her family 140 miles north to Des Moines in search of the greater educational opportunities that Iowa offered African American students. In this recounting of the effects of that journey on the rest of his life, Phil Hubbard merges his private and public life and career into an affectionate, powerful, and important story.

Hubbard graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in electrical engineering in 1946; by 1954 he had received his Ph.D. in hydraulics. The College of Engineering extended a warm welcome, but nonacademic matters were totally different: Hubbard was ineligible for the housing and other amenities offered to white students. Intelligent, patient, keenly aware of discrimination yet willing to work from within the university system, he advanced from student to teacher to administrator, retiring in 1991 after decades of leadership in the classroom and the conference room.

Hubbard's major accomplishments included policies that focused on human rights; these policies transformed the makeup of the students, faculty, and staff by seeking to eliminate discrimination based on race, religion, or other nonacademic factors and by substituting affirmative action for the traditional old-boy methods of selecting faculty and administrators. At the same time that he was advancing the cause of human rights and cultural diversity in education, his family as growing and thriving, and his descriptions of home life reveal one source of his strength and inspiration.

The decades that Hubbard covers were vital in the evolution of the nation and its educational institutions. His dedication to the agenda of public higher education has always been matched by his sensitivity to the negative effects of discrimination and his gentle perseverance toward his goals of inclusion, acceptance, and fairness. His vivid personal and institutional story will prove valuable to this critical juncture in America's racial history.

My Iowa Journey is part of the Singular Lives: The Iowa Series in North American Autobiography series edited by Albert E. Stone.

Amazon.com

For anyone in North America (and elsewhere) who is hooked on fly-fishing and pursues it past the initial stages of tangled lines, spontaneous river dunkings, and emptied bank accounts, there is one goal that dangles with a tantalizing glimmer just out of reach--the golden ring that spurs anglers on to perfect a variety of tricky casts, study entomological texts deep into the night, and wade through sleep with visions of lurking grizzlies, monster rainbows, and rivers paved with salmon. That ultimate goal is the final frontier of earthbound territory: Alaska, the angler's paradise. So if you dream of one day stepping off a bush plane somewhere in the Alaskan outback, you might as well start planning now with Dan Heiner's guide to the state's nearly limitless sport-fishing opportunities. Heiner's anecdote- sprinkled and info-packed guide takes a narrative approach to fly-fishing this vast area; his experience is related through stories as well as advice. Initial chapters include tips on equipment, travel, accommodations, and, of course, bears. But the real meat is about the fish and fishing: which species to chase, when and where to chase them, and how to bring them to net. And if that's not enough to set the gears in motion, the color photos are sure to leave you drooling...or dialing up Alaska Airlines stat. --Langdon Cook

Book Description

72 color photos 17 drawings 8 maps 6 x 9 .Guide to the best fly-fishing locations in Alaska Color photos of flies and streams plus maps Dan Heiners stories of his own fishing adventures make Alaska and its waters and wildlife real and accessible, and his practical tips provide valuable guidelines for anyone planning such a trip. He includes information on the species, the best places and times to fish, and even what to do if you encounter a bear! The large color photo section includes shots of trophy-size fish and beautiful Alaskan mountains and waters, as well as many close-ups of flies. Any angler who has dreamed of a fly-fishing trip to Alaska will want this book. Dan Heiner, an Alaska resident since 1983, has worked as an editor for Alaska Outdoors magazine. He fishes Alaskas premier waters and writes about his experiences for magazines such as Flyfishing, Salmon Trout Steelhead, and Alaska Outdoors.

Customer Reviews:

Collected fishing writings, but not a guide, by Dan Heiner.......2000-08-02

The greatest reason for mystery about Alaska's fishing lies not so much with the size and diversity of the state, as with the reluctance of writers to divulge what they consider "secrets" -- for fear that they will turn into zones of combat, and these authors then become the scorn of the populace. As a result, most writings reveal little more than the most popular, widely known locations, and common information on techniques and fly patterns. Dan Heiner's book is more of this same style: but here, he seems to relate his experiences and feelings, predominantly as a guided client -- urging others to do the same. He eludes to particular places and techniques, but does not tell the reader where or what they are -- instead telling them to get a guide for that. In several instances, he baits the reader by saying he is excluding several locations from his list of best rivers because of fishing pressure. The reader doesn't know which ones he is referring to, but several of those left off the list are among the most productive silvers salmon streams in the world -- no secret. While guided lodging is one way to enjoy fishing,this is not for the majority of fishermen or prospective readers, and Heiner does not adequately cover the logistics and locations for countless camping/rafting/boating and other fly-in experiences. His coverage of fly patterns, while more thorough with respect to rainbow trout, is substantially different from what one would want to target other salmon species. Several of the maps, for the western rivers (Goodnews and Kanektok Rivers), and Kodiak Island misrepresented the location of major lakes and drainage outlets. The book provides very common knowledge, replete with obligatory campfire tales about bears, and would be appropriate for those who prefer the comfort and catering of a lodge experience (and can afford it). Very little more is provided to those seeking adventure.

Valuable insight from an experienced Alaska fly fisherman........1998-08-24

If you are planning a fly fishing trip to Alaska, this book provides useful information. The Bristol Bay drainage is the focus of the book and each key area (Iliamna, Katmai, Alaska Peninsula, Wood River-Tikchik Lakes) is covered in brief, along with information on the Goodnews, Kanektok and Kenai rivers and Kodiak Island. Also included is advice on fly selection, gear, etc. The author has obviously fished a great many of the rivers in Alaska and has shared some of what he knows.

Book Description

Reading Essentials, Student Edition provides concise content of the Student Edition written at a lower grade level, making it perfect for struggling readers and ELL students.

Book Description

Former Disney animator offers expert advice on drawing animals both realistically and as caricatures. Use of line, brush technique, establishing mood, conveying action, much more. Construction drawings reveal development process in creating animal figures. Many chapters on drawing individual animal forms — dogs, cats, horses, deer, cows, foxes, kangaroos. 53 halftones, 706 line illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Priceless.......2007-05-27

Ken Hultgren's animal drawing book is by far the best I've ever seen. The drawings are not only beautiful and full of life but rich in anatomical information as well. Studying and copying these drawings, combined with a few trips to the zoo and a horse ranch, enhanced my awareness of animal anatomy and movement enormously.
I used this book as my primary resource for modeling, rigging, animating a horse in Maya. It's a great asset for animators, modelers, sculptors -- artists of any sort-- or anyone who loves animals and good drawings.

great reference for the artist........2007-05-22

Excellent art reference for the developing artist who wants to understand animal anatomy and motion.

Awesome for Serious Artists.......2007-04-03

This book is somewhere right between a "How to Draw Animals" book and a detailed anatomy book. It gives you the basics of the muscles for each animal in beautiful, dynamic sketches that take you from drawing static (but proportional) animals to leaping, rolling, fighting animals. If you're really serious, you'll still need a more detailed anatomy book, but for movement (especially of horses and deer and their running patterns) this one is awesome. Just a warning though, the section on dogs is awesome but smaller than the horses, the section on cats is extensive but focuses mostly on big cats, and the section on wolves/foxes/wild dogs is pretty brief - much more of the book is spent on the larger herbivores and some less commonly studied animals like kangaroos, camels, rabbits, and a big section on bears.

One of the best animal drawing books.......2007-03-14

The book has lots of great drawing. I wish it had more explanations. But I still love it.

best book ever.......2007-03-09

if you are studying animal drawing, this is one of the best books ever. this concentrates on the motion and line of action, as well as the construction!

Average customer rating:

Excellent book on iguana care

Excellent care resource with PROPER information!

The Iguana Den's Care and Keeping of Giant Green Iguanas
Meredith Martin
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reptiles & Amphibians | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual

ASIN: 141162842X

Book Description

Giant Green Iguanas have become a very popular pet in recent years. Unfortunately, too many people who own iguanas either don't have the right care information or are given the wrong information, and many of these iguanas do not make it to adulthood. The Iguana Den's Care and Keeping of Giant Green Iguanas provides tested, true, and up to date methods of iguana husbandry that have been developed from years of rescuing and rehabbing iguanas. This book is a must-have for both new and experienced iguana keepers. The book is based on the original Iguana Den website: www.iguanaden.com, and all proceeds from the sale benefit the shelter animals at Scales and Tails Rescue, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book on iguana care.......2007-08-20

This book should be a required read for anyone considering owning an iguana as well as expierenced owners. There is so many sources of inconsisant information out there, some of which can be very harmful to the iguana. This book is not one of them. It is very clear, to the point and easy to read. It puts all the facts and important information in one place from setting up an enclosure to feeding, taming and daily requirements. Iguanas are not for everyone and this book lays it on the line for you as to what you are getting into. It is definatly one of my favorites.

Excellent care resource with PROPER information!.......2005-05-11

This manual is one of the three best Green Iguana care guides out. I recommend it for ANYONE with a giant green iguana, regardless of their expertise level. From novice to experienced keeper, there's a lesson for everyone! The book covers in depth day to day care, taming, feeding, socialization, sanitary issues, health care, and more. It is a must have for the Iguana keeper. So many books today have outdated, and downright dangerous, information in them. This book is NOT one of these. The information is clear, concise, and written in a format that is both easy to read as well as understandable. For all ages, this book is a resource that can't be missed!

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This Old House Essential Yard Care and Landscaping Projects
Editors of This Old House Magazine
Manufacturer: This Old House Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Lawns | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Complete Landscaping (This Old House Complete)

This Old House Bathrooms: A Guide to Design and Renovation

This Old House Kitchens: A Guide to Design and Renovation Sticker: Companion to the.

This Old House Essential Home Repair (Essential (This Old House Books))

Complete Remodeling (This Old House)

Accessories:

Corona Clipper 3/4-Inch Ratchet Action Pruner #RP 3230

ASIN: 0966675355

Book Description

Let the experts at This Old House shou you how to landscape your yard to be the envy of the neighborhood. You'll learn from the pros the essential of: Lawn care, tree care, step-by-step outdoor construction projects, plus much more.

This Old House Books - Essential Yard Care And Landscaping Projects - Improving And Caring For Your Yard

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This Old House Books - Essential Yard Care And Landscaping Projects - Improving And Caring For Your Yard
By the Editors of This Old House Magazine
Manufacturer: Time Publishing Ventures
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RIW0BM

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