The Amphibian Ear

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The French have a nickname for the bicycle: la petite reine, or the little queen. With the country's fondness for the queen of the road, its vast network of quiet back roads, magnificent scenery, and scrumptious eateries, it's the perfect choice for discovering the world on two wheels. Lonely Planet has created an excellent guide to touring in France, chock-full of itineraries, maps, information, and advice for those who want to get off the bus and set their own pace. They've mapped out the best rides in the country for neophytes, veterans, and off-roaders, with itineraries ranging from a few hours to two months. Here's a sampling: In Paris you can take the bike paths along the Seine or all the way to Monet's gardens in Giverny. The Loire Valley offers intimate excursions beside sandstone villages, magnificent châteaux, and scenic waterways. Take the tiny, winding roads of Provence to see perched villages and spectacular panoramas of the Cote d'Azur, or dip into Champagne for the terraced vineyards of Dom Perignon. For those up to the challenge, there's the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Massif Central, with its steep climbs and sweeping descents. The guide includes a chapter on the island of Corsica, with its rugged coastal scenery and prehistoric sites.

Traveling by bicycle calls for a plethora of information not found in the typical tourist guidebook. Lonely Planet has it all. "Facts for Cyclists" provides practical information on when to ride (based on the weather and wind patterns), a checklist of what to bring, information on buying or renting locally, a list of cycling events, and Internet resources. There are tips for senior, disabled, and gay and lesbian cyclers, and those riding with children, as well as lists of which airlines and which types of trains are bicycle friendly, and how to pack and transport your bike. The "Health and Safety" chapter explains the French rules of the road (including the confusing "Priority to the Right"), and gives tips for getting and staying fit, and treatments for common ailments on the road. Of course, there's the usual information on where to stay, what to eat, and what to see for a wide range of tastes, from camping to a night in a château. There's also a section on the history of cycling in France and a chapter on the Tour de France and its nuances. With the inclusion of the requisite chapter on bicycle maintenance and repair, you're ready to ride. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

This essential guide steers you along France's best cycling routes, to the best patisseries, the friendliest places to stay and the most breathtaking scenery. Find a tour to suit you - a leisurely day trip, a week-long food and wine tour or an epic mountain climb.

135 days of France's best cycling - including Corsica
on-the-road maintenance tips and a guide to French cycle-speak
where to eat - from markets to cafes and restaurants
where to stay - from camping to B&Bs and chateaux
what to see and do, in and out of the saddle
how to pack and transport your bike
the Tour de France explained

Customer Reviews:

Loved it!.......2007-06-01

My husband and I used this book about five years ago to tour the Loire region. We have traveled a fair amount but never on bike before this trip. This book gave us a plan of how to do that. (Just the information about bikes on trains made the book worth getting.) We added a little cycling to the beginning of our trip and split some of the rides so we could sightsee more. It's emphasis on backwoods ways of getting into and out of towns was fantastic to help us avoid traffic. We loved seeing all kinds of places we would never have encountered if we hadn't picked up this book. We paired it with the Cadogan Loire Guide for interesting background about where we were visiting and the lodging section photocopied out of some other guide.

I wish they would update it. I tore most of the extra pages out of it (for areas we weren't going to) before our first trip. Glad I saved them. We will use it again this year in Brittany but not without a Michelin map as a back up since it's now so old.

This book sucks!.......2004-06-20

Sorry to be so blunt, but I spent the last 5 weeks cursing the authors of this book (and those that I met on the road with this book felt the same way). Do NOT waste your money on this thing. It is FIVE years old (I live in Seattle and met one of the authors before she left in June '99). The information is totally outdated and some of the campsites no longer exist! My advice is to get a good guide that is updated regularly, maybe get a good idea for a route from the Mountaineers and then get the Michellin map following the scenic (green) routes (or get the special bikes maps from any bookstore (librarie) while you are there). Cycling in France is a breeze. Enjoy France on the bike...there is no greater place to ride. Don't let McGuide mess with your fun. Live to ride...ride to live...

A Must Have Book for Cycling in France.......2003-10-29

Six of us used this book this past June for a nine day trip to the Dordogne region of France. The book is indispensable for do it yourself travel. It tells you everything you need to know regarding the nuts and bolts of putting a trip like this togethter. The suggested routes, restaurants, and hotels were all excellent. I would suggest another book to supplement this one as far as detailed information about the sites is concerned.

The best book available as of 2001.......2001-10-13

As of October 2001, this appears to be the best book available on the subject of bike touring in France. Neither Karen & Terry Whitehill's nor Jerry Simpson's books come even close to being as comprehensive as this book. The best thing about this book is all of the useful logistical information it provides. For example, the authors thoroughly document how to get out of Paris with your bike (both from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports). They also explain the SNCF's fairly unfriendly policy with respect to bikes on trains. And in typical Lonely Planet fashion, they also document the myriad of important details for survival in France, such as how to make a telephone call and how much to tip.

With respect to the actual tour documentation, this book does a good job. There are tour choices in all regions of the country including Corsica. Routes are well documented and the road choices seemed pretty reasonable. Cue sheets are provided with good distance information between all intermediate points. Some tours have elevation profiles included. I would have liked to have seen a bit more information about food and lodging availability--particularly in the intermediate towns.

The truth about cyling in France is that the bike touring part is really easy. Unless you are worried about hills (in which case you should stay in the Loire), all you need is a Michelin map. The color scheme tells you all you need to know about route choices (seek out the white roads, and green highlights mean scenic routes). You can usually find some place to stay and eat in any town and if you can't, you can usually find another town a few kilometers down the road. All of France is wonderful for riding, so you really don't need a book to lay out a tour for you. What you do need is information telling you how to get around with your bike and how to survive once you are over there. This book does that exceptionally well.

your own tour de france.......2001-04-25

With this book, you find the most interesting roads to ride on. In addition, you will also find nice stories of professionals who ride these roads - experiences on what to do & what NOT to do. So, whether you come to france, or stay at home, with this book, you'll have your own tour de france in your room!

France Itineraires a Velo (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides French Edition)

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France Itineraires a Velo (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides French Edition)
Guide Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications - French editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Nonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Travel | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 2840701936

Customer Reviews:

Rebels Against Slavery by McKissack.......2004-07-25

The work has a fair representation of African-American uprisings
during the early colonial period and afterward. The authors
depict the Stone Rebellion at the 1739 site. Osceola refused to turn black allies over to their slaveholders. Toussaint is
considered the Father of Haiti. The work explains the tactical
retaliation necessary to unbind the shackles of slavery.
Famous Americans; such as Richard Allen are depicted. He was
the first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
This book would be very valuable for any student project on
the rebellions against slavery in the colonies up through the
period of the Civil War and beyond.

Slave History Revealed.......2000-04-27

A wonderful companion book to history textbooks. Having scanned several history texts to find pertinent and relevant facts concerning the history of slave revolt to no avail, this book was a real "find". The book contains several historical photographs and drawings which aids and assists the student's imagination. The chapters depict leaders of the slave revolt, their lives, their beliefs, the risks they took and the many lives that were lost. The book is heartfelt and compassionate. It does not preach, point accusatory fingers, nor does it apologize, but instead celebrates and remembers the African American men and woman men who fought for what they believed in - freedom - during the Civil War.

In an era where I hope we will begin to recognize the mistakes we have made in the past by uncovering our people's cultural diversity, cultural history and the many differences the inhabitants of this country represent, this book is welcomed and applauded. I will use it for my children and in my classroom so that we do not forget, but remember those who helped change and shape the history of our country.

Book Description

The earthly empire of Byzantium dominated the political and religious history of Europe for over a thousand years. The Byzantines regarded their earthly empire as a reflection of God's empire in heaven, and this ideology was manifested in their politics, religion, and art. In this introduction to the history of Byzantium, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, Rowena Loverance draws on the British Museum's rich collections of spectacular Byzantine silver, ivories, jewelry, and icons, as well as pieces from the empire's Persian and Germanic neighbors. This revised edition, featuring a new introduction, is updated to include the most recent finds and interpretations.

Customer Reviews:

Best little book on American Shorthairs!.......2007-07-31

I love this book! Highly recommended for anyone who owns or is thinking about owning an American Shorthair. Stunning photographs and a very enjoyable read make this book a worthwhile purchase.

Book Description

This superb reference work provides a newly revised, comprehensive overview of the entertaining world of battery toys. Battery operated robots, animals, people, character toys, banks, monsters, and cars are shown, compared, and fully analyzed in this first specialized book on the subject. Vehicles and figurals from the mid-fifties and the sixties comprise the major portion of this book, but some choice examples from the late forties and the seventies are also included. A detailed desirability chart will enable enthusiasts to estimate the value of potential additions to their collections. Spectacular full view and closeup photographs in color and black and white will delight toy collectors worldwide.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Informative Book!

Excellent.

Orchid Grower's Companion: Cultivation, Propagation, and Varieties
David Banks
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Orchids | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Understanding Orchids: An Uncomplicated Guide to Growing the World's Most Exotic Plants

The Practical Encyclopedia of Orchids: The Complete Guide to Orchids and Their Cultivation

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The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids

Botanica's Orchids: Over 1200 Species (Botanica's Gardening Series) (Botanica's Gardening Series)

ASIN: 0881927112

Book Description

Growing orchids is a hobby more than two millennia old, and from the beginning these beautiful flowers have enjoyed a constant and unparalleled cult status among enthusiasts. Orchid Grower's Companion explains in accessible detail the natural habitat of some 400 orchid species, hybrids, and variants, with the information leading directly into practical propagation and cultivation guidance, including requirements for water, lighting, compost, and potting. Illustrated throughout with breathtaking images, Orchid Grower's Companion is an irresistible volume for anyone with even a passing interest in growing orchids.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Informative Book!.......2006-09-28

I am a beginner as far as orchids go. I received a free orchid from Sarah Jessica Parker when I signed up for a free sample of her perfume "Lovely." Now I am hooked and in love with orchids! They are so beautiful! This book is one of the best and shows perfectly how lovely orchids are. It contains a wealth of information too. I highly recommend it.

Excellent........2005-04-05

This is an excellent book about orchids. It shall take you from the very first steps into a more advanced understanding of this hobby. There's a lot of pictures and they are beautiful. The matter is tidily organized. Growing media, phytopathology, light and temperature requirements are clearly explained. I do recommend this book. For those who are on a budget a good alternative would be "Growing orchids" by Rittershausen.

Book Description

Simple guidelines for the business of "making up dances!" Choreographers do not make dances out of words. They compose them in the vocabulary of movement. Dr. Ellfeldt has long demonstrated her command of that vocabulary in her own dance compositions. Now, in A Primer for Choreographers, she has undertaken the difficult task of explaining its alphabet to beginning students. Beginning with a brief definition of dance, this book supplies young dancers not with an easy explanation of the process of choreography, but with some tools for finding their own processes. It is a primer, a beginner's book, which identifies the alphabet and the rules of grammar and spelling of dance. It is not a how-to book, for no one is sure how to succeed as a choreographer--except by really trying.

Customer Reviews:

A pretty good book.......2000-04-03

This book, like the title says, is a primer for choreographers. That means this book explains the basics to beginners like me. It explained in rich language how choreographers should do their jobs well. It helped me understand that dance is more than a bunch of people moving around. In some places, it gets a little hard to understand and a little too philosophical, but overall, it is a good, informative book. I would recommend this to ameteur choreographers, but not to those with more experience.

Book Description

Plant Analysis: An Interpretation Manual 2nd Edition is an easily accessible compilation of data summarising the range of nutrient concentration limits for crops, pastures, vegetables, fruit trees, vines, ornamentals and forest species. This information is valuable in assessing the effectiveness of fertiliser programs and for monitoring longer term changes in crop nutritional status.

New to this edition:
Volume and scope of information accessed from the literature has expanded several-fold. Interpretation criteria for 294 species have been compiled in the tables from more than 1872 published papers.
New chapter on nutrient criteria for forest species.
Includes guidelines for collecting, handling and analysing plant material.

An entire chapter is devoted to the identification of nutrient deficiency and toxicity symptoms.

Book Description

Discover the region's best Driving Tours with National Geographic as your guide.

Features the region's best routes and attractions, including:

* Towns and cities, historical and cultural sites, natural areas, plus many surprises
* Entertaining, insightful commentary
* Useful travel tips
* More than 120 original, color photographs
* Detailed maps for each drive keyed to descriptions in text
* Directions, mileages, and visitor information

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A Great Family Scrapbook and More!

The first & the best!!!

American Family Style: Decorating, Cooking, Gardening, Entertaining
Mary Randolph Carter
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Kitchen Junk (Studio)

For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home

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Ricky Lauren, Cuisine, Lifestyle, and Legend of the Double RL Ranch

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0670818062

Customer Reviews:

A Great Family Scrapbook and More!.......2005-02-25

This is one of my favorite books. I look at it often and it has inspired me to take more family pictures and document our daily lives. This is a book about the love of a family through pictures and stories. It includes holidays, recipes, gardening tips, and more. Even though the style of decorating may not be my own, I still love the absolute warmth of this book. The warmth of family.

The first & the best!!!.......2001-08-24

I just love this book. Mary put her heart into this book & the love for her family ...it reflects in every page. The applesauce with plums is fantastic! In the pages of this book you will see awesome pictures that show the true essence on family and there love of home & what is important to them. If you ever get a chance to buy a copy of this book now that it is now out of print -you will be rewarded with joy in seeing the heart of a family. ENJOY & let the pages of this book rub off on you in how you look at life & family.

American Family Style : Decorating, Cooking, Gardening, Entertaining

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American Family Style : Decorating, Cooking, Gardening, Entertaining
Mary R. Carter
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIVKT8

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For Your Home: Fireplaces & Hearths (For Your Home)
Candace Ord Manroe
Manufacturer: Little Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0316547565

Average customer rating:
Hearth to hearth: gather ideas for your own home from these inspiring holiday fireplace transformations.: An article from: Mississippi Magazine

Manufacturer: Downhome Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00084BFIO
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Mississippi Magazine, published by Downhome Publications, Inc. on November 1, 2003. The length of the article is 919 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Hearth to hearth: gather ideas for your own home from these inspiring holiday fireplace transformations.
Publication: Mississippi Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2003
Publisher: Downhome Publications, Inc.
Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Page: 79(5)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

As secretary of state and a close confidant of President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice is the most influential woman in the history of the United States government, and perhaps one of the most famous black women in the world. Her latest stint in Washington, D.C., follows her role as national security advisor to the president and a distinguished career as a scholar, professor, provost, and foreign policy advisor that has taken her from Birmingham, Alabama, to Denver, Colorado, to Palo Alto, California, to the White House—all by the age of 50.

Customer Reviews:

Very Informative.......2007-04-22

I thought this biography of Condoleezza Rice was very informative and enlightening. Particularly interesting to me was the fact that she had excellent guidance from her parents who encouraged her to pursue her education to the fullest. The books talks of her pursuing her diverse talents and her ambition to succeed. Although I felt that the book glamorized her life a bit too much and indicated that she rarely made mistakes, she is one who deserves everything she has worked hard for. She is truly an inspiration.

Condi: Over-achieving, Tenacious, Scholarly but Unanswered Questions.......2007-02-20

This account of Condoleessa Rice is most helpful in understanding her upbringing, her motivation and her significant abilities. The author appears to have interviewed a large number of persons: 27 in number. However, no persons of highest notoriety were interviewed. Instead those notable persons were quoted only from other sources. The author typically did not write about Ms. Rice's personal views which was disappointing.

The book unfortunately leaves several important questions unanswered, namely:

1. How was it possible that Condi could have leaped over the normal path of ascension that others historically were required to endure and instead be awarded the esteemed position of Stanford provost?
2. Why did Condi leave her position as Stanford provost for the significantly lesser position of Hoover Institute senior-fellow? The author's answer given in the book is not credible.
3. Why did the author never interview Ms. Rice for this book? What was Ms. Rice's response when she was asked for an interview?
4. How did Ms. Rice's notable but inadequate credentials of being a college provost qualify her to be appointed as head of the National Security Agency of the most powerful country on Earth?
5. Why did the author not discuss negative issues regarding Ms. Rice as that would have given the book a balanced assessment?
6. How was Ms. Rice's pro-abortion stance received by the conservative presidents that she served?
7. Why was Ms. Rice's step-mother interviewed instead of her father, especially considering her step-mother was not even mentioned until 3/4 of the way through the book? Since Ms. Rice gave her father the highest credit for her success, would he not have been the preferred choice?

While the book is enjoyable, it does leave some hard questions unanswered.

Rice: staple of life.......2007-01-10

Condoleeza Rice is unquestionably one of the major minds of our day. Her life history and accomplishments challenge any parent to love and support thier child to the best of their ability with God's help.

Condie.......2007-01-05

It was an incredible biography. It was especially poignat in that my children went to St, Mary's Academy in Denver. The book was well written and clear complete and concise. It was a testiment that blacks can compete and be sucessfull if the right environment and attitude, is present.

Informative yet disappointing...........2006-11-13

I purchased this book with the hope I would learn about the person through her own direct words and thoughts, this was sadly not the case. In Condi, Felix cuts and pastes info about Rice from her family, collegues, and friends then attempts to offer a coherent profile of a fascinating figure. I could not have been more disappointed nor disengaged, the biography offers next to zero insight into who Rice is as a person as opposed to what she has accomplished. While organized in a ordered choronlogical fashion, "Condi" does little to stimulate the passion inherent to the persona. Felix painfully spends too much time detailing the lives of marginal characters in Rice's life seemingly to fill pages, its unneccessary and bogs the book down. I imagine Rice as someone who while well educated didnt neccessarily begin her career as stoic or commanding as her public persona presents clearly now, how did this transition come about? Who is Rice outside of public life in private? All of these seemingly inane questions if answered would offer a much deeper analysis on the motivations and opinions of Rice.

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Condi: the Condoleezza Rice Story
Antonia Felix
Manufacturer: New Market
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N67OZ0

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Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story
Antonia Felix
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSWMX6

Customer Reviews:

Intriguing lives, lazily written.......2004-11-26

This certainly isn't Lytton Strachey. Like Strachey and Richard Holmes, however, Halperin well realizes the inherent great enjoyability of very short biographies of extremely interesting people. There seems to be almost no original research here, and Halperin is willing to make an extremely shallow and lazy transition to an anecdote just to squeeze it in, but he does write with grace (and has an eye for a great story). Oddly, there's a running theme throughout the book: the perfidy of what Halperin extremely loosely calls "treason," although what he means by treason seems so broad at times as to be almost meaningless. The best lives here are of the stodgy George V and the hilariously irreverent Nancy Astor, because with both Halperin seems really to have a new angle he wants to bring out; while his willingness to applaud the late king for his steadfastness and decency as compared to his eldest son's thorough rottenness, it does not seem to occur to Halperin that Edward VIII's character might be in part due to his parents' legendarily neglectful cold and neglectful care. Halperin's extremely heavyhanded evaluations of Elizabeth Bowen's novels are also a bit puzzling, although Bowen's exceptionally eventful life and character make up for his judgmentalism towards her fiction.

Lytton Lite.......2001-08-17

John Halperin takes Lytton Strachey as his model and provides four short lives of people he views as emblematic of the "second Georgian" era - King Geroge V himself, Elizabeth Bowen, St. John Philby and Nancy Astor. The results are interesting without being particularly memorable. Halperin tells his stories in a plain documentary fashion, without much analysis and with none of the mordant wit or strong opinions of Strachey's nasty little classic. Such a straightforward approach works best if bolsered by extensive research, but the slim bibliography indicates a newspaper profile rather than an original and insightful work. All this being said, Bowen, Philby and Astor are interesting enough as people to making reading "Eminent Georgians" worthwhile. As for the good King George, it will take a much more persuasive writer to bring that admirable but dull monarch to life on the page.

Eminent Georgians: The Lives of King George V, Elizabeth Bowen, st John Philby, & Nancy Astor

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Eminent Georgians: The Lives of King George V, Elizabeth Bowen, st John Philby, & Nancy Astor
John Halperin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTF60Q

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