Parallel Processing Visual (Perspectives in Vision Research)

Book Description

Volume 2 of two-volume work. Almost single-handed discovery of Maya culture; exploration of ruined cities, monuments, temples; customs of Indians. Total in set: 115 drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly enjoying this book for the second time...........2006-11-23

I realize that not everyone shares my taste in literature, but if you are an armchair adventurer (or a real adventurer) with a refined sense of humor, I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as well as Volume II. Many evenings, after a grueling day in the office, John L. Stephens transported me to another place and time with his excellent gift for writing, eye for detail and sense of humor that frequently had me waking my poor spouse with irrepressible laughter. As an author, explorer and humorist with the subtlest of wits, I place Stephens in the ranks with Mark Twain, and that is the ultimate compliment. Enjoy.

Good Read.......2006-07-11

Havnt quite finished reading but this is an interesting journal of the events experienced, people encountered and travels of Mr. Stephens as he visits Central America.

A glimpse in Central American history.......2005-07-26

I think this book is fascinating for two types of people:
- Those who are interested in the history of Central America, who will see in Stephens a witness of time
- Those very familiar with Central America's geography (specially Guatemala's), who will enjoy reading Stephens' descriptions of many places that (in their majority) still exist

In 1839, at 34, John L. Stephens was appointed as "United States Minister" - a sort of US envoy - for Central America (which at the time was still one country). Stephens was a serial traveler: 5 years ago, he had visited Eastern Europe (Greece, Turkey, Russia and Poland) and the Middle East (Egypt and Syria), and had already published a couple of books about these trips.

Stephens decided to combine his diplomatic duty with his interest in searching for Mayan ruins in the region. By October, he embarked with his friend Frederick Catherwood (another extensive traveller) in a trip that would take them to what was (already) a politically convulsed region.

At the time, Central America was filled with political turmoil. The largest state of the country, Guatemala, had basically fallen in the hands of Rafael Carrera, a non-educated peasant. Carrera refused to recognize the authority of Francisco Morazán who, based in San Salvador, was at least in theory, the President of the Central American confederation. Rumours, political intrigues and suspicions abounded at the time.

And so, in this setting, Stephens got into a boat, and after a few days in Belize, travelled (by boat again) to the Caribbean shore of Guatemala. He entered the country through Rio Dulce and touched land in a small village in the shores of the Izabal Lake.

Starting there, Stephens made a trip, generally by mule's back, that took him to Zacapa, Chiquimula, Copan (in Honduras), Esquipulas, Guastatoya, Guatemala City (already established by then where it is now), Antigua Guatemala, Escuintla, Iztapa (in the Pacific shores) and Amatitlán. He later took a boat and went to El Salvador, and then to Costa Rica, where he disembarked and returned to Guatemala by land.

Apparently, Stephens was one of the first "adventure tourists" of modern times. He ascended many volcanoes and spent a considerable time in Copan, cleaning up the forrest that was still covering the ruins and helping his friend Catherwood to draw reproductions of the ruins (these drawings are included in the book). In addition, and as part of his diplomatic duties, he met some of the leading political figures of the time, like Carrera himself.

Stephens not only did all the above, but ended up writing a very nice and enjoyable book that describes very well what he saw and thought at the time.

In short, this book is a rare jewel that allows the reader to better imagine how was life and nature in Central America in the middle of the XIX century.

(Note: the review above is based on Volume I - a book that curiously did not exist in Amazon's inventory at the time of my reading in 2005. Being respectful of my own past review, I havent' changed it. The next paragraphs though, are 2007 additions in which I comment on Volume 2)

If the reader enjoyed Vol 1, she/he will surely find Vol 2 a satisfying read. Vol 2 starts in Nicaragua, and continues in El Salvador, where Mr Stephens continues in his search of a Central American government. I will not delve into the details of all of Mr Stephens' adventures. Suffice it to say that he gets to meet the recently defeated Francisco Morazán, meets Rafael Carrera (again), travels through the Guatemalan western highlands, gets to know the story of the Los Altos state, crosses the border to Mexico, visits Palenque and Uxmal, finally returning to the US.

Its particularly interesting to read Stephens' account of Carrera and his young government. The fact that Carrera was even known at the time as the King of the Indians is an interesting point to notice -any reader knowledgeable with Guatemala's history and societal dynamics could extrapolate this to many events of the past 50 years.

Also interesting is Stephens' rebuttal of previous accounts regarding the difficulty of visiting ruins like the ones in Palenque. The more widely known stories at the time created the impression that visiting the ruins was full of dangers. Always the practical and matter-of-factly adventurer, Stephens bluntly says that they are (were) untrue, and that the greatest hardships he and Mr Catherwood endured were due to the unstable revolutionary state of the countries.

If the reader is interested or has knowledge of archaeology, he/she must also know that Vol 2 has plenty detailed descriptions and diagrams prepared by Mr Catherwood (who in my opinion was a very gifted artist, being able to draw the intrincated details of many Mayan ruins).

I strongly recommend Vol 2 to anyone interested in Central American history, archaeology, the mayans, or true old-fashioned adventure travel.

timless classic.......2003-03-15

This is a Must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the mayan culture. Still easy to read even though it was written over 150 years ago! Imagine you are one of the first explores to adventure into the the jungles of the Yucatan and vist the ancient cities hidden in the jungle. I wish I had read this book before My trip to the Yucatan, would have made my trip that much more enjoyable! The Catherwood engravings are spectacular! I also recomemend the The Thriller A Tourist In The Yucatana modern day adventure amoung the same ruins!

ADVENTURE TRAVEL WRIGHTING AT ITS BEST!.......2002-12-07

This is a must read for any one with an interest in the ancient Mayan culture an ruin sites. the other reviewers have summed this book up great, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, & Yucatan

Average customer rating:

Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, & Yucatan
John Lloyd Stephens
Manufacturer: Harper & Bros
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Mayan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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Incident's of Travel in Central America, Chiapas & Yucatan
John L Stephens
Manufacturer: Centruy Hutchinson Ltd, London
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OAW1DU

Incidents of Travel In Central America Chiapas and Yucatan Vol.I

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Incidents of Travel In Central America Chiapas and Yucatan Vol.I
John L.Stephens
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KBNK1U

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Incidents of Travel In Central America Chiapas, and Yucatan
John L. Stephens
Manufacturer: HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OJUV1A

Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan. Illustrated By Numerous Engravings. In Two Volumes. Volume Two (2) Only. New Edition

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Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan. Illustrated By Numerous Engravings. In Two Volumes. Volume Two (2) Only. New Edition
John L. Stephens
Manufacturer: John Murray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JVN9JE

INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA, CHIAPAS AND YUCATAN: V. 1

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INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA, CHIAPAS AND YUCATAN: V. 1
JOHN L. STEPHENS
Manufacturer: DOVER PUBLICATIONS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9HS1M

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Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan

Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I7XY58

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Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan
John Lloyd, 1805-1852 Stephens
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPANQS

INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA, CHIAPAS, AND YUCATAN. 2 volumes. Illustrated by numerous engravings.

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INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA, CHIAPAS, AND YUCATAN. 2 volumes. Illustrated by numerous engravings.
John L. Stephens
Manufacturer: Harper & Bros.,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7C89Q

Customer Reviews:

9/11 in Words.......2002-07-12

Not many books have yet been published of the tragic event's of 9/11. Of the few that I have read this one comes in First by a longshot. Mary Gow tells stories of the survivors and their struggle to escape the colapsing buildings, but also tails of those who were lost. The discriptions are incredible, and it is very easy for children 2 understand about the horrible events. Attack on America: The Day the Twin Towers Collapsed is a very understandable summary of what we know so far.

Book Description

This is an illustrated, up-to-date guide to the work of Scotland's renowned architect and designer. It takes a critical look at his buildings, furniture, paintings, drawings, and textile designs, and contains information on where to see them. For travelers to Europe & enthusiasts of the architecture of the Modern Movement.

Book Description

To what extent can animals be regarded as part of the moral community? To what extent, if at all, do they have moral rights? Are we wrong to eat them or to hunt them? Is the use of animals for scientific research justified? And can the ideas behind animal liberation be squared with those of the environmental movement?

This is the first book to provide a thorough and reasonably impartial explication of the arguments put forward on all these issues. It is Taylor's strong belief that, whatever our own views on these contentious issues may be, we benefit by exploring them more thoroughly, and also by understanding and evaluating the arguments of those who may disagree with us. He traces the background of these debates from Aristotle to Darwin, and he provides fair-minded commentaries on the positions of such influential contemporary philosophers as Peter Singer, Tom Regan, R.G. Frey, and Peter Carruthers.

Customer Reviews:

The Consumate Review of the Animal Rights Issues/Arguments.......2003-10-25

It's fairly rare to find books that can take you from little to no knowledge in a given area of debate, and then put you in a position to jump in to it right away; this book does that. It's the kind of book that is accessible enough and certainly thorough enough to serve as a defining text for the issue. Also, it's just recently been updated, actually.

Book Description

Waffen-SS uniforms, insignia and equipment have become among the most sought-after among collectors, and consequently the most often faked. This edition features illustrations covering ranks, uniforms, equipment, divisional and national insignia and the history of the evolution of the Black Corps from a handful of bodyguards to an army in its own right

Customer Reviews:

A Helpful read! (014).......2007-07-21

While I realize the limitations of a book of this size, I none the less found it a useful tool to help in the hobby of collecting German militaria. Of course a much larger format packed full of colour photos would have been better, but that is not the format of this book, and shouldn't be compared to larger, more comprehensive titles. As a general guide and/or an introductory book on the subject, it was well worth the money. I was very happy with it, and it prodded me to explore the subject further.

A top read!

Too short.......2002-03-28

As a Collector's guide, any respectable one should have more than a few plate in color. Most of the image shown in this book come from other books published many years ago. If you take a look at the bibliography of this book you will be puzzle, so many good books are listed. So if it was the case, why Mr. Lumsden did'nt make a good summary of all of these books. It come short in terms of distinctive image. Short also in matter of description. If you intend to do a collector's guide, when you present a full battledress Waffen-ss you have to explained everything shown on the image, not just a collar patch or a belt buckle.

I do not recommed this book to anyone wanting to know more about the waffen-ss uniforms, nor the firearms. It's so succint that it would'nt help you in a antique boutique. It's not even good to orient you in any specific detail.

_________________________
Paul Bourgault
2Lt/Fus MR21/34thCBG/RCAC

Average customer rating:

Excellent but wrongly credited

This is the "bible" for this interesting Japanese art form.

The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use With Bonsai
Vincent T. Covello , and Yuji Yoshimura
Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Japanese Gardens | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Suiseki: The Japanese Art of Miniature Landscape Stones

Scholars' Rocks In Ancient China: Syuan Stone Catalogue

Art of the Natural World

Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo

Bonsai Master Class

ASIN: 0804820473

Customer Reviews:

Excellent but wrongly credited.......1999-08-19

I am very disappointed and angry that a book published in 1984 by Vincent T. Covello and Yuji Yoshimura as co authors should now, since Mr Yoshimura has died and cannot comment, is describing Mr Yoshimura as a mere contributor. We all know that the Yoshimura name sold the book!

This is the "bible" for this interesting Japanese art form........1998-06-26

You will never look at rocks the same after reading this book.

Mr. Yoshimura and Dr. Covello provide all the basics of viewing stone development, preparation and appreciation. All material is well-written and presented in an easy-to-understand method that makes one want to begin this art immediately.

Book Description

Anomalous and complex, Italian artist Valeria Magli is known as a dancer, choreographer, actress, interpreter of her own work on video, visual artist, writer, and editor. She has participated in cultural adventures such as Alfabeta, and has managed to bridge the gap between France and Italy. This volume, the first published on her and her work, offers a rich photographic collection of scenes from her stage productions.

Average customer rating:
Bagman to Swagman: Tales of Broome, the North West and Other Australian Adventures
Alistair Mcalpine
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin Australia Pty Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1865081043

Average customer rating:
BAGMAN TO SWAGMAN. Tales of Broome, the North-West and other Australian Adventures.
Alistair: McAlpine
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W35D9I

Book Description

Must Sees South Carolina Coast

Book Description

The Shaping School Culture Fieldbook provides a variety of sources of information, inspiration, and suggestions and includes more than forty field-tested exercises. Each chapter begins with a discussion of the features of culture and the symbolic roles of leaders and is followed by a set of examples that clearly illustrate the ideas. The book is filled with activities. Many are specifically designed as group activities with suggestions for how to organize the session, while others are meant to stimulate reflection and are often posed as questions. Most of the activities are designed be to used in a group setting and the questions provided in the chapters can become topics for dialogue or group brainstorming. This wonderful resource will help school leaders learn how to understand, assess, and transform their school culture for ongoing success.

Customer Reviews:

shaping...fieldbook.......2007-03-24

Really enjoyed using this guide along side the School Culture book. It provides practical, helpful solutions to moving schools forward. Must read for school administrators trying to make change. Awesome!

Shaping School Culture Set (contains book and fieldbook)

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Shaping School Culture Set (contains book and fieldbook)
Terrence E. Deal , and Kent D. Peterson
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Policy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Leading in a Culture of Change

ASIN: 0787968102

Book Description

In this captivating and heartwarming book, America's premier pet columnist, Michael Capuzzo, shares astonishing true tales celebrating the unique and unbreakable relationship between people and their cats.  Drawn from history and literature as well as from cat lovers--both famous and not so famous-- from all walks of life all over the world, here are unforgettable tales that take us behind the cool, independent facade of the cat to reveal the sweet, sensitive, devoted creature within.  Here are just a few of the cats guaranteed to catch your heart:

Priscilla, who meowed at her apartment door for two days.  Finally her owners thought to check on their elderly neighbor and discovered that she had broken her hip and was unable to move.

Pearl and Skittles, the Keystone Cats, who watched over their household with total vigilance.  Any problem--a clogged drain in the kitchen, a stereo left on at night--and they sounded the alarm, waking everyone in the house.

Murry, the cat who became the constant companion and protector of a young boy suffering from cystic fibrosis.  His devotion was so great that when the boy's health began to fail, Murry seemed to lose his own will to live.

Nicholas, who every day fed the family pit bull; he jumped up on the kitchen table, grabbed a dog bone, and dropped it down to his pal.  Later each day, as if to repay Nicholas, the pit bull happily licked the cat's head for ten minutes.

Subway, the beautiful orange tabby who not only survived being shot with a shotgun, but later, apparently killed in an accident, jumped out of the box he was to be buried in and frolicked among the guests at his own funeral.

In Cat Caught My Heart you will see cats in all their glory--their unique personalities, their irrepressible spirits, their gentle souls.  You'll laugh at their antics, weep at their passing, and thank the heavens that these remarkable creatures are part of our lives.

Customer Reviews:

Skip This Book.......2003-10-14

Some of the stories in the book are pretty sad. All of the authors talk about how a cat came into their lives and changed them forever. I expected a book that would make me laugh at typical cat antics but what I got was a book that nearly made me cry every time I read it. It's nice to read a book about how a cat helped someone through tough times but this book just wasn't it. It's a pretty depressing book.

life with cats.......2003-07-08

If you love cats, you will love this book. It's all about real people's relationships with their cats. The stories are funny and sad and sometimes amazing, but they are consistently touching. And contrary to the previously review, the stories are NOT all about cats dying!

THIS BOOK STINKS; THE TITLE IS ENTIRELY MISLEADING.......1999-05-23

The actual title of this book should be "How My Cat Died." This compilation of memoirs almost without exception describes the demise of the beloved cat, and the pain the owner went through in the process, which is not surprizing, as a great number of anecdotes are lifted from a cyberspace pet-loss grief site. If anyone has ever gone through the soul-wrenching agony of losing a loved pet, this book will do nothing but reawaken the grief and pain of that experience. As none of this is noted on the book's jacket, I felt this book was highly misleading and the publishers should be ashamed of themselves.

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The orchard almanac: A spraysaver guide
Stephen Page
Manufacturer: Spraysaver Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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The Apple Grower: Guide for the Organic Orchardist

The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden

ASIN: 0961652306

Book Description

This book brings together, for the first time, independent and highly respected lawyers and jurists from both sides of this century-old conflict, to identify and assess areas of common interest. As violence diminishes in favour of negotiation and compromise, all issues covered by the ongoing discussions will be determined by emerging rule of law. The book contains original contributions from an experienced team of Palestinian and Isrealic lawyers and scholars in the field and covers a range of strategic issues, including history and law, key international treaties, the domestic dimensions of the peace process, water arrangements, economic issues, and the legal institutions which are being created and must adapt to the new scene. An important feature of the book is that it succeeds in showing that the traditional opposition os Israeli and Arab views may be giving way to a common informed reflection on modes of coexistence primarily determined by law.

Customer Reviews:

"Tribute to "A" & "B" Western Saddle Heroes ... Rutherford & Smith III ... Empire Publishing".......2006-09-21

Empire Publishing presents "MORE COWBOY SHOOTING STARS", from authors John A. Rutherford & Richard B. Smith III, an encyclopedic film credits tribute to 240 "A" and "B" Western Saddle Heroes plus 24 Low-Budget series of the sound era ... a super film reference book from 1928 involving both lead and support roles in films and television features ... which is intended as an available guide for film collectors, film fans and film historians who are personally devoted to the oater genre ... listing the name of each actor who appeared and who rode along side the heroes of B-Westerns --- note the actors in alphabetical order with their films listed according to chronological release, studio abbreviations are included with running times given an additional range where applicable, westerns in color are designated with a (C) before the year of release ... features two reels or less have been omitted, whereas TV movies where a studio or network can't be identified are so noted with the abbreviation TVM ... all in all a wonderful guide for the official closing chapters of the long run of the oaters years.

Each Western-Star has a short synopsis, film title, the year, the studio and running times ... listed below is a sample from the book:

WILLIAM BOYD (1898 - 1972)
He became millions of youngsters "Hopalong Cassidy" series favorite in 66 features for Paramount (1935-1941) and United Artists (1942-1944; 1946-1948) ... Boyd was a Top Money Making Western star (1936-1945, 1947-1950) in addition to doing 52 half our episodes of the Clarence Mulford character (1952-1954) for TV syndication.
HOP-A-LONG CASSIDY (aka: Hopalong Cassidy Enters) ... 1935 ... Paramount ... 59-62 mins.

Hats off to our friends at Empire Publishing as the authors John A. Rutherford & Richard B. Smith III put down on paper the trails these western heroes followed ... we remember their charm, grace, style and wit but also their courage, daring, dignity and professionalism that helped make the B-Western great --- If you're into the memories of the B-Western, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- Many of the stars within this publication gave us hours of entertainment...their careers of excellence and dedication to the craft of acting...the audiences who were so faithful for several decades...all the cast members took their job very seriously and the audience would not settle for anything less than the best...and it showed up there on the big screen. --- another winner from Empire Publishing --- Western Classics, all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Page: 214 Pages ~ Empire Publishing ISBN: 0944019110 ~ (January 1993)

Great Service.......2005-09-14

I was so pleased to receive this book in a timely manner, thanks.

Great reference for serious collectors or anyone interested.......1999-10-11

For anyone interested in the Saturday matinee cowboy stars of the thirties through fifties, this is a great reference book.Organized by actor, includes every movie with date, studio, and lenght of film. Highly recommended

Book Description

The British Labour movement has always venerated the collective ideal: solidarity, mass endeavour, the common good. Yet paradoxically its progress or decline has always been bound up with its major personalities and the concept of leadership. Drawing on extensive original research, this book examines the careers of such leaders as Hardie, MacDonald, Attlee, Wilson, and Kinnock, and those of a wide range of officials, intellectuals, trades unionists, prophets, planners, and pioneers, including Bevan, Benn, and Scargill, to provide a unique view of Labour's stormy history.

Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock

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Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock
Kenneth O. Morgan
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OL5OGU

Average customer rating:

Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock
Kenneth O. Morgan
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLAEWY

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