Trees of New York State, Native and Naturalized

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-01-10

One of the most impressive and colorful tree books I have ever seen for New York and Northeast trees.

TREES OF NEW YORK STATE NATIVE AND NATURALIZED

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TREES OF NEW YORK STATE NATIVE AND NATURALIZED

Manufacturer: Syracuse University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ID1FBW

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Trees Of New York State Native And Naturalized

Manufacturer: Syracuse University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GW5D22

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TREES OF NEW YORK STATE NATIVE AND NATURALIZED.
H. Brown
Manufacturer: Syracuse University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WQEVM0

Trees of northeastern United States,: Native and naturalized

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Trees of northeastern United States,: Native and naturalized
Harry Philip Brown
Manufacturer: The Christopher Publishing House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Ever wondered what Peking duck tastes like on its home turf? Always wanted to climb the Great Wall? Or perhaps you'd like something a little more obscure. A ride around town in Madame Mao's old Red Flag stretch limousine, perhaps? Whatever tickles you, one thing's for sure: Beijing is one impressive city. This up-to-the-minute guidebook uncovers all the marvellous secrets - and makes sure you have a great time.

Pull-out Sheet Map in Chinese and English

Beijing Resident Author - over 500 places visited and reviewed; dozens of new bars and restaurants added

Language Help - all places listed in Chinese and English for easy navigation

Ancient Beijing Explored in walking and cycling tours throughout the hutong

Olympics Coverage shows off the city's remarkable transformation

Customer Reviews:

A Resource & A Bargain.......2007-09-13

Comprehensive, concise and well-organized. A great resource and a true bargain. The fact that this series proudly features long-time local residents in their guides says a lot about their commitment and values. I also appreciate that they inspire enthusiasm and exploration in the reader almost from the first page. Also note this is hot off the presses in August 2007. Unless they somehow got everything totally wrong (I'll know when I visit over New Year's) this is 5 stars easily.

Doesn't tell you the whole truth about Beijing.......2006-09-20

If you go the largest imported books bookstore in Beijing, which is located in Wangfujing, and grab this title from the shelves, you will find that several paragraphs in the book have been covered with a white paper strip: my own educated guess is that one probably dealt with Beijing's traffic congestion and the other with a certain bloody episode which happened on Tian'anmen Square in 1989.

I asked an employee what this meant. "The content must have been politically harmful", was the answer. There was no trace of embarassment in his voice. Business as usual...

Nevertheless, the book is available. Who will want to buy a blatantly censored copy for what is still a high price remains an open question. This may sound anecdotal but it isn't. It just shows how little things have really changed although China is reputedly the land of Change. I must congratulate the author for having written some "politically incorrect" stuff about Peking (let's stick to the old name, it is so much easier to pronounce), but I have to disagree with his general appraisal of the city. It is quite true that, as he states in the preface, Peking has been a "global irrelevance" for many decades, but it is simply false to claim that it is now an "exciting time" to visit the Chinese capital.

Think about this: John Blofeld (1913-1987), a British scholar who wrote books on Eastern philosophy and religion, and traveled extensively in Asia, including China, reports in one of his travelogues that when he visited Peking in what are for us "the good old times", before the Communist takeover that is, local people were already complaining that the old ways had disappeared.

Today, more than half a century later, after the Great Cultural Revolution and the demolition of the magnificent city walls, Peking finds itself in the midst of what in fact amounts to a second Cultural Revolution: an unprecedented, huge urban overhaul designed to turn it into a futuristic metropolis.

To sum it all up, Peking has completely lost its soul and one must ask: Where is the excitement, really? Are we talking about the five-stars hotels with their international buffets? Are we talking about the fact that local people can now buy French foie gras in the nearest supermarket? Are we talking about those glass and steel skyscrapers that have turned large areas of the city into what looks like a kind of alien Martian base? If that is something that makes you excited, yes, then by all means do visit the city. You will be satisfied.

Leaving aside the architectural monstrosities of the recent past and those that are being built in complete disregard to the ancient city environment, let us have a look at Peking's much publicized cultural heritage. Is it really worth seeing?

My answer is a definite NO. Keep your money for Pompeii, Tikal, Versailles or Angkor Vat. First of all, unless you are acquainted with Chinese culture, chances are that you will not be able to appreciate what you see. Just as it takes some time to appreciate a book or a piece of music. The reason is that Chinese architecture is not spectacular at all. And it is quite devoid of originality. If you have seen one pagoda, you have seen them all. Besides, you probably can't read Chinese characters. Chinese art is an extension of the writing system.

But there are many other factors that combined will probably make a visit to Peking quite disappointing, if not infuriating (for a sensitive traveler, that is). First of all, the crowds of tourists, both foreign and Chinese. They are overwhelming (and unfortunately most interesting sites have rather short opening hours). Second, the ruthless commercialism and incredibly bad taste: the merchants of the Temple are omnipresent. I am not only talking about nagging vendors, souvenirs shops, noisy fast-foods and bars inside the premises, but also about big and small advertising boards and a multitude of ugly modern artefacts that mar both the great monuments and the more modest ancient alleys ("hutongs").

A few examples: if you go to the Forbidden City, you will find pistachio green plastic garbage cans everywhere. The benches inside the palace all bear advertising plaques for a company that sells air conditioners. If you visit the( few remaining)hutongs, you will find that the old houses are lined with brand-new cars and that their façades are marred by big air conditioners. Near the Forbidden City, the hutongs are dotted with ugly telephone booths in the shape of an orange mushroom (yes!)every five or ten meters. The tiles on most pavilions and pagodas are made of ugly, grey concrete (the real thing is too costly). There must be more than a hundred big, red fire extinguishers in the otherwise quite beautiful Lama Temple and there are alas not hidden from view. Roofs around Tian'anmen Square are bristling with huge, unsightly mobile phone towers. The wonderful animal and human statues in the Spirit Way, which is part of the huge Ming Tombs Site, are all flanked by a big plastic garbage can and they have built new roads on both sides of it: enough noise to scare away the spirits and prevent you from entering a meditative state...

Etc., etc., etc. There is no end to the list of things both small and great that spoil the remnants of the past in Peking and elsewhere in China, which shows just how culturally decadent Chinese people have become. One could without exaggeration say that today the urban culture in China is an extension of Las Vegas and Hollywood with some Chinese elements thrown in for good measure (and face!).

Sometimes the incongruities are so blatant, so ludicrous that one starts wondering if there isn't a kind of conspiracy, a deliberate attempt to debase and desecrate the past, which is after all just superstitious rubbish for a true Communist and a mere merchandise for a true Capitalist (they are pretty much the same in my opinion). The alliance of the two has produced what may be the biggest kitsch paradise on earth: Pe-kitsch.

The third point you need to keep in mind is the weather, which can be summed up as: cold winter smog, spring sandstorms and smog, summer sauna and smog (+heavy rains in July) and dry autumn smog. Twenty years ago(yes, I have lived that long here!), Peking had a Mediterranean climate of sorts with clear blue skies most of the time, but due to heavy traffic pollution the city has now smoky skies with no wind and therefore a suffocating atmosphere most of the time (let's say about 70 percent of the time). In many places, the air stinks with the smell of chemical paint. It is also full of dust particles from the thousands of construction sites, to say nothing of the exhaust fumes from the hundreds of thousands of trucks, bulldozers and private cars that race through narrow alleys and oversized avenues alike.

The fourth point is traffic. It is increasingly difficult to go from one place to another without being caught in huge traffic jams (the government actually encourages people to buy cars and they hope every household will have its own car by 2020!!!). The happy times when you could go around leisurely riding a bicycle are basically finished. Now the streets have become a battleground and cars crowd even the sidewalks. The subway network is pitifully inadequate and incredibly crowded. As another expat once said to me: "I never take the Beijing subway because to find the nearest subway station, I have first to take a taxi."

The fifth point is service. While young shop assistants and other employees are generally friendly (but not always competent), a large part of the local staff, specially in parks, museums and big supermarkets, is composed of (sexually frustrated?)middle-aged women who are rude, indifferent and lazy. There is a pervading mood of discontent and irritation in the city, which is quite comprehensible considering the high level of environmental stress, the lack of genuine community life (most "local" people are rootless domestic immigrants)and the political tyranny. Add to this the fierce competition for jobs, the money problems and all the cares inseparable from both great and modest affluence (blessed are the poor, indeed!). Almost everyone will try to rip you off. Money reigns supreme.

This is not to say that there aren't any beautiful or interesting places to see--the author of this guide has done a good job in this respect since he mentions not only the (fake) Great Wall at Badaling, but also other segments of the wall in wilder areas-- but most of them are outside the city. Or you have to be in the Forbidden City on a cold, rainy day or at the peak of a media-orchestrated flu epidemic, when the crowds are away. Even then, you will have to close your eyes often in order not to see all the jarring details I mentioned before.

You may appreciate the cheap food. The poor will still smile at you and greet you (while the new middle-class rich won't even look at you). The huge parks provide a welcome respite from the ugliness and noise of the rest of the city, but they are quite ordinary and, like the whole place, not genuinely Chinese, but a sloppy mixture of styles. Even here, under the shadow of gracious willows, your contemplation of the beautiful lotus ponds will often be interrupted by the awful noise of spitting indigenous males clearing their throats. This is China!

Remember the white tags of censorship in the book. And know that contrary to what the cover photograph wants you to believe, very few young people in Peking practice kungfu. These days they prefer to play basket-ball or electronic games.

PS: Read the "Ugly Chinaman" by Boyang to understand why this country has become such a mess.

Missing major component.......2006-08-22

The information is good but there are no Chinese characters of locations/names to show to taxi drivers. The pronunciations are just too difficult for some one not adept at languages or who has not studied some Chinese. I have taken over a dozen trips to China and find books with Chinese characters far more useful.

So much to see, so little time..........2006-08-12

Since I was on a guided tour, I used the book mainly to familiarize myself with the various sights and sounds. I agree with other reviewers who mentioned that some areas of the book are being outdated by the fast development of Beijing. Overall, the book is well put together and would have been useful if I had done more on my own. Would not hesitate to pick up a revised edition on my next trip to Beijing.

Accurate Information.......2006-03-26

Though I found the layout of this Lonely Planet book odd (even the Index is divided by topics), its content proved to be accurate. If you visit Beijing, expect very few people to speak even limited English.

Lonely Planet Beijing City Guide (Lonely Planet City Guide)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Beijing City Guide (Lonely Planet City Guide)
Robert Storey
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0864422067

Book Description

Masterfully executed designs in reproductions of two rare catalogs: ornamental borders, corners and frames with intricate floral and foliated patterns, architectural ornaments and design elements, religious symbols and figures, animals, mosaics, landscapes, much more. Invaluable to artists and craftspeople working with textiles, wallpaper and other decorative items.

Customer Reviews:

lovei it.......2007-05-12

I know that people have been complaining about how some of the stencils are too small and become unclear when blown up. They have a few other issues, too.
Here's the thing: the book has over 2,000 great stencils that are perfectly legible. I'm an illustrator, woodworker, and paper crafter. I am simply delighted at the various choices of stencil. Plus, the book is very inspiring in terms of providing a jumping off point to make up my own. I simply love it.

excellent.......2007-03-10

This is a wonderful resource for design ideas! I use elements of these stencils as patterns for guitar inlays. The copyright info on the inside cover is generous allowing use of the patterns, "free and without special permission." in certain circumstances.

Historical and not useful.......2006-07-03

If you are a craftperson, do not buy this book, though pictoral, it is more historical and you need a magnifying glass to see some of the stencils.

Great Resource for Designers .......2006-06-03

This book is chock full of great Victorian design. It has cartouches (ornamental borders), patterns, single filligree elements, and the best part is that they are all royalty free. You will need to scan the elements and clean them up a bit, but this book is a fantastic resource for the "flourish" trend that is going on in graphic design right now.

Highly recommended.

Useful for engraving.......2005-05-07

I use these stencils as layouts for gun engraving. While many designs are too small and lack enough detail to be able to reproduce (about 30%) most are of good quality and detail. It's a great value for the price and I strongly recommend it as an indispensible aid for all engravers, wood carvers, and stencil makers.

Amazon.com

Another in the popular series of Complete Idiot's guides, The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Beautiful Lawn is intended for the homeowner who is confounded by his or her own backyard. Author Maureen Gilmer is the cohost of a PBS television show called Backyard Living; her lawn-care guide runs nearly 400 pages and is a remarkably exhaustive resource, for all its dumb-acting. Highlights include a section on "Resurrecting Your Lawn Step by Step"; a section on turning the lawn into a wildflower meadow; and a "no-brainer" lesson in lawn design.

Gilmer has written a clear, sometimes condescending lesson in the art of creating "golf course green" from weeds and dead patches. Each chapter ends with a summary titled "The Least You Need to Know," and there's even a cute little cartoon blade of grass that offers "turf tips." There is occasional eco-friendly advice about the dangers of chemicals and pesticides, accompanied by perfunctory warnings like "keep product from drifting into any natural waterways." Of course, that is an incredibly complex proposition, and consequently this is not a book for the environmental purist. Rather, it's meant to assist the total novice who is worried that his or her house is starting to become a public nuisance, and the hokey text is an attempt to tame the garden's mystery and envision it as an assignment that can be completed, a test that can be passed, even if you need to use Cliff's Notes. --Emily White

Book Description

You're no idiot, of course. You know that grass needs sun and water and care. So why does your house appear to be sitting in the middle of the Dust Bowl? Don't call the Astroturf salesman yet; help is on the way! The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Beautiful Lawn is your one-stop reference for creating the lawn of your dreams! Here you'll learn about the parts of the grass plant, the best ways to start a new lawn, proper soil care--and even the art of baseball stadium--quality lawn mowing. Author Maureen Gilmer walks you through every aspect of turf care, from proper watering to integrating a sports court onto your lawn. No stone is left unturned in this comprehensive, fun, and infinitely useful guide. Here's what you get:

Customer Reviews:

Not Just for Idiots.......2000-04-25

The "reader" in the above review did not read the book. It contains extensive instructions for renovating existing lawns. In fact, I have just renovated my lawn based on information in the book and now (3 weeks later) have a nice green carpet of turf in my front yard. She also discusses topdressing at length, a technique I didn't find in any other lawn book I looked at. I found this book very useful and quite comprehensive. IMHO, this is the fundamental homeowner's reference work on lawns.

Better for designing a new lawn.......2000-02-07

In the typical format, The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Beautiful Lawn is easy to read and understand with abundant simple definitions and explanations and well-formulated, easy-to-follow instructions. However, there is comparatively little on revitalizing an existing lawn, and the major emphasis is on putting in a new lawn. Granted, lessons from putting in a new lawn can be applied to revitalizing an existing lawn, but the techniques for doing so are not detailed and are rarely even mentioned. A useful book, but not my favorite Complete Idiot's Guide.

Average customer rating:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Lawn Care
Maureen Gilmer
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8Y0AE

Average customer rating:

Sad surprise

When you can't change the past ... all you can do is move forward

Loved it and shared with others

Simple...

Longing for MY MONEY BACK !

Longing for Daddy: Healing from the Pain of an Absent or Emotionally Distant Father
Monique Robinson
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Pastoral Counseling | Ministry & Church Leadership | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Women's Issues | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

A Dad-Shaped Hole in My Heart

Longing for Dad: Father Loss and Its Impact

Making Peace With Your Father

Absent Fathers, Lost Sons: The Search for Masculine Identity

The Wounded Woman

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1578566878
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Book Description

Where Was Daddy When You Needed Him?

The absence of fathers is an epidemic plaguing our society, affecting families from every corner of our world and from all walks of life. Whether our fathers left us entirely during our childhood or were physically present but emotionally distant, those who missed out on an affirming, intimate father-love continue to experience the devastating consequences of that loss.

• Are you angry at the world and don’t know why?
• Do you inadvertently sabotage relationships or smother those closest to you?
• Do you rarely take risks or step out on faith?
• Is there an undercurrent of anxiety in most tasks you perform?
• Do you struggle to connect with God?
• Do you have little or no self-confidence–or minimal self-worth?

For women who answer yes to these questions, the common denominator is often an absent father. Far too many daughters have been stripped of a healthy relationship with their earthly dad. But real healing is within your reach.

Discover how the absence of your father has impacted your entire life–your attitude, your actions, your beliefs, your decisions, and your identity–and learn how you can stop resulting negative behaviors, beak free, and experience a confidence-building, empowering love that will heal your hurts and fulfill your deepest longings.

Customer Reviews:

Sad surprise.......2007-07-13

I dont have anything against religious books, but this one is written with a lack of reallity towards abset fatherhood.

I just got to read a few (awfull) pages, I wouldnt look for answers in this book.

When you can't change the past ... all you can do is move forward.......2007-03-05

You can't rewrite the past or cause your father to be anything other than he is. The only thing you can do is find a way to get the need met that was sorely lacking in your growing up. This book is very much written for those of a Christian perspective and concentrates on the relationship with God the father as a healing one. If you agree with the religious undertones, then this book can help you. I would also caution those who were emotionally scarred by an absent father to get psychological counselling from a licensed therapist trained in abandonment issues. Healing the spirit and the mind is critical and Robinson's book is very strong on soul work.

Fathers matter and sadly not all girls get this benefit of an emotionally loving dad. No matter what the reasons for a father hunger .... there is hope and healing for those committed to turning it all around. You will never get back those years the way you want. You can only consciously learn the tools to cultivate the confidence in another way. Only you can heal you.

Loved it and shared with others.......2007-01-21

I think that this book was great for me. God showed me that I was hurting because I didn't know my father, and it was time to take some steps in the right direction to work through issues. I never thought that my anger, insecurities and more were impacted because of a lack of a father image in my life. I'm not blaming my father, but knowing that it wasn't "just the way God created me" opened my eyes and allowed me to work with Him to correct the problem. I was so blessed I shared with another friend and she loved it too. I don't think we realize how much our parents impact our lives, our beliefs, and so much more about us.

Simple... .......2006-11-06

This book is simplistic. If you already know in your heart that God is your Father and that He is who you need to look to when you miss your earthly dad, then you already know the theme of this book. If you know you need to forgive your dad for his sins against you in order to heal, then you have no need of this book. A pamphlet size would have covered the topic just fine.

As a student of psychology, I was surprised at Monique's assumptions. One shocking example is on page 38 when she asks the reader to pray for God to erase the memories of your past. She says, "...erasing a memory is easy stuff for God." I agree that God can do ANYTHING but He won't always erase a memory. He can give us peace and strength to forgive but those painful memories our dad's have given us all too often continue to linger despite those honest prayers.

In another example of faulty assumptions, she suggests that some dad's are silently sorry for their sins and need forgiveness. Through forgiveness, reconciliation can be made and a new relationship can begin. This may be true in some cases but she doesn't present the flipside. What if your dad ISN'T sorry? What if that relationship, despite MY forgiving, is never going to be restored the way I wish it could be? What if we have to deal with a painful, life long rejection if we confront our fathers about the pain? This is just one instance of many where Monique seems to have neglected looking at some painful realities. Even though I wish there was, there is no easy formula. I am surprised that someone with a degree in Biblical counseling can be this naive.

Overall, the book is very basic and overspiritualizes the issue. Like I mentioned earlier, if you already know God is your Healer and your Helper, you've already mastered the content of this book.

Longing for MY MONEY BACK !.......2006-07-03

I was expecting at least a little meat, and all that I got was some bones.
If you are Fundamentalist Christian, then you will be singing the praises! This is YOUR book!
If you are looking for intellectual discourse on the topic, forget it. This book will be a total waste of your time! This one does not deserve even a star.
I did learn a valuable lesson by ordering this book...READ the Amazon reviews BEFORE you buy!
I'm not Longing for Daddy, I'm longing for my MONEY BACK !

Book Description

"Edward Hopper: Summer at the Seashore" takes readers on a fascinating trip to the New England coast. Children and adults alike will enjoy Hopper's masterful paintings of sailboats, lighthouses, seascapes and white clapboard houses.

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