Plantarum Cryptogamicarum Britanniae

Book Description

INTRODUCTION

Some three thousand years ago, nomadic tribes began to settle deep in the Mesoamerican rainforests, establishing the foundations of the most sophisticated ancient civilization on the American continent. The land they chose, which we know today as the Maya World, extends through southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and a sliver of El Salvador and Honduras. It's an astonishingly diverse environment, with the hot, scrub-forested plain of the Yucatán peninsula in the north blending gradually into the lowland jungle of the centre, and in the south a spectacular mountainous region, studded with volcanoes and crater lakes and draped with pine and cloudforests. While the southern coastline is pounded by the Pacific Ocean, gentler Caribbean waters lap the white-sand beaches and coral islands that fringe the region's eastern shores.

This is a land whose natural attractions would draw visitors anyway - and indeed the Caribbean coast of Mexico, and to a lesser extent the cayes of Belize and Honduras's Bay Islands, are big resort areas - but it's the chance to visit the monumental ruins of ancient Maya cities, some of them stranded in dense, tropical rainforest, that sets the region apart. Tikal and Palenque are among the most atmospheric sites, dominated by colossal temple pyramids and set in jungle that screeches with toucans, parakeets, and spider and howler monkeys. To the north, the less humid environs of the Yucatán are home to the equally magnificent architecture of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal; further south, the turbulent history of Copán in Honduras is recorded in some of the finest carved monuments and stelae in the Maya World. But these are just a few of the most impressive Maya ruins - scattered throughout the region are the remains of more than a thousand other settlements, for the most part completely unexcavated.

Although all the major cities had been mysteriously abandoned by 1200 AD, the region was never completely depopulated and, despite the depredations of the Spanish Conquest, descendants of the great astronomers, architects and calendar-keepers survive in the region today. Of approximately nine million indigenous Maya, Guatemala is home to over six million, with around two million in Mexico, and the rest in smaller communities in Belize and Honduras. For the vast majority of modern Maya, Spanish has always been a second language, and their nominally Catholic (but increasingly evangelical) faith is still tempered with traditional religious customs. Inimitable Maya textiles continue to be worn, especially in the highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas, and some isolated communities still observe the 260-day Tzolkin calendar of their ancestors. Having survived almost five hundred years of colonial oppression and political persecution, there are unmistakable signs of a cultural reawakening, as Maya throughout the region develop a renewed sense of pride in their unique identity.

This staggering ancient - and modern - cultural heritage is matched by the region's equally rich natural environment. Offshore, virtually the entire Caribbean coastline is protected by the second longest barrier reef in the world: diving or snorkelling in the warm waters here, amidst a kaleidoscopic world of tropical fish and coral, is an unforgettable experience. Though the smallest of the Maya nations, it's Belize that has the strongest tradition of state environmental protection, which has ensured the preservation of a landscape ranging from the granite peaks of the Maya Mountains, riddled with caves holding Maya artefacts, to the western rivers and jungle, best visited from the ecotourism base of San Ignacio. Throughout the region, however, the network of national parks and reserves is growing, offering protection to some spectacular wildlife, including jaguars and other cats, lumbering tapirs, monkeys and an incredible number of bird species.

Travelling around the Maya World is an adventure in itself. There's an excellent network of roads - of varying quality - almost constantly traversed by buses. This is how most people travel and, though not always comfortable, taking the bus is a quintessential Central American experience - you may find yourself sharing a seat with a Maya woman and her three kids, or even a chicken or two. The countless Caribbean islands of the Yucatán, Belize and Honduras are served by regular boats and ferries; while internal flights can save days of travel and won't necessarily break the bank.

Now that the civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala are over, the only ongoing conflict in the region is in the Chiapas highlands, where a Zapatista-led rebellion has been smouldering since 1994; this has little effect on travellers to the area, though. Safety is a real issue, however, and, though it's the usual pickpocketing and bag-snatching that most travellers need to worry about, where risks are more significant we've outlined them in the text.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing and sloppy.......2003-01-12

I spent a month in Central America, circling from Belize through Northern Guatemala into Chiapas back into South-Central Guatemala into Honduras back up to East Guatemala and into Belize again. Normally, I always travel with Lonely Planet guidebooks. However, I got this book instead of the one by Lonely Planet covering the same basic area because I had read negative reviews of the LP version here on Amazon. I won't make that mistake again -- the Rough Guide to the Maya World is a disappointment.

The Good:
The strongest point was the the cultural background, though counterintuitively, it is relegated to the back of the book as kind of an afterthought. Based on my past experiences with LP, I still believe that Lonely Planet is more comprehensive, though, so this is faint praise for the Rough Guide.

The Bad:
Maybe this happens with all guidebooks to volatile regions, but much of the info was woefully out of date. At least one of the five or so restaurants listed in every city I visted had gone out of business. Prices, especially for expeditions from Flores, had very nearly doubled in some cases.

On a related note, and much less forgivable, some places were in different locations than they were marked on the maps. In some cases, the text gave the right address, but the map was mismarked. In other cases, text was scattered across the maps in a way that you couldn't figure out which building it was referring to. LP crushes the Rough Guide both in the quality and quantity of maps -- several times I wandered into town with no map, something that LP will never do to you.

Some info which would have been interesting to know and very easy to list (population, for example, or detailed info about the climate and temperature, or info about local artwork and craftwork, or even descriptions of what the particular crafts and food that made a town famous) were absent.

Listed durations for Guatemalan buses were laughable. Take whatever the Rough Guide says a trip will last and add about 33%. Maybe even 50%. If they say that a trip will last five hours or more, expect it to take a full day. Belize and Mexico were generally more accurate.

The physical book itself was not very durable, and after taking generally good case of it for 3 weeks, pages started to fall out even though I had not bent the book or otherwise harshly handled it. This made me really appreciate LP's durable spines.

One very irritating trend in the book is that borders often have different and conflicting information listed for them, depending on which country chapter you are reading -- for example, the Guatemala chapter will describe the border as staffed by very corrupt officials and with 3 connecting buses every day into Mexico, while the Mexico chapter won't mention the border guards and will list 5 connecting buses into Mexico. It's as if the writers for each country never compared their notes, or went at different times, or the editors never proofread everything to have it all add up. In short, the border info is pretty sloppy.

Worst of all, border taxes (legitimate ones for boat and air departures rather than the shakedowns the books describes and which seldom actually happen) were out of date -- you have to pay a big chunk of change to leave Guatemala by plane or boat, for example, and Belize always gouges you for leaving, though not the same price for each means of transport. Check with online bulletin boards for up to date info.

Conclusion:
Like I said, the Rough Guide disappointed me. While probably only about 15% was wrong, I ended up spending considerable time and money because of those shortcomings. Even though the LP guide for the same area has been trashed by Amazon users, I would still advise getting that book, if only for the benefit of having a complete set of maps at your disposal. Also, in my experience, LP books are more coherent and readable. Sight unseen, I say go with LP instead.

Disappointing Coverage of Mayan Sites.......2000-09-21

It was time for our annual trip to foreign fields, so Imogen and I visited Merida in the Yucatan Peninsula in September 2000. We took two guidebooks with us -- the Rough Guide to the Mayan World and a slightly out of date Lonely Planet Guide to Mexico. Our intention was to visit several Mayan sites on the vacation, so we chose the Rough Guide expecting the coverage of the Mayan sites to be good. As it turned out, we found the Rough Guide to be particularly disappointing in the coverage of the Mayan sites, particularly when compared with the Lonely Planet guide. The Rough Guide reads as if it has been cobbled together from the different Rough Guides for the different countries that make up the Mayan region. We did not think there had been sufficient effort to build a focus on the Mayan world.

While out in Mexico, we went on two highly enjoyable trips to the two major Mayan sites in the state of Yucatan -- Chichen Itza and Uxmal. There are maps of both of these sites in both guidebooks, but the description and explanation in the text of the Lonely Planet guide surpasses that of the Rough Guide. However, where we felt the Rough Guide really disappointed was in the coverage of minor sites. We journeyed to Uxmal via the Ruta Puuc. This is a roundabout route that takes in four minor sites before reaching the grand finale of Uxmal. The Lonely Planet guide had at least a couple of paragraphs on each of these minor sites and occasionally a map. The Rough Guide had almost nothing for some of the sites. When we were traveling to the sites on a very smooth road, it amused us to read the description of the barely paved road we were actually using according to the Rough Guide. I suppose the Rough Guide made us feel like we were undertaking a far more difficult and romantic adventure.

On a brighter note, the Rough Guide did a better job of describing the town of Merida. We found Merida's bus service particularly confusing since there are at least five bus terminals that are well used. The Rough Guide gave a slightly clearer account of which terminals to use. One small point is to ignore all of the prices in either of the books. This accuracy is not the fault of either of the books but just the nature of the Mexican currency. Both books make it clear that the prices will be inaccurate, however it is still worth repeating. Just by way of an example, the Rough Guide quotes the entry price for Uxmal as 4 US dollars. We actually handed over 80 pesos each, or closer to 9 US dollars. This magnitude of difference was not uncommon. I suspect the Rough Guide was written when the Mexican peso had just dropped to a low against the dollar and prices in Mexico had not adjusted.

Viva Mexico! But take the Lonely Planet Guide!

Amazon.com

While most investors avoid Internet stocks like the plague, Wall Street Journal and CNBC correspondent Stephen Frank thinks the sector is worth a second look. In NetWorth, Frank sorts through the wreckage of the dot-com crash and offers a framework by which savvy investors can assess who the winners will be in the next few years. Frank's basic premise: the Internet is here to stay, and that every company will in some way soon be an Internet company. He begins the book with an insightful chapter on the merger of AOL and Time Warner, calling the new company "the paradigm of the new economy." Frank then examines all the categories of Internet stocks and the companies within, including consumer (Amazon.com, Yahoo!, E-Trade), business to business (Ariba, I2, DoubleClick), and infrastructure companies (Akamai, Oracle, VeriSign). In all, NetWorth is a useful overview of this downtrodden sector that should interest anyone with a long investing horizon and a contrarian point of view. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

Invest sucessfully in the companies that will prevail through thechnology booms and busts -- with indispensable advice from the world's most trusted business publication, The Wall Street Journal.

There's no doubt the Internet has changed the way we live, the way we work, and the way we invest in the new millennium. But while many investors made fortunes investing in technology companies while the Intenet stock bubble was inflating, countess others lost their shirts when the bubble finally popped.

Now, Stephen E. Frank -- a veteran of The Wall Street Journal and CNBC -- explains what we need to know about investing in Intenet and technology stocks in today's postbubble economy. In Networth, Frank lays out a straightforward framework for understanding how the Intenet works, now different business models stackup, and how to think about technology stacks as part of a broader investment portfolio. He weighs in on the potential risks and rewards of each Internet subsector, and profiles a slew of dot-com companies, from obvious candidates like Amazon.com to transformed titans of the old economy like United Parcel Service.

Download Description

As hundreds of thousands of investors stand to make unbelievable amounts of money on Internet-related stocks over the next ten years, thousands of others will lose more than they ever thought possible as a result. Frenzied bidding up of stock prices on dot-com companies is only serving to create a backlash among serious investors regarding anything Internet related -- either through fear or lack of understanding. Finally, though, a voice of reason can be heard -- Stephen E. Frank now offers clear explantions and solid investment advice, presenting the mindset that investors don't have to take a speculative flyer on some newly-public dot-com stock to have a stake in the spectacular growth that lies ahead as the Internet changes the way the world works.

Customer Reviews:

Good high-level information, but lacks depth and details.......2001-07-23

This books contains names that we have all become familiar with over the past several years. There were several references to chapter 7 and how to value these companies. It was really lame and not worth the wait.

If you want a general overview of what everyone means when they say "internet company" this would do the trick. This book won't help you at all in becoming more successful in investing. The information in this book was not anything new and could easily be picked up by reading any general publication.

Good Solid Information.......2001-07-13

This book gives a good overview of what internet companies are. It talks about what kinds of internet companies there are and tells of the risks and benefits in them. It teaches the reader all the basic components of an internet company and what everyone should know before investing in this sector

Net Worth gives good sound investment advice that the layman can understand and can also be applied to different business sectors.

Internet Stocks Have Crashed: Long Live the Internet!.......2001-04-27

Wall Street Journal and CNBC Internet correspondent Stephen E. Frank has written a thorough basic book about where the Internet has come, where it is now, and where it might go in the future . . . and what that means for investors. His view focuses on the pros and cons of the different business models that are being employed and how a thoughtful investor can pick stocks and mutual funds to benefit from the Internet as a phenomenon. The book's only serious flaw is that it doesn't quite link to what you have to expect will happen with the Internet for such investments to be a better idea than simply owning index funds.

As to Internet stocks, "the days of easy money are over." On the other hand, "the time to get involved [with Internet stocks] may finally have arrived." The book "will help you know what to look for."

Where many Internet book authors comment that you should invest in the Internet, Mr. Frank has a different point, "every company will be, to one degree or another, an Internet company." He feels that "for you as an investor, it's important to know what that means . . . ."

He makes three fundamental assertions: (1) "The Internet is for real . . . ." (2) "It isn't too late to become an Internet investor." (3) Investing in Internet stocks requires the same disciplines as any other stock investing ("do your homework, know what you're buying, invest for the long haul, and don't buy stocks that will keep you awake at night").

He is also "assuming you know the fundamentals of investing."

Unlike most books that encourage you to beat the averages, this one often mentions and makes the case for buying the broad indexes through mutual funds. He correctly points out that the indexes are adding Internet stocks to them, and that companies in the averages are becoming Internet companies. So investing in the Internet is almost unavoidable for most.

This is the first in a series of books looking at the Internet after the bust. Based on some of the examples, I would guess that this was completed back in 2000 before the awful fall in stock prices during the first three months of 2001.

Mr. Frank uses AOL Time Warner as an example of how there is a convergence occurring between Internet and non-Internet companies. Amazon.com has physical warehouses, and e-Bay owns an auction house. Car companies now buy their parts through an on-line auction.

The book looks at business to consumer, business to business, Internet infrastructure providers, proxies for the Internet (like UPS), incubators, mutual funds, and most importantly . . . valuation.

Each chapter is filled with mini-profiles of some of the more successful companies in that particular space. Most people will find some examples to be new to them, especially outside of business to consumer.

Pay particular attention to the valuation section. It will help you understand when high multiples may be warranted and when they are not. Using this methodology, you will realize that many Internet stocks are very overpriced even now in light of the slower growth expected.

I found many of the forecasts quoted in here to be ludicrously optimistic. At a time when most people will not even use a credit card on-line, the book talks about very large percentages of basic consumer goods being sold on the Internet by 2004. I don't think so.

I couldn't make a case for buying stocks that are mostly on the Internet from reading this book. So I think the book is irrelevant to almost all investors in the current market.

The discussion of the risk you have to take to match or exceed the market averages was inadequate here. In the early days of most new technologies, over 95 percent of the public companies become ultimately worthless. That process still has a long way to go on the Internet. I suspect the arguments here will make more sense in 2-5 years when the future prospects are clearer.

Mr. Frank's arguments were also light on considering the risks of future technologies. For example, in a time when bandwidth is about to become virtually unlimited, the Cisco router technology becomes not very valuable (as George Gilder and others have pointed out). Many of the hardware and software suppliers described here are riding outmoded or soon-to-be outmoded technologies.

Also, the Internet business models are very primitive and usually ineffective. I suspect that we have not yet seen the first good one. So take much of the work in here on business models with a large grain of salt.

Still, I think Mr. Frank did a much more creditable job on this subject than any other book I have read about Internet stock investing. Until something better comes along, this book will be the gold standard on this subject.

I do believe that very few people should be buying Internet stocks, except as part of owning mutual funds invested in braod stock indexes such as the Standard and Poor's 500.

To put this book in perspective, imagine that you were reading about buying the companies that were participating in the radio boom in the 1920s. How well would you have fared if you had taken this approach then? I haven't figured it out, but you probably would still be losing money. After all, something else better will supercede the Internet someday in the same way that television dominates radio.

Measure your downside risk first, then see whether or not there could be enough potential to repay you for taking that risk.

Average customer rating:
The Design Cost Management Systems: Text and Cases
Robin Cooper
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NKIQSU

Average customer rating:
The Design of Cost Management Systems: Text, Cases, and Readings (Robert S. Kaplan Series in Management Accounting)
Robin Cooper , and Robert S. Kaplan
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0132041812

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Design of Cost Management Systems : The Text, Cases & Readings (Robert S. Kaplan Series in Management Accounting Ser.)
Robin Cooper
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIMTOI

Average customer rating:

Great stuff

cost management systemes

The Design of Cost Management Systems: Text and Cases
Robin Cooper , and Robert S. Kaplan
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Accounting | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Strategic Cost Management: The New Tool for Competitive Advantage

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Marketing Planning & Strategy

Analysis for Marketing Planning

ASIN: 0130559202

Customer Reviews:

Great stuff.......2006-07-12

This book is a great source of valuable ideas to implement ABC systems. The theoretical parts are very light but still comprehensive and well illustrated. But the real interest of this book lies in the numerous case studies presented at the end of each chapter. A must for cost accountants.

cost management systemes.......1999-07-21

activity based costing target coting life cycle costing JÝT costin

The Design of Cost Management Systems: Text, Cases, and Readings

Average customer rating:

The Design of Cost Management Systems: Text, Cases, and Readings
Robin Cooper
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIR100

Customer Reviews:

It was o.k. A good introduction and history of the breed.......1999-04-01

The introduction pages, particularly the history of the breed were interesting and insightful. The grooming pages left some to be desired as they concentrate more on clipping the dog, rather than hand stripping. Only by hand stripping can the Lakeland retain the benefits of the coat it was intended to have. The last half of the book was fluff, general dog information, which is common to pet-store type books. Were the book more breed specific throughout it would be more useful to the serious Lakeland fancier.

Wonderful Book.......1997-04-15

This book convinced me to get Maddie the Mad Dog. Maddie is the BEST dog I have ever owned or knew. I recommend this book strongly if anyone is thinking about getting a Lakeland Terrier. The best dog breed on the earth.

Lakeland Terrier (Comprehensive Owner's Guide) (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)

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Lakeland Terrier (Comprehensive Owner's Guide) (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)
Patricia Peters
Manufacturer: Kennel Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1593783175

Product Description

Gay and fearless, the Lakeland Terrier, named for the Lake District in Britain, stands out among that nations many excellent long-legged terriers. Quite small by comparison to its quarry-seeking brethren, the Lakeland Terrier possesses every ounce of confidence, boldness and bravery of the others, and remains unspoiled by the popularity that has followed these other chart-toppers. Still tingling with its natural earthdog instincts, the Lakey, as hes affectionately known, is an excellent working dog but offers numerous delights as a companion as well. Author Patricia Peters, the breeder of the famed Kilfel Lakelands, describes the breed as curious and mischievous, and less aggress than most other terriers. These dogs are free-thinking little devils, whose cunning ways qualify them as con artists, both entertaining and frustrating for the devoted owner. For the right family, the Lakeland Terrier will be the only dog to fit the bill. This new Special Limited Edition, full illustrated with color photographs, provides an excellent introduction to the breed, including a detailed discussion of the breeds origins in the UK and its development in the US, the breeds characteristics and special traits, the breed standard and more. The author offers her expert advice on matters of puppy selection, rearing and training, home safety, socialization, house-training, feeding and groomingin fact, every area about which Lakey owners are concerned. A health chapter by world-famous veterinarian and author Dr. Lowell Ackerman presents excellent up-to-date information about vaccinations, parasite control, spaying/neutering and much more.

How to Raise and Train a Lakeland Terrier

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How to Raise and Train a Lakeland Terrier

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VZP9ZK

Product Description

Rare Vintage Book with wonderful color portrait of Lakeland Terrier drawn by famous dog artist E. H. hart on book cover

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The Lakeland Terrier
Pat Rock
Manufacturer: Pat Rock
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007188L0

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Lakeland Terrier
Sean Frain
Manufacturer: Swan Hill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1846890012
Release Date: 2007-11-20

Product Description

From its beginnings hunting predators of livestock in the British countryside, the Lakeland terrier developed in the Lake District of England. The author argues that although it is now a distinct show variety, the dog should retain its traditional working skills. Notable dogs and breeders, such as the legendary Bill Irving, are discussed.

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Invaluable resource for any lakeland breeder.

Lakeland Terrier Champions, 1934-1990

Manufacturer: Camino E E & Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 155893023X

Customer Reviews:

Invaluable resource for any lakeland breeder........1999-02-05

Full of lakeland pedigrees and breeder biographys, grooming and training tips, breed standards and specialty show results. Numerous photos of sires and dams - some of the magnificent forebearers of the modern lakeland terrier.

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Lakeland Terrier Champions, 1991-2001
Jan Linzy
Manufacturer: Camino E E & Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1558931007

Our friends the Lakeland and border terriers (Our friend the dog series)

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Our friends the Lakeland and border terriers (Our friend the dog series)
Rowland Johns
Manufacturer: Methuen & Co., Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00088DDGC

The terriers : Welsh wire and lakeland: Breed standards, history, care, and grooming

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The terriers : Welsh wire and lakeland: Breed standards, history, care, and grooming
Dorothy Walin
Manufacturer: Oster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Now for the bad news

Great Book on an uneasy subject for collectors

This book can save you money

More about stamps

stamps

Top Dollar Paid: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Stamps
Stephen R. Datz
Manufacturer: General Philatelic Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Stamps | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Official Stamp Collector's Bible

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Postage Stamps 2006, Edition #28 (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps)

The World Encyclopedia of Stamps and Stamp Collecting: The Ultimate Illustrated Reference to Over 3000 of the World's Best Stamps, and a Professional Guide ... and Perfecting a Spectacular Collection

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to US Postage Stamps 2007, 29th Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps)

Stamp Collecting for Dummies

ASIN: 0882190229

Customer Reviews:

Now for the bad news.......2005-12-20

I recently inherited my father in law's stamp collection. My wife wants to sell it, to raise some much-needed money. I bought a current Scott catalogue and determined that one of the U.S. plate block albums is "worth" $350. My wife was told by a stamp dealer that he will only pay about 10% of catalogue value. That would make the album worth $35.

I read Top Dollar Paid. It says that only certain stamps are good investments. Those are the stamps that were already rare and highly priced collectibles when they were first purchased.

In other words, if you go into a stamp dealer and buy a 3 cent stamp for $500 because it is rare, that is exactly the kind of stamp that is a great investment. It is the type of stamp you can leave to your children or grandchildren, and its value will rise as the years and decades go by.

But if, when your father or grandfather was a child in the 1930s or 1940s, or (God forbid) in the 1950s or 60s, he went into the post office and bought mint stamps, plate blocks, or sheets, and had a beautiful and complete collection, all of those old and pretty stamps are worthless. If all you want is the cash for them, use them for postage. They aren't worth a damn thing. If you bought a hot dog in 1963 you wouldn't expect to sell it for $50 today would you?

There are interesting anecdotes in this book. There's the Hungarian boy who hoped to sell Hungarian stamps in the U.S. at a profit. (No way!) There's the author's meeting with Gerald Ford and his stamp collection. There are stories of stamp collection owners who try all the tricks that you yourself would have thought to try, and just where those tricks got them.

I'm glad I read the book. Now I think I'll just add some of my father in law's stamps to my own collection. After reading this book, I would guess that the collection I inherited might sell for $100. Big deal.

The moral of the story is .... your stamps aren't worth a thing. This is the worst investment there is. Put your money under your pillow and you'll be better off.

Before reading this book, I figured that stamp dealers will generally low-ball you and buy your valuable collection for peanuts unless you know the value of it yourself. After reading this book I understand that stamp dealers have incentive to tell you what your collection is really worth to them, and make a fair offer, but it's going to be a small fraction of what you expect, because stamps are a God-awful investment.

Great Book on an uneasy subject for collectors.......2005-09-19

This book does two things well:

1) How Stamp dealers go about determing how much a collection is worth.

2) Keeps you entertained by showing the human qualities of both the dealers and the sellers. The latter are usually the heirs of the collector. They are almost always non-collectors and have some very interesting misconceptions.

It is funny and sad to see the reviews complaining they wanted the book to tell them how much their collection is worth. Mr. Dalz repeatedly tells you exactly how much a collection is worth. It's worth what the dealer can pay for it. You need an appraisal by someone who knows both stamps and the market.

This book can save you money.......2001-06-01

I'm not planning to sell my stamps - but this book has saved me money by giving me some insight into what kind of stamps will never be worth the time or money spent on them! I also love Datz's vignettes of life in the stamp trade!

More about stamps.......2000-08-05

Funny anecdotes, but where is the beef? Undoubtedly this writer is an authority on stamps, but very little of that knowledge emerges in the book. The title therefore is misleading.

stamps.......2000-05-27

I would like you to put a description of what these books really tell. I am looking for a book that tells the value of the stamps I have.

Book Description

You swore you'd never . . . swap green beans for jelly beans, skip nap time, or use TV as your babysitter. Yeah, right. If you're like most moms, you're not the paragon of "sound" parenting advice you thought you'd be. In The Kid Turned Out Fine, you'll find you're not alone. In this funny, touching collection of true-life stories, you'll find moms just like you revealing all those things they regret doing-only to realize that their kids turned out fine anyway.
A little mom-to-mom confession is good for the soul. So join moms everywhere and fess up to messing up every now and then-without disastrous results! The Kid Turned Out Fine is group parenting, stress management, and reality parenting boot camp all rolled into one!

Customer Reviews:

It's about time!.......2006-11-18

Finally, a book for real parents. Sometimes the tooth fairy forgets, chocolate cake for breakfast? Sure! No longer do parents have to do penance for not following Dr. Spock word for word. We all parent differently and how refreshing to read about the mishaps of others. Thanks!

Very, very funny.......2006-11-04

This book is not your run-of-the mill parenting book. It's just a fun book to read where other Moms tell their less-than-perfect parenting moments. You will realize that you are not alone and you are not the only one who messes up! It also makes you feel less-guilty when you know that many of these moms are speaking from when their kids were small. Their kids are now grown and "turned out fine" in spite of the Mom's mistakes. I especially enjoyed the frog-cooking story. I laughed so hard. This book will have you giggling while you hide from your kids in the bathroom. :)

Julie

Book Description

American artist Robert Gwathmey (1903-1988) was a leading member of the Social Realist movement that flourished from the 1930s through the 1950s. Like his fellow Social Realists, Gwathmey sought to use his art to expose privilege and pretense, demand social justice, and call for major changes in the prevailing socioeconomic system.

Gwathmey was an eighth-generation Virginian of Welsh heritage, and throughout his life his main artistic themes were race relations and his native South. He is perhaps best remembered as the first white American painter to depict African Americans in an unromanticized, respectful manner. Using a unique style that combined a deliberate two-dimensional flatness with deep and vivid colors, Gwathmey illuminated the inherent dignity of the tenant farmers and sharecroppers who were his subjects.

As a lifelong activist against injustice, Gwathmey was kept under surveillance by the FBI for nearly thirty years. Using Gwathmey's FBI file, along with numerous interviews and archival records, Michael Kammen crafts a compelling portrait of an engaging American painter in the midst of dramatic social and political change.

Customer Reviews:

Bob & Rosalie.......2006-09-02

If you type in Robert Gwathmey on Google ,you will find the first chapter of Kammen's book.You will also find a review by Robert Beardsley of Harvard.Gwathmey led an exemplary life dedicated to social justice.He was one of the few whites to paint blacks. Kathleen Blackshear had painted blacks in the 30's & 40's also,but thereafter painted in abstract styles. Gwathmey was dedicated to his subject and was lauded for it.Rosalie contributed to Bob's career in many ways: 1. she got money from her parents so that they could get married and Bob could concentrate on fine art. 2. she joined Gwathmey in his interest in racial and economic justice, her photos of the the depression era were recognized.3. she worked as a textile designer to help support the family (some of these patterns can be seen on costumes of some of the street scenes he did)Kammen talks mostly about Gwathmey's life and loves.The work is well illustrated but, is not analyzed and evaluated in any depth.But, then there are more readers for the era that Gwathmey is noted for rather than the group of painters he was allied with.I admire social realism,socially conscious work for the artist's conviction . His steadfast adherence to a debunct area of figurative art.He avoided the fashions so prevelant in New York City.He stuck to his guns.His alliances with Jacob Lawrence and Philip Evergood are worthy of further study. He kept on painting into old age and died of Parkinson's disease. Rosalie was to contact Lymes disease in the 80's and would survive Bob by a few years.For artists you will learn the advantage of a partner who shares your politics and interests. The importance allies in art in following a direction that is not paramount in the art world.

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