Fire in the Hole: A Mortarman in Vietnam

Average customer rating:

Back in time

a necessary, heartfelt reality check lest we forget.........

Powerful stuff

What is most personal is most universal

Review: Fire in the Hole

Fire in the Hole: A Mortarman in Vietnam
J. Michael Orange
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Military | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595160034

Book Description

How does a young man coming of age in the 1960s go from seminarian to soldier? What can scare an average kid from Cleveland into killing for his country? The answer: Vietnam–that soul-sucking war that still invades dreams. After surviving a year of combat and the loss of fellow Marines, Orange came home in 1970 to another battlefield–Kent State University, where the Ohio National Guard gunned down his classmates. Reeling and confused, he went from soldier to seaman on a Great Lakes ore carrier. Then he became a hippie who fought against the same war he once supported, the same war that stole his youth and innocence. Orange reflects on his journey of tumult and tears from a vantage point of age and wisdom. This is a survivor’s tale, told with honesty and compassion for those who fought on both sides of a conflict that sliced through the lives of so many.

Customer Reviews:

Back in time.......2001-08-18

J. Michael Orange takes us back in time. It is a trip meticulously detailed, yet filled with raw emotion and wonder.

Orange brought me back to Madison, Wisconsin, 1969, my sophomore year in college. I had just gotten notice of my 1A Draft Status. And so for a time I faced what Michael Orange faced. The difference, thanks to the lottery and a high draft number, was that I did not have to choose as Orange did.

But this 19-year old kid made a pre-emptive choice by volunteering for the Marines and a stint in the war. It was behavior that ran in the family. We witness the young mortarman's strange mixture of repulsion and exhilaration as he discovers the terrors of war. He is at once detached and trapped in wonder. At times, you feel like a John Malkovich junkie, taken into a mind fighting wars on many fronts at once. War with his girl's parents and with his own. War with his priest. And, most of all, war with himself. Joining the Vietnam War at its peak was Orange's greatest battlefield manuever, but he got more than he bargained for.

Just staying alive is the real mission and Orange found this stark fact didn't change when he came home. What struck me most was an encounter in a junior high class Michael spoke to 15 years after returning home. What happens in that classroom tells a lasting story of a war those who lived it can never seem to forget. And, thanks to Michael Orange, we all can begin to understand why.

J. Michael Orange has made a work of stunning honesty. This book is well worth the read.

a necessary, heartfelt reality check lest we forget................2001-06-27

A lot continues to be written about the pros and cons of America;s most confusing overseas conflict. As Myra McPhearson pointed out in her seminal `Long Time Passing', none of us were untouched. Particularly for those of us who enetered our adulthood during those times this is painfully true. Mike Orange's book touched me to the core and helped me peel away another layer of pain from that time. Courage to `tell it like it was' with no varnish, an individual's soul searching viewpoint and the honesty of a personal spiritual quest is rare in literature about such experiences. Mike spares no one, especially himself, yet levies no charges. His conclusions are about his own life and as the reader, I'm allowed to bring the insights to my own moral cases. For those of us who are the `aging warriors' from that time, Mike has shared a gift from a soldier's heart. I'm grateful to him for his honesty, his courage and for the insight he lends to partiotism. I was fortunate to have him sign my copy of his book at a reading. He wrote simply, `Thank you for your service to our country'. That was the first time I have heard that since I came home from the Army in 1969.

Powerful stuff.......2001-04-26

Within the realm of Vietnam memoirs, Michael Orange's book really stands out. It's the tale of a young man who at one moment is entertaining the priesthood, and the next he's in Vietnam. The point of view is what makes this book so special. It's the perspective of the little man who finds himself the fodder in a battle of giants, in a war that has nothing to do with him. Orange brings to this a thoughtfulness and sensitivity. His is not so much the voice of rage, but the voice of the deeply screwed, trying to figure out why this all came about. Best of all, it's intensely personal. Few books on Vietnam -- or any other war, for that matter -- offer such a clear and vivid portrait of what it was like to be reluctantly pulled from America and forced to shed blood on a foreign shore. It's just plain powerful.

What is most personal is most universal.......2001-04-25

This is a compelling memoir. Orange shares deeply personal experiences at war in Vietnam, at Kent State, and at home as a veteran, friend, and father. In the process, we come to see the familiar in his often painful journey. Orange's shift from deeply Catholic and patriotic beliefs to disillusionment and ultimately joy and faith in life reflects the experiences many of us went through (or still struggle with), in one way or another. I think this book will appeal to vets, their friends, spouses and children, who will learn much about themselves and the dramatic changes in American culture wrought during the 60s and 70s--as they relive one man's experiences, they'll view their own in a new light. A good read for students of American culture. The chapters move quickly, each one as a standalone story, building to a satisfying conclusion that enriches our appreciation of the impact of Viet Nam on our lives.

Review: Fire in the Hole.......2001-04-10

My brother has finally made his peace, his absolution about a time in his life where his horrid memories remained locked tighter than a mummy's tomb. The tomb has been opened as Orange takes readers from Marine Boot Camp to the jungles of VietNam on a journey so explicitly unravelled you'd think you were with him every anxiouss step of the way.

Orange's account is vidid, clear and noncondescending--a profile of a young man experiencing his rights of passage through a hellacioius war that nobody wanted to be in and everybody wanted to be out of.

From passing the poop at Parris Island, South Carolina to passing the mortars at Que Son Mountain, Orange shares his tears and fears, love and losts and whole lot in between his journey that started as a middle class wanna-be priest from the suburbs to a mortar man in Nam.

It's a cover-to-cover, one-sit read----and that's not because he's my borther. He did a damn good job!

Dennis E. Orange, Brother, Denny at Kent State University, BA, Journalism, 1972

Amazon.com

Here's the follow-up to The Zone and Mastering the Zone. Author Barry Sears, Ph.D., has formulated a way for readers to follow his diet plan (30 percent fat, 40 percent each carbohydrates and protein) by breaking down foods into measurable units, à la Weight Watchers. It's designed to make eating on the run--even if you're stopping at McDonald's--a Zone-friendly experience. But it's not exactly a piece of cake.

Anyone who hated word problems in math class may be slightly baffled by the necessary calculations for foods not listed in the charts. For example, if you want to convert a serving of cereal into Zone blocks, you need to look at the label and subtract the grams of fiber from the total grams of carbohydrate; this gives the total of insulin-promoting carbohydrate. Divide this result by 10. (Although to be accurate, it should be divided by 9, as Sears has assigned 9 grams to each carbohydrate block; he says you may as well round up to 10, since that makes the math easier.) And there you get your Zone block. As long as your total blocks stay within the 40-30-30 ratio, you're in the Zone.

Even more confusing are the measurements for some of the "pre-calculated" foods in the charts. For example, 80 fluid ounces of Rice Dream Rice milk equals 39 carbohydrate blocks and 8 fat blocks. While it's unlikely anyone would guzzle down 10 servings at once, it is likely they'd have a hard time finding this product in the listings in the first place, as it's listed under "milk, nondairy," not "rice milk." Many of the other listings are equally frustrating. To get one carbohydrate block of Schweppes ginger ale, you need to drink 3.3 fluid ounces. If you're working with a 12-ounce can, you can do some rounding, but if you have a liter-sized bottle at home, you're going to need a good eye to get that third of an ounce in a measuring cup. It's also hard to believe someone would eat eight-tenths of a slice of Pepperidge Farm bread to get one carbohydrate block, or six-tenths of a teaspoon of Bernstein's Caesar salad dressing to get one fat block. Dieting shouldn't be this difficult.

Book Description

Over two million people worldwide are already experiencing the health and performance benefits of the Zone diet. Based on the hormonal consequences of food rather than caloric content, the Zone treats food like a powerful drug. Properly administered, this drug allows you to maintain peak mental alertness throughout the day, increase your energy, and reduce the likelihood of chronic disease栬l while losing body fat.

Now, in this essential new Zone reference guide, Barry Sears, provides you with the Zone resources and Food Block information you need to make every meal you eat a Zone meal, including:

How to use and adjust Zone Food to fit your own biochemistry
Zone Food Blocks for every ingredient, including vegetarian and nondairy sources of protein
Zone Food Blocks for fast food and prepackaged supermarket meals
Rules for modifying prepared foods to make them Zone–perfect
The Ten Zone Commandments for staying in the Zone

Think better, perform better, look better, and live better榥t into the Zone.

Customer Reviews:

ZONE FOOD BLOCKS.......2006-08-28

Good information.
Many fresh fruits and vegetables are not listed. Mostly canned, frozen, and processed foods are listed.
The organization within the main categories is difficult to navigate. Rather than listing "fruits" within the Carbohydrate category and putting all fruits under that heading, they are listed alphabetically within the category and mixed in with everyting else.

It's not as complicated as Sears wants you to believe.......2006-08-15

Sears wants you to think he has come up with a complicated system which he calls The Zone.

In reality, all you need is to eat naturally, like our ancestors did thousands of years ago. Eat greens, vegetables, berries, fruit, mushrooms, nuts. Eat lean meat (our ancestors hunted for healthy, lean animals). Eat egg whites, but avoid yolks. Most of the modern contaminants stick to fat molecules, and yolks are mostly fat. Plus it's the wrong type of fat, as chickens are not fed properly. Eat wild fish (but not too often; don't forget about pollutants).

That's it. Forget grains (and everything made from them). Forget potatoes and hard beans, soda and juices. Forget vegetable oils. All that junk is completely unnatural for humans to eat; our ancestors couldn't imagine that was edible. And that's why we have diseases that they didn't have.

Forget milk. Milk is only good for babies under 3 years old. Studies show that milk (and even yogurt) causes hyperinsulinemia (insulin "spikes" that lead to diabetes etc.) in adults.

Yes, his advice to take fish oil is great. Farm-raised animals are fed with junk food; consequently, they lack certain fatty acids that are vital for our health. Fish oil is a convenient way of restoring the balance. But Sears' fish oil is not the purest and cheapest on the market.

I'm a physiologist, and I've helped a number of people to change their eating habits. Those people have gotten rid of many problems, like obesity, allergies, asthma, arthritis, and excessive fatigue. And they don't complain that the food is not delicious enough. They learned to use their imagination a little bit and combine various healthy foods to create their nice and simple "recipes", and realized they enjoy their food even more than before.

A little complicated - but a handy reference.......2006-02-09

This is a very nice book to have as a reference if you're on the Zone diet. It has a very comprehensive and detailed list of frozen dinners, broken down into blocks.

The reason I'm giving it three stars, though, is the fact that the book is not very user-friendly. It's VERY bulky, so I have to type grocery lists on the computer of what I can from the book when I go shopping. I also wish the fast foods section was more of a "This is what you can, and can't eat" reference. It tells you how many blocks each food is, but when you're at Wendy's, chances are, you won't have the book handy.

A helpful tip to remember is: If you're going to buy this book, highlight what you think you can eat and then write it down and keep in in your wallet or purse for the store or when you're out to eat. Also write down how many blocks each meal is so that you'll know if you need to compensate for a fat or carb during the meal. Then you have a great reference at home with everything you need, and a travel-sized version!

An excellent tool to stay in the Zone........2003-10-22

This book is a very helpful and easy-to-use guide that contains over 12,000 food entries converted into Zone Food Blocks.
Its introduction includes a synopsis of the Zone program and a few important facts about the program, all of which had been previously presented separately in other Zone books. Most importantly, the introduction explains how Dr. Sears modified food block protein, carbohydrate and fat contents from his previous books to reflect the real content in each serving, and to make it compatible with the results we get when we calculate blocks from food labels. (This modification doesn't affect the program or your meals as long as use in each meal or snack preparation either this book or the little food guide on the back of other books, all of whose items are included on Zone Food Blocks. You should not mix information from both.)
The main content of the book is divided into the common Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fat categories, and as a bonus includes two more sections: Fast Foods and Prepared Meals. Each food in each of the categories states the item's name (organized alphabetically for quick checkups), style, brand, serving size and protein, carbohydrate and fat block content. Tricky items are also cross-referenced; for example, oats appears under both 'cereal' and 'oats'. And the book has a very sturdy hardcover binding to make it resistant to the daily tear and wear that anyone on the Zone program will be likely to submit it too.
There are only two important down sides to this book, and hence I only give it four stars. First, it doesn't separate food in favorable and unfavorable groups and second, it's a bit pricey.
Buy this book if you don't have access to the Internet, only use your computer sparingly, or want to (like me) have all this information in an accessible, permanent, printed form. All the information it contains can be found in the Food Block databases of the www.drsears.com and www.zoneprefect.com websites.

Helpful tool--but wish it were smaller.......2002-09-08

After reading Dr. Sears' other two books, I was glad to come across this reference guide for staying in The Zone. I admit some of the portion sizes are a bit goofy, but why not invest in a ... digital kitchen scale if you're serious about conquering The Zone? I like being precise with my food blocks and enjoy going thru this book, looking for specific foods and adding them to my self-created food block quick list that I keep up on my refrigerator. It's a little bit of obsessive work, but the end results are far worth it.
My only complaint is the size--I wish this book was published in a size compact enough to fit in a purse or briefcase.
Other than that, if you're serious about The Zone and have read Dr. Sears' other books, it's easy enough to figure out what are favorable and non-favorable carbs as so many people mentioned in other reviews. And when in doubt--stick with (most) fruits and veggies and you'll be fine.

Zone Food Blocks: The Quick and Easy, Mix & Match Counter for Staying in the Zone

Average customer rating:

Zone Food Blocks: The Quick and Easy, Mix & Match Counter for Staying in the Zone
Barry Sears
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NXYYO2

Average customer rating:

An easy-to-use resource packed with 300 authentic Italian recipes

The Everything Italian Cookbook: 300 Authentic Recipes to Help You Cook Up a Feast! (Everything: Cooking)
Dawn Altomari
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Everything Thai Cookbook: From Pad Thai to Lemongrass Chicken Skewers--300 Tasty, Tempting Thai Dishes to You Can Make at Home (Everything Series)

The Everything Soup Cookbook (Everything Series)

ASIN: 1593374208

Book Description

It's no wonder Italian food is one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in America—after all, who can resist hearty soups made with the freshest vegetables and herbs, tender meats packed with the best spices, and thick sauces paired with pastas and raviolis? Certainly not you!
Teeming with 300 of the most authentic recipes you'll ever find, The Everything(r) Italian Cookbook is the ultimate introduction to Italian cooking. You'll prepare everything from fresh salads and delicious seafood combinations to tasty flatbreads and delectable desserts, including:

Clam-Stuffed Portobellos

Apple and Pork Sausage

Orange-Poached Salmon with Prosciutto

Classic Chicken Parmesan

Roasted Potato and Garlic Gnocchi
Complete with helpful cooking tips, The Everything(r) Italian Cookbook brings the unmistakable taste of Italy right to your own kitchen!

Customer Reviews:

An easy-to-use resource packed with 300 authentic Italian recipes.......2005-12-06

The Everything Italian Cookbook is an easy-to-use resource packed with 300 authentic Italian recipes, from Antipasto Salad, to Lobster Risotto, to Roasted Red Peppers, to Almond Loaf, and a great deal more. An introduction offers a brief overview as well as a handful of tips and tricks for flavorful classic Italian cooking, and the instructions are clear and straightforward. Most recipes have ingredient lists with portions designed to serve 10 people, making The Everything Italian Cookbook particularly ideal for planning large family meals with leftovers or dishes for party gatherings.

Average customer rating:
Making Heirloom Toys
Jim Makowicki
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Toymaking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Wood Toys | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Great All-American Wooden Toybook (Reader's Digest Woodworking)

Tremendous Toy Trucks: With Step-by-Step Instructions and Plans for Building 12 Trucks

Marvelous Transforming Toys: With complete instructions and plans

Making Toys That Teach: With Step-by-Step Instructions and Plans

Making Wooden Toys: 12 Easy-to-Do Projects with Full-Size Templates

ASIN: 1561581127
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Average customer rating:

Great book

Great for gifts!

I'm cheap, and I still bought this book

Knitting for Baby: 30 Heirloom Projects with Compl...

Best Knitting Book!

Knitting for Baby: 30 Heirloom Projects with Complete How-to-Knit Instructions
Melanie Falick , and Kristin Nicholas
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Special Knits for Babies: 22 Gorgeous Handknits for Babies

Simply Baby

Baby Knits Book

Quick Baby Knits: Over 25 Quick and Easy Designs for 0-3 year olds

Baby Knits for Beginners

ASIN: 1584790873

Book Description

In Knitting for Babies, knitters at all levels will find everything they need to create handmade expressions of love for those special babies in their lives. Master hand-knitting designer Kristin Nicholas and best-selling author Melanie Falick offer 25 fresh, irresistible designs sized for infants to two-year-olds, complete with step-by-step instructions and illustrations. Each of the patterns is clearly written and thoroughly tested and is accompanied by beautiful hand-painted illustrations of the skills required. Engaging color photos by acclaimed baby photographer Ross Whitaker show the finished garments and accessories being worn and enjoyed by a charming cast of babies being their naturally delightful selves.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-05-12

Beautiful book. The instructions are clear and precise with some great photography. I have made several of the projects, my favorite so far being the "Stay on Booties". Quite adorable and an easy weekend project.

Great for gifts!.......2007-01-07

I've finally hit the point in my life when my friends and cousins are finally starting to have children, and they have never been dissapointed by the gifts they have recieved from this book.

The pattern instructions are easy to read and so far i have not found any printed errors, (those can drive you mad!) The best part about this book is that it has projects for the wide range of kniiters, newbies or old pros will be able to find projects that will fit into their experience range. As an even better bonus, there are quick and easy projects like simple baby blocks and teddy bears that are great for a late notice baby shower, or much longer projects for when you have more time to dedicate.

If you're finding yourself surrounded by lots of little ones, buy this book. The gifts you create from these patterns will be greatly cherished.

I'm cheap, and I still bought this book.......2006-11-10

I don't need any more books on knitting. Really. I prefer to hit the library to browse. After checking this out, reading through it and having it around the house for 3 weeks, I was reluctant to give it back. The patterns start simply and work their way up in complexity. They're not kitchy, the colors are soothing, and the patterns are timeless. A very solid book. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that if you are an experienced knitter you can probably find or make most of the patterns. But for a beginner/intermediate, this is a fantastic way to branch out. Written explanations are also excellent!

Knitting for Baby: 30 Heirloom Projects with Compl..........2006-11-04

Great book for the beginning to intermediate knitter. Cute patterns for quick gifts.

Best Knitting Book!.......2006-10-22

This is such a great book. It has taken me from an absolute beginner (Beginner Booties) right through to more advanced projects like the teddie, sweater and ball. I'm keen to try everything in the book! I highly recommend this book, especially for new knitters, all of the projects are stylish and simple with clear instructions.

The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing and Accessories

Average customer rating:

How Sweet It Is !
Lots of fun!
almost perfect
Wonderful!
Easy to follow, even for beginners

The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing and Accessories
Sandra Polley
Manufacturer: Potter Craft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Knitting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1400054370
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Book Description

Making an heirloom toy has never been more accessible than with the clear, easy-to-follow directions and illustrations featured in The Knitted Teddy Bear. Only basic knitting skills are needed to create the twelve adorable bears and myriad outfits found in this colorful collection. Whether you want to make classic humpbacked, long-armed collector's bears or miniature teddy bears for children, you'll be sure to find a pattern to inspire you to pick up your needles. Plus, there are lots of pattersn for charming sweaters, vests, dresses, overalls, scarves, and hats to adorn your bears. With all the options, you'll be creating good cheer as warm and cuddly as the teddy bear itself.

Customer Reviews:

How Sweet It Is !.......2007-07-21

I LOVE this book,,,(but then again I LOVE teddy bears~ )and have been making them for quite a few years out of mohair fabric, complete with true jointing and set in eyes.

I had to stop making them as I developed a problem with my wrist from the work so I was THRILLED to see this book offered!

It is SO much easier to stuff and put in eyes on a knit bear than the heavy mohairs fabrics~ Hints on making different styles of bears for smaller children are in the book, as well as patterns for very easy first time bears (that are basically squares ) shaped and stuffed.
You many options here.
I think the bears in this book are the true heirloom bears that I have created in the past and I will truly enjoy knitting them,,,I plan on making a few up for Christmas gifts this year~
( realistically,,,,there are only SO many scarves you can give as presents!)

After working with fabric bears for years ~I have some knowledge on how to do up an appropriate face , eyes etc,,,,, and that is what really makes up the faces and personalities of bears.

I see that the information offered in this book is truly heirloom style as I had learned in the years I had made bears.

I haven't knit one yet, so I cannot vouch for the patterns, but the patterns do not look difficult and are great for small take along knitting projects ~ I am looking forward to knitting a few up as soon as summer is over and gardening does not absorb so much of my free time.

While I thought I would be making them strictly for children,,,a very dear friend of mine was paging thru the book, and asked that I knit her a bear I am MOST happy to oblige! I think this book is for children of ALL ages!

Highly recommended!

Lots of fun!.......2007-06-05

I found the instructions pretty to work with. One thing that confused me at first in the instructions to finish each piece was cast off and I finally figured that that had to mean bind off. I have only made one little bear so far but I will be making one for each neice. The pictures are just heartwarming and you just want one of each bear to cuddle. This book is better for intermediate knitters than beginners although with a little help and direction, a beginner should not be afraid to try something new. The pieces work up pretty quickly and in my opinion, sewing the parts together is the mose tedious and time consuming. Especially if that is your least favorite part like it is mine.

almost perfect.......2007-04-04

The bears in this book are all adorable. I like that they are old fashioned looking, and have stitched faces. Be warned, though, that they are mostly small to mini bears, but easily sized up once you get the hang of it. The patterns are clear and most of the bears are quick makes, great little gifts for anyone. The only problem I have found so far is that the author does not give yarn requirements in yardage and does not supply any guage information. I understand that guage is not essential for these projects but it makes it very difficult to determine how much yarn to purchase, whether scrap yarn is sufficient, or how to substitute different weights and needles. Overall, though, I love this book and have a hard time picking which bear I want to make next.

Wonderful!.......2006-01-12

I am a beginning knitter and have had no problem making the patterns in the book. It has been a great way to practice new techniques on a small scale. And you should see the results! I have made five bears(Catherine, Thomas, Bertie and 2 Bruces)so far- and delighted all the children in my life this last Christmas. This book is truly delightful! I highly recommend it.

Easy to follow, even for beginners.......2006-01-06

I picked this book on a whim shortly after I started knitting. At the time, I knew only the knit and purl stitches. I learned very simple increases and decreases in order to do these bears and completed the "George" pattern fairly quickly and neatly. I'm currently working on another bear. I haven't found any typos yet, but I've only looked at 2 of the many patterns.

Editing 7 Feb 2006 to add: I've now a few of the bears in the book and do have a minor quibble - the author recommends using the same needle size for the clothes for each bear and I've found I've had to increase the needle size consistently or the clothes are too small.

Classic Teddy Bear Designs-Heirlooms to Make & Dress

Average customer rating:

VALUE FOR MONEY, BEGINNERS BOOK ON BEAR MAKING

Classic Teddy Bear Designs-Heirlooms to Make & Dress
Estelle Ansley-Worrell , and T. Worrell
Manufacturer: Hobby House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Teddy Bears | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Make Your Own Teddy Bears: Instructions and Full-Size Patterns for Jointed and Unjointed Bears and Their Clothing (Dover Needlework Series)

ASIN: 0875882838

Book Description

Projects for the beginner to the advanced bear making aficionado. Includes full-size project patterns for 24 bears (both jointed and non-jointed) ranging from 3-1/4-18" as well as complete wardrobes for each. Gives a concise history of teddy bears and their clothes. 22 color and 101 b/w photos. 150 pages.

Customer Reviews:

VALUE FOR MONEY, BEGINNERS BOOK ON BEAR MAKING.......2001-04-05

This would have to be the best value for money, beginners book on bear making that has been published in the last 10 or more years. The author has written this for the home sewer and doesn't assume that there is a teddy bear supplies shop just up the road where you can buy those expensive specialty items like joint sets, mohair fur, etc. Everything you need can be found at home in the sewing cupboard, at the local sewing shop or general store; eg: like buttons for joints, teddy jumpers/sweaters out of socks.

There are numerous bear patterns of various sizes; eg: dad, mum & baby; both jointed and unjointed, along with clothes patterns for just about all of them! Estelle also explains how to customise the clothes patterns for different bears and garments; eg making a shirt into a coat. I still use this book if I want to dress bears from other patterns. For example I compare the bear that I'm making with Estelles bear pattern pieces; ie leg to leg for trousers, body to body for dresses or jump suits, etc; and when I find one that is similar I use the clothes pattern that fits Estelle's bear as a base clothes pattern for the bear I am making.

The bear patterns themselves are excellent for beginners as all the bears a quite chubby (makes for great cuddling!), so are easier to sew, to turn inside out and to stuff - no narrow nooks and crannies to make for difficult stuffing. Some of the head patterns don't have a full head insert ie down to the nose, again making for easy sewing and more chance of a "nice muzzle/nose" for a beginner.

Virtually all the bears in the book are made from something other than mohair, either synthetic fur, felt, coat fabric, etc, so you get a pretty good idea of what your bear will ACTUALLY look like. Mohair is gorgeous, but is often deceptive as it is usually a woven fabric, which doesn't stretch, so if you use synthetic fur, felt or coat fabric, for example, you end up with a very different bear to the mohair one you are hoping to reproduce.

(I have a 1980ish edition of this book around which this review is written. PLEASE NOTE: there may be changes to the later edition SO the comments in the following paragraph may not be correct for this more recent edition.) Full colour books are the norm these days, so it is disappointing there aren't MORE of the gorgeous colour photos - although there are still plenty of black and white ones. There is quite alot of text, (including the usual "teddy bear" history), which comes under logical headings so it is generally easy to find info on subject. All the patterns are on pages of the book - great - no misplaced pattern inserts.

This is a value for money book - lots of bear patterns with clothes patterns and how to do's. You won't make a Stieff reproduction, but you will get lots of practise with the numerous options this book offers.

Average customer rating:
Creating Heirloom Teddy Bears, The Complete Pattern Book (Creating Heirloom Teddy Bears)
Linda Mullins
Manufacturer: Hobby House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Creating Heirloom Teddy Bears, Series 2 (Creating Heirloom Teddy Bears)

101 Bears to Make

Whimsical Teddy Bears: 15 Patterns & Design Techniques (Creative Crafters)

ASIN: 087588444X

Book Description

With this book you will be able to replicate 9 antique bears from the Mullins collection. You will love to craft your own bears with the distinctive and ageless features that these German, American, and English bears possess! Nine inspiring patterns with comprehensive instructions and close-up photographs of the original bears make this THE COMPLETE PATTERN BOOK. Create family heirlooms for years of enjoyment. 96 pages.

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Making Heirloom Toys

Manufacturer: TAUNTON PRESS (CHLL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GTGIUG

Book Description

A meticulously reported expose uncovers exactly how the drug industry boosts sales and bilks consumers in the most lucrative prescription drug market in the world.

As the pharmaceutical industry invests more and more in the development of new drugs, true breakthroughs are few and far between. Into the breach comes a panoply of product-line extensions and me-too drugs aimed at grabbing market share. The industry plows its high profits back into research, but invests an equal or greater sum in flogging its products in every imaginable venue. Research studies are designed to support marketing claims. Many doctors all over the country get their first information about new drugs from a salesperson. And, increasingly, prescription drugs are pitched to consumers on TV and the internet with images of hope, terror, or chic. Evidence-based practice guidelines, which endeavor to get the right medicines to those who will benefit most, can't be heard over the din.

Having created an unprecedented number of "megabrands"--blockbuster drugs with huge sales--and undergone an extraordinary wave of consolidation, some drug companies now find themselves in a precarious position. Patents are expiring on flagship products. In order to sustain the growth Wall Street has come to expect, these companies must produce billions of dollars worth of new revenue--fast. But can Americans continue to bankroll Operation Grow Big Pharma? Must we swallow the bad with the good?

Customer Reviews:

Good points with good examples.......2007-03-23

This short book is a compilation of complaints against the US pharmaceutical industry (Big Pharma) and how it rips of American consumers and taxpayers. The points presented are as follows.
1. Big Pharma uses advertising to get consumers to buy the latest and most expensive drugs when cheap, generic ones often do the same or better job.
2. Big Pharma uses lobbyists to get lawmakers to extend patent protection for drugs about to lose patent protection.
3. Big Pharma benefits from a lot of federal research dollars, and reaps huge financial rewards from patents on ensuing drugs.
4. Big Pharma actively lobbies doctors to get them to use their drugs.
5. Big Pharma has gradually taken control of the R&D part of the industry, to the point that research data is often edited or massaged to make the drugs look good and cover up negative data.
6. Big Pharma uses all sorts of kickbacks and marketing tools to force people to buy the most expensive drugs in each class.
7. Big Pharma creates medical conditions thru advertising, in effect creating customers for their creations.

Many of these complaints are raised in other texts, but none as short and polemic as this one. The big is a quick read, and uses a lot of real life examples. Unfortunately, the book is somewhat incomplete; it should have provided tables and charts with more statistical data. There should also have been a chapter describing the entire process by which a new drug is created, tested, marketed, and finally distributed to consumers. All in all, an OK book.

A lot needs fixing.......2006-04-18

In 30 yrs. of working as a retail pharmacist I have heard my fair share of "bitching" about drug prices as the Denver Two Step refers to. People don't take care of themselves and many have at themselves to blame, in part, for the high prices they pay for drugs. This hardly leaves the pharmaceutical manufacturers off the hook, though. While they do spend many millions developing a new drug that makes it to the marketplace, they spend three times that amount in promotions and advertising for each such drug. Even foreign manufacturers set up plants in the U.S. because this is where the money for pharmaceuticals is made. Why do American drug companies charge American pharmacies much more for drugs than they do foreign pharmacies? Why do Americans travel to Mexico and Canada for drugs? You really can't blame a company in America for making profits; that's what capitalism is about. But it seems that 30 years ago, ethics was almost as important as profit, even in the drug industry. Drug companies have in part taken advantage of the pendulum swing from the days when the doctor "knew all" and the patient nothing to the current direct to consumer drug advertising that seems to maximize drug benefit and minimize drug adverse reactions to a public that is too willing to take a pill rather than do the things Ms. Denver points out which requires effort and behavioral change. Change by both the consumer (lose weight, exercise, decrease drug demand etc) and the drug companies would seem desirable. Drug company influence in Washinton is disproportionate to the 8% of medical costs they account for and with the Leapfrog and other "influential" groups behind them, they peddle way too much influence with an extremely large number of influential lobbyists. American consumers are getting "ripped" but they are complicit in the process too often. Blame is easier than change.

American Road Kill.......2006-04-05

The U.S. ranks #1 in amount of healthcare spending per person yet 37th in healthcare performance (World Health Organization). We are second-to-last of industrialized countries listed in disabled persons earning capacity (annex to Society-at-a-Glance 2002) and 17th in life expectancy (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Editorialist Nicholas Kristoff cites the C.I.A. World Factbook ranking the U.S. 42nd in infant mortality, a "national disgrace....that the average baby is less likely to survive in the U.S. than in Bejing or Havana" (New York Times; 1/12/05). According to Dr. Kenneth Liegner's testimony before the New York State Assembly Committee on Health (11/27/01), a 7-year-old Lyme disease patient was kept alive on expensive medication until, due to insurance company policy, "she died within one month of cessation of intravenous antibiotic treatment." Liegner adds, "Metropolitan Life Insurance Company had an important formative role in the creation of the National Institutes of Health. This raises the issue of possible ongoing undue influence of the insurance industry in setting national public health priorities".

On the other hand, although the U.S. is the only industrialized country with no pharmaceutical price cap, "The National Institutes of Health said rules designed to reduce conflicts of interest at the agency went too far. So instead of barring thousands of employees from owning stock in pharmaceutical and bio-technology companies, only about 200 senior employees will be affected...." ('NIH Revises Ethics Rule on Stock Ownership'; USA Today; 8/26/05). So it's not only insurance companies influencing public health policy.

Consider these non-profit healthcare CEO salaries buried in the 'Money' section of USA Today: Catholic Healthcare West CEO--$1 mil. + $896,000 expenses/allowances; Memorial-Sloan Kettering CEO--$2.3 mil. "with 2 surgeons making $1.6 mil. each"; Kaiser Permanente's Foundation Hospital outgoing President--$7.4 mil.; and Universal Health Services CEO--$16.2 million dollars in 2003 ('Non-profit Hospitals Top Salaries May Be Due For a Checkup'; USA Today; 9/30/2004).

Non-profit funds are procured under the guise of altruism but become organizational charity theft when used for extravagant salaries. The rationalization is that such salaries are necessary to attract leading professionals within a competitive system, and are a drop in the bucket compared to overall healthcare costs. But isn't that a most terrible commentary on America to say the economy demands we act as pigs with the charity money? Tragically, "Right-to-Life" proponents oppose universal healthcare, practicing socio-economic Darwinism in creating more American road kill.

The Big Fix:.......2006-03-09

This book made it much clearer to me how the pharmaceutical companies operate. Everyone should read this who takes prescription medications. A must read for all!!

SCREW YOU, JERRY FALWELL!.......2004-09-14

This is my personal response to anyone else throwing darts at this book by Katherine Greider. Let it be from now on that you eiether agree with Mrs. Greider on this issue, or you side with the Big Pharma terrorists.
As her father, the great muckraker William Greider demystified the U.S. Federal Reserve, K. Greider demystifies the big drug companies with their claims that they must have their way with public policy.
It would seem that a President who purports to be "pro-life" would waste no time pushing some PRICE CONTROLS so people could afford the prescription drugs they need.

Book Description

The most important Irish landscape painter of the twentieth century, Paul Henry defined the quintessential view of the Irish landscape. In this lovely book S. B. Kennedy outlines Paul Henry's life and career, discusses how he is regarded today, and considers his role within the artistic heritage of Ireland. Detailed catalogue entries for each of the paintings reproduced in this volume reveal that Henry was more faithful in recording his subject matter than has been believed. Individual scenes can often be identified with precision, helping us to understand the artist's approach to picture making, his use of sketchbooks, and his attitude toward the landscape that so powerfully influenced him.

Paul Henry: 1876-1958 (Lives of Irish Artists)

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Paul Henry: 1876-1958 (Lives of Irish Artists)
S. B. Kennedy
Manufacturer: Unipub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0948524227

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