Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Senator & Artist

Book Description

If you were intrigued by the movie Hidalgo, you will want to read THE DESERT DIARIES. This remarkable journal, enriched by 50 quality photos in living color, was brought out in answer to everyone's question: Could anyone actually ride a mustang across such a lifeless, burning inferno?

Nathan and Elly did. They spent 100 days in the longest, driest desert on earth, The Atacama of Chile, during their equestrian odyssey from The Patagonia to Canada(1969-73).

Theirs was not a race. There was no competition, no audience, no prize money. They had not set out to prove anything, except to themselves. More than a test of survival, the challenge was to keep their troupe in optimal condition under extremely adverse circumstances. The well being of their animals always came first. If it was too hot for their dog, Chaco, they travelled by night. The day-to-day logistics were faithfully recorded in these diary pages, so the reader will come away with a sense for the audacious strategy that changed continually in the face of unexpected events.

They arrived in Arica, Chile's northernmost city, with four Argentine Criollo horses(cousins of the American mustang)and a dog named Chaco, in tiptop shape and high spirits! Dr. Emilio Solanet, the savior of the Criollo breed, sent a telegram:"You have conquered The Atacama! A feat considered impossible on horseback!"

As you travel with this couple across the unforgiving vastness, you will be impressed by how effortless they make it seem. But then, you stop and think: they are out there all alone, with no support, no back-up, no master plan, and certainly with no GPS, cell phone, or internet connection!

After you read this, you will want to get ahold of their full length book: Riding Into The Wind:On Horseback Out of Patagonia. It is so real, you will feel like you have been riding into the wind too!

Customer Reviews:

Incredible story.......2006-10-11

The reviewer who rated this book one star because it mentions Hidalgo was unfair. There is indeed a connection to the recent movie Hidalgo. That was the story of a horse crossing the Sahara, this is the story of horses crossing the Atacama. In the preface, the authors mention watching Hidalgo, the movie, and saw "...moments of our own lives on the trail played out on screen;....our own dispair, our own relationship to our horses, our own journey. We use 'Hidalgo' in the title to help you find us." If the title helps even one person find this book who would not otherwise have, it was a good choice, because this true story deserves to be more widely known. I also read the authors' longer book "Riding into the Wind on Horseback Out of Patagonia" and was afraid this would simply be an excerpt of that, but it is not. Although a few entries are duplicates, of course, most of this book, since it focuses just on the Atacama desert crossing, is new material with more detail than the previous book, and many more pictures.

But this is more than an adventure story. The Footes have a lot of useful insights, most still relevant today. Give this story a try. If you like it, get "Riding into the Wind." Hopefully the sequel to Riding will be published one day, to finish the story of the journey from the Mexican border to Canada.

An Amazing True Story.......2005-01-12

Wow! This book is absolutely amazing. To think Nathan and Elly Foote actually did this boggles the mind, and stories like this you just can't make up. An amazing tale of survival while crossing drought-striken landscape and true desert as well. Anyone who enjoyed movies like "Hidalgo", and "Bite the Bullet", and loved books like "Seabiscuit" and other amazing equine related tales will consider "Hidalgo: The Desert Diaries" a must-own!

Nothing to do with Hidalgo story or movie.......2004-11-11

This book's title is VERY misleading. Not what one would expect.

Customer Reviews:

The Most Authoritative Book on Fraud Ever Written.......2003-12-30

This is the most authoritative book that I have ever read on this subject. I wouldn't change a thing about it. The authors are the most learned experts in the field of fraud detection and prevention. This is a must read for anyone that wants to do fraud detection or fraud prevention.

This book is especially helpful for CPA's that want to enter the field of fraud detection. This should be required reading for auditors.

Book Description

A lavish guide to the ingenious design and beauty of automata and mechanical toys, including their history, an explanation of their mechanisms, a survey of the leading makers, step–by–step instructions for making mechanisms, and 160 color photos.

Customer Reviews:

Quite a nice book.......2007-06-13

The book certainly has nice and inspiring pictures of great automata. To a certain extent, some of the concepts of automata are defined. But largely, the chapters are devoted to eccentric and creative automata artists who inspire more by examples than theories.

Clear directions and eye candy too........2006-11-08

This is the best book on automata since Flying Pig opened it's doors. Peppe shows how to build your own test board of mechanical movement and provides examples of the best current automata for inspiration. The "test board" is finely crafted, covers a wide range of movements and it's fun to play with too.

A Good Buy for Beginning Builders.......2004-11-25

Depending on what your interests are, this can be a valuable addition to your library. It is not for collectors, in my opinion, and most of the examples are on the "folk art" side: crude, kitschy, and sometimes even made of junk. There are profiles of a few builders who make complex automata demonstrating fine craftsmanship, such as the wonderful Keith Newstead and John Grayson. I would have preferred to have some detailed explanations of how some of their automata work, though. The REAL strength of this book is if you are beginning to make your own automata and would like to have a "kit" to experiment with. The book contains full sized plans for an experimenter's "kit" which is really nice. I have Robert Addam's "How to Design and Make Automata" and CMT's book, but they both only have crude drawings with no dimensions. I made photocopies of the parts and then used Xylene to transfer directly onto plywood and cut the parts out on a scroll saw, saving a great deal of time and giving me a nice litte platform for experimenting. This alone makes the book a must have for the beginning builder.

Excellent book! Great color pictures and diagrams.......2003-06-10

This has got to be one of the best books on the subject of automata and mechanical theatre. There are lots of great color pictures and diagrams to build your own automata. Worth the money!

A Must for Automata Enthusiasts!.......2003-06-09

This book is everything you could ask for in book on contemporary artistic automata.

Each chapter has a brief summary of the topic in question -- say tools and materials. Next, each chapter moves on to showcase the work of two or three automata artists with many pictures and a page or two of information about each artist.

The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. You can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and most especially, their finishes.

Book Description

Artist, inventor, and longtime author Rodney Frost is known for wacky, whimsical woodworking books that encourage readers to experiment. With his newest, most creative volume yet, he provides an introduction to the wild and whimsical world of kinetic art—art that moves. Using plenty of informative sidebars and dynamic illustrations, Frost teaches the basic techniques in his own inimitable style, beginning with easy, fun projects like weather vanes and mobiles powered by air currents alone. Then it’s on to simple toys you manipulate with strings, and art mechanized by levers, cranks, cams, and cogs. Far from a routine woodworking book, Creative Kinetics will inspire even the least craft-minded reader to pick up some scissors and turn a tuna can into a propeller or cardboard into a jumping-jack.

Average customer rating:

Excellent primer on automatons and mechanical toys

Automata and Mechanical Toys
Mary Hiller
Manufacturer: Landmark Books Intl
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Automata and Mechanical Toys

ASIN: 1870630270

Customer Reviews:

Excellent primer on automatons and mechanical toys.......2000-04-29

Profusely illustrated on nearly every page, this classic book on the subject of mechanical toys and automatons (which cannot rightly be considered "toys") is perfect for someone just starting their research into this magical world. Hillier covers the complete history of mechanical figures, from Ancient Egypt to modern battery-operated robots. The majority of the book is spent on Victorian-era automata and early 20th century mechanical toys. There is a small section of color plates, listing of manufacturers and their marks, and a thorough bibliography. Highly recomended!

DOLLS, HOUSES, FINE DOLLS, TEDDY BEARS. AUTOMATA TINPLATE TOYS, EUROPEAN COSTUME, TEXTILES AND MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Average customer rating:

DOLLS, HOUSES, FINE DOLLS, TEDDY BEARS. AUTOMATA TINPLATE TOYS, EUROPEAN COSTUME, TEXTILES AND MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Manufacturer: Sothebys
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HG4P62

Fine Toys, Trains, Toy Soldiers, Mechanical Music, Automata, Dolls And Dolls' Houses Auction 8 May 2003, 20 May 2003

Average customer rating:

Fine Toys, Trains, Toy Soldiers, Mechanical Music, Automata, Dolls And Dolls' Houses Auction 8 May 2003, 20 May 2003

Manufacturer: Christie's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GHF9KS

Average customer rating:

Metal Toys and Automata
Constance King
Manufacturer: Chartwell Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1555214126

Automata & Mechanical Toys an Illustrated History

Average customer rating:

Automata & Mechanical Toys an Illustrated History
Mary Hillier
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NBEZIY

Average customer rating:

AUTOMATA & MECHANICAL TOYS
Mary Hillier
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J3QEBM

Average customer rating:

Automata & mechanical toys: An illustrated history
Mary Hillier
Manufacturer: Jupiter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

Automata and Mechanical Toys
Rodney Peppe
Manufacturer: Crowood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K3S15S

Average customer rating:

Fantastic book

addendum to my previous review

Better than a time machine...

Very interesting book, but beware of errors.

Making Classic Chairs: A Craftsman's Chippendale Reference
Ron Clarkson
Manufacturer: Fox Chapel Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Furniture & Carpentry | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Projects | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Classic Carved Furniture: Making a Piecrust Tea Table : A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating an American Classic (A Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers)

Making Classic Carved Furniture: The Queen Anne Stool

Making Antique Furniture Reproductions: Instructions and Measured Drawings for 40 Classic Projects

Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Period Furniture Details

Glen Huey's Illustrated Guide to Building Period Furniture: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide (Popular Woodworking)

ASIN: 1565230817

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic book.......2003-07-19

This is a fantastic book despite the false claim on the ball and claw foot on the back cover, as the author does not show the reader how to carve a ball and claw foot anywhere in the book, only the hairy paw carving is shown in detail. It is certainly the best chair making book I have seen.
I highly recommend this book.

addendum to my previous review.......2000-01-25

I recommended to buy the plans for the chair. I forgot to say the plans lack of simmetry, hence, use the left hand side for reference to make the templates otherwise you will end up with mismatched pieces!

Better than a time machine..........1998-05-26

When I got this book I couldn't believe what I'd found -- a time machine! Of the few craftsmen of this caliber remaining, few would share their secrets to the extent Ron has... Sure there are other books on 18th century furniture but not written in this much detail and loaded with as many pictures, tips and insights into building such a masterpiece. Everything is covered, all you do is follow the steps guided by the pictures and captions to make a treasured heirloom! All you need to succeed is the ability to follow step by step instructions and a bunch of chisels and gouges...

Very interesting book, but beware of errors........1998-05-13

I am presently building the chair explained in the book. The book is very well written an helpful if you have never built a chair before, but beware there are many (many although the author does not recognize the mistakes) mistakes in the measurements. MEASURE TWICE- READ ALL THE REFERENCES in the book which relate to each piece, or you will have to buy extra wood to recover from these mistakes. There is a set of plans for the chair which you MUST buy or from the tiny pictures from the book will not be able to accomplish the project.

The book itself has plenty of pictures (all black and white except for a gallery of chairs). The cover seems to deliver better quality pictures than it actually does.

The title should say "Building A classic chair" since it only explains how to build just one model. But remember, get the plans, and re-read the book back and forward before cutting any part and buying the wood.

Average customer rating:
Designs for a Healthy Home: An Eco-Friendly Approach
Dan Phillips
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Ecology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Healthy Home: Beautiful Interiors That Enchance the Environment and Your Well-Being

Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time

The Healthy Home Workbook: Easy Steps for Eco-Friendly Living

ecoDesign: The SourcebookRevised Edition

Conscious Style Home: Eco-Friendly Living for the 21st Century

ASIN: 1579590713

Book Description

A beautiful, inspiring, and practical guide to natural home design, Designs for a Healthy Home is an invaluable resource for homeowners with an interest in ecology and a desire to approach the environment responsibly. The book shows how to design and furnish homes that not only promote health and well-being but also reduce pollution and conserve natural resources. A healthy home is made from nontoxic recyclable materials; contains durable, multifunctional furnishings and fixtures; uses energy efficiently; and conveys a sense of connection to the natural world. The author explains how to make homes cofriendly by creatively using space, light, air, and water, along with environmentally safe building materials, energy-saving technology, and informed thinking. Techniques for experimenting with color, texture, and pattern to find simple, inexpensive, and stylish design solutions are also included.

Average customer rating:

Focus of this book is on Adolescent Teen Agers - Wordy...

Extremely Funny!!!!!!!!

On Your Mark!

Boooooooorrriiinnnnggg!!!!

Lori Borgman is a delight!

I Was a Better Mother Before I Had Kids
Lori Borgman
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Parenting & Families | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood

All Stressed Up and No Place To Go

Pass the Faith, Please: Nourishing Your Child's Soul in the Everyday Moments of Life

Peeing In Peace: Tales & Tips for Type A Moms

A Suburban Mom: Notes from the Asylum

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0671027220

Book Description

Once, Lori Borgman had parenting all figured out. Her cheerfully compliant children would play peacefully in a tidy yard, happily snack on fruit and whole wheat bread, and implore her to read Longfellow aloud as they drift off for a welcome nap.

That was before she had kids -- kids who stand up in their high chairs. Shove peas up their noses. Throw pre-nap tantrums, all in quadraphonic stereo sound....

I Was a Better Mother Before I Had Kids is Lori Borgman's fuzzy and prickly ode to parenthood, a laugh-out-loud reality check that only a seasoned mother of three could write. Drawn from her wildly popular newspaper columns, these wise and witty snapshots capture family life as it really is -- part Norman Rockwell, part Stephen King -- and where nothing is as Lori Borgman imagined it would be in her pre-baby days.

She now knows that brownies are the key to effective parent-child communication. She's pondered one of life's great questions (especially around 5:30 P.M.): "Wattsfirdinner?" She's discovered the value of empty margarine tubs and twist ties in "Hints from Hell-oise." She's learned to handle suspects like Sgt. Joe Friday on "Dragnet" when investigating who left the garden hose running. And she takes on everything from summer vacations to the cold-weather game of Thermostat Tag; prime time TV moms; the post-pregnancy bathing suit challenge; those unfinished projects that are stashed in various closets and drawers; unusual house pets; the truth about piano lessons; and much, much more.

In league with Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, and Anna Quindlen, but with a voice uniquely her own, Lori Borgman plunges into parenthood with her eyes wide open, and laughs along with us at the perils -- er, make that the joys -- of family life.

Customer Reviews:

Focus of this book is on Adolescent Teen Agers - Wordy..........2007-08-01

The book is ok -- not terrible but not great either. While reading it I rarely had a laugh-out-loud moment, but it did generate some smiles. I was thinking this book was going to be about parenting mainly in the ages of 1-5. But the book is actually about the ups and downs of raising teen agers which wasn't relevant for me. It would have been helpful if that was more apparent in the book description. This is NOT a book for new Mom's or those parenting toddlers. For those age groups there is no material to relate to.

The book also tends to be fairly wordy - and I felt the urge to skim through the book just to make it go by faster. It didn't hold my attention or get me pouring into the book like other humorous parenting books I have read.

If you want a great laugh out loud read try:
What's the Matter With Mommy?: Rantings of a Reluctant Stay-at-home Mom

Extremely Funny!!!!!!!!.......2003-09-25

This book is extremely funny...any mother can truly appreciate Lori's stories. Just about every story she told I was saying to myself "that's so true!!!" I highly recommend this for yourself and buy a few extras for presents for any other mothers you know!!!

On Your Mark!.......2001-04-30

Get set!! Go buy this book!!! Lori Borgman's columns started appearing in our local paper this year and it is hard to imagine a better antidote for today's glammed-up, TV-focussed world. She writes delightful, down-to-earth stories about issues today's families face, that will make you laugh, think and sigh. Definitely NOT boring!

Boooooooorrriiinnnnggg!!!!.......1999-08-17

This book is a pile of sludge. Trite, sentimental, banal, oh-isn't-that-cute-it-happened-to-me-too. Healthy happy people in Brady Bunch land. Like Erma Bombeck only more so. I never read any of her columns and can't imagine why they are so "wildly popular" as I could spew out the exact same treacle myself, pointing out the obvious things of everyday life. For collectors of Precious Moments figurines only!!!

Lori Borgman is a delight!.......1999-07-05

The title says it all. This wonderful book describes to a "T" the blessings and banes of child-rearing. It is funny, thoughtful and poignant all rolled into one. A marvelous effort.

Customer Reviews:

I cannot believe someone would do this!!!.......2005-08-18

I have never read this book but by the things people are saying about it , like the fact that she would leave her husband for a surgeon, its proposturous!!! I am a HUGE Selena fan since I was 4 years old and I know for a fact I know more than this loon. I practicly studied about Selena since I became obsessed with her and I'm telling everybody right now that some of these things are 100% not true. So I would say if you want to know the truth about the wonderful Mexican-American Tejano singer, than I would suggest not wasting your money on such a book. You will never know the truth about her by reading lies. ( I hope everyone reading this believes me and doesnt waste their money!!)

Arraras knows the "secret" and you don't.......2002-08-26

I read this in the English version. Arraras begins with an intro that states "she knows Selena's secret" and ends by explaining that, since Yolanda Saldivar told her the "secret" off the record, Arraras cannot reveal it. She says the reader needs to read between the lines to discover aspects of the secret that have since become public knowledge and were therefore OK for her to include in her book.

I'm not a big Selena fan and this account seemed balanced for the most part-- but I can see that serious fans would be upset because Arraras insists on treating Yolanda and the Saldivar family with "respect"-- she allows them their say. Although Arraras admits that Yolanda is manipulative, evasive and less than honest, Arraras seems to let this pass, avoiding confrontation in order to preserve her exclusive relationship with Yolanda and the Saldivars.

SPOILER: For what it's worth, the secret apparently was that Selena may have been planning to leave her husband, may have been romantically involved with a plastic surgeon in Mexico, may have been planning to take up residence in Mexico and open a clothing factory there, pursuing a career in the fashion industry against her father's wishes.

THIS IS THE WORST BOOK IVE EVER READ AND THE AUTHOR ..........2002-07-15

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS GETTING IT FINISHED AND THE SELENA PICS, TO BAD I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE PLACE SO I COULD THROUGH IT IN I WAS A SELENA FAN FOR A YEAR WHEN I BOUGHT THE BOOK AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE ONE LIE ABOUT HER AND IF SOMEONE ACUTELY THINK THIS BOOK WAS GOOD IS NOT A REAL SELENA FAN THIS BOOK IS NOTHING BUT ... AND BELONGS IN THE TRASH, THE TRASH CAN IS EVEN TO GOOD FOR THIS BOOK IT BELONGS IN A FIRE PLACE WHERE IT CAN DISAPPEAR FOR EVER, ALL THE AUTHOR CARED ABOUT WAS THE MONEY, I COULD WRITE A BETTER BOOK ABOUT SELENA WITH THE TRUTH, WRITING A BOOK ABOUT SELENA ISN'T ABOUT THE MONEY ITS ABOUT GETTING THE TRUTH OUT ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND WHO SHE REALLY WAS AND ITS ALSO ABOUT LETTING HER NEWER FANS KNOW MORE ABOUT HER AND LETTING PEOPLE SEE THE COOL OUTFITS, POSES AND CONCERT PICS THAT SHE DID, SO DON'T BUY ITS NOT WORTH THE MONEY OUR THE TIME

Pure Speculation!.......2002-03-29

This book is called Selena's Secret. You won't find out anything secret about Selena in this book. The author spends most of the book patting herself on the back for the objectivity she used when reporting Yolanda Saldivar's trial. She keeps hinting that there is this big secret about Selena to share when in the end nothing is revealed. If you want a more accurate book on Selena's life, check out Como La Flor by Joe Nick Patoski because all you get in "Secret" is a bunch of gossip.

Excellent Expose on the Slain Tejano Superstar.......2000-12-08

Well-researched, yet a bit long at times, "El Secreto de Selena" ("Selena's Secret"), is an interesting thought-provoking expose on the reasons that led to the singer's death by her fan club manager. Puerto Rican news anchor, Maria Celeste Arraras, who is one of the most respected women in her field, decided to write this book based on interviews with several people, most importantly Yolanda Saldivar, Selena's murderer.

First of all, let's clear things. Selena wasn't a saint, nor am I. To reach sainthood you have to have perform miracles and go through a process. With the media's power influence, Selena's "canonization" was unnecessary in many ways. Arraras' book, which begins with her discovering about Selena's death at the studios where she films her television show, "Primer Impacto" and moves on to her heading to Corpus Christi, Texas to cover her funeral and the media frenzy that followed is well-written in every sense of the word. Arraras continues with her campaign to punish shock jock Howard Stern for his spoof of Selena's final moments (a chapter that I found unnecessary) and her later investigation of Selena's final days.

There are many questions that are answered in this book: Why was Selena spending so much time with her plastic surgeon in Mexico? Why did the Quintanilla family did not disclose the Selena had been to a clothing factory with her "male friend" so many times within a few months (a fact proven by official Mexican documents)? Where was Selena's husband and what was the status of their marriage? Why did Selena choose Mexico to be the production country where her clothing line would be produced?

Arraras' book answers all these questions and more. The book makes you ponder about many things, especially the belief that Saldivar was an "obsessed lesbian" in love with Selena? After reading this book I came to think that being the only book on the market about the hidden truths that led to Selena's death, why didn't the Quintanilla family sue Arraras for slander? Why to this date they haven't sue Arraras only tells that the author did her homework in an un-biased manner, and she didn't succumb to the mob mentality that ruled Corpus Christi during Saldivar's trial. While I feel that Saldivar is guilty as sin, the other players in this book have remained out of the public spotlight ever since its' publication. Why? Read this book, analyze the facts and separate them from the fiction, and then you'll discover "Selena's Secret."

One of the best expose books I have read in years. Highly recommended!

Book Description

One man's story of surviving a slave labor camp and returning to his small hometown in Germany, now bereft of all Jewish life.

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