Public Records Online: The National Guide to Private & Government Online Sources of Public Records

Book Description

The Master Guide to the world of online public records. A powerful book for either the novice or business professional, this fully revised fourth edition contains Public Record Primer to educate the inexperienced and Searching Hints to help navigate through the maze of county, state and federal government agencies.

Customer Reviews:

One of Three Basic Research Guides.......2004-11-15

This is the third of three basic guides by Facts on Demand press that I am very happy to have in my collection and to recommend to others. This one focuses, as its title suggests, on Public Records Online, going down to the county level, state by state.

It is not a tutorial in how to search public records, but it does includes helpful introductory chapters and the bottom line is that using this book is cheaper than out-sourcing the work, so if you have a need to search public records online, this book is certainly a valuable and cost-effective place to start.

The other two books from the same publisher that I recommend are "Find It Online" by Alan M. Schlein, and "Online Competitive Intelligence" by Helen Burwell, the Grand Dame of global information brokering who for many years published the absolutely top-notch Burwell World Directory of Information Brokers (I have the 1998 edition and it is still useful to me).

iffy.......1998-06-21

unclear search methods. not specific.

Excellent for researchers!.......1998-01-11

This book is designed in the same format that most of the BRB Publisher texts are. Opening chapters are of general interest, moving into state by state phone and online information followed up by several appendixes describing online vendor information companies, government URLs, and privacy information. The State chapter which is 80% of the book, is broken down as: State Agencies County Courts Federal Courts Local Courts and County Record Retrievers This section is very resourceful, giving in detail what is permitted in that location and who can get the information for you. It appears that several of the BRB publications have been combined, and added to, to create this excellent source.

Book Description

Collected here are correspondence, papers, and legal documents—including selected judicial opinions—of American jurist John Marshall. Revolutionary officer, congressman, and secretary of state before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Marshall served as the Court's fourth Chief Justice. In this capacity, he helped define the role of the Court and elevate its status, as he interpreted the Constitution from the bench. The documents presented in these volumes—with introductory material and notes—shed light not only on Marshall's life and thought but on the evolution of American jurisprudence as well.

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Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2004-2013

Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Economic Conditions | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0756732506

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Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2004-2013

Manufacturer: Congressional Budget Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0160513065

Product Description

A CBO Study. Edited by Christine Bogusz, et al. On cover: A Report to the Senate and House Committees on the Budget. Reports on the state of the economy and the budget. Prepared pursuant to Section 202(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2004-2013 (Paperback)

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Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2004-2013 (Paperback)
Christine Bogusz
Manufacturer: Congressional Budget Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJT24W

Amazon.com

Silverman's engaging biography catalogs the life of Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, who made a career out of his capacity to amaze. Having developed conjuring skills and an ability to wriggle free of handcuffs, ropes and manacles, Houdini elaborated his tricks into theatrical set pieces that made him famous--stunts like escaping from a strait jacket while dangling head down from a skyscraper, or from a wooden packing crate submerged in water. Silverman's meticulously researched book reveals other sides to the great illusionist too. Houdini collected a library of books on magic, wrote books himself, exposed shyster psychics whose tricks he could easily match, and was a friend to Jack London, Sarah Bernhardt and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Book Description

In the most comprehensive biography written about the great illusionist yet, author Ken Silverman, who has won both a Pulitzer and a Bancroft prize, draws on never-before-used scrapbooks, personal diaries, court transcripts and hundreds of unpublished notes and letters collected from around the world to reveal a far richer, more personal view of Houdini than ever before. While Silverman focuses on the magic and miraculous escapes that made Houdini a legend and the most celebrated, highest-paid performer of his day, he also delves deeply into Houdini's fascinating personal life. He explores Houdini's many friendships with politicians and celebrities like Jack Dempsey, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Jack London, the Astors and others. He looks into his traumatic encounters with anti-Semitism; his close-knit family; his strange and troubled relationship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; and his bitter war against spiritualism. He also uncovers new revelations about Houdini's secret affair with the widow of a famous American writer.

Customer Reviews:

conflict of interest.......2006-02-19

The author had a conflict of interest while writing this book. On the one hand, as a former magician, he didn't want to give away any trade "secrets." But as a writer he had the responsibility not to short-change the reader by omitting important details. I found the second half of the book that covered Houdini's bitter relationship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the exposing of fraudulant mediums much more interesting than the first half where Silverman "kept the secrets." How can the reader fully appreciate Houdini's performances if the preparations that went into them are omitted? Besides, there are few magic "secrets" left to be guarded as most have already been published--see Jim Steinmeyer's "Hiding the Elephant" for a recent example. I can understand Silverman's decision to abide by "the code," but it does detract from the book's appeal, hence only three stars.

Houdini Escapes!!!.......2006-01-04

Silverman's biography on Mr Erich Weiss (Houdini), in my opinion, is the best out there on the bookshelf. It's a little long and dry
at parts, but it's packed with interesting information about a mystery man and the life he lived. It's a wonderful insight on his life and the time he lived in. Much recommended for the magic buff, historian, or inquiring mind.

Informative - Yes. But, boring.......2003-06-27

I bought this book for my father, who is a huge magic-buff, and recalls hearing about Houdini while growing up.

Of course, I knew then that my father never reads books, and my hopes that he would break that pattern and read this one were lost. So, I took it home and read it. Er, read most of it.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story, but I couldn't get past the fact that the manner in which the book is written was less than enthralling. I just couldn't stay interested! I wanted to, I wanted to!!

If you're interested in learning about Houdini, I'd find something smaller to being your foray - like a three-fold brochure or something.

Houdini ROCKED! This book doesn't.

Revisiting a Childhood Hero.......2001-03-19

From the time I could count my age on my fingers, Houdini fascinated me; I read everything regarding him that I could get my hands on. So I already knew a lot of what Silverman mentions in Houdini!!!

However, this book actually managed to surprise me. First of all, most of what I read from the ages of seven to fifteen were biographies written in the "Boy's Life" mode, heroic tales which read more like dime novels than actual biography. Not only does Silverman present an accurate, well-researched account of Houdini's life, he also accounts for many of the myths surrouding Houdini, even in some cases explaining how Houdini himself contributed to some of the confusion. Because the book is so even-handed, I walked away from the book still admiring my childhood hero.

Second, Silverman brings a magician's perspective to this biography. He describes at length the presentation and details of the effects that Houdini accomplished, such as the Metamorphoses, the Milk Can Escape, the Chinese Water Torture, and numerous jail and handcuff escapes. However, he does not "give away the store" by spilling the secrets to the man's life. Sure, some of Houdini's secrets are now known, others not, but Silverman refrains from writing a kiss-and-tell book, and I had to admire that.

Lastly, Silverman went a lot further than I've ever seen in describing both the man and his times. While I've known for years that Houdini lived in a very exciting time, Silverman portrays him as truly a man for his age. From Houdini's interactions with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Theodore Roosevelt, H.P. Lovecraft, Sarah Bernhardt, and Hollwood's silent film stars, to his involvement with aviation, spiritualism, movie making, and more, Silverman makes a case that Houdini brought together much of what first made the modern age modern.

Houdini!!! did not perpetuate the same tall tales that all the movies and Houdini himself put forwrd. Instead, this biography exposed Houdini for what he was--a physically accomplished, master showman, sometimes ego-driven, yet principled man who always struggled to accomplish more.

Given the wide array of misinformation that exists about Harry Houdini, this book outshines the rest. Quite enjoyable.

the Index of all Biographies for Houdini.......2000-08-25

Informational source containing very detailed events in Houdini's career from birth to death. Is very accurate and well written. This award-winning biography was written with the help of the experts at the Houdini Museum at Scranton, PA. A very reliable source with many unique photos and illustrations. To learn more about Houdini, go to ... .

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Houdini: The Career of Ehrich Weiss.
Kenneth Silverman
Manufacturer: Harper Collins, 1996
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K5OQFK

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Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss
Kenneth Silverman
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OECIZ2

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Beautifully Written Memoir

Wow!.....This book brought back memories....

A Book that touches You

An American Manhood

Two wonderful books

Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany
Joel Agee
Manufacturer: Farrar Straus Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0374279586

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully Written Memoir.......2005-02-22

"Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany" is a fascinating memoir. Eight-year-old Joel Agee was brought by his mother and stepfather to the Soviet zone of Germany (what would become East Germany) in 1948 and lived there for the next 12 years. As Agee's stepfather, Bodo Uhse, was a prominent Communist, Agee had the best that East Germany could offer: a villa with servants, summers at the Baltic Sea, and numerous opportunities to recover from his dismal performance at school. Agee does provide an insight as to how the Communist intelligentsia in that country thought -- their explanations for the closed border, their view of the Stalinist (and Soviet-bloc) purges in the early 50s, and their conflicting views of Khruschev's revelations. This memoir is also a coming-of-age story, filled with teenage angst and sexual frustration. What distinguishes this from many other memoirs is that it is exceptionally well-written. Although Agee was never able to get his bearings in the East German school system (or was, as we would say today, a "slacker") his descriptions are almost poetic. Well worth reading.

Wow!.....This book brought back memories...........2002-11-05

I too have been urged by friends to write a book about my youth. In 1981, at the age of 18, I decided to reunite with my father and immigrated from the USA to the DDR. I was later expelled in 1986 for political reasons and lived elsewhere in Europe until my return in 1991 following the Fall of The Berlin Wall. I remained there until April of 2000 at which time I returned to the USA.
This book brought back some memories despite the difference in time. (The Author went to the DDR in 1948 at the age of 8. I went to the DDR in 1981 at the age of 18) I had no idea that there had been any other Americans that shared an even remotely similar story and Joel Agee does a great job of telling his story with far more emotion and prose than I ever could.
The book is a wonderful insight into life in a country that no longer exists...from the view point of an American child/young adult. I especially recommend it to anyone who has grown-up or lived in a country where they felt they did not belong. In my opinion, Agee entered the DDR in its infancy and left just as its darkest period began. I entered The DDR at the height of the Reagan Era and witnessed its collapse from within. Two historic phases. I only wish that both of us could have witnessed more.

A Book that touches You.......2000-12-06

I read Joel Agee's book "Twelve Years. An American Boyhood in East Germany" in German and in English and tried very hard to get a used copy of his first american edition - without any success. Finally, he is back again with a new edition, and allthough my english is not as good as it should be, I just want to write down some words abaout this book. For me who always lived in Western Germany it is one of the most interesting books about the communist part of Germany, the GDR (in german it's DDR). It was not meant to be a political book, but it has become one anyhow. The reader is not only enabled to follow a very private story of growing up as a boy (including all the problems most man - since they have been boys - know and prefer not to talk about it), but to understand how culture and everyday life had been transformed by the communist ideology in a way that could be critizised only by children: some simply laughed about it and learned, that even only to laugh could have negative consequences. And getting some idea of how adults did discuss the political penetration of everyday life makes you feel glad to be grown up in a non communist state - but still you can understand that this adults they had their living like others had, and that they were fathers and mothers having everyday problems like others had. This book indeed touched and pleased me. It is a marvellous written autobiographical kind of literature. If you'll read it, it will take a part of your heart and your intellect to. You'll have to love it.

An American Manhood.......2000-12-03

I'm delighted to see that Joel Agee's memoir is now available again, and I look forward, with pleasure, to re-reading it. In beautiful prose, Agee not only reveals the pains and pleasures of his growing up (it could be anywhere), but gives us a portrait, from an unusual angle, of life in the newly formed German Democratic Republic, i.e.,communist East Germany, during the period 1948-1960. The historian will find the book of particular interest, but so will anyone else who enjoys entering the unsual world of a sensitive young man with a terrific eye for detail, and who is frank about his inner life.

Agee returned to the U.S. just as the amazing 60s were about to roll their thunder, and I can't wait to read his follow-up memoir, his "American Manhood" in another world far removed from the East Berlin of his youth.

Two wonderful books.......2000-06-29

This is a timely reprint of the author's fascinating recollections of his youth spent from 1948 to 1960 in East Germany.

Together with his mother and his younger brother, the son of a famous American writer followed her second husband, his stepfather, a well-known communist German writer, from his exile in Mexico to East Germany. The circumstances were peculiar, yet the faithfulness to memory and the facts, and the careful choice of language make this book a wonderfully personal and universal piece of literature, capturing `atmosphere, conflicts, and hopes' of adolescence and life in an ideologized society of the Cold War Era.

Interesting complementary reading: `Always Straight Ahead : A Memoir' by Alma Neuman (Joel Agee's mother)

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Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany
Joel Agee
Manufacturer: Farrar Straus Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OXCMIQ

Average customer rating:
Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany
Joel Agee
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOW80M

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