Search results for ""author bird"

Woodworking Wisdom & Know-How is the essential go-to book for every woodworking project under the sun, from building kitchen cabinets to refinishing a deck. The book is organized by topics such as Types of Wood, Building a Workshop, Working and Finishing Wood, Design and Styles, and Small and Large Projects. Each section is further broken down into chapters that cover specific skills, projects, and crafts for both the beginner and the advanced woodworker--Choosing Plywood, Cutting Dovetails, Building a Look-Inside Birdhouse, Relief Carving, Constructing a Classic Bed, Handheld Power Tools, Building a Cherry Chest of Drawers, Milling Lumber Four-Square, Fashioning a Shaker- Style Clock, and much more. Chapters feature step-by-step instructions, and an appendix of essential resources for supplies, tools, and materials is also included. The text, sourced from Fine Woodworking's vast cache of projects and woodworking advice is trusted, tried, and true.

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Indonesia, South Africa, Estonia, Lithuania, Shetland, Nicaragua: many worlds meet in these poems as nature dyes Sujata Bhatt's many languages with its own hues. The real merges with the surreal, certainties are undone in an open-ended quest. A Chinese cook ignores a predatory snake, a heart surgeon lives most intensely between operations, Gregor Samsa's sister proposes a different sort of metamorphosis, someone listens to the Holy Ghost sing, a woman hears her daughter's voice in birdsong - and the 'poppies in translation' mutate according to the languages and histories they inhabit, ultimately persisting in a space beyond language. At times, language itself is injured by history: Bhatt reimagines the 'haunted undertow' of post-war German as experienced by Paul Celan and Ingeborg Bachmann. Meanwhile, the poppies are ever-present, 'with their black souls in the wind'.

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Increasingly the segmentation between birders, butterfly watchers, dragonfly watchers and photographers is reducing as interests overlap and there is a demand for books that cover the three popular groups. The emphasis for the 148 species of butterfly and 78 dragonflies featured in this second edition is on the commoner species, covering around 90 per cent of those that a visitor is likely to see. It is also an excellent book for residents to learn about the commoner butterflies and dragonflies before progressing to more advanced technical books. The guide is focussed on field use to help beginners and experts identify species and provides information on their distribution and habitats. As identification of butterflies and dragonflies require a different approach, the two sections are done as two mini photographic field guides with common introductory sections to wildlife watching in Sri Lanka. The book includes information on the key wildlife sites, general introductions to the biology of dragonflies and butterflies, up-to-date checklists with local status and useful references for people who wish to progress further with their study of these charismatic and photogenic animals.

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There are names in horological history that echo much more than just watches... Such is the case of Jaquet-Droz, 18th Swiss watchmakers with an international horizon, whose ceremonial clocks, prodigious androids, fashionable birdcages, pocket watches with moving scenes or collector’s snuffboxes remain the stuff of dreams for passionate enthusiasts. Today, the Maison Jaquet Droz continues to draw its inspiration from this rich heritage in order to reinterpret techniques and aesthetics, pushing back the boundaries of watchmaking and representing a perpetual source of fascination for collectors. Based on the latest research on the subject and published on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-2021), this book offers a deep dive into the history of characters with a captivating journey. Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in what was then the principality of Neuchâtel, Pierre Jaquet-Droz founded a watchmaking workshop and developed it through a combination of technical, artistic and commercial skills enabling it to reach international markets. His son Henry-Louis developed the family business and further diversified production, a significant portion of which found its way to China and its dignitaries, devotees of luxurious and ingenious mechanical marvels. This richly illustrated book aims to enable a rediscovery of their mechanical masterpieces as well as those of the Maison Jaquet Droz, whose rebirth and recent history are recounted here. These splendid historical and contemporary pieces embody a love of technical challenges and a taste for artistic refinement, adhering as much as possible to the sources of inspiration offered by nature. The Worlds of Jaquet Droz thus reveals part of the expansive universe of pre-industrial watchmaking while drawing parallels between past and present productions.

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This new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's Ivory Coast remains the only English-language guidebook to focus solely on this culturally rich West African country, a place of crimson savannas, sublime mountains and cream-hued beaches that is becoming increasingly popular for ecotourism and wildlife, surfing and off-the-beaten track travel. Written in easy-to-navigate geographical structure, chapters on background and practical information are followed by dedicated sections on Abidjan and the surrounding area; the southeast, including Grand-Bassam and Assinie; the southwest, including Sassandra, San-Pe´dro and the Parc National de Tai¨; and the centre: Yamoussoukro, Bouake´, Daloa and Abengourou. Moving up the country, the Dix-Huit Montagnes area is covered, including Man and Touba, followed by a chapter on the North, including Odienne´, Korhogo, Kong, Parc National de la Comoe´ and Bondoukou. From wildlife and birdwatching to hiking, trekking, chocolate and twerking, Bradt's Ivory Coast lifts the lid on what gives this country its unique flavour. Tribal arts, vibrant reggae, Afrobeat and traditional folk-music scenes, and delicious Ivorian food are all covered, as are hotels, the extraordinary mud mosques of Kong and the far north, Drummologie and 'talking drums', football (the 2023 Africa Nations Cup will be held here), and unprecedented pricing and timetabling information for the full range of transport options. Having only recently re-opened for tourism, Ivory Coast is West Africa's hidden treasure. Packed with vivid descriptions, detailed maps and essential practical advice, Bradt's Ivory Coast is the ideal companion for a perfect trip, whatever your interest.

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This new, thoroughly updated tenth edition of Bradt's Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion remains the most comprehensive English-language guide available and is the only full-blown guide to focus solely on the Mascarene Islands, a place where the dodo once roamed and which today produces exquisite vanilla-flavoured tea. World-leading luxury resorts, excellent beaches, watersports and lively nightlife, weddings and medical tourism, the raw unspoiled beauty of Rodrigues and fascinating birdlife of the Ile aux Cocos nature reserve, world-class hiking through the mountainous interior of Re´union and an intriguing blend of European and African culture are all covered. Unlike other guides, Bradt's Mauritius includes detailed sections on natural history and conservation for each of the islands, as well as guides to and maps of their nature reserves. The Bradt guide also offers more detailed background information on history, culture and politics, plus fuller information on activities and sights, as well as in-depth coverage of the full range of accommodation and restaurant options, from budget to luxury. Activities for each island are included, covering everything from golf and horse riding to expert analysis of individual dive sites, plus extensive information on flora and fauna. Adventure sports and hiking on Réunion are covered, as is the most recent information on getting married in Mauritius, plus detailed coverage of Mascarene culture. Food, local recipes, language, customs, music and medical tourism are all included, and a language appendix offers useful phrases in Mauritian and Réunionnais Creole. Whether you're planning a honeymoon, fascinated by the wildlife, or just want to relax into uncomplicated island life, the Bradt guide is the ideal companion.

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Shortlisted: TGO Magazine Outdoor Book of the YearSwimming Wild in the Lake District by Suzanna Cruickshank is an informative and inspiring book for both new and experienced wild swimmers, exploring the larger lakes in the beautiful Lake District National Park.The book explores secluded wild swimming locations in the tourist hotspots of Windermere and Derwent Water and takes you to the tranquil hidden gems of Bassenthwaite, Crummock Water and Devoke Water, with the emphasis on taking time to enjoy the stunning surroundings. Imagine yourself gliding through clear, still water, surrounded by rugged fells, with only the sound of birdsong to accompany you. The book is full of useful tips for both new and experienced wild swimmers; it contains sections on getting started in wild swimming, how to look after your own safety and impartial advice on all the essential kit you’ll need, as well as what you don’t need.Illustrated with stunning photography, and featuring overview maps, the book has all the practical information you need to plan your wild swimming adventure, including access to the lakes by car or public transport where possible, thorough information about the best wild swimming locations on all the featured lakes and details of the best pubs and cafes for a much-needed post-swim drink or meal.Suzanna vividly describes her wild swimming experiences and brings the characteristics of each lake to life. Whether you’re an experienced wild swimmer or just dipping your toes in the water for the first time you’ll find plenty to inspire your next adventure.

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The poems in Toby Olson’s We Are the Fire, a selection made by the poet himself of his later work, stand as better than half of what he wishes to save from the years 1970-84. (The collections Home and Aesthetics, published by Membrane Press, Milwaukee, in 1976 and 1978 respectively, complement the present volume.) Olson came into national prominence when his second novel, Seaview, received the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1983, but as a writer he has always given his poetry prime place. Readers of Olson’s novels will recognize familiar themes among these poems that parallel their development in his fiction––”Incest” and “The Father” did in fact appear in his first novel, The Life of Jesus (1976). The landscape of Cape Cod, the setting for much of Seaview, is evoked again and again in “Birdsongs” and “The Florence Poems,” a tender memorial to a close friend whose death from cancer achieves a communion that transcends grief. And in Olson’s ongoing series “Standards,” of which six are included here, his singular lyric eroticism is underscored by his remarkable metaphrasing of American popular songs. “For me,” Olson says, “the making of poetry increasingly becomes an act of celebration. What is celebrated is not the significance of things and events but the things and events themselves. It is not the tales but the details that I am concerned with.” We Are the Fire lights the details.

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Innovative techniques in painting woodlands from renowned artist Ann Blockley. Watercolourist Ann Blockley is known for her striking and intriguing paintings of natural landscapes. In this beautiful guide she explores woodlands in a variety of interpretations, from tangled groves and ancient trees to fiery leaves and springtime orchards. With simple instructions and easy-to-follow demonstrations throughout, the book draws inspiration from forest poetry, birdsong and folklore. There’s practical advice on working outside, experimenting with mixing colours (especially greens), playing with water effects, using salt and granulation, mark-making and spattering with found objects such as leaves and twigs, creating texture with gesso and working with collage. Other techniques include working with oak gall ink and charcoal, and how to incorporate words, text and photo transfer. The book is illustrated throughout with stunning examples of Blockley’s colourful, expressive work, including a case study of her own woodland garden. Also showcased are works by fellow artists from The Arborealist group, the Royal Institute, and the Pastel Society to inspire you further. Pushing the boundaries of watercolour and other mixed media, this delightful wander through the woods is the ideal companion for both beginners and the more experienced landscape painter who wishes to take their painting to the next level.

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This guidebook follows the Rota Vicentina, a 220km walking route along the stunning Atlantic coastline in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. The 12-stage trek combines two well-marked routes, the Caminho Histórico (the Historical Way) and the Trilho dos Pescadores (the Fishermen's Trail), to create a hike starting in Santiago do Cacém and ending at Cabo de São Vicente. The guide also describes an alternative circular route for those who would prefer an 11-stage loop, moving inland from Odeceixe and back up to Santiago de Cacém. Whichever route is chosen, the Rota Vicentina is ideal for a two-week holiday in spring or late summer to autumn, offering walkers a remarkable range of landscapes from coastal fishing villages to wooded river valleys. The guidebook includes advice about accommodation options along the route, information about the surrounding area, and a glossary of Portuguese terms to aid with reading signs and maps. Along the Rota Vicentina are many delights for walkers. This stunning coastal region is home to a variety of rare birdlife, including white storks that nest precariously on sea stacks. Another treat is the mouth-watering Portuguese cuisine, whether the famous custard tarts or less well-known goose barnacles. With its vibrant cultural traditions and rich history displayed in Arab-era castles and 15th-century Age of Discovery sites, this route offers pleasant surprises at every stage along the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

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An invitation to readers from every walk of life to rediscover the impractical splendors of a life of learningIn an overloaded, superficial, technological world, in which almost everything and everybody is judged by its usefulness, where can we turn for escape, lasting pleasure, contemplation, or connection to others? While many forms of leisure meet these needs, Zena Hitz writes, few experiences are so fulfilling as the inner life, whether that of a bookworm, an amateur astronomer, a birdwatcher, or someone who takes a deep interest in one of countless other subjects. Drawing on inspiring examples, from Socrates and Augustine to Malcolm X and Elena Ferrante, and from films to Hitz's own experiences as someone who walked away from elite university life in search of greater fulfillment, Lost in Thought is a passionate and timely reminder that a rich life is a life rich in thought.Today, when even the humanities are often defended only for their economic or political usefulness, Hitz says our intellectual lives are valuable not despite but because of their practical uselessness. And while anyone can have an intellectual life, she encourages academics in particular to get back in touch with the desire to learn for its own sake, and calls on universities to return to the person-to-person transmission of the habits of mind and heart that bring out the best in us.Reminding us of who we once were and who we might become, Lost in Thought is a moving account of why renewing our inner lives is fundamental to preserving our humanity.

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The book’s title can be read two ways. Impasse or contraction is one of them. The purging of all but essential matters is another. Each section in this poetry collection covers unique themes. In Canticles, these ‘small songs’ celebrate the world given back after a life crisis. Wood bleeds where a branch was, then ‘ripples a beauty around it’. In Seasons, the grief and birdsong that accompanied our spring lockdown descend into the ground of winter. A surgical glove ‘scrabbling in the dust’ bears witness to testing times. With Departures, lost friends are remembered. The writer continues to address them as living. ‘Contraction’ comes to serve as a language for giving birth. Oracles covers war, the ecological crisis, loss of insight for the fabulous - these touch wider matters. ‘Tongues quick now with a flame within will render dry stone into a speaking thing’. Paul’s latest collection of lyrical poetry aims to change consciousness and perception and responds to contemporary issues such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. His poem, Waiting Outside, was highly commended in the Bridport Poetry awards of 2022. "This is a book of thoughtful lyrics, grounded in daily life and human warmth…" John Freeman "This is heart-work, soul-work, for both poet and reader. As Paul Matthews says… 'the manner of our looking / leaves an imprint there' and it is this sensibility that renders the poems both delicate and full with wisdom." Kay Syrad

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Adrian has been trying to keep a low profile at church but his son Gerald is now an Anglican vicar and the two churches are getting together for a joint weekend away. Now Adrian's been volunteered to run it...From the confusion of arrival when Anne is allocated to the top bunk with a schizophrenic recovery group, and Adrian is in a low-ceilinged 'pod' at the top of the tower, to the hugs and tears of departure, this is typical Plass, humorous and heartwarming in equal measure. Adrian has a simple conversation about birdlife that ends with him being accused of harassment, Leonard Thynn and his wife turn up just in time to leave again after falling out with the SatNav lady, and Gerald's wit just keeps getting the better of him.There are as many questions as answers, of course. Will poor Sally, the unwilling nomad of the community, ever find a proper bed to sleep in? What exactly is it about Adrian's twinkle that Minnie Stamp 'lovey-doves' so very much? And how do you cope when your daughter-in-law shares a secret you simply cannot, must not tell? Once again, Adrian Plass gets us laughing just long enough for the truth to slip in by the back door, and for all the mishaps, this new instalment of the Sacred Diary series once again shows just how good God is at caring for this mixed bag of people we call the church.

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A fascinating guide to a career in marine biology written by bestselling journalist Virginia Morell and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field—essential reading for someone considering a path to this profession. For the last two decades, Dr. Robin Baird has spent two months out of each year aboard a twenty-four-foot Zodiac boat in the waters off the big island of Hawai'i, researching the twenty-five species of whales and dolphins that live in the Pacific Ocean. His life may seem an impossible dream—but his career path from being the first person in his family to graduate college to becoming the leading expert on some of Hawai'i's marine mammals was full of twists and turns. Join Baird aboard his Zodiac for a candid look at the realities of life as a research scientist, from the ever-present struggles to secure grants and publish new data, to the joys of helping to protect the ocean and its inhabitants. You’ll also learn pro tips, like the unexpected upsides to not majoring in marine biology and the usefulness of hobbies like sailing, birdwatching, photography, and archery. (You’ll need good aim to tag animals with the tiny recording devices that track their movements.) Becoming a Marine Biologist is an essential guide for anyone looking to turn a passion for the natural world into a career. This is the most valuable informational interview you’ll have—required reading for anyone considering this challenging yet rewarding path.

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It’s time for a w(h)ine “God, she’s funny” – Jilly Cooper ‘Oh, for f*ck’s sake’ muttered Claire under her breath, as she opened the fridge to see what she could find for a no effort dinner. The children continued to fight behind her. They regarded any form of fish not encased in breadcrumbs as toxic, and were resistant enough to the delicious homemade fishfingers Claire had made for them, insisting they much preferred Captain Birdseye’s version. White wine was starting to look like quite an appealing dinner actually. Maybe just a small glass. ‘Are you having wine, Mum? You know you’re not supposed to have wine every night. We did about alcohol units at school. That’s quite a big glass of wine, how many units do you think are in it?’ ’Bet the bastards didn’t tell you that wine is remarkably good at cancelling out whining though, did they?’ muttered Claire. Claire’s family has gone nuclear. Her precious moppets keep calling Childline when she feeds them broccoli, she’s utterly Ottolenghied out at weekends, and her darling husband is having an affair with her best friend. The question isn’t whether she needs a glass of wine, but is there one big enough? Enter the Sauvignon Sisterhood, a new set of friends brought together by a shared love of liquid therapy. Together they might just be able to convince Claire that, like a good bottle of red, life really can get better with age. Or at least there’s more to it than the joy of an M&S non-iron school uniform.

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A magnificent collection of photos representing fifty years of De Roy’s best work in the islands she calls homeTui De Roy was a year old in 1955 when her family left Europe, boarding a banana boat bound for the Pacific to lead a different sort of life in Galápagos, one of self-sufficiency and living close to nature. She grew up on the islands and returned to them often over the next five decades. Discovering photography at a young age, she has dedicated her life to recording the islands' natural history in infinite detail. A Lifetime in Galápagos is De Roy's intimate portrait of one of the most spectacular places on Earth, presenting the wildlife and natural wonders of Galápagos as you have never seen them before.Featuring hundreds of breathtaking color photos, this stunning book guides you into labyrinthine mangroves to observe nesting herons, to misty cloud forests to glimpse flycatchers and orchids, high onto erupting volcanoes, and into the ocean to swim with hammerhead sharks. De Roy's lens provides up-close encounters with orca and sperm whales, colonies of iguanas, and the giant tortoises of Alcedo Volcano. She paints unforgettable portraits of her childhood in Galápagos—the islands at night under the stars of the Milky Way, sea lions at play and on the hunt, the diverse birdlife of Galápagos, and much more.Blending striking images with vivid prose, A Lifetime in Galápagos also discusses the threats that global warming and other environmental challenges pose to the archipelago's unique wildlife and fragile habitats.

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Stretching from Malibu to the Mexican border, Southern California's coast is justifiably famous, yet, as this essential guide reveals, it offers more to see and do than even its greatest fans may realize. Easy-to-use, up-to-date, and comprehensive, "Beaches and Parks in Southern California" is the perfect companion for all visitors - sightseers, hikers, swimmers, surfers, campers, birders, boaters, and anglers - who want to explore this magnificent shoreline.In addition to well-known beaches of soft, golden sand, it describes rocky shores and tide pools, hidden pocket beaches, historic lighthouses, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and much more. More than 450 site listings include beaches, public access ways, parks, campgrounds, nature preserves, world-class aquariums, and museums. 304 color photographs and 52 color maps show recreational sites, hiking and biking trails, topography, and other features of the region and state. Easy-to-use charts list key facilities and features, open hours, food and beverage services, wheelchair accessibility, rules about dogs, and other practical information.

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'A superb naturalist and writer.'CHRIS PACKHAM'From Stone Age remains to modern day skyscrapers, Stephen Moss takes us on an exhilarating journey through place and time, providing a fascinating insight into nature's relationship with environments created by man.' DR MYA-ROSE CRAIG (BIRDGIRL) Welcome to The Accidental Countryside.This is the fascinating and remarkably empowering story of our influence upon the landscape and wildlife of these crowded islands, and of how wildlife has co-opted its most unlikely corners - even when we least expected it.From the seabirds sheltering in the prehistoric stone structures of Shetland to the peat diggings in Somerset teeming with life, and from the rare insects hidden in Belfast's docklands to the falcons that make London's Shard their home, Stephen Moss reveals the unexpected oases which foster the crucial links in the chain that bind the natural world together.

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The winner of the Polari First Book Prize 2023. Having stormed out two years ago, it won't be easy, nor will returning to the haunted river beside the house where words ripple beneath the surface washing up all sorts of memories. Joe turns to his sister, Birdee, the only person who has ever listened. But she can't help him. Then there's Tim Fysh, local fisherman and long-time lover. But reviving their bond is bound to be trouble. As the water settles and Joe learns the truth about the river, he finds that we all have the capability to hate, and that we can all make the choice not to. Ransom's fractured, distinctive prose highlights the beauty and brutality of his story, his extraordinarily vivid sense of place saturates the reader with the wet of the river, and the salty tang of the sea.

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In the Darkness of the Night takes the reader through the sounds that a young child hears whilst curled up in bed waiting to fall asleep. From the familiar, reassuring noises of the family and the home including muffled voices and humming pipes. Next we move out into the garden, with the snuffling and screeching of foxes. And then suddenly what's that? Zoom! A car speeds by and a distant siren sounds. Then the illustrations expand to the city beyond, as we see those who work throughout the night, such as cleaners or nurses. And finally, as the sun rises, the early morning sounds begin with the birdsong, clatter of dustbins and letterboxes as the city wakes up again. Emily Rand takes us on a gentle journey through the night, looking at all the sounds and activity that happen whilst you're tucked up warm in your bed!

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Roasted nuts and vegetables, fragrant citrus and cloves, jewelled lingonberries and cardamom buns fresh from the oven – these are the delights that make a Scandinavian vegan Christmas. In Happy Vegan Christmas, Karoline Jönsson presents a merry smorgasbord of plant-based Christmas dishes guaranteed to enchant friends and family. Instead of the usual bubble and squeak, here we find vegan classics to satisfy all guests, such as vegan Swedish meatballs, spiced cabbage pudding, pulled ‘pork’ with jackfruit, pickled courgette, potato and greens pie, sticky buffalo cauliflower, nutty ‘egg’ nog, gingerbread biscuits and chewy panforte. The book includes recipes for baked treats, delicious drinks to keep you warm during the winter nights, and plenty of dishes for a Christmas buffet – to keep you going until New Year! Also included are some crafty ideas to try out during the holiday, such as cultivating winter flowers indoors or making a candle centrepiece, a dried citrus festoon, a wreath and a wild birdfeeder. Inspired by both classic Scandinavian Christmas cooking, as well as seasonal dishes from around the world, this is an indispensable treasure trove for the vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian foodie. Chapters include: Winter food; Treats and Bakes; Drinks; The Christmas buffet; To the New Year

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Many of California's most alluring attractions are found along the coast from San Francisco Bay to Monterey Bay: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco's waterfront, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Point Lobos. This easy-to-use, up-to-date, comprehensive guidebook is the essential companion for visitors - sightseers, hikers, swimmers, surfers, campers, birders, boaters, and anglers - who want to explore California's fabulous shoreline. The book describes some 350 shoreline destinations, including every known publicly accessible beach along the coast of Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties. It also lists wildlife reserves, marinas, and public parks, and includes descriptions of plants and animals, places where dogs are welcome, nature centers, aquariums, and much more. The guide features: 53 color maps that show topography, roads, trails, bicycle routes, and other features; 299 color illustrations; sidebars on shipwrecks, railroads, aviation, and other aspects of California history; descriptions of geologic formations, wildflowers, tidepools, and beaches; information on recreational outfitters, whale-watching trips, surf shops; and, more.

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Known for its beauty and its bounty, the Chesapeake Bay stretches nearly 200 miles from the mouth of the Susquehanna River (north of Baltimore, MD) to the coastal communities on the southernmost part of the Virginia. The Bay plays an important role in the ecologies and economies of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The region draws millions of visitors annually to popular coastal cities (like Annapolis, Baltimore, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Washington, DC) and more than 11,500 miles of shoreline provide beaches, hiking trails, and wildlife preserves nestled between resort towns and other attractions. The nutrient-rich estuary waters also make for diverse fishing and ample birdwatching. Chesapeake Bay Guide is the perfect reference guide for visitors who want to know more about the things they see in their visit to the famous estuary, whether they’re lying on a beach, walking through marshes, or driving over one of the many bridges that span the Bay. This guide provides a concise history of how the Bay was formed, and brief entries with full-color images and easy-to-read descriptions on the flora, fauna, and man-made artifacts found in the Bay.

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Ideas in Profile Series Is music a science or an art? It's both, as Andrew Gant reveals in this lively and accessible account of what music is and what it's for. Music has been central to life since the dawn of humankind and is intimately bound up with the origins of language. Andrew Gant introduces us to its long history and its many genres and manifestations. He explains how composers compose, players play and singers sing. He looks at how musical styles develop, the ways they fall in and out of fashion, and why certain kinds of music - dancing and love songs, for example - is a universal in human culture. He considers how music is composed, the nature of genius and the workings of inspiration. He shows how music can be composed and used to stir patriotism, instill courage, reinforce identity, sell a product, or make a political point. And he goes beyond humans to examine music in the natural world in the creativity of birdsong. This is, in short, the ideal introduction to a very big

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Wildly comic, erotic, and perverse, Rikki Ducornet’s dazzling novel, Phosphor in Dreamland, explores the relationship between power and madness, nature and its exploitation, pornography and art, innocence and depravity. Set on the imaginary Caribbean island of Birdland, the novel takes the form of a series of letters from a current resident to an old friend describing the island’s seventeenth-century history that brings together the violent Inquisition, the thoughtless extinction of the island’s exotic fauna, and the amorous story of the deformed artist-philosopher-inventor Phosphor and his impassioned, obsessional love for the beautiful Extravaganza. The Jade Cabinet, Ducornet’s novel that was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, was described by one reviewer as “Jane Austen meets Angela Carter via Lewis Carroll.” Phosphor in Dreamland can be described as Jonathan Swift meets Angela Carter via Jorge Luis Borges. This is Ducornet at her magical best.

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The enormous war demand for all kinds of armaments, including fighters, caused the Vought factory to be overloaded with production. Therefore, it was extended to Brewster and Goodyear factories, where the production of F4U fighters began. Ultimately, 12,500 Corsairs were built in 16 different variants. The first production version of the Corsair – F4U-1 – had a characteristic built-in fairing cabin, so-called birdcage, which also forced to lower the position of the pilot’s seat. There were many visible changes compared to the XF4U-1 prototype. First of all, the cockpit was moved 81 cm to the rear due to the installation of a much larger fuel tank in front of the cabin. The whole fuselage was then extended by 43 cm. Cockpit armor and a bulletproof windshield were also used. To improve visibility from the cabin, a windows behind the pilot’s headboard were added on both sides. The F4U-1 version was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 twin wasp engine. Another variant was the F4U-1A, in which more or less from mid to the end of the production a higher and wider canopies were used – very similar to the British Malcolm hood. The pilot’s seat was raised by 18 cm, which in addition with a new canopy and lengthening the tailwheel leg by 15 cm improved the visibility from the cockpit over the enormous nose of the machine. An important improvement was the introduction of much better oil shock absorbers on the main undercarriage, which eliminated the problem of “kangaroos” during landings. This had a considerable impact on Corsair service on board of aircraft carriers.

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Enjoy Europe's most incredible outdoor adventures.Kayaking past tumbling waterfalls in Croatia and spotting endangered bison in Poland, hiking through mountainous Montenegro and gazing upwards at fiery giants in Spain -there's nothing quite like being in the great outdoors. Covering over 150 different activities, Outdoor Europe will have you itching to get back to nature.Bursting with beautiful images, this inspirational book rounds up Europe's most incredible outdoor experiences, covering everything from birdwatching and forest bathing to scuba diving and wild swimming. Each activity has its own mini chapter, containing an introduction on the activity itself followed by several suggestions for the best places across Europe to do the activity.Get to grips with nature, by discovering:- A beautifully designed gift book that showcases Europe's most incredible outdoor experiences.- Covers over 200 different outdoor adventures, from stargazing to wild swimming.- 50 main entries each focusing on a specific activity.- 3-4 smaller follow-on entries will showcase other great places in Europe to do the same activity- Stunning photography throughout.- Inspirational guide for anyone planning their own European outdoor adventure.Throughout the book, the places you'll explore are vividly brought to life thanks to information on each landscape's unique history, culture, seasons, and flora and fauna. Features both laid-back, relaxing activities and epic adventures, making this title perfect both for those who already love getting outside and want more inspiration, and for those planning their first foray into the outdoors.We've also included top tips on the best time to go, what to pack and photography, as well as suggestions for things to spot along the way. Whether you're already expert at exploring wild places or are planning your first foray, this book is packed with ideas for immersing yourself in the great outdoors. It's ideal for armchair travellers who want to experience intrepid adventures from the comfort of home and learn more about Europe's great outdoors.

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Winner at the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards. A heartening story about connecting to nature and its healing properties.The little girl of the forest embraces you, takes you by the hand, and invites you to immerse yourself in her magical world. The trees surround you. You walk in peace. The light filters through the leaves, in myriad green and ochre tones. It feels as if your feet are putting down roots, connecting you with the vibrant world around you. You are surrounded by birdsong, and the sound of the wind in the treetops… You are bathing in the forest.Walking through the forest has multiple benefits. It helps regulate our blood pressure, slow down the heart rate, reduce stress, improves our mood and tones our immune system. You will sleep better and your good mood will increase.If you ever feel gray, sad, agitated, open the pages of Bathing in the Forest and feel the warm embrace of the girl who lives there…Ganador de los premios Independent Publisher Book Awards 2020. Una historia alentadora sobre la conexión con la naturaleza y sus propiedades curativas.La niña del bosque te abraza, te tiende la mano y te sumerge en la naturaleza. Los árboles te rodean. Caminas con tranquilidad. La luz se filtra entre las hojas y observas la infinidad de matices verdes y ocres. Percibes ese olor inconfundible de la tierra y sientes que formas parte de la vida. Escuchas el trinar de los pájaros y el sonido del viento meciendo las copas de los árboles. Estás disfrutando de un baño de bosque.Pasear por un bosque tiene múltiples beneficios. Ayuda a regular nuestra presión arterial, ralentizar el ritmo cardiaco, reducir el estrés, mejora nuestro estado anímico y tonifica nuestro sistema inmunitario. Dormirás mejor y aumentará tu buen humor.Si alguna vez te sientes gris, triste, agitado... abre las páginas de Un baño de bosque y siente el cálido abrazo de la nińa que allí habita…

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From cathedral choirs, football chanting, and birdsong, to castrati, protest songs and artificial intelligence, On Voice explores the world of the voice that exists between the mouth and the ear. This is a book about the sound that journeys from the lips to the heart; how we speak it, how we hear it and how we embody it as people made in the image of the God whose voice created the heavens and the earth. Victoria Johnson, the new Dean of St John's College, Cambridge, was previously Precentor of York Minster, the first woman to inhabit that role in a history which reaches back over a thousand years. A Precentor is someone who orchestrates worship and sings first', hers is the voice which invokes God to open our lips, so that our mouth can show forth praise. When a new voice inhabits such an ancient role does anything change? Do the stones resound in a different way? This book aims to explore the sonics of voice - human and divine expressed through speech, song and silence. Through the

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Celebrate the environmental restoration of the Meadowlands. For decades, New Jersey's Meadowlands have been known as mostly the home of the NFL's Giants and Jets, the place where Jimmy Hoffa is purportedly buried, or a wasteland that you passed through on your way somewhere else. Until recently, that reputation was deserved. The land was blighted with unregulated landfills and the Hackensack River so polluted that barnacles couldn't survive. Today, though, the 30.4-square-mile region has made a remarkable comeback. Located in Bergen and Hudson Counties and just five miles from Manhattan, the Meadowlands is a prime destination for birders, kayakers, and other nature lovers. In words and images, The Nature of the Meadowlands illuminates the region's natural and unnatural history, from its darkest days of a half-century ago to its amazing environmental revival. This is a great resource and beautiful keepsake for residents and visitors, tourists of New Jersey, nature lovers, and history buffs.

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A must-have for diehard fans and the perfect introduction for anyone just getting into skateboard culture, this definitive compilation profiles 1,000 boards from old-school classics to famed iconic boards as well as the latest innovations hitting the streets. Covering over seventy years of brands and designers, this is the skateboard bible to inspire both the experienced as well as a rising generation of new thrashers. Broken down into categories based on deck shape and neck size as well as individual brands, uses, and skill levels, the book profiles the full range of board types: old-school, short boards, longboards, cruisers, street, freestyle, slalom, park, vert, pool, off-road, and more. Every type of board is included, from well-known brands to the obscure: Alien Workshop, Almost, Antihero, Baker, Birdhouse, Blind, Chocolate, DGK, Element, Enjoi, Flip, Girl, Globe, Habitat, Krooked, Plan B, Powell Peralta, Primitive, Punked, Real, Santa Cruz, Sector 9, Supreme, Toy Machine, Zero, and Zoo York to name just a few.

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In the tradition of THE FORSYTE SAGA, a sweeping historical novel that spans three generations, telling the dark secrets of a family torn apart.Larkswood House. The very name suggests birdsong, peace and elegance. It is home to the Hamilton children - Edward, Cynthia and Harriet - who enjoy the freedom and excitement of privilege. But in the glorious summer of 1896, with absent parents and a departed governess, disaster strikes the family, leaving it cruelly divided.More than 40 years later, on the eve of the Second World War, Louisa Hamilton, newly presented at court but struck down with glandular fever, is sent to Larkswood to recuperate. There, for the first time, she meets her grandfather, Edward, home after decades in India.But as Louisa begins to fall under the spell of Larkswood, she realises it holds the key to the mystery that shattered her family two generations before. Will she find the courage to unravel the dark secrets of the past? And can Larkswood ever become home to happiness again?

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A decade ago, UK HealthCare recognized the need to reposition itself as a regional referral center, focusing on advanced subspecialty care for the entire state of Kentucky. The goal was to become a "medical destination" for patients from that region who needed access to specialized care.To support that goal, UK HealthCare established a virtual network of partnering provider organizations throughout Kentucky. By working together, UK HealthCare and its partners provide all Kentuckians access to the appropriate levels of care as close to home as possible.Clinical Co-Management: A Bridge to Clinical Integration and Pathway to Bundled Payments supplies a detailed view of the Clinical Co-Management Agreement (CCMA) framework. It describes how the successful implementation of CCMAs can pave the way to coordinated efforts by hospital administration and physicians to reduce cost, increase quality, and improve patient satisfaction.Detailing why CCMAs present a viable alternative to conventional hospital-physician alignment models, such as medical directorships, committee chairs, and physician employment, the book presents an insider's view of the working models for clinical co-management programs.Complete with a detailed explanation of the self-referral statute (Stark Law) and the Anti-Kickback Statute, this book provides physicians, hospital executives, healthcare attorneys, and industry experts with a trustworthy reference they can refer to prior to and during CCMA negotiations, implementation, and oversight.Includes a Foreword by Mark D. Birdwhistell, Vice-President for Administration and External Affairs, UK HealthCare

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Girls Garage is the only book you'll ever need for a lifetime of building and repair. Packed with over 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 essential skills, and 15 inspiring stories from real-world builder girls and women, Girls Garage will inspire you to fill up your toolbox and get building! With a background in architecture and construction, Emily Pilloton started the nonprofit Girls Garage to give girls the tools to build the world they want to see. Since 2013, girls ages 9-18 have come to Girls Garage’s workshop eager to use power tools and build real-world projects for their community. The Girls Garage book puts that same power into girls' hands around the world, inviting them to join a thriving, diverse, and fierce movement of fearless builder girls. Not sure which screws to buy? Need to fix a running toilet? With Girls Garage, you'll have the expertise to tackle these problems with your own hands. Or maybe you want to get creative and build something totally new. A birdhouse? A bookshelf? Girls Garage has you covered. Girls Garage will be both a trusted household resource and a wellspring of inspiration and encouragement in the vein of Women in Science and Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World. • Nonfiction books for women and girls age 14 and up • Carpentry, home repair, building projects • Inspiring DIY for teens, kids, and adults

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PHOTOGRAPHING EAST ANGLIA is a photography-location and visitor guidebook An essential companion for anyone with a camera who is visiting East Anglia- whether you are using a high-end DSLR or a mobile phone camera. The landscape of East Anglia is unique, giving photographic opportunities not found anywhere else in the UK. Its extensive coastline, lapped by the North Sea, and stretching from the Wash in the north then south to the Thames Estuary, is home to wild marshes, sandy beaches and dunes, beach huts and old harbours filled with boats. Numerous nature reserves allow access to some of the best birdwatching in the UK. Inland, the fens, heaths, villages, waterways and woodlands inspired the paintings of John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. You will find medieval castles, ancient villages, stately homes such as Sandringham House - the private home of Queen Elizabeth II - and the historic cities of Cambridge and Norwich. The Broads National Park is an extensive wetland area, cut by seven rivers, where under big East Anglian skies, windmills and windpumps look over a timeless landscape of reedbeds and grazing marshes. FEATURING: - 150 locations and over 800 beautiful photographs - Topographic maps - Sat nav and map co-ordinates - Sun compass - Best times to visit and seasonal highlights - Photographic tips - Accessibility notes - Travel information - The best places to stay, eat and drink

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In Nice White Ladies, race and gender professor Jessie Daniels looks beyond the "Karens" and the pussy hats, to offer an illuminating look at how white women participate in, benefit from, and--crucially--can combat racism.Chapter by chapter, Daniels looks at the most urgent examples of how white womanhood has been weaponized today, and then dives deeper into the history and the false narratives behind these events. She examines specific figures including Amy Cooper and the Central Park birdwatcher, and Linda Fairstein and the Central Park Five, but also looks at larger social shifts and the role white women have had in deepening existing inequalities. Seemingly empowering movements for white women have also harmed people of color, from a feminism that had pushed the voices of Brown and Black women aside, to an entire wellness industry that insulates white women in bubble of their own privilege. White women are often unwilling to examine the fact that their day to day choices, including selecting only the best schools and neighborhoods for their children, results in a hoarding of resources for white families and a return to segregation.In a nation deeply divided by race, Jessie Daniels boldly addresses white women's complicity in discrimination but also in their unique potential to resist and dismantle the white nationalism that threatens us all. The stakes are deeply personal for Daniels, as a white woman seeking to call in fellow white women, with an invitation to think together and act-rather than simply call out and criticize. By excavating her own life for examples of failing, learning, evolving, and changing course, Daniels provides a roadmap for other white women looking to make much needed change. Ultimately, she shows how white women can be more than allies, but trusted accomplices in a shared mission to secure equality for all.

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"One might argue that nothing is sacred in Caroline Knox's work, but it would be truer to its spirit to say that everything is sacred here-and all are welcome."-Rebecca Frank, Boston Review "Caroline Knox reminds us how whangy and interesting it all is."-C.D. Wright "She is often obscure, but her allusions are as much a sign of camaraderie as of scholarly pretension, her poems a pert crystallization impossible in more narrative poetry."-The New Yorker Caroline Knox once again demonstrates that she is a master at lyrical billiards, sending all levels of diction in surprising and comedic directions. No subject matter is off-limits for her examination. Her vast range of experiment is exciting, and the ensuing poems are games, dreams, and riddles. This collection is art on the page for the eye and the ear. From "Poem": Of milk, these persons make the butter until have what are cheeses when they're at home; of cheese, hors d'oeuvres of sandwich are manufactured sandwich islands. The workforce custom subsume draft cereal. Forasmuch as we are not birdlike, we pig out, crikey, put away comestibles big-time. Caroline Knox's most recent publications are Flemish (Wave Books, 2013), and Nine Worthies (Wave Books, 2010). Quaker Guns (Wave Books, 2008) received a Recommended Reading Award 2009 from the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Six poems are anthologized in The Norton Anthology of Postmodern American Poetry, Second Edition. She has received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ingram Merrill Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (1996, 2006), The Fund for Poetry, and the Yale/Mellon Visiting Faculty Program.

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Statues, fountains, sundials, and obelisks--don't most of us want to live with beauty in a garden? Garden ornaments can breathe life into a garden, no matter its size. When art is placed in a garden, we are invited to explore and enjoy the experience. Abstract silhouettes, playful images, and forms in perfect balance bring discoveries with each new view. This new book presents nearly 500 color photographs of over 350 garden ornaments: animals, maidens, children, miniature trains, urns, gates, pavilions, topiary, birdhouses, and many more. Experience an insider's tour of garden ornaments and learn from five notable artists as they describe their philosophies of art. Elizabeth Schumacher suggests how to select the perfect garden ornament and Hugh Collins, Jr. describes the magical journey you embark upon in integrating garden ornament, within your landscape. You may find a favorite garden ornament here, or find the inspiration to create a setting and display your own collection.

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Peculiar Attunements places the recent turn to affect into conversation with a parallel movement in European music theory of the eighteenth century. During that time the affects—or passions, as they were also called—formed a vital component of a mimetic model of the arts. Eighteenth-century critics held that artworks imitated or copied the natural world in order to produce copies of the affects in their beholders. But music caused a problem for such theories, since it wasn’t apparent that musical tones could imitate anything with any dependability, beyond the rare thunderclap or birdcall. Struggling to articulate how it was that music managed to move its auditors without imitation, certain theorists developed a new affect theory crafted especially for music, postulating that music’s physical materiality as sound vibrated the nerves of listeners and attuned them to the affects through sympathetic resonance. This was a theory of affective attunement that bypassed the entire structure of representation, offering a non-discursive, corporeal alternative. It is a pendant to contemporary theories of affect, and one from which they have much to learn. Inflecting our current intellectual moment through eighteenth-century music theory and aesthetics, this book offers a reassessment of affect theory’s common systems and processes. It offers a new way of thinking through affect dialectically, drawing attention to patterns and problems in affect theory that we have been given to repeating. Finally, taking a cue from eighteenth-century theory, it gives renewed attention to the objects that generate affects in subjects.

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World champion at 19...One of the first black athletes to become world champion in any sport...1-mile record holder...American sprint champion in 1898, 1899, 1900...triumphant tours of Europe and Australia...Victories against all European champions...Until now a forgotten, shadowy figure, Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor is here revealed as one of the early sports world's most stylish, entertaining, and gentlemanly personalities. Born in 1878 in Indianapolis, the son of poor rural parents, Taylor worked in a bike shop until prominent bicycle racer "Birdie" Munger coached him for his first professional racing successes in 1896. Despite continuous bureaucratic-and, at times, physical-opposition, he won his first national championship two years later and became world champion in 1899 in Montreal. This beautifully illustrated, vividly narrated, and scrupulously researched biography recreates the life of a great international athlete at the turn of the century. Based on ten years of research-including extensive interviews with Major Taylor's 91-year old daughter-this is the dramatic story of a young black man who, against prodigious odds, rose to fame and stardom in the tempestuous world of international professional bicycle racing a century ago.

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You’re certain to find your favorite butterfly— no matter how exotic—featured within the pages of this lavishly illustrated guide to Lepidoptera life on Earth.Take a fascinating tour of the butterflies of the world guided by renowned lepidopterist and writer Adrian Hoskins, who shares hundreds of spectacular color photographs captured at butterfly hot spots around the world.In the book’s opening chapters, Hoskins describes the evolution, anatomy, lifecycle, ecology, and taxonomy of the world’s butterflies. The second half of the book offers comprehensive coverage of every butterfly family, along with fascinating accounts of butterfly behavior. Readers of all backgrounds will be delighted and informed by interesting facts and stories about Lepidoptera, from the spectacular Tiger Swallowtail, Blue Morpho, and Tibetan Glory, to the legendary Giant Birdwings and the cryptic Variegated Rajah, Amber Phantom, and Scarlet-eyed Skipper.Many books about these beloved creatures focus exclusively on photos of butterflies, with little accompanying text and scant scientific value. However, in this book, Hoskins provides a scientifically rigorous introduction to butterflies that is suitable for both laypersons and professionals. Lepidopterists will benefit from the unique and extensive taxonomically based survey, while enthusiastic amateurs will learn more about butterfly biology without being overwhelmed by jargon.A unique global survey that touches on all butterfly families and subfamilies while celebrating their immense beauty and great diversity, Butterflies of the World is an essential reference and the best book of its kind.

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Ideal for backpacks and back pockets alike, this indispensable reference makes it easy to identify any tree commonly encountered between the Canadian Arctic and Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific—more than 350 species in all. It's a natural for birders, hikers, and other outdoorsy types, but even confirmed urbanites will find plenty of information on city trees as well. Concise yet comprehensive, the book's clear, methodical approach enables anyone to recognize trees at a glance. Developed in consultation with botanists from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Cornell University's renowned Bailey Hortorium, it separates species into two fundamental types: conifers and broad-leaved, then organizes them into genera based on common characteristics, presenting each in its presumed order of evolution. Major differences between species groups are explained, with advice on which parts of a tree to examine when a closer look is required. More than 1,000 annotated illustrations depict the height, shape, foliage, buds and seed of each species, with trees bearing a strong resemblance shown side by side to highlight their distinctive differences. The accompanying text and system of symbols provide the important details on features and habitat essential to quick, reliable identifications, while graphical keys indicate genus and species, listing both scientific and common names. The guide also includes a map charting tree hardiness and distribution based on widely recognized climactic zones; general information about individual species traits and history, a glossary; and more.

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Becoming Audible explores the phenomenon of human and animal acoustic entanglements in art and performance practices. Focusing on the work of artists who get into the spaces between species, Austin McQuinn discovers that sounding animality secures a vital connection to the creatural.To frame his analysis, McQuinn employs Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s concept of becoming-animal, Donna Haraway’s definitions of multispecies becoming-with, and Mladen Dolar’s ideas of voice-as-object. McQuinn considers birdsong in the work of Beatrice Harrison, Olivier Messiaen, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, Daniela Cattivelli, and Marcus Coates; the voice of the canine as a sacrificial lab animal in the operatic work of Alexander Raskatov; hierarchies of vocalization in human-simian cultural coevolution in theatrical adaptations of Franz Kafka and Eugene O’Neill; and the acoustic exchanges among hybrid human-animal creations in Harrison Birtwistle’s opera The Minotaur. Inspired by the operatic voice and drawing from work in art and performance studies, animal studies, zooarchaeology, social and cultural anthropology, and philosophy, McQuinn demonstrates that sounding animality in performance resonates “through the labyrinths of the cultural and the creatural,” not only across species but also beyond the limits of the human.Timely and provocative, this volume outlines new methods of unsettling human exceptionalism during a period of urgent reevaluation of interspecies relations. Students and scholars of human-animal studies, performance studies, and art historians working at the nexus of human and animal will find McQuinn’s book enlightening and edifying.

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Journey across the miles to encounter haunted streets and highways, railways and bridges, and even the friendly skies! In this collection of paranormal tales, the spirits don’t sit still. They ride the rails of ghostly trains and sit behind the wheels of spectral autos. From haunted bridges, ocean liners, and stage coaches to ghostly hitchhikers and cursed cars, the entities in this book like to travel! Meet a ghost who walks the Titanic exhibit – is he still looking for the sunken ship? A lovely temptress in Pennsylvania may lure you to your doom at the Birdsboro Bridge and she may even come up to your car to talk for a bit. Seattle’s underground labyrinth of streets may beckon you – beware, these ghosts from the 1800s are not camera shy. The spirits of Flight 401 will be on board, too, welcoming you to this tour of haunted travels. So hang on tight as you travel along the haunted highways and byways to spend time with ghostly travelers.

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A dynamic and fresh exploration of the naturalist Mark Catesby—who predated John James Audubon by nearly a century— and his influence on how we understand American wildlife.In 1722, Mark Catesby stepped ashore in Charles Town in the Carolina colony. Over the next four years, this young naturalist made history as he explored deep into America’s natural wonders, collecting and drawing plants and animals which had never been seen back in the Old World. Nine years later Catesby produced his magnificent and groundbreaking book, The Natural History of Carolina, the first-ever illustrated account of American flora and fauna. In Nature’s Messenger, acclaimed writer Patrick Dean follows Catesby from his youth as a landed gentleman in rural England to his early work as a naturalist and his adventurous travels. A pioneer in many ways, Catesby’s careful attention to the knowledge of non-Europeans in America—the enslaved Africans and Native Americans who had their own sources of food and medicine from nature—set him apart from others of his time. Nature’s Messenger takes us from the rice plantations of the Carolina Lowcountry to the bustling coffeehouses of 18th-century England, from the sun-drenched islands of the Bahamas to the austere meeting-rooms of London’s Royal Society, then presided over by Isaac Newton. It was a time of discovery, of intellectual ferment, and of the rise of the British Empire. And there on history’s leading edge, recording the extraordinary and often violent mingling of cultures as well as of nature, was Mark Catesby. Intensively researched and thrillingly told, Nature’s Messenger will thrill fans of exploration and early American history as well as appealing to birdwatchers, botanists, and anyone fascinated by the natural world.

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Written by resident experts, this new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's Dumfries and Galloway remains the only full-blown guide to this increasingly popular southwest corner of Scotland. The region is covered in depth, from Eskdale in the east to Scotland's southern tip at the Mull of Galloway, via Annandale, Nithsdale, Dumfries, The Stewartry, The Machars and Moors, and the Rhins. Lively descriptions, historical anecdotes and enthusiastic writing combine with hand-picked accommodation recommendations to reveal one of Scotland's best kept secrets. New attractions and features covered in this edition include Kirkcudbright Galleries, an increased focus on wildlife and birdwatching, and a round-up of the many distilleries and breweries in the region. There are also specialist contributions covering everything from smoking fish and meat, creating a Himalayan garden in the hills of the Southern Uplands, conservation along the Solway coast, and the sport of curling. New walks and a good range of hotels and restaurants not previously included have also been added. Dumfries and Galloway is proving ever-more alluring to discerning visitors in search of grand views, peace and isolation, bustling harbourside towns, craft shops and galleries, cafes and restaurants, mountains and coast, wildlife and outdoor pursuits. all the ingredients for a successful UK break. Even the weather can defy expectation, for the far west is warmed by the Gulf Stream and gardens here are replete with palm trees and southern hemisphere plants. You can be at Scotland's highest village in the morning, on a deserted sandy beach in the afternoon, and in Europe's first Dark Sky Park, gazing at the stars, in the evening. Wildlife lovers will also be in their element as all of Scotland's 'big five' iconic species can be seen: golden eagle, red squirrel, harbour seal, red deer and European otter. In the surrounding waters look out for minke whales, porpoise and dolphins, while Caerlaverock at the eastern end of the region plays host each year to the staggering annual spectacle of thousands of barnacle geese settling on the WWT reserve. No matter your interest, Bradt's Dumfries and Galloway is an ideal companion for a successful trip.

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The Cottage Life reflects our collective desire to escape the chaos of modern existence; to live with more purpose, more compassion and more joy. The Cottage Life is an essential guide to slow and simple living, inspired by the magical world of cottagecore. To follow the cottagecore aesthetic is to wear secondhand clothes that tell their own stories; to bake fresh bread and cakes, no matter how wonky the outcome; to spend time in nature, to observe and draw the plants, to breathe freshair and to connect with species beyond our own. It is taking the time to notice the seasons change, or to turn off your screen mindfully and pick up an old novel instead. It is lighting a fire on the first cool night of autumn and sipping a fresh cup of tea by the fireplace, or watching the first spring leaves unfurl after the long, dark winter.Celebrating the small joys in life, from the first birdsong of the morning to the taste of ripe plums on a summer afternoon. And, above all else, it is learning to slow down, connect with the world around you and be a more compassionate, conscientious citizen of the earth. Each chapter explores different ways of embracing the cottagecore lifestyle, such as interacting with nature, eating seasonally and getting creative. Inherently low-impact and green, cottagecore embraces reuse and recycling and celebrates an old-fashioned no-waste ethic. Fortunately for most, possession of a country cottage is not essential to embody the cottagecore spirit. With guidance on nurturing your home and small touches for interior decoration, The Cottage Life brings country living ideals to any space. Cottagecore is much more than a fashion trend or social media bandwagon. It is a peaceful protest against the darker elements of modern life—The Cottage Life is a gentle embrace with the past, encouraging you to truly enjoy the present and nurture a brighter future.

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Travel writer Gemma Hall explored Durham extensively by bicycle and on foot to produce this brand new title in Bradt's award-winning series of Slow travel guides to UK regions. Walkers, cyclists, wildlife lovers, families, foodies, culture vultures and railway enthusiasts are all catered for, with coverage of a wide range of attractions. As the only comprehensive guidebook to the county, it also contains all the practical information you could need to plan and enjoy time in this delightful, diverse yet under-explored English county. Unexpected treats throng here, from Tanfield Railway (the world's oldest line) to fellside Methodist chapels accessed by remote footpaths crossing silvery burns, and the Bowes Museum, where an automated silver swan comes to life at 2pm every day to 'catch' a fish. And even well-known sites offer surprises: famed for its cathedral, medieval streets, world-renowned university and 500 listed buildings, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham city is also the birthplace of English mustard. Durham city may be fêted by up to 4.37 million tourists a year (2019 figures), yet few visitors venture into the county's wider countryside, with its unsung wooded valleys, old mining villages, Heritage Coast Path, and the rugged hills and valleys of Weardale and Upper Teesdale, where national nature reserves harbour thriving meadows filled with relict plants from the last Ice Age. Key heritage attractions such as Castle Barnard's medieval fort and High Force waterfall (one of England's greatest) are described in intimate detail - but so too are many places that have never made it into a guide on Durham: lesser-known museums, historical buildings and birdwatching sites. Here too are more remote treats that need tracking down by cycling old railway trails, or on foot, following old packhorse trails to reach abandoned collieries, secluded bathing pools and the display grounds of the black grouse, a rare gamebird. Whether you are keen to visit Roman forts or understand England's industrial heritage, to wander the heathery uplands of Moor House or stride boldly along miles upon miles of coastline, discover Durham with Bradt's unique Slow guide.

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