Search results for ""Cypress""

Charlie Laird has a very bad feeling.1. There’s a NEW GIRL at school, and Charlie and his friends have DEFINITELY seen her before. 2. He’s been hearing strange noises after dark, which is NEVER a good sign.3. The nightmares are back, and they’re WEIRDER THAN EVER.Not since he faced his fears has Charlie had so many bad dreams. Whenever he falls asleep, he finds himself in a Netherworld field, surrounded by a flock of CREEPY BLACK SHEEP.They're not counting sheep. They refuse to jump. In fact, they don't do much at all. EVEN EERIER, THOUGH, is that it’s not Charlie’s nightmare. Somehow he’s trapped in someone else’s bad dream. And he’s pretty sure the twins ICK and INK are responsible.Charlie and his friends thought they’d put the twins out of business, but it seems they didn’t quite finish the job. Now the WOOLLY NIGHTMARES are closing in, and INK has shown up at Cypress Creek Elementary! Charlie’s convinced that INK is up to NO GOOD. And if he’s right, it could be a very long time before anyone’s dreams are sweet again.

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Imagine an urban oasis with hundreds of thousands of trees and whose mayor wants to plant a million more. That sylvan place is New York City, and this is a guide to the diverse trees that line its streets. Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City acquaints New Yorkers and visitors alike with fifty species of trees commonly found in the neighborhoods where people live, work, and travel. Beautiful, original drawings of leaves and stunning photographs of bark, fruit, flower, and twig accompany informative descriptions of each species. Detailed maps of the five boroughs identify all of the city's neighborhoods, and specific addresses pinpoint where to find a good example of each tree species. Trees provide invaluable benefits to the Big Apple: they reduce the rate of respiratory disease, increase property values, cool homes and sidewalks in the summer, block the harsh winds of winter, clean the air, absorb storm water runoff, and provide habitat and food for the city's wildlife. Bald cypress, swamp oak, silver linden, and all of New York's most common trees are just a page turn away. Your evening walk will never be the same once you come to know the quiet giants that line the city's streets.

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Imagine an urban oasis with hundreds of thousands of trees and whose mayor wants to plant a million more. That sylvan place is New York City, and this is a guide to the diverse trees that line its streets. Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City acquaints New Yorkers and visitors alike with fifty species of trees commonly found in the neighborhoods where people live, work, and travel. Beautiful, original drawings of leaves and stunning photographs of bark, fruit, flower, and twig accompany informative descriptions of each species. Detailed maps of the five boroughs identify all of the city's neighborhoods, and specific addresses pinpoint where to find a good example of each tree species. Trees provide invaluable benefits to the Big Apple: they reduce the rate of respiratory disease, increase property values, cool homes and sidewalks in the summer, block the harsh winds of winter, clean the air, absorb storm water runoff, and provide habitat and food for the city's wildlife. Bald cypress, swamp oak, silver linden, and all of New York's most common trees are just a page turn away. Your evening walk will never be the same once you come to know the quiet giants that line the city's streets.

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The Summer Queen is an evocative and grand historical novel from Margaret Pemberton, the bestselling author of A Season of Secrets and Beneath the Cypress Tree.August 1879, Osborne House. Queen Victoria has occupied the British throne for over forty years. Bringing together her extended family from across Europe offers a chance for old alliances to be strengthened and new unions to be forged.May Teck, daughter of a Duke and Princess, is constantly reminded that she lacks the pedigree to be a true royal. Considering herself an outsider, she finds comfort in meeting two kindred spirits at Osborne; creating a bond with them that she thinks will last forever.Alicky lives in the shadow of her older siblings and has never recovered from the death of her mother. Until she meets Nicky, heir to the Russian throne, who sweeps her off to his homeland where life will never be the same again.And then there is Willy, destined to be the future Kaiser of Germany. Suffering from a birth defect, he’s always kept his true feelings locked away and all the world sees is the bombastic persona he projects. As shifting forces of power send warning ripples across Europe, an unavoidable war looms on the horizon . . .

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The Garden is dying. Once an Edenic orchid farm, it has been decimated by the worst hurricane in Florida’s living memory. Its glasshouses are shattered, the surrounding mangroves encroach, and its men are dangerously idle. When Romeo – an expert breeder of the endangered ghost orchid – arrives from Honduras, boss Blanchard and his Irish lieutenant, Swallow, believe their fortunes are on the rise. Romeo may not be all he seems though, and Swallow can sense the newcomer shaking the Garden’s creaking hierarchy. The ghost orchid they seek is infamously rare, a delicate and wildly valuable species, hidden deep in the treacherous cypress swamps of the Fakahatchee Strand. To capture the ghost, Blanchard and Swallow must strike a deal with Logan, a dangerously unpredictable member of the local Seminole tribe, whose wounded pride, and simmering web of violence threaten to uproot any hope of success. As Blanchard’s obsession distracts him from what is truly precious, Swallow’s long-buried traumas will test his ability to stop lust, betrayal and death from engulfing the Garden. Paul Perry’s first solo novel tells of smothering power, loyalty and agency thwarted by the tragic patterns of memory and behaviour. The Garden is a modern fable, and a warning against trespassing upon nature in the name of profit.

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A captivating A–Z treasury for the tree hugger in all of usTreepedia is an entertaining and fact-filled illustrated compendium of tree lore. Featuring nearly 100 entries—on topics ranging from tree ecology and conservation to the role of trees in religion, literature, art, and movies—this enticing collection is a celebration of all things arboreal.In this charming book, Joan Maloof explains the difference between a cedar and a cypress, and reveals where to find the most remarkable trees on the planet. She tells the story behind the venerable Bodhi Tree, and describes peculiar species like baobabs and Fitzroya. Maloof profiles legendary conservationists such as Julia "Butterfly" Hill, John Muir, Wangari Maathai, and Ken Wu. She discusses reforestation, proforestation, emerald ash borers, the ents from The Lord of the Rings, culturally modified trees, the ill-fated and controversial Redwood Summer, and much more. The book's portable size makes it the perfect travel companion no matter where your love of the forest may lead you.With enchanting illustrations by Maren Westfall, Treepedia is a fun and informative book that is guaranteed to inspire anyone who has ever enjoyed a walk in the woods. Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design Uses 100 percent recycled, uncoated, wood-free paper

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A heart-warming Christmas tale about hope, friendship and being different. Children and grown-ups will fall in love with little Bruce Spruce and his fir tree friends! For ages 3-5 +. As the snow starts to fall on Christmas Eve morning, little Bruce Spruce dreams about finding a home for Christmas Day. But when things don't quite go to plan he finds that his friends are there for him - and all is not lost... This delightful new children's Christmas picture book from UK bestselling author of The Secret Lake, Karen Inglis, comes with stunning pen and ink hand-drawn illustrations by Anne Swift, featuring little Bruce Spruce, Penelope Pine, Douglas Fir and Cedrick Cypress - along with a charming Christmas robin and an inquisitive squirrel! Perfect for parents and grandparents to share with pre-school children and grandchildren or for nursery school or kindergarten teachers to share in class in the holiday season. The cast offers plenty of scope for children to dress up as the characters and act out the story and discuss hope, empathy, kindness and friendship. A wonderful Christmas story gift for children ages 3-5 or ages 4-6, and for all grown-ups who love picture books! Order with one click today!

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From the eighteenth-century single-room "mansions" of Delaware's Cypress Swamp district to the early twentieth-century suburban housing around Philadelphia and Wilmington, the architectural landscape of the mid-Atlantic region is both rich and varied. In this pioneering field guide to the region's historic vernacular architecture, Gabrielle Lanier and Bernard Herman describe the remarkably diverse building traditions that have overlapped and influenced one another for generations. With more than 300 illustrations and photographs, Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic explores the character of pre-1940 domestic and agricultural buildings in the towns and rural landscapes of southern New Jersey, Delaware, and coastal Maryland and Virginia. Approaching their subject "archaeologically," the authors examine the "layers" of a structure's past to show how it has changed over time and to reveal telling details about its occupants and the community in which they lived. The book provides architectural information as well as a working methodology for anyone wanting to explore and learn from traditional architecture and landscapes. The authors conclude that, as a vital cultural artifact, the distinctive architecture of the mid-Atlantic needs to be identified, recorded, and preserved. Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic gives proof to the insights architecture offers into who we are culturally as a community, a region, and a nation.

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South Carolina is state of great natural beauty and rich biodiversity. From mountainous rainforests to isolated barrier islands, the Palmetto State is a remarkable place to encounter abundant plant and animal life. Wild South Carolina, compiled by a mother-daughter team of naturalists, delves into the most intriguing outdoor destinations, offering advice on how, when, and where to experience the state’s ecological treasures. Organized by region and illustrated with more than 150 color photographs, this guidebook presents handpicked tours of 38 special parks, wildlife refuges, heritage preserves, and other public lands. Discover the federally endangered peregrine falcon in the ACE Basin, the breathtaking synchronized displays of fireflies at Congaree National Park, the world’s largest showing of rocky shoals spider lilies on the Catawba River, the rare Oconee bells nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the world’s oldest cypress-tupelo forest, and many more spectacular sights. Bike, hike, paddle, or even ride a horse while visiting the state’s dramatic waterfalls, boardwalk swamp trails, lighthouses, limestone caverns, a Moorish-styled castle, and much more. Observe deceptively-beautiful carnivorous plants in full bloom, tundra swans lounging in former rice paddies, and hundreds of raptors flying en masse along rocky cliffs. Grab a pair of binoculars, a water bottle, and your copy of Wild South Carolina to explore the best of South Carolina’s natural areas! Experience the wealth of South Carolina’s wonders first hand.

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Lose yourself in this dazzling travelogue of the idyllic Greek Islands by the king of travel writing and real-life family member of The Durrells in Corfu. 'Incandescent.' André Aciman'A magician.' The Times'Invades the reader's every sense ... Remarkable.' Victoria Hislop 'Nobody knows the Greek islands like Durrell.' New York Times White-washed houses drenched in pink bougainvillea; dazzling seascapes and rugged coastlines; colourful harbours in quaint fishing villages; shady olive and cypress groves; terraces bathed in the Aegean sun ... The Greek islands conjure up a treasure-chest of images - but nobody brings them to life as vividly as the legendary travel writer Lawrence Durrell. It was during his youth in Corfu - which his brother Gerald fictionalised in My Family and Other Animals, later filmed as The Durrells In Corfu - that his love affair with the Mediterranean began. Now, in this glorious tour of the Greek islands, he weaves evocative descriptions of these idyllic landscapes with insights into their ancient history, and shares luminous personal memories of his time in the local communities. No traveller to Greece or admirer of Durrell's magic should miss it.'Masterly ... Casts a spell.' Jan Morris'Charming ... Delightful.' Sunday Times 'Our last great garlicky master of the vanishing Mediterranean.' Richard Holmes'Like long letters from a civilized and very funny friend - the prose as luminous as the Mediterranean air he loves.' Time

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The work of the Japanese sculptor Toshimasa Kikuchi (born in 1979) is somehow bewilderingly obvious. Trained in the restoration of Buddhist statues, mastering to perfection the techniques of classical Japanese statuary, he carves pure forms in wood - geometric, hydrodynamic or figurative. His scientific repertory is of all time (mathematics, engineering, natural history), but his preferred materials and techniques are firmly grounded in tradition (Japanese hinoki cypress, urushi lacquer, kinpaku gold leaf). The installation he presents for his Carte Blanche at the musee Guimet in Paris, brings together a series of slender sculptures in lacquered wood of mathematical objects, in the tradition of the celebrated photographs that Man Ray took of them. These abstract forms, hanging from the ceiling like mobiles or laid on the floor like devotional objects, take shape through a virtuosity and craftsmanship seldom found in contemporary art. The book is lavishly illustrated by the Japanese photographer Tadayuki Minamoto, who was able to capture the magnificence of the mathematical abstraction of the works of Kikuchi; by photographs and paintings by Man Ray; and with fascinating mathematical objects from the Institut Henri Poincare, Paris, photographed by the French photographer Bertrand Michau. It is essential reading for lovers of surrealism and of the early years of twentieth-century abstraction as well as for all who are intrigued by the close relationship between art and mathematics.

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Apply decoupling patterns, properly test a decoupled project, and integrate a Django API with React, and Vue.js. This book covers decoupled architectures in Django, with Django REST framework and GraphQL. With practical and simple examples, you’ll see firsthand how, why, and when to decouple a Django project. Starting with an introduction to decoupled architectures versus monoliths, with a strong focus on the modern JavaScript scene, you’ll implement REST and GraphQL APIs with Django, add authentication to a decoupled project, and test the backend. You’ll then review functional testing for JavaScript frontends with Cypress. You will also learn how to integrate GraphQL in a Django project, with a focus on the benefits and drawbacks of this new query language. By the end of this book, you will be able to discern and apply all the different decoupling strategies to any Django project, regardless of its size.What You'll Learn Choose the right approach for decoupling a Django project Build REST APIs with Django and a Django REST framework Integrate Vue.js and GraphQL in a Django project Consume a Django REST API with Next.js Test decoupled Django projects Who This Book Is ForSoftware developers with basic Django skills keen to learn decoupled architectures with Django. JavaScript developers interested in learning full-stack development and decoupled architectures with Django.

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The first book to study Vincent van Gogh’s fascination with cypresses, the “tall and dark trees” that feature in some of his most iconic pictures Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) immortalized the cypress tree in signature images that have become synonymous with his fiercely original power of expression. This richly illustrated publication illuminates the backstory of his invention for the first time, from his initial investigations of the motif in benchmark drawings from Arles to his realization of their full evocative potential in such iconic canvases as The Starry Night and Wheat Field with Cypresses, painted at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. Susan Alyson Stein retraces the Dutch artist’s inspired response to the flamelike evergreens as they gained ground in his works and artistic thinking over the course of his sojourn in the South of France. The volume provides further insight into Van Gogh’s creative process through a technical study focused on two celebrated works from the artist’s epic painting campaign of June 1889. The visual and literary heritage of the cypresses is featured in a compilation of images and excerpts from nineteenth-century poetry, novels, and travel writing—many translated into English for the first time. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (May 22–August 27, 2023)

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SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SHOW, FROM THE NETWORK BEHIND THE WALKING DEAD'[W]hen I found Rice's work I absolutely loved how she took that genre and (...) made [it] feel so contemporary and relevant' Sarah Pinborough, bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes'[Rice wrote] in the great tradition of the gothic' Ramsey Campbell, bestselling author of The Hungry MoonThe 9th novel in Anne Rice's bestselling Vampire Chronicles. Mystery and magic combine in this masterpiece from the mistress of the vampire genreA terrifying drama of bloodlust and betrayal is unravelling within the Blackwood Farm family. Their grand Southern mansion, set among dark cypress swamps in Louisiana, harbours terrible, blood-stained secrets. Heir to them all is the young, rash and beautiful Quinn Blackwood. But he is being controlled an evil spirit, a demon who could destroy him and others. Only the unearthly power of the vampire Lestat, combined with the earthly powers of the ubiquitous Mayfair witch clan can save Quinn from himself, and rescue the doomed girl he loves from her own mortality.Shocking, savage and richly erotic, this novel brings us Anne Rice at her most powerfully disturbing. Here are vampire and witches, men and women, demons and doppelgangers, caught up in a maelstrom of death and destruction, blood and fire, cruelty and fate.

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Whiskey making has been an integral part of American history since frontier times. In Kentucky, early settlers brought stills to preserve grain, and they soon found that the limestone-filtered water and the unique climate of the scenic Bluegrass region made it an ideal place for the production of barrel-aged liquor. And so, bourbon whiskey was born.More than two hundred commercial distilleries were operating in Kentucky before Prohibition, but only sixty-one reopened after its repeal in 1933. As the popularity of America's native spirit increases worldwide, many historic distilleries are being renovated, refurbished, and brought back into operation. Unfortunately, these spaces, with their antique tools and aging architecture, are being dismantled to make way for modern structures and machinery. In The Birth of Bourbon, award-winning photographer Carol Peachee takes readers on an unforgettable tour of lost distilleries as well as facilities undergoing renewal, such as the famous Old Taylor and James E. Pepper distilleries in Lexington, Kentucky. This beautiful book also includes spaces that well-known brands, including Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, and Buffalo Trace, have preserved as a homage to their rich histories.Using a technique known as high-dynamic-range imaging -- a process that produces rich saturation, intensely clarified details, and a full spectrum of light -- Peachee reveals the vibrant life lingering in artifacts from worn cypress fermenting tubs to extravagant copper stills. This lavish celebration of bourbon's heritage will delight whiskey aficionados, history buffs, and art lovers alike.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT BOOK OF POETRY FROM LANA DEL REY, VIOLET BENT BACKWARDS OVER THE GRASS 'Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass is the title poem of the book and the first poem I wrote of many. Some of which came to me in their entirety, which I dictated and then typed out, and some that I worked laboriously picking apart each word to make the perfect poem. They are eclectic and honest and not trying to be anything other than what they are and for that reason I’m proud of them, especially because the spirit in which they were written was very authentic.' Lana Del Rey Lana’s breathtaking first book solidifies her further as 'the essential writer of her times' (The Atlantic). The collection features more than thirty poems, many exclusive to the book: Never to Heaven, The Land of 1,000 Fires, Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving, LA Who Am I to Love You?, Tessa DiPietro, Happy, Paradise Is Very Fragile, Bare Feet on Linoleum and many more. This beautiful hardcover edition showcases Lana’s typewritten manuscript pages alongside her original photography. The result is an extraordinary poetic landscape that reflects the unguarded spirit of its creator. Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass is also brought to life in an unprecedented spoken word audiobook which features Lana Del Rey reading fourteen select poems from the book accompanied by music from Grammy Award-winning musician Jack Antonoff.

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In a world filled with breathtaking beauty, we have often overlooked the elusive charm and magic of certain landscapes. A cloudy river flows into a verdant Arctic wetland where sandhill cranes and muskoxen dwell. Further south, cypress branches hang low over dismal swamps. Places like these–collectively known as swamplands or peatlands–often go unnoticed for their ecological splendor. They are as globally significant as rainforests, and function as critical carbon sinks for addressing our climate crisis. Yet, because of their reputation as wastelands, they are being systematically drained and degraded to make way for oilsands, mines, farms, and electricity. In Swamplands, journalist Edward Struzik celebrates these wild places, venturing into windswept bogs in Kauai and the last remnants of an ancient peatland in the Mojave Desert. The secrets of the swamp aren’t for the faint of heart. Ed loses a shoe to an Arctic wolf and finds himself ankle-deep in water during a lightning storm. But, the rewards are sweeter for the struggle: an enchanting Calypso orchid; an elusive yellow moth thought to be extinct; ancient animals preserved in lifelike condition down to the fur. Swamplands highlights the unappreciated struggle being waged to save peatlands by scientists, conservationists, and landowners around the world. An ode to peaty landscapes in all their offbeat glory, the book is also a demand for awareness of the myriad threats they face. It urges us to see the beauty and importance in these least likely of places. Our planet’s survival might depend on it.

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Plants and their essential oils have been used for healing since ancient times. Oils were used to anoint newborns and kings, care for the body, and treat the sick. In the Bible at least 33 different essential oils are specifically mentioned, and aromatic herbs, resins, and incense are referred to more than 1,000 times. Distilling the most significant of this healing wisdom, Karin Opitz-Kreher and Johannes Huber examine the ancient uses of essential oils, both in ritual and for health, and present an in-depth look at the 12 most important oils mentioned in the Bible, including how to use them for healing and well-being today. The essential oils featured in this full-colour guide are: cassia, galbanum, myrrh, myrtle, spikenard, onycha, sandalwood, frankincense, hyssop, cedar, cistus, and cypress. Each oil is explored in depth, beginning with the Bible verses that refer to it, followed by historical information about the oil, its botanical and chemical composition, its uses in folk medicine, and its modern uses for healing and well-being, including simple recipes and daily exercises. The book also discusses two alternative oils that can be used in place of rare or endangered essential oils. After looking at each essential oil individually, the authors describe how to create a blend of all 12 biblical oils, which promotes a high level of both physical and mental energy. The authors also examine other ancient references to essential oils, from Egyptian papyri to Ayurvedic tradition, showing how the sophisticated art of extracting plant essences has evolved over thousands of years.

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FIVE WENT INTO THE WOODS. TWO NEVER CAME BACK.'This book reminds me of the first time I read Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. It's THAT good.' STEVE CAVANAGH'An incredible thriller that kept me up reading. Intense. Wickedly smart. A stunning debut from a gifted author' ADRIAN McKINTY, bestselling author of The ChainErin Sloane was sixteen when high school senior Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends. They were her friends, too, led by the intense, charismatic Ricky Hell. Five people went into West Cypress Woods the night Andre was murdered. Only three came out.Ativan, alcohol and distance had dimmed Erin's memories of that time. But nearly twenty years later, an ageing father will bring her home. Now a journalist, she is asked to write a story about the Southport Three and the thrill-kill murder that electrified the country. Erin's investigation propels her closer and closer to a terrifying truth. And closer and closer to danger.An unforgettable story of murder, trauma and childhoods lost, I Shot the Devil is a taut, prize-winning debut novel from an electrifying new talent.This is a stunner of a debut thriller' THE IRISH INDEPENDENT'One of the freshest debuts to come along in a long time. A tense, irresistible thriller shot through with moments of unnerving darkness. A clever, compelling read.' DERVLA MCTIERNAN, #1 bestselling author of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn'I Shot The Devil is a dark, twisting thriller that gets deep under your skin.' MARK BRANDI'A powder-keg with a slow burning fuse . . . perfectly balanced and terrifically twisting, I Shot the Devil is for fans of Alex Marwood, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

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This is the first collection of letters by a member of the legendary 442nd Combat Team, which served in Italy and France during World War II. Written to his wife by a medic serving with the segregated Japanese American unit, the letters describe a soldier's daily life. Minoru Masuda was born and raised in Seattle. In 1939 he earned a master's degree in pharmacology and married Hana Koriyama. Two years later the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, and Min and Hana were imprisoned along with thousands of other Japanese Americans. When the Army recruited in the relocation camp, Masuda chose to serve in the 442nd. In April 1944 the unit was shipped overseas. They fought in Italy and in France, where they liberated Bruyeres and rescued a "lost battalion" that had been cut off by the Germans. After the German surrender on May 3, 1945, Masuda was among the last of the original volunteers to leave Europe; he arrived home on New Year's Eve 1945. Masuda's vivid and lively letters portray his surroundings, his daily activities, and the people he encountered. He describes Italian farmhouses, olive groves, and avenues of cypress trees; he writes of learning to play the ukulele with his "big, clumsy" fingers, and the nightly singing and bull sessions which continued throughout the war; he relates the plight of the Italians who scavenged the 442nd's garbage for food, and the mischief of French children who pelted the medics with snowballs. Excerpts from the 442nd daily medical log provide context for the letters, and Hana interposes brief recollections of her experiences. The letters are accompanied by snapshots, a drawing made in the field, and three maps drawn by Masuda.

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"Swiss explorer and photographer Stefan Forster admits that he is no stranger to dodging alligators and hiking for weeks in pursuit of the perfect photo. And an impressive new photobook shows that his efforts pay off handsomely." — Sarah Holt, Mail Online "This tome is a potential classic in the making and a masterclass in how straightforward landscape imagery should be done." — Amateur Photographer "Stunning pictures...luminous images..." — Examiner "Unbelievable...just amazing..." — WGN TV Chicago Captured in vivid colour and magnificent quality, the unique moments that photographer Stefan Forster discovers in out-of-the-way places in nature take place on adventurous backcountry trips far from civilisation, with Forster lugging up to 80 pounds in camera gear and camping equipment. With enormous enthusiasm and prepared for anything, he often hikes through remote areas for weeks at a time on his search for the extraordinary. He has taken long solo kayak expeditions along Greenland’s west coast, hopped from island to island in Micronesia, and slogged through the swamps of Louisiana and Texas to find the area’s most beautiful cypress trees, dodging alligators all the while. The results are unique and fascinating photos. This book presents this young photographer’s most beautiful experiences to date, including everything from rare rainstorms in the world’s driest desert and the Northern Lights shimmering through icebergs to spectacular shots of the Rocky Mountains. Forster was one of the first photographers to use state-of-the-art quadcopter drones, giving his pictures fresh, new perspectives. Stefan Forster published some of these aerial shots for the first time in Above the World – Earth Through a Drone’s Eye, released by teNeues in September 2016. The following locations are included in the book: Switzerland Iceland Greenland Antarctica Peninsula Utah Colorado South Dakota Louisiana Washington Namibia Westcoast, Scotland Uganda New Zealand Seychelles La Gomera Tasmania Philippines Australia Indonesia Text in English, French and German.

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"The difference between Normski’s photograph of me and any other is that it captures my soul." — Goldie "He was a larger-than-life character, full of energy and totally motivating. He really was the hip hop photographer of the day in the UK." — Stereo MC’s "This book contains a striking catalogue of images, many of which have been exhibited by establishments such as Tate Britain, the V&A, Somerset House and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture." — Marcus Barnes "On the heels of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, Man with the Golden Shutter is a celebratory record of hip-hop as much as it is a definitive collection of Normski’s incredible photographs." — GQ Middle East Normski was a vital witness to the period known as the Golden Age of Rap, when big US artists like Run DMC, LL Cool J and Public Enemy started to play in the UK. At the same time, a British music scene born of Black music and myriad multicultural influence was developing, giving birth to Jungle, Garage and Techno. The author, who describes himself as having been a “young Black British homeboy photographer”, was in the right place at the right time to document the emergent music, community and social movements of hip hop and rap in the UK. Normski: Man with the Golden Shutter presents Normski’s personal journey through that world from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. The book includes Normski’s often previously unseen photographs of Public Enemy, N.W.A., Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Goldie, Ice-T, Run DMC, Wu-Tang Clan and many others, alongside the photographer’s stories and anecdotes from the centre of what would become a hugely influential cultural movement.

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Emerging from the fog, San Francisco tempts with its scenic beauty and outstanding cultural heritageWhether you want to muse over modern masterpieces at SFMOMA, indulge in the hedonistic nightlife of the Castro, or uncover cypress-tree sculptures in the Presidio forest, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that San Francisco and the Bay Area have to offer.The glowing Golden Gate Bridge is the quintessential image of San Francisco, but there's so much more to discover - a forward-thinking foodie scene, an eclectic arts scene and countless festivals and events. Further afield, Bayfront cities Oakland and Berkeley beckon, while the lush vineyards of California Wine Country unfurl in easy reach.Our updated guide brings San Francisco and the Bay Area to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the region's iconic buildings and neighbourhoods.You'll discover:-our pick of San Francisco and the Bay Area's must-sees, top experiences and hidden gems-the best spots to eat, drink, shop and stay-detailed maps and walks which make navigating the region easy-easy-to-follow itineraries-expert advice: get ready, get around and stay safe-colour-coded chapters to every part of San Francisco and the Bay Area, from from Golden Gate Park and Land's End to Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach, Presidio and Richmond to Haight Ashbury and the Mission-a lightweight format, so you can take it with you wherever you goWant the best of San Francisco and the Bay Area in your pocket? Try our DK Eyewitness Top 10 San Francisco

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FIVE WENT INTO THE WOODS. TWO NEVER CAME BACK.'This book reminds me of the first time I read Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. It's THAT good.' STEVE CAVANAGH'An incredible thriller that kept me up reading. This is the book people will be talking about in 2021.' ADRIAN McKINTY, bestselling author of The ChainErin Sloane was sixteen when high school senior Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends. They were her friends, too, led by the intense, charismatic Ricky Hell. Five people went into West Cypress Woods the night Andre was murdered. Only three came out.Ativan, alcohol and distance had dimmed Erin's memories of that time. But nearly twenty years later, an ageing father will bring her home. Now a journalist, she is asked to write a story about the Southport Three and the thrill-kill murder that electrified the country. Erin's investigation propels her closer and closer to a terrifying truth. And closer and closer to danger.An unforgettable story of murder, trauma and childhoods lost, I Shot the Devil is a taut, prize-winning debut novel from an electrifying new talent.This is a stunner of a debut thriller' THE IRISH INDEPENDENT'One of the freshest debuts to come along in a long time. A tense, irresistible thriller shot through with moments of unnerving darkness. A clever, compelling read.' DERVLA MCTIERNAN, #1 bestselling author of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn'I Shot The Devil is a dark, twisting thriller that gets deep under your skin.' MARK BRANDI'A powder-keg with a slow burning fuse . . . perfectly balanced and terrifically twisting, I Shot the Devil is for fans of Alex Marwood, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

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Focusing on the often unrecognized role race plays in expressions of Chicano culture, Mestizaje is a provocative exploration of the volatility and mutability of racial identities. In this important moment in Chicano studies, Rafael Pérez-Torres reveals how the concepts and realities of race, historical memory, the body, and community have both constrained and opened possibilities for forging new and potentially liberating multiracial identities. Informed by a broad-ranging theoretical investigation of identity politics and race and incorporating feminist and queer critiques, Pérez-Torres skillfully analyzes Chicano cultural production. Contextualizing the history of mestizaje, he shows how the concept of mixed race has been used to engage issues of hybridity and voice and examines the dynamics that make mestizo and mestiza identities resistant to, as well as affirmative of, dominant forms of power. He also addresses the role that mestizaje has played in expressive culture, including the hip-hop music of Cypress Hill and the vibrancy of Chicano poster art. Turning to issues of mestizaje in literary creation, Pérez-Torres offers critical readings of the works of Emma Pérez, Gil Cuadros, and Sandra Cisneros, among others. This book concludes with a consideration of the role that the mestizo body plays as a site of elusive or displaced knowledge. Moving beyond the oppositions—nationalism versus assimilation, men versus women, Texans versus Californians—that have characterized much of Chicano studies, Mestizaje synthesizes and assesses twenty-five years of pathbreaking thinking to make a case for the core components, sensibilities, and concerns of the discipline. Rafael Pérez-Torres is professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is author of Movements in Chicano Poetry: Against Myths, Against Margins, coauthor of To Alcatraz, Death Row, and Back: Memories of an East LA Outlaw, and coeditor of The Chicano Studies Reader: An Anthology of Aztlán, 1970–2000.

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*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 BRITISH BOOK DESIGN & PRODUCTION AWARDS*  THE IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER and IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘A masterpiece’ Max Porter ‘One of the most inspired items of environmental literature in recent years.’ Irish Independent If trees have memories, respond to stress, and communicate, what can they tell us? And will we listen? A stunning international collaboration that reveals how trees make our world, change our minds and rewild our lives – from root to branch to seed. In this beautifully illustrated collection, artist Katie Holten gifts readers her visual Tree Alphabet and uses it to masterfully translate and illuminate pieces from some of the world’s most exciting writers and artists, activists and ecologists. Holten guides us on a journey from prehistoric cave paintings and creation myths to the death of a 3,500 year-old cypress tree, from Tree Clocks in Mongolia and forest fragments in the Amazon to the language of fossil poetry. In doing so, she unearths a new way of seeing the natural beauty that surrounds us and creates an urgent reminder of what could happen if we allow it to slip away. Printed in deep green ink, The Language of Trees is a celebratory homage filled with prose, poetry and art from over fifty collaborators, including Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Macfarlane, Zadie Smith, Radiohead, Elizabeth Kolbert, Amitav Ghosh, Richard Powers, Suzanne Simard, Gaia Vince, Tacita Dean, Plato and Robin Wall Kimmerer. ‘Immersive, celebratory… all beautifully illustrated.’ Observer ‘A visual reminder that, like strong oaks from little acorns, we still can create the world in which we wish to live.’ Kerri ní Dochartaigh ‘A thoughtful and incisive view of Nature across the globe.’ The Countryman

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A popular tourist area, North Carolina’s coastal region is the destination of roughly 25 percent of all North Carolina visitors each year, or approximately 12.1 million people. Composed of twenty-eight of the eastern-most counties of North Carolina, the Coastal Plain is the largest and most diverse of the state’s three biogeographical regions. Beginning with an overview of early naturalists who marveled at the region’s natural treasures, Eric G. Bolen and James F. Parnell’s natural history of the Coastal Plain offers a nature-focused walk through the distinctive geological features and plant and animal communities of the area that extends from the Fall Line (delineated approximately by I-95) to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This richly illustrated volume presents a journey that begins with the Outer Banks and their beaches, dunes, wild horses, and maritime forests, then moves on to describe the form and functions of the region’s extensive salt marshes. The text continues with visits to the mysterious Carolina bays, Lake Waccamaw, dark cypress swamps, the Great Dismal Swamp, and blackwater streams. Along the way, readers will discover the habitat—and concern—for the last remaining wild population of red wolves and the recently established nesting colonies of wood stork. Rivers and sounds, highlighted by seagrasses, bottomland forests, and eel migrations, come next, followed by a tour of uplands, where bogs of carnivorous plants dot wet savannahs; also presented are the Carolina Sandhills with their stately forests of longleaf pine, colorful tree frogs, burrowing snakes, and unique fishes. To conclude, an afterword discusses the reasons for saving endangered species.Infoboxes scattered throughout the text offer stand-alone explorations of historical and cultural topics associated with North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. Subjects such as whaling, waterfowl decoys, the chanteys of menhaden fisherman, fire ecology, and the extinction of Carolina parakeets illustrate the breadth of coverage. For reference, an appendix cites the scientific names of species mentioned in the text, and a list of readings and references appends each chapter.

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Sun-drenched piazzas, world-class art collections and rolling countryside dotted with cypress trees - Florence and Tuscany have all this and more. Make the most of your trip to Florence and Tuscany with DK Eyewitness Top 10.Planning is a breeze with our simple lists of ten, covering the very best that Florence and Tuscany have to offer and ensuring that you don't miss a thing. Best of all, the pocket-friendly format is light and easily portable; the perfect companion while out and about.Inside DK Eyewitness Top 10 Florence & Tuscany you will find: #- Up-to-date information with insider tips and advice for staying safe.- Top 10 lists of Florence & Tuscany's must-sees, including the Uffizi, the Duomo, Pitti Palace, Siena's Duomo, Chianti and more.- Florence & Tuscany's most interesting areas, with the best places for sightseeing, food and drink, and shopping.- Themed lists, including the best villas and gardens, spas and resorts, wine houses, children's attractions, things to do for free and much more.- Easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week.- A laminated pull-out map of Florence & Tuscany, plus 5 full-colour area maps.Looking for more on Florence and Tuscany's culture, history and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness Florence and Tuscany.About DK Eyewitness:At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travellers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.

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The gardens and estate of La Foce constitute one of the most important and best kept early twentieth-century gardens in Italy. Amid 3,500 acres of farmland in the countryside near Pienza, with sweeping views of the Tuscan landscape, La Foce was the childhood dream garden of the late writer Marchesa Iris Origo. Passionate about the order and symmetry of Florentine gardens, Origo and her husband, Antonio, purchased the dilapidated villa in 1924, soliciting the help of English architect and family friend Cecil Pinsent to reawaken the natural magic of the property. Pinsent designed the structure of simple, elegant, box-edged beds and green enclosures that give shape to the Origos' shrubs, perennials, and vines, and created a garden of soaring cypress walks, native cyclamen, lawns, and wildflower meadows. It is, by all accounts, a remarkable achievement. Today the garden is a place of unusual and striking beauty, a green oasis in the barren Siena countryside. Situated in the Val d'Orcia, a wide valley in southeastern Tuscany that seems to exist on a larger, wilder scale than the rest of the Tuscan landscape, it is run by Benedetta and Donata Origo, and is open to the public one day a week. La Foce: A Garden and Landscape in Tuscany is a contemplative, multifaceted study of the house, gardens, and estate of La Foce. It includes a historical essay and memoir by the daughter of La Foce's creators, Antonio and Iris Origo, along with photographs, sketches, and a critical analysis of the gardens. The volume not only focuses on the beauty of the gardens themselves and their indisputable merit as fascinating works of landscape architecture but also sees them within the context of both the larger Tuscan topography and the wider landscape of geography and history. The book will be a delight to armchair travelers, trade and landscape architects, gardeners, and those interested in Tuscan culture.

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Get your passport ready and your vacation planner out! This book contains over 100 destinations to choose from, brought to life through stunning photography.Maybe you want to know the finest place to go to in June, or you want to know the best time of year to witness a natural wonder, enjoy a festival or go on an action-adventure. This book will help you plan the ultimate experience.Each month of the year has a dedicated chapter, so you'll know the perfect travel destination for that time of year. Perhaps you're looking for a place to have a June honeymoon, a September wedding anniversary getaway or a March birthday adventure - there are over 100 destinations listed to spark your vacation dreams. Discover when to explore Costa Rica's rainforests, journey into the clouds in Nepal, sail between Croatia's cypress-clad islands or gaze at the saw-toothed crags of Canada's Rocky Mountains. Learn about just the right moment to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Japan, or the reindeer in Lapland. Maybe you want to know when you can visit the Hawaiian island of Kauai or the ruins of ancient Lycia all to yourself?Vibrant photographs bring these destinations a little bit closer to home, so you can imagine yourself there. There's a stimulating narrative describing the glorious locations and activities. This coffee table book has tips to help you plan your vacation with helpful information like the closest international airports, how to get around and the average temperature for the month. Just in case you can't make it that month, the book includes another month that is equally pleasant and worthwhile. Unforgettable trips for every monthThis book has everything you need to choose an exciting place to spend your vacation and the best possible time of year to go. You can find the perfect place to visit no matter when you want to travel, so you can create and collect special memories. This book makes a wonderful wedding gift, with many honeymoon ideas.Let us be your travel guide!Holiday destinations, month by month.Glorious photos to inspire you.Helpful narrative to help you imagine being there yourself.

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A full-color guide to the tree horoscope calendar--where 22 archetypal trees are associated with different dates throughout the year • Explains how to determine your personal tree of life depending on your date of birth and how this tree reveals your gifts, talents, and life path • Features full-color photos that capture the true spirit of the trees • Details each tree’s spiritual meaning, element family, essential qualities, healing effects, gifts and talents, and symbolism Drawing on her intimate knowledge of trees and connections to Celtic traditions, Daniela Christine Huber shares a new interpretation of the tree horoscope calendar--where 22 archetypal trees are associated with different dates throughout the year and just like birth stones or astrological signs can reveal your innate talents and unique life path. Featuring full-color photos that capture the true spirit of the trees as well as in-depth descriptions of the characteristic qualities of the tree personality types, Huber’s guide explains how to determine your personal tree of life depending on your date of birth and reveals how this tree stands by your side with its gifts and talents as a faithful friend and companion for a lifetime. The 22 trees of the calendar are Oak, Hazelnut, Rowan, Maple, Walnut, Yew, Chestnut, Ash, Hornbeam, Fig, Birch, Apple, Fir, Elm, Olive, Cypress, Poplar, Cedar, Pine, Willow, Linden, and Beech. Each tree species occurs twice in the annual cycle, except for Oak, Birch, Olive, and Beech, which are specially assigned to the equinoxes and solstices. Each tree description explores the tree’s spiritual meaning, element family, essential qualities, healing effects, gifts and talents, and symbolism. The author also includes an everlasting birthday calendar to record the birthdates of your family and friends, and she looks at the birth trees of several famous people. Showing how each of the 22 trees of the tree horoscope holds great power, Huber explains how your birth tree is the guardian of your individual potential and reveals the abilities and talents available to you in your life. Recognizing and developing the gifts that your birth tree reveals can help you dissolve entrenched habits and patterns, regain inner balance, and activate the full potential of your tree horoscope destiny.

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Get your passport ready and your holiday planner out! This book has over 100 destinations to choose from, brought to life through stunning photography.Maybe you want to know the finest place to go to in June, or you want to know the best time of year to witness a natural wonder, enjoy a festival, or go on an action-adventure. This book will help you plan the ultimate experience.Each month of the year has a dedicated chapter, so you'll know the perfect travel destination for that time of year. Perhaps you are looking for a place to have a June honeymoon, a September wedding anniversary getaway, or a March birthday adventure: there are over 100 destinations listed to spark your vacation dreams. Discover when to explore Costa Rica's rainforests, journey into the clouds in Nepal, sail between Croatia's cypress-clad islands, or gaze at the saw-toothed crags of Canada's Rocky Mountains. Learn about just the right moment to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Japan, or the reindeer in Lapland. Maybe you want to know when you can visit the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i or the ruins of ancient Lycia all to yourself?Vibrant photographs bring these destinations a little bit closer to home so you can imagine yourself there. There's a stimulating narrative describing the glorious locations and activities. This coffee table book has tips to help you plan your holiday, with helpful information such as the closest international airports, how to get around, and the average temperature for the month. Just in case you can't make it that month, the book includes another month that is equally pleasant and worthwhile. Unforgettable trips for every monthThis book has everything you need to choose an exciting place to spend your vacation and the best possible time of year to go. You can find the perfect place to visit no matter when you want to travel, so you can create and collect special memories. This book makes a wonderful wedding gift, with many honeymoon ideas.Let us be your travel guide!- Holiday destinations, month by month.- Glorious photos to inspire you.- Helpful narrative to imagine being there yourself.

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Delicious cuisine, spectacular art and lush landscapes await in Florence and Tuscany.Whether you want to sample delicious Tuscan food and wine, gaze at the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa or browse eclectic markets in Florence, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that this region has to offer. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is filled with architectural masterpieces and dazzling collections of art. Yet the countryside is just as mesmerizing, with cypress-lined roads leading to picturesque towns and idyllic islands lying just off the coast.Our newly-updated guide brings Florence and Tuscany to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights and advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the region's iconic buildings and neighbourhoods. DK Eyewitness Florence & Tuscany is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime. Inside DK Eyewitness Florence and Tuscany you will find: - A fully-illustrated top experiences guide: our expert pick of Florence and Tuscany's must-sees and hidden gems.- Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day.- Expert advice: honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money.- Colour-coded chapters to every part of Florence and Tuscany, from Santa Croce to Oltrarno, Central Tuscany to Southwest Tuscany.- Practical tips: the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay.- Detailed maps and walks to help you navigate the region country easily and confidently.- Covers: Tuscany, Florence, Around the Duomo, Around Santa Croce, Around San LorenzoOltrarno, Tuscany, North East Tuscany, Central Tuscany, South East Tuscany, North West TuscanySouth West Tuscany.Touring the country? Try our DK Eyewitness Italy. Want the best of Florence and Tuscany in your pocket? Try our DK Eyewitness Top 10 Florence and Tuscany.About DK Eyewitness: At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travellers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.

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A comprehensive framework for capitalizing on the growing market for Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Senior Residences equips architects and other industry professionals with a proven executive strategy for the design and development of successful Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) projects. Using two of America's foremost CCRCs as best practice case studies, it guides readers through every critical aspect of the process, from research and planning through construction, including: * The enterprise concept * Formation of an executive organization * Financial and legal due diligence * Marketing and sales preparation * Residents' expectations and requirements * Healthcare and residential services * The design and build process * Project monitoring and assessment The over-65 population is increasing rapidly and dramatically, raising crucial concerns about the housing and care of senior citizens in the years ahead. How can we provide the best possible quality of care to the elderly? How can architects, developers, and others capitalize on the growing senior housing industry and stay competitive in the future? How can the facilities they create deliver both good service and strong financial returns? While there are no easy answers to these important questions, the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) model has emerged as a flexible and attractive option for providing combined housing, services, and nursing care to the elderly. Senior Residences equips architects and other industry professionals with a comprehensive, three-part strategic framework for designing and developing successful CCRC projects. Part I identifies the eight critical success factors of a CCRC enterprise and illustrates them through an in-depth examination of two exemplary developments, The Cypress of South Carolina's Hilton Head Island and The Stratford in the San Francisco Peninsula. Part II details a computer-based "standard of performance" system to track progress and assess project performance. Finally, Part III examines how to use different types of research to stay on top of market trends and forecasts, legal and licensing requirements, and more. Together, the three elements of this executive strategy cover every aspect of the development process, from the initial enterprise concept and executive organization building to financial and legal due diligence, marketing and sales, residents' services and healthcare, and design and build. Readers gain essential guidance in tackling key project management issues as well as in developing effective problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Written by an author team with extensive CCRC experience, Senior Residences helps encourage avenues of thought that will lead to more cohesive, responsive, and successful CCRC projects that benefit the professionals who build them and the residents who live in them.

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Marco Polo Pocket Guide Tuscany: the Travel Guide with Insider Tips Explore Tuscany with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the region's trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget. There are plenty of ideas for travel with kids, and a summary of all the festivals and events that take place. Let Marco Polo show you all this wonderful Italian region has to offer… Tuscany is the epitome of beauty – terraced hills, silvery shimmering olive trees, perfectly laid-out red earth vineyards, stone walls, grazing sheep, dark green cypress trees lining feudal villas and farmhouses where people come together to enjoy wine and good food in the glow of the setting sun. This is a world from another time and one that stirs the soul. A trip through this part of Italy is a feast for all the senses. … This is Tuscany! Your Marco Polo Tuscany Pocket Guide includes: Insider Tips – we show you the hidden gems and little-known secrets that offer a real insight into the region. Discover exquisite Tuscan caviar, enjoy a relaxed ride through the flower-filled Chianti hills on a Vespa or follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi. Best of – find the best things to do for free, the best ‘only in’ Tuscany experiences, the best things to do if it rains and the best places to relax and spoil yourself. Sightseeing – all the top sights are organised by area so you can easily plan your trip. Discovery Tours – specially tailored tours will get you to the heart of Tuscany. From magnificent art to delightful bathing spots, you can experience all of Tuscany’s unique character with these personal tours. Tuscany in full-colour – Marco Polo Pocket Guide Tuscany includes full-colour photos throughout the guide bringing the region to life offering you a real taste of what you can see and enjoy on your trip. Touring App – download any of the Discovery Tours to your smartphone, complete with the detailed route description and map exactly as featured in the guide, free of charge. The maps can be used offline too, so no roaming charges. The perfect navigational tool with distance indicators and landmarks highlighting the correct direction to travel in as well as GPS coordinates along the way. Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and never get lost again! Road Atlas and pull-out map – we’ve included a detailed road atlas and a handy, pull-out map so you can pop the guide in your bag for a full-on sightseeing day or head out with just the map to enjoy your Discovery Tour. A small street map of Florence is also included. Useful Italian phrases – the essential words and phrases are included to help you get by. Trust Marco Polo Pocket Guide Tuscany to show you around this fabulous Italian region. The comprehensive coverage and unique insights will ensure you experience everything Tuscany has to offer and more. The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy.

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“SOA Design Patterns is an important contribution to the literature and practice of building and delivering quality software-intensive systems.” - Grady Booch, IBM Fellow “With the continued explosion of services and the increased rate of adoption of SOA through the market, there is a critical need for comprehensive, actionable guidance that provides the fastest possible time to results. Microsoft is honored to contribute to the SOA Design Patterns book, and to continue working with the community to realize the value of Real World SOA.” - Steven Martin, Senior Director, Developer Platform Product Management, Microsoft “SOA Design Patterns provides the proper guidance with the right level of abstraction to be adapted to each organization’s needs, and Oracle is pleased to have contributed to the patterns contained in this book.” - Dr. Mohamad Afshar, Director of Product Management, Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle “Red Hat is pleased to be involved in the SOA Design Patterns book and contribute important SOA design patterns to the community that we and our customers have used within our own SOA platforms. I am sure this will be a great resource for future SOA practitioners.” - Pierre Fricke Director, Product Line Management, JBoss SOA Platform, Red Hat “A wealth of proven, reusable SOA design patterns, clearly explained and illustrated with examples. An invaluable resource for all those involved in the design of service-oriented solutions.” - Phil Thomas, Consulting IT Specialist, IBM Software Group “This obligatory almanac of SOA design patterns will become the foundation on which many organizations will build their successful SOA solutions. It will allow organizations to build their own focused SOA design patterns catalog in an expedited fashion knowing that it contains the wealth and expertise of proven SOA best practices.” - Stephen Bennett, Director, Technology Business Unit, Oracle Corporation “The technical differences between service orientation and object orientation are subtle enough to confuse even the most advanced developers. Thomas Erl’s book provides a great service by clearly articulating SOA design patterns and differentiating them from similar OO design patterns.” - Anne Thomas Manes, VP & Research Director, Burton Group “SOA Design Patterns does an excellent job of laying out and discussing the areas of SOA design that a competent SOA practitioner should understand and employ.” - Robert Laird, SOA Architect, IBM “As always, Thomas delivers again. In a well-structured and easy-to-understand way, this book provides a wonderful collection of patterns each addressing a typical set of SOA design problems with well articulated solutions. The plain language and hundreds of diagrams included in the book help make the complicated subjects of SOA design comprehensible even to those who are new to the SOA design world. It’s a must-have reference book for all SOA practitioners, especially for enterprise architects, solution architects, developers, managers, and business process experts.” - Canyang Kevin Liu, Solution Architecture Manager, SAP “The concept of service oriented architecture has long promised visions of agile organizations being able to swap out interfaces and applications as business needs change. SOA also promises incredible developer and IT productivity, with the idea that key services would be candidates for cross-enterprise sharing or reuse. But many organizations’ efforts to move to SOA have been mired–by organizational issues, by conflicting vendor messages, and by architectures that may amount to little more than Just a Bunch of Web Services. There’s been a lot of confusion in the SOA marketplace about exactly what SOA is, what it’s supposed to accomplish, and how an enterprise goes about in making it work. SOA Design Patterns is a definitive work that offers clarity on the purpose and functioning of service oriented architecture. SOA Design Patterns not only helps the IT practitioner lay the groundwork for a well-functioning SOA effort across the enterprise, but also connects the dots between SOA and the business requirements in a very concrete way. Plus, this book is completely technology agnostic—SOA Design Patterns rightly focuses on infrastructure and architecture, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re using components of one kind or another, or Java, or .NET, or Web services, or REST-style interfaces. While no two SOA implementations are alike, Thomas Erl and his team of contributors have effectively identified the similarities in composition services need to have at a sub-atomic level in order to interact with each other as we hope they will. The book identifies 85 SOA design patterns which have been developed and thoroughly vetted to ensure that a service-oriented architecture does achieve the flexibility and loose coupling promised. The book is also compelling in that it is a living document, if you will, inviting participation in an open process to identify and formulate new patterns to this growing body of knowledge.” - Joe McKendrick, Independent Analyst, Author of ZDNet’s SOA Blog “If you want to truly educate yourself on SOA, read this book.” - Sona Srinivasan, Global Client Services & Operations, CISCO “An impressive decomposition of the process and architectural elements that support serviceoriented analysis, design, and delivery. Right-sized and terminologically consistent. Overall, the book represents a patient separation of concerns in respect of the process and architectural parts that underpin any serious SOA undertaking. Two things stand out. First, the pattern relationship diagrams provide rich views into the systemic relationships that structure a service-oriented architecture: these patterns are not discrete, isolated templates to be applied mechanically to the problem space; rather, they form a network of forces and constraints that guide the practitioner to consider the task at hand in the context of its inter-dependencies. Second, the pattern sequence diagrams and accompanying notes provide a useful framework for planning and executing the many activities that comprise an SOA engagement.” - Ian Robinson, Principal Technology Consultant, ThoughtWorks “Successful implementation of SOA principles requires a shift in focus from software system means, or the way capabilities are developed, to the desired end results, or real-world effects required to satisfy organizational business processes. In SOA Design Patterns, Thomas Erl provides service architects with a broad palette of reusable service patterns that describe service capabilities that can cut across many SOA applications. Service architects taking advantage of these patterns will save a great deal of time describing and assembling services to deliver the real world effects they need to meet their organization’s specific business objectives.” - Chuck Georgo, Public Safety and National Security Architect “In IT, we have increasingly come to see the value of having catalogs of good solution patterns in programming and systems design. With this book, Thomas Erl brings a comprehensive set of patterns to bear on the world of SOA. These patterns enable easily communicated, reusable, and effective solutions, allowing us to more rapidly design and build out the large, complicated and interoperable enterprise SOAs into which our IT environments are evolving.” - Al Gough, Business Systems Solutions CTO, CACI International Inc. “This book provides a comprehensive and pragmatic review of design issues in service-centric design, development, and evolution. The Web site related to this book [SOAPatterns.org] is a wonderful platform and gives the opportunity for the software community to maintain this catalogue….” - Veronica Gacitua Decar, Dublin City University “Erl’s SOA Design Patterns is for the IT decision maker determined to make smart architecture design choices, smart investments, and long term enterprise impact. For those IT professionals committed to service-orientation as a value-added design and implementation option, Patterns offers a credible, repeatable approach to engineering an adaptable business enterprise. This is a must read for all IT architect professionals.” - Larry Gloss, VP and General Manager, Information Manufacturing, LLC “These SOA patterns define, encompass, and comprise a complete repertoire of best practices for developing a world-class IT SOA portfolio for the enterprise and its organizational units through to service and schema analysis and design. After many years as an architect on many SOA projects, I strongly recommend this book be on the shelf of every analyst and technical member of any SOA effort, right next to the SOA standards and guidelines it outlines and elucidates the need for. Our SOA governance standards draw heavily from this work and others from this series.” - Robert John Hathaway III, Enterprise Software Architect, SOA Object Systems “A wise man once told me that wisdom isn’t all about knowledge and intelligence, it is just as much about asking questions. Asking questions is the true mark of wisdom and during the writing of the SOA Design Patterns book Thomas Erl has shown his real qualities. The community effort behind this book is huge meaning that Thomas has had access to the knowledge and experience of a large group of accomplished practitioners. The result speaks for itself. This book is packed with proven solutions to recurring problems, and the documented pros and cons of each solution have been verified by persons with true experience. This book could give SOA initiatives of any scale a real boost.” - Herbjörn Wilhelmsen, Architect and Senior Consultant, Objectware “This book is an absolute milestone in SOA literature. For the first time we are provided with a practical guide on how the principle centric description of service orientation from a vendor-agnostic viewpoint is actually made to work in a language based on patterns. This book makes you talk SOA! There are very few who understand SOA like Thomas Erl does, he actually put’s it all together!” - Brian Lokhorst, Solution Architect, Dutch Tax Office “Service oriented architecture is all about best practices we have learned since IT’s existence. This book takes all those best practices and bundles them into a nice pattern catalogue. [It provides] a really excellent approach as patterns are not just documented but are provided with application scenarios through case studies [which] fills the gap between theory and practice.” - Shakti Sharma, Senior Enterprise Architect, Sysco Corp “An excellent and important book on solving problems in SOA [with a] solid structure. Has the potential of being among the major influential books.” - Peter Chang, Lawrence Technical University “SOA Design Patterns presents a vast amount of knowledge about how to successfully implement SOA within an organization. The information is clear, concise, and most importantly, legitimate.” - Peter B. Woodhull, President and Principal Architect, Modus21 “SOA Design Patterns offers real insights into everyday problems that one will encounter when investing in services oriented architecture. [It] provides a number of problem descriptions and offers strategies for dealing with these problems. SOA design patterns highlights more than just the technical problems and solutions. Common organizational issues that can hinder progress towards achieving SOA migration are explained along with potential approaches for dealing with these real world challenges. Once again Thomas Erl provides in-depth coverage of SOA terminology and helps the reader better understand and appreciate the complexities of migrating to an SOA environment.” - David Michalowicz, Air and Space Operations Center Modernization Team Lead, MITRE Corporation “This is a long overdue, serious, comprehensive, and well-presented catalog of SOA design patterns. This will be required reading and reference for all our SOA engineers and architects. The best of the series so far! [The book] works in two ways: as a primer in SOA design and architecture it can easily be read front-to-back to get an overview of most of the key design issues you will encounter, and as a reference catalog of design techniques that can be referred to again and again…” - Wendell Ocasio, Architecture Consultant, DoD Military Health Systems, Agilex Technologies “Thomas has once again provided the SOA practitioner with a phenomenal collection of knowledge. This is a reference that I will come back to time and time again as I move forward in SOA design efforts. What I liked most about this book is its vendor agnostic approach to SOA design patterns. This approach really presents the reader with an understanding of why or why not to implement a pattern, group patterns, or use compound patterns rather than giving them a marketing spiel on why one implementation of a pattern is better than another (for example, why one ESB is better than another). I think as SOA adoption continues to advance, the ability for architects to understand when and why to apply specific patterns will be a driving factor in the overall success and evolution of SOA. Additionally, I believe that this book provides the consumer with the understanding required to chose which vendor’s SOA products are right for their specific needs.” - Bryan Brew, SOA Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton “A must have for every SOA practitioner.” - Richard Van Schelven, Principal Engineer, Ericsson “This book is a long-expected successor to the books on object-oriented design patterns and integration patterns. It is a great reference book that clearly and thoroughly describes design patterns for SOA. A great read for architects who are facing the challenge of transforming their enterprise into a service-oriented enterprise.” - Linda Terlouw, Solution Architect, Ordina “The maturation of Service-Orientation has given the industry time to absorb the best practices of service development. Thomas Erl has amassed this collective wisdom in SOA Design Patterns, an absolutely indispensible addition to any Service Oriented bookshelf.” - Kevin P. Davis, Ph.D “The problem with most texts on SOA is one of specificity. Architects responsible for SOA implementation in most organizations have little time for abstract theories on the subject, but are hungry for concrete details that they can relate to the real problems they face in their environment. SOA Design Patterns is critical reading for anyone with service design responsibilities. Not only does the text provide the normal pattern templates, but each pattern is applied in detail against a background case study to provide exceptionally meaningful context to the information. The graphic visualizations of the problems and pattern solutions are excellent supplementary companions to the explanatory text. This book will greatly stretch the knowledge of the reader as much for raising and addressing issues that may have never occurred to the reader as it does in treating those problems that are in more common occurrence. The real beauty of this book is in its plain English prose. Unlike so many technical reference books, one does not find themselves re-reading sections multiple times trying to discern the intent of the author. This is also not a reference that will sit gathering dust on a shelf after one or two perusings. Practitioners will find themselves returning over and over to utilize the knowledge in their projects. This is as close as you’ll come to having a service design expert sitting over your shoulder.” - James Kinneavy, Principal Software Architect, University of California “As the industry converges on SOA patterns, Erl provides an outstanding reference guide to composition and integration–and yet another distinctive contribution to the SOA practice.” - Steve Birkel, Chief IT Technical Architect, Intel Corp. “With SOA Design Patterns, Thomas Erl adds an indispensable SOA reference volume to the technologist’s library. Replete with to-the-point examples, it will be a helpful aid to any IT organization.” - Ed Dodds, Strategist, Systems Architect, Conmergence “Again, Thomas Erl has written an indispensable guide to SOA. Building on his prior successes, his patterns go into even more detail. Therefore, this book is not only helpful to the SOA beginner, but also provides new insight and ideas to professionals.” - Philipp Offermann, Research Scientist, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany “SOA Design Patterns is an extraordinary contribution to SOA best practices! Once again, Thomas has created an indispensable resource for any person or organization interested in or actively engaged in the practice of Service Oriented Architecture. Using case studies based on three very different business models, Thomas guides the reader through the process of selecting appropriate implementation patterns to ensure a flexible, well-performing, and secure SOA ecosystem.” - Victor Brown, Managing Partner and Principal Consultant, Cypress Management Group Corporation In cooperation with experts and practitioners throughout the SOA community, best-selling author Thomas Erl brings together the de facto catalog of design patterns for SOA and service-orientation. More than three years in development and subjected to numerous industry reviews, the 85 patterns in this full-color book provide the most successful and proven design techniques to overcoming the most common and critical problems to achieving modern-day SOA. Through numerous examples, individually documented pattern profiles, and over 400 color illustrations, this book provides in-depth coverage of: • Patterns for the design, implementation, and governance of service inventories–collections of services representing individual service portfolios that can be independently modeled, designed, and evolved. • Patterns specific to service-level architecture which pertain to a wide range of design areas, including contract design, security, legacy encapsulation, reliability, scalability, and a variety of implementation and governance issues. • Service composition patterns that address the many aspects associated with combining services into aggregate distributed solutions, including topics such as runtime messaging and message design, inter-service security controls, and transformation. • Compound patterns (such as Enterprise Service Bus and Orchestration) and recommended pattern application sequences that establish foundational processes. The book begins by establishing SOA types that are referenced throughout the patterns and then form the basis of a final chapter that discusses the architectural impact of service-oriented computing in general. These chapters bookend the pattern catalog to provide a clear link between SOA design patterns, the strategic goals of service-oriented computing, different SOA types, and the service-orientation design paradigm. This book series is further supported by a series of resources sites, including soabooks.com, soaspecs.com, soapatterns.org, soamag.com, and soaposters.com.

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