Landscapes of Betrayal, Landscapes of Joy: Curtisville in the Lives of Its Teenagers (Suny Series in Environmental and Architectural Phenomenology)

Customer Reviews:

If you were or know a teenager - you must read this!.......2000-09-15

Rap, raves, gangs, Columbine ... one can read all sorts of things
about American teenagers today, but read this book for a real and
respectful view of their lives, their experiences, and their
perceptions of the world around them.

Herb Childress spend a year
with the teenagers of what could be a suburb anywhere in America in
the past 40 years. As an adult you will recognize the places and
experiences he describes from your own teenage years and you will gain
terrific insight into what the teenagers in your life are experiencing
now.

Dr. Childress pulls no punches in his descriptions of the
teenagers, the adults, and the places that influence their lives -
everything from the coach- turned-high-school principal to the
playground signs forbidding children from running while in the
park.

This book offers information that is difficult to impossible
to find elsewhere. A book for every parent, teacher, administrator,
health care worker, archtect or public servant -- if you ever were a
teenager or if you know any teenagers, this is a must read book.

The
first part of this book describes the lives and experiences of the
teenagers in "Curtisville" a real town in Northern
California. In the second part of this book, Dr. Childress describes
and analyzes the environments and the situations teenagers so often
find themselves in - places ranging from the cost-saving State-wide
design of the high school that fails to provide shelter from the 6
months of winter rain to the layout of the town streets and shops that
makes walking and "hanging out" unpleasant if downright
impossible, it's all here in black and white.

Dr. Childress set
out to study three simple questions: How do teenagers use spaces? How
do they apply meanings and values to any particular places? How do
conflicts about those places arise between teens and adults and
between particular subsets of teens, and how are those conflicts
resolved? He spent a year finding the answers to these questions and
found that the ideas of joy and flow are at the heart of all of them.
Let Dr. Childress and the teenagers of Curtisville share that flow and
joy with you, and maybe we can make the world a better place for all
of us.

This book is not only fascinating, it is a pleasure to read.
Dr. Childress is a consummate storyteller, and he tells the story of
life as an American teenager with truth and compassion.

Average customer rating:

How to start photographing the heavens

Practical info for novice to expert

One of the few, and one of the best.

Wide-Field Astrophotography: Exposing the Universe Starting With a Common Camera
Robert Reeves
Manufacturer: Univ of Alabama Ctr for Bus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Equipment | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Astrophotography for the Amateur

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A Guide to Astrophotography with Digital SLR Cameras

ASIN: 0943396646

Product Description

Wide-field astrophotography is an area where the beginner can bypass the complexities of prime focus telescopic astrophotography yet still excel and achieve good results quickly. Exquisite prime focus close-ups of galaxies and faint nebulae are attractive showpieces, but the art and technicalities of photographing such objects through a telescope are intimidating to the beginner. In high-resolution telescopic photography, the cost of the specialized equipment, the complexities of focusing fine, often invisible detail through the telescope, and guiding with extreme accuracy to achieve worthy results are obstacles to a novice sky shooter. Simpler non-telescopic wide-field astrophotography is an alternative that anyone who owns a camera can enjoy. Today, may well be the Golden Age of Astrophotography. At no time in the past has there been a wider range of films, both color and black and white, that do well when exposed to the night sky. Many of these films capture images in a few minutes that just a few years ago required lengthy exposure by an experienced astrophotographer. Some of these films can be processed in a 1-hr labgone is theera of waiting days to see your results. This text then introduces techniques needed to mount ordinary 35-mm and medium format cameras atop an equatorially-driven telescope in order to produce stunning portraits of constellations, the Milky Way, bright nebulae, and star clusters using wide-angle

Customer Reviews:

How to start photographing the heavens.......2003-01-09

Robert Reeves' "Wide-Field Astrophotography: Exposing the Universe Starting With a Common Camera" is one of the two must reads for amateur astrophotographers. Whereas most books on the subject cover the whole gamut of different types of astrophotography, Reeves justs focuses in on the most basic form of astrophotography, wide-field astrophotography, using a regular film camera and its lenses. He covers the topic from the basics of choosing an appropriate camera, lenses, mounts, filters and film thru to advanced darkroom techniques and graduating to a Schmidt camera. Though many of the films mentioned in the book have been replaced by their manufacturers, the author explains how to test a film for its suitability for astrophotography.

Chapters:
1. Introduction to Wide-Field Astrophotography
2. Piggyback Techniques Add Versatility
3. Cameras for Wide-Field Astrophotography
4. Lenses for Wide-Field Astrophotography
5. Filter Characteristics
6. The Schmidt Camera
7. Film Choices and Characteristics for Astrophotography
8. Guiding and Polar Alignment
9. Meteor and Comet Photography
10. Accessories for Wide-Field Astrophotography
11. Film Hypersensitization
12. Chemical Darkroom for Astrophotography
13. Darkroom Tricks
14. Problems in the Real World
15. Digital Image processing and Printing
16. Build-It-Yourself Projects
17. Our Astrophotographic Legacy
A. Suppliers and Other Information
B. Developer Formulas
C. 45 Unhypered Films Compared for Astrophotography
D. Popular Astrophotography Films
Bibliography
Index

If you are interested in detailed imaging of the planets with a digital camera or CCD astroimager, then this is not the book for you. But if you want to capture huge swaths of the Milky Way or take pictures of the constellations, then this is the best book available to give you your start. All the photos in this book are reproduced in black and white, but most of them were taken using black and white film. This book is appropriate for all levels from beginners to advanced astrophotographers, but its organization may make it a little inconvinient for an absolute beginner to find the information needed to get started, but it is a great reference for the intermediate, advanced, and serious hobbyist astrophotographers.

Practical info for novice to expert.......2001-11-03

I'm a novice and found the information easy to digest and practical. Mr. Reeves spends a good amount of time on not just the process of wide-field photography - something anyone with a 35mm camera can learn - but he also discusses the pros and cons of specific brands of cameras and in some cases, specific models. There is an extensive list of films that he rates. Some of the films are fairly exotic but many are available at your local photo supply. He helps you choose from those easily available so you can start your photography quest quickly and easily. Of course, shooting quality images is very much a trial and error affair. Reeves provides a process for helping you to not only choose the right film and exposure, but provides some nice insight into focusing those little white dots. The photos in the book are disappointingly B&W and most have been taken with his Schmidt camera. A Schmidt is something few of us have access to, let alone own. However, aside from this quibble, the reading is very quick and I've used it repeatedly as reference. The book's organization seemed clunky to me but not distractingly so. I reread this book for fun too. It will make you realize what's within your immediate grasp.

One of the few, and one of the best........2001-07-15

One of the few books on the subject, and luckily it's a good one. Robert Reeves has a wealth of knowledge and experience that he passes along here. A real asset to the beginner or the experienced photographer looking to try something different. Full of stunning black and white photos.

Book Description

Environmental problems like global climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion can only be remedied if states cooperate with one another. But sovereign states usually care only about their own interests. So states must somehow restructure the incentives to make cooperation pay. This is what treaties are meant to do. A few treaties, such as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, succeed. Most, however, fail to alter the state behaviour appreciably. This book develops a theory that explains both the successes and the failures. In particular, the book explains when treaties are needed, why some work better than others, and how treaty design can be improved. The best treaties strategically manipulate the incentives states have to exploit the environment, and the theory developed in this book shows how treaties can do this. The theory integrates a number of disciplines, including economics, political science, international law, negotiation analysis, and game theory. It also offers a coherent and consistent approach. The essential assumption is that treaties be self-enforcing-that is, individually rational, collectively rational, and fair. The book applies the theory to a number of environmental problems. It provides information on more than three hundred treaties, and analyses a number of case studies in detail. These include depletion of the ozone layer, whaling, pollution of the Rhine, acid rain, over-fishing, pollution of the oceans, and global climate change. The essential lesson of the book is that treaties should not just tell countries what to do. Treaties must make it in the interests of countries to behave differently. That is, they must restructure the underlying game. Most importantly, they must create incentives for states to participate in a treaty and for parties to comply.

Environment And Statecraft: The Strategy Of Environmental Treaty-Making

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Environment And Statecraft: The Strategy Of Environmental Treaty-Making
Scott Barrett
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLEO0C

Average customer rating:

A ringside view of what it takes to be an entrepreneur

Autobiography of Mother's Work Founder (Mainstream Maternity Clothes)

Interesting story of success

A very good read!

The personal journey of a business woman

MothersWork
Rebecca Matthias
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Women & Business | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Motivational | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Mom Inventors Handbook: How to Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing

ASIN: 0385495900
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Book Description

With a new baby, little money, but lots of determination and drive, Rebecca Matthias started a business from scratch out of her home some eighteen years ago. Today her company, Mothers Work--which includes the retail outlets Mimi Maternity, Motherhood, and A Pea in the Pod--has grown to become a multimillion-dollar maternity clothing empire.

Written with a refreshingly candid, can-do attitude, MothersWork describes how Matthias got her company off the ground--offering specific lessons for other entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs on the nuts and bolts of building and growing your dream. The first step, of course, is fastening on what it is you plan to sell.

As Matthias searched for an idea for a new company--around the time of her first pregnancy--she was discovering how impossible it was to find maternity clothes suitable for the office. Realizing that other professional women were in the same boat, Matthias launched a mail-order business selling maternity clothes. The initial response was staggering, and Matthias's company was on its way. What they discovered was that, unlike new mothers of a generation earlier, women were staying in the workforce throughout their pregnancies. The shift was a revolution in the workplace, with Mothers Work supplying the uniforms. Over the next few years, despite a series of setbacks as Matthias and her husband grappled with managing accounting, sales, inventory, and financing, the company gradually took off.

In the course of describing how she built her business, Matthias reveals hard-won lessons she learned about how to research an idea, test it in the market, raise money, deal with employees, taxes, bankers, cash flow, marketing, franchising, and more. Both motivational and deeply personal, MothersWork offers a three-dimensional blueprint for every woman--and man--who dreams of successfully starting a company.

Customer Reviews:

A ringside view of what it takes to be an entrepreneur.......2007-02-14

I picked this book up at the library on an impulse, having never heard of it before. I must say that it gave me a very visceral feel for what is really involved from birth to maturity of a company.

Highlights of what I found valuable:

1. A very well-executed blend of a conversational first-person account with a logical sequencing of the stages of a company's life as well as lessons learned. There is a boxed section at the end of each chapter that highlights a topic of interest, for example, everything you always wanted to know about franchising but didn't know who to ask. Not only are these boxed sections interesting and useful, but these are frequently topics on which it is hard to find succinct and pragmatic advice elsewhere, all in one place.

2. As has been mentioned in other reviews, the honesty is pretty refreshing without being overdone. For example, Ms. Mathias has no self-consciousness, to her credit, about being ignorant of things like insurance claims processes when fire damages her first warehouse. But at the same time, she has skilfully managed to avoid trying to portray what would count in my mind as a false humility about her ignorance.

3. Very insightful comments and little tips throughout the book that can only work with the conversational tone that she has adopted, but are hard to find, especially for the novice. For example, her comments on investment bankers' preference to peg the price of an IPO to between $13 and $15 per share, and the delicate dance of drumming up demand ahead of the actual IPO. Sure, it all makes sense, and sure, bankers know all about it - but I found these and a hundred other such tidbits an added bonus to reading the book.

The reason I still give this only 4 stars is that several obvious typos and apparent grammatical errors seem to have slipped through. For example, she talks about there being no "electric" in the house. I know English is a second language to me, but the usage just didn't sound right, and is one I have never encountered before. A second example was the use of the term "workingwomen" with no space, more than once. I am not aware if this is some industry slang but I have certainly never seen it before.

All in all, I'd say this is a great book for anyone considering entrepreneurship but wants to have what feels like a first hand experience without actually quitting their job or plunking their entire savings before understanding what is involved. This is a great gut-check tool!

Autobiography of Mother's Work Founder (Mainstream Maternity Clothes).......2005-12-02

An amazing success story that will at least inspire you to think about getting off your duff and pursuing your ambitions. Keep in mind that many of the sacrifices Rebecca makes are not for everyone like living with your parents, feeding your family fast food frequently, and having no time for friends. Rebecca saw the need for fashionable maternity clothes which led to A Pea in the Pod, Motherhood and a few other chains.

Interesting story of success.......2003-10-04

I found this book to be an enjoyable read, it was told from a personal perspective and was quite informative. It is very amazing how a little idea thought up by a new mom to be looking for a home based business blossomed into a giant public company with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. This book really isn't a "how-to" book, although it would certainly qualify as a "how-to" primer, enough information to get the reader thinking about how things work and developed.
The author was very open about some of the hardships and mistakes that were made along the way, and I found it interesting to hear someone that was ultimately very successful talk about the numerous time she almost quit or at least really wanted to quit, but some how found the courage to go on.
What I didn't like about the book was that she didn't give much of a voice to her husband. The fact of the matter is that her business, by her own admission, never would have made it to where it is today if it hadn't been for his support and contribution. This isn't something to be looked at as a negative, or anti-woman in any sense, but the truth is that in reality there was a partnership that made the business what it became, yet the book's cover and the over-all premise is that it was a "self made" woman story. I think the story would have been much better told if it had alternated between both the voices. In fact, the bottom line is that the business was a success because of the support and work of the entire family unit. This was talked about in the book, but seemingly down played in the cover, jacket and over all scope.
I recommend this book to any that are interested in business success stories, men or women, it is very inspirational and it was fun to read too.

A very good read!.......2003-08-07

I checked this book out of the library. I found it in the section on starting businesses and it looked interesting. I started reading it last night and finished it this morning. I really enjoyed reading it.

The author is very open about her mistakes and how she learned from them. I think the book has valuable information for those who are considering starting their own businesses. I did not agree with everything she said, and I would not choose her lifestyle. But she provided me with a picture of what life is like for a woman trying to build a large, profitable business. I have more modest goals and different priorities. I highly recommend this book.

The personal journey of a business woman.......2002-01-25

I took this book with me on a recent business trip to Chicago and had to force myself to stop reading it at a reasonable hour the first night so I could get some sleep. This book is not a how-to start a business and take it public kind of book, but rather a look at the woman who ended up doing precisely that and what it meant to her personally.
It's interesting to read the other reviews, because obviously some readers wanted Rebecca to say that she had done it all on her own without any support from her family, or that she managed to create a multi-million dollar business, have a family, AND have time for hobbies, friends, and handicrafts. But the fact that Rebecca's husband and parents worked beside her doesn't detract from her achievement in my eyes. Nor was I surprised that she only has room in her life for immediate family and her business. As I consider whether and how much I want to grow my company, I look at her life and realize that I'm not as ambitious as she is. Yet I admire what she has done, and really admire her bravery as she bares herself in this revealing autobiography of her working years.
Anyone who wants an honest inside look at what it takes in terms of commitment, hard work, and the ability to recover from mistakes and the inevitable setbacks along the way will enjoy reading Motherswork. Bravo to Rebecca for sharing her story with the rest of us.

Book Description

Meet Disney's most recently inducted eighth dwarf: Greedy. In corporate America, innovation is being crippled by a blatant focus on short-term profits-the incessant need to "maximize share-holder equity." Disney, a company known worldwide for its innovation and creativity, has become an example of this insular thinking.

In CULT OF THE MOUSE, ex-Disneyland director of creative services and successful entrepreneur Henry M. Caroselli uses this once-ingenious company as a framework for a timely, compelling discussion of why America's greatness is in jeopardy and what needs to be fixed to restore our ability to do what we do best, generate paradigM-changing ideas. Drawing upon fascinating historical references not only of Walt Disney, but also of other great innovators, Caroselli provides sage advice for growing a company by giving creativity a boost.

Part expose, part how-to, this intriguing, practical business book shows how bad things can happen to even the greatest of companies-giving businesses large and small a much-needed, swift kick in the pants.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, Important Book -- and Publisher's Weekly Review Proves Author's Point.......2005-07-25

Other customers reviewing Cult of the Mouse here have written that it's excellent and wise; a fresh, important inside look at the ossification of an iconic American corporation -- Disney -- due to its managerial snuffing of the very innovation and creativity that made it great. I agree and recommend the book to you without reservation.

What I need to comment on is Publisher's Weekly hatchet job "review," which fails to disclose a key fact necessary for any reader to judge that review's credibility: The publisher of Publisher's Weekly, Reed Business Information, is also the publisher of several entertainment industry trade publications such as Variety, Daily Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, etc. etc. As any subscriber to these publications can see on a daily basis (and I am such a subscriber), Disney is one of Reed Business Information's larger advertisers and customers. Shouldn't a credible journalist or reviewer reveal such an important business relationship to the reader? Shouldn't the reader who comes to Amazon for information about a book be informed that the "Editorial Review" is not written, as most customers would assume, by an impartial reviewer, but by a reviewer in business with the company that is the highly displeased subject of the book? Isn't that usually the way journalists and reviewers behave -- disclose their conflicts of interest, rather than hide them?

Caroselli describes artfully within Disney the "don't tell the truth, just tell the toppers what they want to hear" type of communication that is so antithetical to the innovation and creativity that was once Disney's hallmark. Is Publishers Weekly and its parent, Reed Business, guilty of the same in its "review?" Hard to say for sure. But it's easy to say that ANY reviewer worthy of that name should disclose its conflicts. The failure to do so here illustrates just how important Caroselli's message is for corporate America.

So let me make my own disclosure: I met the author once, at a conference I organized about the harmful effects media consolidation and concentration have on creative artists. He asked me to read his manuscript and I was so impressed that I was honored when he asked me to write a jacket blurb. Now, that disclosure wasn't so painful or difficult, was it, Publishers Weekly?

Read the book. Decide for yourself. You won't regret it.

Caroselli makes a statement.......2005-05-14

This highly readable and anecdotal observation by a talented and seasoned business professional defines the type of leadership that is critically needed in business today.

The business of America is business. And American business must continue to be innovative and idea-driven business. Idea generation involves seeking excellence through open-mindedness, vision, and tenacity. As the author explores the courage and cost of being an true innovator, he concludes that anyone can engage in a more free associative approach in the search for innovation and become an innovator himself.

Caroselli encourages readers to initiate lasting and real results by sticking to the essence of their vision while searching for innovative approaches to problem solving and effective execution.

Caroselli is accurate in observing that business managers often toss aside good ideas in favor of the easy sell. It will always be tempting to pay "lip service" to innovation and just "manage the work" rather than "make something happen."

It is significant that Caroselli recognizes that the Chinese and Euro markets are growing too quickly to be ignored. To maintain out standard of living as North Americans, we will be compelled to revisit the kind of Yankee ingenuity and idea generation that made this nation whatit is and to assure that our prosperity can continue.

A highly recommended read for any business person- management, creative or, optimally, a person who is both.

Well written, articulate, and accurate .......2005-05-06

Caroselli accurately describes the shortsightedness of corporate America today. While I'm sure there are exceptions, I could relate what was written to my 25, and still counting, years in corporate America. I've seen the shift toward short term results at the expense of the long term for many years. When the "long term" comes, corporations end up in fire-fight mode for survival which drives even shorter term decisions and the expense of true R&D and new "idea generation". The book enlists many excellent real world examples to deliver the message.
The book is written in a very entertaining and casual way to make the points feel close to home. Bravo Mr. Caroselli!!

A Big-Time Wake-Up Call.......2005-03-19

I worked closely with the author for over a decade and know first-hand that what he's saying here is both valid and smart. But what really knocks me out is something even bigger.

Henry is a thinker, dreamer, inveterate tinkerer and creative type. In another life, he could have been Michaelangelo. What he ISN'T, however, is an author. Until now. And that's my point.

What Henry 's done here is what he's urging you to do. To step forward, get out of your comfort zone and do something new, different and challenging. To rekindle your inherent spirit to create. These are the threads that we, as Americans, have been pulling forward since our nation was born. But as Henry points out, they've become frazzled
in recent years and good ol' Yankee ingenuity isn't what is used to be.

I was in the meeting when a client asked us to take a "Safe risk". I'm a writer and simply walked away shaking my head over its inherent lunacy. I never thought about writing a book. Henry, an art director, used it as the thesis for his book.

I told you he was smart.

Balancing economic reality with creative mandate.......2005-03-11

Caroselli bangs the drum for more creative input and control within the corporate structure.

What happens when bean counters are given carte blanche to reorganize an activity that is essentially a product of creative thought?

The short term answer is obviously greater profits but at what cost? Every member of a board of directors should read this book. It explores the real cost of sacrificing everything to the great profit Moloch.

Perhaps long term corporate prosperity is better served by open communication within the company and this would perforce include those pesky creative types and their expensive ideas.

Clearly Disney was a uncompromising mavarick genius who risked everything to acheive an ideal. Shouldn't we be looking for the same attributes in our corporate leaders?

Well written and interesting.

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