Illustration in Action: How to Draw and Paint Aircraft, Ships and Vehicles

Customer Reviews:

Grab a used copy if you can find one........1999-07-03

Amazon.com located my copy for me, so don't give up hope of obtaining one. Don't let the word "Illustration" in the title scare you off if you are an aspiring artist with an interest in these topics. Ted Wilbur's introduction is encouraging and insightful. Good coverage of most all of the basics. It goes into a lot of detail on drawing and painting aircraft, ships and vehicles. Good treatment of initially drafting the machines. Given the age of the book (1986), it remains a useful primer to the subject.

I hope this title is reprinted. Cam Martin

Average customer rating:
Illustration in Action, How to Draw and Paint Aircraft, Ships and Vehicles
John and Geraldine Christy Batchelor
Manufacturer: Sterling Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MXXZFC

Book Description

In the theater of war, how important is costume? And in peacetime, what purpose does military spectacle serve? This book takes us behind the scenes of the British military at the height of its brilliance to show us how dress and discipline helped to mold the military man and attempted to seduce the hearts and minds of a nation while serving to intimidate civil rioters in peacetime.

Often ridiculed for their constrictive splendor, British army uniforms of the early nineteenth century nonetheless played a powerful role in the troops' performance on campaign, in battle, and as dramatic entertainment in peacetime. Plumbing a wide variety of military sources, most tellingly the memoirs and letters of soldiers and civilians, Scott Hughes Myerly reveals how these ornate sartorial creations, combining symbols of solidarity and inspiration, vivid color, and physical restraint, enhanced the managerial effects of rigid discipline, drill, and torturous punishments, but also helped foster regimental esprit de corps.

Encouraging recruitment, enforcing discipline within the military, and boosting morale were essential but not the only functions of martial dress. Myerly also explores the role of the resplendent uniform and its associated gaudy trappings and customs during civil peace and disorder--whether employed as public relations through spectacular free entertainment, or imitated by rioters and rebels opposing the status quo. Dress, drills, parades, inspections, pomp, and order: as this richly illustrated book conducts us through the details of the creation, design, functions, and meaning of these aspects of the martial image, it exposes the underpinnings of a mentality--and vision--that extends far beyond the military subculture into the civic and social order that we call modernity.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Thesis.......2003-04-13

This slightly ponderous book presents a number of interesting questions. The main point it tries to make is that the military has often been used as a symbol to both inspire and control the public in Great Britain. The author painstakingly explains how the British army attempted to mould its soldiers into a certain disciplined caste that would prove relilable in all circumstances. While other countries have allowed their military to become all pervasive and dominant, in Britain the army always maintained a close loyalty to the Crown. The power of the Crown was tempered by Parliament, which meant that the army would never assume a dominant position in British affairs.

That the military was useful as a means to control in social discontent in the early 19th century cannot be denied however. Before there was a reliable Police Force, the army was instrumental in maintaining the public order. This in turn ensured that the power of the elite was not threatened. The army was also an inspiration to many British thinkers and industrialists of the period, who looked upon its regimentation as an example to be followed in civilian affairs. Even fashion owes much of its influence to the army in this period. The ever popular term "Dressing to the Nines" was coined from the sharpe appearence of the 90th Foot. While this book did address many interesting points concerning the relationship between the military and civilian life in Britain, at times the material seemed a bit redundant.

There were also some gaps. More emphasis should have been placed on the development and use of military bands, their music, as well as their ceremonial use. The employment of bands went very far to popularize the view of the military to many and should have been discussed at greater length. Pomp and Ceremony remains an important element in British society today, and continues to showcase the military, despite many evident cut-backs. The development of many of the great Tattoos, Military Music Spectacles etc., were instrumental in presenting a favorable impression toward the British public. While many of these events would be developed in a later period, they surely had their start in the time covered in this book. Failure to mention this influence in more detail I think is the chief failing in an otherwise worthwhile book.

A Superb Overview.......2000-06-28

There is little that Myerley's treatment of Briish uniforms and its corresponding manifestation in the evolution of army gear. Indeed, Myerley does a first-rate job in making comparisons between British society and and its counterpart in the military. Long overdue--at least at this level of quality!

Well written, a source which I find myself going back to time and again. Harvard Press is to be commended and Myerly congratulated. Excellent, Scott!

Thought provoking.......2000-04-21

It was only after I had read some way into this book that I realised that it must have been some kind of thesis. When did people start writing them so well?

It isn't encumbered with that annoying pseudo-intellectulese that people who generally present theses are so proud of to confuse the reader. In fact the points it does present are in strikingly simple and wonderfully readable.

The issue Myerly discusses is the development of the British army in the first half of the nineteenth century, basically the Napoleonic Wars until Crimea and it is a fascinating period.

He discusses the changing attitudes to discipline, uniform, recruiting and life in general in the army - but also the effects the army had on civilian life and vice versa.

There is an enormous bibliography at the end of the book, followed by extensive footnotes (some 100 pages). If you don't like footnotes then I can assure you they don't interfer with the reading in the text but help do help to clarify issues for those that want to delve deeper into an issue.

The only reason I have marked the book down from 5 stars was really a bit trivial, I found the last couple of chapters a bit repetitive - or they seemed so to me. I could barely put the book down for the first 5 or so chapters, and it really got me thinking.

Definitely worthwhile!

Average customer rating:
British Military Spectacle: From the Napoleonic Wars Through the Crimea

Manufacturer: Harvard University Press, 1996
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I8Y95G

Average customer rating:
British Military Spectacle: From the Napoleonic Wars Through the Crimea. (book reviews): An article from: Canadian Journal of History
Neville Thompson
Manufacturer: University of Saskatchewan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Canada | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00097PO50
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on August 1, 1997. The length of the article is 885 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: British Military Spectacle: From the Napoleonic Wars Through the Crimea. (book reviews)
Author: Neville Thompson
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 1997
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: v32 Issue: n2 Page: p277(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

The epic continues! Among the five stories in this issue: Cub has been captured while Lone Wolf lies unconscious! All of Cub`s captors are cruel, all but the osue (the lowest maid). But her help may be her undoing. The household waits for the feared Lone Wolf to come looking for his son...and when he does...pick up Volume Two to find out what happens -- plus four other great stories, as this classic epic continues!

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

At the end of the previous volume we find out why Lone Wolf, if you want to call him that, left the Shogun and his official killing job to become ronin, and wander around the place taking assassin jobs for money from whoever will pay.

In one of the stories in this volume the kid actually manages to get into a bit more trouble than usual, as well.

Simple Complexity.......2007-07-22

These elegant short stories are deceptive. On the surface hardly anything seems to "happen" in each "episode" other than a sword fight or two. Actually there is a LOT going on. Koike is in touch with humanity in ways many of us never will be.

Lone Wolf & Cub artwork is anything but simple. These stories are CARRIED by the masterful drawings. I am constantly amazed.

The main storyline continues to build from volume 1. I highly recommend BOTH books, and I also suggest you read them in order.

How to Kill a God.......2006-06-01

If the first volume didn't hook you (and I don't see how that's even possible), this one will do it. Lone Wolf takes on one of his strangest assignments here, and you get a peek into what set him and his son on this road.

This saga runs approximately 8,400 pages in 28 volumes. It's cinematic in scope and quite a history lesson, too. Don't be afraid of the tale's length. The stories fly by, and you'll end up wishing there was more.

For those of you who know of this story only through First Comics' adaptation many moons ago, this set (with this one being volume two of it) is the entire tale in the proper order. In a word -- incredible.

Getting better all the time.......2004-06-19

The series begins to take shape in LW&C2. I found the first volume repetitive due to the similar narrative structure employed throughout every chapter, but I mind that structure less and less in Vol. 2 as the characters develop. I'm hoping Vol. 3 continues this trend.

"If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha.".......2003-01-26

I have been reluctant to undertake the reviewing of this series for two reasons. For one thing, there are some 24 volumes, which mean a considerable commitment in reading and writing. Second, one of my favorite reviewers is also reading through the series, and it is no small effort to find ways to bring further insights to the reader.

Because I am also reading the Blade of the Immortal series, there is a natural tendency to compare these to manga, which are both similar, and quite different. Kazuo Koike is perhaps the more inventive writer. Since thus far the Lone Wolf series lacks the grand theme of revenge that knits Hiroaki Samura's work together, the Lone Wolf plots are limited to the individual stories. This is not a flaw at all, just an explanation of one of the key differences. Koike is a master of minimalist story telling, ironic devices, and plots that take surprising turns when least expected.

Both series have more than their fair share of violence, although Blade of the Immortal stands out for its depictions of fighting and dismemberment. Lone Wolf's violence is sudden and swift - less choreographed. Goseki Kojima, the artist also has a strong sense of the sweep and motion of a scene, while Samura's clean, balanced graphics produce a lighter, less congested style. Of course, the fact that Lone Wolf's page size is half that of Blade of the Immortal makes direct comparison more difficult.

There are several changes between the stories of volume one of this series and this second volume. For one thing, the tales are twice as long, allowing for better building of tension and plot, as well as more depictions of life in the world of Edo-period Japan. In addition, Daigoro, Lone Wolf's son (the cub of the series title) gets much better parts than he does in the first volume. He is no longer just a plot device, but a living character. Finally, there is an inner sense of the 'romance' and tragedy of a ronin seeking a life of honor.

That last two stories, 'The Gateless Barrier,' and 'Winter Flower' are perfect examples of the breadth of Koike's talent. Both are stories of murders that must be done, but one is a cautionary Buddhist tale, and the other is a finely honed recreation of the classic forms of Japanese tragic drama. Completely different from each other they are two strong arguments for pursuing this series.

Average customer rating:
Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 2: The Gateless Barrier

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417654465

Book Description

"When inquiring minds want to know, there is someone to turn to for an answer."
WALL STREET JOURNAL
Cecil Adams's first two books covered everything from the real lyrics to "Louie, Louie," to whatever became of Einstein's brain. You probably thought you couldn't stand any more genius in one lifetime. Well, fasten your intellectual seat belts! Inside you'll find 100% guaranteed top quality brilliance on every page, as he winsomely and wisely answers questions like these: Can people really hear radio broadcasts through their teeth? What does Queen Elizabeth carry in that purse, anyway? So how DO porcupines mate? And many more. When you hear the answers, you'll be glad someone asked the questions.

Customer Reviews:

At last, the blessed marriage of Wisdom and Humor.......2007-09-22

Of the three Straight Dope books I've read so far--this is the third in the series--I would say that this is the best one yet.
Cecil Adams is hilarious, even if Wikipedia claims he is a committee and not an actual individual...which I hesitate to believe. Slug Signorino's drawings are just perfect for the material and often laugh-out-loud funny. And in conversations lately, thanks to reading this, I feel as if I've had a lot more to say than I ever have before.
Five stars for "Return of the Straight Dope."
Another great read in a series of great reads.

Irreverent and hysterical, I love Cecil!.......2002-07-07

Cecil Adams is a hoot. It's that simple. I'm the first to admit that his style may not be for everyone. If you don't enjoy the smart-alec humor of David Letterman, the irreverence of Saturday Night Live, and the take-no-prisoners approach of James Randi, than maybe the "Straight Dope" isn't for you.

For the uninitiated, The Straight Dope is a weekly newspaper column (appearing mostly in local "freebie" papers such as Madison's Isthmus) wherein Cecil (the smartest human alive) answers all manner of questions put to him by the "teeming millions." Do fish breathe? Do birds pee? Are there really 57 varieties of Heinz Ketchup? No question is too trivial for Cecil, and he applies a surprising degree of scholarship to all queries, mixing it all with a sharp-tongued wit and repartee with his correspondents that will leave you laughing out loud, guaranteed.

The books, numbering 5, collect the best of his columns into loosely organized chapters and include occasional updated information since the questions and answers were originally printed.

A few examples from 3rd book (Return of the Straight Dope, 1994), which is the one I happen to have from the library right now:

p. 338: Why do stars twinkle? Cecil supplies the correct answer, embedded as always, firmly within his razor sharp wit: "Ben, you amateur, stars don't 'twinkle.' They exhibit 'stellar scintillation.' The Pentagon isn't going to fund a damn twinkle study."

p. 63-64: A straight-down-the-pipe debunking of Uri Geller, as only Cecil can do. James Randi (whom Cecil sites as a source) has nothing on Adams. This is also a good example of Cecil's "dialog" with his readers. A reader wrote in to tell of his first hand encounter with Geller years before, and why Geller couldn't possibly have faked the spoon bending (or whatever) because this reader never took his eyes off the spoon, yada yada. Adam's reply shows his appropriately skeptical approach to such situations, where he stresses how many supposed "experts" were completely bamboozled by Geller's slight of hand and misdirection.

p. 349: The inertia of air, as seen in the helium balloon in a car experiment; p. 146 if you toss a ball in the air while inside the cabin of a flying airplane, does the total weight of the craft decrease by the amount of the ball's weight? (no, and he does a great job handling the physics involved).

The "Straight Dope" collections are a skeptical reader's delight, and totally entertaining to boot. I highly recommend them for casual reading, but don't be surprised if you learn something along the way.

By the way, there's apparently some debate about whether Cecil's a real person or not. I don't have an answer ... but it doesn't matter to me. The books are well written and right on target scientifically.

One more tidbit (this one from the straightdope.com web site), to a reader who asked what the deal is with Nostradamus, Cecil replied: "There are two schools of thought on Nostradamus: either (1) he had supernatural powers which enabled him to prophesy the future with uncanny accuracy, or (2) he did for ... what Stonehenge did for rocks. I incline to the latter view."

Cecil goes on to give a more detailed (and very accurate) response re: the whole Nostradamus thing, showing again his serious attempt to combat the epidemic of silly pseudoscience that so many of the "teeming millions" seem inclined to accept at face value.

And that really seems to be the bottom line for Cecil, and the best reason to read the column and the books.

Straight Dope part II.......2002-06-24

The second book of Cecil Adams' Straight Dope is here...
A good follow up for the fabulous first part and full of astounding data...
Get ready for hilarious laughter and information absorbtion...

More great work from Cecil.......2001-07-30

You have to love this guy - he gives you quality information and manages to do it in an entertaining way. He has found the perfect middle ground with the "Teaming Millions" who maintain endless dialogue over the weighty issues of life- He asserts his knowledged when challenged, ( even on the rare occasions when he gets it wrong)and injects a healthy dose of humour into the process to entertain us .

I have all these books - they are great - I just wish they were bigger

Another Fine Collection.......2001-03-18

If you don't know who Cecil Adams is, its unlikely that you will find yourself purchasing this book. As the lucky initiated know, Adams has been writing his weekly column, "The Straight Dope" for alternative newpapers for nearly thirty years now. Adams is a good-natured arrogant know-it-all who uses reader questions both to show off his knowledge and flex his keen sense of humor. He is at the same time both hilareous and informative. He also tackles plenty of subjects that mainstream journalists will not touch. For example, in this book he discusses the little known practice of eating the human placenta. There is no one quite like Cecil. And for that we must be thankful.

Average customer rating:

Return of the Straight Dope
Cecil Adams
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVG3C4

Average customer rating:
Film Score: The Art and Craft of Movie Music
Tony Thomas
Manufacturer: Riverwood Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1880756013

Average customer rating:
Film Score: The Art & Craft of Movie Music
Tony Thomas
Manufacturer: Riverwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBKLY2

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1717 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Henri Dutilleux: Music, Mystery and Memory. Conversations with Claude Glayman.(Book Review)
Author: Caroline Rae
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2004
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 61 Issue: 2 Page: 425(4)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

BradyGames Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams Official Strategy Guide features comprehensive maps that mark key locations, crucial items, and vital supplies. A detailed walkthrough for every difficult level, including the Xbox level is also provided. Secrets are revealed to help gamers access hidden menus, gain secret items, and more. Expert boss tactics, puzzle solutions, item and weapon coverage, bestiary and more!

Customer Reviews:

i need help from silen hill 2.......2002-12-17

i need to know how could i pas the part of the tur turn turn i do unlock the first but i need the combination of the second lock
please help me

RAY CHARLES COULD WRITE A BETTER WALKTHROUGH.......2002-07-07

Another worthless [guide] from Brady Games.....I buy Strategy Guides Just for what they are called STRATEGY GUIDES..Again we have a[n] ...Incomplete walkthrough with some things completely omitted because the "author"and I use that term loosely does not want to "spoil" The game...HELLO!!!!Thats why we buy guides!!!so we know whats going on and have the upper hand...I hate Brady guides but this was all the store had.. ...

Book Description

This go-to-resource is a must-have for anyone using Project Server 2003! Written by a widely recognized authority on project management, QuantumPM, this in-depth approach to planning and implementing Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 is derived from the team's technical and practical client experiences. Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 Unleashed provides an in-depth look at Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 and the possibilities of this technology.

Customer Reviews:

Oriented Towards the Implementer, Not the User.......2006-10-11

This work contains over 800 pages of densly packed information. However at least 600 of those pages are directed towards system administrators who are implementing MS Project Server, not towards Project Managers who wish to use the tool.

I purchased the book thinking it would help me use features such as Project Analyzer, Project Center, etc. Less than 140 pages are oriented towards the user. Those pages that are directed towards users describe each feature in detail, but don't present them in the context that a project manager would find appealing. For example, what I would like to know is: "What are the top five views that would most enable a Project Manager to get a better grasp on how the project is doing?" You won't find the information presented in that context.

A Brilliant Guide for the Advanced User.......2006-06-22

The Unleashed series is for Advanced users and System Administrators, so this book is a shining example of that series. Covering aspects from a real-world perspective, the authors have captured what it's like to really use Project Server and how to squeeze every last drop of productivity out of the software.

This book isn't afraid to go "under the hood" and really get into the meat of the software, allowing users to get the most out of the book and the server.

With a wide variety of authors, this is an excellent resource no SysAdmin using Project Server should be without.

Too many propellers.......2006-04-11

I bought this book hoping to learn MS Project Server workflow from a functional utilization perspective. While the book covers the features, it fails miserably to connecting the dots in a clear manner. This has diminished this book to a reference guide. In the next edition, take note. Make the security model more clear. Make the portfolio feature more clear, etc., etc., etc.

I have worked with many epm tools in a similar manner as a field consultant and this book as written for MS Project Server does not advance the practice.

On a brighter note, you have a strong foundation, wear the shoes of a PMO leader to gain better understanding of what content is required in your next edition.

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