Book Description
The only sound that day was from the windmill, a creaking sound that a windmill makes turning in the summer breeze. It is a memory I deeply cherish and why I love windmills so much. --A visitor to the American Wind Power Center
On the prairies of North America, wind and water were pervasive, but whereas wind was tangible, water in quantity was hidden beneath the surface. The vast grasslands fed great herds of animals, which in turn sustained native Americans, but it was not until water could be brought to the surface that the plains could be cultivated and developed into a great agricultural bread-basket for the growing nation. The self-governing windmill forever changed the culture of this vast region.
The agricultural development of the plains is the story of the ingenuity, hardship, success, and sometimes failure of settlers as they applied a new technology in an environment with which they were barely familiar. The stories of these settlers and of their children and grandchildren often focus on the windmill, for this source of life-sustaining water often became the center of ranch and farm life.
In Windmill Tales, in ninety-nine beautiful full-color images, photographer Wyman Meinzer shows American windmills as they appear today. Many of them are still working, and others have fallen or are preserved at the American Wind Power Center, but all illustrate the way of life that was made possible by the windmill. Brief reminiscences and stories told by visitors to the American Wind Power Center give the reader a sense of the central importance of windmills in the lives of early pioneers in the West. Some of the stories reflect the sense of humor ranch and farm families developed to help them through hard times, whereas others hint at disappointment and tragedy. Together with the photographs they give us a fascinating insight into our history.
Customer Reviews:
West Texas Memories.......2007-07-21
The following review was written by my friend who, among other things, is a true aficionado of both the literal and figurative value of windmills:
Thank you for the wonderful book, "Windmill Tales". I received it as a gift from a good friend upon my recent retirement, and I can't tell you how much pleasure I have derived from this "jewel". The tales were quite entertaining; and, of course, I enjoyed reading them. However, it was the photographs that kept drawing me back. They were like an open door to my past.
I spent much of my youth on the Spade and Wulfjen "96" ranches in west Texas, and the photographs in your book are like flashbacks in my mind. Through the pictures in your book, I can almost feel the warm sun upon my face as I rode with my dad making the rounds checking on the windmills that might require repairs. I can hear the gentle rhythm of the windmill blades turning in the evening breeze, as I sat on the porch steps watching the sun sink below the horizon. They even bring back the sweet taste of cool clear water spilling into the tank.
Your book has given me the opportunity to slip back from "city life" into the past to once again visit these silent sentinels that dot the landscape and provide the life-blood water for the people and pastures of Texas.
Windmill Tales.......2005-08-22
The Wyman Meinzer photographs in this book are so beautiful that it's perfect for the coffe table, but the stories are so funny, so interesting, so odd that you'll want to keep it by your bedside.
Modern Americans are so urbanized that windmills seem almost exotic, but they were a daily experience for most rural dwellers in the Southwest and West from the mid-19th century to nearly the present. The stories in this book illustrate the importance and the ubiquity of this mechanical marvel.
In his forward to the book, Steve Halladay, a descendent of Daniel Halliday, the inventor of the self-regulating windmill, notes that, while it is often claimed that the Winchester rifle tamed the West, a good case can be made that it was really the windmill. Indeed, without massive windmills stationed every 50 miles along the tracks, the mighty railroads would not have been possible. It was the smaller household and ranch windmills, though, that people remember and revere with surprising passion and persistence. The American Wind Power Center, which produced the book, is a testament to this enduring fascination with windmills.
People visiting the museum at the Wind Power Center frequently shared stories about the windmills that they and their families and friends lived and worked with over the years. The staff at the Center recorded the stories for their archives, and eventually Coy Harris, the director, realized that this trove of anecdotes would make a great book. He enlisted Meinzer to provide photographs to accompany the text, and the book was published by the Texas Tech University press.
Some of the stories are hilariious; some are interesting and informative; others are almost like shaggy dog stories: not much point, but sort of strange, even mysterious. My personal favorite: during a repair of a remote windmaill in New Mexico, the storyteller's uncle found that he had failed to bring a brace and bit to drill the holes for attaching the sucker rod to the steel pump rod. He did, however, have a .30-30 rifle, which he used to shoot the necessary holes! Now, that's good old American know-how!
Get this book, even if you know squat about windmeills and care even less. You'll love it!
Book Description
No Parent or Educator Can Afford to Ignore This Groundbreaking Work!
Bestselling authors
H. Stephen Glenn and
Jane Nelsen have helped hundreds of thousands of parents raise capable, independent children with
Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World. On its tenth anniversary, this parenting classic returns with fresh, up-to-date information to offer you inspiring and workable ideas for developing a trusting relationship with children, as well as the skills to implement the necessary discipline to help your child become a responsible adult.
Those who think in terms of leniency versus strictness will be surprised. This book goes beyond these issues to teach children to be responsible and self-reliant—not through outer-directed concerns, such as fear and intimidation, but through inner-directed behavior, such as feeling accountable for one's commitments. Inside, you'll discover how to instill character-building values and traits in your child that last a lifetime.
"During these turbulent days when families are in disarray and children are getting the short end of the stick, this book can be very helpful to parents who are struggling to bring up self-reliant children. Even after raising five of my own and becoming a grandfather for the seventh time, I got some new ideas out of it!"—
Art Linkletter
"An inspiring, workable formula for developing closeness, trust, dignity, and respect . . . a real gem."—
Becky Ridgeway, School Social Worker
Customer Reviews:
my kids are the best because of it.......2007-04-26
I was given this book by my mother when my daughter was 2 and my son was 10. We were beginning to have problems with my son and my daughter was just a challenge, period. I fell in love with the book from the first page. They said they would solve my problems, and they did.
As the authors say, its more work the older your kids are, and its true. My son dragged his feet but eventually became the model child. My daughter became the angel I always knew she was. I kept a cheat sheet with me at all times with the questions to ask and the steps to take for the first few months. It was difficult to remember all the key words and phrases off the top of your head. After that it was a natural thing to do.
My kids are now, 22 and 15. My son is a wonderful, mature, loving, well rounded man. Your basic, responsible adult who thinks before he acts and behaves more "grown up" than many grown ups I know. My daughter is more mature than me! She is growing up in a tough world, as are all our kids, and she is handling it with grace and poise. I had some friends ask me recently what I use for discipline with her as they were looking for knew ideas. I thought for a moment and realized that I dont have to discipline her at all! She is the model teenager. She communicates with us, does her homework without complaint, cleans her room when asked, does chores and is willing to discuss anything with us. I told the other moms that it was due to Self Reliance. I believe that with all my heart.
I think my kids started out as good kids, as most do, I had good clay to mold. But, I knew nothing of raising kids, not good parenting role models to fall back on. I had used P.E.T. prior to this and found it to be effective. However, Self Reliance became the backbone of my parenting and we raised some fine people that will make a difference in the world.
I have also used these techniques with the adults in my life. I used it in my marriage (he caught on after a while), I use it in my business and personal life with great results. They translate to all things and have had them used on me also to good affect too. You know you are being "Relianced", but, it helps you come around to what you need to see to.
Veeteetoo is Beyond the Left Field..........2006-05-04
I have had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Glenn at a number of seminars and look forward to taking the Developing Capable People workshop so that I may lead parenting classes for our school district (check the research on test score improvement in school districts providing families with these skills). My only "complaint" is that I did not have access to this material while raising my own children. I DO raise 32 a year and have used the seven steps for developing capable people as the basis of my philosophy for teaching. Over the last 19 years there have been but a handful who did not respond to methods suggested in this book - two were diagnosed as having severe psychological disorders. It is NOT a cookie cutter solution to raising children, nor is there any inference that parents don't DO for their children. It is about HOW we do for them - it is a guide to help you hear yourself and THINK about how and what you communicate to your children. I don't subscribe to any philosophy that is extreme in either direction, and I never felt that message related in this book. What is HAS done is remind me that my job is to help a child see himself/herself as capable - to develop intrinsic motivation. It is a HUGE job today when so many young people see themselves as lacking in academic skills. While their parents undoubtedly love them, they are often ill equipped to effect change. This book provides such a well written, easily understood narrative that one cannot help but come away with a better sense of "how to" and a set of skills that will be useful, even if only a few steps are implemented. It is a book I give to every new parent as a gift, one that I will continue to purchase with my own money for ANY parent who struggles and is concerned about his/her child's well being.
If I were emperess of the world, it would be required reading before taking a new baby home from the hospital (and certainly one for young single mothers choosing to raise their babies). I'm willing to step out and even suggest it be made mandatory for all educators too! Don't miss this book! I am about to purchase my 50th plus copy.
Paradigm Shifting Book!.......2006-04-20
This book was recommended reading for a behavior management class that I took for my Master's Program. At the time I was teaching, but had no children. This book totally changed the way I approached discipline in the classroom. Since I wasn't a parent at the time,I would often lend out this book to parents of students and very often never got it back. I just kept buying more copies because I really felt that this book was something that all parents should keep and refer back to through the years.
I am now buying another copy for myself and my husband. We have 4 young children and I'm feeling I need a "refresher course" and I'm hoping my husband will read it so that we can be on the same page when we are discipling the kids. You might consider buying two copies, one to keep on your nightstand, and another to lend out to your friends. It's really that great!
Very Interesting and Motivational........2006-04-16
The first 25 pages or so make the case that today's families are more dispersed and isolated than they were pre-WWII, that our nation's growing affluence has led to self-indulgence, and that technological advances have dramatically increased isolation within nuclear families.
The result of this shift is "American children at the onset of puberty (who) face and incredible smorgasbord of opportunities with a deficiency in capabilities. Self-confidence, self-validation, self-discipline, good judgment, and a sense of responsibility are all lacking..."
The authors state that there are "four critical factors that demand our attention" networks, meaningful roles, on-the-job training for life, and parenting resources. Parenting resources is scarcely addressed at all, and networking is given just a couple of pages.
The bulk of the book is about how to provide meaningful roles and on-the-job training for life by providing an apprenticeship in thinking and problem solving. The authors discuss how to understand and strenthen a child's perceptions/thought processes, how to communicate effectively with your children, and how to strengthen various life skills in a meaningful, real-life way.
For me, this book is a real paradigm shift. I've read many books focused on a single aspect of this book - books about affluenza, family meetings, social skills, natural consequences, anxiety, parenting, even books about RDI (Relationship Development Intervention for Autistic Children, which is VERY MUCH in sync with this book), and so on. This book ties all of those facets together and shows how they are related and why they are important to equipping kids to deal productively and effectively with life in the real world.
As I read, I realized that I often step in for my children in the name of expedience - pouring juice for them because I don't want them to spill it, choosing clothes for my daughter because what she chooses doesn't always match, regluing the notes on music flashcards I was making because my 3 year old slapped them on in a very crooked fashion. Now I am considering the unspoken messages of "you're incompetent" that my words and actions unwittingly send my kids. I am consciously trying to take advantage of real, meaningful situations that come up to help my kids perceive themselves as capable.
And that is just one small gem in this book.
The most helpful part of the book is the examples of families putting the author's ideas into practice in specific situations. I personally am having difficulty putting some of the theory into practice - I would have loved examples of how parents can coach elementary aged kids through a massive screaming fight, for example.
All in all, one of my favorite books about raising children.
Maybe Not Such a Godsend.......2002-03-19
The bottom line on this book is that you should stop doing everything for your children. Coddling can cripple a child for life. That's a pretty easy premise to accept. However, some of the promises made by this book are not so easy to accept. The authors seem to imply that parents who follow their time-tested strategies can bring all children around. They act as if all children are cut from the same mold and will behave reasonably when treated reasonably. Unfortunately, this isn't necessarily so. On the other hand, regular family dinners and meetings probably won't hurt, either.
Book Description
The second volume in the Seven Deadly Sins series, Speaking of Greed is a collection of short stories on the destructive deadly sin known as greed. In addition to being the title of this anthology, "Speaking of Greed" is also the title of Lawrence Block's original novella that leads off this unique collection.
"My task as an anthologist in this series," Block write in the introduction, "is threefold: first, I have to pick the stories; then I have to write a longish novella with my four series characters, whom we know only as the priest, the doctor, the soldier, and the policeman; finally, I have to hammer out an introduction."
The stories Block has chosen are delightful. His novella delivers what he promises. And the introduction is a heads-up plea for authors to ensure that their work will continue to be read after they are no longer around to write any more.
Included in this stellar anthology are the following stories and authors:
"Speaking of Greed" by Lawrence Block • "The Word' by F. Paul Wilson • "Hitler, Elvis, and Me" by Doug Allyn • "One Hit Wonder" by Gabrielle Kraft • "The $5,000 Getaway" by Jack Ritchie • "Rotten to the Core" by Jeremiah Healy • "Front Man" by David Morrell • "Water's Edge" by Robert Bloch • "A Taste of Paradise" by Bill Pronzini • "Bits" by Mat Coward • "Come Down From The Hills" by John F. Suter • "The Wrong Hands" by Peter Robinson • "The High Cost of Living" by Dorothy Cannell • "My Heart Cries For You" by Bill Crider • "Inside Job" by Ed Gorman • "Deadly Fantasies" by Marcia Muller • "Death Scene" by Helen Nielsen • "Good-bye, Sue Ellen" by Gillian Roberts • "Death and Diamonds" by Sue Dunlap • "A Ticket Out" by Brenda DuBois
Customer Reviews:
Avid Reader.......2002-03-05
Every story in this book was good. I highly recommend it and I can hardly wait for the third entry to the deadly sins series. Speaking of Greed wasn't as gory as Speaking of Lust. Another must read by Lawrence Block: Hitman.
Average customer rating:
- Lust Leads to Dark Undertow.
- Sin is in.
- 18 short stories
|
Speaking of Lust: Stories of Forbidden Desire (Seven Deadly Sins Series)
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
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Speaking of Greed: Stories of Envious Desire (The Seven Deadly Sins Series)
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ASIN: 1581821530 |
Book Description
This first volume in the Seven Deadly Sins Series, "Speaking of Lust" is a collection of outstanding short stories on that exceedingly deadly sin we call lust. In addition to being the title of this anthology, "Speaking of Lust" is also the title of Lawrence Block's original novella that finishes this unique collection.
Customer Reviews:
Lust Leads to Dark Undertow........2005-01-29
"Lust is desire raised to a level that prompts unacceptable behavior" is a worthy aphorism to encapsulate the contents of "Speaking of Lust: Stories of Forbidden Desire." This is the first volume in the seven deadly sins series and is a compilation of 17 short stories and Lawrence Block's novella (also named "Speaking of Lust"), the capstone of the collection. The editor Block chose to explore the darker side of humanity, the mortal sin of lust, by handpicking short stories that generally lean towards the macabre with dashes of sex. The skillful writing leads the reader without effort to a world full of double agents and desire perverted. Clive Barker, Paul Bishop, and Ed Gorman, to name a few, are the writers that reward with numerous delicious twists and surprises.
In the first short story, "Crack," by James Hall, a voyeur's obsession over a teenage girl possesses him to a frightful conclusion. The unnamed Fulbright fellow confesses, "In most matters I considered myself a scrupulously moral man. I had always been one who could be trusted with other people's money or their most damning secrets. But like so many of my fellow Puritans I long ago had discovered that when it came to certain libidinous temptations I was all too easily swept off my safe moorings into the raging currents of erotic gluttony." "Crack" is a thorough psychological study of how an innocent beginning becomes pathological.
The characters throughout all of the pieces find themselves powerless to fight a desire that has progressed to a full-blown demon. "Speaking of Lust" is a testament to the power of persistent malcontent thoughts. Evil thoughts eventually have no joy staying inside the ravaged mind and long to be transformed into "unacceptable behavior" for release. The collection examines beautifully how sin does not happen out of the blue. The writers brilliantly illustrate that many bad decisions were made before the ultimate transgressions of murder, suicide, incest, and rape occurred. A showcase of lust gone awry, its inevitable tragic conclusions will leave you fulfilled: or perhaps wanting more.
Bohdan Kot
Sin is in........2002-01-05
Now here's some reading material to get really excited about.
Lawrence Block, best known for his mystery series, especially the ones revolving around private investigator Matthew Scudder and thief Bernie Rhodenbarr, also is the editor of the June 2001 compilation of short stories entitled "Speaking of Lust."
What really makes you stand at attention is the fact that "Lust" is the first in a series of short story collections that focuses on the seven deadly sins - greed, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and gluttony are the others, for those who skipped "Seven."
Do you realize what this means? At some point, there's going to be a collection of short stories devoted to fat people! And another about those lazy bones that simply refuse to get out of bed. Sigh ... at last, my kind of people get their time in the spotlight.
Seriously, I don't know why this type of thing hasn't been done before. Kudos go to Block and whomever is helping him in this infinitely clever maneuver for making lust, everyone's favorite deadly sin, the focus of the first book, which is smart for two reasons. One, because everyone likes lust, it'll be sure to grab the most readers. And now they've got their work cut out for them in finding clever stories that will give the other six the same kind of attention.
If "Lust" is any indication, we're in for a treat when the presumably-titled "Speaking of Gluttony" and "Speaking of Wrath" come out. It offers a fabulous array of stories that range from delightfully sinful to shockingly sexy.
Among the best offerings:
* James W. Hall's "Crack," about a man who discovers a crack in the wall that peeks into the neighbor's bathroom and allows him to spy on their 15-year-old daughter.
* "Ro Erg," by Robert Weinberg, about a man who uses a credit card error to create a whole new persona for himself.
*Ed Gorman's "The End of It All," in which a once hideous monstrosity gets made over into the handsomest man on earth, and prepares to seduce his high school crush ... and her daughter ...
* "The Girls in Villa Costas," by Simon Brett, about a machinating womanizer who finds himself torn between a beautiful woman and her less-attractive-but-stands-to-inherit-the-family-fortune sister.
Aside from introducing and editing the book, Block also writes the title novella. It is here that another reading delight emerges, and in his introduction Block promises that subsequent tales using the same characters will follow in the future books.
Most likely using Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" as a model (Did anyone else enjoy reading this classic in high school? After all, those stories about white whales, scarlet letters and tales about two cities, this classic had farting and people having sex in orange trees! Finally, some decent reading material!), Block's story is really just several people - a priest, a policeman, a doctor, a soldier and an old guy - sitting around playing cards and talking about the ways lust has affected their occupations and lives. Lively discussion and debates ensue.
It's an ingenious way to go about telling the story, and the stories within the story will have the reading audience on the edge of their seats (pay close attention to the priest's tale).
Best of all, the stories are relatively short, so even if there comes the rare offering that doesn't quite tickle your funnybone, you can skip it guilt free and go on to the next treasure.
Reading about sin probably wasn't meant to be this much fun. But, oh, how sweet it is.
18 short stories.......2001-09-26
This book has 18 short stories dealing with theme about lust. It is first book of seven that will deal with the seven deadly sins. There are several well known writers who has written a story for this collection, (Joan Hess, Clive Barker, Joyce Carol Oates). Most of the stories have rather predictable ending, but they are enjoyable stories. My top three stories in this book are the Lawrence Block's story(Speaking Of Lust), Clive Barker's story (The Age of Desire), and Robert Weinberg's story (Ro Erg). If you like any of these writers you want to check this book out.
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Make up your mind!: The seven building blocks to better decisions
John D Arnold
Manufacturer: AMACOM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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Numbers! (A Tonka Block Board Book)
Honey Bear Books
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ASIN: 0766620581 |
Product Description
Young children will love learning the numbers One to Ten with this Tonka board book. Colorful and engaging for toddler/preschool ages. Approx 3.3" x 3.3" x 1".
Book Description
A concise 24-page guide to hikes and walks in the red rock country of Sedona, Arizona. Includes accurate scale maps, trail descriptions, interpretive information, a geology cross-section, safety and equipment checklists, recommendations for how much water to carry, and wide geographic coverage.
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Seven Block
Chuck Dixon
Manufacturer: Epic Comics
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ASIN: 0871356988 |
Book Description
Presented for the first time since its debut over ten years ago, Seven Block tells the bleakly moody tale of experimentation on convicts in a remote maximum-security prison. Scientists perform unauthorized experiements to unlock the secrets of the human genome. Instead they unlock a doorway to a world of unimagined terror that changes the world forever.
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A Field Guide to American Windmills
Blades in the Sky: Windmilling Through the Eyes of B.H. "Tex" Burdick
