Directories Books

I agree with both the previous reviewers. While there is a limit to what anyone can present in this limited format, this is really wondderful for participants and staff alike for any neopagan festival. Those who believe they're called to festival facilitation would do well to read how much of a life commitment this takes. Those who want to simply meet others, can look to discover what events really tug at the spirit-strings and have topics that support the soul. As the years go on it will become outdated but Singer has strongly encouraged double checking and using online resources to try and allay that problem.

Marian presents a well-rounded, comprehensive book for the new Gatherer as well as the old. She gives equal weight to all aspects of a Pagan Festival, from the newest attendee, the lecturer, or to the organizer.

Although many of her points are what one might call "common sense", she thoughtfully points out that common sense may not be so common. Ms. Singer takes the would-be Gatherer through what to expect at a festival and what to bring. More importantly she includes the what-not-to do and bring things as well. Her readers are gently led to choose a Gather that will be most enjoyable for them. She also discusses the mechanics of creating your own Gather; the joys and pitfalls of being a festival organizer are both considered.

Ms. Singer speaks from her own experience of being a speaker/attendee of over 200 gathers. She shares some of the more humorous events of her travels, some of which make you shake your head in wonder at the audacity of some folks. She includes numerous spells and charms meant to enhance your travel and festival experience. The spells are set out in boxes throughout the text, making them easy to find for future reference after the reader has digested the main text of each chapter.

The second half of the book contains an abridged listing of events and gatherings in the continental US and Canada. Each listing contains contact information, approximate timing of the event, facilities, service, amenities, (including wheelchair accessibility and the availability of interpretation for the deaf), and attendance costs, plus some listings have short descriptive paragraphs describing additional details.

This is where I feel a very strongly written book was somewhat weakened. I realize that trying to provide a comprehensive list of all the possible events that happen in our community is literally impossible. No one could hope to list anywhere near all the events. The author does refer readers to witchvox.com, an on-line resource for the Pagan community that has numerous listings. I found the information in the book lacking an important item. The length of each event. As an experienced event attendee, I know an event can last anywhere from a single afternoon to several weeks. Many events happen to fall on different dates each year but their duration tends to be consistent. Another minor point that could be added to the listings is whether a site is alcohol-free or not.

This is an excellent book and an easy read.

W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"

With the Festival season coming up on us, this book is a handbook on what to expect and how to handle neo-pagan festivals. Ms. Singer outlines some very appropriate information and gives us some timeless advice on what pagan festivals are all about and everything you may want to know about them.

The book is divided into two sections, but the introduction should not be overlooked. This section contains Festival FAQ's which are priceless in their good, solid information and practical advices. The part one section then covers "Everything Else You Need to Know About Festivals: and part two covers "Major American and Canadian Festivals". There are some well deserved Acknowledgments and a good "Authors Note to Gathering Facilitators and My Readers", as well as an index for quick reference.

But to get into the "meat and potatoes" part of the book, first read the Introduction. This is a well thought and put together section, in FAQ (frequently asked questions) format that asks just about every question you can think of regarding new-pagan festivals, and a few you didn't think to ask. The answers are thorough, and very "on the mark. If you find yourself asking about whether you should attend a festival, medical issues, what about clothing optional or what if I see something that should not be going on, the answers are here. Questions about what a festival is, what do I need, work passes and "Pagan Standard Time" are all here. The author is very complete in her FAQ's and my hat is off to her research and the care she put into this section. Her advices are excellent and should be repeated to many groups before starting a festival.

In part two "Everything Else You Need to Know About Festivals" she covers anything else that may have been left out in the Introduction, and expands on other items covered in the FAQ. Which festival should I choose and why, what should I pack, what should I wear and what can I eat? What workshop should I attend, what vendors are the best, what about evening entertainment? While Ms. Singer does not tell you where to go and what to do, she does offer information to help you make intelligent choices about events, vendors and workshops that might be of interest to you personally.

She also gives safety protocols, discusses what safety and protection steps should be in place at a festival you choose to attend and how to handle any medical or safety issues you personally need. And she offers the best advice anyone could possibly give you regarding going to festivals: Do research (check) on the festival, ask questions and get reviews and recommendations from others to help you understand what the event is about and whether it is the right event for you. If you don't like camping, then maybe a hotel event is for you. If you don't like cooking, find an event that offers meals, or has food available within a short distance from the event. Ms. Singer wants you to make sure the event fits you, your personal needs, and your lifestyle preferences so that you will have the best time possible and a fulfilling experience to take away from the event.

The second part of the book is actual festival listings, by state and providence. She has done much research on these events, listing websites, actual location, and contact person if available. She lists available transportation, what the facilities are like and any special accommodations if available. She also lists costs.

These are not recommendations. While many of the "big name" events are listed, again she recommends that you "Check" the event before you decide on going.

The only issue I have here is that events come and go. Costs go up. Free events do not always remain free. This list, while extensive and containing some annual events information that have been held for years, it also is only going to be as accurate as the year it was printed. The printing date of 2005 will assure that many of the festivals listed will actually be occurring this year and the information is correct. However, having presented at many events, I know that cancellations happen, sometimes happening very close to the event date. Remember Ms. Singers word of wisdom - "Check" everything first.

As a little addition to the material presented, there are little spells included in the book to help you through an event. From "protective amulets" to "Dowsing for Dollars", the author offers some practical, if not amusing spells for the magical festival attendee. I enjoyed this bit of spellworking, and thought it a nice addition to the book.

A good section and one which I thought should be handed out to every festival attendee is the "Festival Etiquette and Safety" section. Wonderful words of advice, some very practical safety instructions, and some very well thought out points on "Festival Etiquette" that should be mandatory reading.

Overall this is a really good book that should be in everyone's backpack or suitcase. The material covered is just full of ideas and advices that should be repeated over and over.

If you are looking at attending your first festival, or are a regular festival goer, this book should be the one book you pick up. This is a first rate handbook on neo-pagan festivals and events. boudica

This book is an excellent piece of herpetological literature, and a must for any serious herpetological enthusiast or anyone with an interest in snakes. It offers somewhat detailed species description on African taxa, and is a valuable source of information about the continent's venomous species. The descriptions are divided into sections for each species, including identification, distinguishing characteristics, races (subspecies), similar species, behavior, distribution, habitat, natural history, venom, snakebite, case histories and treatment. Herpetologists, serious naturalists and herpetoculturists will especially appreciate the detailed information provided on behavior, venom and case histories, while casually interested readers will enjoy the sections on distinguishing characteristics and natural history. This book should be a part of every herp library! It is also pretty hard to find, so if you see it, grab it!

This is a very interesting and informative book. Rich in information aswell as magnificent photographs adding to the overall class of the book. A definte MUST for anyone seriously interested in snakes, especially african species.

The book is well written and very informative. The information regarding snakebites and how to address them is very good. It is a good field guide but the photographs are really too small. Also may times the photos show the head of the snake and not the whole animal. The information is top notch and it really shows the lack of documented information on african snakes. I would highly recommend it to anybody with an interest snakes

I bought this book after a lot of research. I think Noel Jerke has a done a great job on laying out the book. This book will last a long time due to its simplicity and code resuability.
I give 5 stars to the book. The only minus is that the code on CD is not complete and is missing a lot of code which is covered on the book. Nevertheless, it gave me what I am looking for I have designed a site referencing the book. www.siweiinternational.com.
Great job Noel.

This simply the excellent book. I have Noel's other book named e-commerce developer's guide which is simply excellent too. And both books complete the topic e-commerce best way. These two books use enterprize level database, uses stored procedures, Active server pages to make websites which are excellent and can modify in any way reader can think, I mean database connectivety is flexble enough to adapt to most scenerios. Good thing is that most of webhosting providers are happy to host these type of sites because of least use of dll components, I mean i have never faced any problem with webhost providers becuase I use the same method as given in Noels books of e-commerce.

I have been searching for quite a while that demonstrated how to build community sites using ASP and SQL. This is the book! It provides great code frameworks with excellent explanations.

Thanks Noel!

-- Will

My son and I used this book as a reference and took a summer vaca to the Milwaukee-area. Well laid out and accurate info. Highly recommend for train enthusiasts who also like to travel.

This, the 41st Edition (2006) of the best guide to railroading, continues the tradition of this great annual series listing and outlining hundreds of railroad museums and tourist trains across the US and Canada. Arranged by state, each site features a photo, a description of what's there, a schedule, the admission fees, special events, and directions on how to get to it. Contact information (addresses, phone numbers, email/internet info) is also provided. And, as usual, there are about a hundred discount coupons enclosed. Anyone interested in railroading or who plans on taking a vacation trip that might include visits to railroad sites or museums will find this guide indispensable.

Over 600 railroad-related attractions the general public can visit are packed into a listing guide which blends in photos and practical info such as hours, fees and directions - but wait, there's more! Don't forget the coupons for discounts on ticket prices --for avid train buffs, worth the price of the book itself - plus maps, photos, 'editor's choice' listings of special recommendations, and details on what kinds of trains may be found at each location. Rail and travel buffs will find this a 'must' reference.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

I've had this book for years and there simply isn't anything better if you are interested in the technical details. Each variant is fleshed out with all the technical details and plenty of photos, as well as production numbers.

There is an allied (US/UK) version by the same authors, but without the same level of detail.

This is the best photo encyclopedia of German WWII armor I have ever purchased. Great photos, information, and organization.

The Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War II covers virtually every combatvehicle produced by Germany from 1929 through 1945. At least 90% of the vehicles are depicted in either photographs (most common) or drawings (for prototypical vehicles).

As a builder of 1/35th scale armor, this book provides an excellent ready reference. An emphasis is placed on the vital statistics of each vehicle including (but not limited to): the number produced, the various designations of the vehicle, the engine, range, armament, ammunition carried, and armor angle and thinckness.

Each mark (or Ausfurung) of each vehicle has its own entry, for example, the Panther is split into entries for the Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, and even the Ausf. F (with the Jagdpanther and Bergenpanther being separate as well). Differences between the models are detailed as well.

While the photographs in this book are not comprehensive enough from which to accurize a kit, the text does not unique features of each vehicle (which can be, in turn, looked for in other photographs).

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interesed in World War II armor, especially anyone who builds armor models.

This book is an authoratative reference listing nearly everything in the German mobile arsenal. I am amazed at the detail. It even has the Leichte Truppenluftschutz Kraftwagen (Kfz 4). Now, who's ever heard of that thing. It has pictures, as well as design, production, field history, and unit markings information on each vehicle. This is a great modeling reference for unusual variants, and the attention to half-tracks and soft-skinned vehicles makes it a gem. The only fault being all the pics are black and white, so it's not much good for camo schemes.

I am a modeler and have found this book to be invaluable to me in it's information, pictures and # of differant vehicles it has. This book should be on the shelf of every military modeler. I am surprised it is out of print. I bought my copy only a year ago.

Very authoritative reference with particular strengths being the assignment of proper Wk.No. to models and manufacturers and clear definition of all specific variants and sub-variants. Carries details for not only major panzers, but also half-tracks and wheeled armored cars. Includes large number of experimental and prototype versions and is well illustrated with clear photographs and technical drawings. Excellent reference for anyone interested in WWII armor

This is an excellent guide for hikers to the wilderness areas in Arizona. It includes many fine areas, such as Apache Creek , Cedar Bench, and Pine Mountain not covered in the newer "Guide to Arizona Wilderness Areas."

Each of the 87 areas includes a quick summary of important info such as distance & elevation, detailed instructions to reach the areas and find the trailheads (and whether 4WD is required), a basic map of the wilderness area (including access roads and designated trails), discussion of geology, plants, wildlife, and sometimes historical notes. Many areas include B&W pictures.

Some areas have descriptions of activities beyond hiking, such as river running, rock climbing, and cross-country skiing.

Covering over eighty designated wilderness areas you will be suprised. The focus of the book is to provide valuable information. Geology, history, plants, wildlife, and seasons to explore are well documented. Areas rarely published make this a great book. I agree with Todd Tiddyman's review, you will enjoy this book time and time again.

Palladino's book fills an important niche, especially for the majority of students who rank in the middle 50% of their classes. Each of the 150 colleges profiled alphabetically receives two-three pages of condensed coverage so it's easy to acquire a sense of what they each offer. Palladino's writing is clear and his descriptions are concise. "The Heart of the College" section on each school is the most worthwhile and enlightening. Here, Palladino attempts to capture the college's distinctiveness by focusing on culture, character, and the spirit of the faculty and students. Thus, readers can catch a glimpse of the elements that differentiate one school from another and is useful when trying to find schools that are "good fits." This is a necessary guidebook that immediately narrows the "search" for midrange students and is useful for identifying colleges that match what a student is looking for. Indices at the back categorize the 150 colleges by geographical and state location, size, and admissions difficulty, very helpful when looking for colleges outside one's local area. 5 Stars!

If you've looked through the Fiske or Princeton Review guide and realized that most of the schools listed are too selective for your child, this is probably the best guide for you. There is a little bit of overlap between the guides to the "best colleges" and Dr. Palladino's book, but not too much, so you will be getting different information. Even if you're insisting that your child go to a school listed in Fiske, if your child is a "mid-range" student, it might be good to see if Palladino lists the school in this book, as his choices are known to turn average students into ones that excel.

The best thing about Palladino's book is his very intelligent system of determining how the schools were included in the book. He wants schools to be relatively small (under 7,500 students), have a good freshman retention rate (75% or higher), a good graduation rate (50% or higher), a high percentage of faculty with terminal degrees, an average class size below 30, the availability of "transition to college programs," free psychological counseling, a good variety of athletic and extracurricular activities, a good rate of students going on to graduate school, an impressive distribution of core requirements, and he prefers residential campuses over commuter campuses. There are even a few more conditions, and he defends his reasons for basing his inclusions on these factors very well.

Because of his thorough system, I think parents should feel confident that the colleges he's chosen to feature are good ones. Further backing Palladino up is the fact that some of his choices overlap the less selective schools recommended by such experts as Loren Pope and Jay Mathews. There are a few schools in Palladino's book that might be too difficult for the average student, such as Elon University, but I feel he's nearly always accurate with his assessments. While I really do think there are some schools in Fiske that would accept the "mid-range" student, you will have a greater variety of choices in this book, and I highly recommend it.

CollegePlanGuy@aol.com (free educational advising available for economically disadvantaged students.)

Dr. Palladino takes us on a word tour of some of the country's finest sectarian and nonsectarian private colleges,- so clear in exposition that we feel we have been on a personal visit to each site. The student or parent reader learns a brief history of the college, the content of special programs, and the college's central academic focus. Descriptions of student life, athletic programs and other amenities round out each entry. The clear content of the book thourougly fulfills the promiose of the title. Superb! Neil R. Dauler-Phinney, Ph.D.

Great book makes locating missing persons easy......we are a family again

Years of searching.......I found my sister lost from birth

Using commonly available resources, the author guides the reader to access information . . . that helps to find someone.

Lost track of your family . . . searching for an old friend . . . need to get in touch with someone who's moved . . . it's not only possible, it's EASY!

Try it for yourself!!

The Fiske Guide presents thorough information on a remarkable number of schools. In addition to basic enrollment statistics, this book provides up-to-date contact information for admissions departments, enrollment deadlines, a list of the school's strongest programs/departments, a list of similar ("overlap") schools for each college or university, and an in-depth discussion of academic and social life at each school. Well-researched and accurate. I am an academic counselor, and I refer to this book *constantly*. It is far superior to other college guides I have read. A must-have for anyone embarking on the college search process.

This is one of the best college guides out there. It has a lot of great detailed information on the colleges including quotes from students. The number of colleges profiled is just right--enough to provide some options but not so many that it's overwhelming. I really like how Fiske shares which colleges are similar to the one you're interested in. That makes the college search a little easier.

I recommend this for every high school student applying to college. This book is a one-stop guide to hundreds of colleges that students consider.

-Stephan Schwartz Columbia University