South America Books

Lawrence Griswold's account of his travels in South America and southeast Asia in the 1920s and 30s is as endearing as it is ridiculous. Much in the same manner as the geographers and historians of the ancient world, his narrative walks the fine line between epic real-life experience and absurd, cliched hyperbole. The result is an entertaining tale of faraway places in a time when the world was a little less accessible, and political correctness had not yet been invented. Griswold's unflappable persona in the work coupled with his descriptions of the people he meets along the way provides most of the humor, as well as the ridiculousness of several of the situations in which he and his traveling companions find themselves. The anecdotal and episodic nature of the book means that it is not a whole unit overall, but Griswold does an excellent job of finishing his creation with flourish: the tale of the Komodo dragon and the castor oil.

I picked up a hard copy first edition of this at the Strand in NYC. This is the type of book I love. Well written adventure in a world that has passed. What has also passed is book quality. The edition I have is so solidly put together, someone will pick up same in 2070 and no doubt enjoy this book as much as I did. A testament to the hardware and software . The 20 and 30s period was at the cusp of when the jungles of Malaysia, Panama, and Brazil were not yet overly intruded upon by the outside world. Lawrence's sense of humor in the many situations ultimately demonstrate his respect for the locals and locale (but his being a "boss" on these expeditions hides that a bit). Incidences of death amongst colleagues, porters, and now rare wildlife (there are few tiger hunts here that are bit sad)are too easily put aside. But on a one off basis there are some great moments with the West Pointer in Panama, the irresponsible American kid taken along to the Philippines, the hardships of the overweight archeologist up the Amazon, the tiger encounter in Malaysia and more. I laughed aloud many times. This balances the distress one gets on a de-capitation or two and depletion of Sumatran rhinos. An excellent read. Some of the situations tie out so wonderfully here that one wonders about some creeping fiction. I have found though that travel done right leads one into situations that can not be made up. Lawrence, I keep my doubts in check.

Our all-American adventurer friend, Lawrence Griswald takes his archaeology passion to the jungles of Central and South America where he meets with killers, traps and really big snakes. Then, off to Indonesia to be the first to capture the deadly living dinosaur: the Komodo Dragon. If these 20's and 30's Indiana Jones adventures are to be believed, then Griswold was the greatest explorer ever. Otherwise, he's the greatest story spinner ever. Either way, who cares. Watch out for the chapter called "Thirst!"

this book is amazing and so are her classes. i've been lucky enough to take two of her classes. we really are lucky that people like her are writing.

How much correcting do we do? I believe that we should be correcting behavior, not warehousing people. Because if these guys leave here and move into my neighborhood I want something productive out of them. Let's have them get a job and pay some taxes, you know.
Officer (in Rhodes 199)

Thus in reform "the criminal becomes simultaneously the `other' (a byproduct of damage, disorder or difference) and yet potentially `like us' (wanting the same thing, thus reformable, but needing useful strategies for conformity, skills for survival...)
Lorna A. Rhodes (Total Confinement 198)

If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between power, knowledge, and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cost.
Michel Foucault

In Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison, Lorna Rhodes, plays Marlow to several versions of Kurtz in this prison Heart of Darkness. I chose the Conrad metaphor because essentially Rhodes is speaking to the `Other' of the `Other.' Confined to a maximum security prison, the prisoner is our `Other.' To be mentally ill in a prison is to be removed from general population and further confined. Essentially, these `extreme' `Others are the end of the line. Ironically, towards the end of her project, the questions run a grade more fundamental. What are we doing here? Are we here to reform or warehouse? If the answer is to reform, then arguably a more fundamental re-questioning is due. How can we turn these guys back into, not just general population, but society at large; when all we are doing is making things worse. In the end, Foucault reminds us that we have invested so much into this discourse that we cannot extricate ourselves from it without considerable cost. Do we try something different?

Reminded of Abramsky's musings where I wrote: "Abramsky writes, "Violence, it seems, is nascent within most human beings. Put all except the most resolutely pacifist individuals into conditions in which they have absolute control over others they believe to be "bad" or criminally minded, and chances are the confrontations will escalate into violence; that cruel impulses normally hidden deep below the surface will bubble up and find an outlet; that the infliction of pain, and the giving of orders for others to inflict pain, will become commonplace" (Abramsky 34). Abramsky conjures up the spirit of Hannah Arendt and speaks of the 1961 trial in Jerusalem of Nazi Adolf Eichmann. Indeed, the irony of Eichmann was not that he was spectacular. On the contrary, it was Eichmann's "ordinariness" (Abramsky 34) that makes him and as a result this book so compelling." Rhodes argues, just as Abramsky that there seems to be an institutional quality about prisons that take away from the specificity of the individual and lumps all `criminals' - even the `crazy' ones - and treats them along policy lines that no longer (or arguably ever did) have any efficacy. While Abramsky seeks to, at least on one level, to reveal the banality and institutional quality of the prisons, Rhodes takes us deeper into the heart of darkness. We speak, just like Marlow, to Kurtz.

Rhodes takes into account the inmates' perspective and actions within the confines of the `control unit' of the supermaxes. In this regard, Marlow is listening to Kurtz and telling us there is more there than meets the eye - if we even get that far. Waxing optimistic, she asks the questions through both the inmates and the correction workers to see if there is any hope in the prison "system." In conclusion, Rhodes ultimately shows us that the modern-day prisons tell us more about ourselves than the prisoners we confine.

As much as American Furies is an important piece of literature on the issue of prisons, Total Confinement adds and Rhodes takes a fundamentally different tack - theoretically, politically, and philosophically. Total Confinement gives us a subaltern perspective on the supermax system. In this ethnographic survey, Rhodes takes on a more humanistic approach. What happens when people are forced into a box (no pun intended) to confirm to becoming "Christian gentlemen" (Rhodes 198). She asks is there real relief from "the inertia of prison bureaucracy"? Rhodes, I would contend, argues that the answer lies in prisoner "humanity." Since contemporary prisons really say less about the prisoners but more about the society that creates, runs, and maintains them, then it is we, not prisoners that are compelled to ask the hard questions. While Abramsky, I argue waxes cynical and is pessimistic, Rhodes posits that everyone is "struggling it out" in our prisons, and "hope" is alive.

What does the prison Kurtz have to say? Does the subaltern really speak? What is heard is that deep within the caverns of these prisons is a psychological give and take that build more resentment and less understanding of the situation on either side - prisoner or correction worker. Trapped in an administrative framework, good intentioned correction workers are stifled and prevented from effecting creative solutions to problems. Mind you, there are good reasons for thinking safety first but the overkill in terms of equipment and facility - Is it really doing any good? After a careful examination of Abramsky and Rhodes, I am convinced more than ever that the problem is really more fundamental. In effect, the institutional momentum is driving more and more reactionary solutions to a more fundamental problem that is not being addressed.

Miguel Llora

This is a meticulously researched and theoretically sophisticated expose of a deeply hidden yet increasingly important facet of American culture. As the United States more and more becomes a prison nation, books like this will become essential reading not only for scholars but for average citizens.

From the world's highest waterfall to Venezuela's beach coastline and mountain scenery, Traveler's Venezuela Companion blends maps, practical information and an A-Z index to make it easy for destination-bound travelers to learn about Venezuela's many travel opportunities. Add color photos throughout and you have a marvelously inviting take-along companion.

The Author of this Book has definite passion for Venezuela ,Hamiltons colorfull book really brings Venezuela to life. Insightfull infomation on Venezuela and its people is well balanced with commom sense and practical tips.
Accomodation recommendations were spot on aswell.
The Book may be biased in favor of those with their own transport but it doesnt leave out public transport infomation either. All in all its a Great Book and its comming with me to venezuela again next December
r

(Planeta.com Journal) - We've waited several years for the publication of this excellent guidebook. Dominic has been a frequent contributor to Planeta.com. Who better to pass along choice tips for travelers eyeing the South American country of Venezuela? Maps and a thorough index are a big plus. Lavish color photos by Anthony Cassidy compliment the text. This is your guide to Angel Falls, Margarita Island and the magnificent tepuis. The book also provides an in-depth look at what makes the capital of Caracas just an interesting city. Highly recommended!

Ever since I visited Cross Creek (Rawling's home), I've been on the look out for more author's homes or related sites to visit. It was such a great experience to see her place after reading her books.
Now with Traveling Literary America, readers can visit places associated with Dr. Seuss, Mark Twain, Jack London, Edgar Allan Poe and other admired authors. Besides such well known authors, he includes more offbeat literary figures such as poet Joyce Kilmer's home (New Brunswick, NJ) and songwriter Woody Guthrie's birthplace (Okemah, Okla).
I can't wait to see some of these places and having the book on hand allows me to fit them in wherever I travel in the US.

Anyone who loves books-which presumeably includes anyone reading this review website, will love Traveling Literary America. It is a hefty (more than 500 pages) and features more than 200 literary sites in nearly all 50 states, including author homes, memorials, poetry walks, exhibits and museums. What's more, author B.J. Welborn offers descriptions of towns associated with a particular writer (Jack Kerouac's Lowell, Mass; Willa Cathers "Catherland" in red Clouod, Neb); unusual literary treasures (Yiddish Center in Amherst, Mass); art colonies (MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire); hiking trails (Edna St. Vincent Millay Poetry Trail in New York), and sidebars on literary movements (Romanticism, the Beat Generation). There is a lot of fascinating stuff in here.

I'm sure I'll be using this book as a reference for many years to come. If you do any kind of book-related traveling, you'll be glad you picked up a copy.

Welborn crossed the U.S. several times while researching the book, and her diligence shows. The guide is loaded with excellent facts and useful tips, and it couldn't be easier to navigate.

The book lists over 200 homes, museums, exhibits, memorials, etc., and it's divided into sections by region of the country. It includes historical information about each author and his or her work, as well as little-known tidbits that will make your journeys infinitely more interesting.

If you're looking for a thorough reference on author homes and other literary landmarks, this is the book for you.

I read this book on recommmendation by a friend. Athough the language is sophisticated, the book makes Brazil in the 1890s come alive. It made me want to go out and read Da Cunha's work, too. This book is masterful and compelling, and the story it tells is tragic.

I read this book on recommmendation by a friend. Athough the language is sophisticated, the book makes Brazil in the 1890s come alive. It made me want to go out and read Da Cunha's work, too. This book is masterful and compelling, and the story it tells is tragic.

Northeast Brazil has arguably inspired more fine writing than any other region in Latin America, & Levine's book continues this tradition. The Canudos episode has had two major previous chroniclers, first Da Cunha's classic eyewitness account "Rebellion in the Backlands," & Vargas Llosa's "War of the End of the World," familiar to US readers. Levine's scholarly history does not have the literary merit of its predecessors (though it's still quite readable). But it is analytically superior, because in documenting the historical background & religious orthodoxy of the Canudos community Levine reveals his subjects as well-rounded historical actors rather than incoherent fanatics. He thus restores the humanity of this tragic episode's victims, not least by showing how they exemplified millenarian patterns found elsewhere. The well-chosen illustrations make the book visually striking too. I would not hesitate to assign the paperback to advanced undergraduates. It is the definitive modern interpretation, & ultimately it will stimulate more research & revised perspectives. We cannot ask more of a good historian.

This book was truely a pleasure to read. Not only is it well organized and clearly written but the author shows how under-rated the revolutionary situation in latin america is. Do yourself a favor and read this.

This book provides an excellent analytical account of guerrilla groups in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It relies on the works of classic strategists and some post-modern thinkers. It is very accessible yet profound.

A sweeping account of the origins, ideology, and strategy of the most important guerilla organizations in the Americas today. Rochlin draws on neo-Gramscian and post-Modern insights to explain both the structural causes of poverty in Latin America and the epistemic aspect of socio-political instability. He carries out this discussion so as to relate the development of guerilla movements to the absence of ideological hegemony and conflicting systems of thought within particular countries. All-in-all, an excellent, insightful, yet ACCESSIBLE read.

Although published in 1986, this remains a very informative book on the Vikings and their presence in North America. Wahlgren was a professor of Scandinavian languages, so he adds a very interesting linguistic layer, and uses many Old Norse words to bolster his arguements. He has included a great deal of archaeological evidence to explain the Viking way of life in Greenland and Newfoundland., and also information from the Icelandic sagas regarding Leif Eiriksson's and others' voyages.

Wahlgren explains very well some of the hoaxes and misinterpretations of "evidence" of the Vikings in numerous areas of North America. He delves into the controversy over the Kensington Stone (a stone with a runic inscription found in Minnesota), and with his linguistic background expertly debunks it.

I particularly enjoy Wahlgren's very readable style, full of cute little asides, while remaining scholarly. His personality and wit really shine through.

I read this book really quickly, I couldn't put it down. Wahlgren's idea is interesting and he backs it up well, with lots of interesting history and anecdotes. I'd like to see some arguments against it before believing he's right, but he makes a convincing argument. I enjoyed the book and hope to read more by him. Worth reading for anyone interested in Viking and old North American history.

A very well written, well illustrated, and fascinating recounting of Norse overseas activities in the Atlantic. After reaching and settling Iceland in the late 800s and Greenland in the late 900s, on several occasions recently settled Greenlanders indulged their exploratory and settlement urges and sailed for American shores, which Leif Eriksson had found and named Vinland ("Wineland") at his southern reach in about the year 1000.

Erik Wahlgren, a former professor of Scandinavian languages at UCLA, vividly describes the Viking background and the developing Norse culture, of which the Icelandic sagas became, many believe, the first truly notable body of literature in any Germanic language. As penetrating depictions of life, especially the better family sagas still have power to fascinate the modern reader. (This book's title can be a bit misleading since the Iceland and Greenland settlers were not "Vikings," i.e. sea raiders, but settled farmers and stockmen.) After describing the two saga versions of the Vinland story, in an interim chapter the author effectively debunks Minnesota's Kensington Stone as a hoax (the subject of an earlier Wahlgren work) as well as discussing other dubious claims. The rest of the book focuses chiefly on the Vinland ventures.

But just where WAS Vinland? Was it at the northern end of Newfoundland, the ruins Helge Ingstad and his wife Anne Stine Ingstad uncovered and painstakingly excavated in the 1960s while finding a number of undoubted Norse artifacts? Although the Ingstad claim has has been accepted by many, Wahlgren thinks not. "Ingstad's dilemma stems from his natural preference for a thoroughly identified Old Norse habitation site over a theoretical one that has not been physically confirmed." . . . "The reconstructed Norse houses at L'Anse aux Meadows represents a first-class achievement in modern archeology, and a major enrichment of our geographical and historical knowledge." . . . "The Ingstad find stands on its own merits and needs no crutch. By the same token, it is not Vinland." Drawing on geographical, botanical, cultural and linguistic evidence, the author thinks it might have been built and used for a short time by other voyagers of which we have no extant record (the saga literature is very family selective and much of it has been lost over the centuries.) Or even -- in a tentative hunch Wahlgren throws out -- that it might just possibly have been Karlsefni's "Straumfjord" of Erik's Saga.

The author then makes a very plausible case for Leif's Vinland or land of grapes having been in the Maine-New Brunswick coastal border area, which is better left to the interested reader to judge for oneself after considering the cases for locations others have put forth. Wahlgren's theory is intriguing and definitely in the running. A previous reviewer thought his arguments convincing but reasonably expressed a desire to see opposing arguments. One can get a good idea of other major contentions by reading Ingstad and Carl Sauer (see my other reviews by clicking on the above link).

These are by no means all of the Norse activities that Wahlgren discusses interestingly, lucidly and often wittily, including evidence of visits to the High Arctic -- fully as distant a voyage from the primary Greenland settlement area as Norway itself and even more difficult and hazardous. Too, there is definite record of one small ship with seventeen Greenlanders aboard being storm-blown from Markland (Labrador) to Iceland at the late date of 1347 and intimations of periodic visits to those North American shores to secure much-needed timber, "although not one in a hundred of these voyages had the slightest chance of being recorded." Wahlgren's final chapter contains a short but riveting account of what is known of the demise of the Norse Greenland settlements, after existing for half a millennium. For those who wish to get a visceral "feel" of life there, a recent and magnificent piece of historical fiction based on virtually all that is known of that time and place, and written in saga style, is Jane Smiley's "The Greenlanders" (see the Amazon reviews).

As a native Virginian, I don't know why it took me so long to discover this book. It's a great reference to have for both residents and visitors. I spent the first two hours just looking up points of interest and trivia about the Old Dominion. Virginia has so many historical sites that touring the state is like taking a class on the formation of America. A tourist can visit Revolutionary War Sites, Civil War Battlefields, scenic old towns, and the beautifully restored great houses, like Mount Vernon in Alexandria , Monticello in Charlottesville, Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg and, of course, the James River Plantations. Williamsburg is a must see for everyone.

This book's Introduction gives a little background of Virginia and some general history. The handbook is then divided into the five regional areas of the state. They are the Northern, Central, Coastal Plain, Southwest and the Shenandoah Valley. Within these divisions information is given on the counties and major cities. In each place, the historic sites, annual events, shopping places, museums, hotel accommodations, recreation areas, dining and local transportation are all listed and given detailed descriptions.

I think that the best way to truly critique a guide book is to read about an area that you know pretty well and see how the authors handled that region. All of the major sites were mentioned in my area and the accommodations and things to do were all covered. I checked out the restaurants listed and there were eight mentioned. I would have left out two. One major restaurant was not included. Other than that minor point, the authors gave a pretty accurate description of my area. This book is very concise and I believe it to be a very helpful guide to traveling in the great state of Virginia..

"Recommended for visitors who want to research a trip ahead of time and take the book along for repeated reference. Covers the parks, scenic highways and historic attractions of the state, including tips on everything from shopping and dining to hotels and entertainment. An excellent destination guide." The Bookwatch

This guidebook does a good job of presenting its information in a concise, meaningful way. You can easily flip through its well-marked sections and feel as if you are taking a trip all over Virginia! I like that each section (History, Shopping) starts with a quick intro, telling you the overall feel of that area. It's not afraid to tell you that one city is more known for its nightlife while another is known for its shopping malls. The beginning of the book includes an overall look at Virginian history, major cities, climate, major roadways and wildlife - great information for newcomers to have!

We had a "Viva la Vida" themed party a while back and used some of the recipes in this book. Fantastic. Everything we prepared received rave reviews.

Looks great. Fast delivery. Can hardly wait to try them out.

Found it while browsing. The pictures are so pretty -not only is the food beautiful for entertaining, the recipes are thoughtfully written out with delightful introductions, the ingredients are fresh, clean, some exciting because they are new (to me) yet easily found and the end result...delicious! These recipes make my family, friends and me HAPPY!
I'm also jumping into another gorgeous book from this team 'Nueva Salsa' mmmmmmm and looking forward to more to come.
Viva La Vida!

... An excellent book with all the quality, both in terms of literary style and source documentation, that readers have come to expect from Jerry Greene. It goes without saying that this work replaces Stan Hoig's WASHITA that has stood for nearly thirty years as the best volume on this engagement.

Often, when students of the Indian Wars discuss the Washita, it is in terms of viewing it as a "test case" for what Custer was probably trying to achieve at the Little Big Horn eight years later. While that approach has strong merits, it tends to lessen the importance of this battle. This book does allude to Custer and the Little Big Horn but mainly treats the Washita in the full context of the situation on the southern plains from 1867-1869, therefore helping us see this as the historical event that it was in its own right.



Excellent photos included, especially was intrigued by an image that I have not encounterd before, that of Sgt. Major Walter Kennedy (killed at the Washita) when he was a Confederate army officer from Virginia. Despite what old Hollywood movies like to portray, there were actually very few cases of Confederate officers becoming either enlisted men or non-coms in the US Regular Army after the Civil War. For someone interested in the fascinatiing personalities of the 7th Cavalry, there is much here: the tensions between Custer and Benteen, the controversial death of Major Elliott, the death of Captain Lewis Hamilton, (grandson of Alexander Hamilton), the wounding of Barnitz, etc. Greene also engages in a detailed examination of whether the Washita should be termed a "massacre" or a "battle." Much food for thought here, even though many readers (like myself) may respecfully disagree with some of what he says.



From the standpoint of visiting the battlefield, this book contains an ten page appendix that provides very detailed descriptions of what took place at each spot on a numbered map that appears earlier in the book. This map key, as well as this entire book, is indispensible for anyone planning to visit the battlefield, in person and/or through books.

Plains Indian War historian, Jerome A. Greene, has produced another important book to add to his growing body of work. "Washita" proves that Greene is one of our best historians researching and writing today, period. Unlike so many published authors that write from secondary sources, Greene relies principally upon primary sources to tell the story of Lt. Col. George Custer, the 7th Cavalry, and Black Kettle at the Battle of the Washita.

"Washita" begins in Colorado with Greene reciting the story of the Sand Creek Massacre, November 29, 1864, along with its causes and aftermath. We learn how Black Kettle escaped only to die almost four years to the day, November 27, 1868 under similar circumstances at the Washita.

Greene writes with firm yet smooth determination in recounting a complicated story of Indian/White depredations, by both groups, beside the old roads, ranches, and rivers of the American West. There is nothing politically correct in Greene's story - it is a brutally honest and most unprejudiced book written about this dark period of the Indian Wars.

By the time Custer and 11 companies of the 7th Cavalry leave Camp Supply, heading towards the Washita River, on November 23, 1868 Greene has laid out all the reasons why in a succinct but clear interpretation. I love the way Greene writes his stories - he doesn't waste any time. Greene would make a great screenwriter - he draws a clear picture in our mind through his words, the picture is sharp, focused; the plot and the characters, with the different pieces, all come together allowing the viewer (reader) to follow the storyline completely without question.

Greene's story about the Battle of the Washita is told in two parts - the first part is from the army's perspective while part two is told from Indian accounts. If I may use film as an analogy again, "Washita" is somewhat like Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film, "Rashomon" which tells the story of a murder from four eyewitness accounts with each account being somewhat different from each other. One might think that Greene relating the story of the battle this way would make it confusing, however, that is the farthest from the truth.

Greene provides evidence confirming the number of soldier's killed and even the count for Indian dead. He also provides conclusive evidence as to who in Custer's command killed many of the non-combatants - it was mostly the Osage scouts; even after Custer ordered his troops to prevent, "the killing of any but the fighting strength of the village..." before the battle began.

Greene delivers a detailed analysis of the demise of Major Elliott and 17 of his men against Cheyennes, Kiowas, Arapahos, and Kiowa-Apaches - warriors that entered the battle from the downriver villages. Elliott and his troops were cut-off from the main village and the rest of the 7th -- surrounded, outnumbered, and outgunned they reluctantly let go of the horses, lay down in the tall grass in a circle facing outward and gave it their best shot to the last man.

If you are prone to not review endnotes of a book, I highly recommend that you do read those that Greene provides. You will find pertinent information -- all most interesting about the battle. You don't want to miss any of the action! It is in the endnotes where you will learn that Custer had his soldiers retrieve two ponies from the village herd, before all the horses were killed, for each Indian woman prisoner to use on their trip back north.

From the opening of the battle when Custer orders the soldier's dogs killed to ensure silence, to the vexation of the warriors watching hundreds of ponies killed, Greene's account of the Battle of the Washita is told better than all others preceding him. I think it will be a long time before someone else can even possibly come close.

Jerome Greene has just completed the definitive account of the administrative history of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. It is currently in review at the National Park Service and will be published soon.

Washita is one of the more controversial battles of the Plains Wars in that there are several aspects that make it unique. What is not unique is the standard approach of attacking native americans in the dead of winter when they were much less mobile and prone to surprise if the attacking force could survive the elements. What makes the battle exceptionally controversial is that Black Kettle of Sand Creek fame and known as a peace chief once again bears the brunt of an attack, which in this case he does not survive. He also was making peace overtures at the time that several young men from many villages and perhaps his own were still making raids. The other ring of controversy is the loss of Major Elliott and his platoon that impulsively chased after escaping villagers too far from support and was annihilated by Indians from neighboring villages. Custer eventually abandoned the field under pressure to save his command but this seemed to aggravate a split in his command since Elliott could not be found. The split was particularly with Captain Benteen who was highly critical and later has a contributory part in Custer's demise at the Little Big Horn, which has more than a touch of irony. Well written and researched by Green, maps are very good and for example demonstrates how young Lt. Godfrey almost made the same mistake as Elliott but was restrained by wiser counsel. Excellent over all view of the Cheyenne with a background on their history as well as a good review of the military situation in Kansas. Good balance although more dicussion on Sand Creek may have been appropriate a new book cast a different opinion on that battle and perhaps recognizing that may have made that section of the book more interesting. This is a good book to buy and keep on the shelf and take with you if you ever get a chance to go in the field and visit the site yourself.