Blair Books

After reviewing dozens of programs and videos and books, I selected Powerglide Junior Adventure Course. I started this program at the beginning of the summer with a 6 and 7 year old. It has been a HUGE success!!! Within the first few lessons, my kids were telling stories completely in FRENCH!!! The lessons use pictures and visual along with audio (CD's) to teach and my kids picked it up very well. I had no idea where to start teaching them on my own, and they now have a pretty huge vocabulary. We finished the first book in about a month (which is pretty quick considering we only did French about 2 times a week.) We started the second book, which in my opinion is much more organized and interesting than even the first workbook, and summer vacation got in the way. My kids have started back to school, but I am amazed at what a few minutes a week did for them!! I will continue through the 2nd and 3rd book as time permits.

The first day of school my first grader came home and told me that in music they had sung, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." He was thrilled because he was going to get to teach the class the song in French now. (because that was one of the lessons). My kids loved this program. They try to use French vocab quite a bit, and all they know is what the lessons taught them. They also love telling stories to their younger sister in French. They tell the story of the "girl and the rat:, "the hungry giant", "the three little pigs", and so on. My 2 year old is slowly learning because of their stories, and she will ask them to tell her the story of Les Petites Cochons.

I would strongly recommend this program to anyone!!!!!!!!!!!

Part autobiography/ part history of British political and trade union life since the Second World War, Geoffrey Goodman's From Bevin to Blair: Fifty Years' Reporting from the Political Front Line is a pleasure to read. Indeed, it serves as a reminder not only of far off events, but how those same events have shaped and formed the current political scene in Britain.

Taking as his starting point his childhood in Stockport, subsequent service in the Second World War and early path to a career on fleet street with a succession of newspapers, most notably the Daily Mirror, Goodman skilfully blends not only the details of his own career as a journalist, but also the relationship between the Labour party and the trade unions.

In the hands of another writer this could seem contrived and unconvincing, however, Goodman reveals a remarkable talent for being present at the turn of events. Rather like a journalistic version of Zelig, he manages to pop up exactly when far-reaching decisions are to be made.

Friends with such Labour lights as Minister of Health Aneurin Bevin, Prime Ministers Wilson and Callaghan, as well as a sprinkling of Conservative luminaries such as Willie Whitelaw, Goodman had a front seat at much of the trade union turmoil that swirled around successive Labour governments leading to their eventual downfall in 1979 and the emergence of Thatcherism.

One of the most interesting elements of From Bevin to Blair is Goodman's ability to look back at the relationship between the Labour party and the TUC and show how there were hints of the rise of Thatcherism long before it had even coalesced around the Iron Lady. When doing this, he is painfully honest - and fully aware of the opinion changing power of hindsight.

Was there anything that could have been done to avoid the Winter of Discontent? Were the Unions and the Labour party staring at the abyss long before this time. My impression of Goodman is that he believes they were. Goodman hints at tectonic shifts in society long before the late 1970's, particularly in the 1960s. For this reason Thatcherism appears as a late arrival, catching up with the already changing mores and perceptions of society.

As a result, in parts of this book, there is a sense of oncoming doom and of an attendant powerlessness in the face of changes that were only half understood by the Labour leadership. Goodman paints a vivid picture of Harold Wilson, tired, burnt out, wanting to resign -- perhaps sensing the changes in society -- and a feisty James Callaghan, only half understanding what was coming, but railing like Lear against the rush of events: succumbing only in the last few days of the 1979 election.

In other parts of the book, Goodman provides a timely investigation of the possible plots against Harold Wilson, who with his pipe and "white heat" apparently represented such a threat to the establishment. He also gives some excellent insights into the complicated man that was Robert Maxwell, even offering his own view on the man's demise.

Journalists or readers from other countries, particularly the United States, might be surprised at Goodman's willingness to work for the Wilson and Callaghan governments in the Anti-Inflation Unit. In the U.S., where Roger Ailes received criticism for offering advice to President George Bush after September 11, the fact that there is such a thin veil between British politics and media will add another interesting dimension to the book.

Overall, this is a must read book, not only for those interested in the history of post-war journalism and industrial relations but also for those puzzled by their parent's use of so many candles in those distant 1970's. For those born after this date, the book is a reminder that the trade unions once occupied a very different position in British society to the one they do today.

At the beginning of the book, Goodman quotes from Gore Vidal's Palimpsest autobiography that "before the cards that one is dealt by life are the cards that fate has dealt." From this autobiography it is clear that Goodman took the hand fate dealt him and played it pretty well.

from the Uwharrie region of NC. The author grew up in this region and is now a reporter for a newspaper in the town of Albemarle, NC. For many years Uwharrie ghosts have fascinated, frightened, and entertained those who have heard their stories.

This gifted author weaves a mesmerizing tale around Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer's most famous painting, creating an incandescent and luminous work of her own. His painting is a simple, though enigmatic, portrait of a girl with a pearl earring, about which little is known. The author, however, a born storyteller, creates a living, breathing story around it, using a singular, first person narrative. Told in spare, elegant prose, the author leaps into literary renown with this book.

The events in the book are viewed through the eyes of Griet, a sixteen year old Dutch girl, whose changed family circumstances force her into taking a position as a maid in the home of a renowned painter, the taciturn Johannes Vermeer. There, the painter resides with his tempestuous wife, Catharina, their brood of unruly children, his commanding and shrewd mother-in-law, Maria Thins, and their loyal housekeeper and cook, Tanneke. The author lovingly details seventeenth century life in the Dutch city of Delft. It is here that Griet's story unfolds.

Sensitive and perceptive, Griet is attuned to the under currents in the Vermeer household and, at first, takes care not to draw attention to herself. Still, she, the daughter of a tile painter, is curious about Vermeer's artistry and is drawn to his work and his methods. Vermeer, sensing a kindred artistic spirit in Griet, draws her into his world of paint, color, light, and beauty, creating an intimacy of the spirit between the two.

Still, Griet, a girl on the brink of becoming a woman, finds herself confused and breathlessly desiring more than she may have. Her longing for more than a communion of the spirit with Vermeer is palpable. It is, therefore, not surprising that the undercurrents in the Vermeer household should come bubbling to the surface and engulf Griet, much to her consternation.

This is a stunning literary work that fully realizes the promise that the author showed in her debut novel, "The Virgin Blue". She is an author that understands the less is often more, and she makes every word count. Deliberate and spare, her prose is lyrical in its simplicity, weaving a tale that will keep the reader spellbound. This is historical fiction at its finest. Bravo!

This short and sweet book really distills the essence of goal setting down to its basics. And it does so in an energetic and engaging voice. After all, THE GOALSGUY's approach is to kick his reader in the rear-end, while simultaneously share his success formula.

GOAL SETTING FOR KNUCKLEHEADS, has a tone that is honest, forthright, and challenging. As THE GOALSGUY promises, he'll "prod and provoke you into making some significant and permanent changes." Guess what, he delivers!

I highly recommend this book if you want a different and lighthearted, but not lightweight, approach to the basics of goal setting! What's more, I found KNUCKLEHEADS to be a great tongue-in-cheek gift for every knucklehead in my family and organization. I just signed it, "From one knucklehead to another!" :)

I have purchased several of Gary's books and attended one of his seminars. He stresses the importance of writing down your goals and not just keeping them in your head.

This Goals Journal takes you through a step by step process of writing, evaluating, planning and then achieving your goals. I highly recommend it.

I happen to pick this book up in the library and quickly put it on my to buy list. It is fun focusing on one Goddess per week. Nancy Blair teaches me how to incorporate the Goddesses' energy into my own life. She gives meditations to help us connect to the Goddesses. Coincidently the Goddess for this week is Kali - a week when my apartment was broken into. I used the meditation to gather strength afterwards and took measures to change my life so I will no longer feel victimized. I think it is a fun book which is simple to read. It is a great book for the novice.

I have read many dead-related books, but this is by far the most interesting and well written. It's worth buying for many reasons, but the highlight for me is the chapter on Donna. If it were not for this book, I would have continued to believe all the narrow minded comments I heard about her over the years. This interview may have actually started the Donna rennaissance which culminated with the emotional welcome she received at the Philharmonia benefit in December 1997. Even if you think you know everything about the Dead you'll be surprised by this book. As we always say at our house, "it's all about the music." P.S. - Look for new Blair Jackson title scheduled for publication Fall '98!

If you have one or more non-golfers in the family, it's important to plan your golf vacation for where there are things for the others to do while you're on the course. Our family had been planning a Myrtle Beach vacation and had found lots of "general" info on the web, but this book speaks directly to golfers with non-golfers in the group, so it was tremendously helpful to us. We're already planning a trip to Florida for next summer, based on this book's recommendations. It might be time for an update, though...we found Myrtle Beach has added a number of family-type attractions as well as some first-class courses since this book was published.

Dickinson has created a wonderful, and quite believable, mystery imbued with humanity and sympathy. The sense of period, time and place are excellent; the characters and story are realistic and interesting. There is a quiet humor to Powerscourt, along with his relationship with Lady Lucy, the provide balance to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy knowing I have the rest of the series ahead of me.