Ward Books

It must be the lurker in me... I've always been fascinated with listening to unusual broadcasts like shortwave radio and emergency frequencies. Therefore, I was happy to have the opportunity to review the book Two-Way Radios & Scanners For Dummies by H. Ward Silver. It's an excellent way to get started in this hobby (or obsession)...

Contents:
Part 1 - Making Radio a Habit, a Hobby, or a Helper: Introducing Radios and the Wireless Word; Discovering the Art and Science of Radio; Making Radio Fit Your Life
Part 2 - Two-Way Radios at Home, Work, and Play: A Radio in Your Pocket - FRS/GMRS Radios; Breaker, Breaker - Using Citizens Band; Communicating in Emergencies; Workaday Wireless - Business Radio Services; Ladies and Gentlemen, Ships at Sea - Marine Radio; Citizen Wireless - Amateur Radio
Part 3 - Listening In - Scanning and Shortwave Listening: One Adam 12 - Scanner Basics; Scanning Public Service and Safety Radio Transmissions; Radio Aloft - Aviation Radio Transmissions; Radios in Uniform: Government Radio Transmissions; Radio in Action - Recreational Radio Transmissions; Surfing the Air World - Shortwave Listening
Part 4 - Getting Technical with Your Radio: Building Your Radio Toolbox; A Spark of Electronic Know-How; Installing Radios Right; Getting a Charge Out of Batteries; Putting Your Computer to Work; Troubleshooting Your Radio
Part 5 - The Part of Tens: Ten Radio Secrets; Ten Emergency Tips; Ten Radio First-Aid Techniques; Ten New Ways to Have Fun with Your Radio; Glossary; Index

There's not much that Silver doesn't cover in this book. He works both sides of the radio spectrum, from just listening to actually participating. If the usage of the airwaves in a particular category require having a license, he covers the requirements in order to make sure you stay legal. The basics of the hardware for each type of activity is illustrated in a very easy-to-understand fashion without getting overly technical. Same with subjects like antennas. There are some really heavy-duty scientific principles behind how antennas work and how different frequency ranges really require different antenna types. Silver is able to get you through this without the eyes glazing over... My personal favorite part of the book was on the shortwave listening. I remember listening to shortwave broadcasts from Radio Nederlands when I was young, amazed that I could be hearing stuff from the other side of the earth. This book brought back some of those same feelings.

This book is a very good way to get yourself started in the business of voice communications over the airwaves. Regardless of your leanings as a lurker or participant, you'll find what you need here to make that first contact.

Though I have'nt finished it yet,this book joins Ward's other
books,in being easy to read and understand.
David N5SJS

I have long thought that the interior decorating books on the market were very overwhelming. Not only are there so many as to confuse the regular consumer, but the contents of most can be intimidating and complex. Not so with this book! It is ideal for the novice or weekend decorator. What it basically does is separate the styles by their periods: Edwardian, English Country, Art Deco, etc. Then, it breaks down each one by giving a history of it and examples of classic pieces, even the "essential colors" of each period. Better yet, it includes useful tips on how to bring this style into your home. While it does not go into the "how-to" details (nothing about how to re-do your walls or floors, etc.), it is extremely helpful in helping the reader understand what elements are important in making the home look a certain way. It truly is an Ultimate Home Style Guide!

I'm glad I've purchased this book! While I read it, it was like a time-travelling experience. The first part of the book is about how the different historical styles have developed and it talkes about such interesting things as how the way of life affected this whole procedure. I've learnt here a lots of interesting things! But the main purpose of the book of course is to help achive a certain style whether it is Historical or Global. Whithin each Historical period (Medieval, Tudor, Baroque, etc.) and each Global style (English country, French chic, Mediterranean and so on..) you will find advice on creating the look; Walls, Floors, Lights, Colours, Soft furnishings, Accessoires, Fabrics, Furniture and at the end Summing up the style. I didn't buy this book because I wanted to redecorate but because the author has such a way of telling these information that it fascinated me...I wanted to know the story behind other cultures styles and other hisotrical styles. But when I redecorate next, I will definitely use this book. Very well written and well organized book, easy to understand and aims to help the non-professional, which in my opinion, does a great job!

I worked on this book with the publisher before it was published and knew that I was working with something special. This book reveals to the Body of Christ the real heartbeat of Jesus, which is "that they all may be one; as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." The world will not recognize Christ in us until we are unified in Him. This is my prayer, that all of God's people would set aside their differences to focus on our common purpose: to glorify Him. If this is your prayer, then share this book with your pastor, your neighbor, your friends, and your enemies. It'll make them think more than twice about the attitudes that separate Christians from being ONE BODY IN CHRIST.

This book is an excellent reminder for Christians to avoid division and dissention and to seek unity. All of Heflin's books are easy to read, but they are not without substance. They resonate for weeks. In this book, she talks about the importance of mending relationships and truly loving people--especially those we least want to love. Without true love for one another, she warns, we risk missing God's blessing. It's not just love for lovable people, but love for everyone that we're called to show. I think it's a wonderful book.

If you open a chess game with 1 d4 and answer 1...d5 with 2 c4 then you need to be prepared for three "unusual" Black replies, namely 2...e5 (the Albin), 2...Bf5 (the Baltic), and 2...Nc6 (the Chigorin). Perhaps you'll even want to try one of these defences yourself. This well written book can help you do both.

The Chigorin is the soundest of these three choices. White can try 3 cxd5, 3 Nc3, or 3 Nf3. I think the line that gives Black the most trouble is 3 cxd5 Qxd5 4 e3 e5 5 Nc3 Bb4 6 Bd2 Bxc3 7 Bxc3 exd4 8 Ne2 Nf6 9 Nxd4 0-0 10 Nb5 Qg5 11 Nxc7. This book tells about it and gives some suggestions. But, sure, I'd rather have White here.

The Baltic isn't a good choice for Black. 3 cxd5 Bxb1 4 Qa4+ c6 5 Rxb1 is good for White. And even 3 cxd5 Bxb1 4 Rxb1 favors White. Black has to hope for 3 Qb3 e5 or 3 Nc3 e6, which, as this book shows, are not nearly as good choices for White.

Still, there is a line in the Baltic that is worth knowing if one plays the Slav, namely 3 Nf3. The reason is that White may try 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3. Now what? What happened to that Slav you were going to play? And is this your chance to get that Queen Bishop outside your pawn chain?

Yes. It is. You can play 2...Bf5 and if 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 c6, with a favorable version of a Slav. Ward gives a couple of games to show how this can go, but one can see more in books on the Slav.

In the Albin, my suggestion for White, which the book does not entirely agree with, is 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Nbd2 (the book recommends 5 g3) Bg4 6 a3. Here, Ward recommends 6...Nge7 for Black, but I still prefer White and so does he.

The Albin seems to me to be a bunch of traps. The most ridiculous is the following suicidal play by White: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 e3? Bb4+ 5 Bd2 dxe3 6 Bxb4 exf2+ 7 Ke2 fxg1=N 8 Rxg1 Bg4+ 9 White resigns. But the author shows us some quick wins for Black in saner lines. One is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 e4 Nc6 5 f4 f6 6 exf6 Nxf6 7 Bd3 Bb4+ 8 Bd2 Ng4 9 Nf3 Ne3 10 Qe2 0-0 11 g3 Bg4 12 a3 Ne5 13 Bxb4 Nxf3+ 14 Kf2 Rxf4 15 gxf4 Qh4 mate.

You may protest that White ought to play an early a3 to avoid all this. But Ward also shows us the following: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 a3 f6 6 exf6 Nxf6 7 g3 Bg4 8 Nbd2 a5 9 b3 Bc5 10 Bb2 0-0 11 Bg2 Qd7 12 0-0 Rae8 13 Re1 Bh3 14 b4 axb4 15 Nb3 b6 16 Nxc5 bxc5 17 axb4 Nxb4 18 Ra5 Bxg2 19 Kxg2 20 Ba3 Qh3+! (winning for Black).

Even in Ward's recommended line for White, namely 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 g3, we see a couple of games where Black wins fast by pushing her h-pawn and getting her Queen Bishop to h3 (generally via e6 or f5).

I wouldn't want to play the Albin with Black, in spite of all these possibilities, but some of you might want to try it, or the Baltic or the Chigorin, for Black. And I do recommend this book to learn all these openings for White.

Being a 1-d4 player, I have to be acquainted with unusual replies by Black. This book gave me enough theory and explanations to feel more confidence if confronted by these monsters! The frame of Everyman's Chess Publications (Cadogan) is efficient. A limited amount of selected games by the best players possible with a lot of explanations.

Fables. Mid to upper elementary.

Summary
This book is Aesop's fables with contemporary title and style. Modern print and gentle nature illustrations require the reader to imagine the specifics of each fable.

Illustrations
Helen Ward's illustrations are gentle, beautiful, eye-catching. The librarian and I couldn't help discuss their beauty just looking at the cover. The trappings of Power, for example, incorporate the print and illustration visually in a poignant way.

This is a wonderful book. As for the fables, they are well told with drama, vocabulary and coherence. The drawings, the DRAWINGS, are sumptuous, give vibrancy to the tales, would easily stand alone not aa drawings but as art. I think there are books that children will remember always. This is one.

Prepare to get nothing done for at least two days while you finish this gripping, page-turning novel that generates plenty of suspense. It was a story so current and so close to what could possibly happen in the middle east, that I was caught up in the plight of the family. Non-stop action and a fascinating plot, sprinkled with some truly frightening moments, makes this a must-read novel, especially in light of today's headlines.

John Cain wants his daughter back. But no one knows where she is. In "Without Warning," the first book in this series, Pastor John Cain and his daughter were touring the Holy Lands when they became separated. Cain's tour bus was hi-jacked by terrorists. Cain was able to stop part of the terrorist's plan, but he is now in the states and the government isn't doing enough to get his daughter back.

The terrorist Cain defeated in the first novel, Marwan Dosha, is determined to win. His people have Cain's daughter. However, no trace of Jessica surfaces until two unlikely characters recognize the young girl. But until then, the search seems futile.

Jessica Cain is 12-years old when the novel opens, and realizes she is the prisoner of the Palestinian Islam Jihad. Quick-witted and courageous, Jessica works on freeing herself in the middle of a strange land where she doesn't speak any of the languages, and where everyone seems to be an enemy.

But the enemy has a face, too, in "Vanished," and Jessica learns there are kindness, humanity and courage sprinkled throughout the human race, even in the midst of the most horrible situations.

The action and fast-pace of this novel are remarkable and will challenge readers to finish it in one sitting-all 525 pages. The plot takes amazing twists and turns, and Tanneberg is genius at keeping the stakes high.

The book alternates between Jessica's and her father's viewpoint, at once providing a look into the frustration of a parent and the panicked, but resourceful, actions of his child. A definite page-turner, "Vanished" is full of well-drawn characters, realistic emotion, excellent plotting and pacing, and it definitely doesn't fall into the chasm of boring fiction.

Ultimately, Tanneberg has succeeded in portraying ordinary people who become righteous warriors of God in a thriller that might not only hold its own, but also out-distance mainstream novels.

I really enjoyed this book by Elizabeth Ballantine. It is very interesting and we keep a copy of the book on top of our bookshelf here on Valentine Drive!

This book is very personal--my late mother- and father-in-law were two of the founding members of the Mill Reef Club (they are both buried on the island in St. Philip's Parish) and it's wonderful to study the old photos and see the genesis of one of the most beautiful places anywhere. Robertson (Happy) Ward created something unique and lovely in the club itself and in the houses--the open uncluttered living spaces, the soothing pastel colors and, always, the inviting views of the beach, the bougainvillea, the expanse of impossibly unique blue of Caribbean water. If there is a paradise, for me always it will be the remembered aspects of the club; the mornings under the huge thatched umbrella on the beach when everyone gathered to visit--periodically getting up to walk into the shallows to cool off. In the struts supporting that umbrella were stored flippers, snorkeling gear, forgotten sunglasses, suntan lotion, odds and ends. Residents and guests, visitors invariably found their way to the umbrella--an ever-elastic gathering that was the focal point of the farthest end of the beach from the club. Everyone made the long walk along the sand, back and forth to the club, admiring the houses fronting the water--those pastel creations that looked almost edible. It was an intimation of what heaven might be like. And this book offers portraits of the original members, insight into Ward's creative gifts, and a singular view of another time in another place.

Two precious pups who live up to their names go on an adventure that has enthralled audiences since 1955! All the beauty of the Disney artwork brings the story to life in this sweet Little Golden Book that will certainly earn a place on your child's bookshelf for years to come.

Baby Boomers -- get a copy for yourself and relive some awesome memories and pass it on to a child in your circle!

It is about two people and their dogs.It starts out that it was Christmas and Jim Dear gives Darling(his wife) a present and it turns out that it was a beutiful puppy.Then they went to sleep and they put the puppy(Lady) on her couch.Then Jim Dear and Darling went upstairs to go to bed.But then Lady started whinning and almost going up the stairs.Jim Dear got her and they went upstairs.The next day Jim Dear and Darling got her a collar and Lady was so happy and she went to tell her friends.I won't tell you the rest because i'm sure you will read it.

This book is just superb. This book is made up of pictures from American troops fighting in Europe. Some would call this a picture book, but in my opinion it takes you right into a soldier's and pilot's point of view. This book would make a great companion to an average history book because while you are reading you look at the pictures in this book and it will almost bring the war to life. This book takes you into Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland with the build up of American troops. Then you go into France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. The pictures capture what the American troops saw and fought over. It shows the weapons they used and some of the ones they discovered the Germans had. Many of these photos I have seen in history books of all kinds. It some what illustrates the battlefields in Europe. It is basically a handheld museum. In my opinion you won't be sorry purchasing the book. It is the photo album of the American involvement in Europe during World War II.

This book is just superb. The book is made up of pictures from American troops fighting in Europe. Some would call this a picture book but in my opinion, it takes you right into a soldier's, and pilot's point of view. This book would make a great companion to an average history book because while you are reading you look at the pictures in this book and it will almost bring the war to life. This book takes you into Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland with the build up of American troops. Then you go into France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. The pictures capture what the American troops saw and fought over. It shows the weapons they used and some of the ones they discovered the Germans had. Many of these photos I have seen in history books of all kind. It some what illustrates the battlefields in Europe. It is basically a handheld museum. In my opinion you won't be sorry purchasing the book. It is the photo album of the American involvment, in Europe, during World War 2. If you weren't in World War 2 this would be a great way to relive it!

Set aside the above reviewer's comparison to current Iraqi "insurgeants," which I consider fallacious, Christopher Ward handles Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec deftly and dead on accurate. I can believe the rest is as well, based on my knowledge of this episode because his handling of my ancestor Rueben Colburn, the Maine boatbuilder and patriot who set up the expedition is as good as my own, even if less detailed, albeit justifiable given the scope of his project.

This volume is for sale at Barnes & Noble, but the notes aren't available for the chapters up to #38. He cites the "lack of dried wood" as the inevitiable cause of the failure of many of the bateaux, and unavioidable for Colburn. This is the earliest reference to this aspect I've found since 1902 when Justin Smith wrote of it.

Christopher Ward's "The War of the Revolution" is one of the most authoritative and best written books available on the Revolutionary War today. Fortunately for readers, this book has recently been reprinted in a single, hardbound volume and is once again widely available.

Those familiar with historian David McCullough's "1776" and other books on the American Revolution will find that McCullough appears to have borrowed a great deal from Ward. Ward's book focuses on the battles of the Revolution and the personalities involved, American, British, French, and German. Each chapter is a masterpiece - well organized, well written, and insightful - making this book required reading for any student, serious or otherwise, of America's war of liberation. The maps provided in each chapter make it easy to follow the story and Ward makes extensive use of primary source documents, including the letters of soldiers and politicians, thus giving a voice to participants from all sides.

This reprint is extremely timely. Those familiar with the Revolutionary War may draw strong parallels between the American fight for independence from Great Britain and that of Iraqi insurgents against U.S. forces in Iraq. History appears to indicate that the United States faces many of the same challenges faced by the British in America. That too was a long war, lasting eight years before the British realized they could not defeat the more numerous Americans, who were supported by two other world powers - France and Spain.

"The War of the Revolution" is highly recommended for anyone interested in a great read and rediscovering how long and hard fought the battle for independence really was.