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June 10
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Ben
gave
to:
National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition (Paperback)
by National Geographic Society
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my rating:
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Ben said:
"A very detailed book of birds. I don't know enough about the field to know how it compares to it's competitors, but the book does everything I want it to do. It has really come in handy with identifying all of those birds eating out of my birdfeeder.
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Ben
gave
to:
Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius (Paperback)
by Gavin D.J. Harper (Goodreads author!)
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Ben said:
"A fun jaunt through the full spectrum of solar projects. While it doesn't evaluate the downsides of solar energy, it really is a fine textbook for those who wish to broaden their understanding of basic electronics, especailly as it pertains in the so...more
A fun jaunt through the full spectrum of solar projects. While it doesn't evaluate the downsides of solar energy, it really is a fine textbook for those who wish to broaden their understanding of basic electronics, especailly as it pertains in the solar world. Plus, the projects are simple, and moderately easy to complete.
I got this one for my birthday from my sister, who obviously knows me quite well. The nerd in your life would really appreciate this kind of gift....less
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Ben
gave
to:
The Man Who Would Be King (Art of the Novella series, The)
by Rudyard Kipling
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my rating:
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Ben said:
"A very imperialistic view on a maddeningly improbable event. While it was vaguely interesting, the writing was very colloquial and antiquated. I'm all for history books, but fictionalized history about a soldiering society I have no ties to or unders...more
A very imperialistic view on a maddeningly improbable event. While it was vaguely interesting, the writing was very colloquial and antiquated. I'm all for history books, but fictionalized history about a soldiering society I have no ties to or understanding of was difficult without proper preparation, which I really wasn't ready to invest in. ...less
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Ben
is currently reading:
Dune (Dune Chronicles #1)
by Frank Herbert
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
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April 30
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Ben
gave
to:
Sandcastles Made Simple: Step-by-Step Instructions, Tips, and Tricks for Building Sensational Sand Creations (Hardcover)
by Lucinda Wierenga
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my rating:
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recommended for: anyone who goes to the beach
read in April, 2008
Ben said:
"It's happened to all of us. You've been at the beach, and seen the usual smatterings of sandcastles that look more like sandheaps, of sandsculptures that look about as defined as a bunch of amorphous clouds, and then you see a real sandcastle: Turret...more
It's happened to all of us. You've been at the beach, and seen the usual smatterings of sandcastles that look more like sandheaps, of sandsculptures that look about as defined as a bunch of amorphous clouds, and then you see a real sandcastle: Turrets, arches, drawbridges... the works. It stands in such stark contrast that you are completely drawn to what must be a master sculptor to ask the inevitable: how do you do that!?
The truth is, building a really amazing sandcastle isn't nearly as hard as you'd think. Sure, there are the bohemoth monster castle and sculptures that are built for contests around the world that are 12 feet high, and take a small army just to gather all of the sand; but this book shows that you, the reader, can build a sand castle worthy of public admiration and oohs and aaahs in the few short hours you are at the beach. And if you are more aggressive, and want to sculpt something big enough to rival the pros, this book will show you how.
This book really gives all of the steps for sand sculpture, with a strong emphasis on castle building. It teaches the proper procedures for preparing sand, finding the best tools to carve, and how to accomplish most of the basic architectural forms you'll want or need. I got about a dozen books from the library on sandcastle building, and this one stands out from the rest by far. Not to mention the quality and volume of pictures. There are at least two or three pictures per page, which is just how an instructional book should be.
The design and layout of the book is stellar, with simple chapters, and easy to naviagte sections, so that you could take this with you to the beach and it would serve as a good on-site manual. It has sections that have kid friendly activities, and ranges in simple theory, to advanced techniques. It's really mind opening, and concise, and features techniques that the pros actually use, unlike many other books which feature more common 'soft pack" techniques.
It should also be noted that the author of this book, known in the sand world as "Sandy Feet", is an award winning professional sculptor and sandcastle teacher.
If you've ever wanted to build a sand-castle that people will stop to comment on, this book is a must-have....less
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Ben
gave
to:
Sandcastles, Step by Step (Paperback)
by Walter McDonald, Lucinda Wierenga
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in April, 2008
Ben said:
"This is the predecessor to "Sandcastles Made Simple, step by step" by Wierenga and McDonald. This book is a good resource, and would be the best book on the subject if they hadn't overhauled it into a new addition. It has rough illustration...more
This is the predecessor to "Sandcastles Made Simple, step by step" by Wierenga and McDonald. This book is a good resource, and would be the best book on the subject if they hadn't overhauled it into a new addition. It has rough illustrations, rather than the newer photographs, and it isn't as clearly written as it's newer counterpart. But it has all the information needed for proper construction and carving of a castle that will make passer-bys stare in awe....less
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Ben
gave
to:
Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments (Spiral-bound)
by Patti Mitchell
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my rating:
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read in April, 2008
Ben said:
"This book has a dozen or so projects that could be used for deciding on a beach project for the completely un-creative minds. The sand sculptures aren't very detailed, and there isn't any proper discussion of technique or tools. This book seems more ...more
This book has a dozen or so projects that could be used for deciding on a beach project for the completely un-creative minds. The sand sculptures aren't very detailed, and there isn't any proper discussion of technique or tools. This book seems more geared towards the young reader who needs some help and guidlines, or a 'vision' of what project to tackle, and who would be satisfied with a mediocre sculpture. This doesn't contain any technical sandsculpture information....less
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Ben
gave
to:
The Art and Industry of Sandcastles (Paperback)
by Jan Adkins
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my rating:
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Ben said:
"This book doesn't really instruct how to build a good sandcastle (in any technical sense beyond what anyone with a bucket already knows)and seems more geared towards a youth audience (6-10 year old males are the target demographic here.)
It's got ...more
This book doesn't really instruct how to build a good sandcastle (in any technical sense beyond what anyone with a bucket already knows)and seems more geared towards a youth audience (6-10 year old males are the target demographic here.)
It's got some great comparative pictures of actual castle 'blueprints', which though educational, are above the capability level of the builders who will be reading this book. It's a great effort, but doesn't really give any solid construction concepts, and is only of trivial interest to someone wanting to learn to build castles. Perhaps best saved for reading on a rainy day at the beach, when you can't make it out onto the sand, but want to get a more historical take on sandcastles....less
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Ben
gave
to:
The Catcher in the Rye (Paperback)
by J.D. Salinger
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my rating:
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Ben said:
"I read this book because of MEl Gibson's facination with it in The Conspiracy Theory.
I've never felt so let down. I'm sure there are literary merits to this unkempt story of teen angst. But I was rather bored by what amounted to a book version of...more
I read this book because of MEl Gibson's facination with it in The Conspiracy Theory.
I've never felt so let down. I'm sure there are literary merits to this unkempt story of teen angst. But I was rather bored by what amounted to a book version of MTV's the Real World....less
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February 26
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Ben
gave
to:
The Hive and the Honey Bee: A New Book on Beekeeping Which Continues the Tradition of "Langstroth on the Hive and the Honeybee" (Hardcover)
by Dadant
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Ben said:
"There is newer edition of this book that is 600 pages of beekeeping bible. About as detailed as any book on beeking has ever been with many modern topics covered.
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