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America's Sherlock Holmes: The Legacy of William Burns
by William R. HuntWilliam Burns is best known as &‘America&’s Sherlock Holmes&’ and became director at the Bureau of Investigation, to be immediately followed by J. Edgar Hoover. But before he became director, Burns had a long, highly publicized career as a government detective for the Secret Service, then as the head of the famed Burns International Detective Agency, which he founded after leaving government service. These successes encouraged Burns to start his own agency and he successfully competed with his hated rival, the Pinkerton Detective Agency. He was a public hero for many years (except among labor union men who remembered his questionable tactics in the notorious McNamara case involving the bombing of the Los Angeles Times). But to the general populace, he was a white knight protecting the public interest until he disgraced his government office.
Lefty Kreh's Presenting the Fly: A Practical Guide To The Most Important Element Of Fly Fishing
by Lefty KrehLefty Kreh&’s Presenting the Flydetails the most essential analysis in fly-fishing: how to get the right fly to the right fish, in the right way, at the right time. This vastly comprehensive, large-format volume explains the ways that shape, color, and weight of the fly can determine success under varying conditions.
Scats and Tracks of Alaska Including the Yukon and British Columbia: A Field Guide To The Signs Of Sixty-Nine Wildlife Species (Scats and Tracks Series)
by James HalfpennySee those animal signs on the trail? Was that footprint left by a fox or a wolf? Was that pile of droppings deposited by a moose, a mouse, or a marten? Scats and Tracks of Alaska Including the Yukon and British Columbia will help you determine which mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have passed your way and could still be nearby. Clearly written descriptions and illustrations of scats, tracks, and gait patterns will help you recognize species across the entire region. An identification key, a glossary of tracking terms, and detailed instructions on how to document your finds are also included here. Easy-to-use scat and track measurements appear on each page, making this book especially field friendly and letting you know if a white tailed ptarmigan, a red fox, or even a black bear has been your way.
Florida's Carnivorous Plants: Understanding, Identifying, and Cultivating the State's Native Species
by Kenny CooganLearn about Florida's endemic carnivorous plants in this exciting book written for the budding naturalist and hobbyist. Florida has dozens of native species of carnivorous plants––more than any other state in the United States—including sundews, butterworts, bladderworts, and pitcher plants. These plants use appealing scents, leaves, and sticky fluids to trap and imprison insects. Digestive fluids then absorb the prey giving the plant its nutrients. Many of these plants can be grown at home in the backyard, in rain gardens, or in some cases on the windowsill. Florida&’s Carnivorous Plants provides an identification and growing guide for the major genera of carnivorous plants found in Florida. Each species description includes etymology, a history of the plant&’s discovery highlighting diverse scientists, anatomy, habitat range, and popular cultivars for beginners. Tables include soil requirements, types of potting, water level, amount of light, dormancy and temperature requirements, and propagation tips. A glossary provides readers with the tools to learn botanical jargon to improve their identification skills.
Best Rail Trails California: More Than 70 Rail Trails Throughout the State (Best Rail Trails Series)
by Tracy SalcedoComprehensive directory to the state's most popular rail trails. Each trail will receive a full trail profile, descriptive narrative, detailed information, and more.
Fire-Making, Storytelling, and Ceremony: Secrets of the Forest
by Mark WarrenIn the second volume of the Secrets of the Forest series, Mark Warren addresses a wide range of what an outdoorsperson needs to know about fire such as:how to create it from scratch using three different methods (hand drill, bow drill, and fire-saw).which species of trees and dried winter weeds make good candidates for a fire kit.where to find tinder that can combust.how to construct a fail-proof pyre by mixing fast-burning fuel with dense hardwood.how to sustain a fire for the long term, including how to safely store a smoldering fire that can survive for several days.The second half of the book is dedicated to storytelling and ceremony. Its main purpose is how to design stories that augment whatever lessons a teacher has in mind. Such stories can familiarize students with the fine points of archery, canoeing, tracking, stalking, and other crafts or skills. Borrowing from Native American traditions, Warren introduces dozens of ways for young outdoorspeople to build self-esteem and a deep connection with the forest. This volume contains more than 100 original activities.
Mark Twain: His Words, Wit, and Wisdom
by Michael Richards Gary L. BloomfieldA unique collection of quotes and photos revealing a new side of Mark Twain's humor and wit.A highly entertaining collection of timeless quotations from Mark Twain. The 19th-centurey American writer, humorist, public speaker, and publisher wrote hundreds of short stories, and his best-known novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, still read more than 130 years later. Born with the visit of Halley&’s Comet in 1835, he died when the comet returned to the solar system in 1910. He remains one of the most quoted – and quotable – American writers of all time. It includes more than 100 glorious images of this most famous son of Hannibal, Missouri.
Armies South, Armies North
by Alan AxelrodAn argument settler--and starter--for Civil War buffs who want to know which side had the better soldiers: Armies South, Armies North definitively compares the military forces of both sides. Civil War buffs are always arguing over which side had the better soldiers. Armies South/Armies North by Alan Axelrod helps readers reconsider their understanding of America&’s most harrowing war. Axelrod is the author of more than one hundred books with a passion for military history and leadership. Each chapter of his new book compares the military forces with both quantitative and qualitative measures. Axelrod analyzes the equipment, the leadership and strategies, and the men who fought in each army, with additional focus on lesser known flash points during the war.
The Orvis Guide to Muskies on the Fly
by Kip ViethThe essential Orvis primer on fly-fishing for Muskies, addressing every requirement of the sport and providing an excellent foundation for years of pleasurable fishing. It includes instructions for tackle selection; casting and presentation; flies; essential knots and how to tie them; successful techniques on rivers and lakes; and much more. Muskies are BIG and DANGEROUS fish, and the Orvis Guide shows you how to land these challenging monsters.
The Mountain Men: The Dramatic History And Lore Of The First Frontiersmen
by George LaycockTo know how the West was really won, start with the exploits of these unsung mountain men who, like the legendary Jeremiah Johnson, were real buckskin survivalists. Preceded only by Lewis and Clark, beaver fur trappers roamed the river valleys and mountain ranges of the West, living on fish and game, fighting or trading with the Native Americans, and forever heading toward the untamed wilderness.In this story of rough, heroic men and their worlds, Laycock weaves historical facts and practical instruction with profiles of individual trappers, including harrowing escapes, feats of supreme courage and endurance, and sometimes violent encounters with grizzly bears and Native Americans.
Tar Heel Traveler: Journeys across North Carolina
by Scott MasonA blend of oral history and memoir with a good dose of quirky humor, the Tar Heel Traveler is a celebratory look at the people and places of North Carolina. Mason is the TV reporter—the Tar Heel Traveler—who journeys across North Carolina profiling colorful characters and out-of-the-way places.
We, Robot: Skywalker's Hand, Blade Runners, Iron Man, Slutbots, and How Fiction Became Fact
by Mark MeadowsWe, Robot does for robotics what Michio Kaku&’s bestselling Physics of the Impossible has done for physics. How close to becoming reality are our favorite science fiction robots? And what might be the real-life consequences of their existence? Robotics and artificial intelligence expert (and science fiction fan) Mark Stephen Meadows answers that question with an irresistible blend of hard science, futurist imagination, solid statistics, pop culture, and plenty of humor.
Peyton Manning: The Last Rodeo
by Mark KiszlaPeyton Manning is America&’s quarterback. And America loves a great comeback story. Less than two years after Manning was fired from the Indianapolis Colts, he led the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl and won pro football&’s Most Valuable Player award for the fifth time. In 2013, Manning broke the league record for touchdown passes in a single season, despite a body weakened by multiple neck surgeries that threatened to end his career. Manning did it against all odds, in a manner inspirational to any football fan—or anybody who has ever lost a job and been forced to start over.Peyton Manning: The Last Rodeo follows Manning&’s remarkable season with the Broncos on a wild ride to the championship game. Through it all, from the suspension of a star teammate to the heart ailment of his head coach, Manning carried the Broncos and reminded us why he is one of America&’s most beloved role models.
An Obama's Journey: My Odyssey of Self-Discovery across Three Cultures
by Mark Obama NdesandjoIn this revealing and beautifully written memoir, Mark Obama Ndesandjo, recounts his complex relationship with his older half-brother, President Barack Obama, including their first meeting in Kenya over twenty years ago. The book also offers the author's inspiring personal story about identity and multiculturalism. Rare family photos add to the book's personal nature as does the intense recounting of domestic violence in the home of Barack Obama Sr.’s and his third wife, Ruth Baker, Mark’s Jewish-American mother. The book also attempts to set the records straight on several points of the president’s best-selling memoir Dreams from My Father. In its connection to President Obama, Mark's story takes on an even greater significance because it becomes all the more directly, a story of American identity and a window into the complex figure of the father they share, Barack Obama Sr., their roots in Kenya, their multicultural identities, and their relationships with America.
Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition
by John J. BinderAlthough much has been written about Al Capone, there has not been--until now--a complete history of organized crime in Chicago during Prohibition. This exhaustively researched book covers the entire period from 1920 to 1933. Author John J. Binder, a recognized authority on the history of organized crime in Chicago, discusses all the important bootlegging gangs in the city and the suburbs and also examines the other major rackets, such as prostitution, gambling, labor and business racketeering, and narcotics. A major focus is how the Capone gang -- one of twelve major bootlegging mobs in Chicago at the start of Prohibition--gained a virtual monopoly over organized crime in northern Illinois and beyond. Binder also describes the fight by federal and local authorities, as well as citizens' groups, against organized crime. In the process, he refutes numerous myths and misconceptions related to the Capone gang, other criminal groups, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and gangland killings. What emerges is a big picture of how Chicago's underworld evolved during this period. This broad perspective goes well beyond Capone and specific acts of violence and brings to light what was happening elsewhere in Chicagoland and after Capone went to jail. Based on 25 years of research and using many previously unexplored sources, this fascinating account of a bloody and colorful era in Chicago history will become the definitive work on the subject.
Cowboy Values: Recapturing What America Once Stood For
by James P. OwenJim Owen leads a massively successful seminar that is in huge demand by financial groups, teachers&’ organizations, and professional associations. Here Owen continues his nonpartisan message, offering the legacy of the cowboy as a model of accessible, positive qualities that all can agree on, regardless of religion or political persuasion.
Standup Paddling Montana: A Guide to the Best Rivers, Lakes, and National Parks in the Region (Paddling Series)
by Greg PetersAnchored by two stunning national parks, carved by dozens of rivers and sprinkled with glistening lakes, Montana is a standup paddling paradise. From calm paddles set against snowcapped mountains to whitewater routes for adventurous souls, Standup Paddling Montana features thebest sites across the state for standup paddlers of all skill levels.
America's Best Brews: The Definitive Guide to More Than 375 Craft Beers from Coast to Coast
by Steve JohnsonThis book describes and rates more than 375 of the best craft beers, identifies who actually makes them, explains how beer is made, guides you in homebrewing, lists beer festivals, and reveals America's top 25 breweries.
Hiking Carlsbad Caverns & Guadalupe Mountains National Parks (Regional Hiking Series)
by Bill SchneiderCarlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico is renowned for its amazing system of limestone caves. Both Carlsbad and the nearby Guadalupe Mountains National Park, just across the state line in Texas, are also blessed with spectacular above-ground trails. This thoroughly revised edition is the authoritative and the only comprehensive guide to all of the hiking trails in both parks.
Bootlegger's 200 Proof Blackjack
by Mike "Bootlegger" TurnerFor most people, the game of blackjack provides excitement and entertainment—and somewhat erratic results. Although we may know the basic rules and even a few strategies, most of us still manage to lose our stakes time and again. Now, gambling columnist and blackjack expert Mike &“Bootlegger&” Turner has written the perfect guide to help the average player turn the tables.Bootlegger&’s 200 Proof Blackjack begins by explaining the basics of blackjack. It then analyzes the most effective strategies for increasing your odds of winning. Included are discussions of money management for strategic and advantage play, tips for avoiding common pitfalls, a unique section on using the casinos&’ promotional money to play, and simple instructions on the best card-counting system for novice counters. Easy-to-follow tables and card hands illustrate strategies. And each book includes a pocket-sized &“Quick-Reference Guide&” that you can use at the tables.
Awakening Fire: An Essential Guide to Waking Flame, Wood, and Ignition
by Nate SummersIn this one-of-a-kind guide, survival skills expert and author Nate Summers unlocks the practical, ancient, and powerful art of making fire. Our modern lives and comforts have removed us from the world of our grandmothers and grandfathers where simple skills like how to make a fire to keep yourself alive are lost or fading rapidly. In this book, you will discover the basic principles of fire-making, plenty of how-to material, different fire-starting methods and structures for almost any conditions, fire safety information, and, perhaps most importantly after safety, a section devoted to the most useful species for each bioregion in North America. After reading, you will be well on your way to successfully making fires for emergency situations; knowing how to build a campfire for cooking, fun, warmth, and comfort; and understanding fire safety—no matter where you live or adventure.
Connecticut Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbe (Curiosities Series)
by Ray Bendici Susan Campbell Bill HealdConnecticut Curiosities, 3rd Edition is part of a GPP homegrown series of state-specific books that describe, with humor and affection—and a healthy dose of attitude—the oddest, quirkiest, and most outlandish places, personalities, events, and phenomena found within the state&’s borders and in the chronicles of its history.A fun, accessible read for travelers and non travelers alike—a great armchair book with quirky b/w photographs throughout and maps for each region. They can be thought of as combination almanacs, off-the-wall travel guides, and wacky news gazettes, all with a decidedly humorous twist.The narrative is good-naturedly humorous. Connecticut Curiosities, 3rd Edition is filled with humorous state facts and amusing stories and sports a visually varied, browsable design (with sidebars, archival photos, etc.). Part zany Connecticut guidebook and part Who's Who of odd and unsung heroes, this compendium of the state's quirks and characters will amuse Connecticut residents and visitors alike.
Colorado's Historic Schools
by Linda WommackConstruction of a school building reflected the importance of universal education and a community's desire to establish permanence in the ever-expanding Western frontier.Since 1859 when Colorado's first one-room schoolhouse was established in Denver City, over six hundred school buildings have been built across the Centennial State. These schools were often the social centers of the community. Civic town meetings were held in them, as well as other political events. Some of these schoolhouses were still operating in rural communities through the 1950s. Today, these schools are the touchstones to Colorado&’s pioneering past. Colorado&’s Historic Schools is part-regional history, and part-travel guide featuring over 140 of the most significant schools across the state, all recognized as historic landmarks. Along with interesting school stories and building descriptions, there are historic photos and stories of legendary teachers, tragedies, and even murder over the 150-year history of Colorado&’s schools.
Connecticut River Boating Guide: Source To Sea (Paddling Series)
by Connecticut River Watershed CouncilThis is the all-new edition of the Connecticut River Boating Guide, the standard resource for boaters, canoeists, and kayakers. It includes thirty-two GPS-compatible maps that together map the entire length of the river. Data for twenty-eight river reaches include information on mileage, navigability, difficulty, sources of flow information, portages, camping, USGS maps and NOAA charts, special fishing regulations, boating facilities, and more. The narrative text accompanying the maps is a mile-by-mile description of the river with detailed information on landmarks, navigational hazards, conservation, wildlife, and history. The book is authored by, and published in cooperation with, the Connecticut River Watershed Council, the leading organization devoted to management of the river and its watershed.
Frontier Justice in the Wild West: Bungled, Bizarre, And Fascinating Executions
by R. Michael WilsonFrontier Justice highlights eighteen crimes and subsequent punishments of the most interesting, controversial, and unusual executions from an era when hangings and shootings were a legal means of capital punishment. Chapters include: the bungled hanging of Tom Ketchum who was beheaded by the noose; the unique trigger for the trapdoor used to hang Tom Horn; "Big Nose" George Parrott who was skinned, pickled, and made into a pair of shoes; the double trials of Jack McCall, assassin of Wild Bill Hickok; the hanging of a woman-Elizabeth Potts; the shooting of John D. Lee of Mountain Meadows Massacre infamy; and the only use of a double "twitch-up" gallows; etc. Each action-packed chapter includes biographical information, the pursuit, the investigation, legal maneuvers, trial information, and rarely-seen photographs.