Monitor

The Bluebird Monitor's Guide to Bluebirds and Other Small Cavity-Nesters by Cynthia Berger, Keith Kridler and Jack Griggs. Notice who sponsored this book, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and The North American Bluebird Society, and was printed in 2001. The Bluebird Monitor's Guide is the most detailed and complete, up to date Bluebird information I found for sale today on Bluebirds.

I have to say that I was about as a Novice as it gets in knowing about Bluebirds, but am quickly becoming an expert to be. I live in South Florida, and never had seen a Bluebird until May of 2002. I decided my area needed more of this beautiful bird, and my search for information on Bluebirds, and Bluebird boxes, and Bluebird Trails lead right to The Bluebird Monitor's Guide.

If you are searching for Bluebird information, you will find that there are very few books written about Bluebirds. After ordering and receiving the Bluebird Monitor's Guide, I found I was reading articles which are short, informative, fun, and on everything I could think of pertaining to Bluebirds and their habitat, housing, and food, and the people who care about them.

The book is approximately 8" x 10" of high gloss paper, 128 pages, and filled with beautiful photos. The guide is broken down into five sections which tell you about Bluebirds, and how to attract them; how to monitor Bluebirds; Bluebird Trails, and the equipment used with Bluebirds. The Bluebird Monitor's Guide information all comes by ordinary people, like you and me, whom have been working with Bluebirds for years. And The Monitor,s Guide is written to be understood by young and old, and novice or expert.

The Bluebird Monitor's Guide is written for the person who has only one box or a Bluebird Trail of hundreds of boxes. Since May of 2002 I now actually have twenty Bluebird Trails of 122 houses, with plans of many more for South Florida. I am the overall Trail Monitor of Twenty Monitors. I am helping dozens of people to learn about the Bluebird, from the wealth of information found in The Bluebird Monitor's Guide.

Whether you can only purchase one Bluebird book, or all the Bluebird books which have ever been written, The Bluebird Monitor's Guide to Bluebirds and Other Small Cavity-Nesters should be the #1 Bluebird book in your library.

This is a definite bible on bluebird nestbox monitoring - all sorts of really great and detailed info on bluebirds, problem solving tips for dealing with predators, great pictures. I recommend this one to everyone I know who's interested in bluebirds and monitoring nest boxes.

The Bluebirding world has waited a long time for this book. If you just have one Bluebird nest box in the yard, or hundreds covering miles of territory, this book is a must have. Profusely illustrated with color photos.

The authors of this book did not create a "coffee table" book; they created a work that will guide you through your day to day problems with predators, such as snakes, raccoons, house sparrows, and starlings.

I am a Bluebirder with years of experience, and I learned a lot and keep learning from the book!

I reviewed "The Battle Of The Ironclads" by Quarstein and called it the best book that I'd read on the Monitor and Virginia/Merrimack. That was before reading this book. This book has more source material and, consequently, more detail and is a better text. "The Battle Of The Ironclads" has more contemporary illustrations so both books complement each other in some ways. Despite the additional source material there are strange omissions in Davis' book, for one he does not mention why the Navy Department disliked Erickson: "The Princeton" affair wherein a gun, not designed by Erickson, blew up killing some high govenment officials when tested on the Princeton, a ship designed by Erickson, and Erickson was blamed for the deaths. Davis also casually mentions that the Confederacy was working on an ironclad called the Richmond when the Confederates abandoned the Norfolk Boatyard. In fact, work was proceeding on both the Richmond and Virginia simultaneously and it is possible that the Virginia could have been completed earlier with more devastating affect on the Union fleet if all work had concentrated on her.

Davis' work is the more scholarly of the two with an index and list of references. Either one is a great read with much detail and the true student of the Battle or of the Civil War will want to read both.

"Duel Between the First Ironclads" is probably the best book I have read about the historic clash between the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) and the USS Monitor. It relates the fascinating tale of the development and fight between the two great ironclads and their meeting on March 9, 1862.

William C. Davis is both a historian and a storyteller. He expertly weaves memoir and journal accounts from actual participants to reveal a human side to what many would consider 'dry' history. That Monitor and Virginia were the first Ironclads to meet in battle is notable. But it is the men who commanded those ships, fired their guns and worked their engines who were behind it all. Davis expertly captures that and brings it to life. It is this mesh of human drama and military might that makes this book so valuable.

Then there's the fact that it is simply well written, well paced and just entertaining. While this subject has been covered before in countless books on Civil War Naval history and military, none I have seen has gone into this much depth, both for the human side and the historical background.

I really enjoyed this one. I think it's written well enough that I could suggest this book to just about anyone who has an interest in military history, or just likes a good story.

Wiliam C. Davis chronicles the race to build the ironclads as well as the dramatic battle that ended unresolved. All of the colorful charactors on both sides of the war are portrayed as both human and visionary, in their desperate gamble to win.. More importantly, however, Mr. Davis places this battle into its proper context as a crucial turning point in military and naval history. The chapter on the development of ironclad technology after the battle and war is the proper ending. For the first time, the true importance of this battle and the race to build the ironclads was brought home to me. Highly recommended.

This book is not a novel. It is a detailed description of almost all aspects of the Ora (the Komodo inhabitant's name for the Komodo monitor), not permitting the some anatomical details of the monitor. As the title implies, the Ora's behavior is magnified greatly. The book is a leading authority on the behavioral aspects of the book. Morphology, grow analysis, predator-prey coactions, and ecology information is also included and is very complete and well recorded (as is everything in the book). This is a must have for any person interested in this lizard, but is serious reading.

Perhaps biased by a fascination for really large lizards, I was enthralled by this book. Walter Auffenberg, wife, kids, and various others spent almost a year on Komodo Island in 1970 doing the first comprehensive study of Komodo Dragons. The depth is awesome, everything from detailed morphology to studies of prey species to inventories of flora. Mixed in with the tables and charts are wonderful accounts of sharing a photo blind with an 8-foot lizard looking for shade, and how to measure a Dragon's maximum speed (chase him with a motorcycle). Sixty dollars and well worth it

I wish I could buy these books. I have loved Enid Blyton since I was very young and the Naughtiest girl series is my favourite. Please tell me where I can get copies.

These are such good books!!! I had this collection and read it over and over again when I was younger. It is a great collection for any child or adult. I wish it were in stock so I could buy it!

If you are a cyclist (beginner or avid) and are looking for some great new riding profiles this is the book for you. Where's your focus?...Your heart, of course!! Proper training of your heart rate will get you where you want (need) to be. If you succeed in completing ALL 50 workouts you will have improved the three abilities necessary for successful riding: Endurance, Strength, and Speed. You will learn to control your heartrate, push your lactate threshold and reduce recovery time. Effective riding will lead you to more and more riding...Buy it! (P.S. Spinning instructors - this is awesome!)

I have recently started to enjoy recreational cycling for fitness. I ride both on-road and off-road and up until now I was just going out for a ride most days without a training plan or a real purpose to my rides, not understanding why some days I felt good and other days were a hard slog. While I am definitely getting results, I know that I am not optimizing my training.

I read through this book in a couple of days and can't wait to begin putting into practice many of the things I learned. What made this particularly appealing to me is that I am both a "gadget-head" by nature and also enjoy measuring and monitoring things. This book has shown me how to tie these things into my training to help me plan, execute and monitor my fitness program.

Dennis Hart has done a great public service with his history of "the last great radio show".

That show was Monitor on NBC radio, a program that not only ran every weekend for nearly twenty years, but in doing so, saved the NBC radio network from early extinction at a time when television was robbing network radio of its audience.

So what was Monitor? The brainchild of the late, great Pat Weaver, Monitor was a true magazine of the air--an intelligent, lively, exciting mixture of news, comedy, music, sports, interviews, and live remotes from around the world, all packaged into an ever changing format hosted by radio greats like Gene Rayburn, Dave Garroway, Henry Morgan, Bill Cullen, and many others. There was simply nothing else like it when it began in 1955. And really nothing else like it when it fell victim to the changing times and was finally cancelled in January 1975.

Hart deftly chronicles Monitor's creation, and breathes life into the story of its long run--longer than any other radio program. From the famous hosts, to the intense work it took for the show's producers and writers to actually create on a weekly basis, hours of live programming at a time when broadcasting technology was primitive by today's standards, to the Monitor Beacon itself, Hart reminds Monitor's fans why they spent so many of their weekend hours listening to the program.

I was a fan for years in the '60s and early '70s, but you don't have to remember the show to appreciate this affectionate history. And given the state of commercial radio today, you may come away wondering why Monitor is still not running every weekend "going places and doing things" and once again delighting millions of listeners.

When former NBC president, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver died on March 15, 2002, his old network broadcast an obituary highlighting his programming innovations. Weaver brought us both "Today" and "Tonight," television shows that have lasted 50 years. Pat Weaver was a programming genius. Unfortunately, NBC Television failed to mention his major NBC Radio achievement: "Monitor." It revolutionized the network radio business 50 years ago; but, unfortunately, it died from neglect and the bottom line 30 years ago.
Monitor aired every weekend for 20 years. The first few years, it was broadcast 40 hours a weekend; later it was cut back to 16 and then to 12. But, in the beginning, if you were on the Monitor Beacon, you were one of 30 million listeners going places and doing things each weekend. You were hearing Dave Garroway, Henry Morgan, David Brinkley, Mel Allen, Joe Garagiola, Hugh Downs, Ted Brown, Gene Rayburn, Brad Crandall and many more. Bob and Ray were at Radio Central most of the weekend. Nichols and May were there too, as was Jonathan Winters. Weekends were different and so was Monitor.
So, why am I writing about Monitor 30 years later? Well, I was quite a devotee of Monitor. I listened every weekend. A year ago, it was a weekend, I was looking up a site on a search engine and, on a whim, I typed in "Monitor" to see what I'd find. To my surprise, I found an elaborate Web Site devoted entirely to Monitor with history, audio, pictures, reminiscences: ... Until then, I thought I was the biggest Monitor aficionado in the country. No, Dennis Hart is truly Mr. Monitor. This site was his brainchild. But he has more material than could ever fit on a Web site. Hence, the book.
This is a great book, easy to read and well-documented. Dennis actually interviewed Mr. Weaver. Mr. Weaver's comments demonstrate how much he thought of Monitor and how disappointed he was to see it end and why it did. Dennis also has interviewed other Monitor personnel, both on-the-air and behind the scenes. The book's packed with inside information.
When you go to the Web site, read the comments in the guestbook. See how many messages express hope that Monitor will return. I hope it will too. But until then, we have Monitor, the Book, and Monitor, the Web site, thanks to Dennis.

this guide was as good as having a connection inside the company in terms of finding out what it's really like. i recommend this if you're serious about working for moniter.

This was a goldmine of info on a small, private company that doesn't get a great deal of press. I've had a hard time getting good info on this company, so it was a relief to get a hold of this guide. I had a couple friends of friends who've worked at Monitor, and so i knew the rep was a good one. But since I couldn't get in touch with these friends of friends, the guide was the next best thing. Plus it's current, moreso than the insight from these FoFs who worked for Monitor several years ago. Thanks WetFeet. I'll be looking at your website some more to help me get my resume writing, interviewing and other skills up to speed.

This is one of the best books I have read concering the captive keeping of the savannah monitor. It was easy to read and had the most information on breeding I have ever seen. I think before anyone would consider purchasing a savannah I would recommend you read this book. Bravo Daniel and Ravi!!!!!!

This is easily the best book about keeping monitor lizards. The authors have so much experience and it shows! They even provide a section about the lizards in the wild. The advice on care and husbandry is far better than what I've found in any other book. These guys really know what they are talking about!

A. A. Hoehling's Thunder at Hampton Roads tells the story of the U.S.S. Monitor, the world's first all-iron fighting ship. The book covers the entire story of this famous vessel, detailing the construction of the vessel, the battle between it and the C.S.S. Merrimack, and its rediscovery in the mid-1970's. The Monitor changed the image of the navy forever, ridding people of their notion of ships built of oak and canvas and replacing it with pictures closer to those invoked by the navy of today: ones of invincible metal and guns.

The book begins with an account of the construction of the Monitor. Northern and Southern forces were racing for naval supremacy throughout the war, and ironclads were among the most important technology being developed. The Monitor was specifically designed to combat the seemingly indestructible Southern Merrimack. A Swede named John Ericcson conceived of the idea for the North. Though similar in design to the other ship, which had already been proven in battle, the Monitor's development was viewed with some skepticism; many people thought it would never float, much less act as a battle-ready warship. They were proved wrong, as the Monitor was proved as worthy as its Confederate opponent.

The second section of the book details the Monitor's encounter with the Southern ironclad Merrimack, and its sinkage off the coast of Cape Hatteras. The battle came in defense of a seaport called Hampton Roads. Both ships took substantial damage. The Monitor came away victorious, though the Merrimack did escape. Many people believed that the ironclad was the only thing that came between Hampton Roads and a complete ransacking by the Confederate Navy. The loss of the Monitor was an unfortunate incident. The ironclad was being towed by another ship, the Rhode Island, to Wilmington North Carolina, where it was indeed to take part in capturing the city. When the crew discovered that their ship was failing, they cut loose from the Rhode island so as to avoid bringing the other ship down with the Monitor. Luckily, most of the crew was able to escape via lifeboat. Sadly, fifteen crewmen, including the captain, went down with her.

The third section of the book details the post-war lives of those who were involved with the Monitor, and tells of its rediscovery in the 1970's. Many of the Monitor's crewmen lived peacefully after the sinking, but one could not. Samuel Dana Greene, an executive officer on the Monitor whom many thought should have chased the Southern Merrimack until he had captured or destroyed it, killed himself. Supposedly he was consumed with guilt that was fed by the accusations over the fact that the Merrimack escaped to do further damage in the war. Only after his death was the matter cleared up by a superior officer who announced that the Monitor had sustained too much damage for it to follow the enemy ship.

The Monitor was discovered and photographed by a team of marine scientists twelve miles off Cape Hatteras where it had sunk to more than a century previously. Salvaging operations funded by the National Science Foundation and National Geographic were successful. Technological advances such as that of sonar greatly aided those who were devoted to discovering the Monitor. Restoration work was taking place when the book was published in the late 1970's

A. A. Hoehling used diaries, letters, ships' logs, and newspaper articles to put together the story of the Monitor. He was directly involved with the salvage work on the vessel, which explains his desire to let the public know about this fascinating ship. It was his belief that the Monitor played a significant role in the Civil War and in the development of the navy, a point that he convinces the reader of throughout the book.

I believe that this book would be perfect for research on any aspect of the Merrimack or the Monitor. Through text and photos of the Monitor as it was when built and as it appeared sunken beneath the sea, the author tells the ship's complete story. This is a valuable source for anyone researching naval forces during the civil war, not only the battles but also the inner workings of the Navy and its chain of command.

Still the best book on the history of the USS Monitor. Hoeling is both an excellent researcher and a first-rate writer. I am very pleased this book is back in print. Naval historians should rejoice!

An enthralling tale of the most famous vessel in American history and the man behind its inception, told with verve and a style that kept me up way into the night - finishing the book in 2 sittings.

Finely researched details and verbatim accounts of proceedings give a fascinating insight into the chain of events which drag our designer hero into the Civil War as the pivotal figure in the defeat of the South. It also shows the idiocy and lack of informed decision-making, as well as the intelligence which pervaded the Armed Services chain of command (probably to this day).

The actual battle is a bit of a let-down after the big build-up in the race to complete the Monitor's construction in time to challenge the Merrimac's dominance of the war. It serves to show how small things can turn the tide of events against all the odds (see also Battling the Elements : Weather and Terrain in the Conduct of War) - in this case neither of the two combatants were badly damaged, yet the South suffered a crushing blow, purely from the knowledge that there was a better power afloat, and the Merrimac was scuttled by her own crew.

If you are interested in History, Industrial Archaeology or Military Strategy, don't miss this one!

If Tom Clancey wrote Civil War history, "Monitor" would be the result. Although non-fiction, this is as exciting a read as "The Hunt for Red October" would be if it were set during the Civil War. Military techno fans unfamiliar with the subject will be fascinated by how advanced and visionary the "cheesebox on a raft" was, and they won't ever look at mid-19th century technology as being quite so archaic again. For those familiar with the subject, you might find a more detailed and scholarly book about the Monitor elsewhere, but it certainly won't be as enjoyable to read. This is the kind of book that got you hooked on Civil War history in the first place, and deKay is to be applauded for reviving the clear prose-poetry style of the late, great Bruce Catton.

Monitor skillfully holds the reader spellbound about the ship, and her irrascible genius inventor. I also came to realize just how technically advanced this ship was compared to her contemporaries. This book is a quick and powerful read that you don't want to put down, and it conveys the depth and level of accomplishment achieved by John Erriccson in getting her built in the short time he did. An outstanding history replete with circumstances and entertaining anecdotes as well. A highly recommended book.