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At long last a *great* album from Stivell, after a series of variously interesting and adventurous but flawed projects. 1 Douar is on a par with Stivell's best from the 1970s, but in the spirit of 90s world music fusion (the only flirting with rock coming in an astonishing collaboration with Velvet Underground's John Cale - how on earth did these two musicians' paths cross! ).

From its scintillating opening track "United World 1" guesting Youssou 'N Dour, to the lush lyrical tones of its last numbers, the album showcases Stivell's inventiveness both in rhythm and melody, and his sureness of touch in dramatic arrangement. Happily, the harp resounds throughout the album, sometimes in melodic lead, often in rhythmic counterpoint. Beautifully produced (in part by Afro-Celt wizard Simon Emmerson), the new technologies enhance rather than drown the whole. Sampling is intelligent and compelling (particularly the late Goadec sisters in "La Memoire de L'Humain"), and even the wacky "Scots Are Right", which could have showcased Stivell at his cringing ranting worst, has a playfulness and an experimental deftness that wins me over (helped by some good smoky vocals by Jim Kerr, ex-Simple Minds). The two elegies (one to recently deceased Breton bard Glenmor, with a superb contribution from Chieftains' piper Paddy Moloney) are built on achingly beautiful, wistful melodies. Irish classic "Una Bhan", chanted in sean-nos style by Breda Mayock, emerges from Stivell's own English variant, set against a hypnotic harp loop, and flows into a majestic crescendo of pipeband drones (which then simply subside - a superb touch of restraint). Other winners are the wonderful Breton/Algerian kan-ha-diskan/Rai fusion "Understand" sung with Khaled, and the lovely hypnotic "United World 2".

The political optimism at the heart of the album celebrating identity and diversity in the global village ("douar" means world in Breton and village in Arabic) is matched by the musical exuberance of Stivell and his guests. Twenty-five years after promoting the musical adventurism that would become "world music", Stivell proves here that he can still reinvent himself, still surprise and still captivate. This is his best album since "Dublin".

This book, though now a decade old, still provides the interested reader with an understandable overview of a range of environmental change that we face.

The book is a publication of the National Academy of Sciences, and was written with a non-technical, but educated audience in mind. The topics are still pertinent, the concepts and problems are well defined, and possible solutions presented still bear consideration.

If you are interested in the environment, and changes that we are faced with, you ought to read this book. Topics include global warming, feeding the human population, forests and deforestation, acidification of water resources, and more.

The afterword by Gro Harlem Grundtland is a fitting end to this book.

An excellent book that still bears consideration.

A very elegant, eloquent text on its subject. Explains the major physical processes very clearly, without drowning you in tons of mathematics. The sheer clarity of Pankove's exposition is the greatest appeal of this book. After reading this, you may wish to go onto heftier tomes that delve into greater detail. But consider starting here.

While the text dates from 1976, its explanations of optical phenomena are still valid. Don't consider it outdated.

I don't have diabetes. But my mother has had it for 61 years. If you are a real "nut" like me (GEEKHOOD), you will want this book. There will be better diabetes management than with the original management appraoch. I WANT TO FOLLOW THIS PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE DIABETES! Based on the DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complication Trial) which conducted a study on 1,441 diabetics. The results were incredible. Chances of eye damage decreased by as much as 76 percent. Kidney damage, up to 56 percent. Nerve damage, up to 60 percent. As compared to "convential therapy". It is the best. This is called "Intensive Therapy". The prior diabetes management is called "Conventional Therapy". Then there is "Denial Therapy". The last is what most people do. And I have great compassion for them. They just deny their diabetes! The purpose of this program is to keep the LEVEL of your blood sugar as constant as possible. Thus remaining in maximum health. The good part is that you probably will be more heathy than the average individual because you are paying more attention, much more attention, to your health! This program is for both Type 1 and 2 diabeties. If you have a friend who is not a geek, then send him/her "The Diabetic's Book" via gift from Amazon.com (and then don't say another word unless they ask for help). The results with "Conventional Therapy" are not as good as "Intensive Therapy", but some people simply don't have this "NUMERICAL" lifestyle. Don't bug any diabetic because you are attached to them, please. It just doesn't work. I got my mother to use her diabetes machine by using myself as a human guinea pig. And she would pay attention to my measurements and how you do it. A little. Took about a month and I had to read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" all over again! But it worked. So don't "strong-arm" anybody about this program. I don't want to be gruesome. But if you scream at your loved-one to take care of themselves in this case, they may end up blind and with cut-off limbs. Alright? Patience. One diabetic doctor told me that mathematicians and engineers who love to keep charts may want to use "intensive therapy", but that's about it! I'm not updated on diabetes. Look for the "buzz words" DCCT and "Intensive Therapy" in the newer books. Two more things. Most diabetic doctors or even plain physicians are simply way too slack on diabetic care (I think I fired 3!). But these books are a little bit too detailed. Exercise physiologist? A good idea. A good "idea". Dietician? Another good idea. Another "idea". So strike your own path. My mother is taking care of her diabetes better than she has in 61 years! But my brother and I would never force this program, "intensive therapy", on her. Angry criticism helps no one ~ Winston Churchill.

I have many books on paint effects and this is one of the best I have seen. The photographs and instructions are very clear and some of the finishes I have never seen before. If you are going to buy one book on faux finishes, this should be it.

This is a marvelous book for anyone - begginer hobbyist or seasoned artist - struggling with the difficulties of accurately portraying weather. Painting the Effects of Weather by Patricia Seligman has many step-by-step demonstrations in various mediums. Also, this book is very well organized: it's divided into several sections, each devoted to a specific weather effect: clouds, mist, snow, etc. Each section then has a different color bar on the side of each page for easy reference.

Two things I really liked about Painting the Effects of Weather is that the example paintings were done by many different artists with varying styles, so that it's possible to see how a technique can fit many different styles. The other thing is that there are also many photos in the book, especially in the section dealing with clouds.

Overall, I think that this book is informative, easy to understand, and helpful. This is a must for all interested in this topic!

The Pentagon Building Performance Report--the report of the building performance study team assembled by the American Society of Civil Engineers to investigate the structural performance of the Pentagon during and immediately following the September 11 terrorist attack--has far-reaching implications not only for the building design professions but for the general public as well. Released on January 23, the report explains precisely how the Pentagon's resilient structural system substantially mitigated the damage, number of casualties and fatalities, and extent of collapse that resulted from the impact of the aircraft and the ensuing fires. This structural system saved hundreds--if not thousands--of lives.

Authored by the six individuals who constituted the core Pentagon building performance study team, the report is a comprehensive, thoroughly detailed book--the product of an exhaustive examination and analysis of the building's performance during and immediately after the terrorist attack. The Pentagon survived this event better than would have been expected, and the report explains precisely how it did so. It describes the structural features and mechanisms that contributed to the Pentagon's resiliency and it explains how these features and mechanisms performed during the impact and ensuing fires.

The information gleaned from this report argues eloquently for incorporating structural resiliency into the design and construction of buildings that are required to resist progressive collapse--that is, the failure of a structure in which relatively localized damage to structural elements leads to a general breakdown in the construction.

This book is a must read for those working in the engineering and architecture professions and provides extremely valuable information for the public at large.

Everyone should own this book! Speaking as a pharmacist...I believe this is one of the best reference books available!

This is an excellent book for the professional designer or decorator looking for a comprehensive catalog of "out of the ordinary" finishes. The finishes reviewed are generally european in heritage, although many were imported to the US during the last 2 centuries. This is not a handbook for the weekend "do-it-yourself" decorator/painter as the finishes illustrated require multiple steps and practice to attain the desired look. The book is an excellent resource when discussing finishes and 'looks'with a professional painter/finisher. Additionally, the photographs are of a fine enough quality to help the reader understand the relationship of the color, technique and texture to the surrounding room. This should help the reader to visually conceive the design before the project execution and thereby minimize 'mistakes'. Enjoy!

A God Who could be dissected into Constituent Parts wouldn't be much of a God. Indeed, resistance to the idea of a Trinitarian Deity historically has probably had this motive behind it. That Williams' book enriches our understanding of the Holy Spirit with thoroughness and grace and enhances our sense of mystery and unity within the Divine Trinity at the same time is witness to his skill and commitment as a Biblical scholar. The reader has access within these pages to careful research and honest evaluation in a subject full of potential controversy and dissension among the Christian community. Questions of application follow explication; this is characteristic of Williams' writing. To be good is to be good for something and that this is.