From Belize to Brazil, the forests of the American neotropics are home to an astonishing array of birds—over 3,700 different species, or nearly 40 percent of all the birds on earth. Because of this overwhelming abundance, birders come from all over the world to try to catch glimpses of species that can be found nowhere else, such as toucans and antbirds, motmots and manakins, bellbirds and cocks-of-the-rock, and practically all of the planet's hummingbirds. Two such birding enthusiasts are Vera and Bob Thornton, who have spent fifteen years photographing these special and exotic birds in the rainforests of eleven different countries of Central and South America. In this book, you'll find more than a hundred spectacular color photographs they took during their travels, along with a highly entertaining account of their adventures—and misadventures—in chasing these exotic neotropicals. The birds pictured here are among the Thorntons' personal favorites—birds that, in their words, "either dazzled us with their beauty, or charmed us by their behavior, or, in a few cases, simply challenged us by the mystique of their rarity." This latter category includes such elusive and sought-after birds as the Black-crowned Antpitta, the Zigzag Heron, the Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, and the monkey-eating Harpy Eagle. In the accompanying text, Bob Thornton engagingly describes the challenges as well as the magic of negotiating the neotropical rainforests in search of colorful birds to photograph. For those who would like to follow in the Thorntons' footsteps, there are also helpful tips about photographic gear and techniques, preferred places to see the birds, lodging, and guides. For everyone who enjoys excellent nature photography, Chasing Neotropical Birds is a must-have volume on the coffee table or in the library.
Sling Blade won the 1997 Academy Award for best original screenplay Karl has just been released from an asylum some twenty-five years after he committed a gruesome murder, returns to the town of his youth. His gentle manner and simple charm land him a job, and lead him into an unlikely friendship with a young boy and his widowed mother. But when the mother's abusive boyfriend appears, this simple man is thrust into a combustible situation that could have powerful, moving consequences for all. Billy Bob Thornton is one of Hollywood's most promising writer/directors, and Sling Blade was shown at the 1998 London Film Festival to great acclaim
This book is about a place that has seen much, but now lies in obscurity and silence. It is an example of how nature, sooner or later, will reclaim its dominion over the best that man builds and admires. ¬ This place is not about a single point in space, but rather an area, on the west side of the Rio Grande River in New Mexico, just north of Mesa de la Contadera (Black Mesa) and at the end of the Jornada del Muerto (Way of the Dead) on the Camino Real. It has witnessed the Battle of Valverde in the Civil War, coming of the railroad (ATSF), community-building, disaster (fire, earthquake, floods), and the birth of the atomic age at nearby Trinity Site. Its stones could tell much more history than this book can possibly comprehend. And yet, to the human eye, today it is little more than 50 acres of scrub and wasteland. A place that cars zip past on the nearby freeway and freight trains pass without stop at all hours of the night. A place whose story must be told, dedicated to all those who, through the centuries, have passed this way and found this Place by the River to be an oasis on a Spanish Trail, a place for which soldiers died, a place where a mighty railroad established its home base, and a place where all types of people - from Mogollon-culture natives to Spanish colonists to American families - called home.
Edda is an artificial intelligence system with the most extensive medical knowledge database ever assembled. Her (Edda refers to herself as female) knowledge-based expert system brings the wisdom and experiences of the world's leading-edge clinicians to the offices of local physicians, assisting them in making correct and timely diagnoses. "She's like having an expert, the expert, looking over your shoulder and whispering in your ear," claims a renowned cardiologist in New York. When one Edda sees what a medical practice bills a payer she is shocked at the apparent fraud. But she later learns that this is standard practice in our healthcare industry. They discover that all of this unnecessary administration coupled with greed makes care in the U.S. twice as expensive as the rest of the developed world. They set out on an ambitious journey to reform our healthcare system. While Trump Tweets is the story of this fight, this revolution.
From the vaults of The SF Gateway, the most comprehensive digital library of classic SFF titles ever assembled, comes an ideal introduction to the work of the award-winning Bob Shaw. Best known for his extraordinary novel of 'slow glass', Other Days, Other Eyes, Bob Shaw was a fan favourite at conventions for his hysterical 'serious scientific talks'. This omnibus contains three of his finest works: Orbitsville, A Wreath of Stars and The Ragged Astronauts. Orbitsville: Racing from the certain vengeance of Earth's tyrant ruler, space captain Vance Garamond flees the Solar System. And discovers the almost unimaginably vast spherical structure soon to become famous as 'Orbitsville' - a new home for Earth's huddled masses. A Wreath of Stars: Thornton's Planet is an anti-neutrino planet detected on its approach to Earth. It can be seen only through the newly developed magniluct lenses and its arrival causes a wave of panic. When its course carries it past the earth, interest in Thornton's Planet wanes. But the visit of Thornton's Planet has had effects on Earth further-ranging than anyone could have imagined. The Ragged Astronauts: Land and Overland - twin worlds a few thousand miles apart. On Land, humanity faces a threat to its very survival - an airborne species, the ptertha, has declared war on humankind, and is actively hunting for victims. The only hope lies in migration. Through space to Overland. By balloon.
Artist Cindy Thornton is known for her whimsical landscapes and imaginative storybook-style illustrations. Her vibrant, colorful art is showcased in House, a picture book for all ages that brings to life one of her favorite subjects. The curious title character has many unexpected adventures when he decides to leave the comfort of his simple hill and explore the unknown world below. He swims with sharks, flies with jets, plans a mission to outer space, and eventually discovers what is truly important to him.
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