Painted Keepsakes: A Book about Birthmarks

Product Description

Painted Keepsakes: A Book about Birthmarks, candidly points at a mark that is erroneously defined as a blemish. This book proves the beauty of birthmarks by distinguishing children who wear them. The straightforward book started with a little girl pointing an unassuming finger at another girl's face, and asking, "What's that mark on you?" The unhesitant girl bearing the mark, proudly states, "That's my birthmark." They proceeded to play together upon that initial meeting, without any reservations or tension. Taken aback by the innocent candor of the situation, I later took my outspoken daughter aside to show her birthmarks illustrated in a medical book. While explaining the different markings to my 2-year old, an entourageof inquisitive children from our building began hovering over the medical book with awe and curiosity. Consequently, the conception of Painted Keepsakes came forth.

Customer Reviews:

My kids love it........2006-03-06

My kids love Painted Keepsakes. It's about time they make a book that has a point.

Amazon.com

Donovan Webster, a former editor at Outside magazine, has written an eyewitness account of the impossible tasks involved with removing armaments that continue to kill after war has ceased. Between 110 and 120 million land mines are planted in the soil of more than 64 countries. The exponential numbers point to the staggering difficulties Aftermath details: each year more than 5 million new land mines are laid, and only 100,000 are cleared; a new mine costs $3, but removing one costs between $200 and $1,000. In Angola, there are more than 15 million mines, two for every citizen. Webster traces the deadly legacy from the French battlefields of World War I to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, describing the work of sappers in a compelling story that brings to light the horrifying legacy of warfare.

Book Description

In riveting and revelatory detail, Aftermath documents the ways in which wars have transformed the terrain of the battlefield into landscapes of memory and enduring terror: in France, where millions of acres of farmland are cordoned off to all but a corps of demolition experts responsible for the undetonated bombs and mines of World War I that are now rising up in fields, gardens, and backyards; in a sixty-square-mile area outside Stalingrad that was a cauldron of destruction in 1941 and is today an endless field of bones; in the Nevada deserts, where America waged a hidden nuclear war against itself in the 1950's, the results of which are only now becoming apparent; in Vietnam, where a nation's effort to remove the physical detritus of war has created psychological and genetic devastation; in Kuwait, where terrifyingly sophisticated warfare was followed by the Sisyphean task of making an uninhabitable desert capable of sustaining life.

Aftermath excavates our century's darkest history, revealing that the destruction of the past remains deeply, inextricably embedded in the present.

Customer Reviews:

The Horror.......2007-10-04

As the title would suggest, Aftermath deals with the consequences of war ordinance in every day life. I was particularly interested in the lingering effects of World War I, a war fought nearly 100 years ago. There are amazing accounts of the bomb clearing squad searching uninhabitable areas of the French countryside and turning up thousands of live and/or unexploded shells from battles fought in 1918. The stories of the millions of people slaughtered in the great wars of Europe is unsettling in and of itself, but the descriptions of Russian fields that are still strewn with the bones of these soldiers is unfathomable. The details of more current events puts a more contemporary perspective on the aftermath of conflict and makes one realize that the technology may change, but the mess still remains. Aftermath is an easy and engrossing read for anyone interested in history, military or otherwise.

Hit or Miss, and no solutions.......2004-12-19

The chapters on UXO remediation in France, and the Boneyards of Stalingrad were gripping. I could not put down the book during these chapters. I have walked these areas of France, and his descriptions of the people and the terrain are perfect. I found that the Nevada Test Site, and Vietnam chapters were a bit sleepy. As a Gulf War Veteran, I enjoyed the chapter about mine clearing in Iraq, but think others may find it plodding.

I have a vague understanding of the Toelle situation in the final chapter, and I am not sure my information agrees with the authors. He may be dealing with some employees with alterior motives.

What I found lacking in this book was anything writen about lessons learned from clearing UXO's. Donovan observes a lot, but he doesn't yield any analyzed solutions to expedite remediation of UXOs gleaned from his experience.

Fascinating...readable...compelling.......2003-05-31

I did not expect his book to grab me the way it did, yeah I'd read about all the land mines left in Iran etc. but to learn about the extent of unexploded munitions left worldwide from conflicts dating back a century was a shock. Mr. Webster took me around the world to places I wouldn't have imagined, the affluent young French wife who found her son playing in the yard with live German artillary shells, the plains of Russia still hiding live munitions, even a forgotten test range that is now a San Diego suburb where children playing found live unexploded artillary.

Twenty, forty, a hundred years later this stuff is unstable and more dangerous than new, triggers have deteriorated, anything can set them off, and men go to work daily risking their lives to clear high explosives from places that were once battlefields and now are parks, farms, and residential areas.

This was one of those books that left a permanent impression on me, Mr. Webster's frank narrative showed a world more dangerous and unpredictable than I ever imagined.

"Aftermath" sobers the rush of war........2002-11-24

Mr. Webster has documented a sobering and horrific walk through time. He has described the international problem of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) from past wars, which continues destroy lives even 80 years later. We have all been exposed to the images and the glorious stories of armed conflict over the decades, which society teaches new generations to honor. Much of the sheer inhumanity, the utterly cold necessity of combat is ignored. Mr. Webster traveled the world to seek out the continuing reality of sudden death, perpretrated by soldiers long gone or dead.
This reader, even while working in the field of disposing of such items safely, was stunned to learn how widely the problem spans the globe. The brutal maiming and death of hundreds of people, the inestimable expense of cleaning up the trash of war will do doubt continue for decades, if not centuries. I admire Mr. Webster for his unenviable task of collecting these horific stories to share with people who know nothing about the massive problem.
This collection of observations is a must-read work for anyone who wants to know more about the struggles of millions of common people around the world. I would have liked to have more detail in many sections, hence the four stars. Still, a very moving portrayal of a deadly serious issue.

Not bad for a first effort.......2002-04-09

This comprehensive, informative - and at many-times shocking - revelation on the forgotten leftovers from modern military campaigns is as timely as it is readable. I found it informative without being too preachy - meaning, even if the author was out to lay a collective guilt trip on us about the military campaigns of Western nations, it either didn't work or he did a great job at showing impartiality.

The Devil's Gardens: A History of Landmines

Average customer rating:

Well organized overview of important weapon

The Devil's Gardens: A History of Landmines
Lydia Monin , and Andrew Gallimore
Manufacturer: Pimlico
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0712668594
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Book Description

A unique history of one of warfare’s most destructive weapons – and of its catastrophic effects in peacetime.

During the 20th century a landmine plague raged across the globe. It began on the battlefields of two world wars, gathered momentum in Korea and Vietnam and then spread like wildfire throughout the developing world. The Devil’s Gardens traces the history of a global humanitarian crisis. It is the story of the development and proliferation of a weapon of terror. It is also the story of suffering and devastation, and a worldwide crusade to put an end to the curse of landmines forever.

Customer Reviews:

Well organized overview of important weapon.......2004-02-15

This may seem like an odd choice, but it's an excellent history on landmines and how they've changed warfare since the Civil War and even earlier.

The book is organized chronologically, beginning first with some history and context, including the modern day human rights concern over their usaged before discussing the various wars where landmines developed and made an impact. It reminds one how warfare changed because of what landmines could do. Signficantly, the book explores how landmine production became dictated by industry as opposed to necessity; the better the landmine business became, the more they tried to sell to everyone around the world. Landmines have done more than some might expect, though the book also examines how their usage has become a mutual element of modern war and their effect sometimes negated.

Landmines, the book also reminds, are made in some of the richest countries and often appear en masses in the world's poorest countries, littering troublespots like Cambodia, Sudan, and Afghanistan. While landmines played a role in the quick and decisive US victory in the Persian Gulf in 1991, they also plague future generations as they can lay around for decades, their detection and removal costly and slow.

Customer Reviews:

Mixed feelings.......2003-07-10

I have waited for a long time to find a copy of this at a price I could afford. Listening to the other reviews and looking at Amazons' look inside feature, what I expected was a thick paperback containing a large amount of information on all of the landmines in the inventory, and the approved EOD method for rendering them safe.

What I got was a book that barely fit on my shelf, much less a BDU pocket. It contains the notes of a well-respected gentleman that he homogenized from multiple various sources.

He states that one of the reasons for the book is that the publications for use by EOD personnel are normally not available to the deminer. In many countries, UXO personnel are not EOD people, they are conscripted from the local population. Unfortunately, many of the items do not list a method for neutralization, and the section on rendering safe is very, very, VERY generalized. The ones that do list disarming and neutralization procedures do so supposing that the reader already has attended a course of instruction in explosives disposal.

I wouldn't feel safe using the book in the field. I understand the need for classification, but nothing about landmines, which by nature are left behind to be collected for study and reverse engineering by any coutry with an interest, truly needs classification when you weigh the need of the deminer to safely remove them.

Also, possibly off topic, I would have liked to seen a greater number of submunitions listed.

In sum, the book has its' points, but it falls short of being the publication it could be. A book of this type has a very necessary place in demining operations, and with some more fleshing out, this book could fill that role.

Real information about landmines.......2000-04-19

This book is certainly a must for anyone who is involved in the task of removing the international landmine plague. It is also invaluable for those involved in research and development of new techniques for detection and landmine remediation. For those in the general public who want to understand the difficulties of the technical aspects of demining, it can be a frightening but enlightening reference.

Eddie Banks has over thirty years experience in his field. He has summed his knowledge into an amazingly usable and readable form covering every aspect of antipersonnel mine technology from a historical perspective to detailed specifications of individual mines.

The data sheets, organized by country of manufacture, provide photos, specifications, particular dangers and methods of disarming among many other pertinent facts.

For anyone, from researcher to interested reader, who wants to understand the possibilities for this weapon of terror and the possibilities for remediation, this is a must read.

Average customer rating:

Good for your reference shelf!

Landmine History

History of Landmines
Mike Croll
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | Conventional | Weapons & Warfare | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance: A Resource Book

ASIN: 0850526280

Book Description

The history and current state of mine warfare, recent international efforts to ban their use, and how they are most likely to be used in the future.

Customer Reviews:

Good for your reference shelf!.......2001-09-25

This book is a great concise history of the use and defeat of landmines from early history to today. Various angles, from the military who sows them, to the deminers who defang them, and ultimately, the unfortunate who encounter them are highlighted.
My only gripe is I would've liked more. More landmine photos, render-safe procedures, equipment.
Otherwise, still a good read.

Landmine History.......2001-02-09

This book is an excellent primer for the anyone interested in the niche landmines have filled throughout history. The author displays extensive experience with landmines and demining, and has conducted extensive research into the history of theses devices. He traces the lineage from Hannibal to the impact of the international campaign to ban landmines, providing an informative account without emotional sensationalism. This text is worthy of inclusion in any course detailing warfare through the ages.

Average customer rating:

Landmines: A Deadly Legacy
Human Rights Watch Staff
Manufacturer: Human Rights Watch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Human Rights | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

General | International Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

A very interesting read

Living With Landmines
Bill Purves
Manufacturer: Black Rose Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

A very interesting read.......2001-12-25

The book is fairly thorough in addressing the large difficulty which has been created worldwide by using landmines in warfare. The authors describe the lives of a government demining crew, a landmine victim, a family living in the midst of minefields, and an operator of a handmade demining contraption. In addition, they go into detail on the types of landmines that have been used in warfare historically, and the difficulties which these numerous types of mines create.

Book Description

This work advances the proposition that traditional 'top down' politics is being challenged by grass-roots, civil society based 'bottom up' politics in that most sensitive areas, the national security/arms control dichotomy. The book uses the example of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), that has succeeded in reversing or altering the national policies on landmines in over 130 countries globally. The book cites the efforts of what the author calls 'moral entrepreneurs', that is people who have adopted the risk-taking characteristics of business and social leaders to bring this state of affairs about. As a new polity that challenges old assumptions about the state's preserve in matters of national security and moral force, the ICBL has set the benchmark for a fresh, twenty-first century paradigm in arms control.

Second Ngo Conference On Landmines: Conference Final Report

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Second Ngo Conference On Landmines: Conference Final Report

Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Still Killing: Landmines in Southern Africa (Human Rights Watch Arms Project)

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Still Killing: Landmines in Southern Africa (Human Rights Watch Arms Project)
Arms Project (Human Rights Watch)
Manufacturer: Human Rights Watch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Human Rights | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Research | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1564322068

Book Description

How and why did Muslims first come to write their own history? The author argues in this work that the Islamic historical tradition arose not out of "idle curiosity," or through imitation of antique models, but as a response to a variety of challenges facing the Islamic community during its first several centuries (ca. seventh to tenth centuries C.E.). The narratives that resulted focused on certain themes of Islamic origins, selected to legitimize particular aspects of the Islamic community and faith in one or another. These included the need to establish the status of Muhammad (d. 632) as prophet, to affirm that the community to which they belonged was the direct descendant of the original community founded by the Prophet, to explain (and justify) Muslim hegemony over vast populations of non-Muslims in the rapidly growing Islamic empire, and to articulate different positions in the ongoing debate with the Islamic community itself over political and religious leadership. An examination of these key themes of early Islamic historiography and the issues generating them is placed in the context of other styles of legitimation in the early Islamic community, including such methods as appeals to piety and genealogy.

Narratives of Islamic Origins is a groundbreaking work that represents the first comprehensive tradition-critical account of the origins and rise of Arab-Islamic historiography, and is essential reading for all historians of medieval Islamic history and civilization, and for all those interested in the historiography of comparative civilizations.

Customer Reviews:

Lucid and Convincing.......2003-07-01

This work is a key contribution in the debate over the historicity and reliability of the early Islamic tradition. Donner's work provides an alternative, redactionary and critical approach to the rise of narrative and historical texts in early Muslim narratives to the `skeptical' approach-associated primarily with the like of P. Crone, M. Cook, and J. Wansborough among others. In the end, he endorses a critical approach to traditional accounts of Islamic origins but one that does not reject its broad outlines. Though this feature distinguishes and orients the argument of the book, it by no means exhausts the book's contents.

The main aim of the work is to address this straightforward question: "Why did Muslims begin to narrate and eventually compose history?" His argument answers this question by examining the evolution of salient narrative themes that predominately arise as result of efforts to procure legitimacy. Hence, the evolution of historical writing is pushed for by the function it serves for establishing the legitimacy of one or another groups' claim to legitimacy. The resulting picture goes far in helping explain some of the odd idiosyncrasies of early Islamic history-e.g., the absence of chronology.

I found the general outlines of the book to be quite convincing; however, the devil is in the details, as it is said. Critical examination of hadith may lead us to confer that it is plausible that the first four caliphs were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali in that order, that the Battle of the Camel and Siffin occurred, but the details-copiously provided in Islamic tradition-remain highly dubious. In this sense, the ramifications of the book's arguments, even if valid, are not fully drawn and remain open to investigation.

An important contribution to the study of how Islam arrived........1999-03-15

A very important study that counters much of the arguments put forth by revisionist historians like Wansborough and Crone. He delves into the nature of the sources, the formation of identity during the earliest phases and ways of understanding the nature of the Movement (Islam). His style is refreshingly clear and consice and his scholarship exhaustive. A must read for any student of Islamic history.

Book Description

This important new work explores how evolutionary museums developed in the US, UK, and Australia in the late 19th century. This historical investigation also contributes to current debates, both on relationships between culture and the social, and to the rapidly changing practices of modern museums as they seek to shed the legacies of both evolutionary conceptions and colonial science, with the goal of contributing to the development and management of cultural diversity.

Pasts beyond memory: evolution, museums, colonialism [A book review from: Museum Management and Curatorship]

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Pasts beyond memory: evolution, museums, colonialism [A book review from: Museum Management and Curatorship]
R. Sullivan
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR4WNC

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Museum Management and Curatorship, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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