Variable star astronomy is one field that still allows amateur astronomers to make significant contributions to the advancement of science. Everyone can play a part in variable star observations, using a small telescope, binoculars, or even the naked eye. Written by an award-winning astronomer, Observing Variable Stars provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of variable star observation for the amateur. The book begins with advice on binoculars & telescopes, & on how & when to observe stars effectively. Levy then explains the ways in which to interpret variation in light output in terms of the life of a star, from birth to sometimes violent death. All the major variables are described & classified, as well as other variable objects such as active galaxies, asteroids, comets, & the sun. The book also illustrates how astrophysicists interpret variations in light output in terms of the evolution of stars. Observing Variable Stars contains a seasonal guide to the night sky usable in all latitudes. Throughout, practical observations serve to complement the text, making this an enjoyable, readable introduction to an exciting area of astronomy. ...

More & more people are taking to two wheels, whether for their commutes, for competition or simply for enjoyment. But there is far more to the world of bicycles & bicycle snobs than meets the eye. Which type of bike, for instance would one ride in the velodrome? Which will marry vintage charm with modern performance? & which will carry you across a country comfortably? Obsessions: Bicycles provides an authoritative directory of the different styles of bicycle, the components that make them work, & the world of accessories & clothing that will adorn you. A chapter on riding geometry is included so that you may fit your bike to your body & not the other way round, & a generous list of some of the mainstays in modern bicycle manufacturing will point you in the right direction for a new machine. ...

Refreshingly witty & readable guide to the world`s most famous wine region. Every producer in the world with ambitions to make great red wine still looks to Bordeaux for inspiration & the region is brought to life by Oz with his evocative descriptions & personal anecdotes, accompanied by stunning photographs & maps. Oz turns his spotlight on each of the famous Bordeaux wine areas (including St-Emilion, Pomerol, Margaux & Pauillac). He also recommends hundreds of affordable modern Bordeaux wines for drinking today. Returning to his wine roots, Oz shows how, whatever crises may be affecting the French wine industry in general & the lower end of the market in particular, Bordeaux, is on the whole, in optimistic mode. However much we now appreciate wine from all over the world, there is still nothing quite as magical as the best bottles from the best producers in this historic wine region. ` There is no better introduction to the world`s most dazzling wine region.` Decanter `A well-planned, well-executed, approachable book packed with information & illustrations.` The Sunday Times ...

Topographic mapping from Mexico’s national survey agency, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática. The maps have contours at 20m intervals with relief shading & indicate various types of terrain & vegetation, e.g. dense vegetation, cultivated areas, swamps, sand dunes, salt pans, etc. UTM grid is at 10km intervals, with latitude & longitude shown by margin ticks at intervals of 5`. Map legend is in Spanish only. To see the other titles in this series please click on the series link. ...

London, more than any other city, has a secret history concealed from view. Behind the official façade promoted by the heritage industry lies a city of esoteric traditions, obscure institutions, & forgotten locations. Occult London rediscovers this history, unearthing the hidden city that lies beneath our own. From the Elizabethan magic of Dr Dee & Simon Forman to the occult designs of Wren & Hawksmoor; from the Victorian London of Spring-Heeled Jack to the fin de siecle heyday of Madame Blavatsky & Aleister Crowley. This book describes these practitioners of the occult & their unorthodox beliefs, alongside the myths & legends through which the city has always been perceived. The role of the occult within London`s literary history is also outlined, while a gazetteer maps the sites of London`s most resonant occult locations. Today we are experiencing a renewal of interest in the occult tradition, & Merlin Coverley examines the roots of this revival, exploring the rise of New Age philosophies & the emergence of psychogeography in shaping a new vision of the city. ...

A hippy Sell Up & Sail, this entertaining & inspiring book is more than just a cruising narrative
- it is an instructive account
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It is often the smallest details of daily life that tell us the most. & so it is under occupation in Palestine. What most of us take for granted has to be carefully thought about & planned for: When will the post be allowed to get through? Will there be enough water for the bath tonight? How shall I get rid of the rubbish collecting outside? How much time should I allow for the journey to visit my cousin, going through checkpoints? & big questions too: Is working with left-wing Israelis collaborating or not? What affect will the Arab Spring have on the future of Palestine? What can anyone do to bring about change? Are any of life`s pleasures untouched by politics? ...

Now available in paperback with an additional epilogue, Rory Stewart`s Occupational Hazards is a must-read account of the first few years of the occupation of Iraq from within its governing structures. Iraq, September 2003; it`s six months after the US-led invasion, & the country is in anarchy
- the infrastructure has collapsed, terrorist attacks have begun & the coalition has decided to rule directly via the Coalitions Provisional Authority (CPA). Rory Stewart, a thirty year old British diplomat, is appointed as coalition deputy governor (CPA deputy governorate coordinator) of a province of 850, 000 people in the Marsh region of southern Iraq. There, in the cities of Amara & then Nasiriyah, he & his colleagues struggle to rebuild the region`s infrastructure while controlling assassinations & tribal conflict, confronting gangsters, Iranian-linked politicians & a full Islamist insurgency. During all this Stewart kept a journal of his experiences. His time in the Marsh region culminates in a terrifying siege during which Stewart & his team remain in their compound under sustained attack. They negotiate hostage releases, appoint Iraqi governors & police chiefs, patch up the shattered infrastructure &, in June 2004, hand over sovereignty to the Iraqi government. Haunted by his previous work & travels in Asia, Rory Stewart brings a unique sensitivity & perspective to the daily interactions between Iraqis & the coalition & to the perils & even comedy of foreign occupation. In fact, while his almost colonial role may never exist again, his inside`s account reveals a side of Iraq different from the one familiar to us from print & broadcast journalism & hidden from most foreign soldiers & journalists alike. Stewart`s luminous, sharp-edged prose provides a nuanced & fascinating picture of individuals, both Iraqi & foreign, struggling to manage the collapse of a state. Occupational Hazards is a unique insight into the ambitions, errors, comedy, occasional heroism & moral risks of foreign occupation, which raises questions about the whole project of `state-building` in the twenty-first century.
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Occupied City is the second novel in David Peace’s Tokyo trilogy, based on the notorious true story of the Teikoku bank massacre. As the third year of US occupation begins in 1948, a man, claiming to be a doctor, enters a downtown bank. He says he has been sent by the authorities to deal with an outbreak of dysentery. He treats those that might have been exposed to the virus with clear liquid pored into teacups. Within minutes, the bank’s employees are either dead or unconscious. The ‘doctor’ disappears with some, but not all, of the bank’s money. The biggest manhunt in Japanese history begins… ...

Help your child learn all about the ocean using the new edition of this fact-packed guide with a giant wallchart, interactive clip-art CD & dedicated website. From the craft that investigated the wreck of the Titanic to how octopuses make use of jet propulsion: let your child learn all about the secret watery world that covers much of our planet & the incredible creatures that live in its depths. They'll find out more by downloading 100s of amazing images from the clip-art CD. Then use the giant pull-out wallchart to decorate their room. Great for projects or just for fun, make sure your child learns everything they need to know about the ocean. ...