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Catawba Indians: People of the River
Confusion Ending in Enlightenment.....

Excellent, even for the uninitiated homeownerThis excellent book with lots of illustrations beats out books from Time-Life, Masters, OEM mfgrs, and others. The author has already been there and done that...he doesn't need a big publisher masthead and lots of high priced editors and photographers.
Refrigerators are really quite simple but there are some trouble-prone areas which includes icemakers. It has good detail diagnostic flow diagrams so you can determine which subsystem or component is bad.
In my case for a 20+ year old Frigidaire with top mount freezer intended to be used in an office, where a new one costs about $600. This fridge cooled great at first, but after about 1-2 weeks would not cool or freeze any more.
With this book, I easily diagnosed that a defrost heater was burned out, p37. With its good illustrations, was able to take apart the freezer section, lift the evap coils, and find the heater. Described it (1" dia x 17" long) over the phone to a appliance parts store. Picked it up for $27, and voila! it is still running after 3 months.
I read this book from the local library and also saw another book by the same author, "Refrigerator Repair Under $40," ISBN 1-884348-00-9 which has about the same content. Highly recommended, would not been able to save this fridge without it.
Quick cheap solution

Great ManualIt could be better by going into some preventitive maintenance topics. I felt there were probably some additional things I could have done while I had the machine opened up and taken apart.
I saved between $100.00-$150.00 by fixing it myself.
Terrific Repair Manual!

Amazing Book
A Christmas Blessing

Hits the peakThis is the most wonderful book I have read on Chomolungma (Everest). You will discover why he didn't call it by the other Nepalese name, Sagamartha. Douglas is a mountaineer, though he admits he does not really understand the compulsion to climb Everest, and he says towards the end of the book that he never could climb it because he does not want to enough. This book is sensitive, respectful and self-effacing. Its purpose is serious - to really discover something about the cultural impact of the trekking and mountaineering industries on the people and environment of the Everest area.
Along the way, Douglas makes some insightful observations about the role of governments, the impact of non-government organisations and the activities of some of the successful business - people - Nepalese, sometimes Sherpa, all involved in the Everest industry. In all three instances he shows us the sometimes misguided, sometimes successful and sometimes outright fraudulent efforts.
At all times Douglas remains thoroughly respectful of the Nepalese (and in the first chapter Tibetan) people, despite also being able to show us the cultural and political warts. Whilst having a few harsh judgements about some trekkers and some mountaineers, he also manages to treat them fairly and - no mean feat at times. Perhaps, however, he is hardest of all on climbers: "...there are so many other climbers whose photographs of locals punctuated their articles and lectures to break up all those shots showing what heroes they'd been with a little local culture. Anthropologists and environmentalists must have a strong suspicion that most climbers and trekkers see local people as a human backdrop to their adventures. I almost admired the climber who told me that if he could go to the mountain in a bubble to avoid disease and arguments with porters, he would. At least he was being honest."
Douglas writes movingly of the unrecognised and mostly unheard about porters who have been the casualties of the industry - ill-clad and ill-equipped, some have been turned out by expeditions and left to fend for themselves when things have got sticky. There are generally no helicopter rescues for the porters. Douglas calls this "moral squalor". The myriad cut-price trekking companies pay cut-throat rates and fail to equip these workers well. On the other hand, Douglas shows how portering is integral to the local economy, and quotes statistics debunking the view that permanent physical damage is the result of portering.
After you have read Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air', and Boukreev's 'The Climb' and the other expedition journals and diaries, and coffee table books about Everest, turn to this one to find out about the people and the impact on their lives. This book also reads as a travelogue, as it recounts, in the main, Douglas's own trekking experience in the spring of 1996. He encounters along the way many of the groups that became caught up in the storms and tragedies of May 10 1996, including Scott Fisher's group and David Breashear's IMAX film team. Some of the descriptive passages are wonderful word pictures. I had a real sense of what it is like at the top of Kala Patta and Gokyo Ri, for example.
Some passages that particularly spoke to me (you will surely discover others):
"Professional climbers earn their living describing their own achievements, while those with a more long-term or scientific purpose can claim some benefit to mankind other than the realisation of ambition. It was clear, however, that they were prone to the same jealousies and quarrels."
"The truth has to be faced that guides have treated the mountain as a resource, just as the Nepalese authorities have. It's a way to cash in on the regular flow of books and films about Everest, a package deal to the roof of the world for anyone with enough money and an excess of self-confidence. As for the motivation of people who are prepared to spend a small fortune for a chance to be pulled up Everest, I can only guess. If it is to impress, then the huge resources and assistance required to get them to the top should temper their sense of achievement. If it is for a love of adventure, then they probably ger more than they bargain for. But then why climb Everest at all? That's the hardest thing to explain. That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question."
freakishly good

A Hidden GemThis author makes it clear that growing up in an affluent family can be more complex than the easy life--especially for a child. A heart-wrenching and honest exposure of feelings. I felt as if I was pulled into the experience myself, and got to know the family personally. I'm glad I found this book and recommend it highly.
Class: The Wreckage of an American Family

Necessary reading for a serious Buddhsit practitionerSakya Pandita's straight forward teaching gives clear and precise view on practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sakya Pandita was one of five legendary founders of Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is highly recognized by all 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhssm, and he was an emanation of Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri.
Sakya Pandita clearly points of many traps that an ignorant practitioner can get into without understanding of all the aspects of Dharma and the consequences of breacing the vows even due to the simple unawareness.
Sakya Pandita's teaching is like a clear and powerful light and should be studied by all, interested in Dharma.
In this book,Sakya Pandita explains how an ordinary practitioner can really breach all of his vows and connections with Dharma by misinterpretting its meaning. He clearly warns of danger of teaching Dharma by unqualified person, he clarifies all possible confusions about 3 vehicles of Dharma and honestly warns us to humbly study Dharma without creating any false fabrications in our own minds...
Sakya Pandita points that with many benefits of practicing Dharma, comes the great responsibility. And if we will not become aware of those, we can easily slide into many traps of our own ego and grow in huge, and create even more ignorance than before by feeding it our own misinterpretation of Dharma.
Even now, after many centuries, this teaching was given by this great Teacher, the hair on my body stands as I read his clear and meaningful instructions.
It is sort of like a father instructs his children on how to avoid all possible dangers and traps while travelling by foot at night in the mountains...
The least we can do for ourselves now, that we are attempting to understand deep meaing of the Tibetan Buddhism is to simply read this book and try to comprehend its meaning.
Sheds Light on the Differences Between Different SchoolsThe author discusses the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric vows of Buddhist conduct, which often diverge and contradict each other. He also points out how later practitioners of almost every lineage (including the Kadampa, Kagyupa and Nyingmapa) for contradicting the original teachings of their own traditions.
A very good book which provides much food for thought. Anyone contemplating on the Tibetan Buddhism path should read this first.


Ancient Truth surfaces again
stunning!

Higher levels of artistic knowledgeIn Dougs writting he is trying to 'teach' the 'reader' to 'think' like an artist. Doug has not only explained the methods and materials easily but has gone beyond the basics. He has shared his 'insights' and 'knowledge' through his life learning journey as an Artist as though you were with him in person.
Reading through the first 34 pages of his book with active mental imagery has been an inner eye ephany that I have never gotten from any other; Art book or magazine, various selective workshops or art classes, color theory course studies, or even through my Associates degree program in Advertising Art and Design.
I came to this Web Site to see if he has written any other books or recently, but this site shows none. I will certainly try and follow any future Artistic publications by "Douglas Purdon".
And I sincerely look forward to working through his 'basic demonstrations' to comprehend even more 'in depth' with my own 'hands on experiences' with his 'reflected insights' and detailed step by step guides. This is a treasured Art Book that I know I will always remember I have on the shelf as the years go by. (And I do have numerous)
This book is comprehensive and clarifying a blessing for any frustrated Artist who wants to design and create, and to know 'HOW' and 'WHY' and understand with simplicity.
Talented artistI think he used too many rock formations as examples, but this is a good book regardless. He paints incredible skies. You will definately want to try alkyds after you see his water effects. Now, I just wish he had a video.


Must Read & Purchase for ACT 2000 Users
Quick and Simple - Wolf Makes ACT! 2000 a useful tool
I have been trying to purchase this book even though it is "out of print". I keep hoping there will be a reprint, AND for those who have Indian heritage, this is a very good book for you to read. Very, very in-depth of Native American sufferings. "The Trail of Tears" and "The Catawba Indians: People of the River" are great books regarding our Native American Heritage.
I found the Kimbrells/Kimballs in it and my Kimbrell heritage is in the book. 5th great uncles were the first white men to speak Souian, Iriquorian, Saponi Indian languages for the early Virginia Colony. I am lucky to have read this book, which inspired me to seek out the Kimbrell Geneology.