This book is amazing. It is written in a clear, simple, succinct manner. Clyde and Ed have really opened my eyes to the way our country is run. I knew that our government was out of the hands of the people, but I had no hope that anything could be done about it. Now I have not only learned the details of the corruptness of our power- and money-driven government, but I know that things can be changed. By adopting the principles of the Libertarian party, we can return our political structure to one that truly is of, by and for the people. We can return our earth and all its people, and our economy, to a state of health and vitality. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand why things are the way they are in this country, to anyone who wishes things could be better, to anyone interested in living a better life. After reading this book, I was delighted to go to the polls on election day and vote for all the Libertarian candidates. I only hope that our citizenry is deserving of what those candidates have to offer.

Cleveland and Noyes make a great case in their book for (as they say) shifting back to "bottom up government" as our founding fathers envisioned.

They both definitely know their subject and have well thought-out all issues they discuss in the book including taxes, prisons and the drug war, energy policy, farming, etc. There is a lot of ground covered here.

After reading each topic, I found my self in agreement with nearly every core belief of the libertarian party - it just makes SENSE as opposed to how we've been doing things here in the U.S. the last hundred years - we've sure strayed from the founding father's principals, including "limited government" - in today's society, you can't do ANYTHING without government involvement and taxation - so much for a "free market" economy. The book reads very well and the is a wealth of information in the Appendixes.

To sum it up: Clyde and Ed have written one of them most inspiring books about the POTENTIAL of government I have ever read - I'm so glad they have shared this vision as I'm sure this book will inspire many other people!

If you are like me, you are completely bored and frustrated with politics in our country. Our candidates flood the TV, airways & press, with personal attacks and negative campaigns. I am continually amazed at how hard they work to say nothing and make it last 30 minutes. Finally, there is a breath of fresh air. Finally, we have candidates that have alot to say. So much, that it took this book to make the information available to the public. This book explains their plans for restructuring the property tax system, eliminating state income tax, generating green energy for the entire state, restoring the power of the individual and much, much more.

Both authors of this book are running for office in Iowa. Clyde Cleveland is running for Governor and Ed Noyes is running for Attorney General. Regardless of the campaign tactics of the other candidates, Mr. Cleveland & Mr. Noyes continue to run their campaign's using the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Their campaigns demonstrate the respect that they have for the individual and that is something that is in short supply in our government today.

Read a single chapter and you will be hooked. You won't want to put it down until you've finished it! Enjoy!

If a silly picture of a gust of wind blowing down Main Street doesn't do anything for you, you've never read "Yo, Sacramento!" It should remind you that Augusta is the capital of Maine. The whole book is a marvelous mix of funny mnemonic cartoons with interesting facts about the states and capitals. My eight year old daughter loves this book and its companion, "Yo, Millard Filmore!"; she memorized the Presidents in a few minutes and the states/capitals in a couple days. And although I hate to admit that I couldn't remember them from my school days, the books helped me learn them too. (I don't know about the "never forget" part, but it does stick with you, and it's easy to pick back up.) When we showed these books to my family, my niece (the daughter of a social studies teacher) even told me she thought it was too easy; it must be cheating somehow to learn them this way!

I have to say, however, I prefer the Millard Filmore book to the Sacramento one, primarily because 'Millard' is designed as a series -- an element from each picture is carried into the next in order to reinforce the historical sequence. This not only teaches the sequence, but it helped me with the actual memorization -- I know I haven't left any presidents out. 'Sacramento' is a group of unconnected pictures, which may connect the capitals to their states -- and generally link the states with their geographic region, but doesn't guarantee you have all the states. ("Oops! I only counted 47! Which ones did I leave out?") If I could wish for anything besides additional titles in this series, it would be that 'Sacramento' could be rewritten to link the states together from east to west or alphabetically or even in order of admission to the union, so you end up with all 50 states in your brain.

Yo, Sacramento! is a humorous incentive to learn the capitals for every state. The word pictures which aid memory recall are sure to prompt hearty laughter. The fast-paced writing style is an added bonus. One can laugh, learn facts, and have state capitals memorized in under 30 minutes!

This book really helps a child or an adult to memorize states and capitals within 20 minutes. I have never come across any program so precise. My kids really enjoy learning with the picture and word association method used in the book. This book should be used in all schools around the world.

Very well written book with lots of good hikes. Great when you are looking for someplace new to walk. Descriptions are clear and accurate. I haven't gotten lost yet!

If you are poor with directions like me, this is an excellent book. I bought it in anticipation of the upcoming hiking season, vowing (YET AGAIN) I was going to hike with my kids this Spring. I found the book informative, to the point, and very easy to follow. I never realized what wonderful treasures we had available to us in the greater Cleveland area. What a great read!

Well, found this most interesting, as I thought I'd find new paths and new directions and that is just what happened. Startled to find things indicated or new things about paths and hikes I was familiar with, already took these and then a new bit of information about them. Unexpected, but nice. Very good style, very personable - voice of the author - easy to read, follow, and enjoy, which I very much have. Helpful and to the point. Like it much. Easy to follow directions, paths, maps, and found it a pleasure to read and use. Half the time I keep it in my car. Real pleased, and have already told any number of friends about it. Thanks.

This book could be anyone's oasis for travel, freedom, and love. Read the book and feel the joy that emits from your soul. Reading from it each day brings a new light into life and a new outlook on the positives that we are blessed with.

Claudette's poems are inspirational and quite moving, and she not only takes you on a trip through your own past and soul, but then takes you to places you might never have a chance to visit.

Whether reading for the inspirational and moving poetry or to take a trip, in your mind, where you may never go....Claudette has taken us to both venues. In some ways, I think she has taken herself to places and distances she never thought possible.

Not only does Doris Larson's new book give all the important details about the destinations she writes about. It offers descriptions so personal and vivid that one feels they had already visited these places in another life. Nuances abound, describing ambience, innkeeper personalities, surrounding culture and little known gems to be discovered in each location. Points of historical interest are described as much more than a footnote. Architectural highlights abound. All in all, this book surpasses its status as a guide book and qualifies as a good read.

The eye-catching cover is just one of the many delightful features in this easy-to-read guide. Ms. Larson has filled its pages with informative research, maps, and events near and around the inns. That the author herself meticulously researched the inns and surrounding areas is enough to reassure even the most cautious traveler that they won't be disappointed. The locations she's selected are not limited to Ohio, but include lovely locales in Canada, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky - the perfect getaway guide for travelers and romantic stays.

Ms. Larson has written a complete and wise guide to the area. I have visited a couple of the Inns she discusses and found her observations to be very close to my experiences. Her local commentaries are wonderful and reflect a very thorough knowleged of her topic. She writes with warm perspective and lovely appreciation for the Inns, their histories and their owners. I am looking forward to trying a few of her choices. For anyone in the region or thinking about visiting I would consider this book as one of the best resources available.

"Kiss of Evil" is a grim thriller exploring the twisted intersection of sex and violence. The nominal hero is Cleveland homicide detective Jack Paris, a troubled man trying to survive life, divorce, and fatherhood, all while attempting to solve a series of brutal murders which seem to be connected to the mysterious death of a brother officer.

Author Richard Montanari has the stark images of hard-boiled noir down pat. His story is fairly gruesome, somewhat confusing, and quite interesting. His prose is dark and sparse, but thankfully ungimicky. He plays with the structure a bit, intercutting the first person POV of the killer with the more standard third person narrative following the investigator. This technique--one I'm not often fond of--works well at heightening both the tension and the revulsion factor. Definitely not for the weak-stomached.

Although the dust jacket bills "Kiss of Evil" as "a novel of suspense" it's not particularly suspenseful or gripping. The emphasis is more on character and the psychological aspects of the case. There are elements of "cat and mouse" detection, but those aren't the focus. Montanari is more concerned with plumbing the depths of the psycho-sexual morass that Paris encounters, and the book is the better for it.

In this story, we meet another evil psycho who not only likes to kill his victims, but mutilate them as well. Pursuing this monster is the jaded cop, Jack Paris. This is an engrossing tale, with a down to earth hero who has his own share of problems in addition to tracking down an elusive, vicious murderer. The story is frightening and graphically violent, so if you are the least bit squeamish, think twice about reading the book. Interesting characters, fast moving plot and a monstrous villian make for a quick, tension filled read.
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Montanari. I plan to read the others to find out what I have been missing.

For those liking the mystery and suspense of a great detective novel, this book is for them. It ranks top in all the detective novels I've read over many years. It's definately a candidate for the top ten best seller list.

You'll be enthralled with the characters, and the twists and turns of the plot will keep you reading until you finish the book. Detective Jack Paris is sure to become a legendary character in the literary world.

Richard Montanari is a gifted writer. I've read his other two books, Violent Hour and Deviant Way and I anticipate his next book with exuberance.

This book is as much a story about a son and his relationship with his father as it is about baseball, and tells each of those stories wonderfully. For basball fans it is an entertaining history of the Cleveland Indians and is full of colorful players, managers, and even owners. From the perspective of this one baseball team, the reader has a ring side seat on how much our country, society, and professional sports have changed and grown over the last 75 plus years. Just from the standpoint of the baseball Terry Puto is as good as Ken Burns or George Will.

But the story within the story is really about the author and his father. That relationship is one that is full of joy and sadness, wonderful memories and yet regrets. The author comes to better understand and appreciate his father after a stroke makes it impossible to talk to his father. In a cruel irony, when the time came that the author was ready and wanted to share stories and talk to his father, he was not able to.
All fathers and sons should read this book.

A final comment on Terry Pluto's writing style. I have read three of Mr Pluto's books and appreciate the way he writes in a clean, no non-sense style and yet fills his books with so much detail and color.

This is a superb book because it goes beyond being a great sports book. Terry Pluto's weaving of his relationship with his father into his lifetime love of the Cleveland Indians makes it a book that readers will think about long after they've finished reading it. It's not necessary to be a Tribe fan to enjoy this book. I'd even go as far to say that a reader need not be a baseball fan to feel empathy and self-reflection on his or her parent-child relationship, regardless of whether the person is the parent or the child. I've also read the author's "Loose Balls", a wonderful look back at the American Basketball Association, and recommend that to those who remember the ABA (go Oakland Oaks!) and to those who weren't around to enjoy those years.

I am definitely not a fan of the Indians,but I loved the book. If you are a fan of any team, you should enjoy this. Pluto drops fun anecdotes of Indians history and trivia throughout Our Tribe. He also comes to grips with his relationship with his father. An enjoyable read.

If you have any interest in sports, you have to read Glory for Sale. Jon Morgan has written a fascinating and carefully crafted book about the inner workings of professional sports. Few of us have ever been privy to the secret meetings, the betrayal, the calculated lies, and the greed at work whenever a professional sports franchise tears free from a city. This book is more than the tale of Art Modell's apostasy, it is the frightening blueprint for a society whose religion sports is founded on a single commandment: Thou shalt win. -- Tim Green, author of The Dark Side of the Game and sports commentator for ABC's "Good Morning America," "NFL on Fox," and NPR's "Morning Edition

Glory for Sale is a fascinating read. Morgan manages to penetrate the personalities and structures of the NFL in a lucid and compelling fashion while providing a probing and critical analysis of city stadium subsidies, franchise movements and the business of football. -- Andrew Zimbalist, author of Baseball & Billions: A Probing Look Inside the Big Business of Our National Pastime and co-author of Sports Jobs and Tax: Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Facilities

. . . a detailed, engrossing and fast-paced account of am increasingly volatile aspect of sports. -- Bortz & Co., Sports and Media Consultants

Team relocation is a controversial and complex issue that hotly divides avid sports fans. Jon Morgan's Glory for Sale insightfully lays out the importance of stadium economics in building a competitive team, and it clearly, easily explains why teams move. It is one of the best analyses I've read. --Paul J. Much, Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin (financial advisor on sports economics to teams, leagues, stadiums, and governmental agencies)

Morgan goes through excruciating detail as to how the cities of Cleveland and Baltimore will now be forever conjoined. The book gives the reader a true perspective of the shenanigans by owners who are looking for the "easy money" of professional sports and how they will stoop to breaking the hearts of thousands of loyal fans just to fatten their wallets. Not only does it cut to the quick about the move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore; it also touches off on that fateful winter's night when Bob Irsay packed the beloved Colts onto the Mayflower trucks and stole away the heart of a city. A great read for Clevelanders and Baltimoreans alike; both of which can take small consolation that the heartbreaks of '84 and '95 will finally be resolved when the Browns return next August.

"Glory for Sale" is full of the sort of detail most football fans only dream of accessing...the book enables readers to become part of the franchise process, to feel as though they were actually there. Jon Morgan's style is fluid and literary, and the book, however intricate, reads as easily as a novel. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of sports, and for anyone with a solid appreciation for plain old good writing.

In his fifth collection of poems, Tim Seibles' irreverent and humorous allusions to slices of American popular culture serve as a more comfortable, user-friendly vehicle to drive at some rather uncomfortable topics. The 40 poems in Hammerlock primarily deal with racial, political and religious tension in America. Using big-picture topics - about which so much has been written, discussed and re-written to the point of hackneyed redundancy that we sometimes tend to skip over the meaning behind the issues - Seibles really delivers, bringing his social concerns to life with surprising newness. In this book, it's the packaging that really conveys the message. In "What Bugs Bunny Said to Red Riding Hood," Seibles comments on the violent nature of man by using the voice with which countless boys grew up watching on Saturday morning cartoons. "This was your mother's idea? / She been livin' in a CrackerJack box or somethin' / ... That's right. Maybe your motha should / turn off her soaps, take a peak at a newspaper, turn on some cartoons for Pete's sake: / this woyld is about teeth, bubble buns - who's bitin' / and who's getting bit." Poems like this and "Commercial Break: Road-Runner, Uneasy," or its companion poem, "Midnight: the Coyote, Down in the Mouth," where Wile E. Coyote suffers through an all-to-human midlife crisis of self-doubt, hearken back to Seibles' previous work with cartoon allegories in 1992's Hurdy Gurdy. In this collection, "Natasha in a Mellow Mood," and its companion, "Boris by Candlelight," used cartoon characters from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show to show that villains - even communists - call fall in love. Seibles likes to present common events, like growing old or falling in love, through uncommon perspectives. Then, by using the objective correlative so frequently it almost makes you question the meaning of the very print on the page, Seibles makes his point. He's going to give us different perspectives, whether they come from the voice of a woman, man, an imaginary conversation with Jimi Hendrix, or this "found poetry," taken from a 1965 speech given by Malcolm X: "Black on black crime is / a form of suicide. Gangs, drugs - / they're all part of a community trying / to slit its own wrists. Nobody / wants to deal with this. Sociologists say / build more recreation centers, / Give The Negro More Basketballs, / as if our true home was a gym." For many of the poems in this collection, that point is that people are more alike than we think - and our perspectives are more different than we think. Seibles knows the grass is greener on the other side. Seibles knows we want to fly south for the winter. Seibles knows we can't do none of it! So his poetry lets a white man see something he sees every day - but this time it's through the eyes of a black man. He lets a cartoon character feel tired of running toward the same sunset over the same rocky cliffs. In "Four Takes of a Similar Situation," he shows that the ideas of differences - between races, ethnicity, sexes, religions or colors - are the only things keeping us different, so "the world mus be retarded." Seibles knows that sometimes the best way to examine ourselves is to be temporarily removed from ourselves. It's all about perspective. It's also all about meter. Seibles has always written poetry that's so rhythmic and sound-oriented that you'd be better off using a metronome than attempting scansion. This time is no exception. Most poems have an underlying ghost meter, but it's the syncopation that draws attention to the poem's real pulse. "and say the afternoon / is the sound of heat / standing in the trees. / Maybe someone could know / about love / ... ." Seibles uses slant-rhyme or direct rhyme, he rhymes images or ideas, he switches between internal- or end-rhyme in a single couplet, but the point is, he uses a lot of all of it. If his poetry is a song, the various methods of rhyming serve to lay down something that would resemble a melody. But the beat, rich in syncopation, is always changing, keeping you on your feet, giving you poetry that pounds so y'all can dance to it.

The first time I opended this book, I could not put it down. Tim Seibles' words were beautiful, touching, and warming. His is the type of poetry I would like to read everyday, if I could and if it were available. I found myself re-reading this book three times because I enjoyed the poems that much. Read this, re-read it, and just for kicks, read it again! You'll enjoy it if you enjoy and appreciate the beauty of words.

I wasn't sure I was going to write until I saw uiop45's review. I as well am originally from Boston and was introduced to Seibles when I was in High School at a writers conference in NH, at Breadloaf. I would be very interested to know if it was at this same conference that we both heard Seibles read and I as well have had his poems stick with me. I have bought all the rest of his books and have waited for a new one to appear (which finally has). Great poems, beautiful, lyrical phrases, honest and clear. Even now, years after having read it I can remember the end of the line quoted by the above reviewer "hearing a name sung quietly behind you all day" Great stuff, sticks with you

Deanna Adams should be commended for "Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection." It's apparent she spent a herculean amount of time researching and writing this book. I think we all need to remember that even eyewitnesses to accidents have different accounts of what occurred, so how could those of us who witnessed Cleveland's rock scene in these four-plus decades (and many of you were probably smoking funny cigarettes too) remember everything the same. Sure, there are some mistakes, but on the whole, this is a well-researched amazing documentation of the music we grew up with.

I couldn't get enough of the info in this book!I was in many bands from the 60's and knew of many of the venues and musicians mentioned. Cleveland is not longer(unfortunately) like that,as is radio or TV anywhere.This book not only captures a great moment in rock and roll's birth,but also a glimpse of a time that Cleveland musicians should embrace!

As a history teacher, I found this book to be an amazing and very readable history of the music scene in Cleveland, and it answered for me the question as to why the Rock Hall is located in that city. At first I was wary of the book due to some of the reviews on this site, but then I saw that it is published by Kent State University Press. Having known a number of people who have dealt with this publisher, I know how particular they are in confirming facts and information. Glad I didn't pay attention to the "naysayers" as this really is an interesting book.