This is the first textbook to provide a comprehensive coverage of compliant (flexible) mechanism design methodology. The techniques for designing mechanisms based upon simple kinematic relationships make this book invaluable for those using flexures in mechanism design. The pseudo-rigid-body model, described in great detail, provides a simple means of determining the deflections, forces, and stresses, in beams with large deflections.
A must-have for any engineer doing flexure design.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally located this book at the local library. The story opens up with the heroine dragging a stubborn mule and carrying a young boy named Thornton on her back. She was on her way to live with her brother when her traveling companions are attacked by Indians. She and the boy are the only survivors. Emily is a delicate-looking, blue-bred Boston lady with an extensive vocabulary, but she's not a snob. She is full of grit, pride, strength and can land a punch that would make most men gape. Cloud Ryder, one-quarter Indian and all man, finds her and the boy and offers to take them where she is going for a price -- her body. Naturally, Emily is appalled, yet strangely drawn to him, and she does it because she believes that Cloud will desert her and Thornton (who calls her his Mama). To Cloud's benefit, Emily doesn't call his bluff. On the way, Emily discovers her passionate nature, but she's determined not to cling to Cloud the way many of his lovers (whom they happen to meet along the way) have a tendency to do. There are plenty of dangers on the trail, including another Indian attack, outlaws, and the manipulative sister-in-law Emily meets when she finally arrives at her destination. By this time, Cloud discovers that he's got strong feelings for Emily (despite his cynicism towards women) and promises to come back for her in a few weeks. But Emily's sister-in-law has other plans. I like the way the author has Cloud become increasingly protective and jealous of the attention Emily gets from men and his former lovers. He loves her, but he just doesn't know it. The cast of characters in the book kept me glued to the pages the first time I read the story over ten years ago, as well as the second time around. I became reacquainted with Cloud's two brothers, Thunder and Wolf, and his sister, Skye, as well as Giorsal, a feisty Irish girl whom Emily befriends while staying with her brother. Even Thornton, who turns out to be a hero more than once, captured my heart. I'm trying to find out if there are any books about the Ryder siblings or Thornton. Compromised Hearts is a keeper.

This book offers a very solid and clear explination of the diagnosis of navicular syndrome. It explains why this syndrome is often overdiagnosed and how the diagnosis is made. This book is easy to read and engaging. I highly recommend it for all horse owners as it teaches the reader crucial information about equine hoof anatomy, sources of lameness, diagnosis and treatment options. As a horse owner with a "navicular" horse, I read all I can about the syndrome and I've learned more from this book than any other source of information I've read.

Throughout the nation, innovators in health care quality improvement are trying desperately to engage consumers to give a damn about quality. Right now most consumers are foolishly believing that broad access to physicians is a proxy for quality - not knowing the poor state of quality-driven medicine these days. In our market-driven health care system it is essential to involve the consumers much more in the whole process of decision making and accountability for performance. Purchasers in particular are eager to engage consumers, in the hope they will support purchasers putting pressure on health plans, physicians, and hospitals for higher quality.

In this book, Dr. David Nash, a highly respected expert, conveys useful information on how to truly connect with the consumer. The book goes through the new ways many consumers are getting involved in health care decision making and tells the reader how best to leverage these opportunities.

Cowgirl Rising is almost the right name for the coffee table/art book featuring the art work of Donna Howell-Sickles with text by Peg Streep.

Done in bold primary colors of red, blue and white, Howell-Sickles cowgirls jump off the page. These graphic style cowgirls stand out against the uncomplicated backgrounds of natural browns and grays. The oil and charcoal works will appeal to even the most casual of glancers and keep them turning the pages to see more.

The original inspiration of turn of century postcard is easily seen in Postcard Cowgirl VII where a smiling cowgirl with her horses sits astride a fence and waves to the viewer. A Family Tradition shows us three cowgirls, daughter, mother, grandmother, the traditional three phases of life.

While Donna Howell-Sickle uses the icons and images of the American West and the cowgirl, to call this western art seems almost to confining. Even the causal observer, seeing the steer-riding cowgirl who holds the horns of a rather gentle looking bull, will see the Greek myth of Zeus and Europa (and in case you missed the message, the work is entitled Zeus and Europa). In Totem II a benign bear stands behind the cowgirl, who, along with ravens and dogs form a totem pole-like portrait.

This a stand out book has just the right mix of art and text. Peg Streep commentary at the beginning of each chapter provides information on Howell-Sickles and on the art itself. Text also accompanies each picture directing attention to the symbols and details that gives the viewer a deeper understanding of the work.

As the book progresses, the always smiling, vibrant, confident cowgirl becomes the more than a free spirited, unconfined westerner. She is Woman, pure and simple. The images of the smiling, confident and happy cowgirls will stay with you a long time.

The cowgirls of Cowgirl Rising are not just rising, they have arisen.

March 14, 1971, a new comic strip appeared from the Newspaper Enterprise Association, a comic strip entitled, Dark Shadows. Patterned on the successful (though doomed) American television show of the same name, the comics featured the vampire Barnabas Collins returning to his ancestral home in Maine and protecting his last living relatives, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and her daughter Carolyn. Expertly illustrated by Kenneth Bruce Bald, the black-and-white drawings wonderfully compliment the Gothic setting of the story, and illustrator did an excellent job of capturing Jonathan Frid's likeness.

The comic only ran for 52 week before it too was cancelled, and all of the comics are reproduced in this book. The comics cover six storylines: 1) Barnabas faces an ancient warlock who cannot die until he has killed the last of the Collins; 2) the goddess Isis has found all that she needs to restore her husband Osiris to life, except for his soul which is in the body of a certain vampire; 3) when a werewolf begins stalking the town of Collinsport, Barnabas acts; 4) the master of darkness, Mr. Sinestra, is angered that he never gained control of Barnabas Collins, and he sets out correct that; 5) when the daughter of an old college rival of Elizabeth arrives at Collinwood, people begin to die, and Barnabas needs to stop it; and 6) Barnabas sets out to change history and right a two hundred year wrong. Along the way, Barnabas uses his vampiric powers, but defeats his enemies with his wits and (more often) with his heart.

First of all, it must be said that these comics were written independently of the television show, and does *not* maintain continuity with it. That said, though, the stories are wonderful, the illustrations are excellent, and the book makes a wonderful purchase for anyone who fondly remembers the show. I loved this book, and highly recommend it!

I have been practicing meditation since my college days in the 1970s. I ordered a copy of Deep insight from BRAIN SYNC, and I absolutely love it. I use it when I am too keyed up for my normal meditation sessions. I am visiting amazon.com to buy another copy. Need I say more?

THIS MANUAL OFFERS A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF FORMULAS USED BY ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONISTS AND POLICE OFFICERS SCIENTIFIC JARGON IS REPLACED WITH SIMPLE WORDS.

Alice O. Howell has written the type of simple book that holds profound truths. It is personal in the wonderful love story of Alice and her husband Walter and universal in their search for spiritual truth. I always wanted a book like the ones Marmee gave each of the Little Women and this is it. There are excerpts of spiritual passages from all the world's religions and there is the connection of the Earth, its feminine nature and the Divine Spirit. If you are interested in Celtic Christianity, the Hagia Sophia or the esoteric tradition in Western Philosophy I highly recommend this book.

Actually the version of Early Man I'm reviewing is the 1968 revised edition. Originally published in 1965 (and apparently the book continued to be revised in 1981), this is a very interesting, albeit very outdated book about prehistoric Man. This book really has some very deep nostalgic value for me as it's been with me since I was a little kid, my parents found a used copy of this book in 1979, and when I got a hold of the book, I absolutely loved the photos in it. One of my favorites have been the front cover which is the skull of a Neandrathal Man, not to mention the picture inside the book of Laugerie Basse in France which is a hanging cliff, and I just dig the buildings under the cliffs, including a restaurant. Laugerie Basse happened to be an area where Cro-Magnon Man inhabited. In this book you get plenty of illustrations of bones, skulls, artifacts, caves, tools, spears made from rocks, and so much more. I give it a very high rating because to this day, I still dig the pictures. Back when I was a kid I was interested in how Man lived in prehistoric time, and this book really satisfied my desire. Of course the book is grossly outdated, but if you don't mind that and curious about prehistoric Man, try this book.