Product Description

Prominent progress in science is inevitably associated with controversies. Thus, young researchers, in particular, have to learn how to persevere during the period of controversy and struggle for acceptance. Unfortunately, the skills needed are not taught in textbooks or monographs, which mostly describe the consensus of contemporary experts.

This book, which is based on my own experiences as a scientist, describes the history of the progress made in auroral science and magnetospheric physics by providing examples of ideas, controversies, struggles, acceptance, and success in some instances.

Although no general methodology (if any exists) is mentioned, I hope that the reader will learn about the history of progress in auroral science and examples (right or wrong) of dealing with the controversies.

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent book about auroral science
The Aurora offers us plenty of scientific data to explain.This wonderful book (which includes four beautiful full-color photos of the aurora) describes the experiences of the author, a great auroral scientist, in characterizing and explaining auroral phenomena.

Akasofu begins his story in 1860.In that year, R. C. Carrington observed an intense white light solar flare.About 16 hours later, a brilliant auroral display appeared over northern Europe and elsewhere.In the same year, E. Loomis showed that the aurora tends to appear along a fairly narrow belt centered around the northwest tip of Greenland.

In 1896, Kristen Birkeland proposed that auroras were caused by "cathode rays" (electrons) emitted by the Sun and guided towards the Earth's higher latitudes by the Earth's magnetic field.And in 1931, Sydney Chapman and Vincenzo Ferraro came up with the idea "of confinement of the Earth's magnetic field in a cavity carved in the solar gas flow."

Akasofu then tells of his own contributions to the field.In 1958, he went to the University of Alaska to study with Chapman.He noticed at once that the aurora "tends to appear in the northern sky in the evening, advances toward the zenith (or even the southern sky) of Fairbanks (gm lat 64.6 degrees), and recedes towards the northern sky in the morning."This shift had been well-known for at least two decades (and perhaps many millennia).But it was a "great surprise" for Akasofu that the aurora behaved this way in Fort Yukon too.And at Barrow. Auroral data from Siberia then led Akasofu to realize "that when an auroral arc is quiet in Alaska (in the midnight sky) it is also quiet over Siberia (in the evening sky), and in Canada (in the morning sky)."He then showed that during magnetic disturbances, the auroral ovals expand in area, with the equatorward auroral zone boundary moving to lower latitudes.From this he evolved the concept of a magnetospheric substorm.The auroral manifestation of this is the auroral substorm, the basic geomagnetic phenomenon associated with auroral activity.

The author covers a variety of topics associated with the aurora.One is about the Earth's dipole.Akasofu asks if it is really off-centered and inclined.Or is there a main dipole which is aligned with respect to the rotation axis and a few other dipoles at the surface of the Earth's core?

Another chapter is called the "myth of the emerging flux tubes."Sometimes we see pairs of sunspots.Flux tubes are one hypothesis that may explain them.But this is just a hypothesis.It requires more verification to be more than that.

Yet another interesting and useful chapter is on predicting geomagnetic storms from solar observations.

The author even suggests exploring for life on extraterrestrial planets by searching for oxygen emissions (the 557.7 nm "green line") in their aurora.

I was intrigued by Akasofu's thoughts about doing science.Auroral phenomena have plenty of patterns to them.However, no theory about them can explain all the data.As in other areas of science, researchers have too often tried to force their data to fit into some existing hypothesis.Unfortunately, some of the data are counterintuitive and simply don't fit.Besides, the phenomena are not exactly repeatable.As Akasofu says, "no two substorms are alike."

Akasofu tells us that a scientist must choose which observed facts are to be considered essential.Then one tries to derive a theory which explains these essential facts.It isn't easy, and one must keep an open mind.From what I have seen of auroral data, I have to agree.

I think all scientists, not just auroral scientists, could profit from reading this book.
... Read more

Product Description
Gracious residences that enjoy exceptional views, privacy, and the absence of air pollution and urban noise are brought together in this handsome volume. Hundreds of photographs spread glorious dwellings before viewers, giving a close look at diverse mountain architecture and lifestyles in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Nestled in precipitous terrain, on snowy perches, amid alpine landscapes, and in other breathtaking settings, the homes bear the distinctive design characteristics of their countries-France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Chile, Japan, and others. American mountain locales include Colorado, Vermont, and Nevada. An informative resource for professional or student architects and interior designers, this collection also offers owners of mountain homes of all sizes and styles fresh design ideas specifically meant for dwellings in nature's most lofty settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nice Book
I bought this book because I was working on the design of a home in Colorado at the time and wanted some inspiration. There are some very nice photographs (though some of the projects are a little hit or miss). I would recommend this book as a good "taste" of contemporary mountain home architecture.

good book
this has lots of nice pictures of houses you couldn't possibly afford.

Contemporary Rusticity
This is a collection of 25 homes (published by Bacelona's Loft Publications) mostly built in rural - not necessarily mountainous - regions.Roughly half of the homes are located in the united states, with three by architect David Salmela in Minnesota and one in Michigan (Brininstool + Lynch Architects) - not exactly what American's refer to as mountainous regions. Some of the other architects featured include:James Cutler, Hariri & Hiriri, Eduardo Sauto de Moura, Alfedo DiVito, Fernau & Hartman, and Frank Harman.Most of the homes contemporary and woodsy and some, such as Salmela's, employ a regional vernacular.The photos are excellent and clear.Almost all the featured homes have floor plans.A disappointment is that few have site plans or site sections - which I find helpful to the understanding of a 'mountain house'.Although the title may at times be deceptive, this is a beautiful book at a fair price.Until somebody writes a monograph on the Northwoods best kept secret - David Salmela (and I do hope somebody does) - This is one of the best sources of his work. ... Read more

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Minimalism in architecture has existed in New York for over fifty years.While other styles have come and gone, the simple, perfect expression of space and form that minimalism affords have perennially informed New York spaces -- residential, commercial, and public alike. Now that people's attention is again focused, not only on the New York skyline but also on the history and influence of Big Apple buildings, the time is right for this homage that presents twenty-two of the most representative minimalist projects in New York. Each featured project not only includes exquisite photography, but also brief reminiscences from each architect, reflecting on the spirit of the city as revealed in their works. A final discussion of New York's architectural icons rounds out the book

Customer Reviews (2)

better thant reviews said it was
this is a very good insight on lesbian love signs. I dont regret its purchase. It gives you a better understanding on how lesbian earth , fire, water and air signs work. I got a better insight on my sign and why i never seem to click when i read horoscopes meant for heterosexual readers.

Moderately Amusing.
This book isn't as insightful as it could be regarding lesbian love. It give just enough information to get your attention, and then it fades. For a basic view, this book is alright, but if you want depth, it's not advisable. ... Read more

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A gritty, uncompromising novel from Helen Barnes, who brought us "The Weather Girl" in 1996. The two main characters are both experiencing a very difficult year of high school. They are not friends, in fact they are both loners. One develops anorexia, and one verges on pyromania. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Author MUST Have Mental Problems! Not suitable !
Okay, this book was overly psychotic! There was loads of swearing and disgusting language (one chapter titled "Vagina Dentata" but I will NOT go into that right now) and there were many awful descriptions of men's genitals. Really, is THIS the type of young adult fiction for the teenagers of today?
While this book portrayed Anorexia in an interesting and educational way, I did not like how the author excluded the reader from truly understanding Aurora's recovery! One minute she was this desperate anorexic, and the next, a chubby girl (ending the story.) The reader did not get to find out how Aurora survived and how she came to realise that she had a problem. The story was "Skimmed". I know that many books don't have a "happy ever after" ending but REALLY, can we at least have a GENERAL idea of how Aurora survived and recovered? I'm dying to know!!!
Also, I state that the author must have some kind of mental illness as there were many mentions of chemicals, fire, masturbation, sex, etc., plus Aurora's friend Web was obsessed with burning things, vandalism, and also creating chemicals! THIS IS NOT PROPER YOUNG ADULT FICTION!
Though one thing was good: The back-cover blurb. "But Aurora, the incredible shrinking girl, is already Death's best friend, and slips through Web's fingers like water..." At least they got one thing right. ... Read more

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Aurora is the popular name for a hypothesised United States reconnaissance aircraft, alleged to be capable of hypersonic flight. According to the hypothesis, the Aurora was developed in the 1980s or 1990s as a replacement for the aging and expensive SR-71 Blackbird. A British Ministry of Defence report from May 2006, released under the Freedom of Information Act, refers to USAF priority plans to produce a Mach 4u20136 highly supersonic vehicle. In September 2007, DARPA and the USAF signed a memo of understanding to build a Mach-6 unmanned aircraft called "Blackswift" under the Force Application and Launch from Continental United States program, but that does not explain the earlier reports. It is believed that the Aurora project was canceled due to a shift from spyplanes to high-tech unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance satellites which can do a similar job as a spyplane, but with less risk of casualties or loss of highly expensive, sensitive equipment. ... Read more

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Why did the Pentagon retire the SR-71 spyplane in 1990? What has caused sonic booms over the California desert since 1991? What was the triangular craft spotted over the North Sea in 1989? In this groundbreaking book, journalist Bill Sweetman argues these mysteries can be traced to a U.S. spyplane called AURORA, the existence of which--denied by officials--lies buried in a secret military budget. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Has it been 17 years already?
This book is now (2010) about 17 years old.I got it when it first came out. I probably take this book off the shelf once a year or so, looking up one thing or another. Looking back 17 years, it's amazing how little new information has been made public about hypersonic aviation projects and the happenings at Dreamland aka Area 51 aka Groom Lake.

This inexpensive little book still probably has the best history of hypersonic aircraft projects and the challenges of hypersonic (mach 3+) flight. You would thought that by now we would know for sure whether Aurora ever existed.Sorry, we don't. Since this book was published, scientists have gotten supersonic combustion ram jets to work up to a point, but they haven't really thought of a useful purpose for them.Also, there appears to be a revival of the concept of an atmospheric skipping military plane.This concept was first explored by Dr. Eugene Sanger in Germany before World War II.You can read about it in the Aurora book.

Oldie, but definitely good.
Interesting little book, in the very readable style the author is know for.By its nature (dealing with beyond top-secret), not all sources can be named, but it is a VERY good read.Also love the little planform view of the CF-105 Avro Arrow, as an example of a design for a well over Mach 3 hypersonic machine....

Interesting argument that unfortunately lacks tangible evidence...
Bill Sweetman is to American aviation books what Yefim Gordon is to Russian. His books on the F-22 Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter were excellent, because they combined solid research with a treasure trove of photographs.

His book on the supposed existance of a top secret spy plane named Aurora begins strong, but fades badly. Sweetman fills the first half of the book with great information and photographs of the U2 and SR-71 programs. Then he makes a case for the LOGICAL existance of another spy program. The problem is that Sweetman lacks details or supporting evidence other than rumored sightings and artists conceptions which have made the circuit of websites devoted to black aviation programs. That in itself is not enough to make his case, because it is all circumspect.

Does Aurora exist? Who knows, but Sweetman didn't make the case solidly enough in this book, which is extremely short by the way, for me to believe. When the shroud of declassification on stealth programs lifts next decade or later, maybe we will learn more about it. This is not a book I would buy new, but may be worth a few bucks used.

"Aurora"
This is a well-written book and has substancial evidence that the Aurora exists.Hey,no one had any hard evidence the F-117 existed and look at it now.I think this is a good book.

Interesting
Although one can speculate on whether or not this aircraft exists,or ever existed, the book itself is very interesting. The technology detailed in the book as well as the history of American hypersonic aircraft is amazing, and the perfomance qualities of such aircraft are equally amazing. At the same time, the book isn't too long and doesn't require too much reading time on a subject some people may find too boring to be made into a long book. I may, however, disagree with the author's view of the idea of the government keeping Top Secret aircraft under a cloak of secrecy. Keeping these types of aircraft and their technology secret , in my opinion, is beneficial to the nation's defense and national security. I recommend this book to anyone interested in hypersonic aircraft and technology, as well as those intrigued by the mysterious "Aurora" spyplane. ... Read more

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Know your history, know your healing
Interconnection is real. Earth is real. The violence of patriarchy, colonization, anti-semitism, and genocide are real. Our lives continue to be shaped by these violences; both intergenerational and contemporary. Healing grows organically and is nurtured by roots of understanding, storytelling, compassion, courage.

These are some of the ideas that clarified for me in reading this wonderful book full of stories that saved my soul from amnesia, numbness, and ignorance.I am a white woman now on her own path of unearthing stories from my past that can tell me who I am, where I come from, and how to heal a legacy of racism and sexism that still persists.

Read about Jigonsaseh, a Seneca woman alive around 1560 who served as a peacemaker who helped to form the Iroquois Confederacy.Read about the Hammer of Witches, a treatise written in Germany in 1487 that outlined various marks and signs by which a woman could be recognized to be a witch and how to torture the Devil out of her.Read about the 1097 invasion of Muslim Syria by the Franj, Christian invaders from the north and south.

Most of all, enjoy the beautiful prose of Levins Morales...
"We are the ancestors of whom no record has been kept.We are trace elements in your bodies, minerals coloring your eyes, residue in your fingernails.You were not named for us.You don't know the places where our bones are, but we are in your bones.Because of us, you have relatives among the many tribes.You have cousins on the reservations.Do not forget how wide your roots are in this America.Do not forget." (92).

Morales mirrors other works
As she does in Medicine Stories, Morales involves an innovative form in her writing.While following a chronological timeline, she weaves together many historically based stories.What at first seems confusing, eventually melds to show that Morales is writing about the women left out of history.She presents personal stories about each woman and crimes of history.Then she adds herbs used in healing to supplement her intent to be a historic curator, helping to heal the problems in history. ... Read more

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El más completo estudio, con amplia documentación, del patricio puertorriqueño y la heroica gesta que le tocó emprender y dirigir al frente del Partido Nacionalista. Una magistral presentación de la figura cimera del último Libertador Americano en su marcha por las cumbres del valor y el sacrificio. ... Read more

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Spanish is spoken by more than 300 million people in over 20 countries and is rapidly becoming one of the most popular choices for language learners around the world. A popular course for beginners, Suenos World Spanish 1 is designed to meet the varied needs of adult learners, whether learning at home or in a class. From the very beginning it encourages you to develop your listening and speaking skills with confidence and provides many opportunities to practise reading in Spanish. Using the extensive range of media available, from the course book to the audio CDs or cassettes, to the popular accompanying television series and free online activities, Suenos World Spanish 1 can help you reach the equivalent level of a first qualification, such as GCSE. Activity Book Closely linked to the course book, it provides additional activities around the key points of the course ... Read more

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Walk 1500 miles through Finland. From the islands of the Baltic to the Arctic coast, this work of travel literature looks at the Finnish people through their connection to the natural world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Finland Today
It isn't every day somebody walks the length of Finland, south to north, 1,500 miles in all. In fact, it isn't even every day that somebody remembers that Finland's there. So when somebody actually takes that hike, talking to people all the way, the event deserves a good book. Jim O'Donnell has taken the hike and written the book, and as a rarity in this world, the book is something to treasure. At some distant time in the future when somebody wants to know what Finland was like at the turn of the 21t century, Jim O'Donnell's Notes for the Aurora Society is where they will look.

O'Donnell carried a heavy pack and a good ploy. Every time he met somebody, he stopped to talk, and his standard question was about how Finns relate to nature. Other topics grew out of the conversation, of course, but that's how he got started. He talked with so many people at such length that it's amazing that he managed to make it all the way to Nuorgum, the northernmost point of the European Union, a nice spot for a dip in the Arctic Sea.

To summarize innumerable answers to his single question, some Finns are ardently protective of their environment, and some see it as something to exploit for financial purpose or at least for purposes of in natura sex and the consumption of enough beer to drive away the nightmare of interminable winter dark. Women, it seemed, were more likely to see nature as needing mothering, while men were more more likely to seek happiness in booze.

Working your way through Notes can be as exhausting as the hike it portrays, but that's a good thing. The book is a wealth of detail, and even though no two days are alike, sometimes several days seem similar. But then O'Donnell plunges into a forest or out of a forest or wanders down the wrong trail, and suddeny he finds somebody studying an ecosystem or revving up a quad or ignoring a garden or tucking into a bender or saying something like "The Finnish spring is like a man's sexuality." He gets into discussions on the nature and definition of true capital-W Wilderness, the nature and definition of Finnishity (my word, not his), the questionable value of snowmobiles, the history of the Russian-Finnish relationship, and so much more.

Much to his credit, O'Donnell doesn't waste many words telling the reader how sore his feet were or how hungry he got. Yes, there's some of that, but it's mostly a book of anecdotes and conversations. It isn't about a hike. It's about people and a culture.

I must admit that back when I never gave Finland a second thought, I pictured the place as populated by Laps, reindeer, and beautiful blondes, where everyone lives in steamy cabins heated by burning pine, living off polar bear gizzards and flogging themselves in the sauna. It never occurred to me that the unique culture of the place would necessitate a vocabulary would need such words as snagari, kiuas, raha, motti, loyly, vasta, and eramaa. Sure, everybody speaks a little English, but English doesn't have words that translate those (except for snagari, which as I would pronounce it, not knowing what to do with the double-o punctuation over the a's, sounds like a perfect word for a hotdog stand).

So if you want to take a trip to somewhere you've never been and probably never even bothered to imagine, Notes for the Aurora Society is your ticket. Settle in for a fascinating trudge from sauna to sagari, from Helsinki to a chilly sea. I'm betting you'll be glad you didn't take the trip yourself but will not regret reading about somebody else doing it. You'll end up seeing not only Finland for the first time but your world for the second.

Glenn Alan Cheney

A look at Finland... and ourselves
Notes For the Aurora Society is a detailed journey of one man's 1500-mile walk across Finland, which already sounds interesting enough. But, the author goes beyond a simple travelogue into the natural world. His journey is a unique and universal dive into the people of Finland: their hopes, their waning connection with nature and family, and the bridge between rural and urban. The structure is short, journal-like; each segment is small essay of a day or moment and the lessons learned during that part of a long, engaging adventure.

Traversing a small nation isn't easy: both physically and socially. And that's what always makes good non-profit literature. This is a great read form a fine writer, can't wait to dig into his work.

Not your National Geographic Magazine point of view
I finshed reading O'Donnell's book two days before the latest NatGeo arrived with an uplifting view of Finland's national park system, a sharp contrast with O'Donnell's walked-the-walk observations. I got much more out of "Notes for the Aurora Society" than from the magazine.

Jim O'Donnell invites you into his hiking boots. You feel what he feels and see what he sees. His description of his journey will either make you want to follow in his footsteps (or perhaps blaze a similar trail elsewhere), or it will kill any interest you may have in spending any time in Finland. What this book will not do is leave you indifferent.

My only negative criticism is of the nitpicking variety. The manuscript would have been well served by the services of a professional copyeditor/proofreader to weed out the typos and misspellings that even the most careful writer overlooks.

Time very well spent
I always judge books by two criteria. Did I enjoy reading it? and Was I enriched with the information I learned? For Jim O'Donnell's "Notes for the Aurora Society", both answers are most certainly YES!!!! The author gives us a rather frank, but enjoyable and readable, account of an incredible trip of human experience....An American on foot across Finland ...it covers a diverse range of topics including geography, ethnology, ethnography, environmentalism, agriculture, architecture, conservationism, ornithology, biology, sociology, history, politics, and more through observations, interviews, and interactions...In the style of Bill Bryson but with added elements.. The key to good writing is bringing the reader along for the journey... O'Donnell does this very well...Congrats
This book is a wonderful pleasure read, academic course supplement, book club choice, or gift. Highly recommended !!!!

Finland's forests by foot...
It is no small feat of physical fortitude for Jim O'Donnell to have crossed Finland on foot, but to have kept his sense of humor so sharp, and his observations on nature and the Finnish culture so keen and well-researched, is amazing. This story draws you into an epic jaunt through not only the fens, fells, lakes, rivers and forests of Finland, but the state of mind of the Finnish people as the author encounters travelers from all walks of life along roads and trails of this journey. O'Donnell manages to weave history, language, and environmental science into a personal exploration of the human experience in the extreme and almost mythic northern landscape of Finland. Take a long walk and a sauna with Jim O'Donnell for a unique look at modern Finland. ... Read more

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THIS 30 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus Part 1, by Theophrastus Paracelsus. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766126218. ... Read more