No comments about Rand Mcnally Large Scale Map Florida.

3 comments about Florida's Fabulous Mammals.

1. I have been charmed by this book, I can pick it up at any page and be absorbed, read interesting information about the mammals of Florida, my home state. The book is filled with many clear pictures of each animal, and even their young, and also details about their particular features, say clawed feet, or color forms, or teeth and such. In and around each picture is a clear explanation of each animal, their habits and lifestyle, what research there is and their condition of care or preservation in Florida. Also there are panels describing the the effects of man or changes in habitat, the politics and even what fokelore there is and whether this is true. The language is such that any young person who is able to read can understand it, but also it is extremely informative in ways that keep my interest as an adult. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. Even pre-readers can use the pictures to learn by.



2. Most touristic field guides are remarkable either by a dearth of meaningful information, poor photography, or both. This book, and its parent series, for that matter, suffer from neither, and form excellent works that are a proud part of anyone's library.

   With respect to the instant work, the text is exceptional, containing many captivating facts about animals a lot of folks would regard as very ordinary and uninteresting. Did you know, for example, that beavers were once wild in Florida, were trapped into extinction. and that they are now returning?

   The great color photography closely follows the expertly-prepared text, and brings out many detailed facets of the creatures described. I would heartily recommmend this book and its companions to anyone, tourist or native, who has any sort of interest in Florida or North American wildlife or nature.




3. I recently saw an otter and heard a group of coyotes howling. That led me to this book for more information on the animals around us in Florida.
   The color photos are good-sized and show the animals in varied activities. There's a nice amount of detail about what the animals eat, their lifestyle, issues, threats to their existence, etc.
   I learned a lot about feral pigs, bobcats, panthers, armadillos, black bears, foxes, bats, manatees, deer, etc. Children will enjoy the book also with all the photos and interesting facts.
   A lot of off-beat info is included set off in boxes. These include info about trapping, rabies, wild animals as pets, bat houses, an armadillo fan club, introduced species, and much more).
   One issue with the book is the font under some photos is the same size as the regular text, so the reader gets a little confused following down the columns. This could be easily remedied.
   Things I wish the book would include: maps for each animal showing their range in Florida and a section showing tracks and scat for identifying animals we don't see.

5 comments about Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space.

1. This book is typical of many current glossy coffee-table books about space:
   
   -- the title is misleading as only a small part of the book is actually about KSC or even the Cape Canaveral area in general
   
   -- it is riddled with errors, and not just wrong dates and technical points, but fundamental misconceptions about the political and military background of many space projects.
   
   -- it tries to cram a general history of space flight into too small a format and leaves out a lot.
   
   -- there are no maps or diagrams, only pretty pictures.
   
   If you want hard information about the Cape, get "Go For Launch!" instead of this worthless book.



2. NASA's Kennedy Space Center is the gateway to the stars for U.S. space efforts, and there's no better person to explore its history than an author who is an expert on space and space exploration. It's the only complete history of the Center and provides armchair readers with a complete tour of Center history, operations, and launch efforts. The mission-by-mission coverage leaves out nothing.



3. Like David Shomper I too was involved in many of the events chronicled in David West
   Reynolds's book and feel qualified to comment. While the book makes for an interesting read or
   as a coffee table decoration (great photos) it had a disappointingly large number of errors that a
   good technical review should have caught. I started writing them down but lost impetus as I progressed through the book and I'm sure I missed more. I did not duplicate David Shomper's comments except to expand on one of them. Hopefully, if I list those I did notice the author can incorporate changes in any subsequent editions.
   
   Page 33 The Saturn V second stage was manufactured by North American Aviation, later North American Rockwell, at Seal Beach, California - not by Douglas.
   
   Page 35 Photo - is not inside the VAB. It is on Pad 37.
   
   Page 62 The lighthouse on the Cape was built in 1868 and moved to its current location in 1894. The 1847 lighthouse was torn down to provide the foundation for the new lighthouse.
   
   Page 72 Photo - not sure where this photo was taken but it is definitely not at the Cape in 1953
   
   Page 77 The author appears confused about the Redstone/Jupiter nomenclature, which is understandable - Von Braun's people used misleading names to facilitate range launch priorities at the Cape in the late 50's.
   
   Basically the Redstone missile was a MRBM with a range of some 200 miles while the Jupiter missile was an IRBM with a range of nearly 2000 miles.
   
   However when two solid upper stages were added to an extended length Redstone it was named the Jupiter C (the `C' standing for `composite reentry test vehicle). A modified Jupiter C with a fourth stage was named the Juno I. The Juno I naming occurred officially after the first Explorer launch so that its launch vehicle is usually incorrectly called a Jupiter C (or partially correct as a modified Jupiter C) in books and articles when it was, in reality, a Juno I.
   
   When a larger booster was required the same three solid upper stages were added to a Jupiter first stage and it was named the Juno II. It was used for several subsequent space probes.
   
   With all that understood the following corrections apply:
   
   Jupiter C was not more powerful than the Thor and could not send a one-ton warhead 1850 miles down range. I believe the author was referring to the Jupiter IRBM.
   
   Pad 26 was built for the Jupiter IRBM program not Jupiter C, which was basically still a Redstone, although the latter in its Redstone and Juno I versions were launched from Pad 26A.
   
   The new name for the Explorer modified Jupiter C launch vehicle was Juno I, not Juno and not to be confused with the bigger more powerful Juno II.
   
   Page 82 The Redstone launch vehicle used alcohol as its fuel, not kerosene.
   
   Page 86 The Mercury Atlas 3 flight flew in April 1961, not May, and was destroyed by the Range Safety Officer after it failed to program. It was not in the clouds at the time - I was watching it from the roof of Hangar J.
   
   Page 89 The blockhouse at Pad 14 did not have a second storey - the only Atlas blockhouse to have a second storey was at Pad 36 (Atlas - Centaur)
   
   Page 131 Photo. There are no S-1B's in the picture - just S-1C's.
   
   Page 137 Kerosene was only one of he fuels for the Saturn V - no mention is made of the massive liquid hydrogen tank that was required for the second and third stages.
   
   Page 140 A typical failing of many write-ups on the Apollo program is to totally omit any mention of the ACE (automatic checkout Equipment) stations in the MSOB. It was from these control rooms that all spacecraft checkout, monitor and launch support for both the CSM and the LM were conducted. These stations were just yards from the astronaut quarters on the third floor. The only spacecraft representative in the LCC was a coordination link between the ACE Station and the LV test director.
   
   Page 144 After previous sections that glorified Martin and Grumman the third paragraph on this page is totally unnecessary and demeaning of North American, a company that shouldered some of the major challenges of the Apollo program. The author should read "Angle of Attack", the story of Harrison Storms, to understand some of the immense issues involved and exactly what role NASA played in the design deficiencies that contributed to the Apollo 1 fire and S II design. The contribution of North American and its thousands of dedicated workers to the Apollo program deserves better than the snide comments in this paragraph.
   
   Page 147 While the immensity of the sound and fury of a Saturn V launch is impressive 3 miles away I never felt any heat transfer across that distance and I watched several.
   
   Page 148 Photo - The Saturn V did not launch Apollo 7. The photo is of the S IVB, the second stage of the Apollo 7 Saturn 1B launch vehicle. The fact that the panels on the spacecraft LM adaptor (or SLA in NASA terminology) are open but still attached show that it was Apollo 7, the only manned flight that the SLA panels were not disconnected and released. It should also be added that the SLA was attached to the Instrument Unit (or IU) built by IBM. This was a vitally important part of the stack and has been totally omitted in the book. It contained all the flight control electronics for the Saturn 1B and V vehicles. The IU was mounted atop the S IVB and was the last and uppermost constituent part of the booster.
   
   
   Page 150 Another shot at North American. The Apollo 13 tank failure was more than a communication error and shouldn't be cavalierly placed at North American's doorstep.
   
   Page 157 Since the Columbia accident NASA has always had a "rescue" shuttle in the flow.
   
   Page 172 Photo caption - the Navaho shown is the only configuration that ever flew, the G 26, which used two Rocketdyne engines on its booster rocket, not three. It was definitely NOT the forerunner of the Redstone, which first flew three years earlier. However the Navaho Rocketdyne engines, using lox and kerosene, went on to form the basis for the engines that subsequently powered the Jupiter, Thor, Atlas and Saturn.
   
   Page 174 The company North American Aviation became North American Rockwell in 1967 and finally Rockwell International in early 1973. To say that in the mid 70's "NAA was struggling to build the spacecraft" is incorrect both in the company name and the struggling aspect. Based on this and other comments I don't think the author had much respect for the company that built the X-15, the Apollo spacecraft, the Saturn S II and the shuttle orbiter! Maybe he had bad sources.
   
   Page 181 The convoy does not off-load fuels and toxins on the runway.
   
   Page 183 The windblown white sand at the White Sands Space Harbor should be more correctly identified as gypsum, not sand.
   
   Page 186 Orbiter Processing Facility 3, or Hangar 3 as the author calls it, was originally built by the USAF at Vandenberg AFB. It was excessed after Challenger when the planned USAF shuttle flights from the west coast were cancelled and moved to KSC.
   
   Page 186 Residual hypergolic propellants are not drained from their systems to safe the vehicle unless specific access or repair warrants draining. Residuals remain on board throughout the flow.
   
   Page 194 Gaseous hydrogen and oxygen clouds do not spontaneously ignite when mixed.
   
   Page 196 The sound suppression water flow commences at T-16 seconds, not 6.6 secs., and reaches peak flow of 900,00 gpm at T +9 seconds. It is exhausted in about 25 seconds.



4. Easy to read and understand. It gives a comprehensive story of the Kennedy Space Center as well as the various missions NASA has undertaken. I understand now the different types of rockets and the history leading up to the Apollo 11 successful moon walk. This book was a page-turner. I could not put it down and read it all in one weekend.



5. In addition to errors of fact, this book contains a poor selection of photographs. There are limited views of the equipment and structures on the site, such as launch pads, gantries, and blockhouses, and no compreshensive annotated maps showing the evolution and layout of the Space Center are provided. Many of the photographs are not even of the Kennedy Space Center or directly related activities and are more suitable for a brief overview of limited aspects of the manned space program. There are very few actual launch photos, and many of the significant unmanned and manned launch vehicles are omitted entirely. Military missiles are severely unrepresented; although, they formed the basis of much of the testing done there and were the precursors for many space boosters. The only significant coverage in this area is that of the V-2; however, it is overdone given that the V-2 was a minor player in the U. S. space program and was overshadowed by many other rockets, including Redstone, Atlas, Thor, and Titan.
   
   This is not a good book on the topic and is severely hampered by the poor and unrepresentative choice of photographs. I would not recommend it for either its content or visual value.

No comments about Road Biking Florida: A Guide to the Greatest Bike Rides in Florida (Road Biking Series).

3 comments about Bicycling the Atlantic Coast: A Complete Route Guide, Florida to Maine.

1. Used this book for the DC to Boston stretch. Good information about campgrounds and sights to see along the way. Donna's route was good at keeping us off most of the main roads and taking us through the more scenic back roads, but sometimes it seemed we spent more time reading the map and looking for street signs than bicycling. Good orientation information about each stretch.



2. this book was recommended to me via a newsgroup posting back in 1997, during my planning for an east coast solo tour. while the author's itinerary took her all the way to maine, mine started in naples, FL, and ended in washington, d.c. i found the book to be most useful in planning my route and campground locations. i followed up my reading of this book with the acquisition of road maps and a AAA campground guide for my route. in and of itself, the book was more enlightening than a detailed touring planning guide, but this was not the author's intent; rather, this book is more of a diary, and certainly helped give the flavor of a day-to-day tour. other books which went into detail regarding the logistics of a loaded tour were essential as well. i would recommend this book to the newcomer to loaded touring.



3. I found the author's guide information to be easy to understand and use. I have ridden some of the areas discussed and would have benefitted from the information in the guide. Definately recommend anyone planning to cycle along any portion this route use "Bicycling the Atlantic Coast" as one of their planning tools.
   
   Win Allred

5 comments about PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs: The Take-Along Travel Guide and Planner! (Passporter Walt Disney World).

1. "Maybe you've always dreamed of taking a vacation to Walt Disney World or cruising with Disney but were reluctant, thinking that once you got there, your special situation would not be accommodated. We'd like to show you how you, too, can enjoy a vacation at this 47-square-mile playground, no matter what special need or requirement you might have."
   
   Everyone has special needs when they go traveling and this guide is truly an exploration of the needs of all people visiting Walt Disney World. From diet concerns and allergies to mobility issues, they have everything covered. A page of special needs quickly helps you find the page you are looking for. Concerned because you are pregnant? Turn to page 73. Concerned about religious issues and foods you will need to find on vacation, turn to pages 31-34.
   
   List of what to pack for your vacation are practical and enlightening. There are maps of the Magic Kingdom and information on all the places you can stay like the Winderness Lodge and Villas, but notes are made about the rooms being poorly lit. So this might be a concern. There are low, medium and high ratings for all the resorts. Unique elements of pools are featured, like pools that have wheelchair access so you can be wheeled right into the pool. Advice for pregnant women is useful to explain which rides they might want to avoid and why it is best not to sit too long in a hot tub. Really helpful advice I would never have considered.
   
   The special needs include: ADHD, Addiction Recovery, Allergies, Autism, Chronic Fatigue, Cognitive Disabilities, Diet, Fears, Fibromyalgia, Foreign Language, Hearing, Heart Health, Infants, Medical Treatment, Mental Health, Mobility, Motion Sensitivity, Physical Therapy, Pregnancy, Rehabilitation, Religion, Seniors, Service Animals, Size and Vision.
   
   So, as a safety manual for travel, this book has a lot to offer, no matter where you are traveling, but will be especially helpful as a travel guide for anyone visiting Walt Disney World.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World. As a repeat visitor to WDW I found this book about as informative as it gets, they've thought of just about everthing that may present a problem during your visit. It raises quite a bit of awareness, too. Written by folks who really care about everyone being able to enjoy all that WDW has to offer. I can't say enough.



3. I bought this book because my grandson has a mild form of autism and we're taking him and his family to Disney in June. I have read the book and it has the best information on each ride at all the parks. We can now plan what to do and warn him ahead of time that he may have a problem with the ride but he can make up his own mind with the information given in the book. Well worth the money



4. I have several food allergies. It makes traveling difficult during the best of times. But when you are going to be a captive audience, it's a little more daunting. This book gave great information as to what accommodations can be made for travelers with special needs. It also gives phone numbers to call to make your individual requests. The information is accurate and very informative.



5. This book has a new edition coming out 9/28/2007. The title is _Passporter's Open Mouse...Easy Access Vacations for Trevelers with Extra Challenges_. You don't need to get an overpriced old edition! It took some digging on the Passpoter Website for me to find this, and Amazon does have it!

1 comments about Florida’s Miracle Strip: From Redneck Riviera to Emerald Coast.

1. This was a fun read, especially for those who were children when the touristy gimmicks of the Gulf coast were in their prime. I loved the pictures and the background info on my favorite attractions.

2 comments about Beach and Coastal Camping in Florida.

1. I have always enjoyed the beach, and when I saw Johnny Molloy's book I bought it immediately. It did not disappoint. With the book as my guide I made a grand tour of Florida's marvelous coastline. First, I started at St. Joe State Park, where I walked the wilderness beach backed by huge dunes. Then I headed south to Cayo Coasta State Park, whsere the ferry took me out to the quiet island getaway. After that, I crossed the peninsula and went to Sebastian Inlet, where the surfers entertained me as much as the excellent fishing. My final stop was at Fort Clinch, up near the Georgia border, where I toured the brick fort and enjoyed the beach here and on nearby Big Talbot Island. The best part was the smoothness of my vacation-it went off without a hitch, mostly due to the accurate research of Johnny Molloy. I plan to make another beach tour soon. Francisco Meyer, Atlanta, GA



2. Didn't feel too impressed with this little book when it first arrived but did use it right away for a camping trip to Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. The info helped me to choose the best camp site of the three different areas availale at this Park and to see this park to the fullest. I also read about and visited two other parks in the Keys area to explore them for future trips. After my first trip I felt as though I had gotten my monies worth, and enjoyed the trip more fully because of this book.
   
   I have scheduled a second trip for next week for NE Florida through this book..

2 comments about Haunt Hunters Guide to Florida.

1. The American South has long been known as an area that has more than it's share of ghosts and haunts. This may be caused by the peculiar history of the South, or maybe it is the magical heritage of the many Celtic settlers who came to the area. I like to think however that it is simply because the South is such a lovely place that even the dead don't want to leave. Whatever the reason though, book after book has been published dealing with the haunts of Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and the Carolinas but with the exception of St. Augustine Florida has been very under represented. Now, thanks to Joyce Moore, those of us who plan vacations with the idea of visiting a few haunted sites have a new reason to visit Florida.
   
   This book is written, exactly as the title suggests, as a tour guide to Florida's haunted locations. The author has taken the time to visit the sites she writes about and has an enthusiasm that shines through in her writing. She has even managed to catch an unusual image in one of her pictures that may well represent one of the ghostly subjects of this book. This is also a very well organized book with each chapter beginning with a basic history of the location in question followed by a history of the haunt and then a small section about other things to do while in the neighborhood. This last section more often than not deals with places to eat along with the specialty of the house. One often works up an appetite while chasing ghosts so this section is particularly appreciated. The most notable and praiseworthy thing about this book though is that each chapter contains accounts from people who have had first hand experiences with the ghost or ghosts who are haunting the location being discussed. This fact alone lends a great deal of credibility to this book.
   
   On the downside, many of the stories in this book tend to lack depth and I can't help but feel that the book would have been better if a few stories had been dropped altogether so that the stories that remained could have been given more attention. Three or four of the stories included were on the weak side and wouldn't have been missed at all. For example, the Coral Castle is certainly a fascinating site but it's worth as a place to hunt ghosts is questionable. On the other hand, the story of the Artist House in Key West and particularly the house's connection with Robert the doll could have easily have filled several more pages. Just the very mention of that doll gives me the creeps for some reason yet the chapter dealing with it took up only two pages in this book.
   
   This author's enthusiasm and her pleasing writing style make this book a very fun and educational read. She gives what appear to be very precise directions to the locations she writes about along with the number to call for more information. She has put a lot of time and effort into turning out a quality book and she has accomplished this in an admirable fashion. The often-overlooked ghosts of Florida have finally been given their due.



2. Used this to choose sites to visit in FL. Also used it to tell ghost stories at a camp out.

1 comments about Dream Homes Florida (Dream Homes).

1. I live a short distance from many of the homes that are profiled in this book and hope to use some of what I saw in my dream home. Very professional and glossy images (about 5 per home). The book appears to be a portfolio for the builders that are profiled within and that is not necessarily a bad thing. The only thing that is missing from this great book are the floor plans to these magnificent homes. This did not take away from the rating, because these homes are totally customized to their owners and do not have the cookie cutter look that many mansions in Central Florida have. The builders that are profiled state often how they like the challenge of designing a home that the owner will enjoy for a lifetime.