Fortunate Son

Fortunate Son

Author: Rick Bass

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press

Published: 2021-03-15

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 082636246X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Rick Bass’s Fortunate Son is a literary tour of the Lone Star State by a native Texan of exceptional talent. The essays encompass a Texas that is both lost and found, past and present. The stories reach from Galveston Bay to the Hill Country outside Austin, and from Houston in the 1960s to today. They are bound together by a deep love and a keen eye for the land and its people and by an appreciation for what is given, a ruefulness for what is lost, and a commitment to save what can be saved. “This is a journalist’s Texas scrapbook, then: a firefighting story, a musical pilgrimage, a ramble in Texas’s tiniest public wilderness (one of only five in the entire state). Fishing with my father and uncle on a lake that is partly in Texas and partly in Louisiana; flying around the borders of Texas—usually defined by water, a resource that will vanish in much of the state within our lifetime; hanging out at my parents’ cattle farm down near Goliad; reading the work of Texans before me.”—from the Introduction


Bridging Cultures

Bridging Cultures

Author: Harriett D. Romo

Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

Published: 2021-08-16

Total Pages: 439

ISBN-13: 1623499763

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Borderlands: they stretch across national boundaries, and they create a unique space that extends beyond the international boundary. They extend north and south of what we think of as the actual “border,” encompassing even the urban areas of San Antonio, Texas, and Monterrey, Nueva León, Mexico, affirming shared identities and a sense of belonging far away from the geographical boundary. In Bridging Cultures: Reflections on the Heritage Identity of the Texas-Mexico Borderlands, editors Harriett Romo and William Dupont focus specifically on the lower reaches of the Rio Grande/Río Bravo as it exits the mountains and meanders across a coastal plain. Bringing together perspectives of architects, historians, anthropologists, sociologists, educators, political scientists, geographers, and creative writers who span and encompass the border, its four sections explore the historical and cultural background of the region; the built environment of the transnational border region and how border towns came to look as they do; shared systems of ideas, beliefs, values, knowledge, norms of behavior, and customs—the way of life we think of as Borderlands culture; and how border security, trade and militarization, and media depictions impact the inhabitants of the Borderlands. Romo and Dupont present the complexity of the Texas-Mexico Borderlands culture and historical heritage, exploring the tangible and intangible aspects of border culture, the meaning and legacy of the Borderlands, its influence on relationships and connections, and how to manage change in a region evolving dramatically over the past five centuries and into the future.


Eastern Sierra and Death Valley Camping with Privacy

Eastern Sierra and Death Valley Camping with Privacy

Author: Kimberly Wilkes

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-08-19

Total Pages: 462

ISBN-13: 9781515196204

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Your Ultimate Guide To Finding The Most Peaceful Campsites In The Eastern Sierra And Death Valley Do you like privacy when you're camping? Do you hate camping a few feet away from people who talk loud into quiet hours? Or maybe you don't want a neighbor's light blocking your view of the stars at night. On recreation.gov, it's impossible to know for sure exactly which campsites have the most privacy or are farthest away from the neighbors. Some campsites look like they're too close together, but they have a hill, rock formation, or lots of vegetation in between and have plenty of privacy. Other sites look like they're far apart, but they're in an open meadow in clear view of the neighbors. You might end up reserving a space you thought had lots of privacy only to discover your neighbors are a little too close for comfort. And for first-come, first-served campgrounds, knowing the location of the really good spots means you can beat the crowds to the choice campsites. That's why Kimberly and Patrick Wilkes looked at 3,416 campsites in the Eastern Sierra and Death Valley in order to find out which ones have the most privacy-then they critiqued and rated each privacy-worthy site. The most comprehensive camping travel guide for the Eastern Sierra and Death Valley, the book is the only one of its kind on the market because it describes the privacy of individual campsites, not just the campground as a whole. Kimberly and Patrick will help you carve out your own slice of serenity in the Eastern Sierra and Death Valley by showing you exactly which campsites are the most peaceful and private near Mammoth Lakes, June Lakes, Hope Valley, Sonora Pass, Twin Lakes/Bridgeport, Tuolumne Meadows, Convict Lake, Mount Whitney, Grandview Campground, Death Valley-and everything in between. Campers should buy this travel guide because: It will reduce your risk of camping too close to a loud neighbor because it points out the campsites that have lots of elbow room. When you buy this travel guide, you'll know how far away a given campsite is from its neighbors. While the book can't guarantee you'll be entirely out of sound's reach or that you'll never have a rowdy neighbor, it'll help you find a spot that will minimize the noise-meaning you're more likely to get a good night's sleep and have a peaceful visit. It will make reserving a campsite on recreation.gov a lot easier. It will save you time because you won't have to scrutinize the map to figure out whether or not the neighboring campsite is too close or too visible. You'll know which campsite is the best choice for you, so that when you arrive you won't be disappointed that it's less private than you envisioned. You'll find out about two campsites where you never want to pitch a tent during the monsoonal rain-or risk waking up in a flood. You'll know which campsites are plagued by road noise-and which roadside campsites are so nice it may be worth bringing along ear plugs. Anglers will find out the best campsites where you can fish a few steps away from the picnic table. The handy guide at the end of the book lists each of these campsites. The paperback version features black and white photos of select campsites. The Kindle version features color photos for Kindles that have color capability. Eastern Sierra And Death Valley Camping With Privacy will save you the time of having to search for that perfect campsite because you'll know exactly which campground to visit first or which campsite to reserve online. If you like privacy while camping, this book will give you the peace of mind of knowing the campsite you reserved is exactly what you wanted, allowing you to relax and rejuvenate in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.


Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight

Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight

Author: Julia Sweig

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2021-03-16

Total Pages: 577

ISBN-13: 0812995910

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A revelation . . . a book in the Caro mold, using Lady Bird, along with tapes and transcripts of her entire White House diary, to tell the history of America during the Johnson years.”—The New York Times The inspiration for the documentary film The Lady Bird Diaries, premiering November 13 on Hulu Perhaps the most underestimated First Lady of the twentieth century, Lady Bird Johnson was also one of the most powerful. In Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight, Julia Sweig reveals how indispensable the First Lady was to Lyndon Johnson’s administration—which Lady Bird called “our” presidency. In addition to advising him through critical moments, she took on her own policy initiatives, including the most ambitious national environmental effort since Theodore Roosevelt and a virtually unknown initiative to desegregate access to public recreation and national parks in Washington, D.C. Where no presidential biographer has understood Lady Bird’s full impact, Julia Sweig is the first to draw substantially on her White House diaries and to place her center stage. In doing so, Sweig reveals a woman ahead of her time—and an accomplished strategist and politician in her own right. Winner of the Texas Book Award • Longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Bogard Weld Award


Farmers' Almanac 2008

Farmers' Almanac 2008

Author: Peter Geiger

Publisher: Geiger

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781928720096

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Farmers Almanac is an annual publication published every year since 1818. It is the only publication of its kind which generations of American families have come to trust. Its longevity speaks volumes about its content which informs, delights, and educates. Best known for its long-range weather predictions, the Farmers Almanac provides valuable information on gardening, cooking, fishing, and more.


The Old Farmer's Almanac 2022

The Old Farmer's Almanac 2022

Author: Old Farmer’s Almanac

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Published: 2021-08-17

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 1571988955

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Happy New Almanac Year! It’s time to celebrate the 230th edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac! Long recognized as North America’s most-beloved and best-selling annual, this handy yellow book fulfills every need and expectation as a calendar of the heavens, a time capsule of the year, an essential reference that reads like a magazine. Always timely, topical, and distinctively “useful, with a pleasant degree of humor,” the Almanac is consulted daily throughout the year by users from all walks of life. The 2022 edition contains the fun facts, predictions, and feature items that have made it a cultural icon: traditionally 80 percent–accurate weather forecasts; notable astronomical events and time-honored astrological dates; horticultural, culinary, fashion, and other trends; historical hallmarks; best fishing days; time- and money-saving garden advice; recipes for delicious dishes; facts on folklore, farmers, home remedies, and husbandry; amusements and contests; plus too much more to mention—all in the inimitable Almanac style that has charmed and educated readers since 1792.


Design as Democracy

Design as Democracy

Author: David de la Pena

Publisher: Island Press

Published: 2017-12-07

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1610918479

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

How can we design places that fulfill urgent needs of the community, achieve environmental justice, and inspire long-term stewardship? By bringing community members to the table with designers to collectively create vibrant, important places in cities and neighborhoods. For decades, participatory design practices have helped enliven neighborhoods and promote cultural understanding. Yet, many designers still rely on the same techniques that were developed in the 1950s and 60s. These approaches offer predictability, but hold waning promise for addressing current and future design challenges. Design as Democracy is written to reinvigorate democratic design, providing inspiration, techniques, and case stories for a wide range of contexts. Edited by six leading practitioners and academics in the field of participatory design, with nearly 50 contributors from around the world, it offers fresh insights for creating meaningful dialogue between designers and communities and for transforming places with justice and democracy in mind.


The New Carbon Architecture

The New Carbon Architecture

Author: Bruce King

Publisher: New Society Publishers

Published: 2017-12-05

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 1550926616

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Soak up carbon into beautiful, healthy buildings that heal the climate "Green buildings" that slash energy use and carbon emissions are all the rage, but they aren't enough. The hidden culprit is embodied carbon — the carbon emitted when materials are mined, manufactured, and transported — comprising some 10% of global emissions. With the built environment doubling by 2030, buildings are a carbon juggernaut threatening to overwhelm the climate. It doesn't have to be this way. Like never before in history, buildings can become part of the climate solution. With biomimicry and innovation, we can pull huge amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it up as walls, roofs, foundations, and insulation. We can literally make buildings out of the sky with a massive positive impact. The New Carbon Architecture is a paradigm-shifting tour of the innovations in architecture and construction that are making this happen. Office towers built from advanced wood products; affordable, low-carbon concrete alternatives; plastic cleaned from the oceans and turned into building blocks. We can even grow insulation from mycelium. A tour de force by the leaders in the field, The New Carbon Architecture will fire the imagination of architects, engineers, builders, policy makers, and everyone else captivated by the possibility of architecture to heal the climate and produce safer, healthier, and more beautiful buildings.


John S. Chase–The Chase Residence

John S. Chase–The Chase Residence

Author: David Heymann

Publisher: University of Texas Press

Published: 2020-11-10

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 9780934951326

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The low-slung brick home that architect John Saunders Chase completed for his own family in 1959 was Houston’s first modernist house with a true interior courtyard, a form with which other progressive architects were only starting to experiment. It was equally radical that he built it at all. When Chase graduated from The University of Texas School of Architecture in 1952—the first African American to do so—no Houston architecture firm would hire him. Chase petitioned the state for special permission to take the licensing exam, becoming the first African American registered as an architect in Texas. By 1959, he ran his own thriving firm and had established a position of remarkable influence in Houston’s social, political, and economic life. The Chase Residence, in both its original version and after a fundamental alteration undertaken in 1968, is a testament to Chase’s accomplishments. Beautifully illustrated, John S. Chase—The Chase Residence examines how the architecture of this seminal but little-known house frames the life lived within it. It places the house in the larger context of Chase’s architectural career and his times. The book is also intended for readers broadly interested in the relationship between American architecture and society.