"Alex Douglas always wanted to be a hero. But nothing heroic ever happened to Alex. Nothing, that is, until his eleventh birthday [which fell on September 11, 2001]. Then everything changed"--P. [4] of cover.

More than 500 color photos display marbles of all types, including Indians, Aggies, Steelies, transitionals, M.F. Christensen & Son, Akro Agate and more.

"From 1501 to 1505, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti both lived and worked in Florence. Leonardo was a charming, handsome fifty year-old at the peak of his career. Michelangelo was a temperamental sculptor in his mid-twenties, desperate to make a name for himself. The two despise each other."--Front jacket flap.

A 50th anniversary tribute chronicles the historical struggle to bring the Civil Rights Act into law, profiling a wide range of contributing figures in religious, public and political arenas. 60,000 first printing.

Camille Claudel, an old lady confined to the Asylum for the Insane in Montdevergues, France, reviews her life. She says, aI hope my memoir will illustrate the heights of passion Rodin and I reached, and unravel the mystery of why they were transformed into vinegar and ashes.a The tragedy is not only hers, she adds, but that of many female artists who found it impossible to achieve the success of men artists of lesser ability. The book illuminates her childhood and the rise of her career in the setting of her ecstatic life with Rodin. Their ten years of bliss are followed by the disintegration of her love for him, and its evolution into hatred and psychosis. The last third of the book describes the horrors of Claudelas life in the asylum, ending with the highly original manner in which she comes to terms psychologically with Rodin and the other important figures in her life.

Designed for courses in media criticism, rhetorical criticism, and popular culture, this text draws on recent work in semiotics and cultural studies as it applies critical methods to texts from popular culture.

A first-of-kind book on marble collecting for beginners interested in learning about how to identify and value old marbles.

This is not your ordinary how-to book! Austin TX based authors and polymer clay artists Kim Schlinke and Randee M. Ketzel artfully mix a clever mystery with 20 how-to projects that show step-by step photographs and instructions to create your own "ancient artifacts." These polymer clay masterpieces are beautiful enough to grace a museum collection-or yours! At 206 pages, this lavishly photographed book is stuffed with a multitude of projects that can be done just as presented with highly detailed step-by-step instruction, or used as starting points to make faux gems for use in all sorts of designs. Priced retail at $30, the hefty book's how-to projects weigh in at the mere cost of $1.50 each. Animal lovers will be pleased to note that our authors also give us the secrets of making replicas of ivory and tiger claw that involve no cruelty towards elephants or wild cats whatsoever! Projects featured in this compendium include: Celtic Bronze Fibula, Navajo Silver Pendant, Art Nouveau Golden Gingko Brooch, Carnelian Choker of Ancient Rome, Amethyst Cabochons and Nugget Beads, Amethyst Silver Art Nouveau Pendant, Black Opal Cabochons, Barbarian Bracelet, Chrysoprase Cabochons (A and B Grade), Hammered Cuff Bracelet, Ancient Limestone Fossil Pebbles, Cycladic Goddess, Leopardskin Jasper, Primitive Pebble Bracelet, Faux Twigs, Fantastical Forgeries Bracelet, Blue Lace Agate Tile Bracelet, Copper & Rhodochrosite Tiered Necklace, Snowflake Jades, Qin Dynasty Bangles, Amber Caravan Necklace, Primeval Coral Rock Hound Necklace, Ammolite Cabochons, Gothic Revival Pendant, Victorian Mourning Brooch, Faux Tiger Claw, Victorian Raj Brooch, Faux Tiffany Glass Scarabs, Faux Ivory Cuff Bracelet Find out how it is all done-and "who done it"-along with our intrepid protagonists, Parker and Peele. "What is this stuff?" wondered Parker, and her companion pointed her umbrella to the drawings that plastered the walls. "The raw materials for the best forgeries ever seen" replied her friend. "This is where they were created." Together they examined the drawings, exclaiming softly as they recognized several objects from the Museum. Parker picked up one of the colorful lumps and frowned. "What is this, Peele? It's soft like clay, but I've never seen these colors before." "No," said her friend, "nor have I-at least in this form. I suspect it requires a catalyst of some type to render it into the false gems-ah, here!" Peele uncovered an array of electric ovens. "Heat-how charming. This must be some type of polymer, which, when brought to the proper temperature, then hardens. I have heard rumors. Could become just about anything, in skilled hands."