This is the best book I have found as a detailed reference for animal anatomy, with a complete description for every muscle on the horse's body. If you are prepared to do a lot of reading and in depth study, I highly recommend this book.

There have been over a dozen movies based upon the life of Frank and Jesse James. Some have been historically accurate, but extremely boring and others have totally ignored history, but are extremely good movies to watch. FRANK AND JESSE falls somewhere in the middle.

The movie is really enjoyable to watch. It ignores much of the James' early years and instead focuses on their days as a gang after the Civil War. There are a few historical facts that are presented correctly in the film, but there are a lot more that are totally ignored or changed. Instead, the film is based more upon the legend of the James and Younger gang.

There is no doubt that Jesse James and company were bankrobbers who had a ruthless streak to them. Nevertheless, a person cannot deny the fact either that to many people in Missouri and other rural areas in the country, the James and Younger gang were heroes, Robin Hoods of the American West. Pinkerton asserted as much time and time again in his attempts to catch and round up the gang. Having been raised in a rural area not too far from the state of Missouri, I understand why people believed and still believe that in some ways the gang were heroes. In fact, I am inclined to agree. Therefore, this "romanticizing" of the Jesse James' legend isn't anything new. It's just the other side of the same coin and usually makes for a better story.

I rented this movie because I was doing a school report on Jesse James and was covering Hollywood's portrayal of the James gang. I ended up being very impressed. I think that Rob Lowe and Bill Paxton do a wonderful job as Jesse and Frank James. As a matter of fact, just about everyone in the movie are good actors. The shootouts are just spectacular (much better done than "The Great Northfield Minnesota raid" I might add) but if your looking for a accurate historacl account you might try looking elsewhere. This movie has a lot of the legends around the gang, such as checking passengers hands on a train, to determine whether or not to rob them, (soft hands--get robbed...calloused hands, meaning you were a working man,--don't get robbed) but almost everything about the Northfield raid is fiction. Here and there, parts of the movie are also made up, but Northfield was the killer for me. Anyway, if your up to a great western, try watching, you wont be let down, but if your looking for something out of a text book, try looking somewhere else.

I didn't think I'd like this movie but ended up really enjoying it. It was well made and entertaining. There are always two sides to every story in the old west (look at the Erps). This movie does point out that there were historical events that fueled the James Gang. Not saying they're choir boys.

Historical ? Maybe and maybe not. But I was entertained.

Winchester's Model 21 has generated more then its fair share of controversy since it first came out in 1931. There were those who considered it the finest side by ever made. They based this up the superiority of the design and strength of the steel used. Then again, there were those who couldn't stand it. They said it was too heavy and was over priced. Be that as it may, it has made its mark on the shooting public. It was the closing chapter in a long list of great American shotguns; Parkers, L.C. Smiths, Ithacas, etc. The author has compiled a book that traces its history through its development and early years to when it was production line mode and finally to when it was relegated to the custom shop. If it hadn't been for John Olin it would have been dropped altogether in late 1959, instead of being made into a custom gun. Nothing is left to chance. The chapter on the custom made 21s is especially well done, as it goes into great detail regarding the differences between the various grades. I was impressed with the photographs of the engraving. Winchester's engravers were some of the best in the business. I wish there had been a chapter explaining the building of one of these guns from start to finish, with photographs included. It would give the reader a better appreciation. Overall, this is a very well written book that should be in the library of those who appreciate fine shotguns.

Winchester's Model 21 was the last in a long series of side by double barrel shotguns to be built in this country Parker, L.C. Smith, Ithaca, just to name a few that preceded it. It came out during the midst of the Great Depression and when Winchester was about ready to go bankrupt. A very inauspicious time to bring out what would be the finest and most strongest shotgun ever made. Here was the modern double barrel shotgun that was made with superior steel and design, that could withstand maximum proof loads that would cause any other gun to fail. The Model 21 made its reputation based upon its strength in the duck blind, going after upland game, or even on the trap and skeet line. It lived up to its reputation. Incidentially, it was one of John M. Olin's favorites. He was the one who kept it going on a custome made basis, after it had been discontinued. The authors have gone to great length researching the history and development of the gun. They start off with the earliest models, which sported double triggers and a splinter forearm to the custom model which were made starting in 1960 up until the late 1980s when USRAC stopped making them. Nothing has been left to chance and the photographs of the engraving and stockwork, while very well done, unfortunately, does not come close to the book on the Browning Superposed. Still, this is a book to buy for those who, either, own one or like to entertain hopes of buying a used one. Be forewarned, that while they are available, they are rather expensive. One closing item and that is the gentleman who is making the Fox side by, Tony Galazan, bought up all of the parts for the 21, along with tools. He is prepared to either repair Model 21s and even make them.

When a person is asked to describe a witch,the first image that comes to mind is an aged hag with a steeple crowned hat.However,this was not always the rule.The 'witch' in this tale is one such exception.Unorna,the witch is beautiful,with her red gold hair and her well proportioned features who resides in a mansion,and spends the winter in the huge conservatory surrounded by lofty palms and tropical plants.Her most remarkable feature is her eyes,which are of different colours and her ability to use them to hypnotise people and make them not only her slaves but to see what she wanted them to see or even forget their past.Despite her powers,she is not an inherently evil person but her love for the wanderer drives her to desperate measures to destroy her rival for his affections.She also has strange dealings with Keyork Arabian,who is attempting to prolong life through his experiments.This book might as well be called the Wizard rather than the Witch as Keyork Arabian is the most evil character in the book. This book is very interesting to read not only for the story and the marvellous descriptions but also for the author's in depth analysis of the powers of the human mind and her interpretation of the relation of the soul to the body.This is not a middle age romance as electricity is often mentioned in the book. A parallel can be drawn between this book and the classic by Gaston Leroux namely The Phantom of the Opera.Both the phantom and Unorna represent that part of us which seeks to be loved for ourselves and the great extent we can go in pursuance of that objective.Another similarity between the stories is that both characters have to make an important choice and redeem themselves by it.

Donate your money to the charity of your choice. It will give you more satisfaction and enjoyment. The "cardboard" in this model is more like paper than the paper dolls in days of old.

Build Your own Redwall Abbey arrives as a 9 by 12 folder which, when opened, contains in the left pocket a cardboard sheet of 16 punch-out characters and miscellaneous objects, and a nice 16-page pamphlet that tells the story of The Redwall Warrior's Code featuring Cornflower and Matthias. I think the style and the content are consistent with the author's Redwall novels. In the right-hand pocket are an instruction booklet; a foldout sheet that depicts the abbey grounds and opens to about 1-1/2 by 2 feet; 19 pieces which are clearly labelled and fold-out, tuck in and eventually become a rather impressive tabletop abbey, including the great hall (complete with the tapestry hanging over the mantle), the Redwall stairs, a storeroom, bedrooms, the kitchen, gatehouse and outer walls. The gatehouse and walls are particularly satisfying, going up easily and looking great. The material is thin cardboard and the manipulations are more interesting than just simple folds. No cutting or gluing is required though a little bit of tape helps stabilize the model. I think this is a good quality accessory for fans. Assembly takes about an hour and when complete the abbey is fun to look at. There are lots of cool details like candlesticks and birds in the beams and "Redwall" written near the stairs, though I did miss the dishevelled tomes of the gatehouse.

One thing I like about the Redwall universe *is* the availability of interesting supplemental material -- the quiz book, books for younger readers, this abbey. Personally, I would love to see Mr. Jacques publish a Redwall cookbook -- the dishes at the feasts always sound so delectable.

Though this is a bit expensive for older kids and is not sturdy enough for young children or older kids who want to use it as an action figure hangout, I would recommend this fun set-up for ages 8 and up. Because the instructions are clearly written and supplemented with lots of illustrations, this would be an excellent and rewarding intermediate level model for children ready to graduate to a project requiring written insruction, and would be a fun project for parents and children working together. Enthusiastic adult Redwall fans will like it, kids will adore it.

THis model is very detailed but does take tape and much time and patience to assemble.

While I admit, in our pop-culture world, the marketing of Harry Potter has reached an insane point, this does not take away from the fact the Harry Potter legend is as good as The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and many other fantasy tales that take us back to that feeling of childhood wonder. Catholics and other Christians who prefer to avoid Potter mania need to leave the harmless fairy tale alone. Harry Potter will no more destroy or alter a child's religious belief than Cinderella or Star Wars.

I do have to say that I, myself am not a religious person, yet I hold no poor judgements towards people who do choose to follow it. With regards to Harry Potter, it is fiction. It does not dictate to children how to live their lives, or how to denounce their faith in their religion. I may not be a religious person, but I am an educated one, who is able to take fiction as just that; fiction, and i expect nothing more or less than entertainment from it. About all of this religious sceptisism surrounding Harry Potter due to its references to magic, and evil beings, why does the Wizard of Oz not suffer such scrutiny? It also intertwines its plots with witchcrafy, wizardry, and evil forces. I believe everyone who is critical of a piece of fiction, especialy Harry Potter, for portraying what they take to be un-godly, or anti-religion should take a good look at what this story is about. The Harry Potter series is about a boy struggling to fit in as he grows up into an adult, he just happens to be a wizard. What child in the world could ever be harmed by a book which can show kids it is ok to be different when growing up; how is this in any way evil I ask?

Whatever anyone's personal religious beliefs are, it's wonderful to finally have this book as truth in print to counter-point the insidious Harry Potter mania.

If you want a child to get more interested in reading... turn them on to The Hobbit and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy by Tolkein. Turn them on to The Chronicles of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew/The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe/The Horse and His Boy/Prince Caspian/Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair/The Last Battle) by C.S. Lewis. How about A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'engle?

All of these are wonderful alternatives for the imaginative mind.

On the other hand, Harry Potter encourages dangerous bases of thought. I'm glad that this book is here to educate those of us who don't ordinarily think in those terms. Catholic, or not... this book is worth the read!