Monday, May 7, 2012

The Art of Animal Drawing: Construction, Action Analysis, Caricature (Dover Art Instruction)

The Art of Animal Drawing: Construction, Action Analysis, Caricature (Dover Art Instruction) Review



Former Disney animator offers expert advice on drawing animals both realistically and as caricatures. Use of line, brush technique, establishing mood, conveying action, much more. Construction drawings reveal development process in creating animal figures. Many chapters on drawing individual animal forms — dogs, cats, horses, deer, cows, foxes, kangaroos. 53 halftones, 706 line illustrations.


Saturday, April 28, 2012

One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction (Know Your Numbers)

One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction (Know Your Numbers) Review



One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction (Know Your Numbers) Feature

  • Know Your Numbers Find the hidden numbers in these exciting counting books.
  • Count by ones twos fives and tens.
  • Satisfaction Ensured.
  • Design is stylish and innovative.
  • Functionality that is Unbeatable.
A counting book that follows the construction of a building, from one plan to twelve stories. Readers are invited to find hidden numbers on an illustrated activity page.


Thursday, April 26, 2012

Not this Time (Men of 3X CONStruction)

Not this Time (Men of 3X CONStruction) Review



Veronique had done the monogamous relationship thing before and got her heart stomped in the process. She no longer allowed her emotions to join her liaisons and kept her heart locked away. Frank O'Connor was no exception, or so she thought.

This is a short story in the men of 3X CONStruction series hightlighting a romance between two favorite characters from earlier books. Frank is Red's brother and Veronique, is Cherise's mother. Enjoy!

Excerpt:

“Are you okay?”
The deep sexy-as-sin voice shot straight to her core. Damn. Now visions of tangled sheets and long nights ran through her mind with the voice. And she hadn't even seen the body it came from. Sitting back up in her chair, she eyed him while she rubbed the side of her face. Damn, he's fine.
“I'll live.”
“Can I get you another drink?” The dark eyes pinned her to her chair. A flutter of interest rose in her breast.
She nodded, her pussy tingled at his look of interest.
“What're you drinking?” He smiled. And Veronique, defense attorney extraordinaire, swore the sun had just come from behind a dark cloud, making her world seem brighter. Sappy, but true.

“Oh, a glass of zinfandel will be fine.” Any buzz she'd had earlier evaporated under the heavy dose of lust that'd swamped her. Although he wore jeans, his shirt was professional grade. Could he be in the gray area? A professional with blue-collar tendencies. Hmmm, watching him weave through the crowd, she marveled at his size. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair and eyes. All-around nice package. Her lips puckered and smacked, wanting a taste.
God, please let him be capable of a halfway decent conversation. No matter how hot and horny he made her, she'd long passed the stage where she screwed dumb men. Even brief flings had to bring more than solid meat to the table. Placing her shoes into her large Coach bag, she watched him maneuver the crowd while holding her wine and a beer.
He handed her the glass as he sat next to her.
“Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm Veronique by the way.” She looked at him from beneath her lids as she took a sip of the cool liquid.
“I'm Frank. Your name's different. Are you from Philly?” He took a pull from his bottle. The weight of his gaze warmed her.
“No, I'm here for a conference. Two more days to go.” She gazed at his dark eyes, and the heat singed her core. His eyes blazed as he watched her lips on the glass. Yep, he was he interested. “Is this home for you?”
“I live an hour away, but I had some business in town, and came in here to unwind before heading out.” He looked at her and winked. “Glad I did.”
Me, too. “How about that? I was on my way out when you bumped into me. Must be kismet, huh?” She smiled as he placed his bottle on the table, and leaned toward her.
“Yeah, kismet works for me. Let me buy you dinner before you leave. You seem like an interesting person, Veronique. I'd like to know you better.”
Tingles shot down her spine when he said her name. “I am.” She stood, and picked up her purse.
He followed. “Is there anything you prefer?”
“Lean meats.” She smirked as her eyes roved slowly over his muscular frame. Did she say he was fine? Regardless, his body demanded another bravo for finess.
He placed his hands in his pocket and walked behind her. “Lean meats? Hmmm, lean and juicy, I hope.”
“Juicy works. Nobody likes dry meat.” She stopped and looked around the hotel lobby for the entrance to the in-house restaurant. Spotting it, she headed in that direction. “We can eat here.”
“Sounds good. I like lean and juicy myself.” He grinned. They entered the restaurant, and the hostess sat them in the back after Veronique explained the problem with her shoes.

After they'd been seated, she glanced at Frank over her menu. Damn. The man was handsome. Thick, dark shiny hair touched his collar, a small close-cropped beard, and a nice smile. He reminded her of Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson combined into a delicious package. A package she planned to unwrap before the night was over.


Monday, April 23, 2012

Construction Management JumpStart: The Best First Step Toward a Career in Construction Management

Construction Management JumpStart: The Best First Step Toward a Career in Construction Management Review



Launch your career in construction management with this one-of-a-kind book

The construction management industry is expected to increase employment by 16 percent over the next decade. This second edition of a bestselling introduction to construction management walks you through each stage of the construction management process.

Written from the constructor's perspective, this book will familiarize you with all the construction management fundamentals and how Building Information Modeling (BIM) is impacting the construction management profession.

  • Covers interoperability of technology advances in the construction industry
  • Explains how BIM is challenging the traditional approach to project delivery and how this affects the constructor's role
  • Elaborates each stage of the design and construction process and the tasks associated with each of them
  • Shows step-by-step how to estimate project costs, administer contracts, manage job site and construction operations, plan and schedule a project, monitor project performance, manage project quality and safety, and assess project risks
  • Provides review questions at the end of each chapter to help enforce understanding

The tried-and-true project management principles presented in this book will help ensure you a successful start to your career.


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day

Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day Review



This detailed overview of the construction contracting business delivers an invaluable collection of best practices, forms, templates, and checklists designed to reduce risks and increase profits. Contractors will learn everything they need to know about the make-or-break areas of estimating, pricing, bidding, project management, and financial management.
  • The author is well-known in the industry, with a weekly newsletter, website, online digest, regular column for Contractor magazine, and 70-plus seminar bookings for 2006
  • Extensive examples and illustrations help readers apply the insights offered


Monday, April 16, 2012

Dictionary of Architecture and Construction (Dictionary of Architecture & Construction)

Dictionary of Architecture and Construction (Dictionary of Architecture & Construction) Review



Updated and expanded, this Fourth Edition of the most trusted reference in architecture offers the most comprehensive coverage of architectural and construction terms available. This classic dictionary now features nearly 25,000 definitions (including 2,800 new terms), 2,500 illustrations (including 200 new illustrations), and maintains its extraordinary visual appeal and easy-to-read page design. Prepared by a renowned architectural editor in association with expert contributors and incorporating the work of many standards groups, the book presents clear, concise definitions of terms in nearly 80 working areas. The Fourth Edition covers new industry terms which have emerged due to changes in engineering and building technologies, organizations, materials, and legal developments, and has been expanded to include more historic architectural styles. New terms include: Legal Architectural Barriers Act Wheelchair Accessible Materials Fibrous Concrete Latex Mortar Polymer-Based Stucco Concrete Compliance Conformity Refractory Mortar Organizations Building Research Establishment (formerly Building Research Station) of Great Britain ASTM Historic Architectural Styles Anglo-Palladianism French Victorian Isabellino Mudajar Mozarabic Neo-Rococo


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Log Construction Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Building Handcrafted Log Homes

Log Construction Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Building Handcrafted Log Homes Review



The Log Construction Manual tells you what you need to know to build your own handcrafted log home shell. This is a comprehensive and thorough guide to how to scribe-fit logs to each other, cut notches, and build roof support systems of large, round, naturally-shaped logs.

The Log Construction Manual is packed with information that is available nowhere else — including the Log Selection Rules, Chambers' brilliant and simple method for choosing which log to use next; detailed instructions for building handcrafted log roof trusses; step-by-step directions for laying out sill logs for any design or floor plan; how to cut state-of-the-art compression-fit saddle notches; methods to keep notches and grooves tight over time; allowing for settling and shrinkage of log walls; scribing tips that pro's use; and much more.