Entries by Santa Monica Press

American Hydrant








American Hydrant





Sean Crane





October 2004




176




$24.95




Color photos




Pop Culture




9781891661464




8 x 8




Trade Paper

American Hydrant uses conceptual portraits of fire hydrants to document the urban and rural American landscape. This humorous, clever collection of images includes at least one photograph from each of the 50 states. Although the hydrants are interesting in and of themselves-given their regional differences in shape, size, and color-each photo also creatively mirrors the individual character of the city or town in which it was taken.

For instance, in Detroit, the "Motor City," the hydrant is reflected off of the hubcap of a Buick. In Seattle, a town known for its affinity for coffee, the hydrant is shot through the front window of a coffee shop. In Dallas, the image of the hydrant sitting amidst grassy knolls is a powerful reminder of the tragic events of 1963.American Hydrant is the ultimate gift book-fun, creative, aesthetically appealing . . . an eclectic mix of photographs providing an entertaining, curbside view of America.

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Sean Crane

The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels








The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels





Tanya Scholes Foreword by Michael Mondavi





October 2010




Hundreds of Color and Black-and-White Photographs




$45.00




Color photos and illustrations - Wine, Cooking, Design




Pop Culture




9781595800466




8½ x 11




Hardcover

The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels is an illustrated survey of the art and design of contemporary wine labels from approximately 250 international wine producers. The book highlights the graphic designers and artists who have contributed to the progress of wine label design in the modern era.

Author Tanya Scholes reveals the often-unknown connection between what’s in the bottle and what’s on the label. Each wine label included in the book is a performer with an individual story to share, told through its graphic design. Through interviews with the winemakers and designers involved in the creation of each wine label, fascinating, eclectic, inspiring, educational, and sometimes unbelievable stories that have been hidden within each wine label design are uncovered and shared.

The book features full-color wine labels that have been praised for their originality and creativity. Through bold graphics, unique illustrations, beautiful typography, captivating photography, and powerful words and icons, the labels included inThe Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels offer intrigue and entertainment, while adding another layer of conversation to the experience of drinking a fine bottle of wine.

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Tanya Scholes Foreword by Michael Mondavi

Atomic Wedgies, Wet Willies, & Other Acts of Roguery








Atomic Wedgies, Wet Willies, & Other Acts of Roguery





Greg Tananbaum and Dan Martin





April 2005




128




$11.95




Black & White Illustrations Throughout




Humor




209781595800008




5 x 7




softcover

Atomic Wedgies, Wet Willies, & Other Acts of Roguery is your complete guide to the most annoying and embarrassing pranks ever practiced at summer camp, on the playground, or by an older brother or sister on a younger sibling!

Each of the more than 50 illustrated entries includes a definition of the prank, followed by tips for execution and countermeasures to prevent an attack. An exclusive rating scale for each prank is also provided.

Learn the best technique for placing a “kick me” sign on your worst enemy’s (or little brother’s) back, or how to wriggle out of a noogie-giver’s evil clutches!

With its droll tone and tongue-in-cheek advice (sample Pants Yank countermeasure: “Make intelligent clothing and accessory choices, such as belts, button flies, and tight-fitting pants”), Atomic Wedgies, Wet Willies, & Other Acts of Roguery provides “sage” advice for the young and the young at heart.

Includes:
Burp ‘n’ Blow • Rat Tail • Flat Foot • Dutch Oven • Chair Yank • Knuckle Mash • Psyche Shake • Soda Exploda • Warm Water Manicure • Pink Belly • Charley Horse • Spitball • Clap Trap • Mosquito Flick • Book Knock • Nose Tweak • Short Sheet

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Greg Tananbaum and Dan Martin

The Bad Driver’s Handbook : Hundreds of Simple Maneuvers to Frustrate, Annoy, and Endanger Those Around You








The Bad Driver's Handbook : Hundreds of Simple Maneuvers to Frustrate, Annoy, and Endanger Those Around You





Zack Arnstein and Larry Arnstein





August 2005




192




$12.95




Black-and-White Illustrations Throughout




Humor




9781595800046




5 1/2 x 8 1/2




softcover

The Bad Driver’s Handbook is the book the DMV doesn’t want you to read! Zack and Larry Arnstein (The Dog Ate My Resumé) debunk the myths of the “good” and “bad” driver by describing in detail the liberating truths about driving that have long been suppressed. Comical commentary and tongue-in-cheek observations are provided on such topics as:

• Bribes, Threats and Other Secrets to Getting Your License
• Intimidating Pedestrians
• Making Your Car Louder
• Turn Signals: Why Give Up the Element of Surprise?
• Tailgating: How Close Is Not Close Enough?
• Sleeping at the Wheel (Do's & Don'ts)
• Motorcycles: Faster, Cooler, Safer!
• Driving When You Can No Longer See
You’ll also find exhaustive lists of “Did You Knows?” (“Did you know if you get boxed in by other, smaller cars in a parking space, you have a legal right to smash into them, and bash your way free?”); Definitions (Pedestrian: “Annoying obstacle infringing upon your right to drive at the speed you feel most comfortable”); and Safety Tips (“When challenging another driver to a race at a traffic light, be sure to wait until the light has almost turned green before mashing the accelerator to the floor”). Hidden meanings behind ordinary traffic signs are revealed, including the coyly worded No U-turn sign, which actually means look both ways for police officers, and if you don’t see any, go ahead and make the U-turn!

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Zack Arnstein and Larry Arnstein

Blues for Bird








Blues for Bird





Martin Gray





October 2001




288




Music, Biography & Memoir




9781891661204




5 3/8 x 8 3/8




softcover

Blues for Bird is Martin Gray's stunning, one-of-a-kind biography of Charlie Parker. Written entirely in trimeter, Gray's epic biographical poem runs some 5,400 lines. The work chronicles the life of one of the twentieth century's most pivotal musical figures, from his humble beginnings in Kansas City through his pioneering of the breakthrough musical form of "bebop" to his early tragic death in the Park Avenue apartment of a European Countess.

Gray's poetry dances nimbly along in a way that echoes Bird's blazing, fast-fingered solos, and his marvelous use of language reflects the rhythms of jazz and the beat that lies at the heart of bebop. Indeed, Blues for Bird is like a piece of jazz itself: exciting, innovative and constantly surprising.

Blues for Bird not only functions as a primer on Bird, but as an introduction to the musical nature of jazz; it is a welcome addition to the library of any jazz or poetry aficionado.

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Martin Gray

The Brown Agenda : My Mission to Clean Up the World’s Most Life-Threatening Pollution








The Brown Agenda : My Mission to Clean Up the World's Most Life-Threatening Pollution





Richard Fuller with Damon DiMarco





August 2015




288




$24.95




Dozens of Black-and-White Photographs




Reference & Social Sciences




9781595800831




6 x 9




Hardcover

Pollution is the single largest cause of death in the developing world. One in seven people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of it. Simply put, pollution is now the world's most prevalent health risk.

And yet, while most everyone has heard about "going green," few are aware of the more dire and sinister "brown" pollution—places where man-made toxic pollutants have taken root and spread. Brown sites poison millions of people every year, causing needless suffering and death.

After witnessing several brown sites firsthand and meeting families trapped by poverty in these toxic hot spots, environmentalist Richard Fuller founded the Blacksmith Institute, now renamed Pure Earth, a global nonprofit that initiates large-scale cleanups of some of the most polluted places on earth.

The Brown Agenda details Fuller's inspirational journey—from his dangerous yet ultimately successful fight to save hundreds of thousands of acres in the Amazon rain forest, to establishing Great Forest Inc., one of the leading sustainability consultancies in the United States, to his creation of Pure Earth.

To date, Fuller and his Pure Earth team have remediated more than seventy-five toxic sites worldwide, changing the lives of over four million people, including a million children. They are currently working to clean up twenty-four additional toxic sites, which will improve the lives of another three million individuals.

In this vivid account of his perilous travels to the earth's most toxic locations, Fuller introduces readers to the plight of the "poisoned poor," and suggests specific ways people everywhere can help combat pollution all over the world.

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Richard Fuller with Damon DiMarco

The Butt Hello : And Other Ways My Cats Drive Me Crazy








The Butt Hello : And Other Ways My Cats Drive Me Crazy





Ted Meyer





September 2002




96




$9.95




Fully illustrated in 4-color




Humor




9781891661259




6 x 6




softcover

The Butt Hello . . . and other ways my cats drive me crazy is a hilarious and insightful look at our furry friend's often bizarre behavior. Featuring the whimsical illustrations of author Ted Meyer, the book examines a wide range of offbeat feline idiosyncracies and characteristics. Cat lovers—and even those who dislike cats—will gleefully recognize the habits and demeanor that have endeared felines to their owners for ages. Anyone who has ever been the beneficiary of midnight toe attacks, fishy tuna breath, or a "butt hello" will recognize their own surly little furball in this original collection of cat-centric observations.

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Ted Meyer

Café Nation : Coffee Folklore, Magick, and Divination








Café Nation : Coffee Folklore, Magick, and Divination





Sandra Mizumoto Posey





April 2000




224




$9.95




Photos and Illustrations




Pop Culture




9781891661112




5 3/8 x 6




softcover

The frenzied mania for coffee and the increased use of Tarot, Astrology, and other forms of divination shows no signs of abating. Now, Folklorist Sandra Mizumoto Posey brings the ancient traditions of coffee divination and the history, folklore, and cultural impact of this potent berry together in her new book, Café Nation — Coffee Folklore, Magick, and Divination.
Coffee divination is once again enjoying widespread popularity because of the beverage's long-recognized ability to energize. It encourages extended social interaction and sharpens mental acuity. Sufi mystics knew centuries ago that coffee had the ability to aid in meditation and prayer. This heightening of the senses lends itself naturally to promoting creative and intuitive thought. Grounds, bubbles, and the array of symbols traditionally used for divination are keys to understanding ourselves, bypassing overly logic-driven thought to reach deeper instincts.

Café Nation is no dry history tome, no "gee-whiz" business success story, nor yet another cookbook. Filled with traditional and contemporary coffee divination techniques, fascinating coffee lore, droll historical artifacts, and a richly designed text, Café Nation is, like the brew, stimulating, insightful and a catalyst for intuition. In fact, Café Nation is the perfect companion to a cup of coffee itself!

Posey's authoritative writing on the role of practical magick is simple to apply and effective. Posey, who has a Ph.d. in folklore from UCLA and is the creator of the acclaimed Americanfolk.com, Spiritualitea.com, and Cafenation.net web sites, uses a system of divination that, rather than simply replicating ancient methods and meanings, draws upon the history of coffee divination and presents them in an entirely new format more relevant to contemporary life. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again!

More than a book, or web site, Café Nation is a community — of coffee lovers, of book lovers, of those who want to know more about this world, and the other world. A book to savor and refer to again and again, Café Nation will bring robust and deep-flavored reading satisfaction to all.

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Sandra Mizumoto Posey

Calculated Risk : The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Doolittle—Aviation Pioneer and World War II Hero








Calculated Risk : The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Doolittle-Aviation Pioneer and World War II Hero





Jonna Doolittle Hoppes Foreword by Carroll V. Glines Foreword (new) by Richard P. Hallion Afterword (new) by Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson





April 2022




364




$24.95




24 page photo insert




Biography & Memoir




9781595801173




6 x 9




Softcover

Famous for leading the Doolittle (or Tokyo) Raid, America's first strike against Japan in World War II, Jimmy Doolittle led a remarkable life as an American pilot. This firsthand account by his granddaughter Jonna Doolittle Hoppes reveals an extraordinary individual:

• An aviation pioneer who was the first to fly across the United States in less than 24 hours and the first to fly “blind” (using only his plane’s instruments).

• A barnstormer well known for aerobatics and a popular racing pilot who won every major air race at least once.

• Recipient of both the Congressional Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• A four-star general and commander of both the 8th, 12th, and 15th Air Forces.

• A scientist with a doctorate in aeronautical engineering from MIT.

Calculated Risk provides insights into the public and private world of Jimmy Doolittle and his family, and sheds light on the drives and motivation of one of America's most influential and ambitious aviators.

This updated edition contains a new foreword written by Richard P. Hallion, a new afterword written by Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, and a new introduction by author Jonna Doolittle Hoppes.

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Jonna Doolittle Hoppes Foreword by Carroll V. Glines Foreword (new) by Richard P. Hallion Afterword (new) by Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson

Can a Dead Man Strike Out? : Offbeat Baseball Questions and Their Improbable Answers








Can a Dead Man Strike Out? : Offbeat Baseball Questions and Their Improbable Answers





Mark S. Halfon





February 2005




168




$11.95




Photos




Sports




9781891661495




5 1/2 x 8 1/2




softcover

  • Can a pitcher have more shutouts than wins?
  • Was there a game in which only one player reached base?
  • Can a player be traded for himself?
  • Did an American player win a National League batting title?
  • Can a runner be credited with a stolen base and get caught stealing on the same play?

Fascinating vignettes that provide the true accounts behind baseball's most unbelievable circumstances fill this engaging collection of questions and narratives from every period in the history of America's favorite pastime. Unlike standard trivia books, it is the stories behind the answers-and not the answers themselves-that provide the entertaining surprises.

For example, the answer to the question, "Who was the first outfielder to throw out three batters at home plate in one game?" tells the story of "Dummy" Hoy, a deaf mute who had a distinguished 14-year career, and whose disability may have led umpires to use hand and arm gestures when calling balls and strikes.

Baseball historians, statisticians, trivia buffs, die-hard fans, and anyone intrigued by the subtleties of the game will find hours of pleasure in this unique look at our national pastime.

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Mark S. Halfon

Captured! : Inside the World of Celebrity Trials








Captured! : Inside the World of Celebrity Trials





Mona Shafer Edwards





April 2006




184




$24.95




200 Color Illustrations




Pop Culture




9781595800114




11 x 8 1/2




softcover

An Eyewitness to the Most Explosive Trials of the Past 25 Years!

Michael Jackson. McMartin Preschool. Heidi Fleiss. Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez. The Menendez Brothers. Robert Blake. Courtney Love. Winona Ryder. Rodney King. O.J.

Name a high-profile trial over the past 25 years and Mona Shafer Edwards was most likely seated in the courtroom with her markers, pens, and large pad of vellum paper, illustrating the proceedings. Edwards' courtroom illustrations are beautiful pieces of art that capture the most poignant and thrilling moments of major celebrity trials in stunning bursts of color: O.J. stares passively ahead while a large screen image of a bruised and battered Nicole Simpson looms above his shoulder. The Cosby family face their son's murderer, maintaining a stoic front that veils their profound sadness and anger. An extremely tense Lyle and Erik Menendez listen to defense attorney Leslie Abramson, who can be seen in the background gesticulating to the jury in a last ditch attempt to save the brothers' lives.

Captured! not only includes Edwards' brilliant artwork, but her fascinating insider observations on the trials as well. Each case features a recap of all of the highlights and lowlights of the trial, a summary of the verdict, and an overview of both the participant's and the public's reaction to the final decision. While offering the horrific details of the Night Stalker trial, Edwards writes of the pure evil pouring off of Richard Ramirez. She recalls O.J.'s clenched fists as he speaks of "wrassling" with Nicole. The fury of Michael Douglas as he stares down at the woman accused of stalking and plotting to murder wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.

And then there are the lighter moments that Edwards shares with us: Dolly Parton, the defendant in a copyright infringement lawsuit, buys one of Edwards' sketches when they bump into each other in the Ladies' room. Edwards' critique of Winona Ryder's opening day ensemble leads to a change of direction for the defense. The parade of beautiful call girls during the Heidi Fleiss trial. Michael Eisner showing up to court in a suit that still bares tailoring stitches.

Edwards' illustrations are able to capture the essence of a person. Their soul. And this makes her art much more powerful than the photographic images we see on television or in a newspaper or magazine. Included within the pages of Captured! are trials involving:

Jennifer Aniston
Alec Baldwin
Robert Blake
Jim Brown
Ennis Cosby
Snoop Dogg
Clint Eastwood
Farrah Fawcett
Heidi Fleiss
Dustin Hoffman
Michael Jackson
Rodney King
Tommy Lee
Courtney Love
Imelda Marcos
McMartin Pre-School
Menendez Brothers
Dolly Parton
Richard Ramirez
Winona Ryder
O.J. Simpson
Anna Nicole Smith
Steven Spielberg
Catherine Zeta-Jones

and many more!

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Mona Shafer Edwards

Cats Around the World








Cats Around the World





Ted Meyer





September 2003




96




$9.95




Fully illustrated in 4-color




Humor




209781891661341




6 x 6




softcover

Cats Around the World is a hilarious and irreverent look at the quirks and cultural nuances of dozens of countries around the world—all from the point of view of our furry friends. Featuring the whimsical full color illustrations of author Ted Meyer, each entry features a wonderfully rendered cat outfitted in the traditional native dress of the country. On the facing page, fascinating facts about the nation are offered, including: the official language of the country, its location, delightful tidbits about the role of cats in their culture, an illustration of their flag . . . even the translation of the word “cat” in their native tongue! So take a trip around the world with your a one-of-a-kind tour guide—Le Chat!

As demonstrated in his now classic book The Butt Hello: and other ways my cats drive me crazy, author Ted Meyer depicts cats in a startlingly original manner that is both insightful and hilarious. This wonderful book will appeal to a wide audience, without pandering to the reader with the sickeningly sweet humor so often found in books of this genre. Instead, it is smart and funny—witness his take on Spain (Picasso’s Guernica re-imagined from the point of view of a cat).

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Ted Meyer

Childish Things








Childish Things





Davis and Davis





August 2004




96




$19.95




Color photos




Pop Culture




9781891661433




8 x 10




Trade Paper

Those who have managed to save a favorite toy from childhood are aware that a kewpie doll, a teddy bear, or a plastic soldier can be a prodigious storehouse of fond memories. Just as cherished toys recall the joys and warmth of a happy childhood, so lost and abandoned toys retain repressed memories of prepubescent trauma and the deep-seated guilt associated with the playing of forbidden games.While abandoned toys are rejected outright, lost toys represent something evicted from consciousness as in a Freudian slip. Either way, the result is the same: the contents of the childish unconscious at large in the world. As found in parking lots, on sidewalks, or in thrift stores, these toys lack meaningful context and purpose-a situation Davis & Davis try to correct.

For the book Childish Things, Davis & Davis stage darkly humorous mini-psychodramas with abandoned toys on miniature sets; the toys portray the conflicted children who left them behind. A baby falls out of a window while its father rushes to try and catch it; an astronaut's life cord snaps and he floats away from his spaceship; a little boy is stuck atop a teeter-totter; an Eskimo child goes toe-to-toe with a polar bear, unaware of the killer whale looming behind him; a doll standing on a chair lifts her dress to a friendly, phallic worm.

Davis & Davis then photograph these tableaus with a shallow focus that suggests the bleary selectivity of memory. By these means, they hope to achieve for the conflicted, former toy-owners a measure of catharsis by proxy, while offering the reader an exploration of the darker side of humanity which deflates the cherished myth of innocence, and points out that not even children are untainted and sinless.

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Davis and Davis

The Complete History of American Film Criticism








The Complete History of American Film Criticism





Jerry Roberts





February 2010




480




$27.95




Film & TV




6 x 9




Cloth/Hardcover

“If journalism—including film criticism—is evanescent, Jerry Roberts has struck a blow for all of us who have spent our lives writing and talking about movies. I’m sure this impressive, thoughtful book will be a valuable tool for anyone interested in the subject.” —Leonard Maltin“Jerry Roberts has achieved a remarkable feat of research and, in the areas where I have any knowledge, is fair and accurate. Nothing on this scale has ever been accomplished before.” —Roger Ebert

The Complete History of American Film Criticism is a historical overview of the lives and work of the most influential film critics of the past 100 years.

From the first movie review in The New York Times in 1896 through the Silent Era, the pre- and postwar years, the Film Generation of the 1960s, the Golden Age of the 1970s, and into the 21st century, critics have educated generations of discriminating moviegoers on the differences between good films and bad. They call attention to great directors, cinematographers, production designers, screenwriters, and actors, and shed light on their artistic visions and storytelling sensibilities.

Indeed, The Complete History of American Film Criticism honors those who helped establish the notion that film was the 20th century’s most significant art form.

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Jerry Roberts

Conversations with Coach Wooden : On Baseball, Heroes, and Life








Conversations with Coach Wooden : On Baseball, Heroes, and Life





Gary Adams





May 2013




440




$24.95




Sports, Biography, Memoir




9781595800763




Cloth

From legendary basketball coach John Wooden's life lessons and Pyramid of Success philosophy to musings on his favorite sport—baseball—this engaging account chronicles the friendship between Wooden and fellow University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) head coach Gary Adams.For nearly a decade, the two celebrated coaches shared an office and developed a close friendship that lasted thirty-five years, until Wooden's passing. Adams's heartwarming narrative details discussions they shared about heroes, history, life, and their mutual favorite pastime: baseball.

The book also reflects on Wooden's core philosophies and the guiding principles behind his numerous basketball successes, including his election into two halls of fame as a player and a coach, winning ten National College Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in a twelve-year period, and being named NCAA College Basketball Coach of the Year six times.

Recollections from Major League Baseball stars who learned the game under Coach Adams— including Eric Karros, David Roberts, and Chase Utley— are also featured, along with quotes from other athletes, coaches, and associates of UCLA.

 

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Gary Adams

Creepy Crawls : A Horror Fiend’s Travel Guide








Creepy Crawls : A Horror Fiend’s Travel Guide





Leon Marcelo Foreword by Herschell Gordon Lewis





June 2006




384




$16.95




Hundreds of Black-and-White Photos




Travel, Pop Culture




9781595800138




6 x 9




softcover

Author Leon Marcelo lurks with you amongst the foulest of frightfully fiendish horror sites, and offers the name and address of each destination, horror trivia and curiosities, photographs, travel tips, all in an entertainingly ghoulish narrative that is in the jugular vein of beloved horror-host Elvira and the classic horror comic book icon The Crypt Keeper. Creepy Crawls takes the reader on a befouled, worm-ridden journey to:

London’s most loathsome sights
Grim Paris
Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore
H.P. Lovecraft’s New England
Stephen King’s Maine

And visits the despoiled haunts of:
Dawn of the Dead
The Exorcist
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Halloween
The Amityville Horror
Friday the 13th

Creepy Crawls also includes a ghostly guide to the final resting places of such horror legends as Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, and Lon Chaney, as well as a foreword by the one and only Godfather of Gore—Herschell Gordon Lewis, director of such horror classics as Blood Feast and 2,000 Maniacs.

And so you must ask yourself, Creepy Reader: Do you have the guts for some good ghastly and gruesome olde . . . creepy crawls?!?

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Leon Marcelo Foreword by Herschell Gordon Lewis

Destination: Cocktails : The Traveler’s Guide to Superior Libations








Destination: Cocktails : The Traveler's Guide to Superior Libations





James Teitelbaum





September 2012




416




$19.95




Hundreds of Black-and-White Photos




Travel




9781595800725




6 x 9




Trade Paper

The Most Authoritative Guide to the World's Best Craft Cocktails

Featuring hundreds of cocktail bars in dozens of cities across the United States and around the world, Destination: Cocktails is the traveler's guide to the craft cocktail movement. From New York to Los Angeles and London to Tokyo, this book is the ultimate reference to a network of fantastic bars providing their customers with only the best in gourmet beverages.

Destination: Cocktails explores a variety of venues, and features urban lounges, dive bars, and five-star hotels alike. Some locations are brand new, and some have been serving drinks since the 19th century. What do they have in common? They all make quality cocktails, crafted with care, using only the best ingredients.

Within these pages you'll find a curated selection of bars that have maintained a consistent buzz in the cocktail community. These are the places that come up in conversation again and again when talking to the international community of distillers, bartenders, cocktail enthusiasts, and bar owners; they are the establishments that win awards (or, at the very least, should be winning awards).

With drink reviews, insightful interviews with the proprietors and mixologists, fascinating historical trivia, and a bonus recipe section, Destination: Cocktails is an unrivaled reference book for the craft cocktail enthusiast.

Your ultimate cocktail crawl begins here and now — don't forget to send us a postcard!

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James Teitelbaum

Dinner with a Cannibal : The Complete History of Mankind’s Oldest Taboo








Dinner with a Cannibal : The Complete History of Mankind’s Oldest Taboo





Carole A. Travis-Henikoff





March 2008




336




$24.95




Reference & Social Sciences




6 x 9




Hardcover

“A careful and scholarly look at cannibalism, filled with humor, history, and fascinating facts; a totally delectable delight to read.”
—Ralph L. Holloway, professor of anthropology, Columbia University
One of Choice Magazine’s Outstanding Academic Titles of the Year!

Publishers Weekly Starred Review!

Dinner with a Cannibal presents the history of cannibalism in concert with human evolution, taking its readers on an astonishing trip around the world and through history. The work examines its subject from every angle in order to paint the incredible, multifaceted panoply that is the reality of cannibalism.

At the heart of Carolee A. Travis-Henikoff’s book is the question of how cannibalism began with the human species and how it has become an unspeakable taboo today. At a time when science is being battered by religions and failing teaching methods, Dinner with a Cannibal presents slices of multiple sciences in a readable, understandable form nested within a wealth of data.

With history, paleoanthropology, science, gore, sex, murder, war, culinary tidbits, medical facts, and anthropology filling its pages, Dinner with a Cannibal presents both the light and dark side of the human story; the story of how we came to be all the things we are today.

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Carole A. Travis-Henikoff

Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood








Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood





Betsy J. Green





May 2002




288




$14.95




How-To & Reference




9781891661242




5 3/8 x 8 3/8




softcover

Every home has a story to tell! Whether you own an elaborate Victorian, cozy bungalow or cottage, ranch style, or are part of a newer subdivision, your house and property have a unique history that is just waiting to be uncovered.
Part treasure hunt and part jigsaw puzzle, researching the history of your house is a fascinating and rewarding experience. In Discovering the History of Your House . . . and Your Neighborhood, author Betsy J. Green will show you how easy it is to create a cherished legacy for future generations to enjoy. You'll learn about:

  • Beginning your search
  • Finding and contacting former owners of your house
  • Discovering the architect who designed your house
  • Finding the original plans for your house
  • Re-creating long-lost woodwork, porches, even historic landscaping
  • Locating building permits for your house
  • Finding the original price of your house
  • Researching subdivisions and neighborhoods
  • Finding deeds for your house and land
  • Getting information from a deed
  • Finding old photos of your house and neighborhood
  • Using old maps to learn about your neighborhood
  • Discovering your house on a postcard
  • Using vintage architectural magazines
  • Writing up your house history
  • Includes a state-by-state guide to resources

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Betsy J. Green

The Disneyland Book of Lists : Unofficial, Unauthorized and Unprecedented








The Disneyland Book of Lists: Unofficial, Unauthorized and Unprecedented





Chris Strodder





April 2015




360




$16.95




Hundreds of Black-and-White Photos




California




9781595800187




6 x 9




Trade Paper

THE DISNEYLAND BOOK OF LISTS

  1. The Disneyland Book of Lists offers a new way to explore over sixty years of Disneyland history. Nearly 250 fascinating lists feature everything from the park's famous attractions, shops, restaurants, parades, and live shows to the creative artists, designers, characters, and performers that have made Disneyland the world's most beloved theme park.
  2. Inside the pages of this fun- and fact-filled book you will find:
    • 13 of Walt Disney's Disneyland Favorites
    • 33 Remaining Signs and Structures from Disneyland's Past
    • 13 Heart-Thumping Moments in Disneyland's Attractions
    • 47 Disneyland Parades
    • 18 Secrets in the Haunted Mansion
    • 30 Classic Jokes from the Jungle Cruise
    • 80 Celebrity Visitors Between 1955 and the 1980s
    • 26 Special Events at Disneyland You May Not Have Heard Of
    • 13 Movies Inspired by Disneyland's Attractions
    • 15 Urban Legends About Disneyland
    • 69 Famous People Who Worked or Performed at Disneyland
    • 13 World Records Set at Disneyland
  3. In addition to lists created by author Chris Strodder (The Disneyland? Encyclopedia), The Disneyland? Book of Lists includes lists written exclusively for this book by celebrities, Disney Legends, Disneyland experts and historians, and former performers in "The Happiest Place on Earth." Over 175 vintage and contemporary photographs illustrate the lists.
  4. People have been making lists for centuries (think the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, compiled 2,100 years ago), and to this day various top tens, hit parades, and bucket lists chronicle every aspect of our lives. But until now, no book has used lists to categorize and celebrate all the diverse elements in Disneyland. Fun, fascinating, factual, and sixty years in the making, The Disneyland Book of Lists is the only Disneyland book of its kind.

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Chris Strodder

The Dog Ate My Resumé : Survival Tips for Life After College








The Dog Ate My Resumé : Survival Tips for Life After College





Zack Arnstein and Larry Arnstein





April 2004




192




$11.95




Humor




9781891661372




5 1/2 x 8 1/2




Trade Paper

Anyone who has ever graduated from college has faced the daunting question of "What am I going to do with my life?" A fortunate few know exactly what they want to do. Most of us don't have a clue.

In The Dog Ate My Resumé: Survival Tips for Life After College, Zack and Larry Arnstein offer comical commentary and tongue-in-cheek observations on how to:

  • Plunder Resources at Your University
  • Develop a Go-Getter Attitude! (Or at Least Fake One)
  • Be Fashionably Late for Job Interviews
  • Weigh the Pros and Cons of Living at Home! (Contains No Pros)
  • Bring an Abrupt End to Conversations About Your Future

The father-and-son writing team combines the naive lack of experience of a recent college graduate with the out-of-touch irrelevance of an aging graybeard. No, wait! Actually, the book combines the up-to-the-minute hip awareness of a certifiably youthful 23-year-old with the finely tuned wisdom of an experienced old person!

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Zack Arnstein and Larry Arnstein

Dogme Uncut : Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and the Gang That Took on Hollywood








Dogme Uncut : Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and the Gang That Took on Hollywood





Jack Stevenson





September 2003




312




$16.95




Photos




Film & TV




9781891661358




6 x 9




softcover

In 1995, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, the forthcoming Dogville) and three fellow Danish directors swore allegiance to a “vow of chastity” aimed at jolting filmmakers around the world who had become stuck in the mire of slick, emotionally manipulative, high-concept, and bombastic movie productions. They named their philosophy “Dogme95,” and its tenets demanded a return to the basic core of filmmaking: the use of natural lighting and a hand-held camera, and the refusal to use special effects, a soundtrack of any kind (only natural sounds found on location were acceptable), and movie sets (all shooting was to take place on location).

Like the French New Wave and 1960’s American Underground film movements, Dogme had a profound affect on filmmaking around the world, including the sacred cow known as “Hollywood.” In part because of the proliferation of relatively inexpensive digital cameras and technology, the movement resonated with young and independent filmmakers, creating a surge in back-to-the-basics, guerilla filmmaking. It also had a profound influence on everything from Hollywood filmmakers to dance choreographers to computer game manufacturers.

The list of films and filmmakers to come out of the Dogme movement reads like a who’s who of art-house cinema from the late-1990s and early-2000s: the aforementioned Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration), Harmony Korine (Julien Donkey-Boy), Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners), and Susanne Bier (Open Hearts) among many others.

Dogme Uncut is written by film journalist and historian Jack Stevenson, who, while living in Demark for the past decade, has had a true insider’s view of the Dogme movement—from its conception to its early triumphs to its current incarnation. With a good deal of humor and fascinating insights, Stevenson brings a mixture of history, analysis, and reportage to bear on the eight-year-old film movement, examining the subject from multiple perspectives. Dogme’s debt to previous film “waves” is explored, as is the impact Dogme itself has had on current trends in cinema and on today’s young filmmakers. Penned in a lively, accessible, and jargon-free style, Dogme Uncut is a richly illustrated survey of the entire Dogme canon that is both entertaining and hugely informative.

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Jack Stevenson

Educating the Net Generation : How to Engage Students in the 21st Century








Educating the Net Generation : How to Engage Students in the 21st Century





Bob Pletka, Ed.D.





July 2007




192




$16.95




Reference & Social Sciences




9781595800237




6 x 9




Trade Paper

The New Book from the Creator of the Critically Acclaimed My So-Called Digital Life

Educating the Net Generation: How to Engage Students in the 21st Century addresses the national problem of escalating high-school dropout rates and student disengagement, and offers solutions as to how to best involve students of the millennial generation. The book examines the unique characteristics of the Net Generation and explains how the educational expectations and needs of the Net Generation differ from their Gen-X parents and Baby Boomer grandparents. It also looks at why many students resist engaging in formalized education in schools and ultimately drop out.

Chapters featuring student interviews and photographs synthesize the perspectives of current high school students regarding their experiences, beliefs, and thoughts on learning, while a parallel set of parent interviews reveals what parents feel is important in their child’s education and how they would like to see schools engage their children in learning.

Recommendations for changes in school policy and the financial investment critical to turning the situation around are also included, along with an inventory/ checklist for parents, teachers, and school administrators to determine if their individual school environment has what it takes to keep students motivated and engaged.

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Bob Pletka, Ed.D.

Elvis Presley Passed Here : Even More Locations of America’s Pop Culture Landmarks








Elvis Presley Passed Here : Even More Locations of America’s Pop Culture Landmarks





Chris Epting





May 2005




336




$16.95




Black & White Photos Throughout




Travel, Pop Culture




9781595800015




6 x 9




softcover

Visit Even More Sites Where Pop Culture History Was Made!

Elvis Presley Passed Here is amazing portrait of the bizarre, shocking, weird, and wonderful moments that have come to define American popular culture. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed James Dean Died Here and Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here, this third collection of the locations where the most significant events in American popular culture took place offers a fully illustrated encyclopedic look at the most famous—and infamous—pop culture events, providing historical information on more than 600 landmarks as well as their exact locations (including, of course, the Los Angeles park where Elvis Presley and his entourage would organize spirited touch football games against other celebrities).

Chapters and Sample Entries

Americana: The Weird and the Wonderful
“Uncle Sam’s” House • America’s Stonehenge • The First U.F.O. • Girl Scout Cookies • A Tour of Classic Hollywood • The First Traffic Light

Born in the USA
The Birthplaces of: Coca Cola • Television • The Typewriter • Kermit the Frog • The Corn Dog • Baseball • Kindergarten • Famous Restaurants and Retailers

History and Tragedy
Ben Franklin Flies a Kite • Kunta Kinte • George Washington Bids Farewell • Karen Silkwood’s Crash Site • The Titanic’s Dock

Crime
The Cheerleader Murder Plot • Butch Cassidy’s Hole-in-the-Wall • Al Capone Tour • Famous Train Robberies • The Scott Peterson Boat Dock

Celebrity Deaths and Infamous Celebrity Events
Britney Spears’ Pet Store Debacle • Pete Rose Places His Bets • Rob Lowe’s Hotel Romp • Johnny Depp’s Speeding Ticket • Martha Stewart’s Prison Camp

Let There Be Music
Elvis Presley Tour • Jazz Landmarks • REM’s Church • Tin Pan Alley • Bruce Springsteen Walking Tour • Bob Marley’s U.S. Debut • Velvet Underground Tour

Movies and TV
Charlie Chaplin’s Los Angeles • The Goodfellas Nightclub • Sopranos Hotspots • Napoleon Dynamite’s Town • Quentin Tarentino’s Video Store

Art and Literature
Andy Warhol Tour • Tennessee Williams Writes A Streetcar Named Desire • Alfred Steiglitz's First Gallery • Ernest Hemingway’s Birthplace

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Chris Epting

The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool








The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool





Chris Strodder





March 2007




336




$24.95




Hundreds of Black-and-White Photos




Pop Culture




209781595800176




8½ x 11




Trade Paper

Break Out Your Love Beads!

The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool profiles over 250 of the most intriguing personalities of the 1960s. The men and women covered in the book include a wide range of celebrities—from well-known superstars (The Beatles, Dustin Hoffman, Muhammad Ali) to lesser-known icons (Nico, Terry Southern, Bo Belinsky)—who had a significant impact on popular culture. The figures include musicians, actors, directors, artists, athletes, politicians, writers, astronauts . . . . anyone and everyone who made the 1960s the most influential decade of the 20th century!

The biographical entries are divided up by subheads that include: “Takin’ Care of Business” (Elvis’s slogan, here used for a description of their professional careers); “All You Need Is Love” (The Beatles’ song, here used for information on the star’s private/romantic life); and “My Back Pages” (Dylan’s song, here used for relevant notes, quotes, and facts). A “what happened on this day” calendar highlighting landmark events in the lives of those profiled runs throughout the book.

The tone of the writing is affectionate and humorous, which helps to make The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool a celebration of these icon’s lives and achievements. Scandals and drug-related deaths are not ignored but are also not dwelled upon. The memories evoked by the text are generally joyous, an important point for the readers who lived through and remember the sixties affectionately (and who are tired of seeing their favorite stars dragged through the tabloid mud, a la Marilyn and Elvis).

Over 200 vintage photographs and more than 50 sidebars pepper the book, and include of Best Picture winners, great quarterbacks, Playmates of the Year, memorable TV theme songs, favorite toys, Disneyland rides, Wimbledon champions, groovy screen cars, surf stars, Indy 500 winners, cool cartoons, sci-fi classics, Bond girls, “bubblegum” hits, beach-movie cameos, and legendary concerts. A “what happened on this day” calendar highlighting landmark events in the lives of those profiled appears on every page.

Entertaining and enlightening, The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool is truly a celebration of the grooviest people, events, and artifacts of the 1960s.

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Chris Strodder

Exotic Travel Destinations for Families








Exotic Travel Destinations for Families





Jennifer M. Nichols and Bill Nichols





January 2004




312




$16.95




24 Photos; 6 Maps




Travel




9781891661365




6 x 9




softcover

Want to stare eye-to-eye with giant tortoises in the Galapagos? How about rent a luxurious castle in Italy? Or view prolific wildlife on safari in Tanzania? Interested in taking your children to Bora Bora, Cambodia, or Iceland? Exotic Travel Destinations for Families is your passport to exhilarating family travel to 23 exciting countries in six different regions: Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and French Polynesia. Explore the world with first person accounts of parents and their children traveling in harmony and discovering exotic cultures, experiencing eye-opening adventures, and meeting fascinating people from around the globe.

In addition to the humorous and informative first-person stories of families traveling in each of the included countries, Exotic Travel Destinations for Families features everything you need to know to appropriately plan and prepare for your trip: When to go, what to bring, how to get there, and how to get around once you've arrived. Additionally, medical and safety concerns and planning are thoroughly addressed for each destination.

Recommendations for exciting things to do and see, and suggestions for hotels, restaurants, and other travel literature are also included. And there's a section on sending your teens to language immersion courses as well as one on community service in foreign countries. So grab your passports and gather your children . . . and get ready to explore the world!

Jennifer M. Nichols and her husband, Bill, believe in global family travel. In fact, once their children were born they gave each one a three-month respite, then bundled them up to travel across continents and oceans. Now teenagers, these two children have journeyed to 27 countries on 5 continents, and have participated in safaris, animal treks, sports adventures, historical trips, eco-tourism, camping, cruises, hiking, farm holidays, visits to indigenous cultures . . . and just relaxing. These traveling children provided their mother with broad-based experiences of the rigors, challenges, and joys of traveling with children.

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Jennifer M. Nichols and Bill Nichols

Exploring Our Lives : A Writing Handbook for Senior Adults








Exploring Our Lives : A Writing Handbook for Senior Adults





Francis E. Kazemek





September 2002




312




$14.95




Biography & Memoir




209781891661266




6 x 9




softcover

In Exploring Our Lives: A Writing Handbook for Senior Adults, Francis E. Kazemek, M.A., Ph.D., provides step-by-step instructions on how Senior Adults can turn their vast reservoir of memories into fascinating memoirs, fiction, poetry, children's storybooks, and more.

As human beings, we are natural storytellers, and the stories we tell and the memories we write about help us shape and re-shape our lives. They also create cherished legacies for future generations to enjoy. Exploring Our Lives guides readers and shows them how to capture in writing their pasts, presents, and possible futures.

The writing novice who has just retired and now wants to put pen to paper will find the book an invaluable tool, while more experienced Senior writers will discover creative activities and exercises to help expand and improve their writing. Practical tips are included for getting started, generating ideas, working with a first draft, revising, editing, and sharing one's writing with others.

Kazemek has been teaching Senior Adults how to write about their lives for over 20 years; all of the ideas and activities are tried and true and have been successfully used over and over again by Seniors ranging from age 50 to age 93. Actual writing samples from some of Kazemek's students are even included as specific examples throughout the book. With Exploring Our Lives, Kazemek brings his wealth of teaching experience to readers everywhere.

Whether you're looking to write memorable stories for your grandchildren, capture the significant events of your life as a legacy for your family and friends, or simply would like to try your hand at fiction or poetry and aren't sure where to start,Exploring Our Lives is guaranteed to fire up your imagination and put you on the road to creating a legacy for future generations to cherish and enjoy!

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Francis E. Kazemek

Faces of Sunset Boulevard : A Portrait of Los Angeles








Faces of Sunset Boulevard : A Portrait of Los Angeles





Patrick Ecclesine





December 2008




208




$39.95




Color photos




California, Pop Culture




9781595800404




9 x 12




Hardcover

Winner of the 2009 Southern California Independent Bookseller's Award for Best Book in the Glenn Goldman Art & Architecture categoryA Stunning Look at Sunset Boulevard
and the Eclectic People of Los Angeles!

The Top Photography Book of the Year
Shutterbug

One of the 25 Best Holiday Gift Books of the Year
New York Post

A 2009 YALSA (Young Adult Librarian Services Association)
Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles is a collection of photographs of the people who live, work, and play in Los Angeles. Some are making fortunes along the route; others are just trying to survive to see another day. Patrick Ecclesine captures the city’s dreams, dreamers, and, at times, nightmares using the most famous boulevard in the world as the setting for his photographs.

The individuals featured range from the famous (Governor Schwarzenegger, Larry King, Fernando Valenzuela) to the unknown (a street vendor, an undocumented worker, a bus driver) to the unwanted (a homeless man, a single mother on welfare, a drug addict).

Other archetypal Angeleno figures—from a television weather-girl sensation to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to surfers in Pacific Palisades to the eccentric and outlandish denizens of the Sunset Strip—stand side by side in these pages, capturing the eclectic nature of the City of Angels and its most colorful thoroughfare, Sunset Boulevard.

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Patrick Ecclesine

5,000 Reasons to Smile… For Chicks








5,000 Reasons to Smile... For Chicks





Sally DeLellis





June 2005




256




$11.95




Black & White Illustrations Throughout




Humor




9781595800022




4 3/4 x 6 1/2




softcover

Hip Advice to Make the Most of a Busy Lifestyle!

5,000 Reasons to Smile . . . for Chicks is an illustrated list of 5,000 inspirational tips and suggestions that make life so unique and enjoyable for today’s busy woman. This entertaining menu of food for thought compiles aspects of daily life—including people, places, material objects, experiences, and feelings—that encourage chicks to relish their femininity.

Examples include: A great bargain, apartments that take pets, sleeping in, 2-for-1 drink specials, green tea, a sizzling good-night kiss, apple martinis, a well-deserved promotion, Sex and the City DVDs, sending valentines to all of your single friends, a new chick-lit novel, road trips, buying your own condo, Nick and Nora flannel pajamas, buttercream-scented candles, and 400-thread-count sheets.

With today’s hectic lifestyle, women might only have a few moments to steal away and indulge. With 5,000 Reasons to Smile . . . for Chicks, they can open to any page, for any amount of time, and find ideas for inspiration, relaxation, or a reason to simply smile.

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Sally DeLellis

Footsteps in the Fog : Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco








Footsteps in the Fog : Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco





Jeff Kraft and Aaron Leventhal





October 2002




288




$24.95




Hundreds of photos




California, Film, TV




9781891661273




10 7/8 x 8 3/8




softcover

Footsteps in the Fog is a celebration of the San Francisco films of Alfred Hitchcock. The master director's familiarity with Northern California greatly influenced his decision to use Bay Area locations in several of his landmark motion pictures, and more importantly was often the source of inspiration for many of these same cinema classics.Three of Hitchcock's masterpieces were set in the San Francisco area: Shadow of a Doubt, Vertigo, and The Birds. In addition,Rebecca, Suspicion, Marnie, Topaz, Psycho, and Family Plot utilized Bay Area locations and/or were inspired by Northern California events and settings. Footsteps in the Fog examines these famous films, taking the reader on a journey around the Bay Area, while weaving together cinemagraphic intrigue, Bay Area history and lore, and the timeless elegance of San Francisco and its picturesque surroundings.

Over 400 historical and contemporary photos are featured in the book, including impromptu off-camera images and shots from the films themselves—many never before seen!

Footsteps in the Fog can be used as a companion to viewing the Northern California Hitchcock films, as a guide for visiting the sites and settings used in these motion pictures, and as a source of biographical information about Alfred Hitchcock's personal connections to San Francisco and the Bay Area. Hitchcock loved Northern California; he often entertained Hollywood celebrities at his ranch and vineyard outside of Santa Cruz, and frequented such San Francisco institutions as Jack's Restaurant, the Fairmont Hotel, the Top of the Mark, and the historic Bercut Brothers' Grant Market.

Hitchcock fans everywhere will rejoice as they revisit and rediscover the locations and settings used in the great director's most beloved films.

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Jeff Kraft and Aaron Leventhal