Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2002: The Travel Skills Handbooks for Independent Travelers
by Rick Steves
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (09 November, 2001)
list price: $21.95
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Editorial Review

"The more money you spend, the bigger the wall you build between yourself and the culture you traveled so far to visit. Stay in the small inns, eat in family-style restaurants, visit out-of-the-way places, rub elbows with the locals. You'll spend less money and have a great time in the process."

This is Rick Steves's "back door" travel philosophy. For more than 25 years, he has traveled and led tours around Europe, finding and sharing the joy of simplicity and openness.

Along with tried-and-true tips on packing, transport, sleeping and eating well on a budget, and meeting the locals, Steves reveals more than 30 "back doors" found throughout Europe, from a tiny lake town in Austria to the narrowest gorge in the world, which winds through Crete. If Europe is your destination, this book is more important than your luggage. --Kathryn True ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Terrible description in section on Turkey
"Tourists are learning that the image of the terrible Turk is false, created to a great degree by it unfriendly neighbors. Turks are quick to remind visitors that, surrounded by Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece, they're not living in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood."

This is a direct quote.

It sounds like they're trying to say that the surrounding countries are painting an incorrect negative image of Turkey. Which is amusing, since he listed both Greece and Armenia there, which were both targeted by Turkey. Either this writing staff has no idea what they're writing and is just happy to sell books, thinking no one will double check the info, or they're Racist and opinionated. Either way, I wouldn't trust the info in here even as a rough guide on where to go.

A book for getting the most out of Europe
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door presents a philosophy that many tourists seem to lack:When in Europe, ACT like you're in Europe!This book is aimed towards those travelers that just can't quite seem to ever escape the U.S. no matter where they travel.

Rick presents a whole host of tips for seeing a Europe beyond the standard guided bus tours and airline deals.His years of experience go into his writing, giving often insightful and funny tips from sleeping overnight in the train station (he recommends sleeping in the first-class lounge to be among a higher class of hobo) to the best way to wash your clothes in the hotel sink.

This book is not all about travelers caught in a pinch, however.There's also great advice for finding accomodations in during busy season, picking the right hotel/room, and finally finding those gems--great spots in Europe that no other traveler seems to know about.

This book is not so much a guide to specifics as it is a guide to travel philosophy.Steves encourages the reader to immerse themselves in the local culture, and offers advice for the reader not sure how to do so.

Those looking for a country-specific guidebook should look somewhere else, but they should also keep this book handy to really get a feel for what Europe truly is and was.

Rick is a good travel guide, just not a good WRITER
Rick does an okay job of giving a quick overview of Europe, but sometimes forgets to "just inform" and tries to get all poetic and fancy.His description of Rothenburg does not inform me about the place, just about the wind and the leaves and his acid trip.This book will annoy you with its sporadic bursts of cheap thesaurus prose..Rick is just not a good writer.Otherwise he does a good job of letting you know of not-so-touristy things to do in EU.The types of things he suggests are walking around and smelling things, sitting down and drinking a beer, buying a chunk of cheese and eating it on a park bench while people-watching.I don't see 18-30 year olds getting much from this book.Younger travellers might want to do more than just smell a place and get tipsy.
His writing tone seems biased; he's opinionated and sometimes makes me feel as if he gets paid to advertise shops and attractions.
Buy this book for a general overview of an Euro Trip, not as a travel guide.For more detailed info, grab a Lonely Planet guidebook.
In an effort to cater to ALL audiences, Rick, as well as oher mass market writers, tries to create ONE book for ALL types of people.Any given traveller will be interested in only 15% of this book, and toss the rest aside.The backpacker will use 15%.The high class big baller will use 15%.The middle class two week vacationer might use 10%.I would prefer to pay more for a book JUST FOR ME.(Mr. Backpacker) ... Read more

Isbn: 1566913535
Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2002
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (05 August, 2001)
list price: $44.95
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Editorial Review

Can't fold a map to save your life? No time to make sense of theseemingly endless online map sources, or don't know which ones you can trust?Fear not, road warrior: Microsoft Streets & Trips 2002 does the dirty work.

Installing Streets & Trips is simple, and working from its database of locationsand maps is speedy. The package offers more than 800,000 points of interest. Note that this number includes ATMs, gas stations, hotels, rest areas, colleges,and golf courses, as well as restaurants, museums, and galleries. And while themaps extend to worldwide proportions, you're most likely to find the 6.4 millionmiles of road in the U.S. and Canada the most useful.

One of the newer and more attractive features of the Streets & Trips package isits GPS (global positioning system) capabilities. This requires a GPS device(such as your handheld, a palmtop computer, or a straight GPS device) thatsupports NMEA 2.0 or higher. A free download from the Microsoft site will haveyou ready to store all your trip data in your GPS device of choice.

Getting started is fairly straightforward: simply enter your starting addressand your final destination. Adding side trips and stops along the way is easy,as is reordering your stops. After you've charted your course, you have fiveoptions for printing, including a zoomable map, point-by-point directions, and,of course, mileage between exits. You can also opt for Web output and allow yourfriends and family to chart your course as you progress.

Our favorite feature in this package is the customization capability. To getStreets & Trips to suggest when to stop for gas or a stretch break, simply tellit your preferences. By entering your car's average miles per gallon (in bothcity and highway) and your preferred driving speed, you can elect to include gasbreaks on your itinerary.

Overall, Microsoft Streets & Trips is a good value; we found its directionsreliable and concise. Now if Microsoft only made something to occupy the kids inthe backseat. --Emilie Herbst ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Good, but lacking in some ways
I got this product free with MS Works when I bought a new PC. It sat unused untill recently when I started traveling a lot more and began buying paper maps. Suddenly I realised I had a good solution to my travel woes sitting right in my CD case. I installed it and so began my journey to gorwing to love and hate this product.

Learning to Use Streets and Trips can be a long and twisted road indeed. The interface is intuitive in some ways, but sorely confusing in others. There's no tool for centering/zooming so you need to manually center the map over the portion you want before using the zoom slider to zoom in or out or you'll lose your spot. The routes it gives are pretty good for the most part. Sometimes however it seems to give some odd travel suggestion. I occasionally find myself questioning the accuracy of the roads. On the bright side you can zoom RIGHT in, and see every contour and curve of the roads. This is nice. It even lists exact exits and will very clearly show you your journey down an off ramp, down to the circle and all.Many paper maps just show an exit without really showing you any conceptualization of what you'll be doing. This is good for people less experienced at traveling on interstates or who are going to unfamiliar places with "interesting" road layouts. However ocassionally these details seem a bit off, and when that happens it can be very vexing indeed.

I was disapointed by the shortage of information. I expected microsoft to create an all-inclusive product with a vast database. But sadly S&T 02 is lacking. It doesn't show speed limits, traffic statistics, city/town statistics, or anything like that. Maybe this is asking too much, but knowing where construction or road work is currently being done, or knowing speed limits or statistics could help in planning a more effecient route. Also when you're traveling to the country in winter and you're unfamiliar with the area, it'd be nice to know which roads tend to suffer worst from the elements or deer or well you get the idea. Or how about looking at a city that is on your route and seeing what the population or crime rate is... not vital info, but nice to know.

No, mostly this is about maps and simple directions, a one trick poney. And the route planning and other tools are sometimes complicated to use and many times lack features you wish they had included. I personally found it a little clumsy to use for making very precise routes. You will be able to find travel times and such, but the versatillity is lacking. Ask for directions and it gives you one route. No alternative routes or choices. Sometimes I want the fastest, others the most direct, and sometimes (such as during snow) I want all main roads... but S&T cant differentiate.

lastly... I found the things listed on the maps to be VERY poor. Only a small fraction of resteraunts, businesses, hotels, etc are actually shown!! And it doesnt clearly outline plazas... nor does it show important landmarks... all this is sometimes very helpful in navigating! I was shocked at just how many businesses were NOT shown on these maps. Phone numbers and addresses for those shown are included which is nice, but what good is it when the one you want is non-existant!? Sometimes entire malls are missing from the maps!

In short.. this isnt bad if it's only used for certain purposes. But it lacks in features, completeness, polish, usabilliity and integration of the features it DOES have. If it shows a theater on the map why not link to the website for the movie times for example. Or plan your gas stops for you? I could be expecting too much, but even just as a mapping tool, the occasioanl inaccuracies means you should always have paper maps, and/or use one or more online mapping services in conjunction with this product. It's nice to have this installed on a laptop with you in the car, and if you got it with works or with a new PC then you might as well use it. Other than that... you're probably better off using yahoo or mapquest in conjuction with paper maps and saving your money. Hopefully the newer versions will be imporoved and enhanced... but Ill have to check them out before I ever shell out the money.

Lots of Streets, Lots of False Info
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2002 is a great program with basically every single street in America. It is great for general mapping and finding out addresses and other stuff like that, but when compared to the accuracy of Microsoft Expedia Trip Planner 1998, the reliability begins to fail. Streets and Trips 2002 adds random ramps at interchanges, leaves out forest and picnic areas, and displays many roads that aren't paved as passable to standard vehicles. It's also odd to note that many freeways, which opened up in 2001, were not on Streets and Trips 2002, including a major part of the 210 Freeway extension in southern California around Interstate 15. That's just one example of how the program missed out on updates that should have taken place. I hope 2004 is better; otherwise, I'll just wait until 2005 for an upgrade.

Won't work on my handheld
Even though the product information states that the MIPS processor is supported (but not tested), I could not get this program to load onto my Fujistu Pencentra 130 Handheld PC.I had to send it back to Delorme. ... Read more

Asin: B00005MF7Q
Subjects:  1. Travel Planners (Planning)    2. Route    3. Map Info (Mapinfo)    4. Computer software (programs)    5. Reference    6. Maps (Mapping)   

Braun KF187W FlavorSelect 12-Cup Coffeemaker, White
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $89.99
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Editorial Review

Though only slightly bigger than a quality four-cup coffeemaker, Braun's top-of-the-line FlavorSelect is full of high-tech wizardry and able to turn ground beans into a superior pot of drip coffee. Its most desirable feature for many will be the water filter (it needs replacing after about two months of regular use). The water filter removes chlorine, bad taste, and odors from water before brewing. It also reduces calcification so the machine rarely, if ever, needs to be decalcified. But, for others, the digital clock and timer feature will be a big draw. The brewing cycle covers both small and large quantities and mild or strong coffee. There's even a feature that adjusts the temperature of the hot plate, and another that turns the machine off from zero to four hours after the coffee is brewed. This model comes with a stainless-steel filter screen, which will last years and eliminates the need for paper filters completely. All of these features come in a sleek, simple design that won't take over the kitchen. It does take about 15 minutes to get through the directions, but once you've got them down, this machine might change your mornings. --Maria Dolan

Editor's Choice: Braun's FlavorSelect coffeemaker is our choice for the best coffeemaker under $100, and our choice for best drip coffeemaker without a grinder, regardless of price. It has too many quality functions not to be, starting with the flavor selector, which lets you adjust the coffee to personal preference--no more trying to adjust flavor by putting in different amounts of coffee. It's also very convenient, with both automatic brewing capabilities and automatic hotplate shutoff (meaning that you can tell it to either turn on or turn off when you're not around), and a hotplate temperature control that ranges from 167 degrees to 187 degrees. ... Read more

Features

• Measures 14-1/2 by 7-3/5 by 12-1/4 inches; 1-year warranty
• 12-cup capacity with versatile 1- to 3-cup switch
• Patented water filter reduces chlorine for more flavorful coffee
• Pour a cup midbrew with convenient brew-pause feature
• Automatic shut-off, adjustable temperature control, digital clock and timer

Reviews (121)

Junk Alert: Don't Buy It!
Well, I've just chucked this coffeemaker in the garage can after
a futile attempt to repair it. After a mere year and a half, it leaked like a sinking ship as soon as you poured in water.

They seem to be assembled from the inside out, so I couldn't repair it.

It is very discouraging when highly rated appliances that aren't cheap turn out to be built to fail quickly.

I certainly won't buy another of these!

Flawless operation for over 10 years
I have had perfect coffee for years (I believe 10 yrs.)every day. This unit was made in Germany not Mexico like the current models, maybe that's why it's lasted so long!I like the audio signal when the coffee is finished brewing (also brew light turns green from red). The coffee strength dial really makes a difference in taste. The audio signal also goes off to tell you when the timed keep the coffee hot feature (programable up to 4 hours) turns off. Also the 1 to 3 cup brew feature gives same brew quality as when brewing a full pot.I have a KF187 model.

From Braun-o-philia to Braun-o-phobia
Faithful to Braun since the early '80s, this is probably the last Braun product--certainly the last Braun Coffeemaker--I will own.

The basket is apt to swing out during brewing (what a mess!); too often the paper filter does not stay open (due, I suspect, to how the water is dispensed in the brewing cycle), resulting in a weak brew; the charcoal-filter baskets, effective as they are, are too pricey; the cabinet and reservoir are difficult to clean; and the unit's dated-looking forms, designed for better brewing, do not live up to promise. Plus, the unit always leaks when it is moved.

It is sad that the quality of this once-great brand and its products, since bought by Gillette, has deteriorated so quickly and surely. Basic models of Krups coffeemakers reliably and consistently brew better-tasting coffee. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S9GY
Subjects:  1. Automatic    2. Drip Coffee Machines    3. Coffee Makers    4. (Coffeemakers)   

Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $37.00 -- our price: $24.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

From the renowned company that created the Swiss Army knife acentury ago comes this complete set of tools for campers, hikers,hunters, fishers, and other outdoor lovers--all neatly contained insidea single implement that measures just 3-1/2 inches long. Sheathed inthe famous Swiss Army red plastic, the Huntsman pocket knife is atoolbox small enough to fit into a pocket. (It also comes with a keyring.) A valued companion, this pocket knife contains 14stainless-steel tools and carries a lifetime warranty against defects.The tools include a large knife blade, small knife blade, can opener,small screwdriver, bottle opener, large screwdriver, reamer, sewingeye, plastic toothpick, tweezers, corkscrew, scissors, hook, and woodsaw. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Includes key ring; lifetime warranty against defects
• Contains 14 stainless-steel tools
• Large knife blade, small knife blade, large screwdriver, small screwdriver, corkscrew
• Can opener, bottle opener, reamer, sewing eye, toothpick, tweezers, scissors, hook, wood saw
• Ideal for campers, hikers, hunters, fishers; just 3-1/2 inches long

Reviews (8)

It sucks!
I don't understand why guys here rate this unit 5 stars.
I ordered one. The one I got definitely sucks. Poor built. There are many marks and scratches in the unit. Seems not to be a true Swiss Army or maybe it's a refurbished one. I returned it and amazon charged me the shipping fee!
Anyone has the same problem?

Extraordinary.
This is extraordinary. The pocket knife yes, but also the fact that I am writing a review in praise of it. I'm a thought guy not a thing guy; I review books, typically philosophical ones. But this is a thing fit for a philosopher if ever there was one.

Circumstances have conspired to make me spend some time contemplating my Swiss Army Knife. I recently lost mine. It was a dark day. I've had this knife in my pocket for something like 25 years and use it daily. Yes, a person might get along fine without this knife, but why would they? Here's a quick, although partial, inventory: The saw comes in handy for landscaping and plumbing work (cuts PVC and ABS pipe better than a hack saw does) and for gardening (pruning limbs up to 1.75 inch diameter or more). Two knives, two screw drivers, an awl/punch/drill, a can opener, bottle opener, even a toothpick. The scissors are excellent for personal grooming (trimming finger nails and nose hairs). The steel is highest quality and holds sharp edges for years, even under constant use.
There's simply nothing like it: compact, intensely functional, inexpensive, dependable high quality. It'll be your inanimate buddy; you'll use it at home, at work, in the glorious wilderness, should you be fortunate enough to find yourself there. If you want to endear yourself to some philosopher (or perhaps even an ignorant numbskull), or maybe a guy with a nose hair problem, here's the perfect gift.
Other people probably make a 'similar' product but don't waste your money on a knock-off, wannabe or Johnny-come-lately; this knife is a legend for every good reason. The only potential drawback cannot be blamed on the knife itself -- if you've forgotten it's in your pocket you will have it rudely confiscated before you can board a commercial airliner, this we must blame on a world sadly deficient in good philosophy.
It's a beautiful thing. I found mine a few days after I lost it. My nails are clipped and life is good.

All I can say is, everyone should have one....
Whether you're a guy or a gal, you'll find yourself using it over and over again. These things NEVER wear out. A must-have for everyone's pocket or purse - it's your "micro toolbox." Keep one in the car too - it just might help save your life someday. ... Read more

Asin: B00004YVB6
Subjects:  1. Hand Tools    2. Multi-tools    3. (Swiss Army Knives)    4. (Knife)    5. (Multitools)    6. Camping Accessories   

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (05 December, 2000)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The best soundtracks are like movies for the ears, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? joins the likes of Saturday Night Fever and The Harder They Come as cinematic pinnacles of song. The music from the Coen brothers' Depression-era film taps into the source from which the purest strains of country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and gospel music flow. Producer T Bone Burnett enlists the voices of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and kindred spirits for performances of traditional material, in arrangements that are either a cappella or feature bare-bones accompaniment. Highlights range from the aching purity of Krauss's "Down to the River to Pray" to the plainspoken faith of the Whites' "Keep on the Sunny Side" to Stanley's chillingly plaintive "O Death." The album's spiritual centerpiece finds Krauss, Welch, and Harris harmonizing on "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby," a gospel lullaby that sounds like a chorus of Appalachian angels. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Soundtrack

Reviews (445)

SOME OTHER GREAT ALBUMS
I am a big fan of roots music.This album is a beautiful, captivating record that consistently delivers great music, song after song.If you enjoy this album and are looking for some similar great roots albums then I recommend the following:
1) Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics
2) Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional And Public Domain Songs
3) March 16-20 by Uncle Tupelo
4) Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs Of Stephen Foster
5) Every Sound Below by Tim Eriksen

added intense variety and beauty to my cd collection
first off, don't buy this unless you have seen the movie or unless you are very familiar with the artists on here.I had seen the movie first and enjoyed it a lot, and hearin this music when understanding its context made me appreciate its simple yet rugged excellence.truly, the simplest things are the hardest things to pull off, but this soundtrack does a wonderful job.The only problem I have with it is that the movie version of "i'll fly away," my favorite song when I watched the movie, has been omitted for a slightly weaker version.However the new version is still pretty darn good, so I won't deduct stars for that, especially considering the fact that most movie soundtracks do a terrible job.GET THIS NOW!

Deceived and Disappointed
The Kossoy Sisters version of "I'll Fly Away" was the actual song in this movie. Why they chose the Alison Krauss version for this CD stupefies me to no end. Needless to say, the movie version was far superior. In fact, I felt that this song was one of most uplifting songs I've heard in a long time. Understand that I have nothing against Alison Krauss at all, but I must admit that my jaw dropped when I realized that I'd once again been had by slick music industry con-artists. Beware. ... Read more

Asin: B00004XQ83
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Archaeology Odyssey
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $27.00 -- our price: $13.97
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (1)

You Should Dig This


I've subscribed to this since I first read it.The first issue I saw was number two I think.Like many other issues since, that one was devoted for the most part to a single topic -- in that case the Etruscans -- and was rivetting.I hardly noticed I was on the beach sucking up UV and ice water.This is easily my favorite magazine, and certainly is my all-time favorite magazine about archaeology and history.It blew _Discovering Archaeology_ off the map, despite better distribution for its competitor.

A focus on Bible related archaeology seems to be a problem for some narrow-minded folks when they see BAR._Archaeology Odyssey_ is published by BAR, but isn't "Biblical".... ... Read more

Asin: B000060MJP
Sales Rank: 519
Subjects:  1. History    2. Religion & Spirituality    3. Science   

Longitude : The True Story Lone Genius Who Solved Greatest Scientific Problem his Time
by DavaSobel
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 1996)
list price: $11.95 -- our price: $8.96
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The thorniest scientific problem of the eighteenth century was how to determine longitude.Many thousands of lives had been lost at sea over the centuries due to the inability to determine an east-west position. This is the engrossing story of the clockmaker, John "Longitude" Harrison, who solved the problem that Newton and Galileo had failed to conquer, yet claimed only half the promised rich reward. ... Read more

Reviews (226)

Fascinating
I had never heard of John Harrison or the quest for an accurate measure of longitude before reading this book.I was fascinated that someone virtually unknown to history invented something so meaningful. The author's prose was very engaging, interesting me in Harrison's personal life as well as his professional. The science is written in a way that it doesn't gloss over the facts but makes it understandable for those of us without a scientific mind.She also does a very nice job of explaining the machinations behind Harrison having trouble collecting the prize because he was a watchmaker and not a man of science.

Loved the concept. Disappointed by the book.
The concept is fascinating but the execution is poor.The science didn't carry the book, nor did the story.As a story, it was lacking in writing that conveyed dramatic tension of character development.On the other hand, it failed to compensate by really delving into the science behind the issue. I was very disappointed by what should have been a more compelling story from the perspective of technology and human interest.

Epic tale of achievement and envy
18th-century watchmaker John Harrison solved the longitude aproblem by including a fourth dimension - time - to map the world. He encountered massive opposition from a powerful astromical establishment which regarded mechanical solutions with contempt.

As a non-scientist, I found the book a great read. The first chapter gives background from Ptolemy to Harrison, including the passing of a Longitude Act and the institution of a Longitude Prize, to be determined by a Board. The last two chapters extend beyond Harrison's demise (1776), covering the chronometer's mass production and technological developments.

The intervening material covers disastrous pre-longitude sea voyages, early attempts to map the heavens and calculate lunar distances, and the technology of early clocks.Kudos to Sobel for maintaining intelligibility and excitement.

Despite his achievements, Harrison suffered heartbreaking tribulation at the hands of an envious nemesis, Nevil Maskelyne (himself no mean astronomer) and the obstructive Board of Longitude. They withheld his money, put him and his fragile timepieces to crushing practical trials, and impounded them so that they could copy his ideas.

An epic cast of kings, astronomers, sailors, mathematicians, and a scope of many generations help to make this an inspiring, informative and pragmatic work.


... Read more

Isbn: 0140258795
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Clock and watch makers    3. Earth Sciences - Geography    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. Longitude    7. Measurement    8. Reference    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Science / General