Packed with over 120 how-to photos and 130 musical examples. 94 track CD included - hear and play along with every exercise and song. The only book to offer instruction in clawhammer, bluegrass, melodic, single-string, minstrel and classic styles. From Earl Scruggs’ driving bluegrass picking to the genre-busting jazz fusion of Béla Fleck and the multi-million selling movie soundtrack  O Brother Where Are Thou?, the five-string banjo can be heard just about everywhere in American music these days. Banjo For Dummies is the most complete guide to the five-string banjo ever written. It covers everything you need to get into the banjo: including how to choose, tune and care for your instrument, developing a good playing posture, fretting your first chords and getting comfortable with the left and right hand picking patterns used for clawhammer and bluegrass playing techniques. You’ll then add the left hand, spicing up your playing with slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and chokes for an authentic five-string banjo sound. From there, you’ll move on the play 19th century minstrel style, early 20th century classic style as well as try your hand at more advanced examples of bluegrass style. An in-depth chapter on bluegrass music explores Scruggs licks and techniques as well as melodic and single-string styles, with song examples. Also included is a banjo buyer’s guide, a section on music theory as applied to bluegrass and old-time music, an accessories guide (advice on cases, picks, straps,metronomes, computer aids and much more), information on how to find a good teacher, banjo camp or festival, chord charts, bios of twelve influential players, practice tips and much, much more! Banjo For Dummies is accessible and fun to read and it’s easy to locate just what you’re interested in playing. Included are 20 songs including several new compositions written by the author just for this book, including Reno Rag (single-string style), “Winston’s Jig” (Irish three-finger), and “Everyday Breakdown” (Scruggs style). All musical examples are played slowly on the accompanying CD, many with guitar and mandolin accompaniment. Bill Evans is one of the world’s most celebrated banjo players and teachers. He has taught thousands of people to play the five-string banjo in private lessons and group workshops literally all over the world. In addition to leading the Bill Evans String Summit, Bill has performed with Dry Branch Fire Squad, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Tony Trischka and many others and he hosts his own acclaimed banjo camp, the NashCamp Fall Banjo Retreat in the Nashville area. As an American music historian, he has taught at San Francisco State University, the University Virginia and Duke University. He has written a popular instructional column for Banjo Newsletter magazine for the last fifteen years and hosts three popular instructional DVDs for AcuTab Publications. To learn more about Bill, visit his homepage at www.nativeandfine.com.

    This is the story of what happened next. . . . Alpert was taken by a carful of gun-toting thugs looking to use his ATM card, but when they learned his bank balance the plan changed. They took him, blindfolded with his own scarf, to a Brooklyn apartment, with the idea of going to a bank the next day and withdrawing most of his money. But the later it got, the more the plan changed again . . . and again . . . as his captors alternately held guns to his head, threatened his family, engaged him in discussions of "gangsta" philosophy, sought his legal advice, and, once they learned it was his birthday, offered him sexual favors from their prostitute girlfriends as a "birthday present." All the while, Alpert, still blindfolded, talked with them, played on their attitudes and fears, tried to figure out where their mood swings would take them next, and memorized every detail he could in the event that he ever managed to get out of there alive. In the meantime, his friends and law enforcement colleagues, worried that they hadn't heard from him, launched a major police and FBI investigation. It, too, would take many twists and turns before it was done-and some of them would be very strange indeed. Filled with immediacy, drama, and extraordinary characters, told not only from Alpert's memory and notes but from police reports, interviews with NYPD detectives, FBI agents, and witnesses, videotaped confessions, and court records, "The Birthday Party" reads like a thriller-but every word is true.

    In a world where we're constantly bombarded by work and worry, we all need a little boost to our happiness levels now and then.This book of inspiring quotations and simple, easy-to-follow tips provides you with practical advice on thinking positively and achieving a more balanced attitude to life.

    French women believe that the gift for attracting men has nothing to do with beauty, work, or even motivation. There are no Rules. And they don't listen to Dr. Phil's advice. They don't worry about the care and feeding of their boyfriend. And they certainly don't travel to Mars to communicate with men. On the contrary, French women's love lives are romantic, sensual, playful, and intense. They conduct their relationships with the same unique sense of originality and artfulness that they choose their clothes and accessories. For the first time ever, Jamie Cat Callan gives readers a personalized, guided tour through the corridors of French love.Discover the secrets to:Why French women always feel sexyThe French art of flirtationWhy French women walk everywhere and love to be seenWhere French women meet menWhat French women do when their man misbehavesJust as we've learned to stop torturing ourselves with fad diets and have relearned the art of eating, this witty, insightful, and candid book strives to show American women how to cultivate and enjoy the pleasures of love, romance, and marriage. Includes delicious recipes for the perfect, amorous meal! "Adorable!" --Erica Jong, New York Timesbestselling author ofFear of FlyingandFear of Fifty"Attention single ladies: here's a new way to meet men and drive them wild! Jamie Cat Callan reveals sexy French secrets for upping your confidence and attracting potential mates. Your inner goddess will rejoice--and so will your new boyfriend! Ooh la la!" --Bonnie Fuller, former CEO of American Media, former editor-in-chief ofStar Magazine, and author ofThe Joys of Much Too Much: Go for the Big Life--The Great Career, The Perfect Guy, andEverything Else You've Ever Wanted"No matter where you were born, every woman can now be a little bit French, thanks to this delightful book, French Women Don't Sleep Alone. Jamie Cat Callan helps women to look at their love lives and marriages with new eyes;love and marriage are not jobs but arts." --Nahid Rachlin, author ofPersian Girls"Entertaining and informative!" --Helena Firth Powell, author ofAll You Need To Be Impossibly French

    We use these phrases every day and yet have only the vaguest idea of where many of them come from. The origins of hundreds of common phrases are explained in this irreverent journey through the most fascinating and richest regions of the English language. Once you've read one, you'll be diving back in to look up all the others. Red Herrings is full of amazing definitions that take us all over the world, including military traditions and famous people who lent their names to describe familiar situations. From the drop of a hat to the bitter end - you'll never speak English in the same way again.

    In this enticing collection, spanking enthusiast Rachel Kramer Bussel has assembled 22 tales of red-cheeked arousal. Whether being disciplined for naughtiness or simply because they crave the sting of a hand against flesh, the men and women in these stories revel in being bent over, paddled, punished, and possessed by their spankers. Those delivering the blows find extreme pleasure in pushing their bottoms' buttons, making them -- and the reader -- tremble and quiver in anticipation as they await the next smack. Featuring stories by Alison Tyler, Sage Vivant, Stan Kent, Elizabeth Coldwell, Thomas Roche, and others, this sizzling collection offers tales so breathtakingly vivid that readers might find their own cheeks sore just from reading it.

    By removing the fear, worry, and secrecy from the process, Doreen and Radleigh are reintroducing the world to this language of the Divine, without diminishing any of the amazing accuracy and detailed information that tarot is known for.  In this fascinating book, Doreen and Radleigh take you card by card through the journey of The Dreamer in the Major Arcana, fully explaining all of the magical symbolism found throughout tarot. You’ll understand the importance of each suit of the Minor Arcana and its relevance to your daily life, as well as develop a firm grasp of the court cards by getting to know each and every one as if they’re real people. Doreen and Radleigh will give you a clear understanding of the incredible insight into your life and concerns that arises from various card spreads—while also teaching you how to create your own!

    Luckily, the authors of the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series are back with all-new, expert advice designed to help readers fend off the furry, fanged, freaky, and frightful. This classic handbook format is packed with new illustrated instructions for crucial scenarios ranging from the domestic (How to Host a Cocktail Party When Your House is Haunted) to the scary (How to Survive a Zombie Attack in the First Day, First Week, and Long Term) to the practical (How to Break Up with a Vampire).

    The authors have made the book available for free download at Archive of Our Own.Bound and DeterminedWhen Sterling Baker discovers the wonderful world of BDSM, he's ready to literally throw himself at the feet of the spectacular Owen Sawyer, but Owen is unwilling to take on someone so new to the scene—or so he says. Determined to get what he wants, Sterling sets out to convince the doubting Owen that he can be the best sub in the world, the fastest learning, the most obedient.It's not as easy as he thinks it will be, and things get even more complicated when Sterling realizes that he's fallen in love with Owen. With the stakes that much higher, Sterling's more determined than ever to win Owen over. But now he'll have to convince Owen they can have more than a teacher/student relationship, more than just good kink.

    When the right dom is all wrong!Even in a BDSM universe, where everyone is bisexual and identifies as dom or sub, finding the right partner isn’t always easy.Matt is a big star on the hit TV show, Collar Crime, and he’s looking for a dom who ticks all the right boxes, including being as tidy and organized as himself.That definitely isn’t his chaotic co-star, Rick, with his spanking fetish and habit of tying a different sub to his bed every night.When Matt meets the perfect dom he’s swept off his feet, but he soon discovers that being pursued by a handsome, controlling billionaire isn’t the erotic fantasy he’d imagined.Maybe the right dom for him is the one he thought was all wrong...Content advisory: m/m BDSM, one or two glimpses of f/m

    In her second book, How to Give Her Absolute Pleasure, Paget showed men how to please the woman they adore. In this, her third book, Paget shows both sexes how to bring each other to unimaginable heights of sexual excitement—together.In her first two books, Paget has proven herself to be not only a source of both the most provocative and useful techniques and technical information about sexuality but also an honest and candid voice that men and women have come to rely on. In her nine years of giving Sexuality Seminars, the questions most commonly posed are about orgasms: "Are simultaneous orgasms really possible?" "What can I do if I've never had an orgasm?" "Do only certain types of orgasms 'count'?" In The Big O she answers these questions by debunking the myths and demystifying the questions and confusion surrounding orgasms that can wreak havoc on your sex life, your relationship, or your self-esteem.In The Big O Paget provides the most essential and cutting-edge information that will explain and show—with explicit step-by-step instructions—all you want to know about having an orgasm and giving one, including:—The ten different ways that women and the seven different ways men are known to orgasm—Tips on how to control the timing and frequency of orgasms —Exercises to increase your body's sensitivity and suggestions for women who have never experienced an orgasm to explore and practice privately—The real scoop on aphrodisiacs and other orgasm enhancers—Emotional enhancers and inhibitors: the psychology of orgasms—Physical obstacles to orgasms, including medications, diet, alcohol, and recreational drugs—Historical and hysterical facts about orgasms—The Kama Lou-Tra: Lou's own look at Tantric sex and the spiritual side of orgasmsEach chapter contains elucidating and entertaining anecdotes based on research and interviews with thousands of men and women that show readers how the techniques work and what obstacles to avoid.The Big O is a book for men and women of all ages—from the time you want to start experiencing the crscendo of an orgasm to the time in your life when having one might not be such an easy feat. With her signature style of fresh information and clear detail, Paget shows you and your partner how to have and give more pleasure than you ever thought possible.

    Whatever your own dating nightmares are, take it from the professionals, things can get worse. Just in time for Valentine's Day, here are dozens of scenarios covering every phase of the romantic—or not so romantic—turn of events. Learn how to remove stubborn articles of clothing, slip away from a blind date, and get rid of unsightly stains. Discover the secrets of dealing with a bad kisser and of surviving a meeting with your date's parents. Hands-on, step-by-step illustrated instructions help guide you through these and many more perils d'amor. Tasteful and useful, and with an appendix of great pickup lines, breakup lines, and all-purpose excuses, this is the book you need when you wake up next to someone whose name you can't remember.

    This is Wolfe’s ultimate master class, in which he shares the most important insights and techniques learned in four decades of award-winning photography. Along with co-author Rob Sheppard, Wolfe challenges us to stop focusing on subjects we feel we should photograph and instead, to “see like a camera sees,” seek out a personal point of view, and construct stunning, meaningful images. You’ll also learn how to:·      Reexamine prejudices that define (and limit) what you photograph·      See beyond the subject to let light and shadow lead you to the right image·      Find inspiration, including the story behind Wolfe's own photographic journey.·      Use formal art principles to build more compelling images.·      Choose the right camera and lens for the image you see in your mind's eye.·      Recognize the 10 deadly sins of composition—and how to avoid them.·      …and even get a behind-the-lens look at Wolfe’s equipment and workflow.From the Trade Paperback edition.

    In a clear and concise style, with pictures of each crystal, the author describes the characteristics and healing functions of each crystal.

    It's full of practical, definitive advice on the basics -- the day-to-day necessities like finding a bra that fits, balancing a checkbook, making a decent cup of coffee, and hemming a pair of pants. Modern Girl guru Jane Buckingham includes loads of savvy counsel to help us feel more refined, in charge, and together as we navigate the rocky terrain that is twenty-first-century womanhood.