Polished to Perfection


Book Description

"Published in conjunction with the exhibition Polished to Perfection: Japanese Cloisonne from the Collection of Donald K. Gerber and Sueann E. Sherry at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (May 28, 2017-February 4, 2018). This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art"--




The Rest Is Noise


Book Description

Winner of the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism A New York Times Book Review Top Ten Book of the Year Time magazine Top Ten Nonfiction Book of 2007 Newsweek Favorite Books of 2007 A Washington Post Book World Best Book of 2007 In this sweeping and dramatic narrative, Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, weaves together the histories of the twentieth century and its music, from Vienna before the First World War to Paris in the twenties; from Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia to downtown New York in the sixties and seventies up to the present. Taking readers into the labyrinth of modern style, Ross draws revelatory connections between the century's most influential composers and the wider culture. The Rest Is Noise is an astonishing history of the twentieth century as told through its music.




Lives of the Artists


Book Description

In his Lives of the Artists of the Italian Renaissance, Vasari demonstrated a literary talent that outshone even his outstanding abilities as a painter and architect. Through character sketches and anecdotes he depicts Piero di Cosimo shut away in his derelict house, living only to paint; Giulio Romano's startling painting of Jove striking down the giants; and his friend Francesco Salviati, whose biography also tells us much about Vasari's own early career. Vasari's original and soaring vision plus his acute aesthetic judgements have made him one of the most influential art historians of all time.




Polished Game Development


Book Description

Learn the things you need for a complete game, such as translations and tutorials, and improve the things you've already written to raise their standard to a professional level. This is a practical guide covering every discipline: art, music, writing, and code. In the case of the latter, code examples are included to demonstrate how to implement functionality to make the game shine. Polished Game Development acts as a comprehensive checklist of everything your game should, and should not, do, in order to be as good as it possibly can. It is more than just a book on theoretical game design principles. Explains the difference between a pet project, and a professional one. Covers how to test for the problems and bugs you don't know you'll have. Details simple, but effective, visual improvements that can be done with very little effort. Regardless of platform (web, mobile, or console), or language (C++, C#, JavaScript) there is a wealth of common (and specific) tips within these pages that will enable you to make the most professional games you can. What You Will Learn Learn what essential elements are often missed Stay on-brand, visually and verbally Use audio to enhance your game Improve game balance Test effectively Who This Book Is For Game developers looking for a guide and checklist on how to get their game finished to the highest possible standards. They will know how to write a game, and get it released, but not necessarily how to make it shine. They will be professional developers, indies, university students and graduates.




Grammatically Correct


Book Description

How does good writing stand out? If its purpose is to convey facts, findings, or instructions, it need be read only once for its content to be clear. If its purpose is to entertain or to provoke thought, it makes readers want to come back for more. Revised and updated, this guide covers four essential aspects of good writing: • Individual words - spelling variations, hyphenation, frequently confused homonyms, frequently misused words and phrases, irregular plurals and negatives, and uses of capitalization and type style to add special meanings • Punctuation - the role of each mark in achieving clarity and affecting tone, and demonstration of how misuses can lead to ambiguity • Syntax and structure - agreement of subject and verb, parallel construction, modifiers, tenses, pronouns, active versus passive voice, and more • Style - advice on the less hard-and-fast areas of clarity and tone, including sentence length and order, conciseness, simplification, reading level, jargon and clicheÌ s, and subtlety Filled with self-test exercises and whimsical literary quotations, Grammatically Correct steers clear of academic stuffiness, focusing instead on practical strategies and intuitive explanations. Discussions are designed to get to the heart of a concept and provide a sufficient sense of when and how to use it, along with examples that show what ambiguities or misinterpretations might result if the rules are not followed. In cases where there is more than one acceptable way to do something, the approach is not to prescribe one over another but simply to describe the options. Readers of this book will never break the rules of language again - unintentionally.




The Polish 'Few'


Book Description

They came to fight for freedom and their country, they came to fight Germans. Men of the Polish Air Force, who had escaped first to France and then to Britain, to fly alongside the Royal Air Force just as Fighter Command faced its greatest challenge the Battle of Britain.Many of the Polish airmen joined existing RAF squadrons. The Poles also formed their own squadrons, but only four became operational during the Battle of Britain: Nos. 300 and 301, were bomber squadrons, with another two, Nos. 302 and 303, being fighter squadrons. Flying Hawker Hurricanes, both 302 and 303 squadrons were active by the middle of August 1940, just when they were most needed, at the height of the Battle of Britain, with Fighter Command stretched to its limit.The Polish squadrons, battle-hardened from their encounters with the Luftwaffe during the invasion of Poland and Battle of France, soon made their mark. In particular, 303 Squadron become the highest-scoring unit of Fighter Command.In total, 145 Polish pilots, the largest non-British contingent in Fighter Command at the time, fought in the Battle of Britain. While Winston Churchill praised the contribution of the Few, the pilots of many nationalities who had defended Britain, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was more specific: Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle would have been the same.




The Business of Being the Best


Book Description

How the very best get to—and stay at—the top From the arenas of professional sports to the boardrooms of major businesses, a thin slice of peak performers dominates every field. What is their secret to success? Few people know what drives these world-leaders like sports agent Molly Fletcher. Not only has Fletcher herself risen to the top of a tough, male-dominated field—CNN dubbed her "the female Jerry Maguire"—but she has also represented hundreds of successful athletes, coaches, and broadcasters in baseball, golf, basketball, and football. Her experience reveals exactly what it takes to play like "the best." Breaks success into accessible strategies like smart negotiation, likability, and personal brand-building Features interviews with such notables as Home Depot cofounder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, future Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, and football legend Roger Staubach Connects high performance to values by showing how the best give back No matter what you do or what game you play, Fletcher's authoritative and inspirational look at the top 1 percent will help you win.




Polishing Perfection


Book Description

## Polishing Perfection Unlock the art of transforming ordinary materials into extraordinary masterpieces with *Polishing Perfection* – your ultimate guide to mastering tumbling and polishing techniques. From dazzling gemstones to gleaming metal objects and captivating glass items, this meticulously crafted eBook offers a comprehensive journey through every stage of the process. ### Dive Deep into Every Detail - **History Meets Science** Explore the fascinating history and scientific principles behind material smoothing and shining. - **Material Mastery** Whether it’s rocks, metals, or glass, discover how to select and prepare the best materials for your projects. - **Essential Equipment** Navigate the world of tumblers, polishing media, and tools, ensuring you have exactly what you need for success. - **Perfect Workspace Preparation** Learn how to organize your tools, implement crucial safety measures, and manage waste effectively. ### Master the Process - **Step-by-Step Tumbling** Grasp the basics and refine your process with detailed guidance on loading, timing, and troubleshooting. - **Grinding Stages** Understand the nuances of coarse, medium, and fine grinding to achieve the smoothest finishes. - **Final Polishing** Discover the secrets behind achieving that perfect shine and preventing common pitfalls like scratch marks. ### Specialized Techniques - Glass and Metal Polishing Tackle the unique challenges and techniques for tumbling and polishing these tricky materials. - Decorative Finishes Add flair to your work with innovative coloring, patterning, and combination techniques. ### Beyond Basics - **Advanced Techniques** Elevate your craft with multiple tumbles, working with mixed media, and achieving high-gloss finishes. - **Equipment Care** Keep your tools in top shape with essential maintenance and troubleshooting tips. ### Showcase and Share - **Display and Sell** From DIY home décor to jewelry, learn the best ways to showcase and market your creations. - **Projects for All Ages** Engage young minds with fun, educational projects while ensuring safety and encouraging creativity. ### Community and Beyond - **Join and Learn** Connect with clubs, online groups, and explore continuing education opportunities for endless inspiration. ### Troubleshooting and Final Thoughts - **Expert Guidance** Overcome common challenges with a dedicated troubleshooting guide. - **Encouraging Mastery** Reflect on your journey, celebrate your progress, and find joy in the continuous improvement of your craft. Embark on a journey of artistic creation with *Polishing Perfection*. This eBook is your gateway to mastering the techniques that turn raw materials into refined works of art, all while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the craft. Don't miss out on your opportunity to achieve true polishing perfection today!




Modeler's Guide to Realistic Painting & Finishing


Book Description

Perfect for the beginning plastic modeler who wants to learn more advanced techniques, this photo-driven guide includes an introduction to airbrushing and sections on brush painting, spray painting, weathering, and applying finishes.




Dear George, Dear Mary


Book Description

A novel about heiress Mary Philipse's relationship with George Washington, based on historical accounts, letters, and personal journals bynine-time New York Emmy Award-winning journalistMary Calvi. “Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is, therefore, contended that it cannot be resisted.” —George Washington Did unrequited love spark a flame that ignited a cause that became the American Revolution? Never before has this story about George Washington been told. Crafted from hundreds of letters, witness accounts, and journal entries, Dear George, Dear Mary explores George’s relationship with his first love, New York heiress Mary Philipse, the richest belle in Colonial America. From elegant eighteenth-century society to bloody battlefields, the novel creates breathtaking scenes and riveting characters. Dramatic portraits of the two main characters unveil a Washington on the precipice of greatness, using the very words he spoke and wrote, and his ravishing love, whose outward beauty and refinement disguise a complex inner struggle. Dear George, Dear Mary reveals why George Washington had such bitter resentment toward the Brits, established nearly two decades before the American Revolution, and it unveils details of a deception long hidden from the world that led Mary Philipse to be named a traitor, condemned to death and left with nothing. While that may sound like the end, ultimately both Mary and George achieve what they always wanted.