"Sherman Garnett argues that Ukraine - for reasons of size, location, diversity, historical relationships, and recent resilience - could play the role of the region's security "keystone." Tracing the country's domestic politics, steps toward economic reform, and foreign-policy decision making toward both Russia and the West, the study dispels widespread misconceptions and reveals the broad stakes in a thriving and stable Ukraine." "Garnett makes the case for a more comprehensive, post-Cold War U.S. and Western approach to both Ukraine and the region - one that looks beyond recent nuclear disarmament success and NATO expansion - and suggests the main elements of such a long-term policy."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Ten-year-old Fritz and his poppa have made a life for themselves in the Bohemian Flats along the river in Minneapolis in 1883, but what they really want is for their family to be whole again. In order to earn money to bring Fritz's momma and sisters from Sweden to America, the determined Fritz sets out to master a new skill, working as the youngest stonemason on the crew building the Stone Arch Bridge across the Mississippi River. Along the way, Fritz, always eager to learn, unlocks secrets of his new homeland, from details of the river's geology and the area's animals to stories of brave stands against slavery and the dangers of flour milling. He befriends Margaret, a Metis girl whose family has called the region home for generations, and meets notable early settler Emily Goodridge Grey. Applying his developing stonecutting skills, he records these many lessons in the keystones of the bridge. Working through the summer, Fritz grows in responsibility and stature. Best of all, soon after the bridge is complete, he is able to show off his handiwork to Momma in person. An interpreter at Mill City Museum for ten years, Carolyn Ruff has owned an art gallery in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, has served as a reading consultant in Minnesota, Japan, and Germany, and celebrates her own Swedish heritage in this, her first book.

Modern structural engineering surprises us with the mastery and certainty with which it plans and carries out daring projects, such as the most recent metal or concrete bridges, whether they be suspension or arch bridges. On the other hand, little is yet known about the state of knowledge of construction science and techniques which, well before the arrival of modern methods based on the mechanics of deformable continua, made it possible in the past to erect the vaulted masonry structures rthat we have inherited. The fact that these have lasted through many centuries to our time, and are still in a fairly good state of conservation, makes them competitive, as far as stability and durability are concerned, with those constructed in other materials. Although it is known that the equilibrium of the arch is guaranteed by any funicular whatsoever of the loads, contained inside the profile of an arch, finding the unique solution is not such a certainty. In other words, the problem of the equilibrium of vaulted structures is 'Poleni's problem', the one for which the Venetian scientist was able to give an exemplary solution on the occasion of the assessment of the dome of St. Peter's. Arch Bridges focuses on the main aspects of the debate about the masonry arch bridge: History of structural mechanics and construction, theoretical models, analysis for assessment, numerical methods, experimental and non-destructive testing, maintenance and repair are the topics of the Conference. The breadth and variety of the contributions presented and discussed by leading experts from many countries make this volume an authoritative source of up-to-date information.

Why does the new girl always wear sunglasses in school?

1.Introduction 2.The Arab Region 3.The origins of architecture 4. Traditional materials for construction 5. Traditional structures 6.Shelter in the Arab Region 7.The planning elements 8.Water and waste management 9.Traditional design strategies 10.Exceptions to the rule 11.Case studies 12.Western vs Eastern ways 13.Appendix.

The classic, bestselling reference on architecture now revised and expanded! An essential one-volume reference of architectural topics using Francis D.K. Ching's signature presentation. It is the only dictionary that provides concise, accurate definitions illustrated with finely detailed, hand-rendered drawings. From Arch to Wood, every concept, technology, material and detail important to architects and designers are presented in Ching's unique style. Combining text and drawing, each term is given a minimum double-page spread on large format trim size, so that the term can be comprehensively explored, graphically showing relations between concepts and sub-terms A comprehensive index permits the reader to locate any important word in the text. This long-awaited revision brings the latest concepts and technology of 21st century architecture, design and construction to this classic reference work It is sure to be by the side of and used by any serious architect or designer, students of architecture, interior designers, and those in construction.