Every year, NPR asks a writer to compose an original story with a Christmas theme. In 2008, Gregory Maguire reinvented the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Little Match Girl" for a new time and new audiences. When it was first translated from Danish and published in England in the mid-nineteenth century, audiences likely interpreted the Little Match Girl′s dying visions of lights and a grandmother in heaven as metaphors of religious salvation. Maguire′s new piece, entitled "Matchless," reilluminates Andersen′s classic, using his storytelling magic to rekindle Andersen′s original intentions, and to suggest transcendence, the permanence of spirit, and the continuity that links the living and the dead.

Matchless was one of the true pioneer motorcycle manufacturers. Their first machine was manufactured in London in 1899, and the company really came to prominence in 1907 with victory in the single-cylinder class of the first Isle of Man TT. Over the next seventy years, Matchless produced many distinguished bikes, from singles to magnificent four-cylinder machines. In 1931 Matchless acquired the ailing AJS concern, and the two companies were merged to form AMC - Associated Motorcycles. From then on Matchless and AJS machines became increasingly similar, and for a long time the machines of each mark were practically identical. Mick Walker's history of this famous marque takes in every machine and also looks at the competition fortunes of the company. Well illustrated with archive photographs, this book is a worthy tribute to this famous London manufacturer.

It is July 1928, and Canada’s first women’s Olympic team — “The Matchless Six” — is heading to Amsterdam, the site of the ninth Olympiad of the modern era. Canada’s finest female track-and-field athletes, having survived rigorous training and the grueling selection process at the Olympic Trials, were determined to take their big talent and big dreams to the top. Meet Jane Bell, Myrtle Cook, Bobbie Rosenfeld, and Ethel Smith, the “Flying Four” who comprised Canada’s first relay team; Ethel Catherwood, the “Saskatoon Lily,” who became the champion high-jumper and the most photographed female athlete at the Olympic Games; and Jean Thompson, the youngest member of the team at seventeen, who became one of the world’s most outstanding middle-distance runners. It was an impressive achievement: “A team of six from Canada, a country of less than ten million, competed against 121 athletes from 21 countries, whose total population was 300 million.” Impressive indeed.For many years, historian Ron Hotchkiss has been fascinated by “The Matchless Six,” the conquering heroines who took Amsterdam by storm. His extensive research has led to this riveting account, full of black-and-white archival photographs, of the events leading up to and following that fateful summer in the history of Canadian sport.

It is July 1928, and Canada’s first women’s Olympic team — “The Matchless Six” — is heading to Amsterdam, the site of the ninth Olympiad of the modern era. Canada’s finest female track-and-field athletes, having survived rigorous training and the grueling selection process at the Olympic Trials, were determined to take their big talent and big dreams to the top. Meet Jane Bell, Myrtle Cook, Bobbie Rosenfeld, and Ethel Smith, the “Flying Four” who comprised Canada’s first relay team; Ethel Catherwood, the “Saskatoon Lily,” who became the champion high-jumper and the most photographed female athlete at the Olympic Games; and Jean Thompson, the youngest member of the team at seventeen, who became one of the world’s most outstanding middle-distance runners. It was an impressive achievement: “A team of six from Canada, a country of less than ten million, competed against 121 athletes from 21 countries, whose total population was 300 million.” Impressive indeed.For many years, historian Ron Hotchkiss has been fascinated by “The Matchless Six,” the conquering heroines who took Amsterdam by storm. His extensive research has led to this riveting account, full of black-and-white archival photographs, of the events leading up to and following that fateful summer in the history of Canadian sport.From the Trade Paperback edition.

This is going to be my personal journal about my preparation and then ride report of my trip by motorcycle to Alaska in June 2011. I hope to share with you how I prepared myself, my gear and my motorcycle. Adventure Rider John Bunce is traveling from his home town in Waterford, Connecticut to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Bunce is a veteran Adventure Rider who completed the TransAmerican Trail in 2009. That's 5000 miles of off road motorcycle riding from Tennessee to the coast of Port Orford, Oregon. Traveling to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska through Canada is not unique, but every adventure rider has a story that develops through the people they meet and the places they go.

BMW Motorcycles

BMW Motorcycles are legandary for innovation, and their choice of fasteners are no exception. Female Torx fasteners are commonplace, and some models even use rare male Torx bolts. Add special wrench and hex key needs, and it becomes clear that a special kit is called for. We've exceeded these needs with the new RoadTech B1 for BMWs, which packs top grade tools and other roadside items into a sturdy roll-up pouch.

Mini Amplifier & Speakers suitable for Motorcycles/Scooters/Boats/Snowmobiles/ATV/Wave Runner Amplifier Frequency Response: 20 Hz-20KHz Built-in 16 BIT Digital to Analog Converter USB Port supports USB Flash Memory for MP3 playback SD/MMC card reader supports up to 4GB SD card for MP3 playback Built-in Digital FM Tuner FM Frequencies: 87.5-108.0 MHz Wired remote control with 6 buttons and pause functions Mounting Brackets for speakers included

BMW began its life in aero-engineering--as anyone who’s ever ridden one of its motorcycles might guess.  These are bikes as close to airborne as any get.  And what’s more, fifty percent of all the motorcycles BMW has manufactured are still flying down the world’s roads.  These are the best, and in this book, the best of the best get their due, with brilliant, full-color photographs of BMW’s classic models and detailed descriptions of their features, all located within the context of a concise history of this legendary marque.  From the first of BMW’s bikes, the R32, through the models that catapulted the company out of the ruins of World War II, to the latest bikes with the revamped opposed-twin-cylinder “boxer” engines that brought BMW its first fame--these are the bikes that made history, and, better yet, gave the most demanding riders a taste for flight.

The Ducati Sport and Super Sport are the most-prized collector motorcycles in the world. For good reason too. Built for racing performance, the cycles are relatively rare, always attract attention and command top prices. This Original-series book focuses on all the bevel-drive sport models from 1972 to 1986, including the 750 Sport, 750SS, 900SS, 900 Darmah SS, Mike Hailwood Replica and the 1000 S2. A short chapter covers the daddy to all these Ducatis, the 750 GT, a highly collectible bike.

Ron Perlman, Michael Biehn, Eric Close. The short-lived series based on the classic Western saga about seven gunslingers paid to take care of a group of thieves. Includes Ghosts of the Confederacy" (1/3/98), Safecracker" (1/24/98), Inmate 78" (3/21/98) and 7 more for a total of 10 episodes on 2 DVDs. 1998/color/7 hrs., 28 min/NR/fullscreen.

Edited by Greg Harrison. From the corkscrews of California to the scenic mountain notches of New England, the AMA Ride Guide to America reveals the enticing backroads that motorcyclists dream about. With maps and point-to-point trip outlines for 36 different trips nationwide, riders can explore rocky shorelines, through sweeping valleys, up to mountain peaks, and across everything in between. A must-have travel book for those who long to take two wheels to the best of the open road Featuring trips from Whitehorse Press authors Clement Salvadori, Marty Berke, Dale Coyner and others, this full-color travel guide includes 40 detailed, topographic road maps to help riders follow the recommended routes and know what kind of terrain they'll encounter along the way. Include are trips in the Pacific Northwest, California, the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest, Texas, the Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic, and New England.

From the corkscrew roads of California to the scenic mountain notches of New England, this second AMA Ride Guide to America from the American Motorcyclist Association reveals more enticing backroads that motorcyclists everywhere dream about. With topographic road maps and point-to-point route outlines for more than 40 different trips nationwide, riders can explore rocky shorelines, breathtaking canyonlands, majestic mountain peaks, and everything in between. Each trip is supplemented with descriptions of attractions along the way and recommendations for interesting places to stay and eat. Included are trips in the Pacific Northwest, California, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, the Midwest, Texas, the Appalachian Mountains, the American South, the mid-Atlantic region, and New England. Like Volume 1, this is a must-have travel book for those riders who long to take two wheels to the best of America's open roads.