Amazon.com
It's hard to fall in love with an earnest, appealing young hero like Harry Potter and then to watch helplessly as he steps into terrible danger! And in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the much anticipated sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he is in terrible danger indeed. As if it's not bad enough that after a long summer with the horrid Dursleys he is thwarted in his attempts to hop the train to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his second year. But when his only transportation option is a magical flying car, it is just his luck to crash into a valuable (but clearly vexed) Whomping Willow. Still, all this seems like a day in the park compared to what happens that fall within the haunted halls of Hogwarts.
Chilling, malevolent voices whisper from the walls only to Harry, and it seems certain that his classmate Draco Malfoy is out to get him. Soon it's not just Harry who is worried about survival, as dreadful things begin to happen at Hogwarts. The mysteriously gleaming, foot-high words on the wall proclaim, "The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." But what exactly does it mean? Harry, Hermione, and Ron do everything that is wizardly possible--including risking their own lives--to solve this 50-year-old, seemingly deadly mystery. This deliciously suspenseful novel is every bit as gripping, imaginative, and creepy as the first; familiar student concerns--fierce rivalry, blush-inducing crushes, pedantic professors--seamlessly intertwine with the bizarre, horrific, fantastical, or just plain funny. Once again, Rowling writes with a combination of wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre that will leave readers young and old desperate for the next installment. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
What makes the Harry Potter series so successful? Maybe it's the fact that J.K. Rowling doesn't write children's books, she writes children's stories, more in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm than Dr. Seuss. The exploits of Harry and his friends captivate even the shortest attention spans by engaging the imagination with vivid characters and fast-moving action, instead of trying to merely catch the eye with colorful pictures or pop-up effects. Not surprisingly, the Potter tales sound wonderful read aloud, and adapt to the audiobook format extremely well. Broadway actor Jim Dale's impressive vocal range gives each character in the book its own distinctive voice--a considerable task, given the pantheon of witches, warlocks, ghosts, ghouls, dwarves, and elves that Harry encounters in his second outing. And thankfully, since the book is read unabridged, no one's favorite character is omitted. Engaging for children without being childish, the audio version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is worthy addition to the deservedly popular series. (Running time: 9 hours, 6 cassettes) --Andrew Nieland
Book Description
In one of the most hotly anticipated sequels in memory, J.K. Rowling takes up where she left with Harry's second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Old friends and new torments abound, including a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, an outrageously conceited professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, and a mysterious force that turns Hogwarts students to stone.
Customer Reviews:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets........2007-10-06
Hubby is very happy to listen to the books on CD; being a truck driver it helps him pass the times as the miles melt away. He now gets to enjoy what the rest of us have read. He will be listening to books 4 and 5 on his next trip out.
Harry Potter and the Excellent Set Up for the Future.......2007-10-02
I'm gonna be honest.
I didn't like this book as much when I first read it.
However, after finishing the seventh book, I have found a new respect for this chapter in the Harry Potter series. The Horcruxes become such a large part of the series that, having completed the journey, it is hard to not like this book as much as the others.
This is the chapter in the Harry Potter book series that really sets up everything from Ginny to Horcruxes, and it is truly a great chapter in the series. If you don't dig it as much initially, finish the series. You'll know what I mean.
Happy.......2007-09-26
I was very happy with the product and received it according to what I was told. This was the first time I ordered a book from Amazon, and it was easy and quick.
Another winner!.......2007-09-26
The next installment in the series is as wonderful as the first. Keep em' coming! More adventures and magical fun. Great read! I can't wait for Harry and his friend's 3rd year!
Poltergeists, Headless Hunts and Grumbling Gnomes.......2007-09-26
It is obvious from the very beginning why children are so enthralled with the Harry Potter books. J.K. Rowling has the most vivid and wonderful imagination and has created a world of pure fantasy that any child who ever dreamed of putting a spell on the school bully would love to visit. In this second entry of the series all of the fantasy of the first book returns along with a house elf, a flying car, a whomping willow tree, a deathday party for a ghost and a diary that writes back. Even more impressive than this author's imagination though is her writing ability. Despite the fact that this is purely fiction it is written in such a brilliant manner so as to make it seem like the author was really there and has come back to our dull world to take us all back with her to this enchanted place called Hogwarts.
What is not so obvious at first however is why so many adults have become such die hard Harry Potter fans. As I read this book though an idea came to me and now I think I understand a least part of the attraction so many adults feel for these books. With her wonderful writing style the author brings this story to life in such a vivid way that it takes many adults back to their school days. We are able to identify with Harry, Ron and Hermione as they attend classes and do homework. We can relate to the fun and comradeship that these children have with their classmates and it brings back fond memories of our own childhood. Most all of us had one or two very best friends and we understand the bond between Harry, Ron and Hermione. Most all of us had teachers like Snape who were ill tempered and went out of their way to catch us at something. Most all of us did at least a few things that we didn't want to get caught doing and finally most all of us had our little crushes like the one Ron's little sister has on Harry. For adults this book is not only a fantastic voyage into a world of fantasy but it is also a trip back in time.
There isn't much that can be said about the plot of this book without giving too much away but the basic premise of the story revolves around an old Hogwarts legend. Supposedly one of the four founders of Hogwarts only wanted the school to be open to pure bloods and when he lost that fight he left the school but he left behind a hidden chamber that could someday be opened by his heir unleashing a terrible curse on the students not of pure magic bloodlines. Well the old legend seems to be coming true and once again Harry and his brave comrades are caught right in the middle of the situation and Harry is even accused of being the one who opened the chamber.
This book contains several cleaver scenes that were left out of the movie including the fantastic sight of the Weasley's garden gnomes. If you have seen the movie don't think that you have the whole story. You should really read this book and believe me, it is such a wonderful book that you will finish it in no time.
Average customer rating:
- The Bible of the Field
- If you love rocket propulsion you must get this book
- Rocket Scientists Use It Too
- Fantastic resource
- A Must-Have Textbook for every Aerospace Engineer
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Rocket Propulsion Elements, 7th Edition
George P. Sutton , and
Oscar Biblarz
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Fundamentals of Astrodynamics
ASIN: 0471326429 |
Book Description
Aerospace Engineering/Mechanical Engineering
The definitive text on rocket propulsion-now completely revised to reflect rapid advancements in the field
For more than fifty years, this seminal text has been regarded as the single most authoritative sourcebook on rocket propulsion technology. More comprehensive and coherently organized than any other book on the subject, Rocket Propulsion Elements guides readers evenhandedly through the complex factors that shape propulsion, with both theory and practical design considerations.
With more than a third of the text and illustrations either completely new or extensively revised, this latest edition includes current information on engine structures, nozzle theory, gas properties, thrust chambers, launch vehicles, and more. With a detailed table of contents breaking down each chapter into subsections-as well as an expanded index of key words-the Seventh Edition efficiently steers readers quickly to the information they need. Other highlights include:
* Separate chapters on liquid, solid, and hybrid propulsion systems and a new chapter on thrust chambers including the new aerospike nozzle
* Comprehensive coverage of rocket propulsion technology, with applications to space flight, satellite flight, and guided and unguided missiles
* Problem-solving examples and exercises relevant to actual design situations
* More than 340 illustrations, including photographs, tables, and graphs
* Coherent, up-to-date chapter on electrical propulsion balancing fundamentals with practical aspects and applications
For professional engineers in the aerospace and defense industries as well as undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical and aerospace engineering, this time-honored resource is indispensable for its scope of coverage and utility.
Customer Reviews:
The Bible of the Field.......2007-03-24
When as a young physicist I started working on rocket nozzle design most of the material in this book had to be dug up from a paper here, a book there, or else it simply wasn't known. Now here's everything you need to know in a couple of chapters. And besides nozzle design, here in information on virtually every aspect of rockets from the design to the propellents, from concepts to testing. Most of the book is on conventional liquid or solid fuel chemical rockets, because that's where most of the action is today. There is a new chapter (from my older edition) on electrical propulsion.
The book is suitable for use as a textbook for either a one or two term course, or as an introductory book to an engineer now moving into the field, or as a reference book for the experienced. It is especially good to use when you need to come up to speed on some area of the business where you don't normally work.
The one weakness of the book is the lack of discussion on computers either in terms of engine control systems or of the design software that is avaiable. Next revision I guess.
If you love rocket propulsion you must get this book.......2007-01-19
I have loved rocket propulsion in all its forms (real and imagined) since I was following the Apollo 11 mission on television. This book will help you with every aspect of rocketry whether for direct professional relevance, hobbyist development or whether you dream with many of us of solving the problems that will allow us (as so eloquently put by the late Carl Sagan) to "dip our toes in the cosmic ocean". I believe we must swim between the stars and the nuts and bolts foundations for doing it are in this book. Go get it. Lets do it.
Rocket Scientists Use It Too.......2006-11-17
I started work with a rocket design group fresh out of a MS in mechanical engineering. One of the first things everybody told me was to pick up a copy of Sutton. It's a good thing I did, because I immediately started referring to it for just about every project I worked. After just a few months it became a dog eared, marked, and well used reference.
It's a few years later now, and I don't work with rockets full time any more. I've forgotten enough of the details that today when I was explaining a bit of rocketry to a coworker, out came Sutton again. It's still a great book.
Fantastic resource.......2006-02-20
This was a required test for a rocket propulsion class, but it has become an invaluable resource for many classes. Purchased for at least 20% less than other outlets.
A Must-Have Textbook for every Aerospace Engineer.......2004-03-27
This is the single best book on rocket propulsion systems, covering both liquid and solid rocket engines, hybrid rocket systems, and a dedicated chapter on electric propulsion. The authors include excellent illustrations and graphs to enhance the text, and practical examples which help the reader to grasp the theory. After loaning a copy of this book for over two years from my library, i finally bought it! Definitely recommended to all engineers and scientists who want to expand into the area of rocket propulsion.
Amazon.com
In this updated version of the landmark book on one of the truest contenders for the title of "trial of the century," historian Allen Weinstein shows beyond all reasonable doubt that Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy. The book is meticulously detailed and sharply persuasive. Its cast of intriguing characters include Hiss, who maintained his innocence until his death in 1996, and his accuser Whittaker Chambers, a pair who became respective icons for left- and right-wing politics in America during the Cold War years. J. Edgar Hoover and a young Richard Nixon also play key roles. The best quality of Perjury, however, is the uncommon clarity of Weinstein's prose. The very first paragraph neatly sums up the controversial case:
Once upon a time, when the Cold War was young, a senior editor of Time accused the president of the Carnegie Foundation of having been a Soviet agent. The Time editor made his charge stick, aided by an obscure young Congressman from the House Committee on Un-American Activities, a tough federal prosecutor, and the director the FBI. As a result, the Endowment president spent forty-four months in jail and became a cause celebre; the magazine editor resigned and died a decade later, still obsessed with the case; the prosecutor became a federal judge; the director of the FBI lived to guard the republic against real or imagined enemies for another twenty-five years; and the young Congressman left obscurity behind to become the thirty-seventh President of the United States.
--John J. Miller
Customer Reviews:
Strong Evidence, but Thickly Written .......2006-01-22
This is a reasonably convincing look at the Alger Hiss case. Author Allen Weinstein initially set out to prove Hiss' innocence, but over time his research led him to the opposite conclusion. Weinstein uses much actual testimony, which points towards Hiss' guilt for perjury - and thus of having spied for the Soviets in the 1930's. Readers see that accuser Whitaker Chambers was hardly a sympathetic witness. He was disheveled, dishonest, homosexual, and a confessed traitor. But Chambers' remembrance about Hiss' bird watching and prothonotary warblers was powerful evidence, and it's hard to believe that Hiss would have given away his used automobile to a total stranger. This book doesn't prove Hiss guilty, but it points in that direction.
Sadly, the Hiss case was and remains too much about politics rather than truth. Republicans still use Hiss to attack New Deal liberalism, Yalta, and the patriotism of Democrats. President Reagan even awarded the Medal of Freedom posthumously to Chambers - a confessed traitor! Democrats, for their part, often reflexively defend Hiss without considering the evidence. Sound like O.J. Simpson or Oliver North? Regardless of your politics, this is a fascinating case, although the author's thick writing makes for a slightly laborious read.
This Book is Exceptionally Written, Wonderful.......2006-01-08
This book is so credible, so exhaustively researched, it deserves substantial praise. You would have to be incredibly mean-spirited to smear this book.
The lies presented as facts in the negative reviewers' comments show that the twisted forces Chambers warned about are still very much at work, especially among "elite intellectuals" (just as it was then).
Ignore the deliberate lies that have done so much damage already. The author Weinstein himself was a hard-core leftist sympathizer, but the facts were overwhelming. Kudos to Weinstein for his own redemption.
This book is a fraud.......2005-06-15
It is a great tragedy that ideologically motivated "historians" have managed to "end" the debate on the Hiss case. This tome, which was greated with much media fanfare upon its release, is largely responsible for the current situation. Allen Weinstein's book is only as important as it is because of his credentials and status as an academic. When one ignores the hype and takes an honest look at Weinstein's sources and methods, his whole edifice collapses. "Perjury" is on par with Gerald Posner's disinformation masterpiece on the JFK assassination, "Case Closed," for dishonesty and duplicitousness. A few examples:
-Six of Weinstein's interviewees have stated that Weinstein misquoted them (one can only assume deliberately), turning statements not supportive of Whittaker Chambers into ones that are. One of these interviewees, Sam Kreiger, sued Weinstein. Weinstein and his publisher settled out of court for $17,500 and issued a public apology. An erratum slip was placed in subsequent printings of the book. In the current edition of his book, Weinstein quickly glosses over this incident in a very misleading fashion and leaves the rest of this disputed material unchanged from the original edition.
-Weinstein has backed down on his offer to make his research files available to all interested parties.
-Weinstein misrepresents a defense team memo, making it appear as if Hiss knew the location of the infamous Woodstock typewriter and was trying to cover up. In fact, Hiss offers several posible destinations for a typewriter (the Hiss family had had three up to that point).
-Speaking of the Woodstock, the evidence still demonstrates that it was forged. The serial number #230,099 is inconsistent with the timeframe in which the typewriter was supposed to be manufactured. Ditto with the soldering, which is not consistent with a Woodstock. Discrepencies between the type of #230,099 and the "Baltimore Documents" become plainly apparent when letters are magnified. Typewriter forgery is certainly not impossible, Martin Tytell built a replica of #230,099 and J. Edgar Hoover himself confirms in a memo obtained by Gil Green through FOIA that the FBI has both the ability and the means to forge a typewriter.
-The "Pumpkin Papers" consisted of blank pages and unclassified naval documents regarding the proper color to paint fire extinguishers. Obviously of great importance to the Soviets.
-The Venona cable, No. 1822, touted by Weinstein and others, regarding an agent named Ales appears to not have anything to do with Alger Hiss. Particularly relevant is the fact that Ales dealt in military documents while Alger Hiss was accused by Chambers of turning over State Department documents. A recently surfaced soviet document places Ales in Mexico at a time when Hiss was in Washington. This should persuade most intellectually honest people that Hiss and Ales are not one and the same.
I could go on and on, but I think this should be sufficient. To those still "In Denial," to use Hayne's and Klehr's phrase, I have only one thing to say: The truth actually feels pretty good, give it a chance.
The Truth Ignored.......2004-12-02
This is the most thorough and comprehensive piece of investigative journalism ever published. Weinstein treats the case like an onion, he peels off one layer, then another, then another.... His treatment of when the Hiss typewriter was manufactured would fill a small book in itself. The same is also true of the transfer of Hiss's car to the communist party, the Soviet gift of a carpet to Hiss, the dating of Chambers' microfilm, and so on.
So why didn't Weinstein go on to become another Bob Woodward? Probably because his conclusion that Hiss was, in fact, a communist spy was unacceptable to so many people at that time. This was a great injustice to a man who told the truth and was himself suprised that the facts so heavily vindicated Chambers.
With the publication of Sam Tanenhaus's "Whittaker Chambers: a biography," the truth of Weinstein's conclusion has now been, finally, accepted by most people-even on the left. But why Tanenhaus's book, which contains hardly anything new, should have changed anybody's view seems odd. I suspect that with the passage of time, Tanenhaus's softer tone, and Hiss's death, many Hiss supporters felt the time had come to concede an unpleasant truth.
Master of Deceit.......2003-01-18
At first W. Chambers claimed that Alger Hiss and others were secret Communists whose purpose was to influence policy (from 1939 to November 1948). After being sued for slander Chambers produced 69 documents to support his claim of spying. Chambers earlier stated he was a Communist until "1935", or "early 1937", or "the end of 1937", or "the spring of 1937". The documents were dated between January 5 and April 1 of 1938. Chambers then changed his story to leaving on April 15, 1938. You can judge his veracity by this. Note his memory of wallpaper patterns!
The original State Department files were rated "classified" to "secret". Most consisted of trade agreements, which were of commercial, not political, importance. When Chambers learned that Alger Hiss could not type, he then claimed Priscilla did it! (Did writer and translator Chambers ASSUME that other men had this skill?) The most telling fact about these documents is that most had never been routed through sections where either Alger or Donald Hiss had worked! This discrepancy has never been explained. When the contents of the three rolls of microfilm were released in 1975, they were found to be Navy Dept instructions on how to use life rafts, fire extinguishers, and chest parachutes. Where did they come from?
The biggest lie of all is Chamber's claim that the stored documents were a "life preserver". Because they had no value without his testimony to corroborate them! He should have seen a lawyer, made a notarized statement, and left immortal testimony. But then it couldn't be changed to explain new facts.
Customer Reviews:
Heavenly........2007-09-25
A very nice book.
The fiction is simply amazing. I love the way they portray Eric so similar to the Legendary Thor.
Teh concept for this book is amazing, and a tip of the hat to American Gods and Anansi boys.
Thye mechanics are fairly simple, if you've ever played Exalted, or the old WoD games. Weapon selection could be larger, though.
Only thing that could have made this better, would be to introduce more Pantheons. The Hindu gods were visibly absent here.
Not too shabby.......2007-08-23
Scion: Hero is a product that sets out to do something very specific, and it does it pretty well. You won't find advice on how to run an "American Gods" sort of game here, and you won't find a lot of information about the social machinations of the gods, but you will find a good and solid action role-playing game that gets the job done.
There are, obviously, some flaws in this book. For one thing, a lot of pages are spent (wasted is too strong a word) on opening fiction and a starting adventure. While the opening fiction is pretty good, and delivers the theme and mood of the game very tastefully, it is still almost a 40 page opening fiction. And the adventure is too simplistic and boring to be worth around the same amount of pages. Besides that, some rules are missing (throwing rules, for example), and there are several problems with the system that make gaming a little slow (combats take forever, but not because of the Exalted-type system, but because of insane amounts of soak and defense values, which make hurting a character nigh-impossible).
But, otherwise, Scion is a very inspiring game, which sets out to create a mythological action thriller with an infinite budget, and does that part very good.
Scion also showcases excellent production values - it's a gorgeous book, not badly edited, and with solid writing.
If you wanted a modern version of exalted, or a modern mythological action game, this one's for you. Be sure to check out Scion: Demigod, that raises the roof on Scion's power levels and style.
A great start for a new game series.......2007-08-16
This is a roleplaying game designed by the good folks at White Wolf games. The premise is simple: The Titans from ancient mythology have woken up and are getting ready to destroy the world. The players of the game take the roles of 'scions', or children of the Gods, and it's their job to help defend the world from the Titans and their kin.
I've been reading the book 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman. American Gods is about the nervous middleground between modern dark fantasy and ancient mythology. I loved the book and the idea of the setting. I picked up Scion:Hero because I had heard that it created a role playing setting with strong similarites to the Gaiman novel. As I read the intro story to Scion:Hero I thought that this was very much in the style of 'American Gods'. White Wolf has managed to come up with a rare thing... a truly inventive new role playing game with a fresh perspective.
Fun but incomplete.......2007-06-09
I bought this game after seeing the sales pitch for it on the White Wolf website. It's a good game with a medium level of complexity. There are some rules gaffs which hopefully WW will correct quickly. An example being: no chart or rule for how far a character can throw something with superhuman strength. But, the biggest weakness of the game for me, as a GM, was a 30+ page adventure. I would have preferred that space to have been given over to more antagonists for my use and maybe more setting flavor. And it has an awful index.
It's a good game and fun. But far from perfect.
Great idea, bad way of doing it.......2007-06-08
Scion had what i considered to be one of the most interesting ideas for a new game in some time. The idea had my friends and I drooling and we all snatched up copies of the book. Now we made our characters and thought of back stories and such, and that was all well and good.
It was when we got to the combat during play that things started getting annoying. We tried under three different Storytellers running things, and we still would take a good hour to get a combat done. For me, HUGE turn off to a game. One of us insists that we just need to get used to the very Exalted-esque tick system. The rest of us have agreed a different system needs to be used for combat. Whether you use Old World of Darkness or New World of Darkness, i highly recommned AGAINST the included combat methods.
Not only does it take forever for even one turn, let alone a whole combat, but you use HUGE amounts of dice. you can have a brand new character rolling 15 dice WITHOUT using any Willpower or Legend to /punch/ someone. A simple punch. Plus with Epic Attributes you may or may not get some automatic successes thrown in.
White Wolf recommends you get a "tick counter" or make one of your own. Frankly, if Im paying good money for /their/ game it should COME WITH ONE. If you know it should have one, make it! White Wolf makes some of the best and most imaginative games out there, but this one was ruined solely by its combat issues. Again, great game, awesome idea, bad combat. Here's an example of a combat roll. Youre shooting a gun. Dexterity+Firearms. Then if your character has Epic Dexterity 2, you get two free successes. Now, add the weapons Accuracy, 4-6 seems to be average. Now add +1 simply because youre a Scion. Now subtract the targets Dodge Value, which is twice his Defense. If the target is making a Dodge Action, its his DVx 2. Now roll your dice. Add in your 2 successes for Epic Dex 2, and then any 7s,8s,or 9s and 10s count as two successes. Thats just to roll to hit. Im not going to go through a whole turn or youd shoot yourself from boredom.
Rant over.
Book Description
The first book, the definitive book from HIP-HOP'S ORIGINAL DYNASTY
Since the release of the revolutionary Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the Wu-Tang Clan has been hip-hop's leading creative force. Over the course of four seminal group albums and a multitude of ambitious side projects, they have constantly redefined the outer edge of what hip-hop can do and where hip-hop can go. Now, after a decade of dark beats and mysterious lyrics hinting at a larger whole, the legendary Staten Island hip-hop collective fully reveals, for the first time, the complex, multi-layered Wu-Tang Universe.
Spearheaded by the RZA, the "Abbot" of the Clan, The Wu-Tang Manual unravels the intricate web of personalities (and alter egos), warrior codes, numerological systems, and Eastern spiritual ethics that define the Wu-Tang dynasty. Here you'll find the key to Shaolin, to the Nine Rings and to the 36 Chambers, to the eight-point sun and to the rest of the enduring mysteries of Wu-Tang. The Wu-Tang Manual also contains the first official and comprehensive lyrical encyclopedia of the Wu-Tang, complete with musical, technical, and anecdotal analysis and annotation by the Clan.
For the hardcore Wu-Tang disciple and the recent initiate alike, The Wu-Tang Manual is the definitive guide to the essence of Wu.
Customer Reviews:
Wow!.......2007-08-29
I bought this book because I have been an avid fan of the Wu since high school. I had a feeling it would be good but little did I know that it would be in the tops of the bests books I've ever read in my life. If you've ever listened to a Wu song and wondered what this line meant, or what this word means, look no further. Who knew that there was actual rhyme and reason to ever since word picked for their lyrics.
If this is truely only a volume 1 out of many, I can't wait for the others. No matter what level of Wu fan you are, this will double it at least. Get this book.
Not for newcomers.......2007-08-18
The Wu-Tang Clan has been of the primary influences in my life, starting my interest in Hip-Hop music and culture as a youth through adulthood. This book is amazing; however, a novice listener of the Wu will not truly understand this book. A bandwagon listener of the Wu will not truly understand this book. This book is for the true heads, the people that have been intrigued with the sound, slang, style and charisma of the Wu-Tang ever since they first dropped on the music scene. If you're one of these fans, buy this book; you won't be dissapointed. For all you corny,wannabe, Johnny-come-latelys that claim to be a Wu fan and only own The W and Iron Flag, do us all a favor and don't buy this book; it will be a piece of genius that will go to waste collecting dust.
Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game!
The RZA makes another classic!.......2006-11-05
This book is great for all Wu fans! Rza gives an in-depth look into the history of the Wu Tang Clan, its members, its songs and even the philosophies of the clan. This is a must read for anyone interested in the true innovators of the hip-hop game. From being the first rap group to have a clothing line, to the first rappers with a video game - the WU really taught all other rap labels how to stunt and laid a blueprint down for being successful in areas other than just rapping. Get this book to gain insight on the most prolific rap super group ever!
ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING........2006-04-13
The Wu-Tang Manual is akin to all the EU (Expanded Universe) novels, comic books, and publications related to the Star Wars franchise for a hip hop fan of one of the culture's biggest phenomenons ever. The Manual is chock full of EVERYTHING an intellectual listener and avid fan of the Wu would want to know: biographies, lyrics explanations, philosophy, music equipment, and spirituality.
The Wu-Tang started a new sound in hip hop in early '93: gritty, minimalistic, atonal, and lo-fi, all exemplified in the classic debut 'Enter: The Wu-Tang'. From then on, a legend was born: numerous solo albums from all nine members, even including the honorary tenth member Cappadonna, movies, television, touring, guest appearances on other artists' projects, RZA even composed music for the original soundtrack to the Tarantino's two-parter 'Kill Bill'. The Wu-Tang even have their own "Expanded Universe" of branch-off emcees and groups that rivals the amount of material in that of the Star Wars EU (e.g. Cilvaringz, Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Black Knights, Killarmy, etc.). And they're STILL going strong with a slew of new albums already dropping (Ghost's awesome 'Fishscale', Sunz' 'Old Testament', etc.). The Wu-Tang Clan are HIP HOP LEGENDS, and this Manual chronicles the beginning of the movement all the way to the present, even chronicling the events that shaped the life of Robert Diggs (RZA), which would eventually also shape his movement.
To the initiated, [hip hop] heads know the Wu stand for something and they're some pretty deep brothers. RZA quotes everyone from Nietzsche to the Hagakure, a guide of bushido commentaries for the warrior (samurai). Being heavily into philosophy myself, I was really intrigued and exhilerated to read what some of the artist's actually meant behind some of their poetic verses. I saw this book at a mom 'n' pop store (Hasting's) in San Marcos and absolutely fell in love with it.
If you're into hip hop, you're more than likely a fan of the Wu as well, and if you are, YOU NEED THIS BOOK -- become more intimately knowledgeable of the legendary Clan and everything they stand for and how they came to be. "CLAN IN THE FRONT!"
Must Have.......2006-04-05
If you're a Wu-Tang fan, you must buy this book. I think they could go deeper in few subjects, but it is good enough for the first book.
Book Description
Here is a thorough and authoritative guide to the latest version of the S language and to its programming environment, the premier software platform for computing with data.
Programming with Data describes a new and greatly extended version of S, and is written by the chief designer of the language. The book is a guide to the complete programming process, starting from simple, interactive use and continuing through ambitious software projects.
S is designed for computing with data - for any project in which organizing, visualizing, summarizing, or modeling data is a central concern. Its focus is on the needs of the programmer/user, and its goal is "to turn ideas into software, quickly and faithfully." S is a functional, object-based language with a huge library of functions for all aspects of computing with data. Its long and enthusiastic use in statistics and applied fields has also led to many valuable libraries of user-written functions.
The new version of S provides a powerful class/method structure, new techniques to deal with large objects, extended interfaces to other languages and files, object-based documentation compatible with HTML, and powerful new interactive programming techniques. This version of S underlies the S-Plus system, versions 5.0 and higher.
John Chambers has been a member of the technical staff in research at Bell Laboratories since 1966. In 1977, he became the first statistician to be named a Bell Labs Fellow, cited for "pioneering contributions to the field of statistical computing." His research has touched on nearly all aspects of computing with data, but he is best known for the design of the S language. He is the author or co-author of seven books on S, on computational methods, and on graphical methods; and he is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Customer Reviews:
Definitive book on S language.......2005-02-16
This book was originally published in 1998 by MathSoft, and now with more demand I'm glad that it will be redistributed by Springer. As co-developer of the orginal S language, John Chambers new book is supposed to provide the most authorative reference on defining new, object-oriented (OOP)-style S for the current version of S-PLUS, and R. I think it may not have reached its full promise yet, partly, maybe because of its terse style and not-so-easy read for beginners. I have to admit myself I have ignored of it for quite a while until recently when I see its full power realized in the now fast developing R project, particularly Bioconductor project. I think it may be a dream work for software developers to have such a flexible and extensible computing environment in R and S so that much involved data objects and methods can be built so easily for many complex data mining and bioinformatics tasks. I think a big benefit of the open source approach to software developments is to enable researchers to reach quickly to users and to deliver the final promised land for collaboration and sharing of ideas and data. I think John Chambers truly deserves all the credit he gets for this work and for inspiring the R project, which is now beginning to gain widespread acceptance by the data mining and bioinformatic research communities.
A good tutorial on the S programming language........1999-10-27
This is the first book I've found that approaches the S programming language as more than an inconvenient detail that you have to learn to get to the cool statistics functions in "S-Plus." It's much more accessible than most of the books on S or S-Plus for people who aren't actually statisticians, but need to use the language for some reason.
Customer Reviews:
Process control change.......2006-01-31
Based on this book, we are changing all our process control. It has gained our CEO's trust.
SPC at its Pure and Original Dogma.......2004-12-23
This book is for all practicing professional on SPC and an eye-opener for the novice. It highlights many important topics specially the four state of a process model and shows how the process behaviour chart ( a.k.a control chart)can help in reaching the ideal state. The correct and wrong way of doing the calculation for the establishment of the control limits is also discussed and clarified and much more . This is a must to have for all who wants to go through their personal path to SPC . Buy this Book !
The best book to learn SPC.......2004-07-31
SPC is a widely MISUSED and OVERused term in the manufacturing world. It is amazing how many myths and misunderstandings exist and are accepted as rules of thumb. Understanding Statistical Process Control explains the foundations of Shewhart's control charts in depth, tying up its usage in real world. This is the simplest, most accurate guide for learning and applying SPC. Wheeler carefully separates the facts from fiction. His examples and excercises give reader a chance to see how control charts should be used in real world.
Conclusion: BUY IT
Recommended read for beginners and experienced practitioners.......2004-02-25
The book is well written, the examples illustrate the concepts in a nice way. Readers new to Statistics ought to read about basic concepts of Statistics from other texts that deal with the subject on a simpler level, then read this book.
Certain topics are not included although they are relevant in today's business context - for instance, Lean, and Mass Customization have resulted in many processes being changed around to small lot sizes. This requires the use of Short Run SPC, and it is covered in a separate book.
I keep the book handy as a ready reference, and also recommend it on a regular basis.
Explains the SPC philosophy extremely well!.......2001-10-12
This book starts with a extremely well explained chapter on the philosophy of control charts. This is really the most important part of the book. Other topics about rational subgrouping and myths are also very well covered. The book deals with interesting examples which should be a little bit more up-to-date. Presenting control charts on mm-paper is outdated in this computer era.
Book Description
Tired of being tethered to your desktop computer? If you're ready to break free with a laptop, the new MacBook could be just what you're looking for. In addition to the freedom to work wherever you happen to be, a MacBook offers you
- A portable darkroom with iPhoto
- Mobile music, podcasts, and Internet radio
- GarageBand software that lets you make your own music
- The ability to create and share original movies and DVDs
- Safari, a safer and ultra-cool Web browser, and all the other OS X advantages
Whether you already have your new MacBook or are still weighing the pros and cons of various models, MacBook For Dummies is a valuable resource. For newcomers to laptop land, it’s packed with basic information about using and caring for Mac laptops. It also walks you through Mac OS X, the revolutionary Macintosh operating system that makes your laptop tick. Then it's on to all the fun stuff you can do with your MacBook, like making music, editing photos and turning them into a book, creating DVDs on the road, or adding a wireless keyboard. MacBook For Dummies will help you
- Set up your MacBook and get acquainted with all the features of the Mac OS X Tiger operating system
- Use the Safari Web browser and Apple's .Mac Internet subscriber service, connect your MacBook to a printer, and communicate with your cell phone or PDA
- Connect to a wired or wireless network
- Make the most of the iLife applications that come with your MacBook—iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, and GarageBand
- Keep your MacBook and your data safe, troubleshoot any problems, and maintain your system
Popular For Dummies author Mark Chambers has loaded this fun book with tips, ideas, and his famous "Mark's Maxims"—power user advice that will guide you around the pitfalls and make you a Macxpert in no time. From latptop basics all the way to upgrading and adding memory, MacBook For Dummies will be your MacBook's best friend.
Customer Reviews:
MacBook for Dummies.......2007-08-17
I think the book is a good summary of the technical aspects of use of the MacBook. It would have been more helpful to me if more specific discussions of the Intel duo core aspects of the MacBook Pro had been included. Apparently the work had been written before the MacBook Pro version was issued. On the whole I am satisfied with the book and its mode of presentation, in any case.
Jfelix.......2007-05-20
Great book, It would be nice to have bought a more up to date version, barley covers anyhing on I chat, other than that it really helps out if your a beginner. Not as huge as most help you mac books out there. Easy refrence guide to get you the info you need.
good for laptops.......2007-05-12
i thought this was for a desktop but it's for a laptop.the information is still useful and it makes a great reference book.
MacBook for Dummies.......2007-03-13
It has a lot of wonderful tips that make using the MacBook very easy. I use it for reference if there is something I want to do, but cannot figure out how to do it, I find the right chapter and I am off and running.
MacBook For Dummies.......2007-02-06
I got into computers a little late in life at age fifty-seven, and had only been exposed to a PC. Seven years later I was given a MacBook and was totaly lost. This book came to the rescue.I'm still no expert, but I'm in no hurry. I'm happy with this book and, now with my MacBook. Bye Bye PC. I would have given the book five stars, but I have only gotten about fifty pages into it.
Book Description
Here's How It Is…
The Earth got used up, and we found a new solar system and used terraforming technology to create hundreds of new Earths. The central planets formed the Alliance and decided that all worlds should unite under their rule. There was some disagreement on that point. After the Unification War, many of the Independents who had fought and lost drifted to the edges of the system, far from Alliance control. Out here, people struggled to get by with the most basic technologies. A ship would bring you work, a gun would help you keep it. A captain's goal was simple: find a crew, find a job, keep flying.
The Serenity Role Playing Game lets you re-create the action of the `Verse, the science-fiction setting created by writer/director Joss Whedon. Fly a ship out in the black, take jobs as they come, and always make sure you get paid. Everything you need to get started is right here! All you need is dice, friends, and your imagination.
• A self-contained role playing game. All the rules are provided for both players and Game Masters!
• Full character creation rules, plus fifteen sample characters—including the crew of Serenity.
• Complete details on spaceships, guns, and technology.
• Emphasis on story, action, and character development with easy-to-learn rules.
• Game details and descriptions of the characters and settings of the film!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent ruleset for a limited setting...........2007-09-21
The Serenity ruleset is actually quite sensible, although the avoidance of the d20 -- while understandable -- flattens out PC skills at the high end. It makes for easy and straightforward character creation, and the use of "Plot Points" strongly encourages cinematic play.
Unfortunately, our view of the 'Verse is limited to what we've seen in the show and film; consequently, gamemasters are somewhat expected to work within the show's framework -- Western outlaws in space -- and not step too far outside that remit.
Plenty of fun, particularly with a good group.......2007-08-29
First, any Firefly fan will absolutely love this--regardless of interest in tabletop gaming. The style of writing, the information, just about everything in here is a pleasure to simply read through. Jamie Chambers is truly a browncoat, and it shows.
Second, if you -are- into tabletop gaming, the Serenity RPG is a great setup. Bear in mind that the style is very different from the more common games like Dungeons & Dragons: less emphasis on combat and 'dungeon crawling', and greater emphasis on player and character interaction.
I ran a game as GM (gamemaster) with this setup; all of us in the group were familiar with D&D prior to playing (which thus formed our point of comparison). Here are a few main things I took from the experience:
- Combat tends to be very quick. With a good GM, this means more focus on plot. With a bad GM, this means repetitive battles.
- The game encourages players to play through their weaknesses. With a good GM, this means more interesting plot developments. With a bad GM, this means dead characters.
- The game is light on the rules. With a good GM, and a good group, this means less distraction and burdens imposed by constantly looking up rules. With a bad GM or group, this means less cohesion to the game, and possible arguments.
- The game is very light on equipment, ship builds, items, etc. I recommend borrowing ideas from another source to compensate ( Shadowrun, Fourth Edition tends to work well). The lack of equipment is the main reason it lost 1 star.
So, the Serenity RPG is a great product. And if you have a good group together, it can turn out to be a LOT of fun. And don't forget that the latest edition also has new character sheets and errata added. Enjoy the game, and keep flying. KF
Great license, mediocre game.......2007-04-03
This is a gorgeous book with lavish, full-color art, maps and stills from the "Serenity" film. In this regard, it's a fine product.
However, as a playable RPG, this product is quite lacking.
The writing adopts a 'Verse-esque tone in both the rule content and the opening chapter vignettes that is often cringe-worthy. The book is also fairly disorganized and rules often confusingly presented; expect a lot of page-flipping during initial play. On top of this, the game engine at its core is fairly pedestrian and uninspired, and the GM and player advice is about ten years out of date and actively antithetical to fun gaming. If it were 1997, this might be a passable effort. As it is, what you have is really a half-finished house engine tied to a lucrative license that it does a poor job of representing. That there's a big disclaimer on the writeup for River that states (paraphrased) "These stats do not represent River's ability as presented in the film; she has been modified to better balance with the rest of the crew" should be a red flag to anyone looking to capture the Firefly/Serenity experience with this system. (Why she's even presented as a PC, I have no idea.) I honestly find it somewhat sad that this game is selling in droves to many Browncoats whom I imagine are new to roleplaying. The hobby has progressed so far beyond what's in this game.
There's nothing that this system does that existing systems can't do as well or better. I'd suggest simply pairing your DVDs with an engine that suits your sensibilities (d20, GURPS, FATE*, Primetime Adventures, etc) rather than investing money in this product.
If you do decide to buy this, make sure to get the most current printing (4th, as of this writing), as there have been many significant corrections and rule changes incorporated, as well as an index being added. FYI, the Serenity GM's screen does not include these changes (a source of some confusion for our group).
[...]
I am not disapointed........2007-03-25
As a long-time roleplayer, I enjoy when something fresh and new comes into the industry. As a Sereny/Firefly fan, I always wanted a RPG adaptation of the 'verse, but feared it could be done in a wrong way, with a rules system inadequate to convey all the nuances of action and character development saw in the show, for example. Fortunately, "Serenity" both delivers something new and provides rules framework and gaming advice in a way that matches the spirit of both the series and the movie.
The most interesting thing in the rules is task resolution. Attributes are represented as a type of die - the more sides the better. They range from d4 (weakling) to d12+d4 (the too pf the top). By the same token, skills are also rated by a type of die, using the same range of Attributes. To perform an action that requires a roll, players roll the die listed for the relevant Attribute and skill, then add the results together, and see wheter they reached the set difficulty number (ranging from 3 to 31). If you beat the difficulty number by a margin of 7 or more points, you get an extraordinary success, which grants you additional benefits or an extra level of result coolness. The absence of a d20 is intentional, I think - and it is really not missed in this system. I do feel, however, that average success probability curves in this system are probably very weird, something that may be troublesome in a long campaign.
Artwork is good, mostly made of screenshots from the movie. There is some additional, original art, which ranges from acceptable to very good. Layout is clean and easy to read, and the presence of both a table of contents and a detailed index help a lot. Writting style is good, very informal and spiced with slang and chinese words now and then for flavor, but very objective and direct. Information about the 'verse is good but superficial, but generally enough for someone that saw the series or just the movie to get a feel of it and use it properly in a game. One of the book's best parts is its guide of Serenity Chinese. Very fun to read, and useful to help bringing the 'verse tone and feel into the game. How Shi Sung Chung, he?
Overall, I think the book is well worth what it costs and is a fine addition to any serious roleplayer's collection. My main complains are about the 'verse description, which is too sketchy for my tastes, some of the original artwork, which is good but somehow does not match the rest of the book's style. But even so, I liked it a lot.
A good read and a good game.......2007-03-10
A good read, regardless of if you play these sort of games or not. The prose was engaging, the system itself was refreshing and mostly intuitive. It isn't a perfect product, of course. While there are a good number of examples, a few more would have been useful (as an example, an example of what the gameplay difference is between Basic and Wound damage and how weapons effect that would have been nice). More background information would have been nice, but I can hardly fault the game for that; no, the limited amount of background information on planets, the alliance, Blue Sun, and so forth comes more from the limitations of Firefly the series and its very short (but very good) run.
Especially when combined with the fan-made material that has been put on the web, this is definitely a good game to pick up for those who like roleplaying, story telling, or narratives.
Amazon.com
Oswald Chambers, a Scotsman who converted to Christianity in his teens under the ministry of Charles Spurgeon, has been affecting Christians with his devotional words since My Utmost for His Highest was first published in 1935. This acknowledged classic contains 365 daily readings that take heady doctrine and make it practical, realistic, and intensely personal. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. Worldly cares and self-serving desires begin to lose their appeal as Chambers aides the reader in transforming his mind by viewing life through the instruction of God's Word. Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate, attests to this: "no book except the Bible has influenced my walk with Christ at such deep maturing levels." This is Chambers's chief desire, directing the reader to "shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only--My Utmost for His Highest... determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone." --Jill Heatherly
Book Description
Featuring the complete, classic text of Oswald Chambers's My Utmost for His Highest, the world's best-selling devotional gets even better as a daily devotional gets even better as a daily devotional journal.
Download Description
One of the most enduring inspirational classics of our time. The all-time best-selling devotional by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, fills your day with timeless thoughts from a humble servant of Christ.
Customer Reviews:
A Treasured Classic!!!.......2007-08-11
I start out each morning with this book along side of my bible,...& its always so inspiring,..I always "feel" better after starting out my day this way,....This is an awesome book that I find more & more "valuable" to me as time goes by,...L Hampton
amazing devotional.......2007-07-15
This book is a traditional religious Christian book. It has daily devotionals that are based on scripture. It is applicable to many situations and many people would find it inspirational. The readings are short enough to easily commit to daily reading but deep enough to make one think and bring one closer to God.
Thought provoking.......2007-06-08
This is my kind of devotional. No sappy sentiments. Based on scripture, written by one of the most respected theologians ever. I keep a copy of this in my car to bring in to any appointments where I will be waiting. Can read just one day or 10 days at a time. I have bought many copies of this for other people, everyone loves it. I will use this year after year, always something new pops out at me. I love that The Oswald Foundation insists it be sold so cheap so that anyone can afford to own this little gem.
My Utmost for His Highest Journal.......2007-05-16
Very well made. Oswall Chambers hit Holiness on the heart. Journalling allows you to see prayers answered the next year you go though the devotions. I have used one for years. This one I sent to my son.
Inspiring and Profound, Amazing Guidance to Live Our Life According to Gal 2:20.......2007-05-03
My mentor has been mentoring all of his students including myself from this book and it's been the most amazing spiritual growth experience.
For almost 2 years now that this book has been my devotional book and every time I read it along with the Holy Bible, I always found new inspirations every time I read it.
It is a great devotional and mentoring book for those who want to apply Gal 2:20 in their life.
I think, this book is a must read book for every Christian, even non-Christian will greatly benefit from this book.
God bless Oswald Chambers.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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