Cardboard characters, creepy cutouts--didn't believe a word by this facile film critic. Born Again a Holy Cow--ought to be illegal suggesting a sinister application. Identity not trowelled up like leeks. Take exception, award a sprig of spring onion found caught in laces of boot, press it in pages, ward off wards and weak wights.

Spirit informs like a gold glow, never interchangeable like multi-colored lights on a string. Seditious suggestion. Networks must be informed. Anchors enlisted. Nudes draped.

Waugh, Burgess but best also "Cards." Late Burgess left this out of his 100 list, and I had not yet read it when I discussed sustained narrative antic novels with him. This puzzles me. (I argued for Gravity, he plumped for V. Later in 100, he'd changed to Gravity. Egoist that I am, guess what I think. And, also, now I like V. Did he age well tho?)

Pungent, perhaps profound. Some peerless moments of exquisite conundrum. Disciplined prose, strongly flavored character motion, level evocation of REM unreality.

Inspiring. Worth writing tart poetry on its flyleaf. Don't not read now!

Actually Cards of Indentity is four books and a play. The "plot" involves a group of "psychologists" who take over a country home by mental tricks in order to hold a convention. Three of the books are 'papers' delivered at the convention. The play (which you will swear was written by Shakespeare) is the entertainment at the end of the convention. A must read.

May be a good starting point....The United States in 1800 by Henry Adams. First Six Chapters of Vol.1

Adams' work here ranks with Macaulay and Carlyle in terms of telling an intricate history through the private letters and conversations of the players involved. From the first pages where he describes the America over which Jefferson presided, Adams clearly defines idealogies and principles as they were defended and practiced by the Federalists and Republicans of the day. Throughout Jefferson's two terms, the president was forced to abandon favorite principles and to defend others that were ulimately (if not immediately) untenable. Through skillful hands we watch how moods changed and policies switched, and how the main characters attempted to reconcile their inconsistencies. Jefferson hoped to expose the wrongfulness of Federalist policies, yet wound up forwarding the same tenets in his management. The President who rose to such a height of popularity and power left the office as disgraced and as generally disliked as any Chief Executive before or after. A masterful work about eight important and formative years in the early republic.

Even though it was written in the 1880s, this is the best history of early American diplomacy yet written. It is important to mention that this is primarily a diplomatic history, and it certainly reflects the author's interest and family history in foreign affairs. Adams has meticulously researched all matters of State and diplomacy, but he has reserved the topics of culture, economics, and education for far more subjective analysis. It becomes obvious early in the text that Adams is highly deferential to Great Britain, and the young American republic is constantly compared and trivialized, in contrapuntal regularity, against the great European powers. Adams has a lot to say about America's poverty, provincialism, and anti-intellectualism when compared to England, France, and Russia. American culture cringe pervades the text. While frequently accurate, he drives the point to excess: America becomes somewhat of a play-thing for the imperial ambitions of Europe. We're treated to page after page of material on the British ambassadors. In short, this is probably the kind of American history we would have expected Henry James and T. S. Eliot to have read, the kind that gets all the facts and dates right but can't conceal the author's sincere desire to be English.

As always, he keeps its straightforward and simple...great beginner's primer to get you started with iPhoto. The irony is Apple should make free of charge a pdf manual .....

By the way, if you buy this book you can download a pdf copy from Adam free of charge.....and if you email him with questions, he's usually pretty good at responding!

Very useful in getting quickly to the matter of how to use iPhoto. There is enough information about how the program data is structured to be useful, but the real value of the book is in it's format and stuffed-full-of-info "attitude." I bought it, use it, and definitely recommend it.

I have the book for the 1.1 version (works for 1.1.1 also) and I think it is well-organized and info is quickly accessible. Many things in iPhoto are pretty intuitive, but some things (like extremely complex file and database structure!) are not. The book gives enough of a look "under the hood" to be comforting, but primarily concentrates on the user features of the program. Also, the author responded to a question I had via email. I thought that was a courteous gesture and he really helped me to understand a point in the book. I recommend the book if you want to get the very most out of the iPhoto program.

Macs for Everyone!

"Leaving Reality Behind.." is a myopic and biased account of a subject that just isn't that interesting. Unless you were one of the eToys.com employees or one of the 'cutting-edge European artists' of etoy, the 'Toywar' was quite simply a non-event for the rest of the planet. In essence, the authors (who clearly are sided and likely involved with the etoy camp) are trying to dress up a relatively trivial legal dispute over a domain name that is now about three years old. Why is this interesting?? Throw another 'yet-another-dotcom-story' on the pile.

There was a time when people were just starting e-mail and the World Wide Web, and had no real idea what sort of life the internet was going to bring forth. In the early 1990s, there weren't many rules, and commercial use of the Web had not taken it over. In 1995, an anarchic group of seven Swiss artists started the site www.etoy.com. In 1997, a billion-dollar firm to sell toys via the internet started up, registering as www.etoys.com. Two years later, eToys sued etoy for damaging the eToys trademark. The resulting fracas is told in an entertaining story that is not just a dot-com bust parable, _Leaving Reality Behind: etoy vs eToys.com & Other Battles to Control Cyberspace_ (Ecco) by Adam Wishart and Regula Bochsler. The earnestness and foolishness and greed herein described are universal; the contemporary surroundings of this tale, however, have much to tell us about the founding philosophy of the internet and its commercial future.

The artists involved in etoy had worked on collaborative digital art projects, and developed their site as a parody of internet business. They issued shares, and strangely, the share certificates were art works on their own; etoy did not manufacture toys or anything, but it did sell shares, and the shares (or art) did sell. They mocked executive appearances, adopting orange flight jackets, black pants, and shaved heads as uniforms. They intended to be "the First Street Gang of the Information Super Data Highway." Official company communications were signed, "etoy, leaving reality behind." Of course, commercial dot-coms were leaving reality behind in their own fashion. The story of eToys is told just as fully in this book as that of etoy, and it is just as strange. eToys was one of the first companies that emerged from idealab!, a business that was going to produce businesses just like McDonald produced hamburgers. eToys was supposed to beat Toys-R-Us by making it easy to shop without the brats. In 1999, the all important Initial Public Offering of eToys stock was made, amid furious excitement built up over the previous months, but eToys was in big trouble. That didn't stop it from trying to crush the annoying etoy gang. Even after a judge granted an injunction to shut down etoy, etoy wasn't weren't going to give in, and netizens all over began a "Toywar" to "Save etoy now!" A year after doing all the bullying, eToys was bankrupt.

Wishart and Bochsler not only have written a fun and rather exciting tale full of interesting characters, but they have also given a capsule history of the internet. There are detours here to explain the origins of the Web itself, and how different coding standards were developed to tie all our computers together. The first search engines are here, and the mechanics of the organizations who are supposed to control web names. This is an amusing story, and the book will be an excellent reference for those in the future who want to understand what the beginning internet was like and what the dot-com boom-and-bust was all about.

In years to come when they're teaching the history of the internet in all its aspects at colleges this book will be one of a hand-full of books that will be essential reading.

There have been lots of "I was there" internet books - some early ones like "Burn Rate" were truly excellent accounts of life at the coal face but more recent titles such as "Dot.bomb" were dull reads that neither entertained nor informed. "Leaving Reality Behind" is different in that neither of the authors are telling their own story but rather reporting back on the events that helped define and shape the evolution of this internet thing. Both funny and intelligent this book stands out for the thoroughness of its research (in the rush to get them out many internet books have suffered from sloppy editing and factual inaccuracies) as is witnessed by its excellent bibliography - probably worth the cover price alone for anyone serious about understanding recent digital history.

Finally, in bringing together the European and American sides of the story there are deep insites offered in the differences and similarities that bind the two continents together - particularly pertinent at the moment.

I am of 100% Czech heritage and have many authentic recipes. This book uses ingredients not readily found. Especially the pastry recipes do not use flours, etc. found in most kitchens. There are better recipes geared to todays methods and ingredients. Mace and nutmeg were commonly used and are not in these recipes.
I was generally disappointed in the content and referances to basic mixtures and adaptations. There were a few appealing recipes, but the majority were not for todays cook.

This book is neat, but I'm not sure how much cooking I'll be doing. Brains, tounge and other such body parts are included. :) Maybe the dessert section is a little safer.

Still it's a great book with the names of food in czech.

Czech COOKING is new, its hip, and it IS here to stay! Comparable to English cooking, in its (some would call) BLANDNESS, the way it relies on lots of POTATOES to fill you up, Czech cooking is the new WAY! And I have found that way! My grandma always offers me seconds, thirds, fourths, on fried cheese and potatoes, until I am so full I am ready to BURST right open! But never, never ever forget to quaff your meal with several flagons of Good Czech Beer!! Otherwise you will not be able to get out of your seat after such a hearty meal!!

This book is a callow attempt at stealing your valuable money. This book does not, in any way, provide scintillating information for the reader, nor does its information prove informative. If you want to lose your money, go right ahead and buy this book for your long hours sitting on the toilet. Otherwise, get a real baseball book; a vibrant one, one replete with color and information, thus fostering a sense of awe, completeness and congeniality.

Pair this with Baseball America's Baseball Directory and you have a winning combination for planning your baseball vacation. This one even tells you what NOT to eat at the ballparks! This book needs to be expanded.

The book is an absolute lifesaver. I have always planned to travel around America after I graduate from high school, and this book makes it possible. It has everything from directions to favorite foods at both the stadium and the surrounding area. Also, it provides reasonable and realistic ways to save money. A little money here and a little money there can really add up after a month of so on the road. Even if the book does not feature a place where you want to go, it will provide you with an address and phone number. Not only does this book have virtually every phone number you might ever need but it also has faxes, web sites, etc. Adams and Engel read my mind with this book. I don't have to plan hardly anything because they have accounted for everything.

I thought this book was quite useful for its method of displaying scales and chords in relation to the scales. It is not for the beginner, and if you are trying to learn chord progressions or musical structure there are other places to go. However, if you're interested in moving beyond rudimentary scales and chords, this book can help you.

"jane you ignorant (??)
Kadmon has done what has never been done properly. For years I searched for a comprehensive guide of scales and modes, and I've seen 'em all!! This one beats the pants off ALL others. Prime example: every other so called "scale encyclopedia" will give you (especially in the case of the exotic scales) modes of the same scale listed as a separate scale. You have to muddle through endless transpositions to discover that the Double Harmonic and Oriental are both modes of the Hungarian Minor. Hours of wasted creative time discovering that the Lydian Minor and the Major Locrian are both modes of the Neopolitian Major. I had actually begun this insane task when I came across Adam's book. What a godsend! The included fretboard maps alone make this book even better than any other Guitar scale book! The cord/scale relationship charts are priceless. And personally, I love the fact that none of this is represented in traditional notation.

I've found this fourth volume in the Guitar Grimoire series serves quite well as a less expensive replacment for both the first volume (Scales & Modes) and the 2nd (Chords & Voicings).

It does not provide the fretboard interval maps, but the sweeping patterns for guitar and bass are shown in the usual black-fret-spot notation.

Also, I must contend the earlier, shamefully negative review below from the reader in Jane, Missouri:

This grimoir is a great way to learn your way around the keyboard and to study the compatibility of chords and scales for composition and improvisation.

I also recommend the Guitar Grimoire Chord Encyclopedia, and Guitar Grimoire Progressions, and for the self-taught musician who want's to improve their reading, the Guitar Grimoire Excercise Book and Notated Intervallic Study of Scales.

Adam Kadmon has crossreferenced the essential math of scales (and their modes,) intervals, chords (and their voicings,) and progressions to allow any would-be musical magician to craft their own spell-binding music. And afterall, isn't that what a grimoire is all about? (If you don't know, look up "grimoire" in a good dictionary!)

I was very disappointed in this book. The recipes and crafts didn't seem nearly as well perfected as in the authors other books. For example, applesauce cinnamon ornaments did not include glue (which makes them much sturdier, smoother, less breakable, and resistant to bugs). Had the author done any checking whatsoever, she would have learned this -- but seemed more eager in rushing to press than in perfecting the recipes/projects. I was very disappointed.

Marcia Adams Heartland is a beautfully done cookbook.Ihave all her books and watch her tv shows.Irecommend it to any one who is a fan or just likes to eat good food.I am waiting for any new ones to come out.

Are we on a wait too? for how many Months???

From the get go, White Wolf shows why they are on top of this industry with their intial revamp of the Dark Ags line. DA: Vampire hammers a home run with the artistic layouts and eye catching images found within. New and interesting spins are offered that were either barely touched on in the original incarnation or non existant to begin with. Some rules are updated and others expanded upon (like Mortis and the Road paths).

However, what keeps this book from being a 5 star knock out is it's stunning lack of future premonitions that were prevalent in the earlier edition. Leaving some of those key elements up to the previous book to cover was bad form on the writers part and it's exclusion kills much of the depth the original DA book had.

Ending summary:

The good: New information and new spins on the clans, roads, and disciplines. Compelling artwork and layouts.

The bad: The way the previous book was largely written off. Key elements from the old book would have enhanced this DA product immensely. It wouldn't have hurt to have some definative "set in stone" issues resolved like the origins of the Tremere (hinted at being servants to the Tzmisce) and the final fate of the Cappadocians. While White Wolf is known for their contradictory storylines and comments within their own books, at least previous books took a stance. The notable lack thereof in this one is fairly glaring.

All in all though, a top notch book. A definate replacement to it's predessesor. Just don't throw the old book away as the two can work well together in a main book/companion type of role.

I must admit that I am a Vampire: The Masquerade fan, at least I was for a long time before White Wolf started printing all of the Clan Novels that seemed to take the entire setting in a different direction that I preferred. You see, I am the kind of vampire fan that prefers personal horror over nifty powers any day of the week (scary powers... ok, yeah, I love those too). At any rate, back in the day I purchased Vampire: The Dark Ages, the historical counterpoint to their modern game. Now, at long last, not only is the modern game returning to it's horrific roots, but they have restructured the rules to finally oust the whining, power gamers that turned Vampire into a joke, so many nights ago. This game does the same thing, only for the medieval period. While advancing the timeline (to 1230) and stirring up a War of Princes, the game actually sets a real (dark) religious tone with the newly redone look at Roads or the Via of the Dark Medieval. I love this new game. The book does crack when you open it, though I'm not sure if that means the pages will fall out, mine have not. If you like vampires, but don't want to fuss with the modern nights, take a good look at the new Dark Ages: Vampire game. Oh yeah, Dark Ages: Mage comes out soon, as well as Dark Ages: Inquisitor, and a number of other related works that are sure to make this game just as good if not better than The Masquerade.

Once again, White Wolf has made its previous output on the Vampire franchise obsolete! Dark Ages: Vampire is that good.

It incorporates the best changes from Vampire the Masquerade since that title was re-edited several years ago and expands upon it. The vampires in Dark Ages have much more potential than those in the Gothic Punk setting: you can choose from several viable moral systems rather than be restricted to one. Vampires are more powerful since disciplines can be brought up to six rather than five. The Dark Ages feel is much better represented here than in the previous Vampire: the Dark Ages book, and the artwork is superb.

I was a big fan of the latest edition of Vampire: the Masquerade, but I have to admit that I think that title has been topped by the Dark Ages: Vampire core book. It remains to be seen whether the supporting books to follow will be as good.

It was an interesting read but I had to suspend too much disbelief. J. V. Adams begins Last Trip to Vegas with great question -- how much is a loved one's life worth. His answer is everything and this leads to a series events that quickly change all the characters lives. I found the reactions of almost every character to be unbelievable as the story went on. One or two characters acting strangely is entertaining but all of them acting strangely is just bewildering. Everyone just rolled with the punches no matter how extreme the circumstances. Still, Adams has a good writing style. With rework to the last half of the book, this could be made into an entertaining movie.

Jack Kathio made his living as a gambler. His friend, Frank McMahan, was a cop with a loving wife named Mia. Jack was in love with Mia and decided to lead Frank into the gambling fever. Once done Frank would lose everything in hope of scoring on the next hand of cards. Jack was sure Frank would also lose Mia this way and he would be there to snatch her up.

To do this Jack needed quick cash. As luck would have it, Jack had B-negative blood, which was hard to find. He turned out to be the perfect HLA match for Sheila Carlucci, the daughter of wealthy Vito Carlucci. If Sheila did not find a donor fast, she would die from Leukemia. So Jack agreed to be Sheila's donor, but Vito would have to give everything he owned to Jack. Jack even found a way to get around the law too. Jack Kathio, the gambler in love, was going for the ultimate prize!

**** Here is a fascinating story with an even bigger moral. I won't tell what it is though. Jack is no Hero and Mia is no Heroine, which made this tale unique to say the least! In fact, Jack may very well be one of the most realistic characters I have ever read. The author obviously did thorough research into making this character! I was appalled of Jack at the beginning. Yet as the book continued, my attitude toward Jack, and a few others, did too. I am very happy to recommend this book to the public. I believe Jack will remain in every Reader's mind for a very long time after the last page has been read! ****

This is a veryfacinating story of the gambling world, of which Mr. Adams has done a lot of research.This shows how people intertwine in each others lives to attain what they think they want most in life with little regard to the outcome.I recommend this book to everyone who may be facinated by the world of "Las Vegas". I hope to see this book made into a movie someday. Mr Adams is an excellent story teller!