I am a former US diplomat and current international business consultant. I can say that Language Dynamics courses are the only courses I know of that are truly dedicated to effective and immediate communication in the target language. Academic courses often reflect the literary interests of professors, many of whom never had the experience of learning the target language as a second language. With these courses, you can hit the streets after every lesson knowing you can say more than you could yesterday.

Language Dynamics courses are the only courses I know of that are truly dedicated to effective and immediate communication in the target language. Academic courses often reflect the literary interests of professors, many of whom never had the experience of learning the target language as a second language. With these courses, you can hit the streets after every lesson knowing you can say more than you could yesterday. Reviewer: An international business consultant and former US diplomat from the San Francisco Bay Area

After listening minimally to the four tapes in 123 Speed Spanish for five days it is my strong opinion that all taped language courses should be like this one. It is easy to learn from and all the English definitions are given on the tapes. The native speaker speaks slowly enough for me to get the accent right. The content is exteremely useful, which allowed me to form simple sentences within minutes of receiving my course. Believe me, this course is fast and user friendly. Try it and see for yourself.

This book helped me pass the 2002 AP bio exam with a 4. I would definatly recomend this book to anyone who is taking the AP test or just wants to better understand the more advanced concepts of biology. It outlines all the information that is covgered on the bio test, and it gives you all the stuff you know for the test without bogging you down with excess info. The diagrams are very helpful, and familiar if you use the text Biology, 4th edition by Neil Campbell. I relied heavily on this book to get me thru the test, as my teacher didn't do much teaching, and I got the results I was looking for.

I have used this book alot in the past year, sometimes as a main source for information. It is the best study guide out there for AP Biology, as it really teaches you the complex topics, without making you memorize and not learn. Analogies and practical applications make hard concepts remarkably easy to grasp. I would highly reccommend this book to both the A+ student and those who need support. This book is a keeper!

This was the best AP Biology book I used. I highly recommend it!

If you are a beginner, this book is great. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

I must say that personally, I was a bit disappointed in this book, simply because I am already familiar with many of the basic wire techniques, so I didn't get much from the book. I did, however, learn a wire technique for wrapping a cabochon, which I have never tried.

I was a little disappointed that instructions for creating the jewelry piece on the cover, were not included in the book, since I thought it was a beautiful necklace.

If you are familiar with making basic items such as ear wires, hook and eye clasps, spirals, etc. then you may not get much out of this book.

If you are a beginner and want to learn about the proper tools to use, and looking for basic techniques, then I highly recommend this book.

I continually refer to this book for building or adding to my library of techniques. This is one of the best books I've found for clearly detailing wire bead building with basic tools and simple wire. I consider it a "must have" resource for both beginners and intermediate wire jewelry makers.

This book is great because of it's precise instructions. The techniques from how to hold your tools to the degrees of angles to bend your wire are right on. The hook and eye clasp takes some practice but it is really great. The findings you learn to make in this book are so superior to machine made ones you buy in the store. I found the gallery section in the back of the book inspiring. The gallery pieces lack instructions, but I didn't really expect them to. It's like a photographic museum of wirework.

I have to agree with the one person who commented on this book being far from a great piece of literary work.

Other than that, the book is fun read though that does get you to think a little bit. Not very demanding on the reader, but at the same time it is able to hold your interest while your reading. As much I'd hate to admit I actually found myself going back to read some stories again after I was done with them.

All and all a good read.

This book is a great example of what made Mark so loved in the skate community. There are probably 6 or 7 stories in here and they all leave you feeling a sense of trueness and reality. The poetry section is great, they are poems that you can read over and over and feel different meanings for them every time. The stories have all appeared in THRASHER magazine, but even if you have read them, this is still a great book to have. Long live the gonz!

ok here it is the best book I've read to date. first off this guy is a unmerited genuis. he wraps up society into these little short stories and simplton drawings. I recomend that everyone runs out and buy this book not only because this is a peek into the world of a skateboarder but it is also literary greatness. thank you mark

For those of you on active duty wanting to make the transition to the GS side Kathryn Troutman's Ten Steps to a Federal Job is the first weapon of choice!

Her book and supplemental CD-ROM, filled with numerous examples of excellent resumes, arms you with the Step by Step manual to get started, solidify your work experience with the correct verbiage, and hammer home your marketable skills.

Do not be fooled into thinking you can navigate the Federal hiring process armed with only the information provided during your separation lectures, these are nice but Kathryn's book gives you more - much more! Inside you will find how to formulate your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's), selecting the correct job series to parallel your experience, great web links, and even interview tips! Additionally, if you are unclear about the material call the Resume-Place for FREE advice! You just might get to talk to Kathryn herself, she quickly emailed me the answers to my in-depth questions!

This book is a must have in any rucksack - right next to Kathryn's Electronic Federal Resume Guidebook & CD-ROM!

I advise you to learn how to play the federal job game. And there is no better book to teach people moving from the entrepreneurial world into government agencies than one out now by federal job expert Kathryn Kraemer Troutman.

At [the price], Ten Steps to a Federal Job: Navigating the Federal Job System is pricey. But it's a bargain because it serves as an experienced consultant-in-print taking you by the hand and, with a warm, friendly style, leading you painlessly through a complex process. A CD-ROM (PC or Mac) is included with the book that contains samples, templates and helpful appendixes for your federal job hunt. Ms. Troutman covers aspects of the federal job search in her 10-step format that I haven't seen pulled together elsewhere, one of the reasons I like it so well.

Kathryn Kraemer Troutman is a godsend to federal job seekers and employees everywhere! "Ten Steps to A Federal Job" is capstone to her two other works "The Federal Resume Guidebook" and "The Electronic Federal Resume Guidebook". This dynamic trilogy covers everything that you ever wanted to know about applying for and obtaining a Federal Job.

Her book "Ten Steps to a Federal Job" demystifies the federal hiring process and explains the steps of applying for a Federal job in a manner that everyone can understand. It starts with networking, and moves through reviewing the process, researching the vacancies, analyzing core competencies, analyzing vacancies, writing a Federal resume, writing KSAs and cover letters, applying for jobs, tracking applications, and finally preparing for a Federal job interview.

Troutman attacks the myths about Federal hiring and discusses the realities. Kathy provides valuable tips and insight from her 27 years of experience in helping her clients write resumes and KSAs for Federal positions. In addition, her web site and CD provide wonderful tools to build high-impact cover letters, Federal resumes and KSAs as well as address questions that may come up with in the course of completing the application materials.

"Ten Steps to a Federal Job" is required reading for anyone who is seeking to obtain a Federal position. I used the techniques in her "Federal Resume Guidebook" to obtain my current Federal job. Troutman's latest book "Ten Steps to Federal Job" gives even more insight into the hiring process. I give this book my highest recommendation and stamp of approval.

Being a 12-year-old Spidey fan, I know quite a bit about him. Not as much as those around when Peter Parker emerged from the brilliant mind of Stan Lee, mind you, but a fan nonetheless. I even had a Spiderman action figure and was an avid reader of Spiderman and the Fantastic Four/Spiderman team up. I was also a dedicated watcher of the remade version of the animated Spiderman (my parents still sing the older theme song). But, with the starting of elementary school, Spiderman kind of sank into the back of my mind.Then came 8th grade, and I rediscovered Spiderman in the local library. Of course, it was this book. And Behold! Spiderman lives 4-ever!!!! This has got to be THE BEST book about Spidey. And after all, it IS geared towards my generation. Now, thanks to this book, I am HOOKED on Ultimate Spidey!

I was skeptical of the Ultimate series at first, especially after John Byrne's horrific "Chapter One" retelling, but I picked up Ultimate Spidey #1 all the same.

Boy, was I ever wrong. Bendis spectacularly takes what Stan Lee wrote oh-so-long-ago and combines it with what we've come to expect from the comic industry today: pacing, character development, and real-world dialouge. For instance, spoilers I guess, but not really if you've had any foray into the Spidey books before: In the original story, Peter gets bitten by the spider, becomes a big-shot egoist, and has tragedy befall him. In one issue. Bendis stretches it over 5, mixing in a few other plot threads. Aside from the origin story, Bedis introduces the Green Goblin in issues 6 and 7, J. Jonah Jameson is there, exactly as he is in the original and movie, albeit younger. The remaining issues deal with Spidey taking on someone whom he cannot possibly defeat physically nor legally, as no one ever has: Wilson Fisk, or the mob boss the Kingpin and his thugs the Enforcers.

The characters have changed slightly with the updating into the new millenium, but 90% is for the better. Peter is a little more sure of himself and less terminally shy. MJ is entirely too cute for words, sweet and caring, but she does act like a real teen would, getting upset with Peter from time to time. Norman Osborne is a conniving businessman, as he should be. The one character I was wary about was Norman's counterpart, the Green Goblin. Bagely made it a more literal transformation, but it works, especially in the laters issues not collected here.

Bagely is, and always has been, one of my favorite artists, but he's made it difficult for himself to be forgotten after this. His take on Spidey is much like Ditko's original: lanky and gangly. He's taken Peter's inital "geek" look and add muscles to it that make him still look like an awkward teen, but also like an upshot superhero.

The extras in this are probably better than the one's that they'll put on the "Spider-Man" DVD. Bagely's original character designs and notes are here, along with the correspondance between writer Bendis and Marvel publishing president Bill Jemas. And the biggest treat of all, "Amazing Adult Fantasy #15" in its whole, reproduced better than ever, so you have the best of the old with the best of the new.

This is a deifinite must have for any comic fan, old or new, and anyone who remotely enjoyed the movie and DEFINATELY for those who were disappointed.

I loved this update of Spider-Man. I haven't read a Spidey comic in years - and when I picked this up I wasn't expecting a lot. But Bendis takes the old "origin" story and expands upon it. He slows it down a bit and lets the characters evolve more. The new Green Goblin isn't just a crackpot - he's a scary, menacing creature who also happens to know Spider-Man's identity. This is just great story-telling. And the second volume of this series was great, too. Issue 13 - which takes place entirely in Peter Parker's bedroom - is a classic. It's good to see Marvel experimenting with their characters and leaving a good writer/artist team free to create.

Vampire explores the depth of your character, Werewolf explores your dedication, Mage your resourcefulness. Wraith simply searches out the point you crack, and give in. The setting is darkly superb and detailed. The gameplay is an exercise in psychosis. Quite radically different in it's gameplay to any other game I've played to date, and despite it being superbly intense, I'm afraid it now sits gathering dust on a shelf. It's not that it's unplayable (quite the opposite), it's simply that the players (and myself) refuse to play it. If you feel you can hack depression, and the intense conflict (in party) that Wraith generates, then play away... The experience is a double edged sword.

Wraith: The Oblivion is far and away the BEST of White Wolf's "World of Darkness" role-playing games.

The world is grim and forbidding... far more so than even the typical WoD setting, but without the flagrant overstatement occasionally found in Vampire or Werewolf. The backdrop is absolutely perfect for the story... Imagine the frustration, pain, and tragedy of being able to see and feel and hear the world you left behind... but being unable to move or manipulate that world. Imagine seeing your ex-wife grow old and die... or feeling the impotent rage of watching the bastard who raped and murdered you stalking his next target. Calling the setting "gothic" is a horrible injustice; it is akin to dismissing Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy as "a story about elves."

The emphasis is overwhelmingly on role-playing; combat junkies and munchkins need not apply. Although physical conflict and neat toys and powers have their place in the sepulchral setting of Wraith, the game is such that your character won't even SURVIVE for long without thoroughly roleplaying the Passions and beliefs that fuel her post-mortem existence. Emotions run high; it's not unusual for one or more players to end up in tears during a gaming session. I have even seen a real-life romance blossom from the results of in-character roleplaying. The triumphs and defeats, joys and sorrows, of the characters are raw and clear by their players.

In short, this game is absolutely wonderful- even for people new to the "World of Darkness" or who are not normally interested in "gothic horror." If you enjoy roleplaying with a heavy emphasis

As a player, I love the World of Darkness series from White Wolf. I have not yet had the pleasure of Storytelling a game, but I hope that will change soon. Wraith: The Oblivion is put together very well (AND IT'S ALSO SCARY!). The character creation sytem is not for the lazy gamers, it actually forces the players to think. (Some of the people I play with don't like to think all that hard, but I aim to make them be serious.) Anyway, you really need to think about your character, unlike in Mage where all you have to do is give the guy disgusting amounts of magick to make him good and fun to play. I found the theme of Wraith to be a bit disturbing, with all the darkness and depression and whatnot, so I believe I'm going to grey the World of Darkness a bit in my attempt at Storytelling. I hope it all works out. Overall, I think that Wraith is one of the better games of the sieries, even if the Werewolves can tear people limb from limg or the Mages can warp reality itself. Congratulations, White Wolf.

I had my doubts about the book based on the title "bowie style", but the ever in-the-know Joel Stones strongly recommended it to me, so i checked it out and couldn't put it down. Chock full of pictures from way back in the beginning--the usual childhood ones, but from the beginning of his career until the present, as well as pics of various influences on Bowie and people he has in turn influenced. Well worth it for the pics alone, with interesting information and stories scattered throughout. Extremely cool for Bowie fans, and very interesting for all music fans who enjoy tracing back the times and trends...

This book was a clever idea indeed. Why write another Bowie biography when there have been too many of them already? Personally, I like most of them and I strongly recommend the recently published "Strange Fascination", by David Buckley, even though it is only available in Britain at the time of writing. But quite a few Bowie fans have complained that they have no patience to read a long, detailed biography. So give them what they want: a glossy, coffee-table book full of pictures that will make female fans go WOW, plus bits and pieces of information that can be read piecemeal, in no particular order. Done by the wrong people, it could have been an embarrassing exercise in teenage-like worship. But these guys are experts and the results are more than worth the price of admission. Each chapter is devoted to an aspect of Bowie's life - there's even one about his favorite cigarette brands! This is really a fan's bible if there ever was one.

This book was way better than I expected.

First of all, something not immediately apparent when you buy the book off of Amazon is that this book is big, about 12" by 10". All the pages are glossy and filled about half with color photographs, the other half with commentary and quotes.

The book isn't arranged in a linear timeline like a biography would be. Instead it breaks down by theme, with sections on topics like musical periods in Bowie's work, lady loves, musical influences, influential books (Bowie has apparently described himself as a "born librarian with a sex drive"), origins of Ziggy, people influenced by Bowie, etc. Each section is filled with relevant photographs, quotes, and historical info. Not only is it well-researched and great eye candy, but the author's insights are pretty interesting too. The author must be a fan or otherwise have some kind of photographic memory, since the text is peppered with obscure references to Bowie songs that are pretty fun when you notice them.

If you're looking for a straightforward biography, then this isn't it. Although Bowiestyle probably contains as much information as a biography would, it's not ordered linearly by time like your average biography is. I found it all the more interesting to read for that, though. Of all the books I've seen on Bowie, I rate this the best. One Bowie fan to another, a good buy.

Senator John McCain's second volume of autobiography covers his career after his return from captivity in North Vietnam through his unfortunately failed bid for the Presidency in the 2000 elections. As he talks about his life and career, he also discusses those who have inspired and taught him, from history (TR, Billy Mitchell), literature (the Robert Jordan character from "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and Brando's portrayal of Zapata in "Viva Zapata"), sports (Ted Williams - a great baseball player and a fine Marine pilot in WWII and Korea), and from his own life (late Senators Scoop Jackson, Morris Udall, and John Tower - two of them Democrats, interestingly - among others). These essays mostly stand on their own and are worth the price of admission alone.

McCain is honest, sometimes brutally so, about his own failings and errors; his description of the Keating Five affair is thorough and unsparing, as are his admissions of occasional prevarication and displays of temper. He is no less straightforward about his political experiences. While a dedicated conservative and a believer, his contempt for the near-fascist "Christian" wing of the Republican party is evident, as is his disgust with the treatment former Senator John Tower received when nominated by President George H.W. Bush for the post of Secretary of Defense, a nomination shot down more by far right wingers than by the Democrats. One thing I did miss was his honest appraisal of the current President, but from patriotic motivations McCain may be saving that for later.

McCain seems to be suggesting at the end of the book that his public life is nearly over, that his Presidential ambitions are finished. All I can say is that I sincerely hope not. I am a Democrat who would support a McCain run for the Presidency unreservedly. I do not always agree with his views, but I admire his dedication to campaign finance reform, his strength, his candor, his willingness to work with the other side and see them as the loyal opposition rather than as traitors, his courage, and his service to our country. And if McCain never runs for the Presidency, what better final service could he render his country than to lead an effort to return the GOP back to its true core values and rescue it from the clutches of the far right.

This probably isn't the best place to start your search on more information on the life of Senator McCain. Other books have been written about him and by him that provide more information his past.

Still, this is a great book to garner information on the Senator McCain of today. The book profiles some of the people that he has looked up to and emulated including Senator Scoop Jackson, baseball legend Ted Williams, Senator John Tower and Barry Goldwater.

In doing so, McCain also covers a number of major news stories that have involved him including normalization of relations with Vietnam, his presidential run, and the Keating Five Scandal.

What I liked about the book and what I like about McCain in general is his willingess to be open and tell you what he thinks. I'm not sure I always agree with his opinions, but at least I have a good idea on what those opinions are. I especially appreciated his willingness to openly lash out and question the religious wing of the Republican Party. (Now don't you nutball right-wingers overreact, he also is very critical of President Clinton's foreign policy. . .)

Of course the bottom line question is whether this book is worth the full price in its hardcover edition. The answer is probably not so get it when its discounted, or in paperback. This is an interesting book, a sometimes moving book and worth reading, but it's not a must-have classic that you need to spend too much on just to read once and leave on the book shelf.

John McCain's second memoir covers the aspect of his life most of us are familiar with, his political career. In addition to telling his own tales, McCain mixes in chapters on heroes, both real and fictional, that have influenced his views and character. When discussing his own life, he writes of both his successes and failures and gives the reader an understanding of some of the reasons behind his "maverick" stances.

While some parts of the book become mired in the uninteresting details of political scandal, as a whole "Worth the Fighting For" is well worth reading, no matter your political persuasion.

I am delighted with the easy building block method used in this course that took me from no Italian to actually speaking the language in a matter of a few weeks.
I especially appreciated the fact that no book or guide (although a nice listening guide is provided) is actually required since all translations and explanations are given on the tapes, making this an ideal course for anyone who is busy and on the move.
Two thumbs up!!

I agree with other language aficionados that it is nearly impossible to find a good solid foreign language course these days. What I mean by good is 'useful, fast, and easy to learn'. Audio Fluency Italian is by far the best basic Italian course I have yet to experience. It is enjoyable to learn from, and the basic sentences that you learn to form are useful anywhere you go. I especially enjoyed the review since it is impossible to learn a language without lots of repetition. The manual was good too. Lots of exercises, travel phrases (including restaurant which were also on the tapes) etc ...

I am a basket case when it comes to learning foreign languages. What is more, I am a klutz when it comes to looking up meanings.
When I bought Audio Fluency Italian I was immediately impressed with the fact that everything I needed was already on the tapes.
Please note that this is the only foreign language course I have ever tried that has been this complete. I was speaking simple sentences in Italian within the first hour of using this course
(Miracle). Actually there is no miracle. The English speaking instructor was fabulous and Anna the Italian speaker was very clear and helpful. Language Dynamics just came up with the easiest method, ecco tutto.