When I bought this book, I was very hopeful for prompts that would open the minds of my students to deeper thoughts, but instead, I found a book that could have been helpful to only the minds of mere second grade children and I stand true to that statement. None of the prompts provided in this book went any deeper than the question what is your favorite TV program and why? In simpler words, my impression of this book was no more helpful to me than hot weather is for an ice cube.

I bought this book hoping for some creative journal prompts for my high school students, but was severly disappointed. There is nothing in this book that I couldn't have thought up walking down the hall in the five minutes between classes. It now sits on my shelf collecting dust.

I bought this book after purchasing Prompt a Day (ISBN: 0-590-18738-4). While it is better than Prompt a Day, it is still very mediocre. Some of the prompts are OK, but most of these prompts are not open ended and don't lend themselves to thought provoking writing. After reading this book, I did have 325 more writing prompts, but I could have written better prompts myself. In fact, I find that that's just what I do while this book gathers dust on my self.

This book is well done with the points its purpose to teach. But it lacks important questions like Personal Web Server, Proxy relations with 98, and a lot of things about Netware. I passed on test just for a hair... Be careful !

Definately rushed. I liked the Sams Teach Yourself MCSE 98 book much better. it cost less and didnt bog down with unneeded stuff.

This Book contains Information that you don't need for the exam. What i mean is that is a waste of time. I skipped 6 chapters in the book because it got really boring. I got to a point that i was reading how to change the time in windows 98. Man if i want to learn how to change the time in windows 98 i would have purchase the (Biginners Guide to windows 98)not a MCSE book. I would not recommend this book to anybody.

I do NOT recommend this reference book. It has very little synonyms and merely takes up shelf space.

While the storyline is not great, it does explain all the words in alphabetical order.

The description of antidisestablishmentarianism was most enlightening though. The ending was a little predictable, the build up to a description of zytoplasm disappointing.

A little more imagination required here, I could find no reference to common terms such as bum bandit, hand shandy, shirt lifter and fudge nudgers.

This is a great thesaurus. Easy to read, easy to understand. If you are looking for a top notch, high quality, inexpensive thesaurus, this is the book for you. I recommend this highly without reservation.

Really not worth reading. Poorly written but more than that the author never forms conclusions. Re: OJ he was a 'consultant' for the defense so his 'objectivity' is severely compromised. He suspects OJ is innocent but offers no other idea as to what happened. He suggests a UFO autopsy may or may not be real. He is inconclusive in suggesting Vince Foster killed himself. When it's not downright unbelievable it's downright boring. Further he fawns at everyone including Lee, Ito, and the Today Show hosts; he's nice enough too to put in a good word for his wife. Don't bother.

I found this book to be a waste of my time. The fist in many book that I have read about the O.J. Trial.
I found the first review from "Reader in Somerville, N.J." to be a waste of time also since they put the same review...word for word in every review they give. How can that help you with a book when a person just repeats thier views over & over for every book. Answer=It can't.

These chapters came from cases where his knowledge was crucial in exposing official mistakes of showing weaknesses by the prosecution. The accuracy and fairness of crime lab evidence are entirely dependent on proper identification, protection, and transfer of evidence from the crime scene. The Introduction explains how a seeming accident was found to be murder by analyzing the entrance wound and the position of the shotgun. Forensic pathology investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. 75% of all deaths are from natural causes, 75% of the rest are accidental. About 1.5% are suicides and homicides. Many of the most controversial cases on record have involved medical examiner systems, due to political influence (p.9).

Chapter 1 deals with the Trial of OJ Simpson, and the evidence for guilt or innocence. One of the biggest mistakes was to not get a forensic pathologist to the scene immediately; important evidence was lost forever (p.34). Nicole's stomach contents were discarded; if empty, then 3 or more hours elapsed since her last meal. Page 43 tells of the high error rate in laboratory testing of blood and other specimens. Nicole's uncorroborated diary wrote of being followed to a "Payless shoe store". Would a fan of fashion and style ever go there? Page 49 says there is NO regulation on DNA testing, or of the astronomical percentage estimates. Page 59 tells that two weeks after the murders there was no blood on those socks; weeks later there was! Page 67 says no cuts were seen on OJ's hands on the flight to Chicago. Page 70 tells of Cochran's wearing that knitted cap; to me, it looked like a child's cap.

Chapter 2 discusses the suicide of Vincent Foster, and how rumor mongers blew it up into a fantasy (p.81). Chapter 3 tells of his investigations into the aftermath of Waco. This was a tragedy that never should have occurred (p.100). Chapter 4 tells of a shoot-out in Cleveland; the coroner's staff was guilty of deliberate, willful, and clever deception (p.114). Chapter 5 tells of a shooting in Chicago where "this whole operation may have been nothing more than a political assassination" (p.131). The State Attorney and the police officers involved in the raid were charged, and found at fault (p.134). Chapter 6 deals with the 1989 Oakland earthquake. Many who died would be alive if state and local emergency management officials had done their jobs quickly and efficiently (p.142). The autopsy reports were done by the lowest bidder, and the reports had the lowest quality (p.146). Chapter 7 tells of the nightclub fire in 1977 Cincinnati. Many did not die of burns or smoke inhalation, but from invisible and odorless toxic fumes (p.162).

Chapter 8 explains why a fall from a high building was homicide and not suicide or an accident. Chapter 9 investigated the mysterious death of a government opponent; it was an accident. Chapter 10 tells of the unexpected death of a government official; it was a natural death. Chapter 11 tells of the execution of a maid that caused an international incident. Chapter 12 deals with the swine flu panic of 1976, a result from using "Legionnaires Disease" to allocate money and authority to the CDC and FDA (p.231). At least 52 people died after receiving swine flu vaccine. Chapter 13 tells of a man serving a life sentence for stabbing his wife and her parents. Fingerprints found at the scene did not match the suspect, the victims, or those who were in the house before the murders (p.247). After the State forced the defense lawyer off the case, he was convicted at the third trial (p.258)! Pages 259-60 tell why a jury will convict even if the evidence is unconvincing! Chapter 14 tells of his viewing of an 18 minute videotape of an autopsy on an unknown being. He could not say it was a hoax.

there are many mistakes in this code, most of which is trivial anyway. I contacted the person, at the email address provided on this book, got a response of acknowledgement but never got any corrected code, or instructions on how to get it through ftp etc. I'll be careful not to get burned by these authors again.

I agree with the majority of reviews, this book isn't as good as it sounds. Haven't tried using the code, but thought it was in a poor object oriented style, and doesn't lend itself to reuse straight off the CD.

A more detailed review an overview of the books chapters can be found at www.tarsiersoft.com/BR/cppaa-en.htm

I'm definitely in the minority here. I love these kinds of books. I find them a refreshing change from the continual stream of beginner/introductory C/C++ books that cover the same information over and over again ("hello world"). This book covers a lot of things that don't fall within the neat confines of the standard C++ primer, especially if you consider the Visual C++ genre.

This book covers a lot of ground, much of it is in the form of annotated source code: sorting, linked lists, b-trees, performing financial calculations, statistical applications, and implementing language interpreters in C++.

There are relatively few C++ classes in the source code. The bulk of the code is straight out C coding, to which C++ purist may object.

Although it bills itself as compiler independent, the chapters on Internet programming and fractal graphics are pretty much Visual C++ all the way.

You are much better off with Kaplan or Princeton Review. The sample tests that Arco offers are not reflective of the actual LSAT (other books actually use real LSATs)and their explantions of the answers are not very helpful. The best prep is to buy the LSAC Triple Prep books.

I've wasted 10 of my 30 days to my LSAT with this book. 15 years ago I scored in the 97th percentile in the analytical reasoning section of the GRE - I say this only to show that I'm not incapable of doing logic problems. I expected the book to help me get my somewhat rusty mental processes back up to speed. Instead, I was massivly frustrated by their muddy explainations of practice test answers and total lack of help in choosing the correct answer. Explaining that answer "E" is correct, but not why A, B, C, and D are not and what tricks lurk in them is NOT helpful! Buy the Princeton Review's or Kaplan's LSAT book if you need logic problem help, not this dud. By the way, despite what every LSAT book tells you about visiting the test site and doing a practice test in the very room where your test will be held -- forget it. Security reasons prevent test sites from giving out the room number!

The explanation and examples of the analytical part are mediocre at best; the truth is that they are no help at all: they will merely confuse you more. However. the logical/reading comp. sections are not as bad.

I'm a temp worker, and the stuff she says is not real life. You could never get by in a temp office with her advice. Maybe in the 1950's. Don't buy it.

I decided to take the plunge and read this little gem just to see if it was as bad as the negative reviews imply. Guess what? The "nays" have it. Now I know why there are so many obnoxious temps on the planet. They're organized...and they have a HANDBOOK!

This book sums up the rantings of a possible obsessive-compulsive person. I bet she has changed assignments many times, because some of her "advice" are serious career-limiting moves. I wonder if she has any little rituals to go to the water fountain (get the second paper glass, not the first, but not before having sanitized it first with her own antibacterial wipes brought from home. Test the water temperature with her own thermometer, and do not drink it until it reaches 70 degrees).

If you just got a temp assignment and you want to get rid of it fast, buy this book.

While the title suggests a focus on the more challenging math facing those taking standardized tests, having read this book and several others cover-to-cover, I felt it missed the mark. It was less comprehensive and less exhaustive than similar books, particularly on the really tough questions/topics. For example, in the area of Combinations/Permutations the book fails to provide the general formula used for combination problems. Instead, it suggests the reader should make a list of all the possible combinations. Hardly a sound strategy for a 'smart test taker'. However, the greatest shortcoming of this book is the abundance of careless mistakes. In many cases these are obvious typos ( = in the place of a -) but other times terms are excluded from equations, and in some cases decimal points and digits are missing. Some pages are out of control, like page 195, where one can find no less than five glaring errors. These errors are a real frustration and will slow the readers progress. The bottom line this book does not go further than others on the tough math questions and sloppy editing waists the readers time!

I haven't read this book but I am familiar with their high school prep book for catholic students. There are at least 100 incorrect answers in the book. They even give an incorrect formula for the area of a circle. If a student really uses this book they will miss every math question that involves circles! I would have put this review under the title of that book but the new edition is not out yet, and its not taking reviews. Get any book but these!

This book is terrible. In addition to the many errors it is far too simplistic. I will be returning this book. Arco should be ashamed. I wish I had seen Eric's review before i bought this book.

This is a very...book and the questions are so easy and simple. It might be ok if you are in the 500-650 range, but if you want more, go for Kaplan and Princeton Review.

I just began it with the first two chapters and found that I could hardly get it through. There seem some errors in the book and the tests differ from the real ETS tests so much! If you have a lot of money, try to get other books instead of this one. Don't waste your time on it.

The tests in this books are pathetic - I was not able to understand a lot of critical reasoning questioning, let alone answer them (fyi, my GRE anlytical score is 760/800). The introduction to the verbal section was somewhat useful, but the practice tests will really dampen your spirits.

My first reaction to this book is "where was the editor?" Many of my criticisms of this book are forgivable problems for an initial draft, but shouldn't show up in a book on the shelf. For example, on page 10, Mr. Wilkins says:

"Users who decide to hide software by renaming the EXE file will have no luck in their attempt to avoid detection, as the file header won't lie. Files can also be collected and then stored on the site server. (Ouch! I guess noontime game playing is out.)"

This passage has a few problems. First, it's trying to describe a nuance of software inventory that doesn't belong in the introduction. Second, the file collection idea is out of context here. Last, of course, the first person comment about games is not only silly, but in bad taste.

The book, at least the portions I got through before returning it, is filled with things like this. Cute comments can be distracting to a serious reader. Here's another (page 2):

"...SMS works tirelessly in the background, providing administrative support, and to the best of my knowledge, it will not ask for a raise or quit on you suddenly."

Get serious - SMS is simply a product; it doesn't deserve to have personality ascribed to it. These attempts at casual tone are far too overt and serve no purpose.

Another obvious problem is a relatively shallow depth of understanding. How about this quote (page xvii):

"For years, [Novell's] IPX protocol had been the standard in the computer industry."

Right there I question just about everything else in the book, which has the feel of being generated based on other documents rather than real experience. You have to dig to find hard facts, and dig further to find those facts accurately described or applied.

For this book, I'd wait for the second edition if you're looking to actually be an SMS administrator. It may be okay for non-administrators who are interested in the topic, but other titles are sure to give more concrete information to admins who are in the trenches day to day.

Ok, all computer books are rushed to press. They have to hit the market asap after the release of a software- or they are outdated (especially with MS) in 6 months. But it did lack a good editor.
The author does give conflicting info, and also try to find specifics in the book! What is the chipset that is the minimum required by MS! He mentions in passing maybe a 166? Then states you need a 450. Well which is it. He could have used a better format as other books do- state the required MS hardware, then give the recommended real life needs. He also goes of on tangents that are not imperative to my knowledge of SMS- why explain for pages Windows 2000 and it's use of trees, forests... etc.
The book is not a quick read- I want something that says what SMS is, what it will do, and how to do it in the fewest words possible. I have a stack of books to read and by gosh don't need filler! This book could easily have been half the size it is, and not lost the content.
Ok it is also not something I would consider remotely being a book to pass the MS exams either. There are better books for that.
Basically, if you have time to just read about SMS, the book is good info. But it is not concise in it's approach. And it did put me to sleep once or twice.

I am managing a SMS Site. I bought the book to refresh my memory and it didn't dissapoint me. I don't believe that this book was written to prepare you for the SMS test. However, the title states that it is for administrators of SMS. There are a few mistakes -In a rush to be printed?. If you manage a SMS Site you will probably find some good points for before and after the implementation.