As a SONY PS2 fan, and an avid reader of Harry Potter, I must report that this book, "Chuck Farris and the Tower of Darkness" is a refreshing combination of PS2 info and a darn exciting story. I like the way the real world of Chuck and the fantasy world of the PS2 meld into a new reality. This book is a fresh approach to adventure stories. Even my 22 year old brother, another PS2 enthusiast, went crazy about the book. I am recommending this to all my friends.

This book was great! I read it in two nights! I love the part when Chuck's toes became muscular! It was so funny! I can't wait for the second one to come out!

I thought this was a very entertaining book. It had a lot of information about how to beat a bunch of Playstation games and at the same time it told an interesting story about a kid in school and how he dealt with some mean kids that bothered him. This was a great follow-up book to the Dragonball Z book by the same writers. I'm anxious to read the next Chuck adventure!!

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. MAGIC HAS A HAD VERY INTERESTING CAREER AND PRIVATE LIFE. HE DOES A GREAT JOB OF DESCRIBING THE NEWS OF HIS HIV VIRUS IN SUCH AS A WAY THAT HE IS HONEST BUT NOT BRUTALLY HONEST. HE SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD GUY. HE DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HIS CAREER AND HIS LIFE IN DETAIL. I ENJOYED THIS ALOT, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE HIS RESPECT OF LARRY BIRD, PAT RILEY, AND VARIOUS OTHER PLAYERS AND COACHES. HE ALSO HAS GOOD VALUES AND SEEMS HUMBLE. HE IS VERY HUMAN AND ALSO HAS GREAT CHARISMA. HOPEFULLY MAGIC WILL LIVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE. THIS BOOK IS VERY RECOMMENDED.

An enjoyable quick read that offers a lot of down-to-earth things about Magic's life. Growing up in Michigan, describing what school, family life, and basketball was like. He also delves into some of his interludes with some of the ladies, and describes the constant attention given to NBA players on the road. He writes of his HIV infection and how he initially dealt with it. For those who've even casually been exposed to Ervin Johnson on the court or via interviews, he's one of the most relaxed and even-keel people we've ever encountered. Magic is appreciative and laid-back. This will allow him to live as long as people who are not infected.

Magic without a doubt is Something Special.He was The Last Complete Player in the Game.He Could Play Position.but he Proved Himself even Bigger after He Found out he had HIV.He became an Even Bigger Winner Giving Back&Building a Bigger Foundation.this Book Deals with His Days at Michigan State,The L.A.Lakers&His Views around the League.The Man is a Champion on&off The COurt.His Smile is TImeless.A Class Act.

This is a very colorful book and catches the eye of the youngster. I would recommend it for basic/early bible learning for any toddler. It would be even better though if it came in a board book style so the little ones don't rip the pages, Moms or people with small ones around know.

Each individual Bible story is short and easy to read. The colorful pictures keep their attention. Our children have grown to know the characters and have learned a great deal about them. This is a terrific tool for making children readers of the Word.

I bought this for my 2 year old daughter, and she loves it. She can now identify (and often acts out) the basics of these 39 Bibles stories. They are easy for the young child to understand. They teach only the basics: people, significant event, God's love. On a cognitive level, it teaches what toddlers can understand. There have been times when I have expanded on the details of a given story when my daughter's interest has been high. All in all, it is a great start.

Built by the Owner's Design is a refreshing and enlightening resource that every pastor will want to read and own. Danny provides insightful illustrations for concepts presented. Short evaluations at the end of each chapter help the reader move the information to application in his or her specific church setting. The theme of construction, from foundation to completion in discipleship evangelism, provides an excellent backdrop for a fine work that can inspire church leaders towards a greater dedication to true discipleship.

This book has three things that make it a MUST read for pastors:
1. It is concise, straightforward without being polemical, and easy to grasp.
2. The author effectively combines evangelism and discipleship for the average church.
3. The author provides user-friendly evaluation instruments.

I highly recommend this book.

Built By The Owner's Design is one book that has caught me pleasantly by surprise. I was surprised to find a book that is applicable to all denominations, surprised by the author's insight into the inner workings of individual churches, and surprised to find a book relating to evangelism that is direct and honest in its approach. I appreciate finding a book that gives helpful steps and points to getting churches back on a true evangelistic track with meaningful growth

I picked up this book shortly after resigning from the evangelism committee at my own Presbyterian church. After serving for 2 ½ years in evangelism I felt confused over our inability to change and move forward to meet the growth in our community. This book has helped me to see a great deal what has held us back from the traditions we hold onto to burdening our members with too many committees or programs. I also was able to see what my church is doing well at such as education, support of our new members, to reaching out to the less fortunate in our local community.

The checklists included with the book not only help you clearly see where you church needs work but also will give you insight into your own personal evangelistic walk that the majority of Christians struggle with. This is a book I would recommend to all Christians regardless of their position within their own church.

I bought this book and 2 others "The Secret of Amusement Park Games Revealed" and "How To Win at Carnival Games" because I was curious to see what was in them. They ALL give you some general idea of how to go about winning some of the games but in essence, it takes lots of practice and perhaps building your own version of it at home. Let's face it, the carnies make their living from people walking up who think that they can win. The odds are on their side and as long as you believe that "it's just a lot of fun to try", you're on the right track. You can and will spend a lot of money chasing those large stuffed animals if you think these books will make you win. That's my 2 cents. :-)

this book helps get back at the carnies and makes you look good in front of your girl

I've tried to figure these games out forever. I can't tell you how much money I've spent. This book helped me figure them out. The author told you what he knew and was straight forward on your chances of winning. He tells how the games are won and how they can be adjusted to make it harder. I thought it was great when the author said like "If you can't get it in x tries, walk away." It covered almost all of the games at some of the big amusement parks. If you need an help on your technique this is the book for you.....

If you think of green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns when someone says "Ireland" then this is a book for you.

Different from a travel guide, this book will help a new Eire inductee gain insight to Ireland and the Irish people themselves whether you are there for vacation, business trip or school. Especially good is the section about Irish history, the people involved in the making of that history and the important player's in making peace in Northern Ireland. Having said that, this book is badly in need of an update since it stops just after the 1998 Peace Agreement was reached. It also helps you to understand where each side is coming from and how not to make conversation faux pas when discussing the often sensitive issue of The Troubles.

The book is great for an overall feel of Ireland's culture but it's not for those who have had much exposure already. Having gone on several trips to Ireland and knowing many native Irish individuals personaly, I found much of the book to be too basic. However I still was still entertained and learned bit more about the Irish in general. I wish I had read it before my first trip; it would have helped me to understand and appreciate the island more at that time.

Obligatory caveat: I have only been to Ireland once. For this reason I disqualify myself from making authoritative statements as to whether Levy's impressions are accurate; I can only compare against what I do know.

With this in mind, what I found most helpful is the up-to-date impressions of the author concerning the issues that tear at the national psyche of the Republic. She makes clear that much has changed in Ireland in the past forty years in almost every aspect of life, and gives the right amount of detail. Her suggestions as to pub etiquette are quite good, and pub culture is a key aspect of Irish life because they are in fact community centres of a sort. Her tone is that of someone who likes Ireland and its people, but is not blind to their foibles and weaknesses. Stereotypes are addressed head-on and debunked where necessary.

There is a distinctly feminist tinge to a lot of Levy's commentary. I don't think it reaches the level of polemic, but it would affect the reader's enjoyment of the book positively or negatively depending upon receptiveness to the author's views. Myself, I thought most of it was on the mark but that a few of the comments needed some balance. Those supportive of feminism will find it refreshing; those hostile to it will likely be put off.

The factor that bothered me most, oddly, was the consistent misspelling of Gaelic terms. While I understand that spelling Gaelic using the Latin characters is in some ways not an exact science, the misspelled words are among the most commonly known and the errors are glaring--if you pronounce the word as printed, you do not get the word that is commonly known. I felt this to be sufficiently glaring for a markdown.

Recommended with the specified reservations. Would form a good basis for avoiding pitfalls and entering into discussions with the Irish if you were planning to visit.

This book is a wonderful preliminary to any first-time excursion to Ireland, as well as a concise compendium of everything Irish. Not a tour-guide; it delves into cultural issues, Ireland's history (up to and including the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, which, unfortunately will require a whole new chapter as of today's writing), political faces and national celebrities,interacting with the locals, pub life, key Gaelic phrases, and basically, how to navigate without looking like a total tourist.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in an introduction to Irish history and current issues, and to anyone who is going to Ireland for the very first time.

When I heard the classic 60's era liberal Danny Goldberg state on Imus's radio show that the leading democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman was in his mind the worst possible person to lead the party, it perked my interest in this book. I found it startling to hear a liberal bashing his party's candidate and I had to find out why. Goldberg, a successful music executive and social activist and member of the ACLU, writes a historic reflection on the evolution of liberalism from the 50's to today through changes in music to changes in politics. The Democratic Party once had the primary attention of youth that was reflected in the civil rights movement and in the early folk music of Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Joan Baez and the poetry of Allen Ginsburg. The author writes of the battle of free speech and freedom of censorship that was challenged by Tipper Gore who became his nemesis politically but oddly virtually a friend as Tipper sticks to her guns but is social to Goldberg. The best part of the book for me is the discussion of the music and how it related to the changing times and Goldberg's assessment of the Democratic Party abandoning youth, becoming more conservative through the control of liberal snobs. He offers a concise appraisal of why Bush won the election, which is tied to what he describes as Gore's fatal selection of Lieberman and Bush's simple ability to communicate to the general public, which was the democratic audience. What a fascinating contrast is Norman Lear's liberal views that clashed with Reagan's conservatism yet Lear was fascinated with Reagan when they spoke personally as Reagan had a unique gift for communication that made his audience feel that he was taking to them directly. There is a nice lesson here that Goldman professes that as we grow older, we need to listen to the youth and their music and tolerate their views as we wished when we were young and that we need to draw the youth of today into the political experience so that they participate in government in the future. Also, the book contains interesting detail on the music industry and the effects of music and celebrities communicating political ideals. One part I wish Goldberg addressed is why so many voting Americans today appear to be conservatives and what impacts of the liberalism of the 60s and 70s
may have caused that change? He hints that liberal extremism of a few may have caused that cultural change but more commentary and examples of such would be interesting and may explain why the Democratic Party has made that shift as well.

A recent New York Times Magazine cover focused on the republican youth movement sweeping through colleges and universities. I'm not old enough to know this, but I bet there was a similar cover about the democratic movement back in the sixties and what a shame that young Americans today have no sense of what it means to be a democrat. This is precisely what Danny Goldberg writes about--how the democrats abandoned all of us (I'm 28 and I did not vote in the last election). Goldberg's book is important not only for its historical perspective with regards to politics but more specifically for its cultural history and how the two used to support each other and how they now collide and collapse. And he does not leave us hanging. He has ideas for the future. Ideas that make sense. all those candidate ought to read this book. I read it in a single sitting. only got up once to reload some cds for th emood music it so justly deserves!

I'm an occasional listener to conservative talk radio. This radio community of dominant Republicans is galvanized each day by radio hosts in a belief that liberals live to hate family values, religion, George Bush (OK, many do), and flag-waving patriotism.

I was raised a conservative Mormon and I continue to hold fast my upbringing. But I was also raised on the Beatles, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and San Francisco Bay Area bands. Eight kids later, I still play those records and my kids embrace most of it too.

Danny Goldberg was raised a liberal Democrat, attended Woodstock, met Hendrix, worked with Zeppelin, managed Kurt Cobain and worked with and signed many of the artists whose CDs I buy. Goldberg's account of his career through the 60's to 2003 is worth alone the price of the book. However, be prepared to bristle at his characterizations of our conservative heroes as well as his positive references to his liberal pals like Barbra Streisand, Michael Moore, Arianna Huffington, and other ACLU members.

But engage your mind a little. Shut off the radio for a day or so and let him talk to you one-on-one about his confrontations with the liberal elite and their placating arrogance. Let him vent his frustrations about Tipper and Al Gore and their disingenuous sincerety, or his indictment on Joe Lieberman, forever closing the door on any future political support. What you'll find is an honest voice, a man raised with consistent, righteous, social values. Goldberg's life represents learning through first-hand experience rather than second-hand dogma, a condition most of us conservatives suffer. And if you don't like his politics, then be prepared to get off your keister like he has for 30 years and do something about it.

No, I'm not liberal in disguise thumping a liberal's book. I just feel a little wiser after spending some time with Goldberg's life, his career in entertainment, and how they're inextricably connected with politics. As a result, I'm tending to believe that if we strip away the anger, the personal insults, and the holy cows of partisan ballot punching, we'll find a common bond in our humanity. And then we may realize that we've been really violently agreeing with each other.

"[And that] castles made of sand, melts into the sea eventually."
Jimi Hendrix

This is another wonderfully written book by Robert Byrne. It shows the vivid life of a pool hustler/hobo/drunk/real person that was in his prime in the 1920's-1950's. If gives a real sense of McGoorty and his life in what apear to be his own words. He also shares extremely colorful insight, his opinion, into several famous and well known professional billiard players and World Champions of his era. It is full of real life experiences during those times; however, the language and crude tone are very vulgar. If you're not offended it is an enjoyable interesting read.

McGoorty, billiards legend, tells all. Not quite on the same plateau as, for example, Mezz Mezzrow's 'Really the Blues', but definitely up there in the modest pantheon of books unafraid to celebrate lowbrow Americana in all its primal glory. McGoorty's glorious world of the 1920s and 30s is gone now, but thankfully we have a few books like this to remind us what it was like.

Quick review: Very unique voice. Was a pleasure to read. Excellent Social Anthropological details contained within. Highly recommended. Made me want to learn 3 cushion.

Captain America has been drawn into the chase for all 6 segments of an object of reputed occult powers, The Bloodstone. Also on the trail in Baron Helmut Zemo along with his mercenaries Batroc, Machete and Zaran. So alongside his former foe, Diamondback, Captain America must travel the world in this deadly race for the Bloodstone. Little do the rivals know, that there is also a third party with an interest in the stone.

This trade paperback collects issues #357 - #364 of Captain America which involves a very fast paced, Indiana Jones type action/adventure, sees a kindling romance between Cap and his former foe, Diamondback, plus introduces us to a new extremely dangerous foe, Crossbones.

The artwork from Kieron Dwyer is fantastic, storytelling from Mark Gruenwald in superb, his run on Captain America being one of the best. One of the better Marvel collections out there. RECOMMENDED!!!!

Mark Gruenwald and his team wrote Captain America better any others to work on Cap before or since, and The Bloodstone Hunt is a perfect example of this. It's a Indiana Jones-like 6 issue story arc which also features Cap's best girlfriend ever- Diamondback, and also Baron Zemo, Crossbones, and Batroc! I almost wish that I didnt have the comics so I could read this for the first time, just great stuff. And, this story arc was just one of many great ones from Gruenwald and company, there was also the Scourge arc, the Streets of Poison arc, the "New Captain America John Walker" arc, "The Death of Cap", the Serpent Society issues, among many others. Just excellent, excellent reading.

It's got everything you could possibly want - exotic locations, dastardly villains, damsels in distress, a race against time for a weapon of immense power, and everyone's favorite Blue Boyscout -- Captain America! All I can describe it as is Captain America meets Indiana Jones. It's my most favorite Cap run of all time, and the love interest, Diamondback, is the best to date. Please come back to the title Mr. Gruenwald! And bring Kieron with you...

If you're looking for in-depth detailed information on RDF, XML Schema, DAML + OIL etc., then don't buy this book.
If you're interested in DAML + OIL, and applications of it, then you don't want this book. (It covers DAML + OIL, but only touches its surface.)
If you want to read about new standars rising from the XML community, and you don't have any particular preference, then this might be a book you like.
If you can't cope with minimal cohesion, then you definitely should not buy this book. There's no single message in this book.

By now, I guess most of IT professionals have atleast heard about XML and know what problems XML can help solve, however it's challenging to keep up with fast evolving technologies around XML, like RDF, Topic Maps, Schemas, etc. I myself had heard about these technologies, but didn't quite understand them fully till I read Professional XML Meta Data from Wrox. As far as I know, this is the only book available in the market today that covers technologies useful for data description, discovery and exchange, in so much detail. The book covers XML Schemas, XML Linking and Querying, both the RDF specifications, Topic Maps and more. All the topics are explained in detail, the book is very well connected and the chapters flow nicely in sequence. I personally liked the final chapter "Advanced Meta Data Use Cases" that covers couple of areas where meta data can enhance the applications.

If you need to know about the latest XML metadata technologies or concepts like the Semantic Web and machine readable metadata, you need this book. I found it very useful in explaining RDF (there are three excellent chapters on RDF) and Topic Maps, which are potentially difficult subjects to understand. The book also suggests some interesting uses for metadata in the future, and has a useful chapter on extracting metadata from databases.