Sheperd Paine has developed the hobby of modeling and diorama building to a high art form! The book is full of his secrets about these subjects. Even if I was not a modeler I would buy the book just to look at the dioramas he has build and displayed in the book. They are exceptional!

I purchased this book along with the Verlinden Vol 1 and I must say that there is a big diffrence in information. Paine has much more explanation of the planning and building process than the Verlinden books. It covers a lot in just one book.

Shep Paine is a master modeler who will inspire modelers of all skill levels. Not only does his book cover the basics of dioramas, it also has chapters on weathering and painting, including a superb chapter on painting figures. The book is well organized, covering the stages of design, layout, materials and presentation, and his style of writing is clear and informal. Nothing too technical here yet will still appeal to both expert and beginner modelers. If you have built models, this book will help you put your model where it belongs - in your own diorama.

I came into this book with some experience of commercial web programming and a knowledge of H.C.I, so I realised that it is important to make information on the web accessible to all, but had little idea on where to start. In the first pages I learnt something new about alt text for images, and realised that this book was going to teach me a lot of essential things about making web sites accessible!

It starts with an insight into the legal area of accessibility and moves on to look at common myths such as having a text only alternative to a site. Then it shows you how you can present your content, navigation and data input in the most assessable way, and then shows you ways on how you test your site, making sure everyone can enjoy your online efforts!

What I love about this book is the explanation behind it. Not only does it show you the practices, it backs them up with clear and concise reasons on why these techniques can make your web site easy to use for anyone, including those who may have disabilities. It is a major eye opener and it will be a book that sits on my desk day in, day out, whilst I program web sites. I can't recommend it highly enough, and it is an absolute must read for all those who program on the web and those who use the web to display and gather information."

Two new words have joined the vocabulary of web designers in recent years - usability and accessibility. You will often come across them used in tandem.

Usability really became an issue when Jacob Nielsen infamously denounced Flash as 99% bad. Accessibility became a priority for web developers working on government projects after Section 508 was brought into law in the United States.

Accessibility became an issue in Australia during Maguire vs SOCOG in 1999, when a blind man filed a complaint with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) that neither Olympic Games tickets purchasing information nor the souvenir programme were available in Braille. Most importantly he alleged that the SOCOG website was not accessible, and to make it so would have been well within budget. SOCOG was found to have discriminated against the complainant and damages were awarded against the organization.

Accessibility is now a civil rights issue. It is also not that difficult to implement on a website, once you learn how it can be done. This excellent book, Constructing Accessible Web Sites, teaches you all that and more. It is the first on its subject, and will not be the last, but it is damned a good beginning.

All eight co-authors have been pioneers in the field of accessibility, and Glasshaus deserves praise for having assembled such a team. They cover more than website accessibility - their expertise extends to the accessibility of web design tools themselves. An apt reminder that the web is as much about reading as writing, for writers as much as readers, a real medium of two-way communication.

All websites can now be made accessible to varying degrees, even Flash websites since Flash MX, as Macromedia Senior Product Manager for Accessibility Bob Regan demonstrates in Chapter 10. So there are no excuses for failing to add increased accessibility, and usability for that matter, to that new project you are just about to commence.

Ensure you have a copy of Constructing Accessible Web Sites at hand when you begin. And also take a look at another equally essential reference on the subject due out any day now, Joe Clark's Building Accessible Websites. Accessibility is the newest and most necessary website building skill. There are no excuses now.

Of the books and resources that I've read on accessible web sites, this is by far the best - especially from a UK perspective.

The main UK legislation that specifically mentions web sites and accessibility comes into force in October 2004 which, at the time of writing this, is still over two years away. This means that there isn't a great deal of information and certainly no legal cases that we can draw on from our country, so we have to look elsewhere to see what is happening.

This book benefits in that, although it does cover Section 508 and other already in place legislation, it also gives a great all round understanding of the topic, and is very easy to read. Having chapters written by different authors means that you get a far greater depth of experience and information, which can only benefit the reader.

If you're going to buy one book on accessible web sites, this should be at the top of your shopping list.

I've read a number of books regarding the mental side of playing pool. Dr. Bob seems to break it down to the nitty gritty and manages to keep it interesting. If you've ever played pool and need work on your mental game, this book could quite possibly help you out. It helped me. Try it and see....it's defintely worth a read if you're serious about playing a better mental game than you are now.

If you're a serious player, this may be the most important purchase you'll ever make to improve your pool game. Once you are proficient at pocketing balls, getting shape, breaking, safety play and kicking, it's your mental game that determines if your skills will "come out to play today" or not. If you usually play much better in practice or when nothing is on the line than when in serious competition, this book is for you. Dr. Fancher teaches you how to use competitive pressures to your benefit. Believe it or not, you actually have the capacity to play better in competition than in practice by using the methods contained in this wonderful book. It's worked wonders for my game. I've surprised myself many times over the past year with sterling play during pressure packed matches. If I could rate this book higher than 5 stars, I would without hesitation.

I began playing pool in early middle age, after I'd been practicing psychotherapy for several years. Since understanding the mind is my profession, I began studying pool psychology. Nothing available made any scientific sense--we know enough about the mind to know that the conventional wisdom about "the mental game" is just wrong. Minds don't work like that.

So I began trying to figure it out on my own, using my knowledge of the best current science. "Pleasures of Small Motions" is the result.

If you want gimmicks, don't buy this book. If you want hocus-pocus or psychobabble, don't buy this book. However, if you want a scientifically sound understanding of the mental game, have a look.

In an attempt to read, my 5 year old would come to me a hundred times a day with some book or the other and ask,'what does this say, mommy?' As it is, I was already looking around for a good reading material her age and thankfully came across Bob Books Kids. Believe me, if you are trying to teach your child to be an independent reader, then this is just the thing for you. Bob books comes in a small box with such fun to do things like activity books and finger puppets besides palm size reading books. With just a few, small one-line sentences in each story, my daughter could finish one book in no time and was jumping up and down. To finish one book is a big achievement for any child her age and the fact that she was motivated to read more, made me like Bob books even more.Your child can even color the pictures given in these books. I would mention however that your child should have some knowledge of phonics,before he/she attempts these books.You don't want to frustrate the child. I would therefore suggest workbooks by American Education publishing on Phonics and reading. To further hold their attention, try mispronouncing easy words given in the books like Barb, Mop etc. and let them correct you. I would instantly get my daughter's attention back. Finally if you can ignore some uncommon words used in these books, you would be fine. Happy Teaching reading!

These are the absolute best early reader books I have found anywhere! Short vowels, simple words and sounds to start off and then each book adds a little more so your child can have early success, then gradually move up to harder words and eventually long vowels. There's nothing else like them. Great for early phonics practice. Closest thing to the books we learned on. (Remember, "See Dot run. See Spot run. See Dot and Spot run.", etc?) These are the first books every child should read. Try one set, then buy them all.

The Bob books are superior early reading books. They are gentle stories, using a tight, controlled vocabulary and delightfully simple line drawings for illustrations. I have used these books, for years, for independent reading for my first grade students and my own child as well. These wonderful, little books are appealing to young children, more so than any other books that I have seen. You and your young ones will love the Bob books!

Bob Smith is one of Buffalo's better creations! He is funny as a performer and yet non-threatening. His latest book is delightfully funny in places and deep and reflective in others, especially as it deals with the breakup of his 10-year relationship. My partner and I saw Bob read from his book recently in Buffalo and he did a superb job! The mail order dildo entrepreneur story was hilarious! I must also add that Bob looks terrific since he's been working out in the gym so intensively lately! I wonder if he is trying to make Tom envious or what!

What a great book! I've read all 3 books Bob has written (Growing Up Gay, Openly Bob & this one.) He's a terrific writer. As I read his books, I think I'm reading my own life's story. I can really relate to his experiences -- love, relationships, family & friends. I looked forward to this new book because it felt like I was catching up with an old friend. Several times I caught myself laughing out loud at something he had written.

I definitely connected with him when he wrote about cutting out pictures in the 4th grade -- his excellent eye/hand coordination as demonstrated by his superb cutting skills did not serve him well when he played baseball. How true!

I've heard Bob Smith perform a couple of times. He's as terrific in person as he is on paper. A truly funny, personable guy!

Way to Go, Smith, is a definite read - as are all of his books. I can't wait until the next one is printed!

I picked this book up at a booksale and really enjoyed it. Bob Smith is a very funny guy that talks about his failed relationship of 10 yrs, his relationship with his family and how he's beginning to date again and getting on with his life. I think his feelings on a relationship ending, on his mother, etc, are very universal and not limited to gay people. I think gay and straight alike can enjoy this very funny book. Find a copy and try not to crack a smile!

...Grandpa Tucker's Rhymes and Tales is a "lucky," or well worth expense. This book is chockfull of fun story-poems, and just simply poems, that offer the reader and listener an alternative to the bedtime story, or anytime story for reading to our children. That's what I did with this book. I read the rhyming tales out-loud to my 10-year-old daughter, as I believe the contents of "Grandpa's" book are best enjoyed out loud. The stories are amusing, the rhyming clever, and often the underlying messages offer lessons of good behavior without being preachy.

"Grandpa" is "hip" too. While many of the poems deal with personified animals, Tucker's most frequently used character is a snake that goes by the name of Sammy, a cool dude with a mischievous personality. Many holiday poems include Sammy getting in and out of trouble, or becoming hero for the day. Take for instance "Sammy, the Snickers Snake." Sammy dresses as a barber's pole on Halloween and saves his town from a vampire by holding his snake friends, Hiss and Hoss "dressed together like a cross," scaring the vampire away. And then the friends rejoice by giving themselves a "high one." Sammy is justly rewarded with a five-pound Snickers bar.

I have only one complaint about this book: it would be better served with full page, color illustrations. All of the children's poems here lend themselves to pictures. The black and white sketches are well done, but I would like more drawings and in color to make the book more inviting for very young children.

"Grandpa Tucker's Rhymes and Tales" is a treasure, packed with delightful humor and brilliant in the use of captivating rhymes. My students and I became acquainted with Grandpa Tucker via his enjoyable website where fun rules and where the love of language is passed to each visitor. Middle school students are drawn to the unique story poems and appreciate the natural rhythm and flow of the verses. Special favorites to all readers are the adventures of Sammy Snake, the lovable and sometimes incorrigible character who always leaves everyone smiling. There are 18 of the Sammy Snake stories in this volume. Parents and teachers appreciate poems that motivate students to read and to think about themes relevant to today's youth. The students always beg for more when we read Grandpa Tucker's rhymes, so we are thrilled to learn there is a collection of joyful poetry in this volume that can be shared anytime, anywhere!

Grandpa Tucker surely understands that the love of language shall, hopefully, ever remain the most endearing and enduring gift to be passed from parents and teachers to children. This book offers the most effective and charming way I have found to pass that gift along.

One summer, while searching educational sites for my 4th grade students, I found Grandpa Tucker's site with his wonderful poems, tales, and new words for old songs. What a joy! Reading them reminded me of the excitement when, as a child, I first realized how wonderful words could be, especially in poetry. I couldn't have been more delighted with Bob's writings for the 8-12 year old child and for all of us out there who remember being a kid. So I purchased copies for gifts and an additional 5 copies to use with my students. The investment was well worth while. To say my students truly love Sammy Snake and the wonderful tales Bob Tucker weaves is an understatement. The reason for that is not only Bob's charming command of the English language, but also because he makes Sammy and his other characters seem "real"--something that is very appealing to children. Although Sammy's a snake, Bob gives him the human qualities of a little boy, who's living and learning and trying to grow up in the world to become a good snake. And what makes it even better, Sammy's a snake who really cares about others. Sometimes he gets into trouble, like all children do. But when he makes mistakes, he gets gentle, loving guidance from the adults and friends in his life. As a teacher and parent, I especially appreciate that in his those verses. Many of Bob's poems center around Sammy and his experiences throughout the year and the holidays ("Sammy, the Valentine Snake", for one). Bob also creativity draws his audience in with such poems as "Pum-Pum, Pum-Pum, Pumpkin Pie", "Chocolate Math", and "Ode to a Hamburger", just to name a few. Children will love this book and read it over and over for a long time to come!

John Constantine, the main character here, is psychically a normal human being. His trench-coat, laid back attitude and cigarette in the corner of his mouth are all part of his image. John isn't your average guy though. He is a magician, specialized in demons and Hell. He's more interested in booze though. This book collects #41-46 of 'his' series, the first 6 issues of the Garth Ennis run (complete story-arc). A series which isn't about standard winner-takes-it-all tales but shows a struggling character who wins some and looses some, not always using the most respected options.

Here, John has just heard the news that he is suffering from terminal lung-cancer. He doesn't know what to do so he goes out to try and find something or someone who might be able to help him, thereby caring little what effects his actions have along the way. On his desperate journey he visits about every magician and representative from Heaven and Hell he can think of. Meanwhile he's getting more sick every minute and time is running out fast.

Although the typical Ennis humor (like in Preacher) hasn't set in here yet, he IS already showcasing that he can write well. It's not as good as in the next trade collecting his issues ("Fear & Loathing") but that's not saying this one isn't worth your time. Story-wise it all fits and while the story may not be the best he's ever written, it's better than many things in comparable genres out there. The art is done by various artists, mostly by Will Simpson. Although it can't compete with Steve Dillon's drawings (the artist in the other Ennis Hellblazer trades and Preacher), it is clear, moody, maybe over-sketchy sometimes but fitting for the title. A nice book with no prior Hellblazer-knowledge necessarily required.

This is the perfect pick up point for any serious Hellblazer future fan. It shows you the crazy world of the magician called John Constantine. Author Garth Ennis brings you a little bit closer to the madness of John's world, the story is very appealling and it grabs you from the beginning to the end. A great buy and a Jewel for comic-book fans. John is a character a lot of us relate to(Believe me) so grab a Pint and enjoy an awesome reading expirience..Cheers Mate!

It was with this story arc that Garth Ennis began a run on "Hellblazer" which made his name in the US. In my opinion it is still one of the best. Only 20 years old at the time, he had a tough act to follow as Jamie Delano's relentlessly bleak storylines had won him praise across the board. What nobody imagined was that this young Irishman could write a storyline that would not only grip and entertain readers, with its energy and dark wit, but that he would also set up a chain of events that is to this day still praised as the greatest series of stories ever told about John Constantine. Obviously Garth's story - telling wasn't up to the standard that it is now but he sure did manage to bring fantastically realistic dialogue and characters to the series. The games of trickery and deceit he plays with the devil himself in this collection are up there with the best horror tales I have ever read, or seen on screen. The gore count isn't as high as most of his books now, and William Simpsons art may seem sketchy at first, but persevere and you will be rewarded with a fantastically original story. Not for the faint - hearted (well Ennis books never are) but this is a truly compelling, and heartfelt story about the desperate risks that one man will take to survive as he feels death catching up with him.

As Vice President of Marketing for a large regional company with national ties, I'm responsible for a $9+ Million advertising and marketing budget. With this responsibility, I used the first edition as my beginning foundation for starting web-based lead generation. With all of the changes within the industry and ever increasing user base as well as competition, I found the second edition to provide a comprehensive "jump start" that continues to allow me to stay ahead of the competition. Easy to read with complete case histories and examples that can be translated into most industries. For those who are new to the Internet or intermediate/advanced users, you should be assured by Mr. Harden's bi-line. He was an Internet leader in the mid-80s -- years before the rest of us knew the word. This book will let web-users of all levels get an "A+" in your companies' report card.

NetResults.2 is an overview of what is necessary to market a web site. Nine chapters explain things from Investment Goals to Public Relations. Each chapter has pictorial examples of the explanation and a Resource section at the end of each chapter. The book is printed in an easy-to-read font, large enough to make reading a breeze.

The Content section contains seven pages, an appendix of Internet Resources is nine-pages and the index section is seventeen pages long making it user-friendly. On each cover is an extra "turn over" so you can "bookmark" where you stopped reading and as an added incentive, the book cover is plastisized so you can read and drink your coffee without fear of spillage!

This book cuts through the hype. It paints an honest picture that it's probably easier to lose money online than make any. It is loaded with practical advice, sound strategy, lots of case studies and a comfortable dose of humor. If you're contemplating starting a web-based business, this book would be a good first investment.

Bob's approach is life-altering. The process is intense. He poses questions where thoughtfulness and instrospection evoked are more meaningful (and can be more successful) than any eating or diet program. In understanding and dealing with the perpetual battle with food, this book and the Diets Don't Work philosophy should be on the very forefront of our personal and societal fight with weight and food! Read it again--and again, like I did.

I bought this book in a last ditch effort to lose weight. I have to say, when I began reading , I couldn't put this book down. I kept nodding my head and saying "that's me exactly!" I didn't even mind doing the excercises. They made me face realities that I knew existed but didn't want to see. This book made me understand that being fat was more of an emotional factor than a physical one. I began to eat out of true hunger,and in the last 6 months I have lost 56 pounds. I'm still working on it, but with the info I learned in this book, I know I'll never be fat again,because this time, I didn't diet(they don't work)I changed my life.

If you are ready to free yourself from the enslavement of calorie or
fat counting or excessive exercise - this is the book for you!
"Diets Don't Work" explains in simple language why diets
fail to help people achieve their weight loss goals. It includes
written exercises to help you crystalize your desires and reasons you
are overweight. By helping you delve into your inner self and by
teaching you the skills that naturally thin people naturally do, this
book can put you on the road to losing your excess weight and keeping
it off without dieting! The book covers topics such as how naturally
people stay thin, four things overweight people never do when they
eat, the main reason why you eat to much, the diet mentality and more!
This book is in its 14th printing and is the revised updated version
of the original "Diets Don't Work" book. It was printed in
1996. Another book by the author "Diets Still Don't Work"
was published in 1990 after the release of the original "Diets
Don't Work" book. The books cover essentially the same
information with only a few variations, so you really need purchase
only one or the other. I recommend this book if you are tired of the
diet roller coaster and want to live a naturally thin diet free life!

This is one of those books that appears every so often, and if you don't buy it you regret for years to come. The book is packaged in a textured synthetic dewback hide so be aware that no Dewbacks were hurt in the making of this book!! The illustrations are rich, and full of life, and color. The simple line sketches along with the reserved amounts of colors truly bring the creatures to life. I certainly hope that amazon will allow some of the pictures to be seen so that the reader can witness just how beautiful these drawings are! The authors, and artists explore some of the more well known, and some new creatures that inhabit the star wars universe, and do so in an intelligent, and also educational manner. The book is a little pricey for the mildly interested, or younger buyers, but it is a book that can, and hopefully will be treasured for years. A true winner and well worth a 5 star rating!

From the fertile imaginations of Whitlatch and Carrau comes this immense coffee-table book. This book is a detailed bestiary
of the living creatures that inhabit the planets of George Lucas's Star Wars saga. Rendered beautifully in color and formatted in the style of a naturalist's field journal.
the book showcases animals seen in the films and (finally) gives
images to other creatures formerly only described in print.
Mating habits, social interractions, hunting techniques, and
life cycles of Banthas, Dewbacks, Rancors,and Kadus are shown.
As well as others who only made brief appearances or just named in print such as: Womp Rats, Nerfs, or that trash compacter Monster (Dianoga) which I finally saw what that eye belonged to.
Fauna are represented planet by planet and each new world gives
a brief but informative introduction on the ecosystem.
This lavishly illustrated and beautifully rendered book makes a
excellent companion to the Illustrated Star Wars universe. As well as the books of the conceptual art. For any fan this is an
essential volume and a most welcomed addition to one's personal
library. A pity that George Lucas does have an introductory
statement printed to acknowledge or at the very least give kudos to the splendid work Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau have done in giving form and life to the creatures that inhabit his universe.

This book is odd in the fact that it claims to be a simple wildlife reference, when it is in fact quite possibly the most masterful artistic compilation relating to Star Wars that has been put out in recent years. From the "dewback hide" covers and through every page in between, the reader finds himself immersed in a vision of the Star Wars universe that is so lavish and full of life that he may not want to leave. Clearly, the people who put this book together were not working on a project, they were building a labor of love, and it shows on every page. And yes, it really *is* an excellent wildlife reference too!

If you're buying this book for yourself, it will stand out as the pride of your Star Wars library for years to come. If you're buying it as a gift for a fan of any age, prepare to be showered with gratitude. The book is so endearing that even people who may not necessarily be fans of the genre will certainly come to admire it. The Wildlife of Star Wars is well worth every penny.