This book is very informative. I do have a warning though. On page 44 Canoe Shack is listed as canoe rental. On November 24, 2001 I had scheduled a drop off with this outfitt. Canoe Shack never fullfilled its obligation. No explination was given. Perhaps the author should omit this outfitt in future editions.

This is a very useful book. It is easy to read and gets you where you want to be - on the water.

Illinois is a lot more fun than people realize.

A native of Illinois, Mike Svob has canoed the steams of the Midwest for thirty years. In Paddling Illinois he draws upon his experience and expertise in showcasing sixty-four outstanding trips for canoe and kayak. Each trip route features detailed maps showing roads, put-ins and take-outs, significant rapids, mileage, fascinating points of interest, and other useful information. General summaries are provided covering camping opportunities, water levels, shuttle routes, access points, canoe rentals and/or shuttle services. Paddling Illinois is additionally enhanced information on fishing opportunities, river reading and maneuvers, and special safety factors. Highly recommended for both novice and experienced canoeists and kayakers.

The story has been known for many years, but this book puts in focus, by a survivor, the insanity of a lesser known action then the case at Auschwitz. A well told personal experience by someone willing to put down for history something that needed to be said. No matter how many years I've studied, and the many survivors I've known who have shared fragments, this clear telling in print for generations to come is a treasure.

This is an absolutely incredible book. An already powerful story it is taken to a new level by the constant reminder that this is first hand experience.

It is perfect for nearly anyone, the musician will relate to the music, the historian to the accuracy and the avid reader will simply latch on and be unable to let go.

It brought tears to my eyes.

Playing for Time, a grade-A book by Fania Fenelon, is a document not only about the Holocaust, but one that goes deeper: it shows how music brought redemption of spirit in the Hell of Hells. When Fania and her friend are brought to the death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, she is recognized by a girl in the camp's orchestra as a Parisian caberet singer. She is accepted in to the orchestra, where she is forced to sing the opera Madame Butterfly for the SS. Fania does not let the hardships of the camp take over her spirit, though. She uses music as a weapon, and, as an orchestrator as well as singer for the group, she orchestrates marches by Jews and anti-Nazis right under the noses of her captors, who never catch on. Fania's love of music allows her to survive Auschwitz, and when she is sent with the rest of the "Orchestra Girls" to Bergen-Belsen near the end of the war, her passion for life pulls her through a severe case of typhus. One day she learns that the Nazis are going to shoot the prisoners of Bergen-Belsen at 3:00 that afternoon. The English arrive at the camp at 11:00 that same morning. Fania just barely survived the war, and afterwards she returned to Paris and started again as a caberet singer. She died of cancer in her hometown in 1983. Playing for Time teaches us many things. It teaches us that the human spirit cannot be killed. It teaches us that good always wins over evil. And it teaches us that if you have a love, stick to it. One day it might just save your life.

The Wild West days of the dot-com craze are behind us, but e-business strategy remains a largely uncharted frontier. In fact, e-commerce seems more bewildering than ever, now that many of the strategic maxims that the Internet bubble was built on have been proved false. To help you get a handle on the revolutionary technology that has survived the collapse, Nirmal Pal and Judith M. Ray have collected articles by researchers and executives, including many from their home base, the e-Business Research Center at Pennsylvania State University. This anthology constitutes a solid and well-researched book, which has sufficient gravitas (and jargon) for an academic and enough practical information for an entrepreneur. The multiple authors sometimes overlap as they dissect various e-business approaches, but all offer worthwhile ideas. We [...] recommend this book to executives at any company, since Internet technology is now ubiquitous, and distinctions between old economy and New Economy are fast falling by the wayside.

The various authors examine "key themes" that intersect all manner of changes now occurring during what they characterize as an "information revolution": free agency, compressed supply chains, co-opetition, obliteration of boundaries, e-leadership, the elimination of hierarchies, emergence of electronic marketplaces ("bazaars"), club membership, and finally, "trust brokers" who serve as "an incentive and penalty mechanism to uphold the 'digital order' in global, real-time electronic markets." The material is presented and then developed by within 14 chapters. In Chapter 1, for example, Ghadar and Leonard "deliberate on how the digital economy is forcing a fundamental and permanent shift in the way enterprise strategies are developed, and in the process raise significant new challenges for managers. In Chapter 7, Bhargava and Lee "provide valuable insights about emerging technologies and practices that will help organizations remain open and flexible in response to the changing technological environment so that past information technology investments remain useful and valuable in the future." And in the final chapter, Loomis and Gerhard "identify several strategic issues facing executives who must lead or interact within the e-government environment." All manner of forces are driving the expansion and consequent complexity of the "digital frontier" and at an ever-increasing velocity. Here in a single source are a range and diversity of perspectives on this process. The editors are to be commended on the selection and presentation of the 14 separate but inter-related essays. I also appreciate the "About the Contributors" section which identifies dozens of supplementary sources to consult for those to wish to explore specific issues in much greater depth. Those who share my regard for this book are urged to check out Profit from the Core, written by Chris Zook with James Allen, which suggests a number of growth strategies which are also worthy of careful consideration.

This is a wonderful collection of leading edge research and practical advice from experts in the field of e-business, e-commerce, and e-"anything". The authors and editors have created a very timely set of e-business thinking, imperatives, and recommendations, as well as practical and real life examples to cement the concepts. I highly recommend this book!

I was very positively surprised when I started reading this book. I had never read anything from this author before and I was imediately immersed in the story.

The story, though based on the life of Melisende, the first daughter of King Baldwin of Jerusalem, has enough fiction to make it easily readable and very captivating.

The author has been able to recreate the romantic atmosphere of the times, with Knights fighting for the "true" religion and
women who had the courage and character to be true Kings, but could not for their sex.

All characters are so vividly described, you cannot but feel you know them and want to find out what happens to them. The places are very well described and feel as real and ancient as they are.

All in all, a very good book and very enjoyable.

This story of a rather atypical medieval family more than pleasantly surprised me, as I bought it on a whim. The detail is excellent, but not too overdone as to overpower the plot. Tarr also paid close attention to her characters' evolution over time. As this book occurs over a 20+ year time period, we see Baldwin and Arslan turn from infants, to mischevious boys, to knights of a warrior kingdom; Lady Richildis metamorphisizes from cold, practical young widow to earnest, loving mother and wife, yet still steadfast in her servance to Melisende. With exception of, perhaps, slightly more description of Michael Bryennius and perhaps Helena (secondary characters, yet most fascinating), this books misses absolutely nothing. A must read for those who are curious about life in the medieval age, particularly the Crusader Kingdom.

This book was a very enjoyable read, I'd love to know if there is going to be an contiunation because I'd love to know more about the people in the book? For example what happens to Arslan when he gets to France......?

MOTHER NATURE'S HERBAL by Judy Griffin is a fascinating book. Like the wide Sargasso Sea, however, HERBAL contains an accumulation of a little of this and a little of that, but no complete anything. As a result, HERBAL falls into the limbo between the comprehensive text the advanced herbalist seeks and the overview the novice seeks. I suspect Griffin uses this book in her coursework (she teaches) as it is jampacked with the topics one would cover in a survey course. Undoubtedly, she provides additional information in the classroom and I suppose you could use some of the entries in her bibliography to fill out the details.

Other reviewers have described HERBAL as an "anthropological" approach to the study of herbs, but I would not. Griffin's approach is geographic--she covers the broad regions of the world. Anthropologists (ethnographers and ethnologists) focus in-depth on one "culture" not an amalgam of five or six groups at a time. An anthropologist would study the contextual use of plants as food, medicine, accessories for adornment, and commodities for exchange. Still, Griffins approach is interesting in a travel guide sort of way.

Griffin cites some very good primary sources (her bibliography is useful) including RODALE'S ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS. I prefer Rodale's ENCYCLOPEDIA not only because it provides in-depth information about organic growing practices (whereas Griffin merely brushes over the topic), but it is a good U.S. source of current information on the side effects of herbs (as well as their purported uses). Rodale's book includes the latest medical research concerning specific herbs.

Europeans are light years ahead of Americans in herbal research and I have found two books written by European herbalists that are excellent. Penelope Ody's THE COMPLETE MEDICINAL HERBAL (Ody is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the U.K) and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICAL PLANTS by Andrew Chevallier (also a member of the NIMH) are quite good, though the latter is more inclusive (i.e. he includes more plants--herbs, spices, etc.). Lesley Bremness book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HERBS is a good resource for medical and non-medical uses of herbs though I would be inclined to recommend it more for the latter. All three books are filled with glossy photographs of plants and cost more than Griffin's book.

Griffin's book is a good buy for the price if you are unfamiliar with herbs and herbal uses and want to know more. However, if you intend to have more than a cursory knowledge of herbs or use herbs medicinally you will need to invest in more in-depth books and/or study. I've studied, used, and grown herbs for years and I am still very careful, not only about how I use them but how I advise others to use them. Herbs have much to recommend them, but like any substance they can be abused.

Dr. Judy Griffin provides a comprehensive guide to the herb world in Mother Nature's Herbal, her latest book. A master gardener, herbalist, and certified horticulturist, Griffin explains everything from how to start seeds in properly amended soil to harvesting and using the leaves, flowers, and berries of each plant optimally.

Her book is part of Llewellyn's Whole Life Series, which focuses on holistic living.

Griffin describes each herb fully, using common and botanical names. Delving into folklore, she presents historical and contemporary uses of many plants. She also provides cultural information on the use of herbalism (plant medicine) through the centuries, including Ayurvedic (Indian), Chinese, medieval, Mediterranean, and Native and South American remedies. Griffin wrote Mother Nature's Herbal for "those who are ready to learn and experience the beauty, knowledge, and synergy of everything that grows." She adds that "I emphasize companion planting, kitchen gardens, and herbal repellents."

Her book includes more than 200 recipes, ranging from Mango Salsa to Ginger Zucchini Carrot Cake to Pesto Genovese to the Nobody Loves Me Tonic, for when "life has let you down and no one seems to care." Health recipes encompass an abundance of tonics, as well as recipes for skin and hair care, therapeutic baths, and simple medicinal remedies. Food recipes include butters, vinegars, marinades, oils, and seasoning blends. She devotes one chapter to the use of essential oils and flower remedies.

Pen and ink drawings of 102 herbs garnish the pages, along with 24 color photos. Bits of wisdom, such as "Believe in your innate right to celebrate life through good health" and "The garden is the poor man's apothecary" are sprinkled throughout the book.

Griffin offers planting arrangements and directions for theme gardens, including a bee garden (which will also attract hummingbirds), culinary garden, romantic garden, fragrant garden, survivor's garden (herbs that will "tolerate poor, rocky soil"), shade garden, Biblical garden, and evergreen garden. Appendices include a growing chart with the conditions under which each plant will do best; information about nutrients; and a purchasing guide, with suppliers' addresses and telephone numbers. She provides an extensive glossary and bibliography.

Readers unfamiliar with the world of herbs will find a wealth of information for beginners in Griffin's book. More experienced herbalists will appreciate the thoroughness of her research. Everyone will enjoy the dozens of tips Griffin offers, like this one: "flavor salad dressing by soaking herbs in it for 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Use one teaspoon of herbs to one cup of dressing."

Judy Griffin goes beyond "how-to" in her anthropological approach to the history, uses, and cultural significance of herbs in societies from West to East, yet her manner is still lighthearted and not overbearingly intellectual. This is a perfectly functional guide to herbalism, but it also engenders a respect and awareness of how important these plants have been to humankind. 

There is quite a bit of information about the Society of Friends (Quakers) out there, but none as in a more unlikely location as Judith Moffett's "Penterra". The information she provides about the Quaker's stand on non violence, sexual mores and dealing with an entirely different lifestyle are fascinating. The book moves quickly along the lives of George Quinlan, his son Danny, the Hrossa who are allowing the Quakers to set up their colony " Swarthmore" and the new group on the planet " The Sixers". (named for the ship they arrived in on Pennterra)

Danny reaching puberty is handled well, although I blushed at some of the more "graphic" parts of this section, and I'm no prude! That Danny becomes a integral part of the next step in the Quaker/Hrossa world is only fitting to the process.

Ms. Moffett is a gifted author and her many and varied works show this.

As for the Asimov opening..I started to read it, but found it too ponderous. Judith Moffett said pretty much the same thing as Asimov, and FAR more entertaining!

A group of Quakers reach a distant planet, encounter the sentient hrossa, and work out a way to live in peace with these beings. Then they must deal with a second group of humans arriving (non-Quakers) who do not have the same penchant for peaceful co-existance. I found the study of Quaker process in an alien place a delightful unearthing of the human spirit. The hrossa are a sexy lot, and their effect on humans is fun to observe. My favorite part, however, is the unfolding of a new, dynamic, and (not so) alien theory of evolution. If peace and cooperation are your thing, you'll enjoy participating in the world of Penterra.

I agree with the first reviewer, except that I found the Quaker issues fascinating - what non-violence toward other sentient beings than humans really means, for example.

I also found the presentation of sex and society issues worthy of the best science fiction: clear yet not heavy-handed.

I recommend this book strongly to anyone who likes science fiction that makes them think.

This book was excellent. Not only for the abandoned, but for every woman! This book was very easy to read and very comforting. I loved it and would suggest everyone read it and pass it on. Carolyn is a simply beautiful woman. I think if the all women read this, especially young women it will save a lot of heartaches from ending dangerous, life-threatening. Teach a lesson before it needs to be taught! Give it to a young soul beginning a relationship - Thank you!

"In her hope-filled volume, POWER FOR THE ABANDONED WOMAN, Carolyn Gabriel provides a much needed and valuable service for any woman (or man for that matter) left insecure and self-doubting by a failed relationship. Her thoughts distilled from personal experience and reflection, offer positive direction for many people. They deserve widespread distribution."

"A compendium of poetic and common-sense insights into love and loss by an intelligent, spirited woman who has been there."

Unlike many Hollywood works, this sequel to the Practical SQL Handbook (that I have also reviewed here) manages to improve upon the previous title.

The title of this work, with its pun (SQL/Sequel), is a great indicator that Bowman can write about a potentially dry topic while interjecting many grins throughout. I really appreciated that touch.

One feature of this work that I especially liked is that it is organized by problem type (Managing Multiples) rather than by syntax (SELECT). This, in my opinion, is key to a book with the word 'Practical' in the title. Overall the presentation (layout, font, figures, etc.) is somewhat mundane; however, this does not take away from quality of the work.

The sequel also includes a CD with an evaluation copy of Sybase Adaptive Server Anware and a working database, ready for you to use in working through the problems and solutions presented. Unlike many technical works, I found no errors in the problems or solutions presented.

The sequel includes chapters on:

- Handling Dirty Data - Translating Values - Managing Multiples - Navigating Numbers - Tuning Queries - Using SQL to Write SQL - Understanding the Sample Database - Comparing Data Type and Functions - Using Resources.

Another feature that I enjoy is the fact that while the work presents standard SQL information, Bowman includes DBMS-specific variations (Sybase Adaptive Server, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, MS SQL Server, Oracle, and Informix), albeit without includin one major DBMS, DB2. The missing DBMS is the reason I rate this work a 4 instead of a 5.

I recommend this work to those that work with SQL or databases in general.

In this companion to Practical SQL: The Handbook, Practical SQL: The Sequel picks up where the handbook left off and explores tasks related to the daily life of a database. The author takes a hands-on approach to taking basic knowledge of SQL and extending it to solving real world problems. Like most programming languages, SQL is a language that is best learned by doing. Entering queries and seeing what happens will get your further along than textbooks full of relational theory. It's a bit like walking: if you were to think about all the bones in your leg and how they work, you would probably fall down. There are plenty of examples for you to try, which later become prototypes for your own queries.

Working on a daily basis with web applications, the Practical SQL Handbook is always within reach and is the reference I turn to whenever I run into a SQL query that tests the limits of my knowledge, despite several years of SQL experience. Writing SQL can often be tricky. Many concepts are difficult to grasp even for the experienced, such as working with aggregates or joins and unions, which often have me returning to the handbook. I expect Practical SQL: The Sequel will become a well-thumbed companion to the handbook.

This book covers several important issues often overlooked by general SQL tutorials or theory and not covered at all by vendor manuals. This book is aimed at the person who has learned basic SQL and is moving on to greater things. You will not find basic relational database theory in this companion to Practical SQL: The Handbook, but you will find a balanced guide to learning the practical techniques for solving the SQL puzzles that crop up in the real world outside the classroom.

Most working database applications employ SQL that bears little resemblance to the relational concepts and idealized examples found in textbooks or classrooms. Yet at the other extreme, the new SQL user is often frustrated to discover existing references are little more than technical manuals or vendor brochures touting the latest gimmick. This text helps you make the transition from the idealized forms of the classroom to the practical solutions used in everyday database work. It should not be dismissed as a sort of "vocational" text only for those who get their hands dirty. This book offers solid advice for anyone working with relational database systems.

A chapter is devoted to recognizing, finding, correcting and removing "dirty data." Such as duplicate information, or nearly duplicate information, such as you are probably familiar with junk mail that comes to your mailbox with several slightly different spellings of your name. In the real world you often inherit data that has been collected without concern for integrity checks.

Much of the work a database is expected to do requires searching through data for items matching some condition. This is executed through the WHERE clause, and is the place to start looking for ways you can improve SQL performance merely by paying attention to how you write SQL. In her foray into query tuning, the author explains how to avoid unnecessary table scans provoked by a variety of queries where a subtle difference of usage enables or disables employment of speed enhancing indexes. Or when indexing a column has no practical result.

Most database systems provide some method for automatically generating unique numbers as data is inserted. Unfortunately, there is no standard among vendors for how autonumbering is implemented. The author compares examples from the most popular enterprise systems and shows examples of usage.

The concept of finding the top-N items in a result set is discussed, which is central to many web applications user interfaces. Useful for navigating the database in "browse n-items" displays, data hiding, "top ten" lists, finding the five best customers, the lowest selling books and etc.

A chapter is devoted to translating values, an often overlooked subject. Translation is mapping the arcane codes used to represent values into something readable by human beings. In order to save space and make references clearer to computers, frequently numbers or letter-number codes are used to signify a particular value. Making theses codes readable by people is often a chore, one that requires an inordinate amount of the programmer's attention that might be better spent elsewhere. The text covers various methods of translation, ranging from automatic CASE/DECODE features to doing it yourself using "point functions," which make life easier for the database programmer.

A chapter on using "system catalogs" (tables that describe the database itself) shows you how to obtain descriptions of tables, list what tables exist in the database and describe existing indexes are useful to understanding the database environment and orienting yourself within the database. I use these commands on a daily basis and it has become my habit to issue a "show tables" command on logging in just to jog my memory.

I have to admit the "enterprise" orientation of the Practical SQL series can sometimes be distracting, expecting the reader will rarely be working directly with advanced query formulation or have access to system-level functions. This is atypical for the database programmer working on small business or non-profit websites where they have full access to the SQL server. Rarely will they generating simple reports and often are tasked with crafting complex queries by hand. Oddly, this make the companion edition more appropriate for the programmer, because they will often face dirty data or legacy code working on websites.

Do not expect this book to teach you how to create database driven website applications. There are other books that delve into database programming. I trust the Practical SQL books for clear explanations of complicated SQL concepts in plain language tempered by common sense and practicality, not specific solutions.

Smart, well reasoned, and covered what I needed.

Excellent book, I development multimedia software, and use SQL, for my programs, easy to read, form mystery to mastery!

this book is my head book!

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I am ever grateful to him for finding it. It takes me to this imaginary place of great grandmothers, grandmothers, farms, and recipes over a century old. Even before I tried my first recipe from this book, it brought about certain nostalgic emotions inside of me. With the descriptions that accompany each recipe, I see a little piece of history that could have been my own German grandmothers had she shared it with me. Unfortunately, while she did teach me a lot about cooking, baking and handing down recipes wasn't something she did a whole lot of. My mother was the baker and she was more of a "new world" baker than someone who used recipes given to her by her mother or grandmother. This book makes up for part of that in its own special way.

I received the book two days ago, thumbed through it once, then twice, and tonight I made my first two recipes. In fact, one just came out of the oven..."fly off the plate" rolls. One word: Heavenly. Among the best dinner rolls I've had or made. Slightly sweet, buttery, rich, yet light and full of flavor. Definitely something to accompany a dinner of flavorful comfort foods like pot roast or roast turkey and stuffing...even something like chicken stew.

For those of you lacking the comfort that comes from having time-tested old-world recipes handed down to you, this book is for you...and even for those of you who aren't lacking it, this book will prove to be one of your favorites.

In Prairie Home Breads, culinary expert Judith Fertig showcases 150 outstanding recipes for a variety of breads. Categories of breads include Yeast Breads; Naturally Leavened and Slow-Rising Breads; Whole-Grain Breads; Rolls and Buns; Quick Breads, Muffins, & Popovers; Scones, Biscuits, Crackers, and a Soda Bread; Coffee Cakes and Pastries. The recipes range from simple family meal favorites, to celebratory breads ideal for even the most festive occasion. The recipes are complete, easy to follow, and accessible to even the most novice kitchen chef. A strongly recommended addition to any cookbook shelf collection, Prairie Home Breads is enhanced with two useful sections "Source Guide" and "Prairie Bakers", as well as a user-friendly Index.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book several weeks ago, and I haven't put it down yet! I love the satisfaction that comes with making delicious bread from scratch, and there are so many wonderful recipes in Prairie Home Breads that I can't wait to try. Ms. Fertig included everything from basic breads to more elaborate and unusual recipes, so anyone can follow along! I've already purchased several copies as Christmas presents for my friends.

Dr. Carlson has extensive background in correctional administration. His book provides the reader with numerous examples (both practical and theoretical) for managing correctional facilities. I plan to use this text teaching undergraduate studies in correctional administration. (Robert A. Hood - McMinnville, Oregon)

The book is well-suited for a semester course in correctional institution administration. Topics are well chosen and the various authors seem to know the prison business. Although the chapters are abbreviated, they all seem to cover the subjects adequately ... for a survey course. I would use this as a text.

The collection of authors in this compendium is excellent...they seem to know the business and have a sense of what it's like on the inside of a prison. I was impressed with how the authors have organized the material and their selection of academics (professors) and "pracademics" (practical world experts) who have contributed to the book. Overall....top notch.