A comprehensive overview of organizational learning theory with great company cases!

Ortho's Guide to Decks & Patios is, in my opinion, the best all around how to book about the subjects that I have read to date. This book accurately describes decks and patios as "extensions of interior spaces for living, working, and eating." It is full of color pictures, illustrations, guidelines, and instructions to help you design and build an outdoor space that suites your needs.

After a brief overview of decks and patios and the history of outdoor living, the reader is asked to develop a list of group or individual needs to consider while creating a design. Checklists are used to help remind you of the critical items to think about along the way, and there are plenty of color photos of finished work to provide you with ideas for your own projects. The design section explains bubble diagrams, base plans, site plans, and working drawings. The construction sections contain drawings and descriptions of all of the basic tools used to build the projects shown in the book along with material lists and span charts. There are sections explaining the actual construction techniques for building wooden decks, brick, stone, and concrete patios, brick walls, mortared and dry-stacked stone retaining walls, overhead and freestanding garden structures, as well as suggestions for fences, spas, plant containers and outdoor lighting. There are pictures showing different decking pattern options, railing configurations, brick paver patterns, patio edgings, decorative concrete finishes, and methods to control sun and shade. Several complete projects with framing plans, sections, and material lists are also included in case you would rather incorporate an existing design into your plan.

While some of the related subjects are not covered in great depth, one should not expect a single book to address every aspect of such a broad group of topics. However, this book is very thorough in its approach to decks and patios. It should provide anyone who is considering designing and building an outdoor living space with the necessary information to do so. The directions and guidelines used in this book, as well as, the drawings, descriptions, and construction techniques are presented clearly and accurately. And, there are plenty of photos of existing projects to provide you with ideas for your own. I was very impressed with this book and I highly recommend it.

This was a wonderful book. It has short stories, even cartoons, about Oz and its characters. All of these are written by famous Oz authors, such as Baum (of course), Denslow (who illustrated the original "Wizard of Oz"), Thompson, and many others. For anyone who loves Oz, or any other good read, this book is for you. P.S. I have to say, some of the stories in here seemed like they were written by Baum himself, though in fact, only 2 out of the 16 were actually written by him. If you decide to buy this book (which I recommend) read "THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ" by Walt Spouse. It's a funny comic strip about the book, The Emerald City of Oz.

This is a hilarious story of Paddinton, who decides to bake a cake while Mrs and Mr Brown are not at home. He makes a spectacular mess which he decides to clean up with the vacuum. Unfortunately he sucks up the cake and when he reverses the vacuum, spews it all over the kitchen. Luckily, he gets it all cleaned before Mr and Mrs brown return form town.

"A Parliament of Minds: Philosophy for a New Millenium," provides a wonderfully speculative endeavor into the universality, of the timeless tradition of philosophy. Conducted in the medium of informal interviews, twenty-three of the world's most notorious contemporary thinkers, identify there own interpretations of philosophy and it's role as humankind concludes yet another millenium. For too long, the average conception of philosophy that has passed through the streets, is that of a detached, lofty and abstract discipline that can not breathe outside of the "ivory towers" that it has confined itself to. In other words, philosophy has gone for too long without a human face. Having said that, it is apparent that such a long over-do journey too "demystify" and "humanize" philosophy is an uphill climb, however, how better to facilitate such a transition then by capturing the philosophies of a diverse range of today's leading philosophers and social thinkers? A wide variety of approaches are documented in "A Parliament..," including political philosophy, classical and ancient philosophy, feminist philosophy, Eastern, African and Islamic philosophies, environmental philosophy, aesthetics and much more, all being analyzed in a uniquley applied manner. Aside from the books easy accesibility to the philosophical novice, it likewise can provide a stimulating read for the philosophical or socially aware academic, in that it probes the depths of philosophy's duty in a seemingly collapsing world and inspires us to turn the scope of philosophy away from hair-splitting problems relevant only to itself and back in the direction of humanity, which is after all it's origins. I highly recommend this book to anyone out there in the information age, who still cares about how they should live their life.

Very readable and meticulously-researched book. My great-great uncle was a post trader at Fort Walla Walla, Washington for several years in the 1870's. I bought this book to learn more about "post traders". I learned a great deal from the book about "sutlers" and "post traders" (if you read the book, you'll find there is a significant difference between military "sutlers" and "post traders"). I found the book a wonderful read that provided many details about military life and the life of civilian post traders on the American frontier.

This is one of the best anthologies I've ever found on the issues discussed within Philosophy of Religion. It covers different readings from Saint Teresa of Jesus, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, up to William Alston, Blaise Pascal, Soren Kierkegaard, C. S. Lwis, John Hick, David Hume, William Rowe among many others. The book selects readings from the following subjects: Religious Experience, Faith and Reason, the attributes of God (the problems of his existence, his omnipotence, his omniscience and its relations with voluntary action, his timelessness, etc), theistic arguments (specially the ontological and cosmological arguments), the problem of evil, knowledge of God, religious language, miracles, among many others. Highly recommended.

We use this book as the text book for our Office Professional class. It's been extremely helpful. Staff and students are pleased with its tips.

I have every single one of this authors books. The information in them is terrific, including this one. It covers the different types of herbal philosophies. Mainly the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems. He integrates them both with western herbs, and makes it work. I won't say his book has everything and every herb but it has a lot, and some of the more unusual herbs you usually can't find in the regular every day herb books. It's wonderful, and worth every penny you pay for it

Halberstam's theme remains constant through out this tape. The theme protrays Michael Jordon as competitive and a tough player with a fierceless tenacity to raise the standard of basketball transforming the NBA into big business. Michael Jordon intelligence, hard work, and vision helped him lead his team to six championships and a three repeat. Probably one of the worst days of my life was when Michael Jordon hit a three point shot over Bryon Russell in the 1998 championship final game against the Utah Jazz. One word imprinted on my brain, "No!" as Jordon crushed Utah's dreams of a championship.

The Bulls under Jackson had created the perfect weapon. The perfect weapon being the triangle offense: Jordon, Pippen, Rodman, and the center - synergistically integrated to destroy the opponent's defense. The perfect weapon was not easily formed and Halberstam compliments Jackson's ability to bring all the talent, personalities, and ambitions together into one focus, another championship. Despite management irritation and desire to split the team, Jordon and Jackson managed to negotiate another season, to stay together, one of the greatest seasons of Bulls history. Halberstam details the struggles of Scottie Pippen and his eventual emergence as physically gifted player, the rebounding threat of Rodman, and Jordon's williness to work with Pippen creating the perfect weapon. Jackson would saw Pippen as a critical component to a third championship but struggle to achieve control.

Fierceness on both ends of the court characterized Jordon with him winning both the MVP and the defensive player of the year. Jordon was not happy unless he was winning. The era of Michael Jordon represented increases in crowd attendence, quantum leaps in player contract pay, more spectacular moves, new emerging talent emulating Jordon, and increased media coverage. If you love basket trivia and want to learn more about the formation of the Chicago Bulls during the Jordon era this is an excellent historical documentary.

Halberstam chronological spans events ,such as, Jordon's family life, his father, mother, and brother Larry; Jordon's high school years, his speed and growth; Jordon's player years at North Carolina and respect playing for Dean Smith; Jordon's leadership as he lead his team to a victory capturing the NCAA crown; Pippens defiance of management and arguements of devaluation; the strange behavior of Rodman and his importance as a rebounder; The championship defeat of the raining kings, Los Angles Lakers, and the fustration expressed by Magic Johnson; Jordon's first championship, his joy and relief of winning a championship; the battle, defeat, and conquer of the NY Nicks; and Jordon's retirement.

One of the rare portions of the documentary is Halberstam's insight into Michael Jordon's intelligence, such as, the secret weapon to build strength without increasing significant mass creating a stronger Bulls team. Jordon knew strength was necessary because the game of basketball was become more physical. The strength training payed off as Jordon was able to finish shots after being hit.

Halberstams work represents a change in American culture as basketball came onto center stage. The battle for our minds leaves basketball, Air Jordon's, Spike Lee, and Michael Jordon jumping skyward with arm outstretched ball palmed with tongue out epitimizing one of the greatest players and era's of basketball. Michael Jordon's vision, fame, and hardwork have transformed basketball into the modern sport we know now, black athletes worshipped as Gods of the court with price tags to match.