Elirc: sailor on the seas of fate is one of the best books of the elric series
it gives you a real sense of the true power of his patron lords of chaos

a beatifuly written book

********** stars

Just about anything you ever wanted to know about Catholicism in the American experience. Very scholarly. Articles include a history of the Church in every state, major figures that impacted the Church and American society. Copies of letters and speeches from notables such as President Kennedy. Statements from the American bishops on war, poverty, and justice. I even found the article on the Church and slavery to be eye opening. Lists of population figures and brief summaries of Catholic institutions of higher learning. Some of the articles deal with all of the "Americas" which puts the US Church in perspective with the rest of the American hemisphere.

Erich Przywara, S. J.: His Theology And His World by Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P. (William K. Warren Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame) is a comprehensive account of the life and philosophical theology of the German Jesuit Erich Przywara (1889-1972), who helped introduce the writings of John Henry Cardinal Newman into Germany, applied the phenomenologies of Edmund Husserl and Max Scheler, and created a solidly theological interpretation of the "Spiritual Exercises" of Ignatius Loyola, among many other intellectual discourses and achievements. A superb researched and deftly written volume that concentrates the life's work of a remarkable thinker and devout Catholic, Erich Przywara, S. J.: His Theology And His Word is highly recommended for religious studies supplemental reading lists.

If you're exploring an enterprise-wide solution, even if it isn't an ERP package, or are planning an implementation after the software has already been selected this book will prove invaluable. Unlike other books about ERP (and e-business and enterprise application integration for that matter), this one is focused on the business processes and what it takes to prepare for and manage the implementation.

Of course, while much of this book applies at a high level to any enterprise application, it is all about ERP. The authors take great pains to avoid talking about software, which in itself is refreshing. They also skillfully guide you through a panorama of key issues, including what ERP is and how it fits into the overall scheme of business value and competitiveness. However, the best part of this book is their implementation strategy, which explores how an ERP package is going to require changes at the business process level, how to break down the implementation into manageable stages. In this respect the book is a combination of a management overview of ERP, organizational change strategies, and project management approach to implementation.

The key areas addressed by this book reflect reality. For example, all of the major challenges that you're likely to face are addressed. The critical success factors, such as training, preparing the organization for the system (from a people perspective), and the way the implementation phases are sequenced can either be learned from this book, or learned the hard way (which is sure to include schedule and cost overruns at best and a disaster at worst). In particular, the process-oriented approach that is reiterated throughout the book needs to be heeded. This is the essence of any ERP package, and it will change your organization. This book gives good advice on how to effect the shift from discrete jobs and procedures to a workflow.

In addition to this excellent book I highly recommend two other resources: (1) "Scorecard System For World Class Enterprise Resource Management" by Travis Anderegg, which is a unique book/online survey combination you can use to evaluate the alignment of your ERP system to business processes, and (2) "Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: Systems, Life Cycle, Electronic Commerce, and Risk" by Daniel Edmund O'Leary. O'Leary's book completely complements this one and fills in a few gaps.

A thorough overview of the process of evaluating, buying, running, and selling a franchise. Definitely read through this book (even if only in parts) before you start to invest yourself (time and money) into a franchise. It is a frank, and straightforward book about a complicated subject.

Some clues from the book:

1) As a franchisee, you buy "the right to use the franchisor's expertise, brand name, experience, methods, and support." (pg. 14).

2) Although you get a proven system, the business is yours.
It is work and it is not for everyone. Successful franchisees must be very good operators who stick to the rules.

3) Franchisors vary. Since you will be paying a royalty going forward, make sure you do the research and know what you are getting for your money. A contract can be a life preserver and a trap.

4) The evaluation, preparation, funding, and negotiation for the franchise is paramount. This book gives detailed lists, and questions to ask before you sign on that contract.

5) Top two reasons franchises fail: 1) not enough money going into the investment 2) absentee owners

6) Factors in assessing your location: population density, neighboring stores (cross promotion), anchor tenants, traffic patterns, speed of traffic, seasonal factors, day / night, competition, security, access to employees, size of property, zoning, landscaping, parking, landlord reputation, visibility, signs, environmental concerns, title, buy vs. lease, hidden costs.

7) Royalties vary according to franchisors. Wendy's is 4%

8) In the end, franchising is a relationship business with franchisor, customers, other franchisees, suppliers, attorneys, bankers, and family.

9) When selling the franchise to others, the franchisor often has the "right of first refusal" which means they can purchase it on the same terms and conditions as the offer you received from a prospective buyer. Check this clause prior to signing.

10) Use the International Franchise Association's webpage:
www.franchise.org.

Obviously you enjoy architecture or you wouldn't be thinking of reading a review of this book. Think no further, buy the book. Frank Furness has been overlooked way too long and this book shows why in pictures and a nice overview of text why this mans work, and what is left of it, should be escalated to the heights of the finest.

This volume is one of a nine-volume series that makes accessible the rich variety of American Catholic experience from the earliest years to the present. Attending to the documentary history of Catholic experience on the frontiers and diverse regional developments in America from the 1780s to the 1970s, this collection affords the reader a revealing look at the shifting social and religious topography of American life. The significance of the Catholic imprint upon the American Frontiers and the role of the frontiers in the shaping of American Catholicity are revealed in an engaging manner through these sources which encapsulate the history of Catholics as they moved across successive Wests, from Kentucky to Hawaii and Alaska. We see how women religious, laity, bishops and priests; French, Anglo, Latinos and Native Americans create a new western religious identity, relate across various faith and cultural traditions to forge a unique Catholic peoplehood. This is a richly-textured documentary history of Catholicity in the United States amply footnoted and including a photo essay and bibliography containing reference to the most recent scholarship in the field. It is an excellent source for bringing to life the story of the church in this vast area and provides the reader with 221 pages of invaluable material!

Halliday's functional grammar is a unique way of describing how language is actually used in a social situation. This is not a grammar of rules, but rather an analysis of language and its functions.

Tom and Meriel Bloor's book is the best introduction to this grammar. Written as a course textbook, with a clear, methodical presentation and exercises, it can also be read as a general introduction for the curious. It is complete and highly readable, and the grammatical theories it presents and explains can be useful to anyone who works with language, to better understand how language works. Language is not examined here out of context - in fact, context is one of the key factors in Halliday's grammar - rather, Bloor and Bloor show how isolated bits of text fit in with the larger perspective of language as a whole.

I really like the fact that the Germany sourcebook expands on the way people can play the game as far as I'm concerned FASA should release many more books like this to break free of the same old seattle run thing. New locations make new enemies and it also means that it encourages better roleplaying amongst players.

The book takes place in a small town. The main character has gone to start a new life and connect with his roots. He is intelligent and original. I found myself identifying strongly with his feelings. The contrast between the young and the old man was beautifully developed. Definately a good read. I hope we will be seeing a lot more from this author.