An ever-increasing number of Electronics Engineers, born since the transistor (1955ish), are asked sooner or later to help with a "wireless" or amplifier which contains "valves", or "tubes". In spite of countless similarities, valve systems have many important differences; and advice about servicing them is hard to come by.
But at last, here is a densely-packed book of advice, spiced with humour, reminiscences, and informed opinions - but only when and where they really help.
Whilst a pedant might pick holes in some of the theory and treatment (misplaced dots and outdated units for example), the practical advice is invaluable and will save patience, fortune, and lives. (Besides, if we are working on gadgets where 4.7 m meant 4.7 megohms, better to say so. We are even told the alternative American notation.)
If you are new to Vintage Electronics you will not be baffled by 50-year-old "slang", because commonplace terms are explained. But if you have been "at it" for 50 years you will not feel patronised. You will soon find out how much you "didn't know you had forgotten."
Bill Jarvis
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son trigonometry and it is fantastic.
It has so many clear examples to illustrate
the concepts.
You can't go wrong with this book.
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Some topics do not go into enough detail. For example, the section on how to install two servers on a single machine, each responding to different domain names, tells you "what" to do but not "how" to do it.
Where the book does excel, however, is in describing the concepts of how the internet works.
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Some of the stories told are almost unbelievable and have no bibliographic or footnote indicators of their sources. A prime example of this is Bell's relating discussions between his grandfather, John Bell jr, and the witch. Page after page of direct quotes made me believe there is some document that substantiates these discussions, but alas, nothing. Even a description of how Bell came into possession of such a document--if one even exists--would have been helpful and give more credibility to the account of the discussions. Were there really discussions or did Charles Bell use them to voice his own views of religion?
Charles, come back from the grave and set the record straight.
Bell's writing skills are much better than those of another Bell Witch author, MV Ingram, but the book still contains many distracting errors.
I recommend this book only if you are interested in seeing John Bell immortalized and reading an interesting discussion that allegedly took place between John Bell, jr and the witch.
What I expected was not only the standard Ingram rehash, but something of value in addition to the stories themselves. I found nothing of that sort save a few previously untold stories, all of which I have serious doubts about. Nobody will unravel the mystery of the Bell Witch, and that is not expected, but Charles Bell could have at least added some historical facts and color to the story.
The same stories over and over again carry some value if they are rendered in an understandable way. I found Bell's writing, albeit good, almost as confusing as Ingram's. Stories alone will not get it. This publication needs to be some "bite" in the form of additional information if it is to be a useful read.
Bell got off to an excellent start with his book, but finished it prematurely in my opinion.
This book expounds on the eucharistic rite as a exercise in corporate (or communal) prayer, and focuses on how the celebrant or congregant can contribute to the cohesiveness of that undertaking. The author is particularly thought-provoking when he discusses how the moments of silence within the rite should be utilized for intense private prayer, and not dismissed as "dead air time" during which nothing is happening. He also is very strong is commenting on the importance of the oral proclamation of the scriptures. This section in particular deserves close attention from Roman Catholics: with the advent of missalettes, many R.C. congregants now read the scriptural passages, and do not really listen to the priest or lector. Finally, Fr. Miller offers a number of informative historical notes on how the structure of the eucharistic rite developed over time, such as how the traditional seating arrangement in synagogues of Jesus' time led to the traditional placement of priest and congregation.
The general reader should note that this book is written in a style that may be comfortable for academics with a theological background, and not in a more "popular" manner. In other words, while this book is accessible to most general readers, few will find it a quick read.
The author, who is an American, has held academic and pastoral posts in both the U.S. and the U.K., and has a particular interest in Eastern Orthodox thought and spirituality. He recently became rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in New York City (long nicknamed "The Little Church Around the Corner"). At its founding in 1848, few Episcopal parishes other than Transfiguration celebrated the eucharist every Sunday (non-eucharistic Morning Prayer was the principal service at most of them). Today, while Holy Eucharist has become the norm for Episcopal Sunday worship, Transfiguration is the rare parish that has it daily, and usually twice daily at that. While Fr. Miller wrote this book several years before he came to the "Little Church," noting his current association with this parish, I believe, gives the reader useful perspective on the author.