The trouble shooting of the motor

This is a great introductory review of basic graphic design principles. The subjects covered include: foreground/background, form, structure, juxtaposition of elements on a page, gestalt perceptual theory, hierarchy, and typography. There is a bit of history, color theory, and computer-related issues. Overall, this is a sound book to recommend to an introductory graphic design class.

This is a very intersting book regarding philosophy and biological origins, but in some places, it is bogged down with technical discussions that may be hard to comprehend by those lacking a strong physics background.

This volume is a collection of issues from a comic book miniseries that details some of the background of Jenny Sparks, founder of the superhero group The Authority, and how she recruited its original members. It is not necessary to have read any of the issues from the core series itself (or from its predecessor, Stormwatch), but it is certainly helpful. The first few issues of The Authority are collected in the volumes "Under New Management" and "Relentless".

In any case, the individual tales show Jenny Sparks, who wields the power of electricity, encountering certain critical superheroes (Apollo, the Midnighter, the Engineer, and so forth) and convincing them in her unique way to join her group. Because the ageless Ms. Sparks is the literal Spirit of the 20th Century, she was born on January 1 of 1900 and knows she will die at the approach of the new millenium. Her long lifespan and her key role in world history means that she has been present at practically every critical event over the past few decades and that she wields enormous power in the secret government of the world. (She arranges the election defeat of Gerald Ford because she's angered at the Nixon pardon and makes sure that Reagan "will be taken care of".)

There's a whole hidden history of which we, the plebeian masses, remain unaware, complete with thwarted alien invasions, secret bases, and contacts with parallel worlds, such as Sliding Albion. Thankfully, swashbuckling heroes such as Hemingway and Einstein are around to pitch in to help the lusty Ms. Sparks.

This is a glorious full-color world that's chock full of gadgets, byzantine plots, improbable encounters, thoroughly evil villains, buckets of blood, cigarettes, whisky, and sex. The tales span several decades, and include an encounter with the occult-obsessed Nazis (and a shoutout to a certain Indiana Jones) and a time-travelling sentient city from the future that's come back to our era to destroy humanity for religious reasons.

The irreverent and sloppily-dressed Ms. Sparks hates practically all governments, and since the secret cabals that rule the world are in some cases shown to engage in human sacrifice, it's easy to see why. Primarily, she's out to have a good time, and to kick a lot of butt.

Good stories and great fun, and excellent artwork. A must-have for those who enjoy The Authority or Planetary!

I read this book in connection with the class I took on the Gospel of John. Bryant & Krause did a terrific job explaining the meaning of the text in a clear and understandable way. I would recommend this book for anyone preparing to study John's gospel for the first time. A great reference tool!

This is a very good book which tries to give an objective and balanced assessment of the Kennedy Presidency free from 'Camelot' or 'sleaze' biases.

It succeeds.

I thoroughly recommend it.

Mark as Recovery Story details how Mellon construes the Gospel of Mark from the viewpoint of recovery from alcoholic addiction. Given the post-modernist tendencies of this book and its scholarly bent I did find it an interesting, though difficult, read. He borrows extensively from the Historical Jesus scholars such as Crossan and Borg.

Chapter 1 overviews his argument which are developed in Chapters 2-6. Chapter 2 covers the Last Supper(LS) and explains the man carrying water during Pesah. It relates the LS to the "Bread Stories." The cup of wine is explained from a recovery, not a ascetic, view that I loved for its standing on the head of orthodoxy. He then covers Gethsemane and the Crucifixion in similar detail. Chapter three goes into the relation of Isaiah 53 with Jesus. This chapter alone is worth the price. Chapter 4 is rather technical. Chapter 5 covers the Pentecost event. Chapter 6 is both summary and overview of Markan sobriety symbols. The name "Mark" from "Markos" is given the Aramaic version instead of the Greek or Latin meaning. The explanation of "Kolobodaktylus" is also good from the recovery perspective. The perspective of resurrection from the pneumatikos instead of psychikos speaks more of the method than the belief, in my opinion. His use of unorthodox nuances (some from Mitchell Dahood) will please religiously liberal religionists.

Chapter 7 covers the recovery perspective to the Gospel of John and Revelation. He gives 17 examples from John starting with "Recovery is like . . . ." and covers 13 areas of Revelation.

You will need your dictionary nearby to read this book. I really enjoyed this book by Professor Mellon, a fellow recoverer.

He does say in the Introduction that people in recovery would enjoy this book. The people I know in recovery are not well-enough educated to appreciate this book. It has taken me a couple years to get through it myself. I'm not a scholar in other words.

Marc Bauer

marc_bauer@yahoo.com

With the second of his general Southwestern cooking recipe books, Mark Miller has joined the likes of superstar chef Bobby Flay in putting a region long misunderstood on our culinary map. In the early to mid 90's Mr. Miller helped develop our palets to appreciate gourmet where we used to expect less. This book will add fire and and great recipes to any chef's repertoire. It is a fantastic example of what a great cook book can be.

The Marketization of Social Security edited by John Dixon and Mark Hyde provides the reader with a comparative look at social security programs in different countries. Allowing readers to have an international perspective of social security programs. It highlights Chile, Brazil, Britain, New Zealand, Canada (specifically Ontario), Zimbabwe, and the United States. Quite a mix of countries for one to swallow in the mere 219 pages, but don't sweat it. The reading is very interesting and captures the reader's interest in a short time. An international comparison of social security systems is a great way to learn about in where specific social security programs thrive.
The title of this book can be intimidating to the reader, if they do not have a working knowledge of business jargon. After cracking the seam of the book, the first two chapters give the reader enough background information to allow them to understand the book. The following chapters provide examples of marketization in the various countries, each shedding light on a different aspect of the issue. These chapters clear up any shadows that the reader may have surrounding the marketization of social security. There is some overlapping in the issues discussed in the chapters, but each one also has a unique aspect from the country that contributes to the readers growing knowledge on various social security programs. The overlapping allows the readers to compare and contrast how the government has adapted the various programs to fit the specific needs of the recipients.
This book allows the reader to gain a working knowledge and formulate an educated opinion on the current social security debate occurring the in the United States. By looking closely at these highlighted countries one is able to see what works and does not work in specific countries. It also discusses the factors that must be in place for marketization to be successful. Readers of this book will learn about social security systems in other countries and how they have evolved. The Marketization of Social Security is worth a read just for the first two chapters. They will provide a quick overview of the underlying reasons for social security programs. After reading the complete work, the reader will come away with an insight into the different methods used by other countries. Thus, improving their understanding of the social security system currently in place in the United States. It is a quick read that is worth the time put into. This book rewards the time spent reading its contents.

Like all other Haynes manuals, this book is an indespensible guide for the backyard mechanic. If you don't want to shell out the big bucks for a GM shop manual, this is your best alternative. The one problem I have with this book is that it advertises as a 1991-1996 manaual even though it barely touches on the new engines seen in the 1995 through present model years. If you own a late-model Saturn and are looking for some general information, this is your book. If you're looking for information specific to Saturns built after 1994, you're better off waiting until the folks at Haynes make a book that truly delivers on what it promises.