Topics explored in this book include signal processing, feature extraction, linear and non-linear modelling, temporal models and an array of connectionist learning paradigms. These topics are demanding, particularly mathematically, however I have taken a lot from this book where I have had limited success with others. The authors know a great deal about their subject, which has enabled them to take a holistic approach, which explains fundamentals before building them into powerful solutions. Equations, while frequently cited are explained descriptively and often boxed separately from the main text. Learning is greatly enhanced by the 200 interactive tutorials. The NeuroSolutions software (limited version free) is the best I've seen in terms of the number of architectures and data processing algorithms provided and comes with an excel add in! I searched Amazon long and hard for this book and was not disappointed - it sets a new standard for technical education.

This is the best book to learn adaptive signal processing. The authors teach you the spirit of adaptation thorugh simulation played by yourself. Moreover, readers can build their own system using the NeuralSolution. No matter you are a student or an engineer, this book is very useful.

This has got to be the best textbook I have come across! The amount of thought and care in producing this book is phenomenal. It goes into details very thoroughly, and provides plenty of examples which would easily satisfy the very bright and the very slow. The math in back of all this is ACTUALLY EXPLAINED PROPERLY! Buy the book - it's worth every cent.

This book is a must for ALL comic fans.It reprints stories from the 50'ss and 60's that team up Superman,Batman and Robin!Such comis aren't printed today,sadly.See how Superman and Batman learned each other's identities and teamed up for the FIRST time.Watch as they sove baffling mysteries.I love this book because the stories are action-packed and it features great artwork from the Golden Age!If you are a hero fan,read about the Dynamic Duo and Superman!Now THAT'S a plan!

These characters no longer exist in comics today. I'm talking about the smiling Batman, the wisecracking Robin, and the Superman whose biggest worry was his secret identity. In fact, they don't even make comics like this anymore. We are now awash in 3-D computer generated graphics and colorization, unusual panelling, and thicker paper stock. This book will take you back to the 50's and 60's with the clever, simpler stories. It was still a challenge to team a much weaker Batman with Superman and make it work. Yet, the writers of World's Finest made it happen again and again. This is fine reading and one of the best volumes in the DC Archives series.

When I was a boy I loved reading the DC line-up of comics. Action comics, Superman, Batman, Detective, JLA, Flash, Adventure, Metal Men, Jimmy Olsen and WORLD'S FINEST were my favorite books.

If you enjoyed these stories as I did, but lost your comic collection along the way - as I did - then this is a book for you.

Handsomely bound in a hard cover with jacket cover art remenisant of the old days, the book has 16 full color, complete tales from Superman #76 and World's Finest #71 thru 85.

The price tag will probably keep younger readers from buying the book, but then, younger readers would probably scoff at the tales and art we enjoyed in the late fifties and thru the sixties.

The trip down memory lane couldn't find better company than Batman, Robin and Superman of old. I'm anxiously awaiting volume two to appear.

~P~

Aldo Leopold is widely admired for his contribution to the modern conservation movement and his seminal work, "A Sand County Almanac." In my own profession (wildlife ecology and management), it seems like a Leopold quotation carries the ultimate weight of authority (and they're much more common, since Meine and Knight's collection, "The Essential Aldo Leopold," came out).

For many years I admired the wise, kind-hearted old man who wrote The Almanac. Aldo Leopold became the most exalted member of my personal pantheon of saints. Aldo Leopold became inspiration incarnate, but lost his humanity in the process. He could do no wrong.

Then I read Curt Meine's biography. Leopold's famous essay, "Thinking Like a Mountain," chronicles only one of the many lessons learned in a life filled with equal parts reckless bravado and deep introspection. Leopold launched his career as a fortunate son, cocksure and itching to change the world, only to learn that real change takes patience, commitment, hard work, compassion, and an open mind willing to learn. Sound familiar?

I read Curt Meine's biography before I read Marybeth Lorbiecki's "Fierce Green Fire." To be honest, I enjoyed both, but found Meine's biography to be more fulfilling. If you want to understand where the Land Ethic really came from, pick up "His Life and Work."

If "Sand County Almanac" was your first taste of Leopold, you'll want to read Curt Meine's book. It's one of those books that you can't put down (if you are a true Leopold fan - if you're not - don't bother, you wouldn't appreciate it!

ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK STATES IT IS FOR AOL 4.0, IT IS STILL VERY USEFUL FOR BASIC AOL KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE USED THIS BOOK AS MY "BIBLE" AND FIND IT STILL HELPING ME ALL THE TIME.

CERTAINLY WORTH THE COST. THE BEST AOL BOOK I HAVE PURCHASED.

I own threee books on AOL. This is the best

When someone mentions The Plaza what do you first think of? Luxury? Eloise? Donald and Ivana? Dietrich or Garbo or F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald in residence? The Pulitzer Fountain? The final scene from "The Way We Were?"

All of them and many, many more are here in this deluxe book about this deluxe hotel. Chock full of blueprints, wonderful photographs and reproductions of menus and paintings and postcards, this book is not just a history of a hotel...it is, truly, a history of New York City which is host to the hotel. You will learn how specific rooms (The Palm Court, The Edwardian Room, The Oak Room, etc.) were "born", how, when and why celebrities like Frank Lloyd Wright lived at the hotel, how various suites came to be decorated by and named after people like Cecil Beaton, what the scandal was caused by Mrs. Patrick Campbell, how the Duke and Duchess of Windsor celebrated their anniversary here and how Patricia Kennedy and Peter Lawford celebrated their marriage here. There are revealing photographs of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis with her husband and son avoiding the paparazzi, John and Yoko enjoying an obviously romantic lunch, Truman Capote's Black and White party and so many of the entertainers who performed at the famous Persian Room: Shirley Bassey, Ethel Merman, The Mills Brothers, Kay Thompson (mother to Eloise), Eartha Kitt, Bob Hope, Liberace, Diahann Carroll, etc. There is even an entire chapter on the many movies that were filmed at the hotel, beginning with Hitchcock's masterpiece, "North By Northwest."

All of Gathje's research is well documented and written in a fascinating style: charming, inviting, intimate, warm, classy and yet filled with good humor. RECOMMENDED.

This book is a great buy. If you are a fan of NY, you will haveheard of this hotel, its history, its decor, its beauty. YOU HAVE TOSTAY A NIGHT. Take a stretch limo from the airport, book a mini suite[from airport if arriving in low season - to get the best rate -always speak with "Front Desk" (only)] Your partner willlove you forever and you'll enjoy the trip soo much more.... This booktells the story of the hotel history - did you know there was aprevious hotel of same name on the site? It has many pictures throughthe years, right through the Hilton. Trump and now Fairmont ownerships- it tells the film-makers story, visits from the famous, the stars. Agreat book on a great hotel. Love to hear about your stay, we stayedDec 1999...

We bought this book and its companion, "More Baby's First Signs" when my daughter was 8 months old. What I like about this book is that it's a board book, meant to withstand the abuse a small child can give it. The pages are easy to turn, the pictures are large and very cute and the signs are basic, "need to know" words like "more," "milk," and "bird." Also, diagrams on how to sign are easy to understand, which was important for me since I have no previous ASL experience. This book the perfect combination of a board book and a book to learn sign language. I think to expand on your child's sign vocabulary, you would need to buy additional books as these books have only 6-8 or so signs each -- but these are books are a good place to start, and your child can read them by themselves without ripping them to shreds!

My 14-month old daughter Sarah loves this book, and its companion "More Baby's First Signs". She reads them to herself, making the signs as she sees the picture on each page. She knows most of the signs in the books, and I think she really enjoys the chance to use all those signs as she reads.

I love the books too. The cute illustrations are very clear, showing exactly how to make the signs. Signing with Sarah has really paid off, even though she hears and speaks perfectly well for her age (which is to say, she hears everything and says monosyllables). At least half of what she says I understand only because she signs with it.

I highly recommend these books for anyone who's using sign with their babies or toddlers. (And if you're not -- yet -- check out the "Sign with Your Baby" kit by Joseph Garcia.)

In The Conference Board's magazine, "Across the Board," in a Nov/Dec 2000 article on the best business books read over the past year, I wrote:

"Over the past couple of years, I must have read 10 to 20 management books every month. Unfortunately, before long, many of these titles start reading the same, hoping to capitalize on the management trend of the moment. But every once in a while a book comes along that includes unique and clear-headed thinking and writing. When I was working on an article about environmental ethics in business, I came across a new collection of the writings of Aldo Leopold, the legendary conservationist of the 1930s and 1940s perhaps best known for A Sand County Almanac. Edited by Curt Meine and Richard L. Knight, The Essential Aldo Leopold: Quotations and Commentaries is not, strictly speaking, a business book, but contained here in many previously unpublished observations are the thoughts and ideas of a natural (in all senses of the word) manager. Leopold was a rare combination of someone who saw the need for conserving nature, but who also understood and encouraged experiencing the beauty and functionality of the outdoors." --Across the Board, Nov/Dec 2000

One of my favorite quotes of Leopold's from this collection:

"Relegating conservation to government is like relegating virtue to the Sabbath. Turns over to professionals what should be daily work of amateurs."

Aldo Leopold was the author of "A Sand County Almanac" and one of the most influential conservationists of his day. In The Essential Aldo Leopold, Curt Meine and Richard Knight have collaborated to assembled a comprehensive collections of quotations from Leopold's extensive and diverse writings. These gems of wisdom, insight, and encouragement are organized in twenty-one chapters under the broad themes of conservation science and practice, conservation policy, conservation and culture. Each chapter begins with an introductory essay by a prominent conservation scholar to provide the reader with perspective on Leopold's numerous and varied contributions. The Essential Aldo Leopold is an essential, core title for any personal, academic, and professional environmental and conservation studies collection, and highly recommended reading for all Aldo Leopold admirers within the modern conservation movement.

My family had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Moisa and his wife at a YMCA resort in Colorado. His message made such an impression on my family we still read the books all the time 2 1/2 years later. Not many books have that kind of staying power.
The themes fit right into our school"s current emphasis on "Character Counts" and are an invaluable addition to any library.

Education is a top priority in our home and Great Eagle and Small One has made a wonderful addition to our library! My six year old son, Jacob, and my 12 year old daughter, Christine, both enjoyed this book and learned from it. Page 41 sums up one very important lesson taught by this book. It states, "So, my young friends, when you see people who are not perfect in body or mind, remember the story of Great Eagle and Small One. The Creator loves them each in a special way." Chapters 6 and 7 explain all about the four kinds of Eagles and have beautiful pictures! Lisa Hader President of School of the Osage Lower El. PTA

This book is really helpful for Photoshop Album. It shows you how to get around interface, the steps to do most everything you might want to do, and lots of tips along the way.

This book really does show you "how to do everything." The book is organized, easy to read, and gives you to step by step instructions for most everything you would want to do with Photoshop Album. If you have Album, you should have this book too.

A Republican President is besieged by criticism. He believes the Democratic party headquarters has a file that would damage his reputation, so he orders a burglary. R Nixon in 1972? No, H Hoover in 1930 (p.153)! 1933 saw a change in Administrations. J Edgar Hoover again demonstrated his usefulness to the new AG (p.155). Page 163 tells of some doubts about Bruno Hauptmann's guilt: his fingerprints did not match "the latent impressions developed on the ransom notes and the ransom money" found in the garage! Page 181 notes the friends of Hoover; one was AA Berle, "whose former commanding officer was General Van Deman".

Chapter 15 discusses the arrests made when Hoover was on the scene; he was a better administrator than a detective. In the 1930s he personally conducted several vice raids in Miami, until complaints about ruining the tourist business brought them to an end. Chapter 16 tells about the proposed coup d'etat against FDR. General Smedley Butler, who was forced to retire after criticizing Mussolini, was approached by bankers who wanted to make him head of the American Legion (p.201). They wanted the American Legion to copy the Fascisti of Italy, and lead a march on Washington to change the Administration. Page 203 tells of the American Liberty League, the clique behind this proposed putsch. General Butler took his story to Hoover ("no federal crime involved"), then to the new House Un-American Activities Committee. Many of the sponsors of the American Liberty League then withdrew their support; other groups (like 'America First') were created (p.204). The FBI began intelligence investigations into the Nazi movement, a departure from criminal investigations.

On 8/24/1936 FDR held a private meeting with Hoover. The new task would be to investigate Fascism and Communism. Did the FBI lack authority? Hoover said he could do this only if the State Dept requested it. That was done the next day (p.207). On 11/30/1939 Hoover told Congress he had resurrected the despised GID to list suspected individuals, groups, and organizations. If needed, he could imprison "both aliens and citizens", such as radical labor leaders, critical journalists and writers, and certain members of Congress (p.213)! Complaints to FDR about Hoover keeping tabs on their activities helped Hoover (p.223), because FDR like to hear about this. FDR also ordered Hoover to do more political intelligence on his opponents (p.225). One of FDR's secret tapes records him giving instructions on how to smear Willkie (p.227).

Page 232 tells how FDR overruled the Supreme Court decision against wiretapping! Page 234 tells of the ACLU "stooge". Page 241 tells of FDR's deal with HUAC: if people couldn't be prosecuted, then HUAC could smear them. Pages 269-273 tell about Dusko Popov's visit to America, and his unheeded warning about an attack on Pearl Harbor. (See Robert Stinnett's book "Day of Deceit".) Page 282 tells of mail opening being done in WW II and for decades after. Page 283 tells of rumors of planting incriminating evidence! Bugging hotel rooms is noted on page 286. The bitter rivalry between Hoover and Henry Morgenthau Jr is discussed on page 293. There were constant battles with Army and Navy intelligence. Page 296 tells of Pearl Harbor investigations.

Hoover was a top-level bachelor bureaucrat who remained in office during many administrations. We will never see his king again. (Congress passed a law against it.)

The first sixty pages tell of the three days after Hoover's death. AAG Patrick Gray asked AD John Mohr for "the secret files" only to be told there were no secret files (p.37). They used code words to hide them, such as "Official Confidential" and "Do Not File" files! Page 73 mentions that Hoover was "in charge of counter-radical activities as special assistant to the attorney general" since 1917. Hoover was a strong proponent of "dragnet" raids, made without warrants and probable cause (pp. 72-3). While this is usually censored in the history books, some WW II era movies show Nazis doing this in occupied countries. Page 77 tells how a prediction of insurrection and terrorism resulted in an increased budget!

Hoover was appointed chief of the General Intelligence Division in 1919 (p.79). One-third to one-half of special agents investigated threatened strikes; the DOJ became a national strikebreaking agency! Since 1914 the cost of living had doubled, and wages declined by 14%. Their penetration and control of the two Communist parties allowed them to arrange meetings so their members could be easily arrested (p.91)! The affidavits of probable cause were almost devoid of proof (p.89). (I wonder if this could ever happen again?) Page 93 tells how the BI's undercover agents handed out red membership cards to often illiterate aliens. After warrantless arrests, the "third degree" was used to get their statements. Since no Revolution occurred afterwards, the 'NY Times" claimed a success! Months later the National Popular Government League released its study, and said the Department of Justice was breaking the laws and violating the Constitution (p.98). The twelve signers were famous lawyers. Hoover immediately opened a file on each! Other lawyers condemned these raids, including two future Supreme Court Justices.

Page 101 explains how this "Double Cross System" worked: "beyond reasonable doubt, the Government owns and operates some part of the Communist Party". This suspected agent had helped write two key documents used in all of these cases. During WW II some in British Intellignce criticized Hoover's arrest of the 8 Nazi spies, saying they should have doubled them. But they didn't understand American politics! They may have looked down on the Americans, but Hoover (and others) were running agents while these critics were still in diapers.

Hoover showed his talents by being kept on with a new administration. He investigated Harding's political opponents, and easily switched loyalties (p.109). Hoover received support from military intelligence (p.11). Page 114 tells how investigating Mann Act violations created massive amounts of data on corruption. Some prominent names (Rockefeller, Mellon, and Vanderbilt) profited from prostitution as landlords. Page 120 tells of a proposal to create sympathy for the Attorney General by bombing his house!

And there are many more such stories in later chapters. Remember this: J Edgar Hoover was promoted because he was the best man available in the "Department of Easy Virtue"!