This book is a collection of essays on SPICE (Software Process Improvement and Capability DEtermination), which is now an international standard titled ISO/IEC 15504. The book is divided into three parts: Part 1, which describes ISO software engineering standardization efforts; Part 2, which describes the ISO/IEC 15504 standard; and Part 3 , which is discusses the use of the SPICE document set in actual practice.

Among the most important essays, each of which is a standalone chapter, are: Chapter 3 (Introduction to the SPICE Documents and Architecture) and 4 (The Reference Model), followed by Chapters 5 through 7, which cover the SPICE assessment model and assessments using SPICE. Chapter 11, in particular, is interesting in that it provides a Comparison of ISO 9001 and the SPICE Framework. For companies that are using ISO 9000-3 or TickIT as the basis of their software quality program will see how SPICE maps to this standard.

Chapters 12 through 18 address various aspects of SPICE trials, including findings and case studies.

The most valuable part of this book is the contents on the accompanying CD ROM, which contains a Microsoft Windows-based assessment tool and a complete set of SPICE version 1 documentation. The assessment tool is called SEAL of Quality SPICE Assessment Tool, and is easily worth the price of the book. It will allow you to perform quick assessments to benchmark your capabilities in accordance with SPICE criteria. The CD ROM also contains a related toolset called Strathclyde Process Visualization Tools, which allow you to visualize assessment data.

If you're exploring SPICE as an alternative to CMM or as an adjunct to ISO 9000-3, this book is a good introduction. It's also a starting point for doing internal assessments and benchmarks (especially with the tools that come with the book), to determine your existing development capabilities and where improvements will be the most effective.

coral musi

A very well researched, easy to read book about the fascinating history of the turret equipped fighters. This book covers the design, development and production (where applicable) of fighters equipped with flexible ordnance from pre-WWI tru WWII. This book centers on the Blackburn ROC and Boulton-Paul Defiant but also covers the turret development that led to the ROC and Defiant as well as other aircraft not generally thought of as "turret fighters" such as the Northrop P-61 Black Widow. Overall a very well written and very well researched book for anyone interested in British fighter development and tactics in the inter-war years.

Terrific explanation of a time many have forgotten, when Wall Street nearly collapsed not from scandal but from hubris, incompetence, and just plain sloppiness. Remember when the markets were closed on Wednesdays so firms could process their paperwork? How about Ross Perots adventure to conquer the street? Me neither. Unless you lived it, you'll never get closer to knowing how many times the whole ballgame nearly came undone.

This is an excellent work laden with varied and thorough explanatory detail on the names that are interpreted. The author, Alec Pongweni, combines literature, linguistics, culture, history, revolution, and politics as background in interpreting the names. This is a small but one of the best written books on African names, in part given that Pongweni is a renowned writer of immense expertise. Pongweni is a splendidly dedicated and detailed writer, a translator of immense expertise, a master at both the African and Shakespearean languagees, and to whom is owed tremendous gratitude. Pongweni tells so much, so much beyond names, in a small and compact book.

The Wolves of Memory is not only a fine novel, it is the best example of how to use flashbacks in fiction. I use this book when teaching writing classes. Do yourself a favor, FIND THIS BOOK. Order it here or haunt the used bookstores, but FIND IT and READ IT. You'll be captivated from the beginning.

This is a terrific picture book of orchids, containing hundreds of color photographs and descriptions of orchid species and hybrids. The text also describes cultural requirements. This is a great reference to use for planning your next orchid purchase.

This book is indispensible to me as a Species orchid enthusiast. Every time I come across a species for sale that I am unfamiliar with, "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids" is the first place I look for a description and color photo! The beginning of the book has short, but informative sections on orchid care and cultivation. The majority of the book (and the main reason to have it), is the 'Orchids A-Z' section--a comprehensive list of Species with color photos, scientific + common names, geographical location of native habitats, descriptions of orchids + habitats and information on care. It is more than worth the price!

This book is truly my orchid Bible. There is some information about almost everything you want to know orchids. I find this book useful when trying to find the general characteristics of a genus or even to identify a plant by its flower. Many, many pictures, and they are all beautiful. They lack in the growing tips category, but make up with the fairly detailed species descriptions for the species they cover in the book. Hope this is helpful!

A poor boy from London's East End, Charlie Trumper inherits a fruit and vegetable barrow (English term for wheelbarrow) from his grandfather whom he adored.

Charlie goes off to fight in WWI and quickly makes enemies of one Mr. Guy Trentham, a rich snob from London's upper class, an enemy that goes beyond the war front and lasts a lifetime.

Upon returning to England, Charlie dreams of selling his wares out of a store instead of a barrow. But his dreams don't stop here, no, Charlie has bigger dreams, he wants to build the largest department store in all of London. Is he successful? You'll have to read to find out.

If your looking action packed adventure, look elsewhere. This is a story of love; hate and dreams come true. At time you will be rolling with laughter, and others on the brink of tears.

I have only read one other book by Mr. Archer, "The Eleventh Commandment". These two books are like night and day. Mr. Archer shows his ability at being a master of storytelling in his ability to go from "As the Crow Flies", to a political thriller in "The Eleventh Commandment". Since I have only read two of his books, or should I say read one and listened to this one, it would be unfair of me to attemp any comparison of Mr. Archer to any other author.

I'm sorry Mr. Archer, but I can only give this book 3 stars. Not because I didn't like it, but it didn't get me so wound up I couldn't quit listening to it. To me 3 stars is average.

I say it again, Mr. Archer, you truly are a master storyteller.

This epic novel was charming, compelling and rich with emotion. It is the closest thing to modern day Dickenson that I have ever read, and yet I daresay- possibly even a step above old Charles. The novel is fast moving, heart warming and spirit inspiring. It was the first work of Mr. Archer's that I had encountered,and I can assure you that after this little prize - I will be enthusiatically delving in to other novels to see what other literary jewels this man has produced.

The story itself was unique and powerful. It told the tale of a generation of honesty. love and hard work. These values eminated throughout the novel and it's characters. I really enjoyed every page of this tale and only wish I could find out waht is happening next in the lives of the whole Trumper clan. The book gave me hope and honor for all the human race. I knew there were still moral, good and decent people left in this world!!

As the Crow Flies is undoubtedly the best Archer book I've ever read. In fact, it's the BEST BOOK EVER! ATCF is another one of Archer's novels about ordinary people pursuing great ambitions. Although Kane and Abel is the clear favourite among Archer fans, I have to say that the conflict in ATCF is much clearer and stronger. Also, the way Archer makes the characters' paths cross in such unexpected ways is absolutely superb. It's so unbelievable that you have to believe it. The writing style is distinctly different from most books, because each chapter beginning is told from the first person POV, so you get to see the story told from different angles.

One more thing I really liked about this book is the way Archer uses the past to build upon the present. The reader sees how the characters in the story have to face events of the past, and the way their present is affected by it. Life turns a full circle. A touch of humour is added when the characters reminisce about their past, repeat old habits, do things they have always done. Irony is present throughout the story and everything seems to be linked together in a woven web of intricacy. To me, the characters seem much more alive.

In all, a seemingly simple story of a man with one great ambition but with many twists and turns and wonderful subplots. Absolutely the best!

Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me, is one of the funniest books that I have ever read. When I first started reading the book in the bookstore I found myself laughing out loud. I think I read the first three essays before I even made it to the cashier. Michael Thomas Ford's humorous attmept at exposing gay life is a great success.

Perhaps I should preface this by stating that I've always considered myself to be someone who, if nothing else, is a man whose politics tend to lean definitely to the 'left'. On more than one occassion I've been accused of being ( gasp! ) Liberal so I now, throwing caution to the wind, wear the badge proudly....so to speak. It must be my Irish/Democrat upbringing! Nevertheless, although my sexual orientation may be considered 'straight' ( Gwynneth Paltrow please call me! ) I one day found myself in Lambda Rising, a gay bookstore here in Wash.D.C., browsing the racks ( and only the racks, thank-you! ). Being the odd man out has never truly bothered me.... plus where there are books, so there am I!

Without going into detail of the experiences of a 'straight' man finding himself in a gay bookstore ( a book in itself! ) I spied Michael Ford's novel and finding the title so engaging, and with my curiosity piqued, I started to read....and I read and read, all the while laughing, so hard that I thought they were going to physically throw me out of the store for vagrancy! Well, I succumbed and purchased a copy ( with little self-respect intact after embarrasing myself to no end! ) of "Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me...." and still after owning my copy for a little over a year I find myself still chuckling.

I won't pretend to truly understand anyone's else's lifestyle ( alternative? ) other than my own ( and who really understand's the opposite sex? ) but I must say that Mr. Ford's book of essay's not only left a smile on my face but perhaps gave me a little more of an understanding into the life of the average ( average? ) Gay individual. Can straight people say Queer...I'm really not sure what is PC here. Just curious! Anyway, upon hearing that even in humour some truth's abound I find Michael's book a compelling read, and not just for other's of the same sexual proclivity, but for other so called 'straight' guys as well, if nothing else than to help us all better understand each other. Granted some of the book does seem rather like a cliche at times but that's a small point indeed. Michael makes some valid points about these little crisis that each of us face in our everday lives. Plus, I guess I was pleasantly surprised ( why I don't know ) to learn that after all is said and done that we all , to one degree or another, want basically the same thing.... love , security, a little happiness and secure in the knowledge that each of us, in some small way, is helping make the world perhaps just a little better than we found it. Fortunately, Michael finds humour in these everyday complexities and thank-goodness for that! Yes, I did laugh at Michael's book but I also found someone who was perhaps searching....and, like many of us, still is.

So whether you're gay, straight or 'somewhere in between' (I'm not sure what THAT means! ) pick up a copy, call up a friend, hopefully one of a diffrent sexual orientation, and laugh and learn at the same time. It's a start. I'm certainly glad I did! Now if I could only get Gwynneth's phone number!

I came across this book while visiting Washington, D.C. at Dupont Circle's "Books & Books". I wanted something to read for the boring flight back to Miami Beach. My boyfriend and I had a very nice experience sharing stories, reading to each other and laughing like idiots. I think his work helps us to look at our many problems objectively in a digestable way, he is rediscovering the plain gay life. Now I have to buy every book Michael Thomas Ford puts on the market and even reccomend them to our friends. Having recently moved to Boston, I hope I can attend a lecture by the Author.

'As you like it' is one of those Shakespearean plays that is considered 'great' by critics, but never really found true popular acclaim, perhaps due to the absence of charismatic characters (the romantic hero is particularly wet) or compelling dilemmas.

It shares many features with the great comedies - the notion of the forest as a magic or transformative space away from tyrannical society ('A Midsummer night's dream'); the theme of unrequited love and gender switching from 'Twelfth night'; the exiled Duke and his playful daughter from 'The Tempest'. But these comparisons only point to 'AYLI''s comparative failure (as a reading experience anyway) - it lacks the magical sense of play of the first; the yearning melancholy of the second; or the elegiac complexity of the third.

It starts off brilliantly with a first act dominated by tyrants: an heir who neglects his younger brother, and a Duke who resents the popularity of his exiled brother's daughter (Rosalind). there is an eccentric wrestling sequence in which a callow youth (Orlando) overthrows a giant. Then the good characters are exiled to Arden searching for relatives and loved ones.

Theoretically, this should be good fun, and you can see why post-modernist critics enjoy it, with its courtiers arriving to civilise the forest in the language of contemporary explorers, and the gender fluidity and role-play; but, in truth, plot is minimal, with tiresomely pedantic 'wit' to the fore, especially when the melancholy scholar-courtier Jacques and Fool Touchstone are around, with the latter's travesties of classical learning presumably hilarious if you're an expert on Theocritus and the like.

As an English pastoral, 'AYLI' doesn't approach Sidney's 'Arcadia' - maybe it soars on stage. (Latham's Arden edition is as frustrating as ever, with scholarly cavilling creating a stumbling read, and an introduction which characteristically neuters everything that makes Shakespeare so exciting and challenging)

Anyone with a working knowledge of Shakespeare's plays knows that As You Like It is a light, airy comedy. It is clearly not one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. As You Like It is more obscure than famous. Even amongst the comedies it comes nowhere close to the popularity of plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, or Twelfth Night. That said, it is a treasure in its own right. This is so, if for nothing else, because it contains one of the greatest pictures of a woman to be found in Shakespeare's works, excluding the Sonnets.

Ah, sweet Rosalind. In her are encapsulated so many ideas about the nature of woman. She is first pictured in a rather faux-Petrarchan manner. This quickly fades as an intelligent woman comes to the fore. While the intelligence remains, she is also torn by the savage winds of romantic love. Rosalind, in all her complexity and self-contradiction, is a truly modern female character.

Most of the women in Shakespeare's tragedies and historical plays are either window dressing (as in Julius Caesar) or woefully one-sided (Ophelia, Lady Macbeth). This is not the case with Rosalind. Rather than being marginalized, she is the focus of a good chunk of the play. Instead of being static and [standard], she is a complex evolving character.

When Rosalind first appears, she outwardly looks much like any other lady of the court. She is a stunning beauty. She is much praised for her virtue. Both of these elements factor in the Duke's decision to banish or [do away with] her.

Rosalind falls in love immediately upon seeing Orlando. In this way she at first seems to back up a typically courtly idea of "love at first sight." Also, she initially seems quite unattainable to Orlando. These are echoes of Petrarchan notions that proclaim love to be a painful thing. This dynamic is stood on its head following her banishment.

Rosalind begins to question the certainty of Orlando's affection. She criticizes his doggerel when she finds it nailed to a tree. Rather than wilting like some medieval flower, she puts into effect a plan. She seeks to test the validity of her pretty-boy's love. In the guise of a boy herself, she questions the deceived Orlando about his love.

Yet Rosalind is not always so assured. Her steadfastness is not cut and dried. Composed in his presence, Rosalind melts the second Orlando goes away. She starts spouting romantic drivel worthy of Judith Krantz. Even her best friend Celia seems to tire of her love talk. This hesitating, yet consuming passion is thrown into stark relief with her crystal clear dealings with the unwanted advances of the shepherdess Phebe.

Rosalind contradicts herself in taking the side of Silvius in his pursuit of Phebe. She seeks to help Silvius win the love of Phebe because of his endearing constancy. Yet the whole reason she tests Orlando is the supposed inconstancy of men's affections.

This idea of Male inconstancy has made its way down to the present day. Men are seen, in many circles, as basically incapable of fidelity. Though a contradiction to her treatment of Silvius' cause, Rosalind's knowing subscription to pessimistic views on the constancy of a man's love places her on the same playing field as many modern women.

Rosalind takes charge of her own fate. Until and even during Shakespeare's own time women largely were at the mercy of the men around them. This is satirized in Rosalind's assuming the appearance of a man. Yet she had taken charge of her life even before taking on the dress and likeness of a man. She gives her token to Orlando. She decides to go to the Forest. She makes the choice of appearing like a man to ensure her safety and the safety of Celia.

Rosalind finally finds balance and happiness when she comes to love not as a test or game, but as an equal partnership. Shakespeare is clearly critiquing the contemporary notions of love in his day. His play also condemns society's underestimation and marginalization of women. However, the Bard's main point is more profound.

As You Like It makes it clear that the world is never picture perfect, even when there are fairy-tale endings. Men and women both fail. Love is the most important thing. With love all things are possible.

"As You Like It" is bar none, one of Shakespeare's VERY best works. It is probably the most poetic of the comedies and contains perhaps as many famous quotations as any other of his plays. Rosalind is perhaps his greatest female character and this work, along with the equally (or even more) brilliant "Midsummer Night's Dream," is the best example of Shakespeare's theme of the "dream world" vs. the "real" world. This play, especially the scenes in the forest, is a celebration of language and the power of the freedom of the imagination. It consequently can be read as a criticism of the "real world," here represented by Duke Ferdinand's court. Like many of the other comedies, Shakespeare is mocking the "ideal" which many in his society would have praised. Though this play deals with some pretty dark themes (which of his plays doesn't?) it is a light-hearted and fully enjoyable read!