This book is by far the funniest book I have ever read . I have never read a whole book until this one I would alway's read and get bored , but this book kept my attention the whole way through. I highly recommend it to anyone

This is the first book - hopefully not the last - from Mark Lowry. Mark shares his life of activity and interests. To Mark from all of us that are also active and interesting and/or have heard from teachers that our children brighten their day, THANK YOU!

This book is a scream and three-quarters. If only everyone's life was this hysterical, the world would be a much happier place.

This is the only book I know of that will give me goose bumps every single time I look thru it. Mark Seliger captures something brillant in every photograph in this book. What an amazing gift he has. If you or anyone you knows is a fan of photography or of music this book is a M-U-S-T!!!! You just CAN NOT go wrong with this book.

Physiognomy is "discovering temperment and character from outward appearance." Mark Seliger in the epilogue talks about how he sees his role as a photographer as to "deliver the essence." These portraits of celebrities magnificently fulfill that mission.

Before going further, let me note that this book contains much discrete male and female nudity, some violent images, and one impolite gesture. If this book were a movie, it would probably receive an "R" rating.

Mark Seliger is one of the very best of the current celebrity phtographers, a talent that has won him the role of chief photographer for both Rolling Stone and Us. You will enjoy both Mr. Seliger's epilogue, where he describes the development of his career, and Eric Bogosian's introductory commentary on the book's contents. Both explore the notion of finding the reality of the person's character.

Mr. Seliger has a particularly playful side that is wonderfully displayed in the book. For example, his portrait of Keith Richard makes him look like a jealous wife flirting with the image of a brooding Mick Jagger. In another case, the energy of Ringo Starr's drumming is captured by displaying him with four arms, hands, and drum sticks! One of the most humorous is an opening sequence of a bare Ben Stiller, first as an ape-man, then as a human.

The facing pages are brilliant. In most situations, they mirror each other by either portraying the same image, but with a different style, or having the two images interact as though they were one image.

One of Mr. Seliger's strengths is that he has a wide range of talent. His color photographs are powerfully effective in ways that most photographers can only accomplish in black-and-white. He can also do simple face shots, or complex compositions. I can think of no other currently popular photographer with nearly this range of effective style. One of my favorite examples of this range is that he has a beautiful shot of Jennifer Aniston in the buff, discretely displayed. At first you are inclined to think of it as a "beauty" shot, and then suddenly you realize that it's really a play on all of those photographs that parents take of their young children lying bare on a rug.

Mr. Seliger is equally adept at the dark side. Sean Penn's volatile personality is nicely captured in a brooding photograph of him pulling on a cigarette. Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg show up looking like they are relaxing during a rumble looking for trouble. "Don't mess with me" is written all over their faces and bodies.

Here are some of my other favorites:

Fiona Apple, Los Angeles, 1997

Bob Dylan, Los Angeles, 1998

Michael J. Fox, Burlington, Vermont, 1993

Merle Haggard, Lake Shasta, California, 1994

Billy Bob Thornton, Toronto, 1997

Bob Dylan, New York City, 1995

Pat Conroy, Charleston, South Carolina, 1995

Charlize Theron, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1998

Will Smith, Los Angeles, 1997

Winona Ryder, New York City, 1997

Jerry Seinfeld, Los Angeles, 1994

Drew Barrymore, Bell, California, 1994

There is another way to think about Physiognomy. People who have studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming argue the opposite way, that physiology becomes psychology. Repeated psychology becomes a habit, and the build-up of habits becomes a character. Spend some time thinking about how you hold your body. Test out how those positions and facial expressions affect you mentally, and how that influences your behavior.

Pose for best advantage . . . to others and to the development of your own character!

this book is incredible. if you are a subscriber to rolling stone magazine, and have ever noticed a photograph that is simply amazing, it is probably the work of mark seliger. if you buy this book, you will be able to see hundreds of pages of these intriguing photographs, some involving vivid use of color, and others utilizing the intimacy of black and white photography.

when you first get this book, you will set it down, read it from cover to cover, be solidly amazed, and then promptly read it again from cover to cover.

i know nothing about photography, but you don't need to in order to appreciate seliger's appealing, beautiful pictures. i would suggest that anyone buy this book.

I bought Chris Thurber's book on Friday, and watched him on NBC's Today Show this morning (June 9, 2003). Seeing him in person confirms what I thought: he is a camping expert with a wealth of helpful information for parents and kids alike. I feel so much better sending my son to camp knowing that Chris and Jon's research has helped us prepare in a way that will maximize the fun and minimize the homesickness at camp. Buying this book is a small investment in a positive experience whose benefits, I am sure, will last a lifetime. (I found the perfect camp for my son by visiting the American Camping Association's web page: acacamps.org.)

This book really covers what you need to know before you send your child to sleepaway camp. The part that was most helpful to me was the research the authors have done on homesickness. Before I got this book I was guessing about how to handle my daughter's homesickness, and I came up with one or two of their recommendations. But after I read this book I felt I understood how to handle this with my daughter and also what the camp and counselors can do to help. There's a great list of all the things you can do. And everything the authors said rings true with my experience.

It's well written, easy to follow, and has parts written just for kids to read. There's even a section to tell kids how to get the most out of camp - from general guidelines on how to treat others to good advice on how to deal with living with lots of kids in a small space.

Every parent, camper, counselor and camp director should read this book! Parents will have a more relaxing time while their kids are away, campers will know better what to expect and how to have the most fun, counselors will know better what to do, and camp directors will have fewer problems with kids AND parents.

This is a must read book for any parent who plans on sending their child to camp. The information on homesickness is invaluable and based on studies done by Dr. Thurber. This is not a book of testimonials but is backed up by honest to goodness scientific studies and presented in a very readable and pleasurable way.

This is an introductory book. It also fits in introductory level of Mathematical Statistics. The prerequisites are introductory calculus and linear algebra. Most theorems are proved in calculus style but there are some gIt can be shownsh that are not proved. So some readers may not be satisfied with the book, especially Math majors.

Logical steps are shown in detail; else logical gaps are contained within a level such that a first time reader can fill in the gap with a pencil and paper. Occasional mix with Bayesian perspective is also a feature. Answers to odd-numbered exercises are provided except ones that ask derivations and proofs. Exercises that require some tricks are provided with hints. In these respects, this textbook is suitable for self-study.

Upon completion of the entire material, I feel concepts are developed well up to Hypothesis testing Chapter 8 where the presentation of material reaches climax and its level of exposition is somewhat higher than other chapters. Thereafter, simple linear regression is treated in detail, but coverage and detail of materials seem to deteriorate from the following general regression section, nonparametrics and thereafter. Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests section is treated nicely though. Anova section lacks in coverage. The new simulation chapter is presented more like a demonstration rather than an introduction.

I have never seen the previous 2nd edition (unfortunately Dr. Degroot is no longer with us), but according to the preface of this 3rd edition, Dr. Schervish describes 8 major changes from the previous edition. Notable are some material removed from the previous (likelihood principle, Gauss-Markov theorem, and stepwise regression), some added (lognormal distribution, quantiles, prediction and prediction intervals, improper priors, Bayes test, power functions, M-estimators, residual plots in linear models and Bayesian analysis of simple linear regression), more exercises and examples, special notes, introduction and summary to each section, and so on. I find the last in the list is somewhat disturbing, especially introduction parts that are often redundant with the very next paragraph. On the other hand, I find that special notes provide good insights.

I wish they included introduction to Statistical Decision theory, full coverage of regression analysis to be usable such as diagnosis, transformation and variable selection, coverage of Multivariate Normal distribution, more coverage and depth in nonparametrics and simulation, and lists of recommended readings for further study at the end of each section with comments.

There are a noticeable number of typos as of this first printing I have. I sent suggestions for typos and was impressed that Dr. Schervish updated errata list within a few days at his homepage. I wish all authors were like him being responsible.

I used to hate statistics, but this book is pretty clear and concise, and gets the idea across very quickly and easily. The exercise questions were of reasonable difficulty, and are put forth in a clear manner, unlike other books which present the questions in round-about manner. The examples tend to follow on or build upon from the earlier chapters, so it is best to tackle the book in the order as prescribed by the chapters.

I have looked at many introductory books to probability and statistics and this one is definitely the best. It is very clear and readable and yet gets to pretty advanced stuff.

Well good book but short information, good for whales amateur, with great pictures inside and pretty explanation in wildlife, if you like sea mammals or thinking a watchwhale tour go outside and buy it

WE HAVE BEEN SCUBA DIVING NOW FOR THREE YEARS AND BOTH THE "WHALES & DOLPHINS" & "SHARKS AND RAYS" HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL. WE HAVE LOANED OUR BOOKS SO OFTEN THAT WE ARE ORDERING A THIRD SET FOR A NEIGHBOR WHO IS GOING TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST. VERY USEFUL FOR IDENTIFICATION WHILE WHALE WATCHING OR SHARK DIVING. GREAT PICTURES, LOTS OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND HISTORY.

I'm a Biology Prof who just got back from a trip to Monterey Bay and had the encounters of a lifetime, both Blue Whales and Humpbacks (also Risso's Dolphins). The trip left me hungry for more, so I hit the local Borders (I can say that now that Borders and Amazon have e-merged right?). There were two books that were a class in themselves ( I can't recall the name of the other book, rats!). In any rate, this book will not leave you short. (I almost said that this was a whale of a book, but thought otherwise).

Great 3d resource. A positive aspect about this book is that it's not based on any particular software. There is a fair amount of reference to 3DSMax but it is not exclusive to that package. This is especially useful to the uninitiated in that it gives an excellent overview of 3d in general independant of the any particular software.
There's good stuff here for anyone from the merely curious to the professional.

Computer graphics and animation expert Mark Giambruno draws upon the experiences of working professionals about the technology shared through insightful interviews in 3D Graphics & Animation. Offering the novice strong and "user friendly" presentation of information needed by those just learning the 3D area and those who are trying to enter the 3D market, this updated and expanded second edition of 3D Graphics & Animation builds on the well-received segments of the first edition to cover the basics of 3D in general terms. 3D Graphics & Animation also offers excellent and comprehenstive coverage of such related topics as developing a story concept, storyboarding, and putting together a demo real and portfolio. New elements showcased in this second edition include interviews from industry leaders as well as application specific tutorials for 3ds max 4, Maya 4, and LightWave 7 that are included on the CD. If you have a project involving graphics and animation, then give a careful reading to Mark Giambruno's 3D Graphics & Animation!

Capably captaining readers through every major facet of the 3D computer-graphics genre in a single text is a monumental endeavor, but that's precisely what veteran 3D guru Mark Giambruno has done with his 588-page (excluding electronic content) sequel to "3D Graphics & Animation: From Starting Up to Standing Out" (1997).

Nearly pulsing with an exponential quantity of pertinent industry facts, this title virtually threatens to explode--like a "bomb" object in 3ds max--into innumerable chunks of invaluable insider information, technical terms, key tips and techniques. Nevertheless, Giambruno's straightforward, concise and conversational writing style eases the burden of what otherwise might prove an overwhelming exercise in information overload for readers relatively inexperienced in 3D.

The text thoroughly explores the fundamental components of 3D work, and in fine detail: modeling; texturing; lighting; animation; rendering; cinematography; post effects. But it delves infinitely deeper than this, including interesting and revealing interviews with significant industry talents, addressing trade applications, the work environment, demo reel development, art direction and project planning, employment issues and more. Authored as a text targeting beginners and intermediate-level talents in 3D computer graphics, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" also equips readers with a fairly comprehensive list and explanation of key field terms, including some with which many experienced users possibly aren't familiar. All the nuts and bolts of 3D development are here, but it's Giambruno's passionate dedication--as alluded to in his foreword--to inspiring and educating novices and other genre enthusiasts that really sets this title apart as a complete, general industry reference. The author's interviews with former coworkers and continuing associates illuminate the ingredients helpful or essential to a successful career in 3D graphics.

Aside from some occasional, cumbersome and overly technical explanations of such factors as lighting temperature scales and binary math, the author squarely and applicably strikes the mark in every respect. An industry professional with 12 years of 3D experience as an artist and art/project director on both conventional and contractual employment bases, Giambruno discusses the types of jobs available in 3D, the production processes and learning methods. He tackles all essential modeling methods and techniques, interface elements, perspective, texture acquisition/creation/tiling, mapping details, illumination types and methods, low-polygon creation wares, material shaders, digital imaging, photography, character choreography and animation.

An invaluable topic in the text is the intricacies of lighting: basic photographic arrangements; lighting characteristics; lighting mood; methodologies; volumetricity and more. These are critical details of 3D that often are neglected not only in how-to texts, but also--embarrassingly so, to the perpetrators--by renowned digital visual effects studios in the development of feature-entertainment material. Giambruno also deeply explores cinematography, including camera focal length, focus and aperture, movement and viewpoints.

In addition, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" embraces important rendering and output issues, including media resolutions, palettes, alpha channels, atmospherics and post FX. Of key interest to broadcast enthusiasts, too, is detailed information about video standards and caveats, render settings, safe zones and aspect ratio. Furthermore, both the printed tutorials and those archived on the companion CD are well-structured and easy-to-follow. Carefully progressing through these instructional sessions certainly will leave beginners achieving a substantial sense of accomplishment and early competence--something that all too often cannot rightfully be said about published tuts.

A non-product-specific printed guide to "everything 3D," the softcover text is supplemented by 48 CD-archived tutorials whose versions are tailored to 3ds max (release 4 or above), LightWave 3D (v. 7 or higher) and Maya (4 or higher), and numbered steps, crisp screenshots and finished visuals accompany these exercises. Also included on the CD are some stellar finished sequences produced by former Giambruno employer Mondo Media. Rounding out the CD-based material are the 3D Graphics & Animation Web List (HTML), five PDF appendices and Chapter 12: Getting the Job. The Web List includes references to CG-specific sites, organizations, schools, 3D software-producer contact information, image and mesh library publishers and interviewee contact data. An extensive terms glossary and a useful index appear at the publication's aft.

As for the book's visuals, project and software screenshots are illustrative, the "Notes" informative, and the occasional "Definition" entrees enlightening. The full-color "Image Gallery" is interesting, inspiring and fairly extensive.

This book does slant somewhat toward the game-development market and, although this arena is burgeoning at present, some 3D enthusiasts may not be inclined in this direction. (But then, the author's expertise, to a large degree, comprises game-creation efforts, so it's difficult to avoid this emphasis.) Some slightly annoying manifestations appear, such as a two-page-plus "Acknowledgements" section at the outset and the illustrative mini-dramas that precede the chapters. The former is difficult to avoid, though, as artists often easily form "mutual admiration societies." (The author very well might respond: "Touché.") As for the latter, well, each brief dialogue is only a page in length. These asides probably serve more to gratify the author's affinity for storytelling than anything else, but they also may be his method for taking the edge off what, for some, may be intimidating material. No harm done. And one final thing: For those 3D folk who aren't enamored with Discreet's 3ds max, the frequent references to this product might miff a bit. Some camps are very possessive of their software, and these do include ones that much-prefer another or other products. (But it's difficult--if not impossible--to deny max's saturation and prowess in the game genre.)

The bottom line: If you're interested in exploring a career in 3D or just in dabbling in the medium as a hobbyist, this text is nearly a must-have. For intermediate-level 3D types, much of the technically specific material may be quite useful. And again, even some genuine pros--particularly if untrained in filmmaking and/or color theory--may at least learn a few terms previously unknown to them. Regardless of user experience level, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" serves--at least to some extent--as a valuable reference of industry terminology.

I've been rather bored with books lately, there are too many that are too similar to each other, but this one really caught my interrest. It has an intricate, well thought-out plot, fascinating characters and a society which feels alive - but...! It left too many loose ends.

So I went to look for information about this book on the net, and behold, there is indeed a sequel. Though I'm glad there's more, I just whish I'd known beforehand it wasn't a stand-alone novel since who knows how long before I get my hands on the next one?

I truly recommend reading Palace, but make sure you have the sequel as well - this is a "to be continued"-book in my opinion.

Usually indifferent to reading books written by more than one author, I was more than pleasantly surprised when I began Palace. This book flowed in a way that co-authorship does not usually allow.

Although the first two chapters made it harder to get into, once I perservered I found that this story was fantastic and I really enjoyed it - science fiction, action, romance, mystery all in one. Kerr and Kreghbaum do a great effort in making the story interesting and making me want to read more.

What a fantastic book. I did some research and found out that the sequal 'Eyes of God - A Novel of the Pinch' by Mark Kreighbaum has not only been written but is also reportedly an excellent read. BUT it is already out of print without any one appearing to know it was ever written.

This is a sad loss. Does any one have an idea how I could get hold of a copy?

If you want to know how old-time sailors did things, this book can tell you in impressive detail. For a sailor on a tall ship from the last century and a half, however, most of this book is irrelevant, and could better be replaced by Eagle Seamanship (at a fraction of the cost).

'SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL: An Account of the Shiphandling of the Sailing Man-Of-War 1600-1860, Based on Contemporary Sources'(c.1984) by John Harland, is probably one of the most informative and valuable collections of useful knowledge on sailship handling in the late 20th century!

A major value of this work is its ability to answer the questions developed during today's contemporary square rig sailing. It fully explained why sailboats are pulled by the wind and not pushed (Bernouilli's Principle); the advantages and disadvantages of square rig sailing over fore & aft sailing (downwinds & length of luff); why large square rig ships don't need a center board (a shifting of CLR, CG, & G); or why all sails were never set on a square rig when simply cruising (courses don't draw in a well).

The book is punctuated with pen & ink drawings as well as period photographs and deguerrotypes of ships in the act of a sail evolution or other shipboard activity. And in a time period where photography was not yet invented, the author used contemporary paintings of vessels to demonstrate an aspect of ship handling. Going further back into history, the author delved into the archeological record to demonstrate the origin or existance of a ship component pertinent to his ship handling argument.

SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL further provided continuity answers as to why sails are shaped the way they are; or why the steeve of the bowsprit was lessened over time. The book gave valuable points on how to rig a ship while underway; how to rig the stun'sls; how to rig the braces, lifts, tacks, sheets, clews, and bunts; how to raise and lower heavy sails; how to bend sails to the spars; how to box haul or club haul the ship; and why the main topsail halyard is a heart attack waiting to happen.

Just as the serious and ambitious mate or deckhand in the 1700s was caught with a copy of Bowditch ('Practical Navigator') in his seachest; in the 2000s you can watch a mate or an ambitious O.S. walk up the brow to his sailship with a copy of SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL tucked under his arm. Despite its large size and bulk, this book is well worth taking along into the cramped crews quarters for an informed reading at night.

SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL is a wonderful archive of esoteric sailship handling maneuvers, equipment, gear, and nautical science. The author has done a wonderful job in his research and has provided a great resource to all sailing ship captains and mates.

If you came here deliberately looking for this type of book, look no further. This is THE one you want. Now I know how to fish an anchor! I just wish the publisher had put the book into a size that more easily fits a backpack or a tote instead of making it coffee-table size.

Doty's sixth book of poetry shows his elegant and strong style while exploring both public and private life. These poems luxuriate on the tongue and in the mind, and boldly paint vivid images in the readers' minds. Winner of a Lambda Literary Award for poetry, "Source" is a delightful example of Doty's works.

I don't mean to sound cranky, but I'm tired of hearing the words "beautiful" and "moving" in relationship to the work of Mark Doty. Of course his poems are these things, but they're much, much more. They're rigorous in their thinking; they're relentless in their questions about perception and mortality, and revolutionary in their evocation of a social and metaphysical vision. This is a poetry of ideas. It's a poetry that rolls up its sleeves and takes its reader gently--but FIRMLY--down "into the source of spring."

Mark Doty in his latest collection of poems, continues to delight and entertain us with his brilliant style of writing that is elegant, compassionate, and unabashedly, and proudly gay. These poems are of a universal language, speaking to all sexual orientations, for they are not all gay themed verses. Doty's poems are always a real pleasure to read for they speak from the heart on subjects that are important and of interest to many of us who share his same ideals, thoughts, and feelings. I have always been a fan of his poems for that reason. As he describes the degradation of Walt Whitman's vision of a democratic America in "Letter to Walt Whitman", or of the joy and entertainment that "Little Kaiser" brings to so many people in "Private Life", I can not help but smile at the joy he sees and experiences in trying to get close to Whitman, and in exploring the inner thoughts of "Little Kaiser". I have to admit I am a little prejudiced toward these two lovely poems, for each has references to companion parrots. I loved the poem, "Letter to Walt Whitman" that Doty wrote after touring Whitman's home in Camden. He was trying to find something there that would make Whitman seem more real and still alive. He did when he discovered Whitman's parrot preserved by the taxidermist's wax, and wrote, "Then one thing made you seem alive: your parrot." And in "Private Life" we learn all about "Little Kaiser" the African Grey parrot, who has been a fixture for many years at the local headshop on Commercial Street in Provincetown. Doty has a way of describing all life beings with the beauty they so rightly deserve.

This sixth book of verse by Mark Doty is one I will be returning to many, many times. The poems in this collection cover a wide variety of subjects, and this creates an opportunity for everyone to find one of interest to them that will definitely become a favorite. The several poems he writes about Provincetown, a town I have come to care about and call a second home over the past quarter century, are my favorites. Doty seems to have the same feelings for this special place that I have. It is the beauty of his words that keep me looking forward to and eagerly awaiting his next collection of poems. A Real Pleasure!!

Joe Hanssen

-Robert S. McNamera. Quote is from chapter five of Trillion.

Highlights
Rogue INS agents bent on the destruction of alien contacts and those they have come into contact with; spectacular remote viewing induced journeys; high desert pursuit; secret business deals involving the dark agenda of a wealthy, elitist insider; trust building interactions between species; also discover high risk-taking 'travelers' who have come to educate human beings, to teach them life enhancing lessons from their progressive home world, who's purpose is to introduce - one person at a time, if need requires - methods on how to create and sustain a more abundant, viable future. These 'people' from another world literally give up their home planet, and their families, sacrificing it all on a one way trip traversing vast space to our modern hurting world. Enjoy verbal sojourns in Trillion that literally take you in the minds eye to the extra-terrestrial's home world, allowing you to view their culture as well as the local evolving galaxies.

These are just a few of the finely crafted themes that run throughout Trillion. I recommend this book as a very compelling argument for peaceful 'teachers' that clearly defines the contemporary players involved in the extra-terrestrial field of uncommon reality. With Trillion, Mark Kimmel demonstrates his understanding of the issues and implications underlying contact between mankind and ET. He sets the needed tone for the opposing view of ETs - that of peaceful, yet fallible, and highly advanced, enlightened beings - which fortunately runs contrary to the negative characterizations of a major sample of the usual world attacking or genetic alteration/abduction stories written on the subject. Think good aliens this time!

I give the book a rating of 4.5 out 5. If it had been more fully developed (longer to develop the filial relationships of the characters) I may have enjoyed it even more. But then, my guess is that a much larger story line was trimmed down to make this spirited, highly inspiring and insightful story a more accessible read.

Trillion revealed fascinating insights into possible choices of destiny that mankind and aliens may one day embrace or reject.
Once I picked up the book, I couldn't put it down. Mr. Kimmel is a natural at story telling. Trillion held my interest with a convincing blend of intrique, adventure and thought-provoking messages. BRAVO!

I couldn't put it down! Trillion creates an overwhelming similarity to therories recently uncovered and ultimately ties together truths about our planet yet unknown to most people. With a curious blend of fiction and non-fiction, the insights in Trillion bring many theories and suspisions full circle in a way that no other piece of literature has ever done. This wonderfully written adventure provides an excellent opportunity to transform your own thinking into a more friendly, loving, and truth knowing being. It will wake you up to what's really going on in our government and media making you wonder who's really in control. The story gives the reader a better understanding of our planet's desparate state of affairs and the higher intelligences that graciously help keep us from destroying our planet. Bravo! Hurry and publish the next one!