A Wee Guide to Mary, Queen of Scots (Wee Guides)

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent beginner guide to European History.......2000-05-09

This was an excellent little book that gave you the immense amount of history involved with this woman without having to read 100's of pages of information. It is a fascinating look in to a different time and place....with Medieval France & England at War and the intrigue and deceit that would give a modern day movie a run for its money! Well worth the time to read!

Book Description

As a follow-up to his autobiography, Carl draws on 18 years of international motorcycle riding to give readers a comprehensive guide to bikes. Advice is given on how to get started in the sport before Carl explores all the key techniques which the novice rider will need in his or her repertoire. He goes on to talk about preparation for race riding, physical and mental strength, the different approaches required for qualifying and racing, and how to treat the opposition. Then we take to the track, as Carl explores the essential components of competitive racing, with advice from Ducati's top technicians. A comprehensive guide to motorcycle riding by one of the world's most successful riders

Average customer rating:

Foggy on Bikes
Carl Fogarty
Manufacturer: HARPER COLLINS 0 PUB
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K1QE0Y

Average customer rating:

Foggy on Bikes
Carol Fogarty Neil Bramwell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8MTO8

Foggy on Bikes: Learn to Ride Like a World Champion

Average customer rating:

Foggy on Bikes: Learn to Ride Like a World Champion
Carl Fogarty
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8PCZ6

Amazon.com

Jeanne Cavelos says, "Star Wars fueled my interest in space exploration and the possibility of alien life," leading her to a career in astrophysics. While these movies have inspired her, she admits that may not have been their intention.

In creating the part science fiction/part fantasy/part myth that is Star Wars, George Lucas did not seek to create a futuristic universe that agreed perfectly with our current understanding of science.... How realistic, how possible, is this galaxy far, far away?
The answer when A New Hope first came out was "not at all." But a strange thing has happened in the years since Star Wars first came out. Science is beginning to catch up with George Lucas.

Cavelos looks at Lucas's planets, aliens, droids, technology, and Force with both rationality and affection. The droids R2-D2 and C-3P0, among others, become more interesting and almost credible after her consideration.

The element of Star Wars that is most true to science is the sense of wonder it calls forth, which has very little to do with how close it is to a possible future. Or, as Steve Grand, director of the Cyberlife Institute, said to Cavelos: "I never try to let scientific implausibility get in the way of a good story!" --Mary Ellen Curtin

Book Description

Could the science fiction of Star Wars be the actual science of tomorrow?

-How close are we to creating robots that look and act like R2-D2 and C-3PO?
-Can we access a "force" with our minds to move objects and communicate telepathically with each other?
-How might spaceships like the Millennium Falcon make the exhilarating jump into hyperspace?
What kind of environment could spawn a Wookiee?
-Could a single blast from the Death Star destroy an entire planet?
-Could light sabers possibly be built, and if so, how would they work?
-Do Star Wars aliens look like "real" aliens might?
-What would living on a desert planet like Tatooine be like?
-Why does Darth Vader require an artificial respirator?

Discover the answers to these and many other fascinating questions as a noted scientist and Star Wars enthusiast explores The Science of Star Wars.

Customer Reviews:

Not so long or so far away, some of it could happen.......2005-02-06

Quality entertainment is its' own reward, so in many ways the plausibility of the scenarios is not an overriding concern. However, there is a threshold of believability that cannot be crossed, for if it is, it can cease to be entertainment. The quality of the entertainment has a great deal to do with the location of the threshold, if the story is very good, the bar is higher, but for a mediocre story it can be much lower. In the Star Wars movies, the bar is generally considered pretty low, as most people who watch them are fairly uncritical of the scientific basis for the events. George Lucas was brilliant when he opened the series with the phrase, " A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." This is equivalent to the classic "Once upon a time" opening to fairy tales. By immediately giving the Star Wars events the status of a fairy tale, Lucas provides himself with a great deal of scientific poetic license in his Star Wars movies.
However, there are always people who examine the actions on the screen and consider the plausibility based on the current theories of science. In this book Cavelos critically examines the major events in the Star Wars series from the perspective of modern science. The opening chapter is a discussion of the major environments where the action takes place. It starts with the questions concerning how prevalent planets are in the universe. In this case, recent research indicates that there are an enormous number of planets, so the focus moves to planets that could support life, in particular, human life. Here, the odds drop substantially, as the range of temperature, gravity and atmosphere that humans can function in is in all cases very narrow. The existence of specific planets such as Tatooine with its' two suns, the moon "planets" of Endor and Yavin and the ice planet Hoth are all seriously examined. Given the constant number of new surprises that the study of planets in our solar system has provided, while unlikely, most of these environments cannot be ruled out.
Chapter two, which deals with the characteristics of alien life forms, was my favorite. Many of the main species, such as the Wookies, Hutts, Banthas, Jawas, and Ewoks are examined from a biological perspective. How their bodies are constructed and if they could function in their environment makes an interesting exercise in comparative biology. By examining Jar Jar Binks, one can reach many conclusions concerning how his species functions. This is a chapter that would make an excellent study topic in high school biology classes.
Chapters three and four deal with the technology, with chapter three devoted to the artificial intelligence (AI) of droids and four the technology of the spacecraft. Despite many problems in implementation, there appears to be no reason to doubt that droids with the capability of R2-D2 and C-3PO will eventually be constructed. However, the development of interstellar craft that travel through hyperspace will require substantial advancements in harnessing energy and the presence of scientific realities that we currently know nothing about.
The Force, that all-encompassing energy field, is the topic of the last chapter. It is also the most difficult to envision, although in many cases, it is just another name for God. The difference is of course that using the force would mean that an individual could channel the power of God for their own purposes, independent of the goodness rating of the action. Extra-sensory perception and the current "evidence" for it are also examined.
I am a devoted fan of Star Wars, and as I scientist I recognize when scientific laws are broken on the screen. Nevertheless, it was a very fun book to read, because there is scientific evidence that indicates that some of what happens in these movies could actually take place.

STAR WARS COULD HAPPEN!!?.......2001-09-25

What I loved about the Star Wars saga is the fact that travel
across the galaxy is as commonplace and taken for granted as
car and air travel is today. And I love the alien world our
heroes visit like the Fourth Moon of Yavin,the Moon of Endor,
Tatooine,Hoth,Bespin,Dagobah and Coruscant.

This book explores the possibility of rapid interstellar travel
and alien planets and extraterrestrial life and the even how to
build lightsabers and blasters with incredible detail. Cavelos

explains that such breaktroughs may or may not happen in a few
thousand years. Who knows what breaktroughs humanity will make?
We may not be at war with aliens or other civilizations and I
hope it won't happen. But I do hope that someday people will be
able to travel to other solar systems and galaxies as quickly
and easily as crossing our oceans. Cavelos gives interesting
detail on wormholes,warp drives,and even what it would be like
to travel at warp drive with the stars stretching into streaks
of light. That will be a very exciting time. I hope that galactic
travel and even intergalctic travel will be used for tourism as
well as exploration and colonization. People will travel to exotic planets and moons like Yavin 4,Endor,Hoth,Coruscant etc.
and even view our own galaxy from above as a glowing celestial
spiral. That would be a very exciting time!!Perhaps it
will happen in the next thousand years or so.

Very Good.......2000-10-18

I loved this book. Like all Star Wars books I read, I could barely put it down. The only reason it's not perfect is that the whole Star Wars series is very loosely based on science, so this book really has a very shaky fundamental basis. The fact that Jeanne Cavelos can write a great book around this weak foundation, though, is a testament to the skill with which the author writes.

Great Book.......2000-08-31

I am not a huge, or even big Star Wars fan (heck, I didn't even like the first one), but I loved this book. A great concept, very well done. I could not put it down.

Feels like a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable and thoughtful.......2000-07-10

Reading each chapter of "The Science of Star Wars" made me feel like I was indulging in a guilty pleasure, which is odd, since this is an informative look at science through the prism of the Star Wars movies.

The author has different chapters on planets, lifeforms, spaceships and weapons, droids, and the Force. Each chapter looks at the subject as depicted in the various movies, and then speculates on how likely the subject is scientifically. She has an open-mind; even when the subject seems to be scientifically inaccurate, she writes diplomatically that it seems unexplained, or needs some explanation beyond our understanding.

For the most part, she is a good writer. However, the book is sprinkled with repeated lame jokes about wishing bad things unto Imperial stormtroopers. It's kind of funny the first time, but after that, it becomes silly.

Also, the section discussing the Force delves into a heavy dose of quantum mechanics. There are no equations or diagrams, but it is an extended discussion, albeit at a layperson's level.

Customer Reviews:

Ever wonder just how plausible the SW Universe is?.......2000-06-13

As a SW fan, I enjoyed most of this book that provides scientific insight into just how plausible the technical, astronomical and meta-physical aspects of George Lucas' fantasy galaxy are. The sections on planets and technology were my favorites and I found them very intriguing and fascinating. The section on the Force went a bit too far, though. Also, it's important to remember that SW IS ONLY A WORK OF FICTION!

Average customer rating:

Am I ranting about this book? You bet!

A-Qadim Arabian Adventures

Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, No. 2126)
Jeff Grubb , and Andria Hayday
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Golden Voyages (AD&D 2nd Ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Al Qadim Setting)

Cities of Bone/Includes Book/Campaign Guide/Booklet/Poster Map/Cards (Al-Qadim Campaign)

Caravans (AD&D Fantasy Roleplaying, Al-Qadim)

Assassin Mountain (AD&D 2nd Ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Al-Qadim Setting)

Rock of Bral (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/Spelljammer Accessory SJR5)

ASIN: 1560763582

Customer Reviews:

Am I ranting about this book? You bet!.......2002-02-02

This campaign sourcebook is an expansion of the AD&D (2nd edition) system that contains information on running a campaign set in the Zakhara region of the Forgotten Realms, which is strongly based on medieval Arabia. This wonderful book contains chapters on the following subject: life in Zakhara, including desert survival and bargaining; character creation, including new kits and new proficiencies; and magic in Zakhara, including a new class (the genie summoning Sha'ir), new specialists and new spells.

This book is absolutely wonderful. It contains enough information to run a campaign in Zakhara, but it is also general enough that you could use it to set up an Arabian Nights campaign of your own design. Indeed, its wealth of information contains quite a few gems that can be used in any campaign. Am I ranting about this book? You bet! This is a great book, a wonderful resource for AD&D players.

A-Qadim Arabian Adventures.......2000-07-11

I found this book quite interesting. The first chapter, which deals with the cultures found in the campaign setting this book is designed for use with (Zakhara, the Land of Fate, an area south of the famous Forgotten Realms campaign setting) is actually quite extensive. True, it's not too detailed when it comes to prominent people and cities, but it makes up for that by explaining Zakharan culture and beliefs to a more than reasonable extent. Chapters Two and Three deal with character creation - I found the resources there (including a list of Arabian names and a collection of appropriate character kits or sub-classes) quite useful. I was disappointed at the low number of new character proficiencies found in Chapter Four, but I suppose there are so many non-weapon proficiencies in the AD&D core rules that they don't need to many more to adapt them to Arabian Nights-style adventures. Chapter Five provides useful information about the problems with adventuring in Zakhara - the effect of heat on metal armor, for example. Fate (and the Evil Eye, which causes Fate to turn against its unfortunate target) is also described here. A list of equipment commonly found in Zakhara is available in the next chapter. I found this reasonably useful, but despite comments to the effect that flying carpets and other fantastic items were sold on the open market in Zakhara, prices for such magical items are not listed. Chapter 7 expands upon the kit description for the sha'ir, a new type of wizard who sends his gen (a minor genie who serves as a familiar to the sha'ir) out for spells rather than memorizing such things each day. The sha'ir looks like a wonderful kit, and I look forward to introducing such wizards to my campaign. Chapter 8 introduces new spells found exclusively in Zakhara, and Appendix A lists those spells and some of the spells from the core rules by province rather than school. (While core AD&D classifies spells by schools such as Alteration, Divination, etc., the Arabian Adventures expansion classifies them by provice - Wind, Flame, Sea, Sand, and Universal.) Both are very interesting and useful indeed. The book closes with a Glossary of various terms used in Zakhara, which will certainly prove helpful.

All in all, this book is an excellent addition to any Dungeon Master's library. It has its flaws, sure, but it's a shame that Arabian Adventures is no longer in print.

Customer Reviews:

Proven Portals Review.......2006-08-03

The content is very good, but it would be better if the book includes pictures, samples and draws with color.

An explanation of portals at the level of managers.......2004-10-06

A portal is a way to electronically access the fundamental information concerning your business, most commonly over the Internet. Therefore, an enterprise portal is one that can be used to access all public business operations. Since it is designed to perform all business functions, it is much more than a set of hyperlinked web pages. To start with, there must be some overlying consistency to the display of the pages, independent of what operations they provide the user. The links between the pages must also make sense, in that while there is a sequence of pages to follow, a way to jump to key initial pages in logical sequences is available.
Beyond the presentation issues, the following must also be considered:

*) The order in the way the supporting database(s) is accessed and organized.
*) The integrity of the data must be maintained.
*) The cost of the portal must be justified using an understandable return on investment (ROI) analysis.

All of these features are handled in this book, which is written at the technical level of the manager. In that vein, the most significant chapter is number five, "Measuring Portal Return on Investment: A Crash Course." The days when one could justify an Internet presence by simply stating something like, "It is the new way of business" are long gone. IT budgets are still tight and everything needs to be subjected to a thorough ROI analysis. The techniques to do that described in this book will sharpen your skills as you try to put specific dollar values on something where not all values are clearly delimited and specified. For many managers, that chapter alone justifies the purchase of the book.
The rest of the book deals with general design issues, such as a three-tiered architecture. Tier 1 is the presentation layer, what the user sees on their screen. Tier 2 is the application server layer, or the functionality that serves the specific application(s) being used by the client. Tier 3 is the enterprise information services layer, where the application server layer interacts with the remainder of the organization's information infrastructure. This is a sensible approach for many reasons, and a solid overview of those reasons is given.
The second half of the book covers the different types of portals and the common themes shared by those that are effective. Not a great deal of technical detail, but enough so that a manager can intelligently converse about the subject. As someone who is technically literate, I found the bulk of the material routine. However, for the manager trying to make an informed decision about their company's portal design and justification, the book is perfect.

Vendor independent portal information.......2004-06-04

This book presents practical portal design principles in a vendor independent manner, emphasizing business process, ease of use, and deep integration of applications. Deploying a portal so "users check their email from the web or read the latest company press release" is not enough! The common goal is enterprise wide integration. The chapter on Return of Investment (ROI) presents how to make the ROI calculation and more importantly emphasizes business justification of the portal. This book uses a three-tier architecture of presentation, application server, and enterprise information service. The case studies presented and associated best practices were all useful but perhaps I would have enjoyed some examples of failures.. there must be a lot out there!

Data warehouse architecture is a huge topic (see for example books by Ralph Kimball), but this book introduces how portals can be delivery vehicle for "business intelligence" reporting (through ad hoc query tools, dashboards, and visualizations tools). Sullivan also discusses e-commerce portals, collaboration portals, and portals with unstructured and "tacit knowledge". He describes how metadata management can help in search for unstructured documents and applications. The final chapter on implementing your own portal is weak for planning purposes, but books like Moss and Arte "Business Intelligence Roadmap" offer more planning details.

Jack of all trades, master of...none.......2004-04-01

To call this book "best practices" does the reader a disservice. The author's glossing over of Earned value (e.g., ROI) leaves the reader with an incomplete picture of how to compute these values. If this is your first/only source of information then when you try to give those numbers to your CFO, she will BURN you. Do yourself a favor and pick up another book on Earned Value and actually _learn_ how it is calculated, rather than relying on the poor presentation here.

Another juicy tip you're dying to find out: "Most portals have three-part layout" Oh really? Try again, Timmy.

Proven Portals - practical and balanced.......2003-12-12

Proven Portals gives a practical and balanced view of the subject matter. It should be required reading for those embarking on a Portal implementation or trying to rescue a failed one. The book provides concepts and best practices that are valid regardless of the technical infrastructure. You'll need greater detail in some areas for your implementation, and the author provides references for a more in-depth treatment of many issues. The book is an amazingly easy read for as much ground as it covers. I can't wait for Proven Data Warehouses!

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterprise Portals. : An article from: Technical Communication

Average customer rating:

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterprise Portals. : An article from: Technical Communication
Linda M. Davis
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on May 1, 2005. The length of the article is 581 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterprise Portals.
Author: Linda M. Davis
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2005
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Page: 239(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterpris

Average customer rating:

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterpris
Dan Sullivan
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Manager's Guides to Computing | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterprise Portals

Average customer rating:

Proven Portals: Best Practices for Planning, Designing, and Developing Enterprise Portals
Dan (Author) Sullivan
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUF68M

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books