Debt and Taxes: Politics and Fiscal Policy in America

Book Description

Camilla, one of the two Raptors after the established vampire order, is wounded for the first time in her long life and must rely on Detective Lenore to cure her. Meanwhile Aznar Akeba, chosen as the defender of the established order, must deal with the revelation that Drago, the other Raptor, is his father and choose which side he's on. The ultimate confrontation comes to a head in this last volume of the series! The plot is novel & gripping. The art to die for! --Sequential Tart ; A sumptuously rendered urban nightmare Asimov's

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JONATHAN WINTERS....AFTER THE BEEP

Manufacturer: Perigee Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H2KXC6

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Very Funny - Completely spur of the Moment.

Jonathan Winters: After The Beep

Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Winters' Tales

ASIN: 0399515356

Customer Reviews:

Very Funny - Completely spur of the Moment........2001-09-28

This is a collection of messages left on a close friend's of Jonathan Winters answering Machine. All of it right off the top of Jonathan Winter's head. He would call to talk to his friend about something, get the machine, and just start up another rendition of something, that was on his mind at the moment. While the subjects may seem random to us, it was usually something his friend could relate to, and Mr. Smith gives a short preface, about the most of the messages. Some are Very funny! Jim Smith was a close friend to Jonathan & his wife, and worked with him over the years on various projects, including Hee Haw. There is a very nice introduction to the book, and many pictures throughout... It's a different kind of book, because it was all quoted from a caller, that didn't know he was building a book. I guess it made it even all the better.

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Wyatt Earp: The Film and the Filmmakers (A Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook)
Lawrence Kasdan , and Jake Kasdan
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1557041989

Book Description

The complete screenplay and behind-the-scenes story of the making of this American saga, spanning from the 1830s to the 1890s, starring Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, and Gene Hackman, from the director of Grand Canyon and The Big Chill, and the producers of Dances With Wolves. 150 illustrations, 100 in color.

The Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks, official companions to films, large format (8 3/8 x 10 7/8), heavily illustrated throughout, with color photographs, details on the making of the film, background on the filmmakers and cast.

Book Description

An investigation and celebration of Americans' fascination with space. The legion of jokes that circulated in the wake of the Challenger space shuffle disaster helped alleviate the shock and horror of very public death. But as the jokes demonstrate, they also revealed a widely held prejudice that space is no place for a woman. And yet, as this wry and highly readable investigation of the role of space travel in popular imagination argues, the relationship between space and sex is more complicated than it first appears. NASA itself, in a scramble to protect its funding, has turned to icons of popular culture which play fast and loose with sexual stereotypes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the space agency's open borrowing from the hugely popular Star Trek. The test model for the shuttle was named after the starship Enterprise, NASA personnel name their computers after Spock, and NASA hired Lieutenant Uhura to assist in its recruitment of women and minorities. Meanwhile Star Trek is reshaped by networks of women fans producing samizdat porno-romance fanzines that star Spock and Captain Kirk in a homosexual relationship. Completing the orbit, the subversions of the fans are reintegrated by the show's producers. In one movie, Kirk approaches Spock, arms extended for a manly embrace. "Please, Captain," the ever proper Spock demurs, "not in front of the KIingons." In much witty detail, Penley illustrates Star Trek fans' criticisms of the show's inability to include women -- and issues of sex and sexuality -- in the world of science and technology. NASA, too, fails in the same way. To counter official versions of science, the fans propose instead a popular science that boldly goes where no one has gone before but which remains answerable to human needs and social desires. Standing four square in the American utopian tradition, it maintains that scientific experimentation should be accompanied by social and sexual experimentation, and devoted to exploring inner as well as outer space.

Customer Reviews:

"Not in Front of the Klingons": What does NASA and Star Trek have in Common?.......2006-08-18

In many ways this is a very unusual book by Constance Penley (Professor of Film Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara), but one that offers a fascinating feminist analysis of NASA, spaceflight, and the culture of science fiction. Penley describes first what can only be called a love triangle between the American public, NASA, and "Star Trek." She finds it an essential element of American society from the 1960s to the present, and despite betrayals and sometimes rocky straits this relationship has endured.

Penley analyses this love triangle in what is essentially a two step process. The first section (pp. 11-96) involves an exploration of the place of women in the institutional setting of NASA and the human spaceflight endeavor that it has managed throughout its history. Most close observers would probably agree with Penley that NASA's approach to women in space has been strained from the beginning. For the longest time its leaders resisted incorporating women into the astronaut corps, reflecting both the larger mores of society and the "boys with their toys" attitudes of engineering and machineshops. Finally, the agency selected several women as astronauts in 1978, among them Sally Ride and Judith Resnick. Ride finally broke down that barrier in 1983 by flying on the Space Shuttle in STS-7, 24 years after the creation of NASA. Other women went on to fly on the shuttle, including the teacher Christa McAuliffe who died in the Challenger accident in January 1986.

Penley expends considerable effort unpacking the relationship of NASA to the general public in this story. She finds that NASA is not so much a chauvinistic organization as it is a reflection of the deep ambivalence of society toward women and technology. She notes that this is present in NASA, in the military, and even in such daily activities as automobile purchasing and servicing. She points to the efforts of the women astronauts to fit into the larger NASA culture and to be one of the team. Judith Resnick, who also died on Challenger in 1986, typically said: "I am an astronaut. Not a woman astronaut. Not a Jewish astronaut. An astronaut" (p. 29). This attempt to fit in, to colonize the male domain of spaceflight, presents Penley with a remarkable opportunity to discuss the manner in which American culture intrudes on the supposedly cold logic of technological decisions.

The second part of the book (pp. 97-145) discusses the role of "Star Trek" in American society, with some analysis of how the popular television show was also related to NASA and its efforts. Penley especially delves into the trekker culture of K/S "slash" novels, erotic literature in which Kirk and Spock have an ongoing romantic involvement. Engaging in this, as well as a range of other fan behavior, allows participants to appropriate the crew "family" aboard the Star Ship Enterprise, the ideals of the United Federation of Planets, and the challenges of moving beyond the humdrum of existence on Earth to a more exciting and rewarding life within the broader cosmos.

Penley suggests that the homosexual relationship of Kirk and Spock in these various fan-produced stories stand in for a utopian vision of relationships and a positive future. Spock, she notes, occupies a place in relation to Kirk that women would like to occupy in relation to men, as both are essentially equal and not subject to powerful lovers. Perhaps, the relationship between NASA and "Star Trek" is similar to the K/S relationship. Both need and respect the other, and like Kirk and Spock neither publicly acknowledges this relationship. NASA/TREK, therefore, offers an analysis of a critical symbiotic relationship in modern society. As Penley persuasively argues, the relationship of society/science is also fundamentally illuminated through this study.

This is an engaging, provocative book that deserves serious consideration by any student of spaceflight and society.

For anyone interested in how popular culture affects society.......1999-02-26

This book is an excellent critical look at the intersections between popular science, sexuality, and Star Trek. The first section looks at the dialogic interaction between the fiction of Star Trek and the reality of NASA. It is fascinating both for those interested in the history of women in the US space program and for Trekkers, giving little known facts about NASA and providing insightful, well-written analysis. The second half of the book analyzes slash fan fiction, using actual stories and images to explore how and why women express their own utopian longings through the sexual relationship of Kirk and Spock. Penley's book is thouroughly researched, clearly presented, and well-written throughout.

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A Sci-Fi RPG Classic!

Still Great after 10 years

Battlelords is one of the best RPG's ever!

Great Sci-Fi RPG

One of the richest SCI-FI roleplaying environments to date..

Battlelords of the Twenty-third Century (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Lawrence R. Sims
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lock-N-Load: Armor, Equipment, and Cybernetics

Lock-N-Load: Weapons & Tactics

ASIN: 0967940001

Book Description

This is the 10th anniversary edition. Yes, it's been 10 years, and we want to present our favorite game with some style. This book contains everything you need to get started playing Battlelords: 12 fully detailed player character races, step-by-step character generation, extensive background information on the Alliance and life in the 23rd century, character Fortune tables, over 150 skills, 400 pieces of weapons and equipment, over 250 matrix powers, and the easy to use d100 percentile system. Also included are the Hell's Point campaign scenario, the Flexsteel Jungle mini-adventure, NPCs, and Player Character Archetypes for each race to allow you to start playing as soon as possible. The universe is infinite, and with Battlelords, so are your gaming possibilities.

Customer Reviews:

A Sci-Fi RPG Classic!.......2004-08-05

I first played Battlelords at a convention, in a game run by Larry Sims, the author. I bought it right away and my friends and I played almost nothing else for years. Now, ten years later I'm prepping to start a new game and have renewed my appreciation for the game. The rules system itself is one of the more detailed and realistic I've come across. In cobat, players will have to make tough choices every round, and I find that this makes the combat more interesting and dramatic, even if it does take a bit longer to run. On the role-playing end, the races and universe are fun to play with. Not particularly hard sci-fi, but different from the usual consumer-grade stuff. The artwork is outstanding (particularly Michael Osadciw's) and really brings it to life. The game's main focus is military role-playing, but it provides lots of fodder for both dark and light-hearted play styles. All in all a very entertaining and robust game, especially appealing to those interested in detailed combat.

Still Great after 10 years.......2003-03-14

Battlelords is still an amazing RPG after 10 years. My friends and I have played countless other games, but this is the one we keep coming back too. It's easy to play, easy to learn, and lots of fun. If you could own only 1 sci-fi RPG, this would have to be the one.

Battlelords is one of the best RPG's ever!.......2003-02-21

The very best thing about this RPG has to be the character races. No other game I've seen has such original, and fully developed characters. The Eridani sword saint, all the way to the feministic Cizaracks.
One of the other great qualities about the game is the prices for the supplements. My friends all seem to baulk when I tell them I bought all of the books for less than $... For most RPG's it would take a life time to afford all of the supplements.

Great Sci-Fi RPG.......2001-06-04

Battlelords is one of 2 sci-fi rpg's that, after playing rpg's for almost 20 yrs, I can honestly say is a great game. The system is easy to use and understand, the wide variety of races (complete with histories and profiles), and equipment make Battelords a game that will keep both players and Battlemaster entertained for years.

One of the richest SCI-FI roleplaying environments to date.........2001-06-03

For those of you looking for a role-playing system that establishes a good blend of that arcane, SCI-FI, and realism, than this is your game. With a huge number of races, systems, weapons, items, armor, statistics, and backstory, the possibilities are almost limitless.

Most players are drawn by the large amount of customizable character traits, percentile based rolling system, environments for both the gunner and thinker alike, and loads of back-story and excellent hand-drawn art. Game masters will be drawn to the rich backstory, expansive universe, open play capability, and statistical/methodical play architecture.

The main book is just the beginning, with over 11 other books, including additional backstory, character races, and equipment, one can easily lose themselves in the universe itself only to realize that reality is just a step away.

You'll have fun with this one. The layout is excellent, the charts and diagrams are easy to read, and the graphics and overall quality is superb. Don't miss this one!

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BattleLords of the Twenty-Third Century

Manufacturer: Optimus Design Systems
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000EVRNWI

Product Description

Back Cover: The year is 2279. Exploration of the universe is carrying on at a fantastic rate. Huge mega-corporations run it all behind the scenes. The Twelve Races of the Forge workd as caretakers, shaping the horizons of knowedge across the deepest reaches os space. Reports of ghost ships, robot warriors, and evidence of ancient human cultures, filter their way across the vast emptines to the ears of the bold, strong, and curious. Battlelords of the 23rd Century is a futuristic roleplaying game designed to stimulate the adventurers of exporer and combat types in the not too distant future.

Condemned (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)

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Condemned (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Benjamin Pierce
Manufacturer: S S D C
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0967940044

Book Description

This sourcebook provides a vital link on major NPC personalities within the Alliance. Condemned offers previously undisclosed information about Jaquassarious Phentari. Learn about the mysterious and powerful Markuss, Lord of Timar. Some others include...

* William Hawes, Alliance President
* the King of Chatil, Atish Catam
* Madd Mike Cantrel
* Prunella Frump aka Granny
* and Uncle Ernie Frieberg

Also included are generic character templates and a new race, the Tanndai Techknight. Condemned reveals the plot. The future unfolds before you!

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Galactic Underground 2 (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century) (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Lawrence R. Sims
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0967940028

Book Description

This supplement is jam-packed with vital information for any Battlelord.

* the Gemini space druid
* Andromeni energy vampire
* Ashanti warrior
* Fott
* Furbl
* Ikrini
* Jezzadeic Priest
* an in depth look at notorious galactic outlaw Jaquassarious Phentari

Additional info includes a more detailed discussion of matrix powers and an extensive list of medals for your characters; awarded posthumously or not!

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Galactic Underground 3 (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Gang from SSDC , Benjamin Pierce , and Lawrence R. Sims
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Galactic Underground: The Battlelords' Player Companion (Battlelords of the Twenty-Third Century) (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)

ASIN: 1931320004

Book Description

The Galactic Underground 3 is a new Player Supplement for the Battlelords of the Twenty-third Century RPG. The GU3 contains "I Was Just Growing Up" tables for all the races in the Battlelords core book and supplements, detailed information on mega-corps, NPCs, information for PCs who want to adventure as part of the Alliance military, Galactic Control and Galactic X, and scores of new matrices for the Ikrini, Gemini, and Jezzedaic Priests.

Galactic Underground: The Battlelords' Player Companion (Battlelords of the Twenty-Third Century) (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)

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It just keeps getting better

Galactic Underground: The Battlelords' Player Companion (Battlelords of the Twenty-Third Century) (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Lawrence R. Sims , Doug Nelson , and Benjamin A. Pierce
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0967940079

Book Description

This player's supplement has a wealth of new information to help flesh out your Battlelords character. Features include: three new races, the Kizanti, Goola-Goola, and I-Bot; Expanded information on the Eridani and Phentari; Expanded "When I Was Growing Up" and "Fickle Finger of Fate" tables; New Matrix Powers for Empaths, Healers, and Energy Controllers; More detailed racial features and descriptions; Expanded Skill Listings... And More! NEW in this edition: All of the racial characteristics tables have been expanded to include all 27 races!

Customer Reviews:

It just keeps getting better.......2003-03-14

I didn't think they could improve on the first version of Galactic Underground, but this new version is even better then the first.

Hell's Kitchen: Sector 3, Quadrant 1, Fornax Galaxy (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century Planetary Atlas)

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Hell's Kitchen: Sector 3, Quadrant 1, Fornax Galaxy (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century Planetary Atlas)
Lawrence R. Sims , and Optimus Design Systems
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0967940036

Book Description

Go face to face with the Arachnids and the Rebels in one of the most dangerous areas of the galaxies. Detailed discussions of ...

Book Description

This supplement is filled with over 2000 pieces of equipment. This Battlelords war manual contains approximately 50 weapon systems and everything from espionage gadgets to personal gear; even a portable tombstone! Option out your heavy armor or just pick up a bullet proof skinsuit, be subtle with a Micron Body Weapon or totally obnoxious with the Abomination Omega Cannon, or turn your character into a cybernetic terror, it's all here. With it, the players have the necessities to give their characters a fighting chance to survive the challenges of the unknown in the 23rd century.

No Man's Land (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)

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No Man's Land (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Lawrence R. Sims , and Doug Nelson
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This campaign supplement contains over 100 developed worlds, and three new PC races. The focus of the work is to provide background information for roleplaying, detailing over 50 NPC groups and player character services. Learn about ...

* Pirates
* Cyball
* the Anarchist Rebellion Movement
* Aeodronian
* Misha
* Sye-Men

A must have sourcebook for all Battlelords players.

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Uncle Ernie's Minions of Doom (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century) (Battlelords of the Twenty Third Century)
Lawrence R. Sims
Manufacturer: SSDC, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 096794001X

Book Description

The monsters of the future are unleashed into the Fornax galaxy by our favorite mad scientist, Uncle Ernie. This book contains all manner of creatures; organic, inorganic, synthetic, extra-terrestrial, and more. Uncle Ernie gives Battle Masters the means to invoke fear into player characters. Also contains stats on all the known Arachnid races and their minions!

Book Description

The KDE and Gnome desktops have developed into mature operating environments. These technologies not only act as interfaces between the user, the powerful Linux kernel and GNU operating system, but they do so in a fun and intuitive way. Many users are content with the tools and facilities included with these desktops, but--for those who are ready to probe a little deeper--much more functionality can be found by going under the hood. With hacks that any user can follow, Linux Desktop Hacks demonstrates how easy it is to modify Linux to suit your desires. The book is packed with tips on customizing and improving the interface, boosting performance, administering your desktop, and generally making the most out of what X, KDE, Gnome, and the console have to offer. From the practical to the whimsical, and some things you never thought of trying, the hacks in the book include the following, and more:

Kill and Resurrect the Master Boot Record
Jazz Up Your Debian System Boot
Energize Your Console with Macro Music Magic
Konquer Remote Systems Without Passwords
Run KDE on the Bleeding Edge
View Microsoft Word Documents in a Terminal
Read Yahoo! Mail from Any Email Client
Motion Capture and Video Conferencing Fun
Automate Your Life with cron
Protect Yourself from Windows Applications
Make an Internet Connection Using Bluetooth and a Mobile Phone
Print to Unsupported Printers
Accelerate Your Gaming

If you're yearning for information to make the Linux desktop easier, more powerful, and more fun, Linux Desktop Hacks is just the ticket.

Customer Reviews:

A true gem for novice and advanced user.......2006-05-05

Oh I just love this book. I buy a lot of technical books and find about 1 out of 5 are books I use alot. This is one of them. pretty up to data and covers gnome and KDE though most of the Hacks are not window manager specific -- Hell some of the funnest stuff is done from the command line. Full of great stuff for getting you system running the way you want.

It's not just limited the desktop but gives good info on the boot manager etc. I've been doing linux since '99.

There are 100 quality hacks in the book - I find more than 80%interesting and I'll probably use half of them over the next few months. Just finding:
kstart --fullscreen program_name"
to start a program in full-screen kiosk mode under KDE was news to me. Also includes other things you need to know like painless ways.

A "must have" book if you use Linux or are moving to Linux.......2006-03-17

First, I write software professionally. I write software, I am not a Sys Admin (which is hard work I might add; System Administration is for hardcore people.) This book saved me money by giving me answers to problems that would have taken me days to find the answers to by searching the internet.

Hack #30 How to setup up VNC
Virtual terminals are great. I use them to cut out using an expensive and wires of a KVM switch. I can get to my servers from anywhere in the house or securly across the Internet (with the right passwords as this books shows.)
I can fix my wife's computer problems without having to go to her desk. I can run my Windows apps on a Windows machine, but control that from my Linux terminals.

Or vice-a-versa, it is much easier to use a Windows laptop while sitting on the couch sipping a Martini then having to sit in a dark cold server closet trying to fix a problem with a server.

It took me 3 days to search and read about VNC on the net. Then trying to find an example on a web page that worked and was edited properly. This book gave me the answers I needed in 5 pages of well written text.

A simple enough hack but time is money in this business and this book save both time and money.

Also the book is a "good" read. The authors write well and that keeps you reading. Not a dry manual.

If you are doing Linux for fun or work you need will need to buy this book. It allows you more time to sleep at night.

Having fun with your OS!.......2005-09-18

Linux Desktop Hacks: Tips & Tools for customizing your OS
By Nicholas Petreley and Jono Bacon
O'Reilly Press
ISBN 0596009119

Reviewed by Steven Mullins HuNTUG member

Having loads of fun with your OS!
One of the lures of Microsoft is that it's very simple. One of the reasons we choose to run Linux is the fact that it gets rid of all the extras that we have no real use for.
I have just entered into the arena of Linux and have needed a lot of help on how to get more out of my old 450 in the corner. The keys for me were things like terminal transparency, using things like Macromedia Flash in the environment and how to start applications automatically.
This book has made my life with Linux a lot easier.

The linux desktop hacks gets 4 they could have done some more for that one.

Linux Desktop Hacks, Tips & Tools for Customizing and Optimi.......2005-07-12

This is one of the books that I would put in the "very useful" cookbook-type category. There are a plethora of useful tidbits of information conveniently collected into one book. Subjects covered range from: booting issues, log-in managers, desktops, administration and automation issues, to kernel issues, and hardware. You won't necessarily implement all of the tips contained in the book, but even if you use a fraction of them, you should find the book to be worth while. I found the book to be quite educational.

One hundred awesome tips and tricks.......2005-06-26

This is an excellent hacks book. It's one hundred fairly short, but well explained and appropriately illustrated, hints and tips that cover the gamut of Linux issues. Don't let the Desktop word in the title fool you. Certainly there is a lot of information on Desktop tweaks, but the information is more than skin deep. There is security, networking and systems administration information.

As with all of the hacks books, take a look at the table of contents and if you find ten or so that interest you, then check it out.

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