International Tax Havens Guide 2003

Book Description

Ahiru's transformation into Princess Tutu has fulfilled her life-long fantasy, but her charmed new life is not a ballerina's fairytale. Jealousy rules her new magical kingdom, and an envious Princess Kraehe will continue to thwart Ahiru's efforts to win her broken-hearted prince. Princess Tutu will have to toss her tiara aside and become a soldier to fight for the heart of the boy she loves.

Customer Reviews:

Not Just Another Fish Story.......2001-04-01

At times poetic, at times informative, and at times just entertaining, this book is a must for anyone who likes fish, fishing or just great art. The two guys who collaborated on this book found a fun way of sharing their fish passion with the reader. Ray Troll's artwork has a charming folk quality with a bit of twisted humor reminiscent of Gary Larsen. This book is a quick read and something you can pick up and enjoy again and again. Loved it!

RAY TROLL'S SHOCKING FISH TALES: FISH, ROMANCE, AND DEATH

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RAY TROLL'S SHOCKING FISH TALES: FISH, ROMANCE, AND DEATH
Brad (words) and Ray Troll (pictures) Matsen
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J3ZKDU

Amazon.com

Alec Guinness begins his most recent memoir, a sort of sequel to his bestselling My Name Escapes Me, with what he calls an apology for a "ramshackle book": "It states it is a Journal and yet it doesn't quite aspire to that and it isn't a diary. Not many dates are to be found in it." What is in it are as charming a collection of memories, readings, observations, and anecdotes as could be imagined from an actor whose genius for self-effacement is legendary. Now in his 85th year, the celebrated Sir Alec has made a major contribution to a minor but much-loved literary form, the notebooks of an English gentleman. (It's no surprise to learn in these pages that Samuel Butler, author of The Way of All Flesh and his own published Notebooks, is one of Guinness's favorite authors.) Considering his age and virtual retirement, Guinness's life is an astonishingly active and full one, and for all the reminiscing, much of A Positively Final Appearance is taken up in describing his present-day doings with his beloved wife Merula (married 61 years), their dogs, and the occasional forays they make to visit friends and family. There are trips farther afield as well, to a spa in Baden-Baden and to films and theater, including a hilarious attempt to see the controversial West End hit Shopping and F***ing (with Guinness suggesting several substitutes for the supplied asterisks). His omnivorous reading is simply staggering, and a lifelong love affair with Shakespeare is evidenced not only by his memories of favorite performances but also his readings of scenes from the Bard, which reveal an imaginative scholarship infused with a lifetime's theatrical experience.

One of the strangest paradoxes of this superb actor (and equally fluent prose stylist) is that he seems destined to be remembered primarily for his becloaked performance in the original Star Wars trilogy as Obi-Wan Kenobi. There's a priceless story included about Guinness's encounter with a child who claimed to have seen the first film over 100 times, and the request he made of the boy: "Do you think you could promise never to see Star Wars again?" The result of this request, along with much else in this entirely captivating memoir, will amuse and delight. --John Longenbaugh

Book Description

A Positively Final Appearance offers a glimpse into the life of a beloved actor. These journal entries-written from the summer of 1996 through 1998-are filled with off-the-cuff observations and careful reflections. Sir Alec Guinness gives his view of Britain during the tumultuous times of Princess Diana's death and the election of Tony Blair, and comments on his quintessentially English country life with his wife. These are frank (and surprising) reflections on the effects of appearing in the Star Wars films, and both hilarious and poignant memories of such well-known performers as Humphrey Bogart and Noel Coward. This delightful, humorous journal is a worthy successor to My Name Escapes Me and a wonderful legacy from a master of the stage and screen.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful book.......2004-10-20

I picked up this book because I like Alec Guinness' work in "Lawrence of Arabia" and his other David Lean films (not because of "Star Wars" which I can take or leave). To be honest, I was worried it might be kind of boring.

Well, it was not boring -- it was delightful. The man was full of many profound observations about life that he communicated by writing about everyday things such as the birds in his yard or the weather. His vivid memories of his stage career and the people he knew were vastly entertaining. I was surprised to find him to be a humble, not-too-well-off everyday kind of man, not some fabulously rich egomaniac as I had supposed him to be.

Even though I could not be more different from him politically, I still enjoyed reading his views on politics. It was like talking to a dapper, well-bred older gentleman you bumped into on the street. His writing was assertive, yet polite and genteel.

If you miss reading this book, you've missed a simple pleasure that will make you smile. It's worth buying!

The swansong of a quiet giant.......2001-10-17

As previously said, this is a very well and beautifully writen errr... memoir. The cover tells you the whole story of what to expect inside. At first glance Alec dancing appears as a comical figure almost, but as you look closer you can see he is in some sort of agony. And as the book moves on, it is hard for him to not show his melancholy.
Despite being a bit of a emotional downer, this is still a very worthwhile read for any of his fans.

More than a journal.......2001-06-23

The late Sir Alec Guinness was a lovely writer, and with this, his final memoir, he improved vastly over his previous gift to us, MY NAME ESCAPES ME. Whereas the latter was strictly a selection from his diary, with this Guinness moves beautifully from journalistic descriptions of day-to-day events (from eye surgery to walks with his wife, Merula, to the indignities of moving slowly in an ever fast-paced and impolite world) and wry reflections on current events to anecdotes spanning his entire career in theatre and film. Each chapter is arranged by a theme, mostly seasonal, but they meander charmingly.

Those interested in his encounter with the church and his beginnings as an artist should find his autobiography, BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE. Those who might want reflections on STAR WARS will be disappointed. When one gentleman asked Guinness for an autograph from Ben Kenobi immediately after mass, Guinness admonished him, "Not in front of the parishioners!" and disappeared as nimbly as a young Jedi.

A Positively Marvelous Book.......2000-06-19

Alec Guinness is undeniably one of the most gifted actors of our times, and now, with his offering of "A Positively Final Appearance," we get to know something of the man behind the mask. This journal, kept between the summer of `96, and 1998, is chock full of insightful musings, reminiscences and anecdotes that are a delight. He shares his love of the theater, discussing many of the plays he attended during this period, and gives comments on recent movies, as well. An avid reader, he talks enthusiastically of favorite authors and books; his love of literature is unmistakable. The stage is his first love, however, and he speaks fondly, and frankly, of many of the plays he's done, and of his experiences with many of the actors and directors with whom he has had the privilege of working. He invites you into his private life, discussing the love of his life, Merula, and discoursing on their life at home, as well as their many travels. You learn what the greatest regret of his life is, who some of the people are he admires most, and a few of whom he could do without. He explains his negative attitude toward the "Star Wars" phenomenon, and addresses many of the events, large and small, that have in some way affected his life, and helped mold his perspectives. His concern over world events and the human condition is poignantly evident. Guinness writes so fluently, you can almost hear that distinct, familiar voice; you seem to be listening, rather than reading. There is a dignity and charm to his words that reveal, to some degree, the man behind them. That he values his privacy is apparent, and it becomes very clear that he is not the most accessible person, yet without any rancor; he holds his fans in high esteem, but there is a sincere humility to the man, who simply doesn't feel worthy of all the fuss. In a world seemingly rife with crass sensationalism and indifference, "A Positively Final Appearance" is like a tonic to the soul; it is so refreshing to discover that somewhere elegance and refinement still exist. My positively, final word on this book is that it is a joy, and should not be missed.

A great man.......2000-02-26

The journal of an extraordinary gentleman, one of the greatest actors ever to grace stage or screen. His reflections on his career are moving and perceptive, totally lacking in self-aggrandisement. His thoughts on the whole "Star Wars" phenomenon are particularly witty but smack of the desperation of being hounded by that film's fans. It's tragic that this great man may only be remembered by modern generations for his appearance in that opus instead of for his work in the Ealing comedies, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", his lengthy stage career and his magnificent turn on TV as George Smiley.

Alec Guinness A Journal 1996-1998 Positively Final Appearance

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Alec Guinness A Journal 1996-1998 Positively Final Appearance

Manufacturer: Hamish Hamilton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLF2HO

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A Positively Final Appearance

Manufacturer: The Penguin Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0241140730

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A Positively Final Appearance
Alec Guinness
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 014027006X

A Positively Final Appearance, A Journal 1996-98

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A Positively Final Appearance, A Journal 1996-98
Alec GUINNESS
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RJS0TW

Positively Final Appearance : A Journal, 1996-1998

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Positively Final Appearance : A Journal, 1996-1998
Alec Guinness
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ1DBW

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Positively Final Appearance Poster
Alec Guinness
Manufacturer: Hamish Hamilton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0149022360

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World's Fairs and the End of Progress: An Insider's View.(Review): An article from: The Futurist

Manufacturer: World Future Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00098NYWE
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Futurist, published by World Future Society on April 1, 1999. The length of the article is 617 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: World's Fairs and the End of Progress: An Insider's View.(Review)
Publication: The Futurist (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 1999
Publisher: World Future Society
Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Page: 49(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

World's Fairs and the End of Progress: An Insider's View

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A good book.
A good read but not very comprehensive

World's Fairs and the End of Progress: An Insider's View
Alfred Heller
Manufacturer: World's Fair
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0966562003
Release Date: 1999-04-01

Book Description

World's fairs were created to show off the wonders of the industrial revolution. Great engines, presses, steel cannons, the typewriter, television, the elevator, even the Statue of Liberty first appeared at expos. But industrial progress has led to a polluted planet, and the very idea of progress needs to discover new direction. Can our society now find paths to sustainable development? World's fairs are flourishing, says the author. They are in a position once again to define an era. And it's actually happening.

This book provides an overview of world's fairs at the turn of the millennium. It describes the nature of fairs, shows how they have evolved, and considers where our fairs may be headed. The author demonstrates how in varying degrees fairs have tried to cope with the progress/environment issue, and suggests how they (and by implication the society as a whole) can do a better job of it in the future.

Because he has attended fifteen world's fairs, beginning with the Golden Gate International Exposition of 1939, and has written extensively about recent ones, Alfred Heller brings new perspectives to the subject. For example, he has been in a position to observe the evolving connection between expos and the themed entertainment industry, including world's fair shows that use film-based, multimedia techniques. For better or for worse, these have given world's fairs a new lease on life. In his book, he probes this development, not least in a chapter that compares Walt Disney's Epcot to a world's fair.

Other highlights: a chapter entitled "World's Fairs in a Nutshell," in which the author distills almost sixty years of fairgoing experience into a few essentials for understanding the medium; a chapter on his fascination with "reconstructing" fairs at the sites where they took place, with the aid of materials from his collection; and chapters on fairs of the Twentieth Century, entitled "Futurama and Future" and "Turn of the Millennium." The final chapter imagines a world's fair of the future, Expo 2015 in San Francisco.

Customer Reviews:

A good book........2004-06-23

Since I am a World's Fair "fanatic" I have read almost everything that I can on the subject. In general, this is an interesting and well researched book. The author has apparently attended most of the expositions that he writes about. However, I must point up three rather glaring errors in the book. In describing the Louisiana World Expo of 1984 he states that the unbuilt symbol tower was supposed to be "80 feet tall,just 150 feet shorter than the Eiffel Tower." Since the Eiffel Tower is actually over 900 feet tall,the New Orleans fair tower would have had to have been at least 800 feet tall.This may have been a typo which the author did not catch in time.The other error states that the US Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair of 1958 was a "large,squat,round concrete block structure." It was indeed large and round, but not squat and not made of concrete blocks.According to the excellent book about Edward Durrell Stone, the architect of the pavilion,the outer walls consisted of large aluminum panels which were latticed in intricate designs so that the interior would be flooded with natural light. I have seen photos of the US Pavilion, and it seems a beautiful and airy structure to me. (In comparison to the Soviet Pavilion, which resembled a large refrigerator!) Thirdly, the Spokane Expo of 1974 was not the first time that the U.S.S.R. exhibited at a U.S. expo. They had a large pavilion at the New York World's Fair of 1939. All in all, however, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of World's Fairs.

A good read but not very comprehensive.......2002-10-31

The author is definately very qualified to write this book. He generally keeps the reader engrossed as he creates the backdrop and context for each of the fairs. Unfortunately, he doesnt go very in depth into any particular fair, and the reader is left craving more photos. The author frequently boasts about his extensive collection of memorabilia, but too little is shown. Its enjoyable for a quick read, but if you are interested in more in depth knowledge and imagery, you should investigate one of the more comprehensive books.

Product Description

Twin Crowns - Age of Exploration Fantasy is a campaign setting and rules expansion for Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast. You need the D&D Core Rulebooks to use this expansion. The Twin Crowns world has a flavor like none other, combining the high fantasy elements with historical elements of the Age of Exploration.

A comprehensive system for naval travel and combat
A rich and complete world with detailed geographic and cultural information
An elegant ritual system expanding both arcane and divine power
An elaborate cosmology and system of religion with far reaching effects beyond for every class
Hundreds of pages encompassing new races, feats, skills, spells, prestige classes, magic items, and monsters usable in any campaign

Great sailing vessels cross the Quilla Ocean from the Northern and Southern Empires to the colonies to the far west, avoiding savage pirates, vicious sea monsters and most of all, one another! The two Empires war, not only on the battlefield, but in the marketplaces as well. It is a race for power, resources and wealth.

In the heavens above, twelve deities look down upon Ptalmanar and guide it's people. The most devout worshippers undergo rituals of initiation to take a piece of their god's power into their own souls, opening their bodies to the touch of the divine. The greatest among them can rise to the level of High Priest, assuming the mantle of leadership of the flock and bearing the terrible burden of being the terrestrial voice of their deity. The Maker, creator of all, sits atop the divine wheel with the gods of light cascading down each side. At the bottom, surrounded by his dark children, sits the Unmaker, force of destruction and death. Their eternal struggle is played out wholly in the actions of their earthly followers, ever competing for dominance of the world and the place of Good and Evil.

Our game world bears a richness and depth that few others can match. Highly detailed religion, with three tiers of power within each church that lie beyond just Clerics, Paladins and Druids. The two warring Empires are each carefully detailed so they bear their own identity and atmosphere. The colonial holdings across the ocean and the exploration of the new world are vexed by a fierce militant kingdom of elves seeking to expel the human invaders. Twin Crowns also offers a new system of arcane magic embodied by potent rituals that go far beyond the casting of a simple spell. Guilds of mages guard and covet the secrets of these powerful ensorcellments, and vie for korba, the essential ingredient in their casting. This is high fantasy unlike any you have ever experienced.

Customer Reviews:

High Quality d20 Supplement.......2002-02-13

The best thing about this supplement is the naval rules provided. The navigation mechanics make good use of the d20 system, are simple enough to integrate into any campaign, and provide for colorful and realistic results. Rules for naval combat are likewise straightforward, balancing ease of play and realism quite well.

The bulk of the supplement is campaign-specific information. An interesting pantheon/cosmology is provided with a huge pile of religion-specific feats. A lot of interesting ideas here which can easily be grafted onto any fantasy RPG campaign. Good sections on ritual magic and prestige classes. Some fresh ideas in terms of how the traditional D+D races interact, but on the whole I found the human cultures described overly derivative ("Oh, these must be the Russian guys living next to the German guys just north of the Spanish guys"). I'll throw out the campaign world and run an Age of Exploration fantasy campaign set in a more historically-based earth. A minor quibble though, for an excellent product. Well worth the money for any GM.

Amazon.com

Sherry Turkle is rapidly becoming the sociologist of the Internet, and that's beginning to seem like a good thing. While her first outing, The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit, made groundless assertions and seemed to be carried along more by her affection for certain theories than by a careful look at our current situation, Life on the Screen is a balanced and nuanced look at some of the ways that cyberculture helps us comment upon real life (what the cybercrowd sometimes calls RL). Instead of giving in to any one theory on construction of identity, Turkle looks at the way various netizens have used the Internet, and especially MUDs (Multi-User Dimensions), to learn more about the possibilities available in apprehending the world. One of the most interesting sections deals with gender, a topic prone to rash and partisan pronouncements. Taking as her motto William James's maxim "Philosophy is the art of imagining alternatives," Turkle shows how playing with gender in cyberspace can shape a person's real-life understanding of gender. Especially telling are the examples of the man who finds it easier to be assertive when playing a woman, because he believes male assertiveness is now frowned upon while female assertiveness is considered hip, and the woman who has the opposite response, believing that it is easier to be aggressive when she plays a male, because as a woman she would be considered "bitchy." Without taking sides, Turkle points out how both have expanded their emotional range. Other topics, such as artificial life, receive an equally calm and sage response, and the first-person accounts from many Internet users provide compelling reading and good source material for readers to draw their own conclusions.

Book Description

Life on the Screenis a book not about computers, but about people and how computers are causing us to reevaluate our identities in the age of the Internet. We are using life on the screen to engage in new ways of thinking about evolution, relationships, politics, sex, and the self. Life on the Screen traces a set of boundary negotiations, telling the story of the changing impact of the computer on our psychological lives and our evolving ideas about minds, bodies, and machines. What is emerging, Turkle says, is a new sense of identity-- as decentered and multiple. She describes trends in computer design, in artificial intelligence, and in people's experiences of virtual environments that confirm a dramatic shift in our notions of self, other, machine, and world. The computer emerges as an object that brings postmodernism down to earth.

Customer Reviews:

general comment.......2005-08-26

Turkle's book is one of the first ethnographies published on virtual communities and how we construct and reconstruct our senses of identity through the internet. It is therefore an important starting point for anyone with a general interest in this area research. Since this book was originally published however there has been a significant amount of work done on virtual communities and self-identity on the WWW that differs somewhat from Turkle's. Therefore although I highly recommend the book I also suggest that you take the time to explore this subject area more broadly before drawing any conclusions.

Relevant & Important.......2003-01-03

Turkle's research findings are mind-boggling, exciting, terrifying, and (whether we like what we see or not) revealing. We see, here, glimpses of the future as a place where the real and virtual collide. Where who we are and how we think will differ markedly from all we've taken for granted in the old familiar pre-Info-Age. Anyone who works with children or adolescents of the Info-Age should read this book! I recommend it, along with the more up-to-date work by Don Tapscott.

Lots on Bots.......2002-07-27

This book isn't for the newbie, but if you're already familiar with computers and what's possible on the Internet but haven't yet explored the world of MUDS and the like, this is one of the most informative and fascinating looks at the virtual world that you'll come across. Even more interesting are the questions that Turkle poses regarding self-identity and what the "self" is given the new "non"-environment we call cyberspace. Though offering few answers, the author introduces us to a future world of seemingly infinite possibilities for self-exploration and challenges us to ponder its implications for who we are, how we define ourselves, and how we interact with one another.

Postmodernist vagueries and mostly trivial observations.......2002-04-17

If reading postmodernist types of things turns you on, you'll like this book. The author talks a lot about how computers have moved from "modernist calculation" to "postmodernist simulation." Why there is a need to attach the modernist-postmodernist modifiers to calculation and simulation is never explained, and I suspect it is just done to give the book a tres chic intellectual veneer. As with nearly all authors who use the term, the author does not define "postmodernism" or explain what it has to do with anything in her book. Also a lot of vague talk about how "people didn't used to like to do" such and so a thing with computers but now "people like to do" such and so something other thing with computers a lot more. No data of course, that would offend the postmodernists reading the book. An important - VERY important - topic treated in a shabby manner.

A Disquietingly Personal Book...More than I Expected.......2000-07-20

Turkle does a magnificant job in illustrating the human persona while online. As our culture becomes more and more internet dependent, and it becomes easier to be a "globalized" person, psychological changes are sure to take effect. "Life On the Screen" is illustrated with some wry humor, as well as vivid examples.

Sometimes doing someonething online makes it seem less "real." For instance, carding something-aka using a fake credit card number-is less 'real' if you do it online, to order something, than it is to waltz into say, BestBuy and using a fake credit card there. Just because you do it in a non-physical area (what is Cyberspace made up of, anyway?) does not mean that it is still not a crime, and that it is still not capable of having reprecussions.

Shirley Turkle captures precisely what someone, as a user and interacter with the internet, thinks, and does while online. She acknowledges the existance of the internet being a place where people are able to forge "cyber-identities"...or get more comfortable being who they are. She also outlines something that is perhaps one of the most secure things about the internet in this day and age-that on the internet, you are anonymous. Therefore, you can do what you wish (good or bad) and you can interact with others via MUDs or the like...or you can decide exactly how people will think of you as.

The internet is a secure medium for an insecure person. It is where many people who feel unaccepted in life go as refuge, to seek friends and partners who are like them, and who understand. This is also recognized in this book.

I highly recommend anyone, either the hacker, or the suit, or the working mother, or the teenager, to pick up this book and just to start reading. It is disturbing, almost, to find that there are so many people who interact with the internet, and so many different things that they do. The globalization that comes along with the net provokes you to start rethinking many things, and questioning many others....The internet, as portrayed in this book, also helps the reader to truly examine themselves as a whole.

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Life on the Screen : Identity in the Age of the Internet
Sherry Turkle
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5XQN4

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