Product Description
Internet Real Estate Agent. A Guide To Dominating Internet Real Estate Leads & Marketing. An agent and broker's guide to dominating Internet real estate leads, real estate Web sites, search engines, cost-per-click, organic rankings, marketing listings, blogs, seller/buyer leads, free listing directories, email marketing and much, much more. This is a must-have reference for real estate agents, mortgage agents, brokers and assistants. If you need a consistent online lead-generation machine, this book teaches you how to create one with targeted lead generation and marketing strategies that are free and/or very affordable. It also teaches how to leverage the Internet to market your listings to thousands of prospects, thus generating even more business. Get free access to the Blog to ask questions, get answers and share ideas all pertaining to your Internet Real Estate success. Sign up for the free newsletter as well. www.AgentWisdom.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OUCH!
I don't usually write bad reviews, but this book was poor enough to return. Perhaps my expectations were too high that may have come from the $45 price tag.The book was only 155 pages, and while it did bring up some industry specific situations I felt the majority of it was basic training that you can find in a number of internet marketing books. What agents want more than anything is help on converting internet leads which had two pages covering that topic without giving any real insight. The book appears to be self-published and I found at least one justification error which split the sentance in two.I was really looking forward to getting this book, but felt burned upon reviewing. Sorry Scott. ... Read more

Product Description
The Río Antiguo project seeks to address ecosystem, recreation, and flood-control concerns along a stretch of the Rillito River in Tucson. This report, part of the feasibility study for the project, presents a survey of Native American and Euroamerican culture history in the study area, including a summary of information on previously recorded archaeological sites. Four sites--the Hardy Site, University Indian Ruin, Binghampton, and Fort Lowell--are described in detail. The report also includes a discussion of archaeological potential in the study area based on geomorphological considerations. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
The North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the best-known medium bombers of World War II, especially remembered for its use in the Doolittle raid on Japan in 1942 and its participation in every major theater of the war. Less known, however, is its continued role in the postwar world, both in military and civilian service. Thousands of war surplus B-25s sat on airfields in 1945, available to the highest bidder. Though most B-25s, as other warplanes, were scrapped and smelted, hundreds did enjoy a postwar career in the civil sector. The B-25 is now one of the most prolific surviving warbirds, and this book tells the story of the type in the years since the end of World War II. The B-25 has provided diverse and distinguished service in roles from fire-fighting to movie production. This books covers all of these roles and includes hundreds of photographs, detailed appendices, and individual aircraft histories of each of the civilian B-25s. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1900 in China a peasant movement known as the Boxers rose up and tried to destroy its Western oppressors. The culminating event of the Boxer Rebellion was the siege of the Western legations in Peking. In isolated Peking, a horde of brightly dressed, acrobatic, anti-Western and anti-Christian Boxers surrounded the fortified diplomatic legation compound, and rumors about the torture and murder of 900 Western diplomats, soldiers, and missionaries swirled throughout the foreign media. Scholars agree that animosity toward Christian missionaries was a major cause of the Boxer Rebellion, but most accounts neglect the missionaries and emphasize instead the diplomats and soldiers who weathered the siege and defeated the Chinese in battle. This book gives equivalent attention to the missionaries, their work, the impact they had on China, and the controversies arising in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion. It focuses particularly on one of the most distinguished American missionaries, William Scott Ament, whose brave and resourceful heroism was tarnished by hubris and looting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exciting book about China , Missionaries and The Boxer Rebellion



The Boxer Rebellion was described by one newspaper as the "most exciting event in the history of civilization." The paramount event of the Rebellion was the siege of Peking in 1900 in which 1,000 Westerners and Japanese held off the Chinese army and the Boxers until being rescued by allied armies.

This author has taken a new slant on the events, focusing on the life and times of William Scott Ament, a stern, sensible, forthright missionary from Michigan. Described as the "perfect missionary," Ament saved the lives of many of his fellow missionaries and Chinese Christians from the rampaging Boxers.However, his reputation as a hero was tarnished after the 55-day siege of Peking when Mark Twain and others accused him of looting.He has gone down in history as a villain.The author looks at the origin of the Boxers, the siege, the military operations of the allied armies, and the sordid aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion.He examines the charges against Ament and his defense, digging up the facts from old and neglected archives.

Although Ament is the main character, the supporting cast includes the young mining engineer, Herbert Hoover, future Marine Corps general Smedley Butler, and a large number of heroes, fools, and rogues.Some of the most interesting characters are women: the Empress Dowager of China, the novice missionary doctor, Emma Martin, and the sharp-shooting adventuress Annie Chamot.The battles between the allied armies and the Boxers are well described and mapped. About thirty photographs illustrate the story.This is a quality, well written book that breaks new ground in looking at the Boxer Rebellion. ... Read more

Product Description
The revival of interest in historical Western martial arts has focused a great deal of attention on the weapons of Scotland, especially of the Highlanders. Yet, despite all this enthusiasm for the martial arts of the Highland, few of those practicing have experienced genuine Gaelic culture - and without a cultural context, no practice of martial arts can be considered complete.

Highland Martial Culture examines the nature of the Gaelic warrior class and its martial training; the Gaelic duel and how it differed from the duel in continental Europe; the phenomenon of wandering swordsmen in Highland society; the Highland conception of honor; internal aspects of martial arts practice such as mental tricks, traditional charms and spells used in warfare; unusual skills such as the fast draw; and health practices associated with the warrior class.

This is your chance to find out more about the rich cultural heritage associated with the practice of Highland weapons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Another snapshot of traditional European warrior culture that anyone with a curiosity will love
The pride of traditional Scottish culture is strong, so strong that the potential confusion of accusations of wearing skirts won't deter them. "Highland Martial Culture: The Fighting Heritage of Scotland" looks into the martial history of Scotland. From the actual martial arts used by Scottish warriors, to the legends of men who combined steel and magic, to the diet and life of a Highlander, "Highland Martial Culture" is another snapshot of traditional European warrior culture that anyone with a curiosity will love.
... Read more

Product Description
From the mind of Kids in the Hall's Scott Thompson comes a hilarious, fast-paced comic based on his beloved character, Danny Husk. Danny Husk remains the unflappable everyday man. Whether he's reading about his own kidnapping in the morning paper, or having his musk cause apocalyptic world peace, nothing gets him down or rattles his cage...until now! Danny finds himself in a new world where his average looks and demeanor make him an exotic, and highly-sought after individual. Danny must escape, with the help of an oddball cast of characters, and rescue his son before the Prince of Mu has them all executed! ... Read more

Product Description
This study of prehistoric artefacts and ruins discovered in north-east Greece by the team of archaeologists led by A. J. B. Wace and M. S. Thompson was first published in 1912, thirty years after that area first revealed prehistoric remains. The one hundred and twenty sites in the Thessaly area have yielded domestic artefacts and ruins ranging from spit supports to tombs. These are depicted through detailed sketches, photographs and descriptions. The evolving architecture uncovered at different strata at the excavation sites, and the changing forms of the artefacts discovered alongside them, are explored in relation to other Greek excavation sites to determine any possible historic significance. Modern technological advances have taken some aspects of archaeology in a very different direction, but the practices of meticulous data collection and comparative analysis between sites and strata demonstrated here provide a valuable lesson in establishing a chronology of cultural and domestic development. ... Read more

Product Description
The B-17 Flying Fortress remains one of the best known aircraft in the history of American aviation. This volume effectively tells, for the first time, the little known history of the B-17 in both Navy and Coast Guard service from the mid-1940s through the late 1950s. Operating as the PB-1W, the Navy Fortresses pioneered the development of radar for airborne early warning and the modern AWACs airplanes. The Coast Guard PB-1Gs, equipped with either wooden or inflatable lifeboats, providing air-sea rescue capability and international iceberg patrol for over a decade of service. Here is the complete story, in both words and never-before-seen photos, of the famous B-17 in this little known but important service. Complete individual histories of all the B-17s operated by the Navy and Coast Guard, including those that survive today in various museums. A must for any B-17 library. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A loving and overdue tribute to a jazz pioneer
While most jazz bassists maintain the pulse of the music from the harmonic cellar of the musical tapestry, Scott LaFaro filled his musical chair and went on to create a whole new suite of "up from the basement" furnishings.His contributions to the bass and to jazz in general have yet to be surpassed, even now, more than forty years after his death and extraordinary (though far too short) career.

This easy read, lovingly put together by LaFaro's sister, includes numerous passages by notable jazz musicians who worked with and knew LaFaro.This book is, at least, an important historical compilation of jazz anecdotes: at best, a warm, and loving tribute to a ground breaking, perhaps unsung hero of jazz.

In addition to the fascinating anecdotes, several musical examples are included that give a real insight to the artist behind the recordings.Bits of handwritten chord changes and sketches for new compositions taken from LaFaro's notebook made this reader feel as if I were viewing ancient sea scrolls for the first time.

Jazz bassists- this is required reading.Jazz enthusiasts-this will bring you a new depth of understanding for the music you love.All others- you will find a story, though tragic, of artistic expression of the highest level.Find inspiration here.

Who was Scott Lafar?
This book will get you acquainted with a major player.Though written by his sister, she has found an objective voice and view, as she interviewd and spoke with those who knew him talent.Those she spoke with reads like a whos-who in jazz, who were well postioned to know the man and the talent that was SCott LaFaro.

Jade Visions..The life and music of Scott LaFARO
............This is a remarkable book about a very special man. The book gives valuable insights into Scott LaFaro's early life, his musical education, his total devotion to his bass playing(often to the discomfort of his hotel room-mates on tour). It makes ample reference to his relations and friendships with many musicans and influences especially, Victor Feldman, Charlie Haden and many others. Also,rather eerily, following the sudden death of his father, he spoke of his belief that he himself would not live for many years. The fatal car accident proved only too well how prescient this belief would be.The book covers many comments about his playing and influences from some of the major jazz musicians such as Stan Getz,Bill Evans(with whom he performed for those magical recordings at the village Vanguard only days before his death) Ray Brown, Stanley Clarke, Eddie Gomez to mention only a few. I recommend this book to any aspiring musician who might be then able to realise how a combination of musical genius and total dedication enabled Scott LaFaro to reach the heights he did in such a short, but vivid life.

The Timeless Artistry of Scott LaFaro
Jade Visions is the first and only biography devoted to the too-brief life and meteoric career of jazz bassist Scott LaFaro. Known best as a member of pianist Bill Evans' dream trio, which included the still-vital drummer Paul Motian, LaFaro also performed across the entire spectrum of jazz in the '50s and early '60s, from the big bands of Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton, to romantic balladeer-trumpeter Chet Baker, to the free jazz adventures of Ornette Coleman and Gunther Schuller.

Little has been known about LaFaro's life off-stage until now. A private person, judged as aloof and even unlikeable by some who encountered him casually, he was already obsessed by music and the uncompromising pursuit of excellence by the time he reached high school. Jade Visions, written by his sister Helene LaFaro Fernandez, tells an engaging tale of their unconventional upbringing, along with their three younger sisters, by rather free-thinking parents in a large and affectionate Italian-American family.

LaFaro's short life was not dramatic compared to the well-chronicled meltdowns and often self-inflicted health problems of similarly gifted artists. He did not face racial discrimination, as did so many jazz stars of the era. He helped watch over his four sisters and mother after the premature death of his father. He sent playful postcards to his family from the road, and checked out his kid sister Helene's dates to make sure they measured up to his expectations. But on stage and in the practice room, he was, to sum up in a single word, intense.

Passages by the author describing their family life alternate with insights into LaFaro's prodigious musical gifts by Gene Lees, Eddie Gomez, Gary Peacock, Marc Johnson, Rufus Reid, Stanley Clarke, Herb Mickman, Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi and dozens of others. The great classical soloist Gary Karr was also aware of LaFaro as he was launching his own fabled career, and relates how he was inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible on the double bass in part due to the example of LaFaro's innovations.

The book is written in an enjoyable, conversational style, and a number of never before published photos are included, as well as a complete discography, bibliography and archival magazine articles. Jade Visions is not only a snapshot of life as a working musician in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but also the intimate story of a single-minded young musician who transformed himself in seven short years from high school band student to DownBeat magazine rising star.

History has already passed judgment on his accomplishments and declared him a superstar for the ages. Christian McBride observes, "Scotty's playing was the bible for bass players...Jimmy Blanton the old testament, Scotty, the new." Almost a half century after his death, LaFaro's photo recently graced the cover of Bass Player magazine, along with a feature length essay on LaFaro's continuing relevance today by jazz historian and bassist John Goldsby. By the time you read this review, Jade Visions will be back on the presses for a second printing, less than six months after its release. Read it to the soundtrack of Pieces of Jade, a companion CD that includes rehearsal tape of Evans and LaFaro working out the changes to My Foolish Heart.

Jazz fans around the world owe Helene LaFaro Fernandez a huge debt of gratitude for sharing the personal story of her brother Scotty, whose artistry remains timeless.

Jade Visions
This is an excellent book on the greatest jazz bassist the world has even known.There are a lot of very interesting comments by the musicians who knew him and by other bassists who were influenced by him. It is very well written by Scotty's sister Helene who knows more about his personal life than anyone.
I highly recommend this book to any musician who is serious about his art. It is about an extremely talented and dedicated musician who's life ended much too soon. ... Read more

Product Description
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft conjures up weird tales of horror and magic the likes of which one seldom sees in graphic novels. Mignola returns with another Hellboy story; Thompson (Scary Godmother) and Dorkin (Dork, Hectic Planet) return to their characters in the stunning "Stray" story, the surprise hit of the first volume in this series. Morse (Ancient Joe, Soulwind) presents an evocative and carefully researched tale of old Salem, digging into the madness of the accusations leveled there, which ended more than thirty lives in a few short months. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Graphic SF Reader
This is an interesting collection.As well as the comic part it includes a story by Clark Ashton Smith, with illustrations, and an interview with a New York wiccan leader.

Best of all, and a very pleasant surprise, is a Hellboy tale.

There is also a pretty cute story of dogs and one stand up cat saving the world from a ritual to summon Sekhmet.Top marks to Evan Dorkin for that one.

This makes this eclectic collection well worth a look.

Nectar from the Dark (Horse) Gods
The Book of Witchcraft is another of the anthologies that Dark Horse released not too terrible long ago, and each one of them was surprisingly good considering how quietly they were received. I was happy to see Hellboy stories hitting the marketplace again after some absence from the shelves, and this particular book also has a story by the great Clark Ashton Smith that is worth re-adding to a collection. That has been one of the things I thought was great about each of the books Dark Horse released; since they were going with pulp stories they opted to reprint stories done by great writers, and their selections were some that I couldn't have been more pleased to look at. All the books are affordable and all are a nice distraction if you want to spend an hour or so reading/ admiring some of the pieces of comic art and, if you are into something that could be described as campy by people who aren't really fond of the word pulp, each of them makes good on their own specific byline.

The Book of Witchcraft includes the best of the three Hellboy stories in it in my opinion by far, with the engrossing short actually taking all of the Hellboy elements and delivering them in a surprisingly touching tale. I was taken with how well the story was written and, as always, how odd a tale can actually be and yet how much sense it can seem to make when Mignola sets down and delivers a pseudo-fairytales. Aside from the Troll-With there are 8 other tales in the book, the Clark Ashton Smith an actual story with art pieces done by the esteemed Gary Gianni and The Truth about Witchcraft taking an interview format, and each angles at witchcraft in its own particular way.
Included in the book are:
1. Macbeth. Adaptation by Tony Millionaire
2. The Troll With: A Hellboy Adventure. Mignola/writer
3. Mother of Toads. Clark Ashton Smith/writer
4. The Flower Girl. Allie/writer
5. The Gris-Gris. Keegan and Keegan/ writers
6. Golden Calf Blues. Ricketts/writers
7. The Truth about Witchcraft. Allie/ writer
8. Salem and Mary Sibley. Morse/ writer
9. Unfamiliar. Dorkin/writer

Again, this might be a selection for a specific audience and those in the forefront know who they are. Hellboy collectors aside, people who enjoy the feel of Lovecraftian days revisited will undoubtedly enjoy the reprinting of Clark Ashton Smith piece, and anyone with a love for Dark Horse's collections will like the way the book is made to look like a book of witchcraft.

Scary
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft features a leering, hideous old woman on the cover, in some kind of embrace with a goat.This is your first clue that these dark tales feature no young and curvaceous Charmed girls, no Sabrina the Teen-Aged Witch.The witches in this volume are the real thing, the original black magic practicioners who made convenants with the Devil and reveled in evil ways.

I enjoyed all of these original stories very much.They all provided horror chills.All but one are in comic format.The exception is an old tale about a horrible Toad Witch. This is text with a couple of black and white illustrations.

An interesting read, but one I hope no one takes seriously, is the editor's interview with a New York lawyer who is also the Wiccan High Priestess.This woman has serious delusions of self-grandeur.A lot of what she says is informative, but she engages in some ignorant Christian and Bible bashing.For a much truer version of Wicca and its origins, read The Forest House or The Mists of Avalon, both by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Which Witch?
What are we to make of this odd little book?The comic stories range from great (Mignola's Hellboy short, "The Troll Witch,") to dull (Allie, Lee, Horton, Stewart and Madsen's "The Flower Girl") to having nothing to do with witches (Ricketts and Phillips's "Golden Calf Blues").The most artistically exceptional piece is the reprint of a "rare" Clark Ashton Smith short story, "Mother of Toads," which is gross and well illustrated in black-and-white by Gary Gianni.Second best is Mignola's Hellboy story, which is refreshingly free of Hellboy's usual two-fisted antics.Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson produce a good beast fable with "The Unfamiliar," reminiscent of the Howes' Bunnicula books.Most of the other tales are forgettable.

Wedged in the middle of the collection is an interview with Phyllis Curott, Wiccan high priestess.All the other witches in the collection are, without exception, of the fairy tale variety.What kind of "witch" are we reading about?It would be better to keep the two kinds--the fantasy kind and the real thing--separate, as they are essentially unrelated.

As for the interview itself, Curott lucidly explains Wicca but misunderstands a few other religions.She says, for example, "The biblical model views God as transcendent, not present in the world" (p. 64), which misrepresents both Christian and Jewish perspectives.She also consistently misuses the word "indigenous" and mentions a few historical details that border on pseudo-history and conspiracy theory.

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft is entertaining but inconsistent and thematically confused.It has a few laughs, but no thrills. ... Read more

Product Description
German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass:Housing German Prisoners of War in Kentucky, 1942-1946 (Diversion Press, distributed by Ingram; $24.95; Publication Date October 27, 2008) presents a case of American humanitarianism, adherence to international law, southern hospitality, and friendship and mutual respect between "enemies" in a brutal and bitter war.This academic work provides the first book length look at the housing of German prisoners of war in Kentucky during World War II.This book tackles the mysterious murals painted by prisoners at Camp Breckinridge, the Afrika Korps symbols left on chimneys at Fort Knox, and the issues of Nazi versus anti-Nazi at Camp Campbell.The impact of the "forced" German POWs on Kentucky's wartime economy cannot be underestimated.This important work tells Kentucky's story of housing, working, and entertaining over 10,000 German prisoners during the Second World War.German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass shows how the U.S. POW program uniquely affected an individual state with end results that had local, national, and international implications.This book is a must read for anyone interested in World War II, the U.S. home front, Kentucky history, German history, or prisoner of war treatment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not just educational...but a fun read too!!
Many of posted reviews already have told you how informative and well-written this book is.All I can really add is that it's a darn fun read!!I'm from Kentucky and have always had an interest in World War 2, but who knew I had Nazis in my own backyard?Evidently, Dr. Thompson did.His book is different than most books of this nature.It has a human touch.Many books covering historical events put me to sleep no matter how interested I am in the subject matter.But, "German Jackboots" has an exciting tone and it includes fun as well as informative accounts.Whether you're from Kentucky or just a history buff, "German Jackboots" will entertain as well as educate!

German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass
German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass: Housing of German Prisioners of War in Kentucky, 1942-1946. by Dr. Antonio Thompson is a comprehensive, extremely well-written, jaw dropping, account of the lives of German POW's held at Camps, Campbell and Breckinridge during these years. It is not at all what you would expect, which is what I loved most about this book. Its overall positive point of view, showed the German POW'S as hard-working, willing learners, that formed lasting relationships with the farmers that employed them. While housed in these camps the POW'S published their own newspaper, read books, enjoyed the cinema, and much, much, more. This well-researched book, written by one of our finest historians is must read for all.

a great read for historians and non historians alike
This book is a classic example of the perfect surprise.Being from the area around Fort Campbell, there is little knowledge about this topic in this area and was a true eye opener to myself and my students who have read this work.Dr. Thompson presented a great book with insightful research and brilliant writing techniques which brought the story of the book to life for the reader.the book focuses on several aspects including how the US believed during World War II that the rules set forth in the Geneva Convention must be met and this is demonstrated numerous times in the book with great detail on how these prison camps treated all of the prisoners very well.There is quite a bit of humor in this book as well as Thompson goes into how the prisoners found ways to escape and how sometimes on work details they would refuse to work and found ways to trick the farmers in which they were helping. But most of all the most fascinating aspect of the book were the bonds which were created between the German prisoners and the people in which they worked for. The research is excellent and Thompson's ability to craft a very readable book is evident in the finished product. Overall this is a classic work and should read by anyone who has an interest in World War II and local history in the Bluegrass state.

Interesting, Excellent Read
Dr. Thompson's well-documented history of WWII German POW's in Kentucky is an easy read for the layman--and an invaluable resource for students of history.I was a history major in college, and consider myself fairly well-acquainted with most aspects of WWII--but I had no idea German prisoners were held here in the US--and certainly had no concept of their lives, and the lives of the Americans who interacted with them.Dr. Thompson's book shows us this piece of American history-warts and all-- in an interesting and compelling fashion.Highly recommended.

German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrass
Dr. Antonio Thompson's book, German Jackboots on Kentucky Bluegrasss: Housing Prisoners of War in Kentucky, 1942-1946, tells the story of the more than 9,000 German POWs that were held in the state of Kentucky during World War II. This book will make you laugh and make cry. Dr. Thompson brings to life these captured men who must have been defiant and apprehensive in equal parts.
Some of the POWs formed friendships that lasted a life time with the residents in the surrounding countryside, for whom they sometimes provided labor. It is evident from the information, which Dr. Thompson describes with a touching clarity, that even during wartime men are still human and humane.
The United States can be proud of the manner in which German POWs were treated during their forced stay, according to Dr. Thompson. The prisoners were treated in the ways provided for in the Geneva Convention, and many times their overall treatment exceeded the standards. The commanders of Camps Campbell and Breckinridge treated them with respect and compassion and Dr. Thompson, once again, brings to life a prisoner of war camp and the people who lived both inside and outside the barbed wire fence.
As a university student, I highly recommend Dr. Thompson's book to all readers; I couldn't put it down. This book provides readers with interesting information and is told in such a way that time is rewound and you feel as if you are living the history that is contained within its pages.
By:Lori Jackson
... Read more

Product Description
This book deals with the big questions about development. In this wide-ranging and insightful exploration, the authors take as their main examples two countries: Ghana, the first African colony to win independence but which, following its high hopes, plunged into a downward spiral of economic decay; and Thailand, which escaped colonial rule, was actually poorer than West Africa in the 1950s, but went on to achieve decades of extraordinarily rapid economic growth, albeit at very considerable environmental and human cost. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Oversimplification that ignores so many factors
If you like the simplistic ivory-tower American view of the world then this is the book for you. If you want the far more complex truth then don't waste your time with this book. I received this book from a college student and was shocked that this passed as scholarly writing. I understood the dumbed-down level of the book once I saw the author writes articles for WIRED magazine and also cashed in by writing a biography about a distant relative. There are many great books available about the developing world, but this is not one of them.

A thoughtful narrative of modern development
I was unfamiliar with the trends in African and Southeast Asian development before reading this book ... the title and subject seemed interesting.However, during the course of my reading it, I have grown significantly more knowledgable about how "3rd world" nations are on their own tracts to develop and enter the ranks of "modern societies".

He begins with a short history of both African and Asain developments, the key players, and background that sets each region up before they take charge of their own destinies.From there, he investigates the cultural, economic, environmental, and international pressures that disseminate one economy from another, as well as invesitgating the ultimate consequences of this growth.

This book is well-written, interesting evenfor a non political science or economics major, and thought-provoking to the core.I highly recommend this book to any who would be interested in learning more about modern development in differing regions of the world.

A must buy book for everyone
I am from Thailand and a native Thai.
I read his book; he is my professor.
I am impressed with his idea- the so " socratic idea".
I love his book and everyone should buy it. ... Read more

Product Description
His outrageous monologues made him a legend on tv's The Kids in the Hall.Now he's back--with the life story only he could tell.

"My goal is not to shock and horrify, but to tell the truth.And if that truth shocks and horrifies, well ...maybe you should get out more."

Spinning martini-fueled tales from his stool in his favorite gay bar, acid-tongued raconteur Buddy Cole became one of The Kids in the Hall's most beloved and enduring characters.Now, brought to you by Kids star Scott Thompson with series writer Paul Bellini, Buddy Babylon takes you on a jaw-dropping tour of Buddy's flashy, trashy life, filled with tales of poignant, heart-wrenching romance, lurid sexual debauchery, the birth of synchronized swimming, and the ugly, never-before-revealed truth behind the Prettiest Feet in Quebec contest.

Join Marco (Buddy's cosmetically challenged sidekick), Cornygirl (the loyal corncob doll who rarely leaves his side), and a cast of unforgettably offbeat characters as Buddy blazes a trail across the deep Canadian forest, through the darkest corners of the big city, and back to his signature barstool.From his humble beginnings as the twenty-third child of poor pig farmers, to his moment in the spotlight in the tabloids, Buddy Babylon lays bare a lifetime of madness, chaos, and things your mother warned you about--the essential Buddy Cole.

After Kids' six-year run on CBS, HBO, Comedy Central, and the CBC in Canada, Scott Thompson joined the cast of the critically acclaimed HBO series The Larry Sanders Show.He is also a frequent guest on Politically Incorrect and The Late Show, and continues to do stand-up comedy, which includes performances in the character of Buddy Cole.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Funniest book ever?
After re-reading Buddy Babylon for the third time, I realize that this is probably the funniest book ever written. With a joke in almost every sentence, it is an absolute joy to read, especially if you imagine the character of Buddy proclaiming, lisping and spitting out these wild tales directly into a camera. The story is ludicrously improbable, as you would hope and expect, some of the situations and characters so outrageous and absurd that you can't help but wonder what the writers were on when thinking them up. Scarily, for those of you who are familiar with the gay scene, Buddy's description of gay life is often not that exagerated, and therefore all the funnier. A feat of imagination and wit, this book is addictive from page one, and really does what you want it to do: make you laugh out loud.

Babble on, Buddy
Being a big "Kids in the Hall" fan, and having seen the five star rating, I really thought I'd get a big kick out of this. What a disappointment. The jokes are tired and flat and the situations all strain too hard to be absurd. I like Scott, he's my third favorite Kid, but somehow the "Buddy" character just needs his vocal delivery to work. There are some bits that should be funny (the zombie waiter, the foot pageant), but they collapse under the strain of being part of a longer narrative. Maybe if he'd read the book to me from a barstool...

Got you back
A first-person account of Canada's most (in)famous barhopping ...
The road starts with a leap-year birth,and follows him on as the winner Canada's most beatiful feet', into a cocaine fueld populated by lesbian wives, lovers, and a particularly glamerous pig.
Which leads all the way back to a barstool, back home in Canada.

The 'Kids'now Scott Thompson, with the aid of show-writer Paul Bellini, ontroduce Charles Butterick Cole.

Sort of mediocre
Buddy Cole is much more appealing on stage than in the written word. Some funny gay bits, and interesting Toronto references if you should ever go there. Save the money to go see KITH's latest tour when it comes near you (esp. for the sarcastic 9/11 references). What is holding Scott (and KITH) back from really cutting sketches, huh? What about Canada's loony PC censorship, academic free-speech harrassment, massive immigration problems, and the fact that salaries are 1/2 to 2/3 of US?Look to Python and Benny Hill for examples ..

Buddy is Brilliant
I loved this book soo much, I could not put it down. I kept imagining Buddy with his great lisp telling his life story and it made it so much more fun. This is a book that nay Buddy or KITH fan will enjoy. I reccomend it wholeheartedly, hilarious! ... Read more

Product Description
Core Graphics is the new graphics framework for Mac OS X. Quartz, the 2D drawing system, and Core Image, which processes both video and still images, are the key new technologies in this framework and provide the tools Mac OS X developers need to create and draw graphics for their applications that target the design-savvy Mac consumer audience. With the evolution of Mac OS X, Apple is phasing out use of its previous graphics framework, QuickDraw, and encouraging all developers to begin using Core Graphics. The model for Quartz is completely unique and entirely different from QuickDraw creating a steep learning curve for all developers moving over. This book is in an introduction and guide to working with Core Graphics, specifically Quartz and Core Image. It carries the developer through the fundamental Quartz models and basic concepts such as drawing, coordinating system basics, virtual paint, and CGContext. Once the fundamentals are covered, author Scott Thompson delves into more advanced topics such as shading, patterns, and manipulating image effects.Practical code examples enhance the discussion and offer Mac developers the information they need to incorporate these powerful graphics into their own Mac OS X Applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Informative but Irrelevant. Obsolete!
This was great for learning quartz in TIGER but a lot of the examples don't compile in Leopard. A lot of stuff is also (bizarrely) written in C++ in Carbon. Almost the first sentence of every other Mac programming book I've ever read was "Use Cocoa and Objective C".Almost every paragraph in the book tells Cocoa programmers where to look for documentation instead. Even the examples that are written in Cocoa are in "Objective-C++" (.mm).

Granted it was a decent introduction to Quartz and drawing, but if you want to take anything out of the book you have to follow the author's links to where to learn about Cocoa, open up your developer library, and translate everything into actual Objective-C yourself.

So unless you plan on developing for Tiger for the rest of your life, stick to Apple's online documentation for learning how to write Mac OS X applications.

Good, albeit overpriced, overview of Quartz 2D Graphics
I just purchased this book today at the full list price of $49.99.This is too much IMO for a 300 page overview of a graphics system (no matter how well written.)That said, by chapter 2 I've already noticed a number of mistakes not picked up by editors (probably because the words substituted are not incorrectly spelled: ie. 'inherit' instead of 'inherent', or 'combing' instead of 'combining')Maybe I'm just being nitpicky, but I'm growing tired of laziness on the part of publishing houses.

All in all, this is a good introduction to the topic.For the discounted Amazon price, it's worth the money.

Great Overview
Well presented material.Good overview of state-of-the-art Mac graphics.Simply written.Good reference.

Best Practices for Mac programmers.
I thought this was a great book for Mac programmers who want to know more about Quartz. It is well written and easy to follow. There is a CD-ROM with the sample code included with the book. It covers the essentials and gives "Best Practices" advice on actually using Quartz in a professional program, including performance issues.R. Scott Thompson is a talented author and I hope he will write more programming books in the future.

It starts with a clear introduction to Quartz, but gets right to some useful techniques, such as off-screen bitmaps, writing images to a PNG file, etc. It covers the basics, like CGContexts, Affine transforms, Bezier curves, and Paths, in a clear and insightful manner. You could learn most of this material from the manuals, but Scott has a way of clearing things up and making you feel comfortable with the topic. The examples he gives are short but useful in learning the subtle points of the Quartz API.

Next comes a more in-depth look at off-screen drawing, clipping and the masking of images.Scott shows you how to work with PNG, JPEG data, and gives code for importing and exporting other image formats using QuickTime.

I especially like the chapter on Core Image, which isn't covered anywhere else. Scott shows you how to wrap the API in C to gain access to the powerful filters and transition effects provided by Core Image.

This book is not a complete reference or encyclopedia of the Quartz API, (get "Programming with Quartz" by Gelphman & Laden for that). Mac programmers will want both. ... Read more

Product Description
The five-volume Scott Report in Arms to Iraq was remarkable in that entailed a lengthy investigation into all three branches of British government. In this study, distinguished experts carefully examine the report and contribute incisive insights into the people, processes, and policy considerations involved. ... Read more