Product Description
All church leaders have faced the questions that arrive with newcomers:Do they feel comfortable? Is there more we could do to serve them? Will they want to come back?Creating an environment that both embraces our newcomers and excites them enough to return does not happen by chance. We must be prepared to be effective stewards of the newcomers God brings us. And, why shouldn t the Church be the epitome of service at its best, as modeled by the greatest server of all time? Built on The Journey Church of the City s Assimilation Seminar, Fusion embodies a step-by-step, biblically grounded, tested and proven plan for establishing a relationship with newcomers that ultimately prompts them to become fully developing members of our congregations. This innovative, practical guide is full of how-to information, testimonials from the recently assimilated and from participating church leaders, examples of the assimilation materials used and check points to make sure the reader is on track. Engaging, informative and immediately applicable, here is help for setting newcomers on the path toward true life transformation and spiritual maturity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Love it - bought copies for my friends
I read this and decided it was an easy practical guide that I bought 10 copies to give to others at church.

Easy implementation for those who want to grow
I just read the 1-star review. That reviewer did not understand the authhor's intended audience. Many churches in America want to grow but are stuck in a rut not knowing how to break out of old methodoligies and thinking, to reach people in an increasing technological world. He seeks to teach churches hungry for growth how to implement low cost methods that touch people's hearts and minds in a relatively simple way. I especially liked the author's principle that God does not give you more than you can handle. He states that the reason many churches do not have many visitors is because they can't effectively touch the lives of those who do visit. They are not prepared to do so. First-time visitors become 2nd- and 3rd-time visitors. Add the new first-time visitors to the 2nd- and 3rd-time visitors, and the number of new folks can jump from one in a week to 3 in a week. We have an effective assimilation ministry and yet we have seen an increase after implementing just one idea to our protocol. Almost every church in America should read this book. If this book enables a church to touch just one life, that's a cheap investment with an eternal return. Now, what if that church touches 100 lives in the next year, just from reading a $20 book. This author has added to the Kingdom of God signficantly. And you can, too.

Excellent
Fusion is an excellent tool for any pastor of any size church, it's ideas and concepts are clear and consise and will not only lead to bringing first and second time guest back, but will also creat a lot of excitement in the church amongst the regular attenders, members and leaders.

One of the most practical books a pastor can read
Here's what I took away and/or was challenged about:

1. Guests are a gift from God - Treat them right.
2. God will never give us more than we are prepared to receive (huge
impact on me and my team!)
3. Making guest relations ubiquitous - everyone experiencing
everything every week!
4. Fusion gave us a system that we could run with and adapt to our
environment.
5. The power of the personal note
6. The help of the 1st and 2nd time guest surveys
7. Using the connection card for everyone, ever week.
8. Having an appropriate response for every box that is checked on the
connection card (part of the system)
9. The ability to track visitor retention.
10. Creating sticky situations.
11. That a 200 pound man feels safe behind a styrofoam cup of coffee

We started implementing the principles from Fusion in May and the
result has been incredible.Our visitor retention is up.Our back
door has shrunk and it has created some great momentum this Fall.

Great stuff.Thanks Nelson.

What happens during the First 7 Minutes for a Visitor at Your Church?,How about prospects and your business?
Nelson Searcy, first challenges churches to assess their worship experiences and related practices by looking at "What happens during the first seven minutes for a visitor at your church?".

Searcy, then provides a great outline of processes, with objectives, to effectively manage our touchpoints with our visitors that God sends our way to possibly engage them in their faith journey.Plenty of in-book and online resources to help get your own plan established.

Having being in the Business Development, Marketing, Education and Customer Experience space for my career pathway, I find this book could be an effective resource for many businesses and non-profits, of all sizes, that also face the ongoing challenges of follow-up and engagement. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
"Mark Reinfeld is poised at the leading edge of contemporary vegan cooking."
VegCooking Chef Spotlight

Vegan Fusion World Cuisine, a groundbreaking work that has won nine international awards, is a celebration of international gourmet vegan cuisine that introduces us to the simplicity of a vibrant, healthy lifestyle. Much more than a cookbook, this artistic treasure contains stunning food photography, inspiring graphics, natural-food cooking charts and kitchen wisdom for all. A foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall highlights its aim to inspire peace and understanding amongst individuals, cultures and all who care about our planet.

Vegan Fusion World Cuisine contains 200+ sumptuous recipes from the award-winning Blossoming Lotus Restaurants, uniting cooking traditions from around the world. It's an all-encompassing guide to health, beauty and an inspired lifestyle. Mark and Bo hope to awaken people to the healing potential within themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (87)

Easy, delicious recipes...
I am new to veganism and found this book to be an excellent source of delicious recipes.They are easy to prepare and very tastey.

Nice collection of raw food recipes
This book has my favorite recipes in it.It is very healthy and there are many raw recipes that are great!

Fusing Food and Spirit into pure yum
Vegan World Fusion Cuisine is a must have in the vegetarian kitchen.It provides not only inspirational recipes with quality ingredients, but also a lot of great information regarding the benefits of eating vegan: nutritional, environmental, spiritual.I recently made a "Vegan Fusion" meal for my dearest friend and her husband.Both of their eyes sparkled while crunching down on fresh carrots, beets, and cucumbers in Nirvana's Nori Roll.The evening progressed into Super Shakti's Spanikopita-a revelation to casserole lovers the world over.And then.....to end a blissful flavor infused evening, Shaka's Vegan Cheezcake!
This cookbook has done what no other has done before: unifies the vegan community.It provides tremendous resources about organizations that support the cause.It answers questions about many of the issues concerning food today and also gives helpful suggestions on food preparation, pantry ingredients, and sample menus.Of course, pictures speak a thousand words, and if by some chance you are not chomping at the bit to create some of these amazing recipes, you will be once you see some of these photos.
I recommend this cookbook one hundred percent.It is the vegetarian's answer to the timeless question, "What's for dinner tonight!"

Vegan Fusion World Cuisine
Beautiful and informative book.The pictures are great and I have learned new and delicious ways to fix dishes I often fix.

Just Okay
This cookbook is a mixed bag. There are some very good raw and cooked recipes while there are some that are better left untouched. It didn't win me over the way Veganomicon did and it's not as user friendly as the former. There are many ingredients called for that you can only get at specialty stores and that are pricey. I wish more thought was put into making recipes for the average person who doesn't do all their grocery shopping at Whole Foods. People think that going vegan is hard and that they'll have to spend more money on obscure ingredients. This book makes those concerns true so I wouldn't recommend this to someone with little cooking ability, new to veganism, or who can't get their hands on spelt flour. They do have tasty soups and I would recommend that entire chapter to anyone. ... Read more

Product Description

Master Oracle Fusion Middleware

Successfully design rich enterprise web applications using the detailed information in this Oracle Press volume. Oracle Fusion Developer Guide goes beyond the predominant drag-and-drop methods in Oracle JDeveloper 11g and provides a wealth of examples that address common development scenarios when using Oracle Fusion Middleware. Work with Oracle JDeveloper 11g, define navigation rules, accept and validate user input, build page layouts and skins, and incorporate drag-and-drop functionality into web applications. This authoritative resource also explains how to secure and internationalize your applications.

• Understand the Oracle Application Development Framework and Oracle ADF Faces Rich Client lifestyle
• Construct Oracle ADF data controls, task flows, and dynamic regions
• Graphically represent information with Oracle ADF Faces DVT components
• Modularize applications using Oracle ADF libraries, Oracle ADF task flows, and other reusable components
• Define dynamic navigation rules in Oracle Fusion Middleware web applications
• Leverage Web 2.0 features using Oracle ADF Faces Rich Client components
• Control user access with Oracle WebLogic Server and Oracle ADF security

For a complete list of Oracle Press titles, visit www.OraclePressBooks.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great reference manual
This book is a great reference manual to get you started on your way. I found some of the examples lacking but was at least able to get started in the right direction for a solution.

Could be a 5 star book, however....
Frank is an expert on JDEV, he runs a great blog and is also an Ace on the Oracle Forums.Having known all this, I expected his book on JDEV to be awesome!The book falls short, there is not enough of the code samples to try out the material in JDev and see how the items actually work.The book covers advanced topics but not in enough detail to be carried out in real world code.The jump from JDev 10G to 11G is a huge leap, that requires a lot of examples and material to help the programmer out, this book is not it.

If author/publisher would make the Workspaces available to the reader, one might be able to actually see how all the code is wired together and make use of the material.Without the code samples to work with the book is pretty much a waste of money.There is no more information in this book as there is in the Oracle docs that are free from the oracle site.

Sorry but this book is not recommended.

Indespensible for any ADF developer
Recently read this book and it is packed with information. Its not a tutorial on how to create complete application but instead it contains hundreds of nuggets on how to create individual functionalities for ADF. Most of the theory is also explained well and points to references to Dev Guide as well. Its best to read Fusion Dev Guide before reading this one.

How could I review if I did not received yet?
I've been ordering books from Amazon since ever, but I received an email to review a book that was expected do be delivered on January 22th and I'm still waiting. Today is February 7th. ... Read more

Product Description

Get Started with Oracle Fusion Development

Written by a Group Product Manager at Oracle, this Oracle Press guide gets you up and running quickly with your first Oracle Fusion applications. Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development provides only the essential information you need to build applications in a matter of hours. Rapidly learn the building blocks and functionality you’ll use most of the time. The progression of topics closely matches the application building process, taking you through a typical developer scenario from start to completion.

Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development features

• Concise and friendly format providing the essentials needed to start building applications right away
• Chapters that build on each other to illustrate a typical development scenario from start to finish
• Unique author insights gained from hours of one-on-one meetings with customers and work in Oracle’s usability labs

The perfect entry point to Oracle Fusion development
Introduction to Fusion and the Fusion Technologies; Introduction to JDeveloper and Oracle ADF; Finding your Way Around JDeveloper; Building Business Services; Introducing ADF Business Components; The Role of the Entity; A View of your Data – The View Object; The Application Module; Implementing Business Service Validation; More View Object Features; Building the User Interface; Introducing ADF Face Rich Client; ADF Model; Building Typical ADF Pages; Building Application Flow; Menus, Toolbars and Buttons; Advanced UI Techniques; Data Visualization and Other Rich UI Components; Application Look and Feel; Common Coding Patterns; Common Business Service Coding Examples; Common View Coding Examples ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Book Review - Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development
This weekend I was reading Grant Ronald's book - Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development. What is really important, this book not only gives quick start information, it is also written in clear and easy to understand language. I really enjoyed this author approach, because while doing Oracle Fusion trainings to different customers, I understood how it is important to express yourself in clear and simple way. Combination of technical topics with clear explanation always gives great results.

In my opinion, this book will be perfect after training material. From my experience, usually there is so called quiet time period after training and before first project. During that time, people who are new to ADF, tend to forget that knowledge they got during training. This book will be ideal to refresh forgotten knowledge.

Grant's Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development book explains key topics of ADF framework - building business services, building the user interface and shows common coding patterns. I remember, we were discussing with Grant, what ADF examples can be included into common coding patterns chapter. I'm glad to see some of them survived until published book version :)

I know one developer, who is working with .NET, he is very enthusiastic to learn Oracle Fusion and ADF technologies. However, he doesn't have enough time to read thousands of pages of Developer's Guide. I believe, this book will be great kick start for him, and I'm sure - many others.

Excellent introduction to ADF
A great introduction for anyone new to the world of ADF, or in fact for people with some experience to refresh and possibly pick up new tricks :) Covering ADF Business Components (Entity objects, View objects, Application modules, business validation) to building pages (forms, tables, application flow, graphs, buttons, menus and some advanced techniques). Not likely to add a lot for experienced users but as a newbie a very worthwhile companion (and easier, quicker reference for the basics) to the Oracle Fusion Developer's Guide.

Not what I expected
I appreciate how difficult it is to write a book like this.If you purchase this book expecting it to give you a beginner's guide to ADF, you might want to also use the link [...].This is the standard tutorial that provides simple getting started instructions.

This book uses the Oracle Entry (OE) database as the source of underlying data for the examples.This would be fine if we all had Oracle 11g Enterprise database.Other Oracle books use the ubiquitous HR database that comes with the Oracle XE database (free download). ... Read more

Product Description
Considering the worldwide increase of interest in fusion research over the last decade - the recognition that a large number of new, environmentally attractive, sustainable energy sources will be needed to meet ever-increasing demands for electrical energy, is obvious. This book serves up the latest interest in alternative energy. Based on a series of graduate course notes in plasma physics and fusion energy at MIT, the text begins with an overview of world energy needs, current methods of energy generation, and the potential role that fusion may play in the future. It covers energy issues such as the production of fusion power, power balance, the design of a simple fusion reactor, and the basic plasma physics issues faced by the developers of fusion power. This book is suitable for graduate students and researchers working in applied physics and nuclear engineering. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear explanations of plasma physics in the fusion context
I have found this book immensely useful and a pleasure to read as a senior undergraduate engaging in summer research in fusion. It is perfect for learning basic plasma physics in the context of fusion, which may not be easy with books that discuss plasma more generally (such as F.F. Chen's introductory book, though that is very good). The writing is highly structured and clear physical pictures are presented.

There is a nice opening section on energy options and where fusion fits in, and there are sections on fusion reactor types and technologies. ... Read more

Product Description
Collage Fusion shows you how to create meaningful art with your favorite mediums - including fabrics, paint, papers, encaustic and so much more - using the Telamadera Fusion process. Artist Alma de la Melena Cox combined the Spanish words for fabric (tela) and wood (madera) to express the combination of vibrantly colored materials that make up this beautiful technique.

• Clear step-by-step photos and instruction guide you through 20 techniques including how to use a wood-burning tool to add lines and details, working with fabric and paints, and incorporating beads, personal.
• 10 projects teach you how to incorporate Telamadera Fusion into other art forms, including encaustic, jewelrymaking, quilting and more.
• Finished art pieces for all techniques and projects along with inspirational galleries are sure to spark your creativity.

Customer Reviews (6)

Dynamic!
I love to collage, so I had to buy this book, since it featured the new telamadera technique.Telamadera is an innovative technique which combines quilting and collage techniques with a plethora of other techniques on wood.Alma de la Melena Cox, the innovative artist and author of the book, presents the techniques through detailed verbal and pictorial instructions.There are no patterns included, but Alma's dynamic designs are very much inspirational!

Beautiful
This book is beautiful from the cover and throughout.Great photos of the telamadera process.It is my new favorite addition to my art book collection.

Fabulous work!
Having seen Alma's work in person I anxiously awaited this book. Wow! You feel like you are sitting in the classroom surrounded by all the supplies possible to create these wonderful pieces of art. And the text is straight from Alma. Having watched this artist develop through the years I am thrilled with this well written, beautifully illustrated book. You could be a beginner dabbling in mixed media or an accomplished artist and there is something for everyone.

Inspiring book to bring your creativity into full bloom!
Collage Fusion is a beautiful book filled with delightful photographs of inspiring projects combined with step by step instructions with detailed photographs showing any aspiring artist how to create their own beautiful artwork.Alma's detailed instructions are easy to follow and materials are easily available and are likely to be in your drawers now!I can't put it down!Kudos to Alma for sharing the wonders of Telamadera!

Beautiful and inspiring!
This is a beautiful book!My recommendation:Bye two.I did - one to use for my projects I eagerly await to begin and the second as a coffee table book.It is beautiful to look at and go through.Try it!You'll see just how it inspires the artful (and not so artful) mind. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

Very creative, interesting ideas
As someone who has done little work stringing beads, I really liked this book. I originally checked it out of the library, but liked the projects so much I decided to buy a copy to keep. I have made 2 projects so far. The directions are fairly easy to follow, especially with the step by step photos. I think I'm becoming obsessed with the seed beads!I like the little tips she includes with each project, and also her story of how each project came to be. She includes photos of other colors of each design to give inspiration to create your own versions. My main change is that she uses the same clasp technique on almost every project using "liquid silver" which I have been unable to find in my area, so my first project I tried something else which didn't work as well. I'm almost to that point on my next project and am not sure the best way to attach the clasp. Overall I really like this book!

beadweaving, seed beads, off-loom
This is an interesting beadweaving idea, but all the projects in the book use the same technique of building on right angle weave to make a raised design.You will be doing the same thing repeatedly.It would be good for beginners.

I have done almost every project from this book!!!
..right now, I just finished my third O. Mosaic cuff and is b E A U T I F U L !!!!!also I made the Bede Chorda necklace, but instead of No 8 and N. 6 seed beads, I used pearls and bicones and the results is amazing!

Great book!
I wasn't too sure about the title and photo when the book first came out. I am really glad I had a second look and I was in for a big surprise when I had it in my hands! It's a great book and a beaders delight! It stands out of the crowd - for once not a beginner's, I-just-started-beading book- a great inspiration from beginnig to end. Thanks Rachel!

The Best Ever
This is the best bead book ever.All of the projects are beautifully done.The colors are rich and very lavish and there wasn't one I didn't want to make immediately.A must for your bead library! ... Read more

Product Description
A guide to the practice of Inner Alchemy, which allows you to control the energies of your inner universe to better connect with energies of the outer universe

• Teaches the essential first-level meditations in Taoist practice, also known as Fusion of the Five Forces, for self-healing and emotional and spiritual development

• Shows step-by-step how to remove negative emotions from the organs in which they are lodged by neutralizing and transforming the negativity back into positive energy

• Includes basic and advanced-level meditations

Fusion of the Five Elements is the necessary first step in the Taoist practice of Inner Alchemy, in which one learns to control the generation and flow of emotional, mental, and physical energies within the body. It is a series of meditations designed to locate and dissolve negative energies trapped inside the body by making a connection between the five outer senses (experienced through the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and tongue) and the five major negative emotions (anger, hate, worry, sadness, and fear). When the body is cleared of negative energy, universal chi energy flows freely and productively, nourishing both body and soul.

The practice is divided into two parts. The first works with controlling the forces of the five elements on the five major organs of the body by learning the elements’ effects upon each other and how to balance and utilize these energies properly. The advanced Fusion exercises then show how to channel the greater energies of the stars and planets to strengthen internal weaknesses and crystallize positive energy. By “fusing” all the different kinds of energy together, a harmonious whole is created--the key to manifesting an Immortal existence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent healing practice
The author divided this into two parts, a fundamental practice and an advanced practice.

Stripping sway the metaphysical part, the fundamental practice is a Taoist healing practice (and a preparative practice for higher spiritual practice) of one's internal organs and emotions through chi meditation.The logic behind is to create chi-flow paths among specific points (for example: in one technique it is meditation to create chi-gradient points, through mind focus, simultaneously in ears, kidneys and perineum, allowing chi to flow smoothly through the three points (in particular kidneys) to clear blockages and, according to Chinese medical theory, promote health in the internal organs). After "heating up" the organs, the practice includes ways to cool it down, by mindful drainage (with or without healing sounds).This final process is important, because "heated up" (too yang) organs can cause irritations (pended up bad emotions, like anger, being aroused).The cooling process therefore also serve as a practicing technique to calm down one's unwanted emotions, and this technique can certainly be carried over to everyday life.Mantak Chia's approach, as always, is very comprehensive. The fundamental practice itself worth the price of the book.

In the more advanced practice of this book, the technique "opening the crown" is essential for higher spiritual practice: Mantak Chia style or otherwise.Other than this technique, I find the Taoist classic "Taoist Yoga" (translated by Charles Luk) a better reference.In Luk's, a form of Kundalini Awakening will be required for the final breakthrough, and it can only be achieved through un-mindful deep meditation (rather than thinking about this and that as in Chia, and I don't think Chia got it right conceptually with his dark-room technique, apart from possible psychological damage caused by outside-induced sensory deprivation, but of course that would be outside this review).

All in all, highly recommended as a book on healing practice.

taking the Taoist path
This is another of wonderful books by master Manchak Chia.If you have utilized his books before you will not be dissappointed in this volume.He clearly identifies the five elements and outlines the use of energy in the human system for the overall benefit of health and balance.The exercises are simple and can be easily incorporated in one's daily routine of practice.

Opening & Clearing the Gateways to Higher Consciousness
Mantak Chia's book, "Fusion of the Five Elements" provides readers with powerful meditation and energy working tools for transforming the top five negative emotions (anger, impatience, anxiety, depression, and stress) stored in five of our body's main organs into their most positive counterparts (kindness, love & joy, openness, courage and gentleness). While the basic Taoist principles behind this healing process may seem straightforward to some, the techniques themselves are refreshingly unique and memorable, such as breathing the purest form of gentleness into the shape of beautiful deer with antlers, for example. Chia explains that since the original Taoist animal offspring utilized in energy work for clearing the five elements / organs might seem rather unusual in this day and age, it is possible to substitute other symbols in their stead.

The delightful surprise in "Fusion of the Five Elements" is the way the range of feelings from each of five major organs (liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen) is described, along with marvelous tables and illustrations that accompany the energy work meditations. I was very positively impressed with the associations provided with how good awareness between each of these five primary organs and the associated opening (eyes, tongue, nose, ears, mouth) can help to reduce the various temptations of each of these areas. Readers familiar with the concept of the five elements will find much to appreciate in this book, as many of the advanced exercises have the capacity to benefit all energy practitioners, from beginners to the most advanced.

"Fusion of the Five Elements" covers Chia's concept of creating pearls that form the energy body extremely well. Anyone wishing to continue on with Chia's other books will appreciate the clarity of his words and illustrations which are devoted to describing how one can best create, maintain, and control one's chi body as it evolves to his highest form.

Another Excellent Mantak Chia book

This is a very excellent introduction to the fusion system.I admit, I really didn't start to get much out of the fusion system until I read Fusion 2 Cosmic Fusion, but this book is essential.I don't recommend reading this until you have practiced the microcosmic orbit and Iron Shirt 1 for some time, however, Iron Shirt works much better after the Fusion of Five elements have been practiced.

I rate this 4 stars because it has all the information necessary for the introductory practice, although I subtracted 1 star because I feel as if there could have been a little more information about the physical internal movements that mirror the visualization and 'funnels' the movement of 'chi'.Still, everything you need is still there.Don't let the esoteric sounding nature of the book turn you off, the elements, animals, and everything else are an important identification/visualization system to get something very real working.

IMO, Mantak Chia books are the best out there.

An intermediate energy work text
This is an excellent book, which will allow you to delve further into the energy work techniques that Chia teaches. To get the most out of this book, you need to do the exercises. I think it's important to slowly integrate each additional step after you feel confident with learning the prior step. I will say that I've already noted some positive results for myself. ... Read more

Product Description

A hands-on resource for both large and small churches

It has been predicted that in the twenty-first century extremely large churches would emerge in America that resemble neither an elephant nor a field of mice. Which is better? At one time the answer would have been either/or. Now it's both/and. We want both the intimacy of smallness and the impact of bigness-we want a hybrid of the two. Hybrid Church is a practical guide for clergy and leaders who want to have the best of both church worlds: the intimacy of small "house church" groups and the impact of very large mega-churches.

• Offers a guide for churches who want to capitalize on their strengths to build intimacy with impact
• Written by the pastor of one of the "fastest growing" and "most innovative" churches in America with thousands of members organized in small house groups
• Outlines a vision for how the church of tomorrow could look like the early church. Given that the trend is toward very large and very small, with few churches in the middle, this book will be a welcome resource for both large and small churches.

... Read more

Product Description
Fresh Spring Rolls - Glass Noodle Soup - Papaya Salad - Clay Pot Vegetables - Lemongrass Dry Noodles. Enjoy many of your favorite Vietnamese dishes now with a vegetarian twist. Renown Asian culinary expert Chat Mingkwan presents time-honored favorites using completely plant-based ingredients. You're offered a bevy of delicious choices, whether you're making an ensemble for a multi-course meal or an extravagant dish with a host of accompaniments. Typical Vietnamese cooking is already characterized by the use of a vast array offresh herbs and vegetables. Introducing soy-based alternatives in place of the traditional meat and fish, Chat makes this already nutritious fare even better for you and the planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Love this book
Bought this for me.I love to cook.This book has provided me with new ideas and the recepies are wonderful.

Very disappointing
I bought this book thinking that I could use it to create vegetarian options to many different dishes. That is to say, I expected more in a stir fry recipe than "add vegetarian stir-fry sauce". I expected too much. my bad. It's a little book, and it's got very little in it.

Could do more
The recipes in this book lack authenticity. If you were to look up a traditional recipe for Pho (for example) you would find all manner of spices used in the stock that this book leaves out resulting in a rather bland version of the original. You would do better buying an omni vietnamese cookbook & making your own substitutions.

great gift for someone who loves to cook good food
bought as a Christmas present. My husband is an awesome chef and he is picky about the cook books he uses. This one is a keeper.

Enhanced with color photographs of completed dishes, a list of references, mail order sources
The distinctive local herbs and produce of Vietnamese cuisine has been heavily impacted French, Chinese, and Indian influences with respect ingredients and techniques. Now this culinary tradition has been further influenced and developed by Chat Mingkwan who transforms classic ethnic recipes into gourmet quality vegetarian dishes through utilizing customary Vietnamese seasons and ingredients, but substituting innovative animal-free alternatives for meat or fish in the recipes comprising "Vietnamese Fusion: Vegetarian Cuisine". After informing the kitchen cook about the characteristics of Vietnamese cuisine, soy products, and other ingredients fundamental to Vietnamese dishes including herbs and spices, vegetables and fruits, rice, noodles, wrappers, and seasonings, "Vietnamese Fusion" organizes the recipes themselves into sections on sauces, snacks and appetizers, soups and salads, main dishes, sweets and beverages. The easy -o-follow, step-by-step recipes themselves range from Sot Dau Phong (Peanut Sauce); to Canh Chua Thom (Hot-and-Sour Soup with Pineapple and Tamarind); to Nam Rom Nhung Dam (Mushrooms in Vinegar Fondue); to Banh Goi (Steamed Rice Cakes in Banana Leaves). Enhanced with color photographs of completed dishes, a list of references, mail order sources, an author biography, and an index, "Vietnamese Fusion" is especially recommended for personal and community library multi-ethnic and vegetarian cookbook collections. ... Read more

Product Description
When you get ill, part of your body stops working the way it should.If you have a stomach bug, your stomach stops working properly.It cannot do its normal job of breaking down food.Find out all about germs in this title. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not what I really wanted
Given the subject matter of germs that cause horrible diseases and death, they could have written it above [...]level. I bought it to read to my [..]hoping it would have more science to reinforce the necessity of hand washing and general good hygiene. If I had looked through it first I would not have purchased it. I guess I should have known by the title that it was not what I really wanted. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is on inertial confinement fusion, an alternative way to produce electrical power from hydogen fuel by using powerful lasers or particle beams. It involves the compression of tiny amounts (micrograms) of fuel to thousands times solid density and pressures otherwise existing only in the center of stars. Thanks to advances in laser technology, it is now possible to produce such extreme states of matter in the laboratory. Recent developments have boosted laser intensities again with new possibilities for laser particle accelerators, laser nuclear physics, and fast ignition of fusion targets. This is a reference book for those working on beam plasma physics, be it in the context of fundamental research or applications to fusion energy or novel ultrabright laser sources. The Physics of Inertial Fusion combines quite different areas of physics: beam target interaction, dense plasmas, hydrodynamic implosion and instabilities, radiative energy transfer as well as fusion reactions. Particular attention is given to simple and useful modelling, including dimensional analysis and similarity solutions. Both authors have worked in this field for more than 20 years. They want to address in particular those teaching this topic to students and all those interested in understanding the technical basis.

Now new in paperback. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent overview of ICF physics.
This book provides and excellent description of the necessary physics of inertial fusion. However, it is not for beginers. A solid understanding of hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, andstatistical mechanics is required in order to understand several chapters. The necessary nuclear physics is described in the first chapter. The book has many excellent plots. Advanced topics such as fast ignition are also covered. The book is a valuable resource for experimentalists and computational scientists working in this field.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because no description is given of the simulation codes used to generate results in the book. The authors' journal articles have that information and so you will need to look them up. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
A full-color reference-and-DVD package covers shooting and editing a successful multimedia project

With the introduction of dSLRs with high definition video functionality, a new world of multimedia capture has been opened to digital photographers. This book shows you how to embrace the exciting new option of photo fusion, by incorporating digital video content with your photography.

The author duo guides you through creating seamless multimedia presentations that maximize both still-frame and video photography functions on your dSLR. From the setting up and shooting, to downloading, editing and presenting a multimedia project, this book clearly explains how to move beyond stills into the exciting world of multimedia creation.

• Encourages you to embrace the exciting possibilities of photo fusion in the field of wedding photography
• Explains how to incorporate digital video content with photography
• Walks you through all of the necessary steps for shooting and editing a memorable multimedia creation
• Details every aspect involved in setting up, shooting, downloading, editing, and presenting a multimedia project
• Features more than 200 color images and an indispensible DVD of inspiring examples

Packed with more than 200 stunning images and featuring a 45-minute DVD, Photo Fusion presents you with inspiration and instruction so you can create your own multimedia projects.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Top Ten Photo-Fusion Tips
Amazon-exclusive content from author Jennifer Bebb

1. You Are a Still Photographer, Not a Videographer
If the moment warrants a still image, make a still image. Your primary focus is making still images and your video coverage is designed to augment your stills.

2. Shoot More Video than You Need
A still image is all about a single moment. Video, on the other hand must be edited to showcase the perfect moment. Leave lead time before and after the clip you want to use, and record more video than you think you will need.You can always leave the extra clips on the cutting room floor.

3. Be a Ruthless Editor
Remember that you are a photographer first - the audio and video you are recording is designed to flesh out the story told by your stills, not overwhelm it. If the video doesn’t look great, don’t use it.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice
Take the time to get to know all the gear you are going to use while making Fusion. Test out everything, ahead of time, on friends, neighbors or your pet. Practice using a tripod, monopod, and other stabilizers. A wedding day is not the time to learn your gear.

5. Remember the Gift of Speech
Your clients are giving and receiving the gift of words they may never hear again. Record them with respect and care, and use those words in your final edit.This is a gift that grows in value over time.

5. Record More Audio than You Need
Your portable audio recorder will run up to 8 hours, so use that to record audio separate from your video clips. It is the audio that ties Fusion together, so record lots and edit out what you don’t need.

6. Be Prepared for Anything
Make a plan for the day, but be ready to change on a moment’s notice.That’s the nature of a wedding day - it’s unpredictable. Plan for everything you can, and stay cool when things go wrong.

7. Shoot Your Video with the Eye of a Photographer
If you are using a HDSLR, you know how to make great still images with it. Making video is similar - use your knowledge of light and composition to make your video and stills blend together cohesively. Take advantage of your ability to see the world in you own unique way.

8. Stabilize Your Footage
You might be able to make great still images at a slow shutter speed while hand holding your camera. Video is different - because you are recording more than a split second, it is challenging to hold steady. Wherever you can, stabilize your footage, especially during the ceremony and the speeches.

9. The Details Matter
As you do more and more Fusion, remember the details and nuances of a wedding day, will benefit from video as well. Make your still images first, then record some video of the details. Your attention to detail is important to your client.

10. Shoot for the Edit
The more you get right in camera, the less work you will have after the fact. This is particularly true with video footage.Shoot with your edit in mind - if you know you want a transition clip of the bride’s dress going on, shoot it in both stills and video. Having a sense of what you want your final piece to look like will help you choose when to record video and when to make stills.

Photos from Author Jennifer Bebb (Click to enlarge)

This is image was made while the bride was having her dress done up.She had moved towards the window in an effort to cool down (it was a hot day) in the breeze.The wind caught the sheer curtains and blew one between the camera and the bride, and this is the result. Specs: Camera: 5D ISO: 160 Aperture: 2.8 Shutter: 1/60 Exp. Comp: +0.7

This image was made in and Art Gallery in New York City. The gallery was between exhibits so we had the opportunity to work in spaces that are normally closed to photographers.This was a large, bare room, but we loved the warmth of the ambient and the patterns on the floor and walls. We used a chair that was in the space and had her sit on the floor.We wanted the bride to be the focus of the image, so we needed to add some light to her face. We used a small video light to ensure that she was well lit, and kept our shutter speed low to ensure the warmth of the ambient light was present in the scene. Specs: Camera: 5D ISO: 1250 Aperture: 4.0 Shutter: 1/30 Exp. Comp: 0.0

This image was made in bright sun on a beach in Mexico.We decided to take advantage of the sunlight and use it to our advantage. We simply had them embrace at the water’s edge, turning her eyes to our lens while asking him to hold her tight.With the aperture set at 2.8 and the compression of the 135mm lens, we knew that the background would be completely out of focus while she would be the obvious focus of the image. Specs: Camera: 5D MKII Lens: 135mm ISO: 100 Aperture: 2.8 Shutter: 1/4000 Exp. Comp: -0.3

... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book
I enjoyed this book. Can't wait to finally use and market video with my photography.

Review ofBebb's Fusion
Good book. Good presentation. Good examples on DVD.
I like the emphasis on the fact to stay a photographer and not trying to do the job of a videographer.
I would just have like a version of the video directly in MP4 format to be able to put it on my iPhone without having to first rip the DVD (any other format would be nice, of course).

Excellent...saved us money and time!
We wanted to enter into the world of Fusion, but had no idea what exactly we needed, where to start or how to sell/market it.Thank you Jen! Not only is the gear list well laid out, but she offered examples of budget and more expensive items, explained the pros/cons of each as well as sharing their own mistakes, etc.
It has saved us time and money, and for that alone this book was well worth it to us! but the images in the book are simply stunning, and honestly I would have paid for the book just for the inspiration the images gave us....and then the detail of coverage, where to set up for best results, editing, mic handling, and so much more.....
this book is well written, very clear and easy to understand, but has a depth to the information that belies the easy read.....
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone getting into Fusion, and for weddings, I think in 5 years time, it will be a defining line between photographers. For portrait shoots we intend on capturing the laughter of children, etc..and who would not want to hear the cry of their newborn during a shoot?

Excellent!
This is a comprehensive guide to those who are interested in beginning to offer "Fusion" for their clients.It takes you from the beginning steps (just adding audio to your stills) all the way to a more complicated video/audio/still creation.It did a great job of discussing the technical aspects of equipment and software, as well as the more artistic details of shot angle and positioning.I am so pleased with this book and excited about the possibilities of implementing many of its ideas!

Photo Fusion, Start to Finish
When I first heard Jenn Bebb was working on a book for Photo Fusion I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. The Bebbs have been true leaders in the wedding photography industry and they have helped educate countless photographers about the benefits of offering video alongside photos. The concept of Fusion is fairly simple, blend together photography with high quality video from an event. The process, however, can be anything but simple. Jennifer takes you from concept to delivery in this very insightful and thorough book.

This book covers all aspects of Photo Fusion including gear selection, shooting, editing and delivery. The book is also easy to read and includes tons of beautiful full color photos. Photographers from beginner to seasoned pro will benefit from this book. Order a copy today and stay ahead of the curve in this competitive market. ... Read more

Product Description
The announcement of cold fusion in March 1989 at the University of Utah was greeted with astonishment worldwide.Drs. Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons had claimed that an electrochemical cell with heavy water electrolyte and a palladium cathode gave rise to so much excess energy that the mysterious phenomenon had to be nuclear, and was probably a process related to nuclear fusion.Many scientists quickly took sides for or against cold fusion--mostly against.By the end of the summer the experts claimed cold fusion didn't exist.They said it was an experimental error and could not be reproduced.Actually, the story had barely begun.Provocative research had never ended.Cold fusion was and is very much alive.IN THIS BOOK, Dr. Mizuno describes both the dark and bright sides of the cold fusion story: the frustration, the boredom, the endless guerrilla war with scientists who wanted to stop the research, science journalists who appeared to thrive on the outpouring of supposedly negative results, fruitless battles to publish a paper or be heard at a physics conference, but then also the triumph of dramatic experimental results in the production of huge excess energy and the paradigm busting discovery of the low-energy transmutation of heavy elements found on cold fusion electrodes.It is impossible for one book to encompass the now expanding worldwide effort to understand the cold fusion enigma, but for those who want to learn about the rest of the story, this account of one scientist's experience on the frontiers of knowledge is an excellent beginning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good interesting read
I enjoyed reading this. I felt a little overwhelmed at times with the equations, but most of the book is very easy to comprehend, even for the average student interested in nuclear transmutation.

Valuable for Anyone Interested in New Energy
This English translation of Tadahiko Mizuno's Japanese book on cold fusion served as a valuable introduction to significant research and progress in a scientific process many have written off as unachievable.In recountinghis personal research with electrochemical cells designed to produce apractical source of energy, Dr. Mizuno tells a story of many failures and afew successes.Clearly, reproducibility and consistent power productionhave been significant problems in producing energy by cold fusion. ThoughMizuno was forced to work under conditions that would be regarded asdifficult and unacceptable in much of Europe and the U.S., this perseveringresearcher slowly learned important factors that relate to the goal ofachieving a sustained, controlled, and repeatable cold fusion.Theobstacles faced by Mizuno were not limited to poor laboratory equipment orthe expense of crucial materials, for he also was required to perform thetime-consuming teaching duties of a professor and direct or restrict hisresearch and publication efforts as required by authorities. Dr. Mizunoseems to understand what engineers know quite well: a valid theoryfacilitates the design of a device by proceeding with a design based uponthe knowledge of electrical, chemical, and physical properties ofmaterials.I quite enjoyed those parts of the book that revealed thehuman qualities of Dr. Mizuno as he struggled towards his personal goal ofdemonstrating cold fusion.At times, he shares a moment of philsophicalreflection, showing delightful sides of his personality and character. For a novice in cold fusion research, the glossary proved indispensable. Here, terms are carefully defined, instrumentation functions are described,energy relationships are listed, chemical reactions are explained, andacronymns are expanded.Most readers can learn a lot of basic material oncold fusion by just reading the glossary.The book includes abibliography of references, an index of topics, and an eight-page coldfusion chronology describing key events from 1967 to 1999.Experiencedcold fusion researchers will want to read this book to see if they arenamed in it and to follow the path to knowledge taken by one of theirgreatest colleagues.Novices interested in this subject will find thatthis book tells a readable, event-driven story that teaches as it informs. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Devious And Scummy Like A Snake With An Abacus
"Cold Fusion" is another brilliant entry in annals of scientific knowledge from Dr. Doris Haggis-On-Whey with assistance from her husband, Benny. This volume explains all aspects of cold fusion, including some that even Pons and Fleischmann could have never imagined.

"The History of Cold Fusion" is presented as a colorful timeline on pp. 10-11, and is a good starting point for understanding this book, superimposed as it is over a timeline of Eddie Money's career (note the proximity of the release of Money's monster hits "Baby Hold On" and "Two Tickets to Paradise" to Dr. Mizuno's observation of charged particles from palladium deuterides, which he attributed to instrumentation error). Other vital areas of exploration include a handy table explaining why Tim Conway, Helen Hunt, and General Pervez Musharraf will never be good at cold fusion, a poem in epic verse about cold fusion by Lord Byron, the Russian invention of fruit fusion, and a thorough analysis of why birds are bad at building superconductors.

For anyone who enjoys satire, humor, or science, the Haggis-On-Whey series can expand your world view in many new and unexpected ways, and for that reason alone I recommend it. Besides, without Dr. Doris and Benny to help me I would still be attempting to confirm a tritium sample with a mass spectrometer, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?

Slightly disappointing
If you're looking for the inspired wackiness which characterized the first book of this series (and was mostly re-captured in the third book) - you will be disappointed. Sure, the non sequiturs are there - but the phrase "too much of a good thing" comes to mind.Perhaps the humor is more apparent to anyone working in a field where much time is spent in a laboratory; for the non-lab-dwellers, this book is only so-so.

There are moments when the brilliance of the first and third books shine through, but, for the most part, the laughs are fewer and farther between.Overall, a rather disappointing entry into the increasingly uneven Haggis-On-Whey series.

Brilliant, preposterous, beautiful.
Another smart book from Dr. Haggis-on-Whey. Marvelously dry and filled to the brim with stupendous non-sequitur. ... Read more

Product Description
Cara is so ugly, mirrors would rather break than show her reflection.Not even her own parents can deny her ugliness, and nothingcan make up for the cruelty of her schoolmates. Tormentedand tortured by the shallow people of Flock’s Rest, Cara’s lifeis miserable. Then Cara receives a shimmering note from someexotic place suggesting that there’s more to her than meets theeye. Cara wonders if her destiny has something to do with herrecurring dreams of a beautiful green valley where the people areso accepting, her ugliness doesn’t matter. Soon, Cara discoversthat her valley of dreams is real. It’s a place where the ugliest ofducklings can become swans. A swan, however, can have a serioustaste for revenge . . . deadly revenge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Ugly ducklings
Cara is so ugly she breaks mirrors. The other kids bully her mercilessly. When she gets a hint that there might be a place for someone like her, she runs away. And she finds her paradise but thoughts of revenge keeps her from enjoying the experience. She goes back to her home town. I won't reveal what takes place there.


I found this one as disappointing as the first in this series. First of all Shusterman should have stuck to simply calling her ugly. The broken mirrors were too much. Second, it never got interesting nor exciting, and I never got into the story.

This is a fantastic book!
Cara DeFido is the very definition of 'ugly'. Her face shatters mirrors and clouds water. All her life, she has had to deal with the cruelty of others who see only who she is on the outside and not the inside. She has never had a friend and questions if even her family truly loves her. Then she meets an old woman who tells her she has a destiny. Could Cara's destiny have anything to do with the beautiful valley she sees in her dreams, a place where the people of that valley accept and like her? This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to fans of Neal Shusterman's Dark Fusion series.

What a message!
This is an excellent book for junior high readers.Shusterman shows how the shallowness associated with physical appearance can destroy a young adult, a family, and even a community.For teenages caught up in the whirlwind of cliques and "coolness,"this book can be a revelation.This is also an excellent book for literature circles.The text lends itself to self examination, something every teacher (me included) strives to initiate in teenagers.

Best of Dark Fusion So Far
Cara is ugly.Not just unattractive, but ugly to the point that her face can, and will, break cameras and mirrors.Cara has come to terms with this even if the rest of the town has not.But things are changing.Her social status improves ever so slightly (someone will actually talk to her) and she receives a mysterious message.The message seems to tie into a strange pull she has had to somewhere far away.Cara manages to figure out the messages clues and things really change.

Cara finds a hidden Shangra-La-like valley.There, beautiful and peaceful people live simple lives.They want Cara to join them.Usually people her age are not asked to come but another resident knew of her and managed the invitation.No one seems to care about Cara's looks but she is still not completely happy.But when her mysterious benefactor shows her the secret of the valley her life is turned completely around.Cara is beautiful.But while her outward appearance may have changes she is still the same person on the inside.This is most evident in her insistence at sneaking out of the valley to show off her beauty.But petty revenge is also part of her deeper thoughts and it is not long before she feels like an outcast again.

The tale of the ugly duckling has been merged with some ancient mythology to create the best story in the Dark Fusion series to date.Following Cara's rise and fall was quite a ride for me.The author does not go along expected paths but forges new ones.I really did not expect the ending (no Lost Horizons here) but it worked and worked well.I really hope there will be more books in this series as they just keep getting better.Check it out.

A fine leisure choice
Neal Shusterman's latest `Dark Fusion' fantasy Duckling Ugly continues his series which takes a classic fairy tale's fantasy and provides a contemporary twist. Cara is ugly - even her own parents can't deny it - and her schoolmates are cruel. When she receives a mysterious note suggesting she's destined for greater things, even the wise woman of the town warns her destiny may be extraordinary. Does it have anything to do with the handsome boy she's been dreaming of? A fine leisure choice.
... Read more

Product Description
I started this writing project after attending the 10th International Conference on Cold Fusion in August 2003 in Cambridge, Mass. It was there that I met over 100 researchers from around the world and realized that they were on to something.

They were real scientists, credentialed, with long and respectable careers. They employed the same instrumentation and methodologies used in "normal" science. According to them, there was strong evidence for a new source of clean nuclear (no, this is not an oxymoron) energy. At first, it didn't make sense why their research had been ignored. As I dug deeper, the complex scientific and human drama, perhaps the greatest of our time, revealed itself.

The goal of this book is to provide everything you might want to know about the first period of cold fusion's history. What happened? Why? Who was responsible for the successes? The failures? Who knew what and when did they know it? The book is written for the nonscientific reader and provides a unique glimpse into the inner and sometimes ugly process of new science. You'll learn that scientists can be surprisingly unscientific when threatened with new ideas that challenge their funding, stature and careers. You will see how science really works - or doesn't.

The opponents of cold fusion (now known technically as low energy nuclear reactions) tried their hardest to bury this newborn science, but they failed. Cold fusion is a triumph of the scientific method, and an exposé of science politics. Its discoverers, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, were not forced to recant under threat of death, but their treatment by the establishment was not unlike that of Galileo Galilei by his tormentors.

In the heat of the battle, Pons said, "It appears that the people who would benefit most by this work being discredited have taken the initiative to cause us great difficulty ... They might cause us difficulty, but they will not stop the science.'' Pons was right; real science cannot be killed -- delayed, yes, but not forever. Fleischmann and Pons were ousted from science but many courageous and dedicated researchers around the world carried on where they left off and kept the research alive.

In the book's introduction, futurist Sir Arthur C. Clarke declares: "An unbiased reader finishing this book will sense that something strange and wonderful is happening at the 'fringes' of science." What will be the future of cold fusion? That is one of the big remaining mysteries. What is for certain is that the story begins here.

-Steven Krivit ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An expose on real scientific progress
The reason I bought this book is because we are in a desperate trap.
Traps look inviting until sprung.

This is the nature of the trap.
We convert 10 units of oil energy into 1 unit of food energy. This has enabled us to grow the population from 1 billion before oil to 9 billion now. And the rate of extraction of oil has peaked. From now on there will be less and less to share among more and more people.

So. Does cold fusion (or LENR or CANR) offer us hope of cheap energy?
This book is besotted by the politics and human drama of the cold fusion saga, and there is no doubt that there is plenty of theatrics. (This shows that high intelligence offers no protection from human frailty.)
The book has offered me hope that we may delay the inevitable consequences of exponential human growth, until we manage to escape our birth planet. Like most births this is going to be painful. We will not want to leave our womb.

My apatite is whetted for more technical descriptions, so I shall buy other books on the subject.

A Testimony to Both the Scientific Method and to Closed-Mindedness in Establishment Science
This work is a relatively nontechnical introduction of LENR ("cold fusion"). It discusses historical developments in the study of the phenomenon, as well as the personal reflections of scientists who have been studying it.

The reader may be astonished to learn of the depth of hostility towards "cold fusion" once engendered by the scientific community. Part of the problem was the entrenched 50-year belief that only multimillion-degree temperatures could cause the fusion of hydrogen, and part of the problem was the belief that, to be real, fusion of hydrogen necessarily fulfilled specific expectations in terms of emission of gamma rays, neutrons, and specific isotopes. Also, there at first were problems in reproducing the phenomena, although, in recent years, this has been greatly alleviated.

Researchers in conventional "hot fusion" had a vested interest in seeing "cold fusion" rejected as science, because any funding for "cold fusion" research would only cut into funding for "hot fusion" research. Some of it was intellectual arrogance, pure and simple."Cold fusion" proponents were not merely dismissed, but often vilified. There came a point when editors of scientific journals would not even send out a cold-fusion manuscript to referees for consideration of publication. Others cited Carl Sagan's maxim that "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence", which begged the question on the nature of the evidence.

For a time, the cold-fusion community became effectively an underground scientific movement, relying on private funding, and publishing in its own journals. In time, they won more and more adherents, and LENR made a comeback.

American Antigravity Review of Steven Krivit's Book
Krivit is the world's #1 authority on this research, because he's done coverage on all of the prominent scientists in the field. That's given him a greater scope of knowledge than any one of these individuals on their own would have, and he additionally has the ability to translate this so that it makes sense to the mainstream audience!

More info online at http://www.americanantigravity.com, or Krivit's site at http://www.newenergytimes.com

Want to know what will save us from global warming?
If you want to know more than even the scientific profession knows about cold fusion, read this book.As a result you will be up to date about one of the most important discoveries of this century.This book continues the line of books that reveal a discovery that will change the way we live, yet has been broadly rejected. Discover how science behaves when it is confronted by a novel idea and how many of the problems created by conventional technology will be solved.

The Definitive Guide to 15 Years of Cold Fusion History
If you're interested in science, politics, energy and the future of mankind, this book is a must read.Cold Fusion will become a case study in how easy it is for science to dismiss an unothrodox idea, and how hard it is for those working outside the science othrodoxy to research a controversial field.

This book explains the Cold Fusion controversy that has raged for the past 15 years.Years that have been full of wars over dwindling oil resources in the Middle East.This is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to understand why Cold Fusion has been so controversal, the current state of research into Cold Fusion, and where Cold Fusion research might eventually lead us.Well researched and well written, this is the book that will redefine Cold Fusion for a new generation. ... Read more

Product Description
Advanced Inner Alchemy exercises that promote the free flow of energy throughout the body in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao

• Explains how to open the Great Bridge Channel and the Great Regulator Channel

• Includes exercises to strengthen and wrap the spinal cord with energy

• Reveals how to create a thicker aura to protect the body and receive the higher frequencies of the Universal Force

The Fusion of the Eight Psychic Channels practice builds upon the Fusion of the Five Elements and Cosmic Fusion practices and is the final step in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao. Master Mantak Chia shows how to open the Great Bridge Channel and the Great Regulator Channel--the last of the eight psychic channels that connect the twelve organ meridians and enable energy to flow from one meridian to another. By opening these psychic channels in conjunction with the Microcosmic Orbit, practitioners can balance and regulate the energy flow throughout the body to protect all the body’s centers.

Master Chia also illustrates the Spinal Cord Microcosmic Orbit practice, which strengthens and wraps the spinal cord with energy, and the practice of Sealing the Aura, which creates a thicker aura to protect the body and facilitate the reception of higher frequencies of the Universal Force. Mastery of the practices in this book enables the creation of the energy body needed to receive the larger Universal Force vibrations accessible through the Practice of the Immortal Tao. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential reference for advanced practice
Mantak Chia never disappointed us with his breadth of knowledge on the subject matter as well as with the details he presented.Eastern healing practices often come to the west as techniques, for example Indian yoga (asana and pranayama) and TM (that "proudly" claimed to be non-attached to any belief system).Perhaps it would be easier for westerners (assumed being Christians) to learn the techniques than to swallow the philosophy behind (well, not including folks like the late famous psychologist Carl Jung). On the meditation side of the book, Mantak, as always being exhaustive as far as techniques are concerned, including chanting (ref: tantra) and symbol visualization (ref: mandala) of taoist Pakua, some New Age well-being imagination (ref: customer-focus), and, SURPRISE, meditation on compassion (ref: the Dalai Lama).Why a surprise?Because I have pondering for a long time, why a common contemporary folk likes to train hard to be an immortal (i.e. spiritual immortality)?Play mahjong with other immortals?Like to be disturbed by Shamans from time to time asking for special favors?No.It has to be tied in with some religious belief, of a ever higher level of morality, yes, with compassion.

On the side of Chi generation-techniques, Manka Chia is thorough as always.That makes it another excellent book.Mantak Chia's training sequence here is however slightly different from some mainstream practice.The clearing of the other six channels (in addition to the two main ones tackled in microcosmic orbit) can actually be learned separately from meditative practice, under horse stance or seated position.As such it can be learned for good by ones who are not yet into meditation.Interested readers can refer to chapter three of the classic book Taoist Yoga: Alchemy & Immortality translated by Charles Luk (of course Mantak Chia's books are more detailed in many areas).

Needless to say the meditation side of this book is quite advanced.Stage-wise, it finished the meditation/alchemical aspect of microcosmic orbit: chi can finally break through the practitioner's crown and join the macrocosmic universe.
... Read more

Product Description
FROM JAZZ FUNK & FUSION TO ACID JAZZ: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Sceneby Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove(Chaser Publications)From UK Soul Weekenders to Tokyo Jazz Dance sessions, Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove’s forthcoming book, From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene has already acquired a mythical status.'Foreward' by Professor Robert Farris Thompson of Yale University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Black music, clubbing and UK street-style Jazz-dance... from the 70s to the 90s
After checking Snowboy's book signing at Gilles Peterson's legendary annual club session - Talking Loud & Saying Something - before Xmas I couldn't resist collecting together a bunch of quotes from the reviews of 'From Jazz Funk and Fusion to Acid Jazz..." and popping them up on Amazon. As Professor Robert Farris Thomson says, "This book is a classic..." and we felt that music loving Amazon regulars in the USA would appreciate some kind of overview.

If you are interested in the unique impact of African American music... soul,funk,fusion, Latin & Brazilian jazz and JAZZ... on club culture in the UK, between the early Seventies and mid Nineties, this book tells that story. This a story about mostly Afro Caribbean youth and their white working class counterparts and how they created a slew of wikkid combative and fluid dance styles to deal with the rhythmic complexities of tunes like Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Expansions',Michel Legrand's 'Southern Routes',Art Blakey's 'The Feast',Byron Morris' 'Kitty Bey',Jane Cortez's 'I Saw Chano Pozo', Flora Purim's 'Vera Cruz', Janet Lawson's 'So High', McCoy Tyner's 'Love Samba', Herbie Hancock's 'Shiftless Shuffle',Jon Lucien's 'Listen Love', Fela's ' Water No Get Enemy', Sivuca's 'Aint No Sunshine... phew, the list goes on and the charts at the back of this book will have you freaking out! Believe!.

This scene spread to the US via Giant Step in NYC who brought us artists like Groove Collective and Dana Bryant before giving us the ground breaking hip hop-jazz collisions that were Red Hot & Cool. It found kindred spirits in labels like the West Coast's Ubiquity Records and with DJ/producers like Master At Work, Joaquin Claussell, Ron Trent,Carlos Nino,Carl Craig et al.

So, here are a few quotes from DJs, broadcasters, music critics, academics...

'Couldn't put this book down - there's a lot of history here! A fine piece of work - respect to Snowboy for reminding me of a large chunk of my dj life'
Gilles Peterson - BBC Radio 1: Worldwide

In sum, the cultural significance of this text is immense. It is a classic in the field of dance and music.
Professor Robert Farris Thompson - Yale University

Dripping with sweat and knowledge, this book has the driving rhythms of jazz dance down like a hi-hat beat. Master percussionist Snowboy is a fine proponent of this amazing underground scene.
Robert Elms - BBC Radio London

Whether you were there or not this book is a must have for fans of dance jazz. Snowboy has painstakingly pieced the story together. By printing his interviews verbatim he manages to get a great first person touch. Snowboy is a Don!
Jez Nelson - BBC Jazz On 3 / Somethin' Else

As a DJ and music maker with taste and knowledge as far as the eye can see, there is no better man than Snowboy to document this remarkably effervescent and unique corner of dance culture. Through the personal testimonies in this book, you'll see a whole world unravel before your very eyes, and in his painstaking efforts to give the phenomenon it's correct context, you'll also happen to be in possession of the most comprehensive guide to the UK underground clubbing scene of the last 4 decades that's ever gone to print.
Mark Webster: TV & Radio Broadcaster + Journalist

There is a saying that goes: "If you can't remember something then you weren't really there". I was and I can't! Thank God Snowboy can. A book not so much researched as lived. This is a fascinating insight into what history may well come to decide was a period of musical activity far more influential than 'Brit Pop'.
Craig Charles - Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Show BBC Radio 5

"By the time you read through the various DJs' playlists at the back, you'll be scurrying back to your collection or boogalooing down to your retailer of choice. A specialist triumph."
Daryl Easlea, Record Collector 369 - 4 Stars

Cotgrove's gathering of extensive testimony of an already seemingly lost world lays the basis for much wider future studies. At its peak, Jazz Fusion involved thousands of utterly devoted young males, whose commitment and enthusiasm would have been the envy of the UK dance world, if only they knew about it.
Terry Monaghan - Dancing Times

This is a book predominantly of use to insiders who want a comprehensive scrapbook to reminisce over, or to social historians looking for first-person accounts of 80s subcultures. It's written by an enthusiast for enthusiasts... and there's material here for a documentary or feature film that would no doubt be a great watch.
Mark Fisher - The Wire

It's much more than a niche story about jazz dancers. It shows how the scene cross pollinated with other movements in this incredibly fertile period for youth culture in the UK, whether it was Punk in the late Seventies or Acid House in the late Eighties. And that makes this an essential read for anyone with a passing interest in what makes the heart of young Britain beat.
Andy Thomas - Mondomix

From Jazz Funk & Fusion To Acid Jazz is densely packed with information and cross referenced with great care and a no-nonsense approach. In all a great book for newcomers to discover a significant piece of dance history and the people and tunes that shaped it, and no doubt sure to cause spirited debate within the jazz dance community.
Matthew Bazergan - Spine

"A really incredible book -- and one of the best accounts of any music scene we've ever read!
Dusty Groove - Chicago

The story of a culture that didn't have one look, one sound and one path. A subculture that wouldn't fit nicely into a box and too often got written off before it got written down. It's not that I am just enjoying the book, I am thrilled to be reading itDamian Rafferty -Fly

Mark 'Snowboy' Cotgrove has superbly and successfully distilled and bound into 290 pages, the essence of a uniquely British Jazz Dance era and its infrastructure. It will rekindle fond memories of those who were there and educate in some depth those who weren't. A most captivating and enlightening read.'
Steve Williams - UK Vibe
[...]

Longtime in the making and a true perfectionist as he is... Jazz guv'nor Snowboy has toiled long and hard to record a major concise part of music/dance history. 'From Jazz Funk and Fusion to Acid Jazz' does exactly what it says on the label, with interviews from the people that made it happen.
Lee Tyler -Blues & Soul

Reading From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz has also made me feel enormously nostalgic for the Eighties, the decade that taught me most about jazz when (club) culture was still underground and exciting, reminding me of all those people and characters that built the scene, and filling in a lot of gaps in my own knowledge of the history. I just hope that the book reaches a few younger folk who will hopefully find it inspiring.
Patrick Forge DJ / broadcaster - Okinawa

So... there you go. All you gotta do now is buy the book, start seeking out the music and then check You Tube to decipher IDJ's classic dance moves.

The Spirit Of Straight No Chaser - alive and kickin'.

Maximum Respek - January 2010

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