Vignettes : Amusing Stories from My Life

Book Description

Vignettes author Joyce Barber takes a ighthearted look back at her life experiences as a socialite in the fifties. With her wonderful sense of humor Barber's short stories reminisce of amusting encounters from the sublime to the ridiculous, including some with Marilyn Monroe, Carol Channing, Elizabeth Taylor, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and Henry Ford.

Book Description

The players interviewed include Ace Adams, Sam Chapman, Harlond Clift, Elbie Fletcher, Mel Harder, Sid Hudson, Willard Marshall, Joe Moore, Pat Mullin, Andy Pafko, Mel Parnell, Bill Rigney, Connie Ryan, Dick Sisler, Bill Voiselle, Burgess Whitehead and Al Zarilla.

Book Description

This book combines three elements: an articulation of Lacan's theory of ethics; a discussion of recent theories of feminine subjectivity and queer textuality; and close readings of Hitchcock's films. Hitchcock's Bi-Textuality argues that just as Freud posited a fundamental ground of bisexuality for every subject, we can affirm a form of universal "bi-textuality" that is repressed through different modes of representation, yet returns in unconscious aspects of textuality (dreams, word play, jokes, and symbolism). In order to illustrate this notion of bi-textuality, this work discusses how Hitchcock's films are extremely heterogeneous and present multiple forms of sexual identification and desire, although they have most often been read through the reductive lens of male heterosexuality.

Throughout this book, the work of Julia Kristeva, Kaja Silverman, Judith Butler, Luce Irigaray, and Slavoj Zizek is examined. One of the central concerns is the way that different psychoanalytic and feminist theories tend to equate the Real and the unconscious with the feminine. This feminization of the Real tends to block the awareness of the bisexual nature of the unconscious. In order to return to Freud's fundamental theory of polyvalent sexuality, recent notions of queer sexuality and textuality are explored. This book extends psychoanalytic theory by incorporating new feminist and queer conceptions of sexuality and representation.

Customer Reviews:

Not what you think...or is it?.......2000-05-03

This book is not on Hitchcock. Well, it is and it isn't. It's really a psycology textbook by a professor of english at George Washington Uni. To me, when I see a book that includes hitchcock's name I want to read a book about the making of the films or the man behind the camera. And while the book professes to do so it's really just taking Hitchcock films and making really weird theories out of nothing.

Being a Hitchcock fan and also having worked in film industry I was quite pissed when I read this book because the writer uses no evidence but the films themselves. No use of Truffaut or Taylor's Biography... or any other sources for that matter. Nothing from the director himself, it's just all assumption! Really stupid since there are so many conversations, essays BY Hitchcock, a biography by a close friend and books of printed notes from pre-prod and production.

Now you know what it isn't...let me tell you what it IS! It's a book that looks at Hitchcock's films and conclude that they are examples of Freudian psycological theory. Specifically, on matters of Bi-Textuality. Bi-Texuality is "Bisexual Textuality" by the way... Quotes to illustrate what the book is mostly about: "[The opening of the film] sets up a binary opposition between masculine-controlled speech and a feminine form of writing." and "...illustrates transition from pre-Oedipdal Imaginary order to post-Oedipal Symbolic order".

He tries to get close to film theory every now and then ("[Hitchcock is saying] 'See what happens when you add voice to film? Wasn't it better when things were just silent and the language fo film was produced through the pure medium of the image - a medium that was much more universal and did not have to suffer from the particularity of different languages?'") but because he's assuming all of his theories are correct and not using and evidence to support it from the film-maker himself I think this book isnt worth the paper it's printed on. In fact, if they were handing this book out for free I would still throw it out immediately.

In conclusion, it's a psycology book for students of Freudian theory which explains the concepts in a filmic environment in which they can see examples. For the rest of us, we are left with utter nonsense. See the "Recommendations" on this page for better books.

Book Description

This revised edition of the first and most complete book on board sports graphics -- from rarer, classic archival material to the latest trends -- includes exciting examples of recent board graphics. Surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding have produced a stunning array of imagery and some of the most influential graphics to emerge in the last 30 years. Board is a comprehensive survey of the best of board sports graphics, from rare, classic archive material to the latest trends. Top artists and art directors, such as Jim Phillips, Erik Brunetti, Todd Francis, Marc McKee and Scott Clum, explain the complex subcultures which have given rise to this art, and examine the close links between board sports and music, design, and fashion. Anarchic, funny, brutal, and beautiful, Board is a unique document of the visual expression of youth culture.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-03-22

I bought this for my son and he loved it. Great pictures and a very nice book.

For designers, surfers, skaters and snowboarders.......2000-04-27

This is quite a cool book really, although like lots of graphics style books, they are best for browsing rather than reading. BOARD has a three sections each devoted to eithet the graphics of surfing, snowboarding and skate(boarding). There is a bit of text to each section, but mostly it is good quality colour photographs of the development of various board graphics through the years.

There is a great section on the early Mambo designs and the skateboard section is particualy diverse. Anyway I'll shut up now and try not to sound too much like a literary critic because basically this isn't literature; its is graphics and would appeal to graphic designers as much as surfers etc. cool

Average customer rating:
Board: Surf/Skate/Snow Graphics, Expanded Edition
Patrick & Jeremy Leslie Burgoyne
Manufacturer: Laurence King / HDi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O1GEKA

Book Description

Develop lateral thinking skills and improve brain power. The goal is to find a logical explanation for what appears to be an illogical situation. Do the puzzles with a friend, taking turns being puzzle setter and solver. By asking yes-or-no questions the solver attempts to find the solution within 20 minutes. One of "The Year's best puzzle books."--Games World of Puzzles. 96 pages, 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Customer Reviews:

Awful book! Puzzles are retarded and absurd. .......2005-07-25

I truly wish I spent a few more minutes looking into the puzzles contained in the book before making my purchase. The puzzles posed are not puzzles at all, but rather the end result of what you would get if you hired 30 first graders to come up with "brain teasers."

Here's an example of what I'm talking about straight from the book:

During a flight from Brazil to London, the pilot told all the passengers to get out of their seats and to stand at the back of the plane. Why did he do this?

The answer is: A passenger sitting near the front had smuggled a poisonous snake onto the plane and it had escaped.

If you think that "puzzle" is bad, all I can say is that they get worse, much worse.

This would only be mildly amusing if I were back in college and wanted to entertain those who were drunk. Even then, probably not.

Save your money for something that involves actually using your "brain". Purchase this only if you need something to reach the temperature of 451.

Abstract Mind Games.......2003-06-03

I got this book, along with 3 other Sloane & MacHale lateral thinking puzzle books for Christmas one year. At first it seemed like a sorry excuse for a gift, but as I read this one first, I found that it was a challenging endeavor of the mind. Lateral thinking, it seems, is taking a situation and finding a solution that is not the most obvious, but usually the most logical. That said, this is challenging to say the least. A good book for people who enjoy mind games.

Challenging students to think differently.......2001-05-20

I purchased this book to use as one of my classroom resources for a weekly puzzle with 8th grade language arts students. I write one of the puzzles (generally a condensed version) on the board on Monday, and then give the students all week to ponder the puzzle. On Friday, I draw a winner from the bowl of entries. The winner gets a candy bar of his or her choice.

Besides adding excitement to my classroom, the puzzle presents the students with a mental challenge unlike most of their other intellectual endeavors. So much of what is taught at school is initially unknown to the student; however, the best feature of these puzzles is that the intent of many of them isn't to teach something new, but to make the reader think differently about something that is obvious. Week after week many of my students slap their foreheads on Fridays and proclaim, "Of course!" But, as the year has gone by, I have seen a marked increase in the number of correct responses!

Very challenging and fun!.......1999-10-05

I loved this book! It was challenging yet fun. It really makes you think. The questions sound difficult, then when you read the answer, you hit yourself for not thinking of it. I would recommend this book to anyone who has the patience to really sit down and think. It's fun for all ages for any time. From 7 to 70, or from sitting in your living room to in the car during a trip. You'll love this book!

Book Description

This popular Build-It-Yourself (BIY) PC book covers everything you want to know about building your own system: Planning and picking out the right components, step-by-step instructions for assembling your perfect PC, and an insightful discussion of why you'd want to do it in the first place. Most big brand computers from HP, Dell and others use lower-quality components so they can meet their aggressive pricing targets. But component manufacturers also make high-quality parts that you can either purchase directly, or obtain through distributors and resellers. Consumers and corporations alike are opting to build rather than buy PCs to ensure high quality and compatibility.

The new edition of Building the Perfect PC shows you how to construct a variety of top-flight systems with the latest technology, including AMD Socket AM-2 and Intel Core 2 processors, that are Vista- and Linux-ready. The book includes several new options, including:

A Budget PC you can build for approximately $350 that offers performance and reliability similar to that of mainstream systems
A full-blown media-center system that runs Linux and MythTV or Windows MCE with multiple tuners and HDTV support
A fire-breathing high-performance gaming system
A fast, low-power, low-heat, low-noise, Small Form Factor system (the size of a shoe box)
A low-cost SOHO (small office, home office) server system with a 2 terabyte (2,000 GB) disk subsystem that's suitable for a residential environment rather than a server closet

Regardless of your technical experience, Building the Perfect PC will guide you through the entire process of building or upgrading your own computer. You'll use the latest top-quality components, including Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon X2 CPUs. And you'll know exactly what's under the hood and how to fix or upgrade your PC, should that become necessary. Not only is the process fun, but the result is often less expensive and always better quality and far more satisfying than anything you could buy off the shelf.

Customer Reviews:

Good but............2007-07-31

It's soooo outdated and nothing about sound cards and/or video cards for gamers. Yes it was only published (available to the public) in 2004 which wa sonly 3 years ago however, in computers especially build your own, that was ions ago. The book gives you the basics as well as some advanced material in order for you to do it yourself. It's a good book however if your into gaming machines its not listed in it. This is a good start book to give you some basics of he inside of the computer and some terminology.

VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!.......2007-07-12

Do you want to build a PC for personal or business use? If you do, then this book is for you. Authors Barbara Fritchman Thompson and Robert Bruce Thompson, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that is your guide to the world of building PCs.

Thompson and Thompson, begin by focusing on things you need to know, things you need to have, and things you need to do before you start to buy components and build your new PC. Then, the authors tell you everything you need to know about how to choose and buy the components you need to build your new PC. Next, they show you how to build a general-purpose PC that is a jack of all trades and a master of... well, quite a few, actually. The authors also focus on building a reliable, high performance SOHO server, appropriate for anything from an inexpensive server for a home office to a serious server for a small-business network. They continue by showing you how to build a gaming PC on a reasonable budget. Then, the authors show you how to build a PC that provides TiVo-like DVR functions, without the monthly subscription or the DRM features common to commercial PVR units. Next, they show you how to build a full-featured PC that is small enough and quiet enough to fit in almost anywhere. Finally, the authors show you how to build a fast, reliable PC on a minimum budget.

The goal of this most excellent book is to show you how to select the best components and assemble them into a working PC that matches your own requirements and budget. Perhaps more importantly, this book provides the advice and ideas that you need to make the net PC you build the perfect PC for your needs.

Well worth the price for the advice.......2007-07-07

I just noticed that the current edition is a revision of the one I bought from Amazon! Having said that, I'd be surprised if the quality and wisdom changed materially, and here is what I mean.

Using Thompson's book, I've built with both of my children the Home Theater PC and the Gaming PC. Both work like a champ. I'd add that much like the way the Thompson's structure each chapter, determine what you need, making a list, constructing the CPU, and what the outcome was: was our experience as well. Sometimes, the available parts just aren't. Sometimes there are driver issues and conflicts that you don't expect and it's not as though the Thompson's can know everything before the book was printed.

Some one whined a bit about the website in another review. I'd counter that with the affirmation of those who are in forum answer questions that are placed on the bottom shelf for novice builders like my family, as well as answer some truly arcane questions for advanced builders and hardware developers! That the website has "dated material" regarding hardware might be a no-brainer, but asking questions in the forum will quickly provide anyone with updates regarding anything related to hardware, drivers, and known conflicts between components.

In the build of the HT PC, we started out with an ASUS board that was (I think) recommended. But, the Plextor DVD wasn't recognized in the install. My daughter and I searched far and wide for a solution. One of the many responses to our post in the forum came in an answer from Robert Thompson, who provided the options for us regarding solutions.

The book possesses the same kind wisdom and availability to any builder from Thompson. He passes along some advice about what you can get away with in a build regarding tools-I won't disclose that secret- and just some "watch-out's" that will keep your build from becoming accidentally expensive, e.g., trying to insert the processor with the wrong orientation or incorrect application of the heat transfer paste to the processor. I'm likely to buy this new edition for the next build.

Great build instructions, lacks the final touch.......2007-07-01

This is a great book. It got me excited as hell about building my own system. Since this was the first time I built a PC, I decided to pretty much follow very closely the bill of material listed as one of the options, but there were still some subtle differences that I had to sweat over. Many of the pictures of the motherboard, for example, were actually from a different engineering revision of the board that I bought, so the exact locations of connectors will be different from any board manufactured after mid 2007.

A note to one of the authors referred me to join a discussion website, which was a little disappointing since I believe the answer should have been known.

This book is very up to date, very insightful, it has tips and tricks that only can be learned after many years of experience, and is very well written.

I would recommend that a first time builder also buy Rosenthal's "Build Your Own PC". This book is a little more ancient, but it has interesting history about PC components, and it shows another point of view on the same subject. It also includes more info on the CMOS setup and installing the OS, which is just as important as the physical build if you want your computer for more than just a decoration.

Easy to Follow with Weak Web Support.......2007-06-29

The book is well written with excellent pictures and guidance. The short coming is the web link. The book refers to the web link for updated information on component selection. Unfortunately the vast majority of the information is dated.

How to Build a Computer & How Computers Work Build Your Own PC: Building the Perfect PC--Start Your Own Computer Business

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How to Build a Computer & How Computers Work Build Your Own PC: Building the Perfect PC--Start Your Own Computer Business
Ben Noach
Manufacturer: booksod
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 9569569158

Book Description

An authoritative history of the Purdy Boat Company, one of the most famous makers of customs yachts and racing boats in the 1920s and 1930s, based on official company documents and correspondence and on reminiscences of family members and boat owners, and augmented by many photographs and line drawings of classic Purdy boats.

Customer Reviews:

sleek wooden boats built by true craftsmen.......2003-08-01

A well documented history of the Purdy Boat Company from the early 1900's written by the grandson and grandnephew of the Ned and Gil Purdy. This book includes pictures, line drawings and even some receipts. These wonderful boats (some of which are still in existence and documented in the book) have been owned by Carl Fisher, Caleb Bragg, Walter Chrysler, T.E. Lawrence, and Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (a distant relative of the Purdys). Included is also a partial history of Port Washington, NY, where most of the boats were built and some raced in the Gold Cup races of the 20's.

Average customer rating:

Scott Hutcheson's Boat.
Al. PURDY
Manufacturer: Prince George: Caledonia Writing Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet
ASIN: B000U8QV6E

Book Description

The division of the Kurdish people among four modern nation states--Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran--and their struggle for national rights have been constant themes of recent Middle East history. The Kurdish lands have been contested territory for many centuries. In this detailed history of the Kurds from the 19th century to the present day, McDowall examines the interplay of old and new aspects of the struggle, the importance of local rivalries within Kurdish society, the enduring authority of certain forms of leadership and the failure of modern states to respond to the challenge of Kurdish nationalism. Drawing extensively on primary sources McDowall's book is useful for all who want a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of the Kurdish question.

Customer Reviews:

An illuminating side of Near Eastern history.......2006-03-02

The book is fair and illuminating in giving us a Kurdish side of Turkish, Iraqi and Iranian history. It's an important story, full of significant sub-plots. For just one example, McDowall explains that after Saddam nationalized Iraq's oil in 1972, Kurdish rebels like Mulla Mustafa feared that "Kurdish oil would be turned into Arab oil". They still wanted 2/3rds of all oil revenue reserved for the Kurdish community, and now they sought support from the United States. As the Pike Papers revealed in 1976, Henry Kissinger argued that "a new regime might let us back into the oilfields". In 1973 Mulla Mustafa threw secrecy to the winds by announcing in the Washington Post,

"We are ready to act according to US policy if the US will protect us from the wolves. In the event of sufficient support we should be able to control the Kirkuk oilfields and confer exploitation rights on an American company."

What a dismal reality!.......2003-01-30

Very detailed description of the modern history of kurds. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the kurds.

The only shortcoming of the book is that it stops in the year 1996. And thus does not account for the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader PPK, and other major new incidents. Nevertheless, you will learn a lot!

Comprehensive and compelling history of the Kurds.......2002-02-10

The tragic history of the Kurds, with regards to their internecine politics vis-a-vis the various tribes, and more importantly their use as a pawn by larger states in the harsh realpolitik of the region has been captured in this extraordinary book. From the Treaty of Sevres, which offered a glimmer of hope to the Kurds for statehood, to the Treaty of Lausanne, which ultimately marked the end of any Great Power support for statehood aspirations, the book creates a remarkable story.
Following WWI, and with the subsequent jockeying for power in the region following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, McDowall presents a clear pattern of failure by the Kurds to coalesce and create a common front to articulate their views. Also presented is the similarly clear pattern by the states, which currently have Kurdish populations, to disenfranchise the Kurds and marginalize their political aspirations.
This history covers the fallout from the Coalition war against Iraq (Operation DESERT STORM). I would love to see a more current version of the book which discusses how the current status quo has refueled Kurdish aspirations for autonomy...likewise I would like to see how recent events in Turkey have affected the Kurdish population of SE Turkey.
A great book for both the casual reader of the history of this volatile region of the world, and for the scholar alike...Highly recommended. McDowall has penned the authoratitive modern history.

details every Turkish,Persian,and Arab should read.......1998-09-01

Although the authorhas cut some of the subjects very short such as Kurdish language and excluded Yezidi and LUR from Kurdish nationality,he is very detailed in the history of the last century of Kurdistan in amanner i have never seen.I truly encourage every Kurd,Turk,Persian, and Arab to read this Treasure.I also would like to get in touch with Mr Mcdowall to discuss the possibility of translating it into either Kurdish or Arabic.

Book Description

Volume 2 of an authoritative two-volume set that covers the essentials of mathematics and features every landmark innovation and every important figure, including Euclid, Apollonius, and others.

Customer Reviews:

more than just history.......2002-07-08

It should be noted that this is one of a two volume set. This author also compiled and commented upon The Elements of Euclid in three volumes [also available here].

These works were first brought to my attention by my Greek language professor nearly 40 years ago as the best English language source on Greek Mathematics.

Just as the Greeks did not view `pure' mathematics or geometry as a lifes-work so to younger readers [through collage] the methods of logic may prove most useful.

For we retired `geezers' not quite ready for Oprah reruns and made for T.V. `romances' it may be the stimulation of the brain by the problems [which are documented and solved in full], the history and the `awe' of how much these did `without computers';

Academically great.......2000-11-02

This is not a terribly exciting book to read, but it is a superior reference for looking up Greek mathematicians. It is apparent that the author is partial to Euclid, as his section is close to a third of the book, (see the author's version of the Elements)but being a Euclid fan myself I can forgive this easily. Even the most obscure mathematicians are covered in good detail along with what they proved, as well as how they proved it. For those interested in historical mathematics, this book is invaluable. Note: This is a two volume set. I thought it was only one and I only purchased the second. Be sure to get both.

A History of Greek Mathematics 2 Volumes Vol 1 From Thales to Euclid Vol 2 From Aristarchus to Diophantus

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A History of Greek Mathematics 2 Volumes Vol 1 From Thales to Euclid Vol 2 From Aristarchus to Diophantus
thomas heath
Manufacturer: Clarendon Oxford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H5YNGU

Selections Illustrating The History Of Greek Mathematical Works..2 Volume Set..Vol. 1:Thales To Euclid:Vol.2:Aristarchus To Pappus Of Alexandria...Loeb Classical Library

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Selections Illustrating The History Of Greek Mathematical Works..2 Volume Set..Vol. 1:Thales To Euclid:Vol.2:Aristarchus To Pappus Of Alexandria...Loeb Classical Library

Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NR2YVS

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