State and Local Tax Policy and the Telecommunications Industry
Average customer rating: Not rated
    State and Local Tax Policy and the Telecommunications Industry
    Karl E. Case
    Manufacturer: Council of Governors Policy
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    InternationalInternational | Taxes | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Public FinancePublic Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    TransportationTransportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books | Aviation | Economics | Ferries | General | Mass Transit | Policy | RVs | Railroads | Reference | Research | Ships
    ASIN: 0934842132

    Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
      Michael Avon Oeming
      Manufacturer: Image Comics
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000IMPIGG
      Bastard Samurai Vol 1 (Bastard Samurai)
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Five Star Review!
      • When is the movie coming out?
      • when's the movie coming out?
      • Oeming proves he's the 'Bastard'
      • really good
      Bastard Samurai Vol 1 (Bastard Samurai)
      Michael Avon Oeming , Miles Gunter , and Kelsey Shannon
      Manufacturer: Image Comics
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
      Image ComicsImage Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
      ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 1582402833

      Book Description

      Jiro is a student of the KoZu Sword School, an underground training camp in midtown Manhattan that takes in orphans and twists and transforms them into Bushido warriors. The Yakuza use these kids in death matches staged across the city rooftops where Japanese businessmen gamble heavily on the always-fatal outcome. This killing life is all Jiro has ever known. But a rendezvous with fate is about to change all of that. In one moment Jiro realizes that everything he has lived for is a lie.The Samurai live by the Bushido code, one of which is RECTITUDE: the righting of wrongs. Now with the only ally he has-his sword--Jiro is forced to make the hardest decision of his life.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Five Star Review!.......2003-09-02

      For many years I have collected comics. Unlike alot of folks that consider themselves collectors, I usually base my purchases oh who is writing and or illustrating the books. So, unlike a fan of let's say the X-Men, I do not go to my local shop (MCCOMICS.com)each week and pick up 14 different titles based only on those characters. I will instead pick up an X-Men book if it is being handled by someone like Michael Avon Oeming. No, Michael isn't doing any X-Men books that I know of, and that isn't the point. My point is that Mr. Oeming is the type creator that I follow from book to book, be it his ongoing series Powers with Brian Bendis or his personal project Hammer of the Gods (both with Image comics by the way). Michael also does solo projects with fellow artists and writers, and for my money, Bastard Samurai has been the most rewarding of those types of collaborations.

      Yes, I do own the original comics from the mini-series that comprises this collection. Even with those original issues I was more than happy to get another version of the story, this time in a handsomely designed collection by Image Comics. Besides getting the main story and the back-up stories that ran in each book of the series, you also get some behind the scenes information on how the series was created. In the era of dvds, where even "chick movies" have tons of extra features on their discs, it's kind of cool to see that some comic book creators have adopted this to book form, and in the case of Bastard Samurai, did a quality job of it.

      Regarding the actual book, what can I say? Beautiful bright animation-style illustration with a very tight story that you will find yourself reading over several times. Although I'm not particularly crazy about movie comparisons, in the case of this book, it is warranted. Mike and his creative team expertly crafted a tale that rolls along the pages like a feature animation...

      4 out of 5 stars When is the movie coming out?.......2003-09-02

      Wow what a ride...get this book if you can and for the price not a bad deal!!!!!!!

      4 out of 5 stars when's the movie coming out?.......2003-09-02

      Okay... ok,i was thinking out loud but man this is a great find especially for the price.the story is so cinematic that the writer must of spent years doing the research.And i must say it shows!do your self a favor and get this book/Graphic novel/ tradepaperback. .

      4 out of 5 stars Oeming proves he's the 'Bastard'.......2003-09-02

      This is a great little comic. I didn't care for it much at first, but the more I got into it the better it became. It was originally touted as a samurai-Fight Club, but it's a lot more. High octane action, wove around a gripping tale of a lone samurai's quest. In this story, Oeming proved himself as a more than competent writer in my eyes. And the artwork by Gunter is just really amazing and fitting for the tone. The only problem I have with it is that it's much too short.

      5 out of 5 stars really good.......2003-05-21

      sure the title for the review is short but the comic book is great. the story takes place in modern day new york and revolves around Jiro the best killer in his class. the background of most of the fights takes place on rooftops and the occasional apartment. the illistration and story are top notch i can't wait for the second one (if they make one that is).
      Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #2
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #2
        Michael Avon Oeming
        Manufacturer: Image Comics
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000IMPE4C
        Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #2
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #2
          Michael Avon Oeming
          Manufacturer: Image Comics
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000IMPE3S
          Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
            Michael Avon Oeming
            Manufacturer: Image Comics
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000IMLNTW
            Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
              Michael Avon Oeming
              Manufacturer: Image Comics
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000IMLRWU
              Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                Michael Avon Oeming
                Manufacturer: Image Comics
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback
                ASIN: B000IMK0QE
                Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                  Michael Avon Oeming
                  Manufacturer: Image Comics
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000IMNT08
                  Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                    Michael Avon Oeming
                    Manufacturer: Image Comics
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback
                    ASIN: B000IMLRVQ
                    Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Bastard Samurai Vol 1 #3
                      Michael Avon Oeming
                      Manufacturer: Image Comics
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback
                      ASIN: B000IMJW90

                      Sierra Campfire Yarns: Tales, Skits and Songs
                      Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                      • A Classic! I keep buying it for new youth group leaders
                      • Book contains no Skits
                      Sierra Campfire Yarns: Tales, Skits and Songs
                      Deep River Jim
                      Manufacturer: Yosemite Association
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      GeneralGeneral | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Humor | Entertainment | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                      Musical GenresMusical Genres | Music | Entertainment | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Bluegrass | Blues | Classical | Country | Ethnic & International | Folk & Traditional | Jazz | Lullabies | Musicals | Opera | Popular | Religious & Sacred Music | Rock
                      All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                      Similar Items:
                      1. The Kids Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun (Family Fun) The Kids Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun (Family Fun)
                      2. Campfire Songs, 3rd (Campfire Books) Campfire Songs, 3rd (Campfire Books)

                      ASIN: 0939666952

                      Customer Reviews:

                      5 out of 5 stars A Classic! I keep buying it for new youth group leaders.......2007-06-18

                      I've been using the same material for over 30 years--nobody ever tires of it! Kids keep on asking for the "Squeegee Hunt" year after year after year. Here is the publisher's blurb:
                      Sierra Campfire Yarns - Tales, Skits & Songs
                      written and collected by Deep River Jim
                      This is a quaint collection of stories, activities, and games for sharing around the campfire. From boisterous stories and songs to tall tales and spooky legends, to calming narratives and lullabies, the book provides something for everyone.
                      It's guaranteed to make your time around the campfire memorable, entertaining, and just plain fun.
                      Families will enjoy the timeless pleasures of their time spent together, out-of-doors, distracted by nothing more intrusive than the call of a bird or the wind whistling through the trees.
                      Among the included entries are standard songs, the legend of Snowshoe Thompson, a Yosemite legend, and directions for a squeegee hunt.
                      The center section of the book, with four sets of song lyrics, is removable.
                      A great resource to have along on any camping trip.

                      1 out of 5 stars Book contains no Skits.......2006-06-19

                      I bought the book for campfire skits. The book front cover indicates songs, skits, yarns. Well, there were songs and tall tales, but not a single campfire skit. Very disappointed
                      Sierra Campfire Yarns: Tales, Skits and Songs
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Sierra Campfire Yarns: Tales, Skits and Songs
                        Deep River Jim
                        Manufacturer: Yosemite Association
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover
                        ASIN: B000MHIAQM

                        The Western Film Review: A Second Look At Some Popular Western Movies (N)
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          The Western Film Review: A Second Look At Some Popular Western Movies (N)
                          Chuck Lewis
                          Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          GeneralGeneral | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                          Guides & ReviewsGuides & Reviews | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                          ReferenceReference | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                          CriticismCriticism | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                          ASIN: 0595328091

                          Book Description

                          With this collection of reviews, fans of western movies can enjoy taking another special look at some of our favorites with western author Chuck Lewis as he offers us insight and a unique view of the films we like or even those we don't like. We might remember some of them with a nostalgia that doesn't match up with what the movie was all about. We think we know the stories, or what a good job of acting our heroes did, or perhaps gave no thought to the symbolism of the roles they played, but maybe Chuck can suggest something different.

                          The storylines of these movies are told here in detail and interspersed with appropriate and interesting observations. You will definitely learn while being entertained.

                          Most of these reviews are written with Chuck's subtle sense of humor, but all are informative and surprising at times. They offer interesting facts that never occurred to us when we first saw the movie, but all are honestly assessed with a bite that only Chuck Lewis can give us.

                          --Movies reviewed in Volume One--

                          Shane--Winchester '73--Red River--Conagher--Will Penny--Monte Walsh--The Naked Spur--High Noon--River of No Return--The Unforgiven--The Big Country--Cowboy--Stagecoach--The Wonderful Country--My Darling Clementine--Monte Walsh (TV)--Jeremiah Johnson--The Magnificent Seven--The Wild Bunch--Tombstone--Blood on the Moon--The Searchers--Colorado Territory--The Bravados.

                          The Body, Dance and Cultural Theory
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            The Body, Dance and Cultural Theory
                            Helen Thomas
                            Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback

                            GeneralGeneral | Dance | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            Popular CulturePopular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                            CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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                            Arts & PhotographyArts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                            EntertainmentEntertainment | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                            NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                            Similar Items:
                            1. Of the Presence of the Body: Essays on dance and Performance Theory Of the Presence of the Body: Essays on dance and Performance Theory
                            2. Meaning in Motion: New Cultural Studies of Dance (Post-Contemporary Interventions) Meaning in Motion: New Cultural Studies of Dance (Post-Contemporary Interventions)
                            3. Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance History Reader Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance History Reader
                            4. Choreographing Difference: The Body and Identity in Contemporary Dance Choreographing Difference: The Body and Identity in Contemporary Dance
                            5. Taken by Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader Taken by Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader

                            ASIN: 0333724321

                            Book Description

                            This book takes its point of departure from the overwhelming interest in theories of the body and performativity in sociology and cultural studies in recent years. It explores a variety of ways of looking at dance as a social and artistic (bodily) practice as a means of generating insights into the politics of identity and difference as they are situated and traced through representations of the body and bodily practices. These issues are addressed through a series of case studies.
                            Vanishing Women: Magic, Film, and Feminism
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              Vanishing Women: Magic, Film, and Feminism
                              Karen Beckman , and Karen Beckman
                              Manufacturer: Duke University Press
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Paperback

                              GeneralGeneral | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                              History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                              CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                              ASIN: 0822330741

                              Book Description

                              With the help of mirrors, trap doors, elevators, photographs, and film, women vanish and return in increasingly spectacular ways throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Karen Beckman tracks the proliferation of this elusive figure, the vanishing woman, from her genesis in Victorian stage magic through her development in conjunction with photography and film. Beckman reveals how these new visual technologies projected their anxieties about insubstantiality and reproducibility onto the female body, producing an image of "woman" as utterly unstable and constantly prone to disappearance.

                              Drawing on cinema studies and psychoanalysis as well as the histories of magic, spiritualism, and photography, Beckman looks at particular instances of female vanishing at specific historical moments—in Victorian magic’s obsessive manipulation of female and colonized bodies, spiritualist photography’s search to capture traces of ghosts, the comings and goings of bodies in early cinema, and Bette Davis’s multiple roles as a fading female star. As Beckman places the vanishing woman in the context of feminism’s discussion of spectacle and subjectivity, she explores not only the problems, but also the political utility of this obstinate figure who hovers endlessly between visible and invisible worlds. Through her readings, Beckman argues that the visibly vanishing woman repeatedly signals the lurking presence of less immediately perceptible psychic and physical erasures, and she contends that this enigmatic figure, so ubiquitous in late-nineteenth- and twentieth-century culture, provides a new space through which to consider the relationships between visibility, gender, and agency.
                              BODY DANCE & CULTURAL THEORY
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                BODY DANCE & CULTURAL THEORY
                                Helen Thomas
                                Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Paperback
                                ASIN: B000OUODKE
                                The Body, Dance and Cultural Theory
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  The Body, Dance and Cultural Theory
                                  Helen (Author) Thomas
                                  Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Paperback
                                  ASIN: B000OUOE6C

                                  Superman: Shadow of Apokolips Official Strategy Guide
                                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                                    Superman: Shadow of Apokolips Official Strategy Guide
                                    Greg Kramer , and Phillip Marcus
                                    Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Paperback

                                    Entertainment & GamesEntertainment & Games | Computers | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Strategy Guides | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
                                    Video GamesVideo Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                                    Video & Electronic GamesVideo & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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                                    1. Justice League Heroes Official Strategy Guide (Brady Official Strategy Guide) Justice League Heroes Official Strategy Guide (Brady Official Strategy Guide)
                                    2. Superman Returns (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD] Superman Returns (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

                                    ASIN: 0744001897

                                    Book Description

                                    BradyGames' Superman: Shadow of Apokolips Official Strategy Guide features a comprehensive walkthrough to guide players through each expansive level. Expert boss strategy helps gamers prevail in epic battles with legendary supervillains. Mission strategies and puzzle solutions are also provided. Game secrets and cheats revealed!

                                    Understanding SOA with Web Services (Independent Technology Guides)
                                    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                                    • Practical SOA Book
                                    • A word of reason in the super-hyped world of SOA
                                    • Will save you a lot of time
                                    • Compulsory reading
                                    • Excellent view of SOA and how Web Services fit in
                                    Understanding SOA with Web Services (Independent Technology Guides)
                                    Eric Newcomer , and Greg Lomow
                                    Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Professional
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Paperback

                                    Intranets & ExtranetsIntranets & Extranets | Networking | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
                                    InternetInternet | Home Computing | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books | Internet & Education | Online Searching | Web Browsers | Web for Kids
                                    GeneralGeneral | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
                                    Web ServicesWeb Services | Web Development | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
                                    Look Inside Computer BooksLook Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
                                    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                    Computers & InternetComputers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                    Similar Items:
                                    1. Enterprise SOA: Service-Oriented Architecture Best Practices (The Coad Series) Enterprise SOA: Service-Oriented Architecture Best Practices (The Coad Series)
                                    2. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Concepts, Technology, and Design (The Prentice Hall Service-Oriented Computing Series from Thomas Erl) Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Concepts, Technology, and Design (The Prentice Hall Service-Oriented Computing Series from Thomas Erl)
                                    3. Service-Oriented Architecture : A Field Guide to Integrating XML and Web Services Service-Oriented Architecture : A Field Guide to Integrating XML and Web Services
                                    4. Understanding Web Services: XML, WSDL, SOAP, and UDDI (Independent Technology Guides) Understanding Web Services: XML, WSDL, SOAP, and UDDI (Independent Technology Guides)
                                    5. Web Services and Service-Oriented Architectures: The Savvy Manager's Guide (The Savvy Manager's Guides) Web Services and Service-Oriented Architectures: The Savvy Manager's Guide (The Savvy Manager's Guides)

                                    ASIN: 0321180860

                                    Customer Reviews:

                                    5 out of 5 stars Practical SOA Book.......2006-07-07

                                    This is one of the main books I recommend to clients on SOA and Web Services. Several parts of the book that stand out from what I have seen in the rest of the field including the section on Advanced Messaging and Transactions. The work is particularly strong in the "why are we here and how did we get here" with regard to web service evolving from various technologies like MQ, Tx systems, and mainframes, and describes where Web services has advantages and disadvantages over those technologies in a non-religious format. In Chapter 3, for example, MQ, CORBA, and XML web Services are compared across a set of criteria including: service contracts, data management, registration and discovery, security, interaction patterns, communication, and QoS. These objective analyses are some of the most valuable resources in the book, because when looking at Web Services' integration it helps the architect see where the strengthes and weaknesses lie.

                                    The only nit is section on security is good by normal programming books standards, but more emphasis on the gaps in the standards would be useful, for example input validation, and security exceptions which are a fact of life in distributed security, but are not dealt with by standards are not covered.

                                    This book describes what gaps SOA/Web Services address and why, where the technology is going, and what you can do about it today. Very valuable.

                                    5 out of 5 stars A word of reason in the super-hyped world of SOA.......2006-02-13

                                    Every so often a known concept is re-invented and served with a new garnish on a new plate. The environment of sudden public attention fertilized with ignorance breeds enormous hype, which in turn makes air so thick that you hardly can hear the voice of reason. This environment morphs the concept into something so vague and different from the original that only sales people feel comfortable talking about it. I believe this has happened to the SOA concept.

                                    In this world of insanity, it is paramount to find islands of logic and reason that can teach and validate a hype-free understanding of the issues. Sources like ZapThink and Gartner have been very helpful, but "Understanding SOA with Web Services" is truly indispensable in putting everything in the right perspective. I bought the book primarily because one of the authors, Greg Lomow, wrote of one of my favorite books, "C++ FAQs", which I also strongly recommend to anyone who enjoys learning about new ideas and observations.

                                    The book draws a conceptual and architectural views of SOA and its implementation using WebServices standards' stack. It covers not just history and latest developments on the subject, but also hints on the future directions. Just like "C++ FAQs", this book focuses on the core understanding of the issues, and on pros and cons of technologies and standards. But most important and enjoyable to me is its language of reason. Reading it simply makes me feel good!

                                    5 out of 5 stars Will save you a lot of time.......2006-02-01

                                    This book is really good at distilling the web services standards down to the core essentials - what are the most important things to know and more importantly, where the specifications still have room for improvement. So if you would prefer to save yourself a lot of time wading through specs in order to be able to hold your own in front of the whiteboard (or keyboard) there is no better book than this. What I like most about Eric's books is they are always written in a very honest and straightforward manner and they are obviously informed by years of real world experience - in other words basically the opposite of a David Linthicum book.

                                    5 out of 5 stars Compulsory reading.......2005-12-09

                                    I'm back here to purchase my 6th copy of this book, and 7th of Newcomer's earlier book ("Understanding Web Services"), as they are becoming compulsory reading in my division of a large and highly influential Financial Services technology player.

                                    Newcomer and Lomow have done an outstanding job of putting a pragmatic, business and user-focused face on a field that is often either over-hyped, or too focused on technology for technology's sake. That is not to say that they only address the business-heads in this book (far from it - Newcomer in particular has been deeply involved in Web services technology and standards development since the very beginning, and this depth of knowledge of the technology is evident throughout), it is just that their discussion of the technology, even at its most abstract is easy to follow and well grounded in real-world benefits.

                                    Rarely will you find a technical book written in such an approachable tone. Even more rarely will it cover the technology with the breadth and depth that these two industry luminaries demonstrate.

                                    I have been working on the cutting edge of Web services and Mobile Web services for about five years, but was pleasantly surprised to find many new and refreshing insights and invaluable examples based on the real-world experience of the authors.

                                    Perhaps the real value of this book, though, is demonstrated by my recent experience - When I show a copy to a senior manager they come back a few days later and ask me to get more copies. When I show a copy to a technical colleague, I have to fight to get it back!

                                    Buy this book.

                                    5 out of 5 stars Excellent view of SOA and how Web Services fit in.......2005-05-01

                                    Firstly this book is an excellent compliment to Eric's other book: Understanding Web Services. Definitely worth reading that one as well (it doesn't really make a difference which order).

                                    This book is a great introduction to the differences between SOA and Web Services. Too many other books tie these two concepts together as though SOA didn't exist before Web Services. SOA had been around for a long time prior to Web Services, which is simply one way of doing SOA. In this book you don't really get into the meat of Web services until page 100, which is the way it should be: the authors lay the groundwork for a concrete realisation of SOA by going into detail about what SOA is, how it's important and how to plan for it within an organisation.

                                    I found the book a very easy read, which is important for this subject: the architectural principles behind this stuff aren't rocket science, but too often other texts dive straight into specifications/standards and blind you with Three Letter Acornyms. The authors of this book build up the book in a way which flows naturally and each chapter delivers on technical and business-oriented rationals.

                                    Summary: if you're looking for a good text on what SOA is, what it means to you as an architect or as a business, and how Web Services may fit into that picture, then don't hesitate to get this book.

                                    Civil War Battles: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (American Civil War)
                                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                                    • Historical Find
                                    Civil War Battles: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (American Civil War)
                                    Civil War Society
                                    Manufacturer: Gramercy
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Hardcover

                                    ReferenceReference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Campaigns | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                    HistoryHistory | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                    MilitaryMilitary | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                    Similar Items:
                                    1. Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to Battlefields, Monuments, and More Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to Battlefields, Monuments, and More
                                    2. Great Maps of the Civil War: Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps (Museum in a Book, 2) Great Maps of the Civil War: Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps (Museum in a Book, 2)
                                    3. Civil War 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the North, the South, the Leaders, the Battles, and the History Civil War 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the North, the South, the Leaders, the Battles, and the History
                                    4. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States) Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States)

                                    ASIN: 0517202921
                                    Release Date: 1999-07-20

                                    Book Description

                                    A fully illustrated, accessible encyclopedic collection in an A-to-Z format of essays on every significant Civil War battle, with authoritative text prepared by the Civil War Society. Includes maps and archival illustrations and photographs.

                                    Customer Reviews:

                                    5 out of 5 stars Historical Find.......2007-02-08

                                    Very interesting. I love anything to do with the Civil War--and this book is great for such reading. Excellent coverage of details. Any reader would enjoy this book though. Glad I bought it!
                                    The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War: The Soldiers, Generals, Weapons, and Battles of the Civil War
                                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                                      The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War: The Soldiers, Generals, Weapons, and Battles of the Civil War
                                      William C. Davis
                                      Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
                                      ProductGroup: Book
                                      Binding: Hardcover

                                      GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                      PictorialsPictorials | Military | History | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                      HistoryHistory | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                      MilitaryMilitary | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                      All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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                                      1. The Civil War / Box Set The Civil War / Box Set

                                      ASIN: 1585743763

                                      Book Description

                                      Full-color comprehensive reference to the soldiers, generals, weapons, and battles of the both the North and South by a noted Civil War historian.
                                      The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War: The Soldiers, Generals, Weapons and Battles
                                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                                        The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War: The Soldiers, Generals, Weapons and Battles
                                        William C. Davis
                                        Manufacturer: Salamander
                                        ProductGroup: Book
                                        Binding: Hardcover

                                        PhotojournalismPhotojournalism | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | 19th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
                                        ASIN: 1840653078

                                        Book Description

                                        Take a rare view of Civil War memorabilia through the eyes of the photographers and artists who were there. This comprehensive collection features over 440 full-color and black and white original photographs, drawings, lithographs, and specially commissioned images from the first major war to be photographed, the United States Civil War. Here is just a peek of what you'll see inside:

                                        -The battlegrounds of Fort Sumter, Appomattox, and more
                                        -The bravery of great leaders such as Lee and Grant
                                        -A rare glimpse into the soldiers' life in camp
                                        -The enthusiasm of volunteer regiments
                                        -And much more!

                                        With authoritative text from noted Civil War expert William C. Davis, this masterful volume is both a historical reference and a moving tribute to the war America will never forget.

                                        Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
                                        Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
                                        • A Very Hard Read
                                        • Now, now, now!
                                        • Not a Good Book About Halloween
                                        • Hey Now...
                                        • A serious cultural history of Halloween
                                        Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
                                        Nicholas Rogers
                                        Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                                        ProductGroup: Book
                                        Binding: Hardcover

                                        GeneralGeneral | 20th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
                                        Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
                                        HolidaysHolidays | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | Anthropology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                        Fairy TalesFairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                                        Similar Items:
                                        1. The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year The Pagan Mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating the Dark Half of the Year
                                        2. Halloween: An American Holiday, an American History Halloween: An American Holiday, an American History
                                        3. Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween
                                        4. Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life Halloween and Other Festivals of Death and Life
                                        5. A Halloween Reader: Poems, Stories, And Plays From Halloweens Past A Halloween Reader: Poems, Stories, And Plays From Halloweens Past

                                        ASIN: 0195146913

                                        Book Description

                                        Boasting a rich, complex history rooted in Celtic and Christian ritual, Halloween has evolved from ethnic celebration to a blend of street festival, fright night, and vast commercial enterprise. In this colorful history, Nicholas Rogers takes a lively, entertaining look at the cultural origins and development of one of the most popular holidays of the year. Drawing on a fascinating array of sources, from classical history to Hollywood films, Rogers traces Halloween as it emerged from the Celtic festival of Samhain (summer's end), picked up elements of the Christian Hallowtide (All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day), arrived in North America as an Irish and Scottish festival, and evolved into an unofficial but large-scale holiday by the early 20th century. He examines the 1970s and '80s phenomena of Halloween sadism (razor blades in apples) and inner-city violence (arson in Detroit), as well as the immense influence of the horror film genre on the reinvention of Halloween as a terror-fest. Throughout his vivid account, Rogers shows how Halloween remains, at its core, a night of inversion, when social norms are turned upside down, and a temporary freedom of expression reigns supreme. He examines how this very license has prompted censure by the religious Right, occasional outrage from law enforcement officials, and appropriation by Left-leaning political groups. Engagingly written and based on extensive research, Halloween is the definitive history of the most bewitching day of the year, illuminating the intricate history and shifting cultural forces behind this enduring trick-or-treat holiday.

                                        Customer Reviews:

                                        1 out of 5 stars A Very Hard Read.......2007-09-21

                                        I have to agree with some of the reviews on this book...I expected a nostalgic exploration through the history of Halloween and got a lot of mumbo jumbo. This is a very hard read! When you read it outloud, you sound like you're reciting a college professor's paper thesis and not a simple biography on a modern holiday. It is written in such an over-the-top style that you can't seem to get through the book.

                                        The book does go through a large history, however there is also A LOT of mention on homosexual traditions of Halloween...these traditions get their own introduction and their own chapter. I want to read about how Halloween was started, not what descriptive costumes people were wearing to the annual gay parade. Not that I'm against anything, but save that for another book.

                                        If you're looking for a history to Halloween, avoid the trouble by avoiding this book.

                                        3 out of 5 stars Now, now, now!.......2007-07-07

                                        Holly and Alexander, you two just stop it right now! And Michael, you stay out of it.

                                        1 out of 5 stars Not a Good Book About Halloween.......2006-10-11

                                        When the time came to read this year's Halloween book, I chose Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicholas Rogers. I was looking for an interesting, scholarly treatment of the holiday. I didn't find it.

                                        That's not to say that I didn't learn anything. According to Rogers, Halloween, as it is celebrated in the United States and Canada, was basically brought to the New World by Scottish and Irish immigrants. In those countries, Halloween apparently grew out of Pagan autumn festivals and the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls days. The Day of the Dead had a similar origin in Mexico. What began in the US and Canada as a celebration of Celtic pride evolved into a night of teen and adult rowdiness, which was in turn tamed into "trick-or-treating." In the last few decades, the commercial engines have behaved like a positive-feedback loop: Because Halloween is popular, there is money to be made, so it needs to be hyped and marketed to make it more popular, so more money can be made, and so on.

                                        See? That didn't take 170 pages. The remaining space is occupied by the author supporting his conclusions with data and argumentation. The data generally amounts to lists of single sentence anecdotes gleaned from various Canadian and American newspaper editions published in late October and early November over a wide range of years. There are also a number of illustrations, including festive holiday snapshots taken by the author. The author's argumentation is based on induction from these published data points -- as well as stories from his colleagues and dentist -- to explain their significance as only an academic could. For example, this gem is put forth as part of the discussion of the relevance of the Halloween movies by John Carpenter to the actual holiday (p. 121):

                                        "For it could be argued that Myer's murderous interventions are facilitated by the collapse of Halloween as an inclusive family holiday and its transformation into a set of generational consumer rites in which family mutualities are neglected."

                                        What?! The plots of the six Halloween "films" are discussed and their commentary on the holiday is "explored." It is hard to take this kind of scholarship seriously when it takes slasher-flix so seriously.

                                        5 out of 5 stars Hey Now..........2006-08-30

                                        Alexander, you are indeed a jerk, this book is great! And all of us "normal" people would enjoy it if we decided to have an open mind and heart. It's about HISTORY, KNOWLEDGE is so important in this world and the more we obtain the better off we are, so although I also enjoy Charlie Brown, this is a REAL book. Look elsewhere, before you offend someone else, and by the way "okayness" is not a word, nice try...

                                        4 out of 5 stars A serious cultural history of Halloween.......2005-07-01

                                        Single-subject histories on the likes of salt, codfish and even the color red have become a fashionable lately, and this book is a fine specimen of the genre. It traces the history of the celebration of October 31 from Samhain, the year cycle rite observed by the pagan Celts in Britain, to the many ways it is marked in North America at the time of the new millennium. His central thesis, supported by myriad examples and illustrations, is that Halloween has always been a liminal time, a boundary between autumn and winter, this world and the other world, life and death. Drawing from the theory of anthropologist Victor Turner, he argues that liminal times are also periods of ritual inversion in which the obverse of cultural values, however they are construed, are temporarily allowed to emerge into public consciousness and celebrated before being relegated once again to the cultural closet. Whether these oppositional symbols are spiritual otherworlds, as they were for the ancient Celts, or consist instead of what is disavowed by the dominant cultural paradigm, Halloween provides a framework during which they can be publicly explored and performed. This central feature of Halloween, more than any individual rite or symbol, constitutes the core of the holiday that has endured for over a thousand years. From Celtic Samhain to globalized celebration of consumer culture, Halloween seems to attract to it the oppositional and the carnivalesque. No wonder, then, that is has become a popular target for the invectives of conservative Christian ministers and their congregations, who label it "Satanic" and call for its suppression. But the suppression of culturally contested symbols never successfully eliminates the ideas behind them. In fact, as Turner and French cultural historian Michel Foucault argue, these oppositional images are fertile ground for cultural renewal, and provide alternative ways of envisioning reality: they are cultural countersites where social mores and pretensions can be mocked, parodied, and lampooned with impunity, and an alternative universe can temporarily be imagined.
                                        This excellent book will appeal to a wide range of readers. It reads fluidly and easily, is theoretically well-informed without being jargon-ridden or using theory as a bludgeon, and could easily be adopted for use in large undergraduate courses on cultural history, folkloristics and anthropology.



                                        Halloween From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
                                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                                          Halloween From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
                                          Nicholas Rogers
                                          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
                                          ProductGroup: Book
                                          Binding: Paperback
                                          ASIN: B000OKWPTK
                                          Halloween: From Pagan Ritual To Party Night
                                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                                            Halloween: From Pagan Ritual To Party Night
                                            Nicholas Rogers
                                            Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                                            ProductGroup: Book
                                            Binding: Paperback
                                            ASIN: B000OKFFVA

                                            Gene Dreams: Wall Street, Academia, and the Rise of Biotechnology
                                            Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                                            • dated, but a good overview of the biz side of biotech
                                            Gene Dreams: Wall Street, Academia, and the Rise of Biotechnology
                                            Robert Teitelman
                                            Manufacturer: Basic Books Inc.,U.S.
                                            ProductGroup: Book
                                            Binding: Hardcover

                                            EconomicsEconomics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Agricultural | Commercial Policy | Comparative | Consolidation & Merger | Cooperatives | Debt & Deficits | Development & Growth | Econometrics | Economic Conditions | Economic History | Economic Policy & Development | Exports & Imports | Free Enterprise | Inflation | International | Labor & Industrial Relations | Macroeconomics | Microeconomics | Money & Monetary Policy | Natural Resources | Privatization | Public Finance | Statistics | Sustainable Development | Theory | Unemployment | Urban & Regional
                                            Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                                            GeneralGeneral | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                                            BiotechnologyBiotechnology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                            GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                                            BiotechnologyBiotechnology | Bioengineering | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                            Similar Items:
                                            1. The Billion Dollar Molecule: One Company's Quest for the Perfect Drug The Billion Dollar Molecule: One Company's Quest for the Perfect Drug
                                            2. Science Business: The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech Science Business: The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech
                                            3. The $800 Million Pill: The Truth Behind the Cost of New Drugs The $800 Million Pill: The Truth Behind the Cost of New Drugs
                                            4. From Alchemy to IPO: The Business of Biotechnology From Alchemy to IPO: The Business of Biotechnology

                                            ASIN: 0465026591

                                            Customer Reviews:

                                            4 out of 5 stars dated, but a good overview of the biz side of biotech.......2004-09-24

                                            This is a book that was written in response to the initial flurry of "unlimited horizon" books about the possibilities of genetic engineering. I had read about 3 of them with increasing boredom, and was delighted to find one that actually took a more critical attitude than bland techno-boosterism. It is about the investment community, the drug approval process, and the difficulties of harnessing basic science for profit.

                                            As such, it is a very useful book, though certainly has been superceded by others in the field.

                                            1993 Directory of Country Environmental Studies an Annotated Bibliography of Environmental and Natural Resource Profiles and Assessments
                                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                                              1993 Directory of Country Environmental Studies an Annotated Bibliography of Environmental and Natural Resource Profiles and Assessments
                                              Tunstall
                                              Manufacturer: World Resources Institute
                                              ProductGroup: Book
                                              Binding: Paperback

                                              GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                                              ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
                                              GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
                                              ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
                                              ASIN: 0915825880

                                              Books:

                                              1. State budget and tax actions 1991 (Legislative finance paper)
                                              2. State Government Tax Collections in 1988 (Government Finances, Gf-88-1)
                                              3. State Tax Actions 1998: Special Fiscal Report (State Tax Actions)
                                              4. State Tax Actions 1999: Special Fiscal Report (State Tax Actions)
                                              5. State Tax Actions 2001 (State Tax Actions)
                                              6. State Tax Policy and Senior Citizens
                                              7. Structures of the Taxation Systems in the European Union: Data 1995-2003
                                              8. Tax Acts 1991 Edition: Income Tax, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax
                                              9. Tax Aspects of Transfer Pricing Within Multinational Enterprises: The United States Proposed Regulations : A Report (Oecd Documents)
                                              10. Tax-Deferred Annuities for Employees of Exempt Organizations (Kinds of Qualified Plans Series)

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