Executive Report on Strategies in Sri Lanka, 2000 edition (Strategic Planning Series)
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    Executive Report on Strategies in Sri Lanka, 2000 edition (Strategic Planning Series)
    Sri Lanka Research Group , and The Sri Lanka Research Group
    Manufacturer: Icon Group International
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Ring-bound

    Strategy & CompetitionStrategy & Competition | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Sri LankaSri Lanka | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0741824221

    Book Description

    Sri Lanka has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners. This report puts these executives on the fast track. Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources). Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given.

    Determining Cost of Capital: The Key to Firm Value
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      Determining Cost of Capital: The Key to Firm Value
      Hazel Johnson
      Manufacturer: Financial Times/Prentice Hall
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      Corporate FinanceCorporate Finance | Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. The Real Cost of Capital: A Business Field Guide to Better Financial Decisions (Financial Times Series) The Real Cost of Capital: A Business Field Guide to Better Financial Decisions (Financial Times Series)

      ASIN: 0273638807
      Determining Cost of Capital: The Key to Firm Value
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Determining Cost of Capital: The Key to Firm Value
        Dr Johnson Hazel
        Manufacturer: Financial Times/Prentice Hall
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000ORA0JA

        Claims Analysis: Law, Logic and Risk
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          Claims Analysis: Law, Logic and Risk
          Mark Andrews
          Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Administrative Law | Law | Subjects | Books
          Arbitration, Negotiation & MediationArbitration, Negotiation & Mediation | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 0738852201

          La FAO: Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (Collection "Alternatives rurales")
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            La FAO: Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (Collection "Alternatives rurales")
            Soulaimane Soudjay
            Manufacturer: L'Harmattan
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Unknown Binding

            Agricultural SciencesAgricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books | Agronomy | Animal Husbandry | Aquaculture | Bacteriology | Biochemistry | Biotechnology | Chemistry | Crop Science | Economics | Education | Entomology | Food Science | Forestry | General | History | Horticulture | Insecticides & Pesticides | Irrigation | Marketing | Soil Science | Sustainable Agriculture | Tropical Agriculture
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            ASIN: 2738444032
            L'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) (L'Organisation internationale et l'evolution de la societe mondiale ; v. 1)
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              L'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) (L'Organisation internationale et l'evolution de la societe mondiale ; v. 1)
              Sergio Marchisio
              Manufacturer: Georg
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Unknown Binding

              FrenchFrench | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books | All French Books | Arts & Photography | Audiocassettes | Children's Books | Entertainment | Health, Mind & Body | History | Middle French | Nonfiction | Old French | Professional & Technical | Reference | Religion & Spirituality | Travel
              ASIN: 2825701351

              Following Form and Function: A Philosophical Archaeology of Life Science (SPEP)
              Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
              • Evolutionism recapitulates: Cuvier vs Geoffrey
              • Quality Control
              • The Acorn and the Oak Together at Last
              Following Form and Function: A Philosophical Archaeology of Life Science (SPEP)
              Stephen Asma
              Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

              GeneralGeneral | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
              PhenomenologyPhenomenology | Movements | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0810113988

              Customer Reviews:

              5 out of 5 stars Evolutionism recapitulates: Cuvier vs Geoffrey.......2002-03-06

              I was quite surprised to come across this work, and found that it changed my view of biology on the spot. Since the mere mention of teleology in biological company tends to produce 'bizarre behavior' this work is a positive indication that times are changing and the many philosophical issues need to be reconsidered in light of the resurfacing of developmental questions of evolution. The current monistic emphasis on adaptation and function is heuristically critiqued and the results, while still perhaps murky, powerfully address a huge void in current thinking. The author adopts what he calls a modified Kantianism, which is all well and good, but in so far as he lands in the realm of 'dialectical biology' (very briefly at the end), one wonders if the formulation is not in need of further 'debugging'. Kant's powerful formulation of a stance toward teleology,whose considerations are generally fruitless speculations Darwinists rightly find suspect, with its embrace and reserve both is at once a green light and a warning. But that is the price of doing business in such a radically different form of biological thinking. Splendid effort, whatever the results.

              5 out of 5 stars Quality Control.......2000-09-08

              What's up Dr. Asma. ((fellow pupil)) If you are reading this, I was wondering if this book had a lot of pictures and illustrations. My mind wanders easily, and some how the pictures help me concentrate. ((Buddha 4 Beginners)) Last time I colored in the pictures with markers, it was fun.

              5 out of 5 stars The Acorn and the Oak Together at Last.......1998-11-02

              Stephen T. Asma's book, Following Form and Function: A Philosophical Archaeology of Life Science, could also have been titled, Everything you wanted to know about the Cuvier-Geoffroy debate but were afraid to ask. Either title might, unfortunately, suggest a difficult book, addressing either a subject too arcane to be of interest to the general reader, or an unnecessary exercise: in regard to this latter concern, one could put forth that in our "sophisticated" time the inextricable linkage of form and function is taken for granted;onsequently the debate between Cuvier (arguing for the primacy of form/function) and Geoffroy (arguing for the priority of morphology/structure) is both deeply antiquated, and long resolved.

              Early in his text, Asma sets the conceptual priorities straight: the central subject of his text (p 7), the form and function debate, speaks directly to the most profound questions of epistemology and metaphysics. Citing Stephen Gould (p 170n9,188n1) Asma proposes that this central subject is of greater immediacy and goes deeper than the conceptual struggle between evolution and creationism (Huxley).

              By seating this debate in its proper historical, and philosphical context, the whole Western philsophical canon (from Aristotle to Darwin and back again is the title of one of his references) falls into the ambit of Asma's deftly written book. And his explanations, although perforce not infrequently a bit detailed, are with just a little effort encouragingly apprehensible.

              Asma book is particularly successful in its attempt to shed light on one of the least tractable areas (most difficult to learn about/teach) in biology and philosophy: the vexatious arena of telology. A New York Times Book Review of Edelman's Bright Air, Brillant Fire was entitled, The Chicken and the Egg Together at Last; I could also have entitled this review, The Acorn and the Oak Together at Last, because Asma's explanation of non intentional (organistic, organismic) teleology is both compelling, and the best I come across.

              Notably the Cuvier/Geoffroy debate has recently sufaced in the popular scientific literature (e.g., Gould (11/85) Geoffroy and the Homeobox, NH; Gould (10/86) Archetype and Adaptation, NH, Gould (2/97) As the Worm Turns NH; Desmond (82) Archetypes and Ancestor UOC; Zimmerman (98) At The Waters Edge, fP, also texts by Kauffman, Goodwin). Gould's essays (Gould apparently mentored some of Asma's early effort)in particular provide a rather excellent acompaniment to Asma's more puristic philosphical project.

              In closing, I suggest you open this book: from Asma to Aristotle to Cuvier/Geoffroy, it is a very good work indeed.

              Fields, Networks, Computational Methods, and Systems in Modern Electrodynamics: A Tribute to Leopold B. Felsen (Springer Proceedings in Physics)
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                Fields, Networks, Computational Methods, and Systems in Modern Electrodynamics: A Tribute to Leopold B. Felsen (Springer Proceedings in Physics)

                Manufacturer: Springer
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                GeneralGeneral | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Electromagnetism | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Electronics | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                ElectromagnetismElectromagnetism | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Earth Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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                ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                ASIN: 3540239294

                Book Description

                This book consists of contributions given at a symposium in honour of Leopold B. Felsen. They represent the state of the art in dealing with electromagnetic fields, their network theory representation, their computation and, finally, with system applications. The network formulation of field problems can improve the problem formulation and also contribute to the solution methodology. Network theory systematic approaches for circuit analysis are based on the separation of the circuit into the connection circuit and the circuit elements. Many applications in science and technology rely on computations of the electromagnetic field in either man-made or natural complex structures. Because different problems have their own combination of geometrical features, materials, scales and frequency ranges, no single method is best suited for handling all possible cases: instead, a combination of methods or hybridization is needed to attain the greatest flexibility and efficiency.

                RF Superconductivity for Accelerators (Wiley Series in Beam Physics and Accelerator Technology)
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                  RF Superconductivity for Accelerators (Wiley Series in Beam Physics and Accelerator Technology)
                  Hasan Padamsee , Jens Knobloch , and Tom Hays
                  Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover

                  SuperconductivitySuperconductivity | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  Nuclear PhysicsNuclear Physics | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  Atomic & Nuclear PhysicsAtomic & Nuclear Physics | Nuclear Physics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Nuclear Physics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  Particle AcceleratorsParticle Accelerators | Nuclear Physics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  Condensed MatterCondensed Matter | Solid-State Physics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 0471154326

                  Book Description

                  This book introduces some of the key ideas of this exciting field, using a pedagogic approach, as well as to present an overview of the field. It is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the basic concepts of microwave cavities for particle acceleration. The second part is devoted to the observed behavior of superconducting cavities. The third part covers general issues connected with beam-cavity interaction, and the related issues for the critical components. The final part discusses applications of superconducting cavities to frontier accelerators of the future, drawing heavily on the examples that are in their most advanced stage. Each part of the book ends in a Problems section to illustrate and amplify text material as well as draw upon example applications of superconducting cavities to existing and future accelerators.

                  Judy Moody Declares Independence (Judy Moody)
                  Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                  • Great book for kids who struggle with their reading.
                  • Judy's Freedom Fight
                  • Great reading for young girls
                  • A heroine rebelling against parental restrictions and a pesky little brother
                  • THERE'S MERRIMENT IN JUDY'S PURSUIT OF FREEDOM
                  Judy Moody Declares Independence (Judy Moody)
                  Megan Mcdonald
                  Manufacturer: Candlewick
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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                  ( M )( M ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Marshall, James | Martchenko, Michael | Mayer, Mercer | McPhail, David | Milne, A.A.
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                  Similar Items:
                  1. Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor is In! (Judy Moody) Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor is In! (Judy Moody)
                  2. Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days (Judy Moody) Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days (Judy Moody)
                  3. Judy Moody's Double Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do (Judy Moody) Judy Moody's Double Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do (Judy Moody)
                  4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future (Judy Moody) Judy Moody Predicts the Future (Judy Moody)
                  5. Judy Moody Gets Famous! (Judy Moody) Judy Moody Gets Famous! (Judy Moody)

                  ASIN: 076362800X
                  Release Date: 2007-02-13

                  Book Description

                  "This delightful book will inspire children to write their own declarations of independence complete with ‘alien’ rights and the ‘purse’ of happiness." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
                  Hear ye! Hear ye! Everyone knows that Judy Moody has a mood for every occasion, and now a visit to Boston has put her in a revolutionary frame of mind! Unfortunately, a protest for more allowance in the form of a Boston Tub Party only has her dad reading the riot act. But luckily a crisis involving her brother, Stink, allows Judy to show her courageous quick thinking -- and prove her independence after all!

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Great book for kids who struggle with their reading........2007-04-08

                  My kids have all Judy Moody and Stink books. They love them, and I know for the fact that they help kids who struggle with reading in 3rd grade. They are easy to read and have a good story, are funny and appealing to that age group. A must have!

                  5 out of 5 stars Judy's Freedom Fight.......2007-02-14

                  This book is about how Judy wants independence and her mom and dad keep on saying "we'll think about it." Judy thinks that means no. This book includes learning abut Paul Revere and Sybil Ludington and a lot more about British Stuff. To find out if Judy gets her independence read this book now! If you like Franny K. Stein, Captain Underpants or other learning books you'll like this book a lot. These books mix because they all have a little bit of danger, learning, and a bunch of humor. I liked this book because in one part Judy makes her own freedom trail in her own house. Find out more details in Judy Moody Declares Independence.

                  5 out of 5 stars Great reading for young girls.......2006-02-25

                  These are great books for the 8-10 year old girl. My daughter does not like to read and yet this series has captured her imagination and kept her engrossed for long periods. Well meaning topics and fun reading for kids.

                  5 out of 5 stars A heroine rebelling against parental restrictions and a pesky little brother.......2005-09-12

                  Megan McDonald's Judy Moody Declares Independence tells of a heroine rebelling against parental restrictions and a pesky little brother. Her plain to declare independence with all the pomp of patriotism brings her special challenges. More fun stories of the zany Judy emerge.

                  5 out of 5 stars THERE'S MERRIMENT IN JUDY'S PURSUIT OF FREEDOM.......2005-08-07


                  As legions of young readers have happily learned there's nobody, absolutely nobody like Judy Moody. She's fun, feisty and, yes, at times incorrigible. She doesn't much care for school or spending too much time with her pesky kid brother, Stink (her aversions are not necessarily stated by order of importance to her).

                  What she does like at the moment is being in the Cradle of Liberty, Boston Massachusetts. She likes the bean city for several reasons - she's missing two days of school, she's no longer riding in the car next to Stink, and she doesn't have to brush her hair every day. The more Judy thinks about it the more this whole independence idea appeals to her.

                  With Mom and Dad leading the way, readers are treated to a tour of historic sites in Boston as well as concise explanations of what each one means. Of course, in Stink's opinion what they're seeing is about "a bunch of dead guys and some old stuff that isn't even there anymore."

                  However, Judy sees their trip quite differently. She sees it as an opportunity to declare her independence from Stink by always running ahead of him. She meets a new friend from England, Tori, and the two promise to be penpals.

                  Now, the one thing Judy may be missing is that along with her beloved independence comes responsibility - that's with a capital R. Wonder if that's something our favorite girl can learn.

                  Lighthearted illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds lend merriment to Judy's pursuit of freedom.

                  - Gail Cooke
                  Judy Moody Declares Independence (Judy Moody)
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Judy Moody Declares Independence (Judy Moody)
                    Megan McDonald
                    Manufacturer: Scholastic, Inc.
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

                    McDonald, MeganMcDonald, Megan | ( M ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    Judy MoodyJudy Moody | Humorous | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 0439860768

                    Product Description

                    After visiting Boston, Judy Moody's in the mood for LIBERTY and FREEDOM - freedom from her parent's rules and her pesky little brother, that is. But Judy's plans to declare independence, just like the patriots did in 1776, wind up getting her into hot water. For sure and absolute positive, the founding fathers never had problems like hers! Will Judy be able to prove, once and for all, that she's ready for a bit more independence? No matter which side wins, readers will be cheering Huzzah! for Judy's latest revolutionary adventure.
                    Judy Moody Declares Independence
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Judy Moody Declares Independence
                      Megan McDonald
                      Manufacturer: Recorded Books
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Audio Cassette

                      GeneralGeneral | Children's Books | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
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                      Judy MoodyJudy Moody | Humorous | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: 1419371975

                      Product Description

                      After following the Freedom Trial in Boston with her family, Judy Moody makes plans for a Boston "tub party" to protest her parents' unfair rules and chores. With a tub full of tea, Judy has officially declared her independence. Her demands: freedom from brushing her hair, freedom from her little brother Stink, freedome from homework and freedom from an early bedtime. When her protest backfires, Judy is left wondering what she can do to prove how responsible she is to her parents. Will her bravery during Stink's crisis when he misses the school bus stop finally convince them? Megan McDonald's charming addition to the Judy Moody series will make young readers "star spangled bananas" over the young heroine's escapades while they learn a little American history in the process. With the humorous narration of Kate Forbes, Judy's incorrigible moods will have listerers laughing out loud.
                      Judy Moody Declares Independence [UNABRIDGED] (Audiobook)
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Judy Moody Declares Independence [UNABRIDGED] (Audiobook)
                        Megan McDonald
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Audio CD

                        McDonald, MeganMcDonald, Megan | ( M ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        Judy MoodyJudy Moody | Humorous | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: 1419366440

                        Product Description

                        After visiting the Freedom Trail in Boston, Judy Moody declares her independence. Her demands include freedom from brushing her hair, freedom from her little brother Stink, freedom from homework, and freedom for an early bedtime. Will Judy be able to prove to her parents shes responsible enough for her freedoms? Megan McDonalds latest charming addition to the Judy Moody series will have listeners star spangled bananas over the young heroines escapades.

                        Historical Dictionary of Poland, 1945-1996
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Historical Dictionary of Poland, 1945-1996
                          Piotr Wróbel
                          Manufacturer: Routledge
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Hardcover

                          PolandPoland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
                          ASIN: 1579580688

                          Book Description

                          Located between the former Soviet Union and Germany Poland has the potential to become a political and economic bridge between the East and the West. It is crucial to European security and stabilization. Yet, the list of reference books on recent Polish history is very short. This book, a companion to the Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966-1945, provides information on Polish political, economic, and cultural history since 1945 Written for English-speaking readers, the book includes entries on the most important events and personalities in the past 51 years of Polish history. It covers the entire history of communist Poland, the great changes of 1989, and the main developments during the first seven years of the post-communist era.

                          The Ruin of Kasch
                          Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                          • Brilliant meditation on Modernity
                          • Disappointment
                          • Fragmata and Obscurata
                          • calasso's book is a brilliant mess
                          The Ruin of Kasch
                          Roberto Calasso
                          Manufacturer: Belknap Press
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
                          HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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                          ASIN: 0674780299

                          Amazon.com

                          The Ruin of Kasch examines the rise of the modern state and the origins of romantic nationalism, whose sick fruit has been harvested in places such as Bosnia, Chechnya, and East Timor. Roberto Calasso locates the transformation in the French Revolution, when a frivolous monarchy evaporated before a government that valued order, bureaucracy, and above all secrecy. He also attributes it to Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838), who was perhaps the first professional civil servant. Ever selfish, Talleyrand proved the perfect servant to the Napoleonic Era; as Napoleon said, "Principles are fine; they don't commit you to anything." The Ruin of Kasch is about Talleyrand, but also, Italo Calvino notes, "about everything else." It's a whirlwind of a book, sometimes maddeningly so. It is one to pick up, ponder, put down, argue with, and then resume reading until the next argument pops up a page or two later.

                          Customer Reviews:

                          5 out of 5 stars Brilliant meditation on Modernity.......2005-03-17

                          Calasso is one of the greatest modern writers, and his work defies all generic conventions: a fascinating blend of history, poetry, scholarship, and philosophy. The era of great artists and masterpieces has perhaps passed, but there is still room for a genius like Calasso to write this postmodern pastiche. This work is a profound meditation on modernity, which he considers as beginning with the French Revolution. He considers the history of the French Revolution and its aftermath, and especially the role of Tallyrand, whom Calasso find fascinating for many reasons. Beyond the French Revolution, however, Calasso ranges far and wide, from Max Stirner to Marx to Nietzsche to Dostoevsky to Melville and even back to Hindu mythology. The coherency of this book is at the level of poetry or an epic novel such as Moby Dick, not at the level of logical argument. Those looking for a tightly focused argument or linear history should go elsewhere; those capable of appreciating a poetic and philosophic historically-informed mediation on the problem of our identity as moderns will read and savor this unique performance.

                          2 out of 5 stars Disappointment.......2003-05-13

                          After reading the wonderful book, The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony, I was expecting great things from The Ruin of Kasch. Unfortunately this disjointed, disorganized, collection of odds and ends never seems to pull together into any cohesive whole. The tid-bits about the life of Talleyrand were not substantial enough to maintain a narrative thread throughout the entire book. There wasn't enough cohesion around the Talleyrand sections to begin to say this was really commentary on this fascinating personality. Read The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony twice rather than read this book once.

                          3 out of 5 stars Fragmata and Obscurata.......2001-07-12

                          Very odd book. Full of nostalgia for the aristocracy of France, not unlike Nietzsche's nostalgia for the aristocracy of Rome and Greece. It is highly disjointed, indeed ofter incoherent relying upon dense references to obscure figures in the 18th Century. There is a thread of Rimbaud running through the text There are brilliant moments and insights, but no follow through or exposition. It is fragmata, obscurata, anecdotes, quotes from belles letres and diaries. Its central theme is musings on the loss of aristocratic legitimacy and the rise of the democratic mob. Worth reading if the French revolutionary period interests you and you are familiar with European culture of that period.

                          3 out of 5 stars calasso's book is a brilliant mess.......1997-08-17

                          Since I much admired Calasso's first book, The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony, I looked forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, it is a mess. Although full of interesting bits, the pieces fail to add up to a satisfying whole. The author is never able to define what he means by "modern" except to provide ever more anecdotes about Talleyrand. These are intriguing but unsatisfying. Calasso seems nostalgic for an old world when myths, customs, magic were taken seriously. But it is hard to be sure if even this nostalgia is the point of the book. Still one can't help but admire the wide ranging knowledge of this author and his sometimes eloquent writing
                          Ruin of Kasch
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Ruin of Kasch
                            Roberto Calasso
                            Manufacturer: Belknap Press
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Hardcover
                            ASIN: B000O6MFOY
                            The Ruin of Kasch
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              The Ruin of Kasch
                              ROBERTO CALASSO
                              Manufacturer: The Belknap Press of Harvard University
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover
                              ASIN: B000NXCT9O

                              The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science
                              Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                              • 5 Unsolved Problems - Or is it 100's
                              • Fine introduction for the general reader
                              • A Fun Way to Discover the Intriguing
                              • A survey course in Science
                              The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science
                              Arthur W. Wiggins , and Charles M. Wynn
                              Manufacturer: Wiley
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Paperback

                              Curiosities & WondersCuriosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                              History of ScienceHistory of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
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                              Similar Items:
                              1. The Five Biggest Ideas in Science (Wiley Popular Science) The Five Biggest Ideas in Science (Wiley Popular Science)
                              2. 101 Things You Don't Know About Science and No One Else Does Either 101 Things You Don't Know About Science and No One Else Does Either
                              3. Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction : Where Real Science Ends...and Pseudoscience Begins Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction : Where Real Science Ends...and Pseudoscience Begins

                              ASIN: 0471268089

                              Book Description

                              An in-depth look at the theories behind the most intriguing puzzles in physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy
                              In The Five Biggest Ideas in Science, authors Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn discussed science's most important current ideas. Now, they tackle the questions that science has been unable to answer-so far. Choosing one unsolved problem from each discipline, they explore the current scientific thinking behind these questions: How are particle masses determined? How did simple atoms first combine to form complex molecules? What role does the genome play in the development of life? Why is it so difficult to predict the weather? And what is the future of the universe? Featuring cartoons by Sidney Harris, the book includes discussions of recent theories such as the God particle, string theory, "brane" theories, and the Theory of Everything and also explores other science questions.
                              Arthur W. Wiggins (Farmington Hills, MI) is a Professor of Physics at Oakland Community College in Michigan. Charles M. Wynn (Willimantic, CT) is a Professor of Chemistry at Eastern Connecticut State College. They collaborated on The Five Biggest Ideas in Science (0-471-13812-6).

                              Customer Reviews:

                              5 out of 5 stars 5 Unsolved Problems - Or is it 100's.......2005-01-24


                              This book is a GREAT introduction to anyone interested in science, wishing to become better informed about scientific issues, or wanting to know what many of our best scientists are working on right now. It is not particularly deep and is therefore a good primer for the non-scientifically oriented reader.

                              The authors open with a careful discussion of the scientific process. Most of us make our daily life decisions on the basis of tradition, word of mouth, and limited anecdotal experience - and refer more important decisions to a professional. How enlightening it is to be reminded of the rigorous testing, the meticulous standards and procedures, the relentless re-examination in the face of new data, and the necessary grilling by peers that is part of the day to day activity of scientists. Science uses a different language from that used in everyday speech - that language being mathematics. "Because mathematical skills require a great deal of effort to acquire, explaining scientific hypotheses to people not trained in mathematics requires translation of mathematical concepts into conversational language. Unfortunately, the meaning of the hypothesis may suffer in the process."

                              The five unsolved problems are then discussed, one each from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy. Then 27 more are asked in an "appendix" type chapter and given only half-page answers. I like these sorts of books because they help me to maintain general scientific literacy.

                              For every bit of knowledge we gain, new questions invariably arise - that never-ending quest being the nature of science. I personally think we'll still be looking for the TOE (Theory of Everything) in 100 years, but reading about unsolved problems will notify me if string theory is abandoned, if parallel universes are found, or if the complete structure and function of the proteome is ascertained (fat chance). I might add that the running cartoon commentary by Sidney Harris is superb!


                              5 out of 5 stars Fine introduction for the general reader.......2004-08-28

                              This is written by two guys who teach physics (Wiggins) and chemistry (Wynn) at the college level in a reader-friendly manner in which each of the five unsolved problems are presented, explained, and critiqued. Each section is then concluded with indications of how these problems might be solved. There are some nice cartoons by Sidney Harris to augment the text.

                              The five "biggest" problems are (from different disciplines and not without controversy):

                              1. The nature and origin of mass. (Why do some particles have mass while others do not?)

                              It is obvious that we really do not understand the nature of mass from our inability to form a unified theory involving gravity, a theory that would unify quantum mechanics and relativity. Indeed I think physicists are just whistling in the dark when they talk about particles and fields. It's clear to even this casual observer that the real nature of particles/waves, particles/fields is not really understood, and perhaps cannot be understood in anything other than a once or twice removed mathematical sense. We can write equations that describe what we observe, but the intrinsic nature of all phenomena remains veiled. We avoid infinities in the mathematics of physics as a long-observed and much beloved rule (something like Occam's Razor) with the result that we (necessarily) "construct" limits on the physical world like those named after Max Planck. Beyond (or "below," or "under" or "smaller than," etc.) those limits is potentially a whole universe of physics much like what might be beyond the Big Bang in cosmology.

                              Authors Wiggins and Wynn acknowledge that the Standard Model of physics has a "dark side" (p. 30) and that the long-sought Higgs field particle may be a "mathematic convenience." (p. 31) From my point of view everything in physics (and this includes all of string theory) that has not met with experimental proof is possibly a "mathematical convenience." This is not to denigrate physics or physicists. On the contrary. What physicists have accomplished toward an understanding of the world in which we live stands as one of humankind's most glorious achievements. The problem is that (as quoted from J.B.S. Haldane on page 159) "the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose." In other words don't hold your breath for the dreamed-of "Theory of Everything." And if it arrives, don't imagine that "everything" really is "everything."

                              2. How did lifeless chemical reactions become life?

                              The authors present some of the history (Stanley Miller's primordial soup experiment; panspermia, etc.), outline the problems, tell us a little about DNA and RNA, and finish with how the puzzle might be solved and by whom. I would observe that imbedded within this question is a theoretical bugaboo that first needs to be resolved. We have to agreeably define what "life" is before we can hope to make a distinction between very complex but "lifeless" self-replicating molecules and molecules forming living organisms. As such, the problem is one of definition as much as anything else. Clearly if we left out our notion of things living as opposed to things not living, we might discover a step-by-step continuum without a clear demarcation point.

                              3. How do proteins control cells and tissues? ("What is the complete structure and function of the proteome?")

                              The authors note that since the genome has been mapped and sequenced, "the unsolved problem" in biology "has shifted" to "How do protein molecules built from directions provided by [the]...genomes contribute to the structure and function of organisms?" (p. 71) A very complex problem indeed, but at least it is a practical problem and not a theoretical one, and as such (unlike some others in this book) is one that conceivably can be solved through a whole lot of hard work.

                              This is about cells and how they function. The authors reprise the genome mapping and sequencing story, and then point to "Protemics: The Next Frontier."

                              4. Can we predict the weather? (Or, how accurate can our weather predictions be?)

                              This of course is about complexity theory and why that famous butterfly in the Sahara continues to influence the formation of hurricanes in the Carribean.

                              Quick answer: accuracy will continue to fall off as the square of the distance in time. Just joking, but clearly the more lengthy the forecast, the more uncertain it will continue to be.

                              5. Why is the universe expanding faster and faster?

                              Ah, yes. What IS the nature of Einstein's fudge factor that has recently returned? I love this one. The real question is what IS all that dark energy and dark matter out there? As the authors point out only 4%(!) (see page 129) of all the matter in the universe is accounted for in terms of things seen. Seventy-three percent is in the form of dark energy and another 23% in the form of dark matter. It is amazing to realize that over 90% of what exists is stuff we know next to nothing about!

                              A nice part of the book are the "folders" at the back in which many other interesting issues are briefly presented. The problems in the "Problem Folder" are organized according to disciplines, "Physics Problems," Chemistry Problems," etc. There are sixteen ideas in the "Ideas Folder," including such things as anti-matter, protein folding, chaos theory, global warming, and so on.

                              Bottom line: Wiggings and Wynn do a good job of introducing the general reader to what scientists at the horizon are working on. It's really amazing to realize how far we've come as knowledge-seeking creatures, and then to get a glimpse of how incredibly much there is we don't know.

                              5 out of 5 stars A Fun Way to Discover the Intriguing.......2004-07-17

                              We teach subjects not related to the science Wiggins and Wynn address - except in the ways that really matter. For example, reviewer Winston teaches American Government; he finds this book profoundly "usable" in that its point includes the notion (disused in some high political places) that problems can be treated by thinking, and shouldn't be expected to be solved by wish fulfillment and received authority. In this sense the book is a continuation of the earlier "Quantum Leaps in The Wrong Direction," only this time the scientific problems are "harder," as they are particular (albeit big!) quests on which scientists have been working. The pleasure scientists take in the pursuit is communicated in a way that leaves no doubt by the authors, and it is marvelous, breath-taking and invigorating. This is just one of the delights of the book. Another is that there is an unsolved mystery for everyone! The chapter sub-headings are a great device and most welcome. The pictures are fascinating and the cartoons are right-on and funny. Reviewer Friedler, who teaches creative and expository writing, finds the book accessible and readable in its well-timed understatement and clever analogy, and in its style and conceptual clarity. It flows and the reader understands. This is not an easy thing, given the mighty topics. We highly recommend this delightful book for its captivating material and entertaining reading.

                              4 out of 5 stars A survey course in Science.......2004-07-16

                              This is like a condensed survey course of various facets of Science. The authors cut to the chase by focusing on one major unsolved problem in each discipline. Their breadth of knowledge is impressive and their presentations are comprehensible for laymen like me. I was particularly attracted to the question "How was the first living thing formed?" and also "Why is the universe expanding faster and faster?". The accompanying cartoons are well done. The ideas folder at the end touches on many current news topics like greenhouse gases and genetic engineering. An interesting read for those who wonder "Why?".
                              The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science

                                Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Hardcover
                                ASIN: 0739436988

                                Environmental Awareness Activities for Librarians and Teachers: 20 Interdisciplinary Units for Use in Grades 2-8
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  Environmental Awareness Activities for Librarians and Teachers: 20 Interdisciplinary Units for Use in Grades 2-8
                                  Martha Seif Simpson
                                  Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Paperback

                                  GeneralGeneral | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                  GeneralGeneral | Elementary School | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                  Lesson PlanningLesson Planning | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                  Living on the LandLiving on the Land | Ecology | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Architecture | Hunting & Fishing
                                  GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
                                  GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
                                  ASIN: 0786400641

                                  Book Description

                                  The 20 environmental units here are divided into three broad categories (Our Planet's Resources, Our Planet's Natural Habitats, and Preserving Our Planet), and include such subjects as the atmosphere, water, energy, seas and oceans, rain forests, grasslands, urban environments, and waste and recycling. Each unit gives specific activities in library skills, arts and crafts, spelling and vocabulary, geography, math, music and theater arts, English composition, science, history and sociology, and other topics for discussion for grades two through eight. Suggested resources, additional reading lists and a list of addresses to write to for further information conclude each environmental unit.

                                  Books:

                                  1. Executive Report on Strategies in United Kingdom, 2000 edition (Strategic Planning Series)
                                  2. Feng Shui at Work : Arranging Your Work Space to Achieve Peak Performance and Maximum Profit
                                  3. Focus Factor: Strategic Planning for Entrepreneurial Companies
                                  4. Follow this Path: How the World's Greatest Organizations Drive Growth by Unleashing Human Potential
                                  5. Framebreak: The Radical Redesign of American Business (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series)
                                  6. Get a Jump Midwest 2001 (Peterson's Get a Jump)
                                  7. Goldman Sachs: The VaultReports.com Employer Profile for Job Seekers (Vault.Com Employer Profile)
                                  8. Guide for the Pissed-Off Job-Seeker: Angry? Good! Use That Anger to Get Work!
                                  9. Habit$ of Wealth: 111 Proven Entrepreneurial Strategies for Achieving and Leading in the '90s
                                  10. History of Regional Science and the Regional Science Association International: The Beginnings and Early History

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