By far the best book I have found for Web development. Covers the techniques designers must know to create a secure fast Web site.

The discussion of CSS is straight forward and the tricks are clever and valuable.

I don't program, but I was able to cut and paste the Javascript examples into my HTML pages and they worked.

I was able to get a secure site running over the weekend for free! (I'll have to buy a certificate in 2 months), but it's working now. Instructions were easy to follow.

I highly recommend this book.

I must own every HTML book -- almost all of them say the same things -- (the stuff you can find online at w3c). Finally, someone is offering something new.

I like the tip format -- I don't have time to read 600 pages in a weekend. The format made using solutions I found easy.

The book does a good job with ASP and PHP ... I wished it would have presented Perl too.

The Javascript and CSS stuff is good -- the examples are actually usable in real-world web pages.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me. I read it in about a week. It was very simple and understandable. Plus I learned some very intresting things I never knew about CSS.

I've been waiting for this book for about 10 years or so... that's how long it's been since Penn & Teller deified Mac in their book "How to Play With Your Food". The title changed slightly (originally, they said to look for "Playing With Your Head"), and in that time, I had the opportunity to see Mac perform on a few "World's greatest magicians" type specials. Thus, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. And for the most part, I was right.

The star rating I used above is an average of ratings... if you've never read a book on goofy tricks like these, add a star. The originality will make you snort beverages through your nose when you think about poking your eyeball out with a fork. Gruesome as it sounds, I've done it before, and it's a great gag. Mac even suggests two different outcomes for you to try, depending on how far you want to string the audience along. The novelty of it all will also make you a little more forgiving for certain tricks like sticking a french fry up your nose (to keep more beverages from coming out, of course).

On the downside, if you have read books like this before, deduct a star. There is enough original material here to make up for gags that seem like old chestnuts, and the writing is entertaining and instructive. Regardless, you'll still feel like you've seen a bunch of this already, and odds are you will have.

These are not only simple kiddie tomfoolery tricks. There are easily 20 stunts/tricks worth the price of the book. They can be incorporated into various situations. The reactions youll get are from shreiks of horror( the eye sreamer) till astounded laughter (eg headless wonder). I performed 90% of the material on my poor wife yesterday. All brought the desired reaction (which even amazed me). The material can be incorporated into all routines, for different ages and even into a professional magicians repertoire. The benign looking booking is packed with show stopper after show stopper. In all there are about 50 tricks, stunts etc. They can win you friends or lose you friends. Use them wisely. Penn and Teller are right about Mac King. In fact this book is too good to be revealed to the general public. I have a huge range of magic books, much more expensive than this, and for sheer reaction (shocked, disgusted, astonished, amused), this matches the very best. OK OK . I am not Mac Kings relative, agent or friend, but a grateful amateur magician.

I was completely surprised at how hilarious this is book is to read. I thought it might simply be a 'how-to' book for learning funny magic tricks, but I read the whole thing through at one sitting just because the writing style is so entertaining. I don't mean to dismiss the tricks, they too are really wonderful. And surprisingly easy to do. My favorites are 'The Headless Wonder' (it looks like your head is gone), 'Smack' (you get to hit your friend in the face only to have them laugh about it), and 'The Wonderful Telephone Trick.' Actually 'The Wondeful Telephone Trick' is the reason I bought this book in the first place. I heard Mac King demonstrate it on a local radio show. I have now bought 3 more copies of this book as gifts for my niece and nephews, and they all loved it (they're 17, 12, and 9 years old). But it's not just for kids (I'm 32 years old myself). If you like fooling your family and friends or just playing goofy practical jokes I think you'll find many great things in this book.

Victor Koman writes very good fiction, with "Solomon's Knife" being one of my favorites. In many respects he has done it again with this novel. It has both greatly inspiring and truly horrific scenes, and has certainly changed the way I feel about the space program (with the recent tragic loss of Columbia only underscoring this). He tells a rousing tale, and does it well. Many of the characters are fascinating, and I agree with the other reviewers who have pointed out the similarities of the arch villan to Rand's Ellsworth Toohey. I loved the wide range of competing private space projects, and the group of college students, while I felt were the most implausible builders, did inject a valued dose of humor into the story. I also loved the SSTO space station.
Where I disagree with the author is in his painting of a giant conspiracy by NASA and the United Nations to keep mankind earthbound. I well know the temptation of this, having given in to it myself. Government is incompetent. They can't operate a successful conspiracy to bug the offices of their political opponents! Sure these sad little losers would hate to see humans forever beyond their reach. But they are infighting twerps who cant think beyond the next Federal election. Not grand masterminds of evil with the power and ommiscience of gods. Having said that, this is well worth reading, and I'm very glad I did so.

I recieved my copy of this fantastic book less than 24 hours ago and have read it non-stop every waking moment until I finished it a few minutes ago. I recall clearly the day that man walked on the Moon, being a wide-eyed 6-year-old at the time, I knew at that time that one day, I would HAVE to go into space myself.

This novel re-awakened that 30-year-old dream to be in space myself. It's characterers are intellegent and determined to not let governments be the monopolizers of the high frontier, so several groups unaware of each other's plans, at first, each begin constrution on ships that will let them break free of the Earth and it's suffocating States.

Find yourself a copy... And dare to dream!

From the first sentence you are hooked. That's how good it is.

Victor Koman, who I have the honor to have exchanged emails with once, is a (extreemly unfairly) overlooked author of a first-rated talent. In this Kings of the High Frontier, we are introducted to wide varisty of characters who are fated to meet in one way or another in their struggle to achieve their common dream: to reach space. In his and her own way, each have to contents with powerful and bloated beast of the Federal Government and its lapdogs at NASA and national security gangesters who fears the potential of private space transportation because in space, men and women will gain access to unlimited wealth and freedom with many resources in the system waiting untapped. It's rather tough to regulate and to tax free men when a station can simply pick up and move to another location farther out, not to meation like how will you settle the issuse of which states to do the taxing. Short answer, you can't.

But to get there, you have to create a private transportation first.

That's the heart of this novel. Different people, from graduate school at NYU to internet to the dusty sands of White Sands testing ground, take the proved concepts from various sources and build their own version in the race againest time, each other, and the NASA to be the first private ship into low earth orbit. Everythng is here, ambition, passion, coruption, power struggle, friendship, joy of challenge and romance. Romance is the emotion that engerize this novel, romance of freedom, of space and of love.

If you want a book that will keep up up all night and be thrilled with the imagination and love of charcters who dared to keep their dreams alive, then brother, this is the one for you!

Excellent Work, another Master piece from Prof.King. It is really useful guide like a instructor for the people who wants to become a Java programmer. Each aspect of the java programming has been explained so well and provides lot of clarity for Object Oriented Programming. Having read this book from begining to end, I have confidently moving with the journey to java programming.

I came to this book with almost no programming experience but good analytical abilities. I wanted to learn the equivalent of what is covered by a CS1 course, and this book fit my needs exactly. This book is an interesting read, clearly introduces topics, and avoids unnecessary wordiness. The exercises and programming projects are thorough. There are always one or two more lengthy projects included in each chapter for those who want the challenge. I used this book to learn Java on my own, and I found myself eager to open it each day. I agree that there is no coverage of Swing, but there are other books devoted to that topic which one could move on to. I highly recommend this for those who are new to object-oriented programming and want their first taste of what this field is about.

Once again K.N. King produced a masterpiece. This book is the best book that I have ever read for students with no prior programming experience. In addition I believe that professional non-Java programmers can gain unique insight and a bottom up understanding of the Java language and of object oriented concepts by reading this book. The text is clear, thorough, and chock full of great examples and projects. If you want to learn Java this book will take you there. You will not learn applets, servlets, EJB, etc. However when you finish you will have a deep understanding of the language and will be more ready then most people to tackle the other technologies.

I do not remember seeing the entire length of Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial nearly forty years ago. As I was preparing to speak to a group of high schools students in a program titled AVID --- Advancement Via Individual Determination --- I was excited by the thought of seeing Dr. King's speech. What better example of a leader with an inspiring vision for the future? What better example of someone who put their skills and experience to their highest and best use to fulfill their dream? What better example of someone who gave their life to something of value and significance?

Dr. King did not disappoint me. As I strained to pick out his figure --- nearly lost in a sea of over 300,000 faces crowded beneath the Lincoln Memorial --- I heard the voice that stirred souls to action in tumultuous times. I heard the cadence, rhythm, and volume of it. I heard the phrases rising and falling like waves crashing on the shore. I felt a lump in my throat as I considered the power and importance of the message.

And I wondered if we are already too far removed from this message. Nearly two generations hence, are we closer to Dr. King's dream? Does today's generation understand the price paid for its freedom? Are we cultivating leaders who will rise to the needs of tomorrow? Leaders of character, integrity, vision, action, teamwork, and service? This was the example and spirit I sought to inspire those students.

I was, however, disappointed by the quality and integrity of the video. I was at first surprised to hear Peter Jennings of ABC News narrating the video. As I watched, it became clear the content of the video was an excerpt from a narrative on the life of Dr. King, yet I could find no credit to Mr. Jennings, ABC News, or other source material. It ended abruptly as if it had been hastily or carelessly editted. I found this distracting and disappointing.

If I had an opportunity to select an alternative source for Dr. King's speech, I would select a better one.

The beautiful illustrations show Dr. King's speech as a dream that is achievable. The image of prayer winning over violence is so powerful that it gives inspiration and hope. The Table of Brotherhood need not be a fantasy, but already is becoming a reality in many parts of the country, as Race Unity Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of June. Share this book with everyone you know who understands what it is to be a member of our HUMAN race, and share the hope. Take it to school, take it to wherever you worship, take it to work... Then take some action to make the dream become a reality!

This book is a beautiful piece of literature. It is pictorial representation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. All of the illustrators are winners of the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. It is a great teaching tool for elementary children to be introduced to MLK and civil rights. I also read to my high school students and they love it too.

"We can always find another widow for Lenin." So threatened Stalin to Lenin's real widow Krupskaya, whom he hated. So absolute was the Communist Party's hold on all aspects of public life in Russia in Stalin's reign, that famous people, who had been praised to the skies just the week before, could be utterly effaced from the public's mind through sheer terror. Once someone fell from favor with the dictator, his name and picture were erased from the public record--even books critical of the person could be proscribed--and to even mention his name might mean prison or worse. This book is the author's attempt to trace the trail of falsification through Stalin-era photos and artworks.

It is a testament to the censor's thoroughness that the trail is quite incomplete. In many cases, the author hasn't been able to find even the name of the extirpated individual in the before-and-after photos. Some of the examples given here were taken from the folio albums of the Soviet photographer Rodchenko. After the bureaucrats he had photographed were arrested and shot, he went to work inking and scissoring out his own work, the images of the new non-persons.

The heroic photomontages, with the jut-jawed Bolsheviks vanguarding the masses, are appalling when you think of how many would later be arrested, tortured into accusing themselves of the most heinous, yet baseless, crimes, and then shot. The damned were airbrushed out of the picture, replaced with a stripped-in comrade, or a painted-in pillar or staircase, sometimes leaving a shoe or elbow that the retoucher missed. The Western mind shudders at the slavish worship that Stalin had at his command, to cause such colossal lies to be perpetuated. Read this big, lavishly illustrated book, and get the real picture.

There is a secret inside this book. Inside is a collage showing about 200 people. These people were instrumental in getting Russia's October Revolution off the ground. Stalin is not one of these people. Therefore, to maintain the myth that Stalin and Lenin were the "Two Leaders" of the Revolution, Stalin had to kill off three quarters of the people on the collage because they "knew too much." And the great purges are what the rest of the book is about.

Stalin, more than anyone else in history, has altered the past to serve the present. His censors have visibly altered old photographs in order to remove the latest denounced "traitor to the working class" (or whatever) from old group photographs. With the old Soviet archives now open to the public and ex-Soviet citizens now free to view the unaltered archives in the West, we can see today how extensive this process was.

Trotsky, his chief opponent, was systematically removed from thousands of photographs -- those where he stood next to Lenin. With Trotsky gone, the 'Trotskyists' (however Commrade Stalin defined them) were next. The group photos had to be cropped in order to cover up the dwindling number of Revolutionary heroes. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' pictures is chilling reminder of the immense suffering that Stalin caused to people who were as dedicated to the same ideals as he was -- but not as ruthless.

What would it take to make Hell on earth seem real to you? This profoundly disturbing book had that effect for me.

It might be possible to view this book as humorous. Mr. King's years of patient scholarship have unearthed unmarred originals of photographs that he presents with little or no comment next to what are frequently crudely butchered falsifications of those who fell out of favor with Stalin. Particularly in the age of computer photomanipulation, the alterations are initially comical to twenty-first century eyes.

As one works through the book, however, the comic effect is obliterated by mute evidence of the sheer numbers of people who were expunged year after year from the historical record. Particularly frightening are the official portraits self-censored by relatives of the now-deceased in hopes of forestalling the same fate.

Although not strictly a falsification, of particular interest to me was a picture of the document officially expelling Leon Trotsky from the Communist Party, complete with angry annotations in the margin by Comrade Trotsky himself.

I'd like to believe that the very existence of this book and its photographic record, despite the Soviet attempt of many years to rewrite history, proves that no regime can stifle all unflattering facts about itself for all time. But then I wonder in how many cases, about how many people, they might have been successful. By all means, read this book. Be a witness. Remember the dead. But be warned. The stuff of this history is indeed the stuff of nightmares.

"The King Who Rained"" written & illustrated by Fred Gwynne, Aladdin Paperbacks, / Simon & Schuster 1970

Homonym is the term for words which sound alike but mean different things. Because of its historical roots in both the Germanic and Latin branches of the Indo-European language family, the English language is rich in homonyms. Fred Gwynne, the noted TV actor, plays upon "reign", (from Latin/French roots, and meaning to rule), and the word "rain", from the Old Anglo-Saxon, and meaning "water dropping from the heavens". His front cover shows a king in ermine robes contentedly raining on the countryside, while a young girl, with an umbrella, gazes up at the ruler. This kind of thing continues through the book, making every page funny and interesting.

The illustrations are colorfully done in what appears to be pastel chalks, and Fred Gwynne has probably included some autobiographical drawings as, for example, the Daddy with the mole on his nose is easily recognizable as the TV actor. This book is nicely illustrated and will provide many hours of reading enjoyment and learning.

Personally, I found that the child-reader has to be in the first or second grade, or at least fairly well exposed to the nuances of the English language, or else the play on words, using homonyms, will be lost. The younger children appeared to be interested in the illustrations alone, which are stand-alone funny.

Most people over the age of, say, 28 will remember Fred Gwynne most for his role as the flat-headed, bolt-necked Herman Munster on the TV show, "The Munsters." He also starred in a number of miscellaneous movies and "Car 54, Where Are You?" However, many people do not know that he is a gifted and very humorous author of children's picture books. "The King who Rained" is but one of his fine works for children that plays with language, especially homophones.

Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled differently or have multiple meanings, and this book is full of 'em!! A little girl explains all the odd things she hears her family say, like "Daddy says he has a mole on his nose". The accompanying illustration has a tall, thin man (who looks profoundly like Mr. Gwynne himself) with a small, brown, furry subterranean mammal perched on his nose. Similarly, the girl's mother is "a little horse" sometimes and asks for the throat spray ("when I bring it to her, she calls me a little deer"). The title of the book itself is a wonderful play on words as well.

Mr. G. has written and illustrated three books of homophones, "The King Who Rained" as well as "A Chocolate Mouse for Dinner" and "A Little Pigeon Toad". He's also written a beautiful and very funny book about a girl taking her mutt dog to a dog show, "Easy to See Why."

All these books by Mr. Gwynne are easy to read and lavishly illustrated with large pictures. They're perfect choices to bring into any classroom to illustrate English homonyms and idiom. When I use them in class, I encourage students to create their own (of course, I also love to tell them a bit about Mr. Gwynne the actor, too!!). This and other works by Mr. G. come highly recommended!!

I came across this book about 25 years ago quite by accident and have treasured it (and all the Fred Gwynne books) since. Remember Fred? He played Herman Munster on TV... and was in the old "Car 54, where are you?" show. Little did I know he was a talented children's author/illustrator. The drawings are as precious as the text... some of them resemble Fred (and I assume his children as well). His perception of how children think of routine phrases like "pigeon-toed" or "a king who reigned [rained]" are delightful. My children are grown now, and I will share these with my grandchildren. They are wonderful.

Anne Graham Lotz's introduction to this small book of daily (morning and evening) devotionals is heart-warming and keys on what made the original of this little book first published in 1794 so widely used --- each morning's and evening's readings are a group of related Bible verses -- nothing more and nothing less. No fluff. And no huge chunk of time is need to get through each short serving. Yet, each day's reading will speak to the heart and mind of the Christian, and provide encouragement, or helpful directions for the day and for life. The last 50 pages or so are more topical in nature, for different subjects such as depression, salvaton and stress -- for anytime throughout the year. This is the one devotional book that will last a lifetime -- it's pure Scripture -- no poems or contrived stories, just God's Word -- timeless. This book is on a par with Oswald Chambers' classic devotinal book "My Utmost for His Highest" but does not include the additional thoughts for meditation that he includes. Chambers' book is great too for a simple daily devotional. The original volume of Daily Light was in the King James Version and this new edition uses the New King James Version, which makes it highly readable. I'm going to give a lot of these books as Christmas gifts to the people that I love.

First compiled by Samuel Bagster for family devotions in the 1790s, this is a sure classic! Daily Light is an excellant way to start and end the day by being in the Scriptures with a morning and evening devotion, everyday. Many devotionals have one verse then a page of man's writing that might not prove helpful. With no interpretation by mankind in Daily Light, you can't go wrong. Even the titles are from a Bible verse. Mr. Bagster presents a lifelong study of the Scriptures with so many relevant verses in this compilation. Although I have had my copy but a short time, I had to purchase copies for my wife and mother after they read in mine. The binding of the Essential Christian Library Series is attractive and should prove durable for many years of use. Daily Light will make an excellant gift for birthdays, holidays, weddings and graduations.

I originally found a copy of this most excellent, and timeless work over 22 years ago in a used book store. I have read it every day since. It is pure scripture, a daily compilation of related verses based on a single theme verse. The Holy always speaks with new thoughts for the same page, no matter how often you read it over the years. It's a treasury of God's thoughts, second only to your Bible. I will continue to give it as a gift to beloved friends 'till the day of His Coming.

I love the way that this book follows on from "Legend". It relates to civil war, and sets things up nicely for the sequel (Quest for lost heros). The leading three characters are fantastic. The badies bring real intrest to the story also. The Dark templar are wicked, but I think the werebeasts known as the Joinings are an absulote master stroke!! The end battle delivers more excitment than that of Legend, espicially the final stand against the Joinings.

After this, read Quest for Lost Heros strait after.

This book is the epitome of what a good heroic fantasy novel is supposed to be. The characters are all to human & run the range of emotions with a clarity that is almost eerie. David Gemmell is without a doubt the BEST fantasy author ever to pick up the pen. Only Paul Edwin Zimmer has written Heroic Fantasy of this caliber (with his 'Dark Border' novels). WARNING-Once you read Gemmell's books, you will have a hard time accepting the cheesy, boring fantasy stuff being pumped out by lesser authors...

A very gripping book it is impossible to put down and it moves the reader to tears at the end. I strongly reccomend this book to all those David Eddings readers as It is 100% better than his books. It is so much easier to read.....

Valley of Fear was a great book! Dang!Mary Stanton can sure bring to life her characters. Unicorns of Balinor is my favorite book no doubt! This book brings to life a vivid image in your head! Hint to all readers-MUST READ ALL BOOKS IN THIS SERIES IN ORDER! I love this book!

Sunchaser the unicorn , Lori , Ari and a unicorn toby are trying to find the Royal scepter and they ask the old mare of the mountain , who tells them they will find in the valley of fear were the black unicorns are. Ari needs it to be the princess of balinor , she just wants to be the ordinary girl she is but she must for Sunchaser the great unicorn and she must for Balinor. So Sunchaser and Toby the unicorns with Lori Sunchasers master and Ari the maid to her go to the valley of fear dressed as soldiers and Ari finds the Royal Secpter but both girls Lori and Ari with Sunchaser fall into the pit and are back at Glacier River Farm.

The Unicorns of Balinor is a very good example of protagonist/antagonist books. Foreshadowing is also displayed very well. I remember when I read it for the first time two years ago, I was kept on the edge of my seat because the story line is very addicting and suspenseful. It's hard not to imagine your self in a woodland watching the old mare of the mountian appear or carefully making your way across the fiery feild (in order to recliam the royal septer from the evil shifter).

True, the book ends very abruptly, but that is why it is in a series. This is not; however, a series you can read out of order. Trust me, I have tried to do that. It doesn't work.