Very well written, comprehensive, accurate and error-free; the best treatment on the topic to date. Great as an intro, great as a reference, great as a study-guide for Cisco CVoice test (640-647).

Keagy writes clearly and concisely. Advanced concepts are carefully explained, and Keagy draws frequently metaphors to the data network world to clarify new ideas. The material is very up-to-date, and Keagy carefully notes which standards are evolving and where to look for the latest information.

Keagy builds a thorough theoretical foundation for each topic before moving to specific technical configurations. Keagy's emphasis is on the theoretical, and readers might want to follow the author's links to other resources for advanced configurations. The author provides many practical suggestions, like how to handle fax machines in a packet voice environment.

This book was not written as a CVoice prep book but it works well for that purpose. Read the book carefully, then study Cisco voice hardware and VoX configuration commands.

If you need to understand this topic start with this book. I am a conflict-free reviewer in no way affiliated with the author.

I specialize in voice/data interworking and this is, by far, the best (single) book on the market for anyone working in this area. Just the coverage of telephony concepts alone is worth the cost of the book. This one is definitely going to be a classic in the same way as "Top Down Network Design" is. Frankly, this book has so much good information in it I wouldn't even know where to begin reviewing it.

That said, there are a few very minor issues I have with the book. For example, the coverage of some topics (like W/RED and TCP), while very well-written, has little to do with voice. The section on ATM is pretty sparse, and the author occasionally makes some statements that seem somewhat strange and point to a somewhat Cisco-centric mindset (e.g. claiming that SONET doesn't have a relationship to voice technology -- the primary goal of SONET was carrying TDM (read : voice) traffic.). The treatment of the E and EIR models was very good, but coverage of voice quality testing in general could have been somewhat better.

Overall though, this is a book I would wholeheartedly recommend. If you only own one book on voice and data, this is the one (if fact, it could very well be the only one you need.)

I'm a qualified Cisco CCSI/Microsoft course trainer, and needed a book to get me started in the area of Voice networks in a reasonably technical, practical and non-trivial manner. I definitely found it in this book. Keagy provided an excellent overview of the operational details of voice networks & SS7, and married this well to Voice-IP networks and WAN technologies. It was refreshing in that, although Cisco oriented, you are thankfully spared the worst of Cisco's product placement sales pitch (for which you'd need the CVoice book). In fact I can concur with other reviewers in that Keagy's obvious practical experience, mature expressive style with plenty of useful figures/illustrations (which I personally as a trainer really appreciate) and ability to impart knowledge in an enjoyable worldly manner shine throughout in the text in a style that is remniscent of Doyle Routing - I look forward to more books by Keagy (hopefully his wife will let him :o)
Although you can buy books that cover the individual chapters in more detail (Keagy provides numerous references), this single tome is a must for anyone breaking into the trendy area of Voice from a predominantly data networking background.

I read this book in one sitting, and was completely intrigued by the world of rowing which I knew nothing about before. These guys are insane, training hard with no big bucks down the line, and Brad Lewis had to not only fight against pain but against the "old-boy" silver jockstrap preppy rowing establishment, which stood in his way. Well, the good news is that he went for his dream, and realized it. The dude copped the gold!! The book is gripping, the prose is clean, the emotions very honest, and there is no drippy sentiment to muddle the read. What I don't understand is why the squeeky little pre-pubescent tumblers get all the headlines, when these giant brutes of rowers compete in a sport which is ancient -- from Polynesia to the galley slaves, these crew guys are throwbacks. This is fascinating stuff. I'm glad I stumbled on this book and I recommend it to anyone interested in America or American sports. Ultimately it is ! ! about one man's assault on the limits, personal, political and mental. Check this book out.

Brad Lewis' "Assault on Lake Casitas" is bar none the finest book ever written, not just on the sport of rowing, but on the unflaging pursuit of excellence. A powerfully gripping read from cover to cover, Lewis's description of the training, trials, heats and finals of his 1984 olympic campaign captures the essence of competitive rowing. Like many of the other reviewers, I too read Lewis' heart stopping description of his Grand Final race before races-no other book captures with such power the emotions which crew illicits. A triumph of determination and perseverence, Lewis' story is a great, great read.

An impossible dream. This book takes you inside the head of someone determined to win an Olympic rowing gold medal. In spite of every hurdle thrown at him, Brad Lewis forces his way to the finish line. He leaves nothing on the table in his relentless and unique approach to reaching rowing perfection. The odds against Brad even making the team are incredible, let alone winning a medal. This book is for anyone wondering what it really means to "go for it!"

I was so pleased when I first read "Once..." The stories and poems were written perfectly with children and parents in mind. The book is written in a narrative style and therefore makes reading to my child easy. The morals hidden in the stories helps me share important issues with children without the usual lectures.

The stories are the right length especially for bedtimes. Perfect to read to younger children, this book is also great for older children to read to their parents or to their younger siblings.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it not only a great story book for children, but also, a useful tool for parents, schools, libraries and even Sunday Schools. Well done....

"Once.." really does have it all. Great stories, funny characters, wonderful morals, and cute lovable illustrations. I really hope this book wins an award. It really is a great buy, my kids loved it and I enjoy reading it to them. I hope there is a "Once II..." or at least a follow up? Amazon...do you know if that will happen? Let us know.

I bought this book as a gift and loved it so much I kept it for myself (I did buy another replacement). Once is great for kids, absolutley perfect, but it really makes great reading for adults too. The morals of these stories are applicable to growns ups as much as children.

I would highly recommend this book. Funny, bright and most of all meaningful.

I can not say enough about this wonderful book. When my child was first diagnosed with food allergies I was extremly stressed out. I came on-line and read as much as I could and purchased several books to learn how to cope. This book offers real life solutions for parents who can not stop their entire lives. The author makes suggestions on how to survive day to day as well as on vacations and at birthday parties. She offers several recipes for kid food and everything I have tried has been great. This is the best, most comprehensive book on the subject.

Marianne Barber has written a comprehensive resource manual in plain English and with her incredible writing style, establishes a connection with each of her readers. As the Director of the Food Allergy Initiative, ..., I strongly encourage every parent, grand-parent, aunt, uncle, and friend of a food allergic child to read this book. She covers every issue and provides real solutions to keep your child safe and help you keep your sanity. Marianne, thank you for supporting the food allergic community with this wonderful resource.

I have read several books, and this one is the best. The book contains useful information for explaining the different types of food allergies, and chances for outgrowing these allergies. It also offers sympathy for parents of kids with food allergies and let's you know you are not alone in your fears and struggles. Most importantly, the book has GREAT recipes that are easy to make that the whole family will enjoy. I regulary make the zucchini and banana breads for my dairy and egg allergic son to take to school for snacks. Terrific book!!

The Jewel in the Crown is a novel that combines a story of romantic love, a heinous crime and its consequences, and a detailed account of the social and political aspects of life in Colonial India, at a time when British rule was nearing collapse. It also presents the reader with several ironical situations which, if they accomplish nothing in their own right, serve to heighten one's understanding of the hopelessness of any form of reconciliation between the Britons and Indians that could erase more than a century of colonial oppression and native resistance. However, behind all of this, and also in front of it, one basic theme dominates the scene: As Mr. Scott writes in Part Five, the section devoted to 'Young Kumar', 'In India an Indian and an Englishman could never meet on the same terms.' This inescapable fact is what dooms the relationship between Daphne Manners, an English girl living in Mayapore, India, and Hari Kumar, an Indian who was brought up in England. It is Miss Crane's failure to recognise this unequivocal rule that leads to her undoing. It is possible that Paul Scott's main goal in publishing The Jewel in the Crown was to prove that by 1942, after a long history of racism, colonial oppression, and violent native uprisings, the British had no choice but to 'Quit India.' The time when the turbulent events of Great Britain and India's common history could still have been resolved had long since passed. The story was closed; the outcome inevitable. Daphne and Hari's failed attempt to break the old social barrier pushes the reader's hope of British-Indian reconciliation to the ground, and the terrible and ironic fate of the two lovers, and of Miss Crane, all champions of tolerance and understanding among the English and Indian populations living in India, drives that hope into the dust.

Hari Kumar's father made every effort to ensure his son would grow up to become the perfect Anglo-Indian executive. Hari was raised in England and was attended by a governess and later a tutor. He attended Chillingborough a top school known for its production of British Civil Servants. Eventually, Hari was to return to India to work for the Indian Civil Service. Unfortunately, external forces disrupted his life and although he returned to India, it was not in the circumstances his father had planned. THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is the story of Hari's life.

THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is Book I in the series written by Paul Scott known as the Raj Quartet. JEWEL is a complete novel, but it also lays the groundwork for the three other books in the series. The later books elaborate the story laid out in Book 1. Although Hari is absent from large sections of the text in Books 2-4, he is the main character from the beginning to the end. He is the invisible presence who haunts the other characters. He may symbolize India, but As Daphne Manners says in her journal, he is his own simile.

JEWEL takes place in 1942, mostly in India. Hari's story is a composite developed from many viewpoints--court depositions, recorded hearing proceedings, journals, and the personal remembrances of those who him. The narrator piecing the story together appears to be a writer or reporter describing the so-called Mayapore riots of 1942 and their aftermath in the years following. Pandit Baba, an Indian scholar, says in a Book 2 that the word "riot" is a misnomer. The English say it was a riot but the Indians say it was a lawful protest by a people who had suffered outrage and wanted Independance.

The Raj Quartet reminds me of Jane Austin's novels --especially her later books MANSFIELD PARK and EMMA. Like Austin, Scott has a keen understanding of human nature. His characterizations of Harry and Daphne are flawless. He builds them one fine layer at a time until the reader is convinced they must have been "real" people. Scott also describes an historical place and the people who lived in it with what the reader can only believe is verismilitude. Like Austin, Scott brings an exquisite sense of timing to his storyline. The near misses and plot twists leave the reader breathless. And,like Austin, Scott's sense of irony is so deftly incorporated one can only wonder at the various possible interpretations of the text.

JEWEL like India is difficult to understand. Scott has written his book in English, and as Hari Kumar's father said, English is a beautiful language but "it cannot be called truthful because its subtleties are infinite. It is the language of a people who have probably earned their reputation for perfidy."

Perhaps one of the greatest and sadly unsung works of 20th Century Fiction, Paul Scott's Raj Quartet begins with the startling JEWEL IN THE CROWN, the heartbreaking story of young Daphne Manners, an idealistic English nurse living in Mayapore, India, where she meets and falls controversially in love with the British-educated, Indian born Hari Kumar. When Daphne is raped, the innocent Hari is blamed in a set up by the villainous Ronald Merrick. A searing indictment of the Raj's cruel presence in war-time India, this novel is a stunningly powerful read.

Of all the books that profess to take you behind the scenes of a typical race team, this is the most engaging and interesting. As a die-hard fan of the sport, I have read most such books and they are generally either written by writers who aren't fans or fans who aren't writers, whereas this writer clearly is both. He manages to make the mundane interesting; perhaps the most dramatic part of the book is the second round qualifying attempt.

If you want to read one book about NASCAR, I recommend this one. Not because it's a hand-holding introduction, but because it's the best. It just does such a great job describing so many aspects of NASCAR. The organizing principle of the book is to examine a week in the life of Kenny Wallace's Square D Racing Team, but along the way, the author looks at NASCAR's personalities, history, technology, tracks, and fans. Huler has a real flair for description, and a genuine but not fawning affection for the sport.

I've also read Shaun Assael's "Wide Open" and Paul Hemphill's "Wheels," which are similar in many ways but to my mind are both inferior. Assael's book seemed flat compared to Huler's, though fans of Dave Marcis and Bobby Hamilton may enjoy the coverage that those drivers receive in "Wide Open." Hemphill's book spent a lot of time on a thesis that I soon found repetitively handled: NASCAR was once the province of the Southern working man but is now corporate entertainment. Both Assael and Hemphill follow NASCAR for a whole season and seem to get bored with it. Huler stays focused on a shorter timespan to much better effect.

I've read some more technical approaches to NASCAR as well, and found that Huler almost always snuck the information in those books into "A Little Bit Sideways."

Although I find this the best introduction to NASCAR because it's so engaging to read and so comprehensive in the bargain, those who are interested in learning more about NASCAR might also try "NASCAR for Dummies" by Mark "Awesome!" Martin and Juliet Macur. That book lacks Huler's style and story-line, but it does have a lot of interesting information about NASCAR, including some tidbits on strategy and technology that I haven't seen elsewhere.

I have no interest what-so-ever in NASCAR. However, I recognized Scott Huler from a former life and had to pick up the book when I spotted it at Borders. Mr. Huler is an excellent writer who manages to bring his readers to the scene of his subject matters. He makes anything he writes sound interesting. I hope that Mr. Huler continues to write more, and would read anything he writes! I wish him success in his book. A must-read if you're into NASCAR, or just looking for a good read!

Business and career models, like everything else, are constantly changing. Those that don't recognize this, and join in the change, get left behind - harsh, but true. Future Choice is a brilliant description of why network marketing is among the very best career and business models as we enter the 21st century. If you are wondering why your spare time and money is getting smaller and smaller - if you are feeling the pinch - then in could be that the model you are in just isn't working as good as it used to. I came from a very traditional business and professional background, having run several successful businesses and practiced law for 23 years. Without any facts to back me up, I had a negative feeling about network marketing. Future Choice gave me the facts, and armed with those it became very clear to me that an alternative model was coming on strong - and that I needed to be part of it.

Are you interested in presenting your Network Marketingbusiness as a legitimate, smart career choice in a style that willinterest all your prospects? Then Future Choice is the book you need to explain Network Marketing.

Intelligent, informative, persuasive yet reserved, Future Choice can help you sponsor even your most skeptical prospect. Why? Because Future Choice delivers a perfectly balanced and understandable presentation of the Network Marketing opportunity...you get the hard facts side by side with inspiring anecdotes, and a sense of Network Marketing's relationship to the rest of the business world, including how your prospect will benefit.

Helping your prospects make the very best choice for their future is the surest way to grow your own organization. And with Future Choice prospecting for you, that decision will be much easier. Show your prospects why Network Marketing is their best career move! Order 10 copies of Future Choice today...get them into the hands of your 10 best prospects and start securing your future! -Upline® Journal, 1998

A superb book, covers all the basics about what Network Marketing is all about. Really makes you think about what could be if you just commit to the process, and that's exciting! Clarifies any myths about this style of business. For networkers already in the business, Future Choice acts as a great barometre that let's you know from the true leaders and visionaries in the field that you're on right track, when you hear their stories. It sure helped address a few questions for me and confirmed that I too had made the right choice - both in the book and in choosing Network Marketing to build my future!

This book was a great surprise for me. I picked it up at a local library because I saw the name Mowat and thought, "Funny, Isn't he a Canadian naturalist? What's he doing in the History section?" What followed was a fascinating voyage of war,adventure,hilarity and,ultimately,tragedy and pain. Walking into the experience of WWII with a completely innocent demeanor, anxious to get into a fight, this brilliant writer has many funny and almost fatal false starts. When the fighting gets serious, the glib descriptions of his units treacherous challenges are positively riveting. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. If you like your war personal, exciting and honest, get this book to a comfortable chair and be prepared to not move for a night and a day. A brilliant book by a Canadian national treasure.

Thrilling book. I was "Forced" to read a book by Farley Mowat for my OAC Can. Lit. course, and I was quite impressed. In a world of pro-american war stories, books and movies, this is an excellent relief and view into the Canadian side of the war, on a front that we don't often read about or see in the media. The Italian front, and the battle for Rome.

A groupd of Canadian troops, a platoon of Intelligence personell led by Mowat's character, land in Italy, expecting harsh, bloody battles, to find a walk through, the only troops they encounter is a platoon of British Commandoes. The Long, hot walk to Sicily is met with no resistance, and no food, water and new clothes. As our hero watches birds from an APC, they ride into a mild German Ambush.

This book combines humour, when our hero and an associate ride on a motorbike through Italian antitank defences into an Italian base, to inspect "resistance", the Italians provide trucks and a limo for the tired Canadians, as well as horrific battle scenes, whole platoons lost under artillery. The visual words and imagery make this as much a movie as a book, a definate read for vets, baby boomers and rebelious teens alike.

Undeniably the best war memoir written by a Canadian who served in the Second World War. The book chronicles Mowat's experiences in 1943 as a participant in the invasion of Sicily and Italy, and in classic Mowat style captures both the stark reality and lighter side of his experiences. Mowat also wrote a history of his unit--one of the first books he published, and which was later revised (and is somewhat difficult to find at the moment)--entitled The Regiment.

This is a very good book if you are using and JDK 1.1.x and Visibroker for java 3.x.

If you are using Visibroker 4.0 and jdk 1.2 , you may need to read the Visibroker 4.0 documentation on compatability issues before using this book.

There are also some minor typing errors.

Overall This is a great book.

This book is by far the best handbook for any development tool I've ever read. I recommend it to anyone who has a vague interest in learning how to program with the VisiBroker for Java.

Too many CORBA/JAVA books just discuss the CORBA in a high level and throw a lot of terms in the first chapter and make the readers frustrated. (Something I thought those authors just do a simple copy and paste from other sources). "The official VisiBroker for Java" is different. It is an excellent and practical book. It is the first CORBA book I can read throught the first three chapter after try many others.

The Puzzle
by Tracie J. Scott

The Puzzle, by Tracie J. Scott, is an intriguing read. Vergie White has everything going for her. She has a hardworking husband, a wonderful job, loving parents, and an unshakable bond with her best friend. Things couldn't be sweeter, right? Wrong. Due to several unexpected changes in her world, Vergie is forced to face the fact that life is not as great as it seems. Without warning, Vergie suddenly finds herself on the path of self-discovery, leading her on the road of unfamiliar territory. When she reaches the cross roads of change, she digs deep to find the courage to continue on her journey. A journey that proves painful, yet necessary for Vergie to discover who she is and what she really wants out of life.

This book held my attention from the beginning. The author made the characters interesting and easy to identify with. At times, there were some scenes that seemed a bit far-fetched, but not overly so. The twists and turns in the plot were the strength of Scott's writing. If you're looking for an exciting and eventful read, I recommend The Puzzle.

T. Rhythm Knight
...

Tracie J. Scott's first effort is sensational! As a member of a Book Club, I read lots of books and this book definitely meets my criteria for a good book. It is refreshing, intriguing, down-to-earth and real.

As a native Houstonian, it was refreshing to read a book where I could recognize the places mentioned (e.g. The Galleria, Shape Community Center, The Children's Museum, etc.). The Puzzle is intriguing from start to finish. I did not want to put it down. The reader can relate to the characters because the book is down-to-earth and real. We have all either been in Vergie's situation or know someone who has. After reading The Puzzle, the reader will definitely have to ask himself/herself a few questions. Are you happy with your life? Are you living a lie?

I would recommend a sequel! This story definitely should be continued. Our lives are all a puzzle and how the story ends depend on how the pieces of "the puzzle" fit together.

THE PUZZLE by Tracie J. Scott is the story of one woman's quest to bring order
into her life. Cynthia Vergie White is the protagonist in THE PUZZLE who is
faced with many circumstances which force her to evaluate her life's course.

Vergie is peacefully married for four years to David. While David is stable
and a good provider, he lacks something in the excitement department. Vergie
has resigned herself to a stable, lackluster existence with David until an old
friend enters into the picture.

Childhood friend and confidant, Kevin James, re-enters Vergie's life at a most
unexpected time, and reacquaints her with feelings that she thought she was no
longer privy to. Add to that the discovery of a family secret, and a friend in
distress, and the end result is a fragmented existence for Vergie.

Ms. Scott tells an engrossing story filled with drama that will capture the
reader from page one. Packed with interesting characters and
events, THE PUZZLE is a satisfying read.

Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers