Life's Grandeur or Considering the Full House
A Review of Stephen Jay Gould, Life's Grandeur, the Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin.
Stephen Jay Gould does an excellent job again, this time a very thorough introduction into statistical analysis with regard to natural systems and baseball. One must pay attention when reading Gould, but otherwise he gives insight to the world of science, particularly Palaeontology and Evolutionary Biology.
Don't be put off by the Baseball introduction, it's his way of explaining some facts about systems that reveal themselves when considering the statistics and why our tendency to use averages and means to describe something often gives a distorted picture of the whole system that can give a false trend. The whole system, by the way, is the "Full House".
Being pattern recognition creatures, we can identify trends early on and can act to avoid disaster or take advantage for profit quite frequently, but we also see trends where none exist by looking at limited data, or from a skewed viewpoint. Gould initially explains this with his baseball example which he sufficiently covers so someone like me can understand it, (I live in Australia and culturally more likely to understand Cricket than some North American game).
The issue he uses with Baseball is the 0.400 average hit rates for the batter. A rate that's frequency has dropped considerably over the last 50 years. Using the batting averages for all the players, with the exception of those that only batted once or twice a series, a curve is drawn. Then a statistical analysis is conducted of the resulting curve, called a Bell curve. The right tail is the part of the curve we are interested in, that is where the 0.400 hist rate resides. Summing all the seasons up, and graphed over each year, a trend is shown where the curve tends to move to the right and the differences between the poor hitters and mostest hitter is reduced.
Then we begin to see the "Full House", the skill of all the players has had an effect on keeping the better batters from achieving the 0.400 or right wall of Baseball fame. The whole game has improved, the variation of the hit rate has reduced, and a further analysis of the bowlers and other players does in fact show the same facts.
Therefore, anyone saying that batting has dropped in performance is only looking at the right tail, not the whole curve of performance of batters, or the statistics for the whole game, every player.
We then move onto an analysis of the left wall case of similar cases in nature in relation to the belief that nature is in constant progression from simple to complex organisms so Man was inevitable, at the top of the tree. His analysis with ample data of various clades and phylum like the ubiquitous horse and its progenitors to small aquatic shell creatures, the variations of the creatures do not indicate anything of progress except a random difference or variation that indicates a skewed bell curve with a right tale of a small level of complex creatures.
Demonstrating the variation of a total random series of events of a drunk moving from the left wall to the gutter across a foot path, a apparently constant demonstration of how, given enough time, the right side will be reached. The same with the development and variation of creatures over time from a left wall of single cell simple creatures to the right wall of most complexity, the samples appear to be of the same order of randomness.
Thus, if we rewind the tape of life, the right tail will occur but at a random time and a random variation, so Man would not appear again, or even his sized brain. It certainly puts us in a minor position in nature with this well argued discussion of the analysis of data.
It will be interesting to see how the creation of the world fits in with science and religion in the future. Perhaps Our Heavenly Father stepped in at the stage that Man, just before agriculture started or maybe sometime during this period and then taught Man within the Garden of Eden to establish the first righteous prophet, Adam. Who knows at this stage of civilisation, maybe sometime soon a prophet will be able to find how the two ideas from the scriptures and science can work together?

A Review of Stephen Jay Gould's, Life's Grandeur, the Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin.

Stephen Jay Gould does an excellent job again, this time a very thorough introduction into statistical analysis with regard to natural systems and baseball. One must pay attention when reading Gould, but otherwise he gives insight to the world of science, particularly Palaeontology and Evolutionary Biology.

Don't be put off by the Baseball introduction, it's his way of explaining some facts about systems that reveal themselves when considering the statistics and why our tendency to use averages and means to describe something often gives a distorted picture of the whole system that can give a false trend. The whole system, by the way, is the "Full House".

Being pattern recognition creatures, we can identify trends early on and can act to avoid disaster or take advantage for profit quite frequently, but we also see trends where none exist by looking at limited data, or from a skewed viewpoint. Gould initially explains this with his baseball example which he sufficiently covers so someone like me can understand it, (I live in Australia and culturally more likely to understand Cricket than some North American game).

The issue he uses with Baseball is the 0.400 average hit rates for the batter. A rate that's frequency has dropped considerably over the last 50 years. Using the batting averages for all the players, with the exception of those that only batted once or twice a series, a curve is drawn. Then a statistical analysis is conducted of the resulting curve, called a Bell curve. The right tail is the part of the curve we are interested in, that is where the 0.400 hist rate resides. Summing all the seasons up, and graphed over each year, a trend is shown where the curve tends to move to the right and the differences between the poor hitters and mostest hitter is reduced.

Then we begin to see the "Full House", the skill of all the players has had an effect on keeping the better batters from achieving the 0.400 or right wall of Baseball fame. The whole game has improved, the variation of the hit rate has reduced, and a further analysis of the bowlers and other players does in fact show the same facts.

Therefore, anyone saying that batting has dropped in performance is only looking at the right tail, not the whole curve of performance of batters, or the statistics for the whole game, every player.

We then move onto an analysis of the left wall case of similar cases in nature in relation to the belief that nature is in constant progression from simple to complex organisms so Man was inevitable, at the top of the tree. His analysis with ample data of various clades and phylum like the ubiquitous horse and its progenitors to small aquatic shell creatures, the variations of the creatures do not indicate anything of progress except a random difference or variation that indicates a skewed bell curve with a right tale of a small level of complex creatures.

Demonstrating the variation of a total random series of events of a drunk moving from the left wall to the gutter across a foot path, a apparently constant demonstration of how, given enough time, the right side will be reached. The same with the development and variation of creatures over time from a left wall of single cell simple creatures to the right wall of most complexity, the samples appear to be of the same order of randomness.

Thus, if we rewind the tape of life, the right tail will occur but at a random time and a random variation, so Man would not appear again, or even his sized brain. It certainly puts us in a minor position in nature with this well argued discussion of the analysis of data.

It will be interesting to see how the creation of the world fits in with science and religion in the future. Perhaps Our Heavenly Father stepped in at the stage that Man, just before agriculture started or maybe sometime during this period and then taught Man within the Garden of Eden to establish the first righteous prophet, Adam. Who knows at this stage of civilisation, maybe sometime soon a prophet will be able to find how the two ideas from the scriptures and science can work together?

My aunt bought me this tape years ago, and I lost track of it. Recently, I decided that my daughters had to hear it as well, so I asked my mom to see if she could dig it up and send it to me. When it arrived, I found that it was every bit as good as I remembered -- maybe even a little better. :-)

Woe is me Bones, woe is me Bones, zz zz zz zzzzz, zz zz zz zzzzz....

In this set of stories, Jay stretches the imagination, the attention span, the drama of words, and the heart. We bought this tape some years ago from some catalog (before Amazon got big), and my daughter and I still hang onto the tape, though we have passed on most other stories/tapes. I will buy another copy of it so the cousins will have it to listen to. Jay is really really expressive in how he uses words, and how he uses words can be very infectious and entertaining. He is a cut or two above most storytellers. There's something very psychologically positive and motivating about his stories, and they give lessons about how to conduct life without being the least bit preachy. Kids are the heros and heroines in these stories, and the kids in them have both mundane and exotic, and always fascinating adventures. If he ever does a CD of this, I will buy it for the grandchildren. The dragon story is a fantastic fairy tale (with a heroine being brave and wise and the adults learning from her); the orange cheeks tale could happen next door (the little hero tries to hide some mistake and makes a situation worse and worse, and then a wise and forgiving grandparent fishes the truth out, gets the kid to confess, and makes everything better--communication resolves misunderstandings; lying makes things worse).

In this second book in the series, Jay Sheridan shares with us many of his experiences working with Toni and Spirit and passes along many great truths, including free will. Through examples he cites in his book, he very clearly shows us the meaning of free will and the consequences of our choices. We are given a better understanding of illness and healing.

Through Toni's example, Sheridan points out that we all have gifts from God that we are to use, develop, and then give back by serving others. Through Spirit we receive guidance and help is always available. We all have the truth, the solutions, the power within, and it is in living the answers that we come to have peace.

A wonderful book with powerful messages. Thank you Jay and Spirit for these priceless words of Wisdom from Spirit.

After reading "Living in Both Worlds: A Healer and Her Journey with Spirit, I couldn't wait to read this next book in the "Living in Both Worlds" series. For me it was wonderful reading how Spirit comes to help us in so many ways here on earth. I love the authors manner of conveying in such an easy way the wisdom that has changed his life so dramatically and how I could relate to so many things he spoke about. I found the healing examples very interesting as well. I love the way the healer, Toni Lynn Wood, related to each situation and this book taught me alot as to why some heal and some do not. Another terrific book for all people.

It seems like "living trusts" are a fad and I was somewhat cynical, but I also admit I didn't understand what they were. The book gave me the info I needed to work intelligently with a lawyer, which I really needed to do. Before I read the book I thought I might go to one of those do it yourself paralegals, which would have been a HUGE mistake. I took my knowledge and shared it with everyone in my family and now we are all very pleased that we've done estate planning that really takes care of all of our concerns.

Other books on subject were dense, overkill. This one is easy to read and very clear. Removes intimidation and preps you to make choices, talk with lawyer intelligently. Great diagrams and illustrations. Fast read.

EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT IN THE FIELD OF ANY OF THE TOPICS THAT MR. TOLMAN SPECIALIZES IN, THIS WAS STILL A HUGE TOOL TO APPLYING MY OWN BUSINESS TO THE APPLICATIONS HE DISCUSSES. I WISH HE WOULD WRITE A FOLLOW UP FOR THOSE READY TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

the case studies were excellent. Especially the demo of applying multiple strategies.

Having lived in Kenya for a decade, I value this book above all others to read to my four-year-old son. The activities, visual images and people portrayed are authentic for the every-day life of a child growing up in Nairobi today. The illustrations are colorful, lively and respectful of the diversity of ethnicity, race and economic status of the people, done by skilled Kenyan artists. Bravo to Jacaranda Designs for producing such fine children's books.

I teach 1st grade and this book is absolutely wonderful for my students as well as older students who come to partner read with my students. The illustrations are beautiful and it even has a little game at the back of the book from Africa that children can play! An outstanding book!!!!

Geraldine Thomas was a thirteen year old tomboy. Her best friend was Jay Thornton, who was always too curious for his own good. Geri's other friend was Randy, who was an oddball to others his age due to his high intelligence. During a hot day Geri suggested hunting up, what the locals called, Blue Pool. It was a an isolated, tear drop shaped, crystal blue lake a few miles away. Many tales circulated about people dying at the lake or disappearing, but Geri and Jay still decide to go. That was only the first of several bad choices the two made that day. Randy was the only one smart enough not to thumb his nose up at danger. He stayed home. Soon Geri and Jay are facing venomous snakes, hopping on and off moving trains, starting a brush fire, finding a new cave, being chased by two mean men out to seriously harm them, and much more! During it all, Geri and Jay become closer and learn some interesting things about each other.

***** Author, W. Royce Adams, writes the way pre- teens and teens talk in today's real world. This makes the story more believable and smoother for the reader. Readers cannot help but learn a few things while reading the story as well, such as what stalactites, stalagmites, and gypsum grotto are. I would not be surprised to see this book win awards! Many will place this book upon their "Keeper" shelves. I sure will! My twelve year old son could hardly wait to get his hands on the book once I was finished.

Perfect for fans of "Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew", or just for those who enjoy a lot of excitement in their stories! Highly recommended reading here! Don't miss this one! *****

Detra Fitch

When thirteen-year-old Geri and her best friend Jay decide to cool off by finding Blue Pool (and unfrequented, off-limits area known to be dangerous) they discover more than they bargained for as they hop a freight train to take them up river, accidentally start a grass fire, and find themselves chased through a huge, unchartered cave by two men willing to do anything to keep secret what the kids have discovered. The adventures of Geri and Jay bring them one step closer to maturity and acceptance of responsibility, along with the sense of a new, unfamiliar relationship between them. With Me & Jay, author Royce Adams documents an undeniable talent for story telling that is as young reader friendly as it is entertaining.

This has got to be one of those "unusual books" on the marketplace. It is a book that I would highly recommend for criminal justice, sociology, or for that matter, political science courses. It deals with the depth, in the real brutal existence, of prison sexual exploitation. On a much deeper level, it is about prison life. Many young offenders, unfortunately, don't realize that this is what prison life, in part, is about. It is a book for readers interested in how prisoners, on a more personal level, relate to one another. No, I don't think nor say this is about agreeing or disagreeing; I would say this is about understanding how cold life can be for some.

'Men Behind Bars' is not a novel, it is not flashy.

What the book does do is relay prisoners' actual tales of sexual assault in prison to the reader as part of an attempt to record and study the level of sexual abuse behind bars. The authors wisely stay out of the way and let the prisoners' words convey the terror and hopelessness of their situations.

This is not a pleasant book to read, but you'll never forget what those interviewed in it have to say.

Jamgon Mipham was and is master of the universe. If you have faith, and a connection to the dharma, you may get some useful info from this.

This small book is easy to understand and easy to use. This system of divination is based in Tibetan Buddisum but anyone can easily apply the fundamentals. You begin by asking for guidance in what to use, and what to discard in the reference material. You begin by quieting your mind, chants are provided for focus. You select a question you wish to ask, you then roll a single dice twice. You may caste the dice for yourself, or another. You record the number rolled on each throw, and look up those combinations in the reference. A wide range of areas (family, goals, business, money, health, etc. - 10 in all) are covered for each combination, providing a "general climate" (positive/neutral/negative) for the current personal and earth energies occuring at that moment in time. While my copy came with a traditional dice, any traditional six sided dice can be used. Personal experince has found the method informative and useful.

This fantastic 10 volume encyclopedic set lists every English-speaking motion picture EVER released to theaters from 1927 to 1984, more than 25,000 entries. A splendid and entertaining history of movies since the beginning. (Vol. 10 lists every silent film known). Lively plot synopses, critique, ratings, and fascinating detail about each and every film made, the blockbusters and bombs, Listing the cast and roles they played, release date, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and far more. Example:after lovable Fred McMurray played a cad in Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" (1960) he got so much angry fanmail insisting he play only "good guys" that he never accepted a bad guy role again.

This ten-volume set provides comprehensive information on most English-language movies and many foreign films as well. Some 25,000 titles are covered, along with 3,000 silent films. The guide includes detailed production credits, plot summaries, and a ratings guide, and is exceptionally well-indexed. The set is kept up-to-date by annual supplements. The Motion Picture Guide offers a wealth of information at a reasonable price and will appeal to all movie fans but would be especially useful to movie buffs.