I bought this book prior to going on my first professional photographic gig at the site of Isthmia, Greece. The book is extremely helpful for the novice with a great introduction to light and depth of field. Although featuring examples from the author's experience with American excavations, the methodology provided in the book is universal -- props, accessories, and lighting tricks. One of the most useful tools the book provides is a series of crib-sheets that you can cut out and paste on card stock that will fit in your camera bag. These sheets cover everything from reminders for object photography to how to take care of your lenses. My only real gripe with the book is that it is extremely biased and opinionated, which is fine (I guess) if the intended audience was not at the novice level. Comments like "stay away from motorized film advances -- they are loud and are prone to breaking," smack of old-school elitism and are no longer really valid. This book gives some exceptional information on photographing every aspect of an excavation, but like reading stratigraphy, to really glean the best data, you have to be a careful reader with some experience in photography.

I'm just not into the new age stuff, and this tape was full of it. I returned it because it just wasn't what we were looking for.

The title of this book is quite fitting. This stuff is WEIRD! Particularly the stories of Uggie and the Beautiful White Lady.

Walking Meditation...it sounds intriguing doesn't it? As a practitioner of TM, I was looking forward to a cassette tape I could listen to while walking that would enhance the meditative experience physically. Boy...did I get a surprise. I began my walking with promise enough. I heard tones and a rhythm that sounded as though a deeper, more reflective state of mind was being evoked. Soon however, after some soothing words from the author, a jazzy number began. I was not expecting any music whatsoever, just tones and perhaps a measured, pulsating rhythm. Imagine my surprise when a rap song began...ladies and gentlemen...meditative rap is an oxymoron.

I checked the advertisement for the cassette tape and I could find simply no reference to music, jazz, rap or otherwise. I was expecting something completely different.

If anyone can combine music, exercise and the true transcendental meditative experience in one fell swoop...I am green with envy. I am served so well by my transcendental meditation, however, I will never again attempt to duplicate it while exercising. I kind of feel like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz"...except that I kind of live over the rainbow already and if I ever want to search for new adventure, I'll never look further than my own rainbow. You can keep the whole Kansas thing. Hopefully, people who practice TM will kind of understand that last statement. Peace to you all...

I listen to the tape when I do my daily treadmill walk. It has a funky rhythm that keeps you moving and, if you follow the beaet with your steps, you get a good workout. As for the peaceful, meditative state promised...I'm not sure. Sure, I feel good after my workout, but I am not sure if it is from the "brainwave" adjustment, or the physical workout itself. I am planning to try another one of her tapes, so while I'm not completely convinced, I admit some satisfaction with this tape. We'll see once I try another of Kelly Howell's tapes.

Yes, I too was expecting something more TM, and I can't say I'm too crazy about the muzak. But the boost of positive energy was amazing. Five minutes into my walk, I'm looking around thinking, "I LOVE these woods! Isn't that a BEAUTIFUL house? I am SO READY to go to work tomorrow!" (who, me?) After my walk, I felt relaxed and positive. Usually I just feel exhausted. I think it's well worth trying.

This book is the worst book from QUE. I lost $50. Don't buy this book because contains so many errors. Really is an ALPHA book.

For who is this book? Admninistrators? Programmers? The book has many chapters dedicated to completely isolated topics, dedicating very little space to each topic. For example, the author dedicate 20 pages for Internet Mail Server including installing, configuring, structure of the message, how mail works, understanding SMTP, etc. All in only 20 pages!!! Obviusly, you don't learn anything.

In addition you see so many errors. For example, the text reference a graphic that contains other topic!!!

Again, don't throw away your money

This book is not orgainzed properly. Secondly it is an overview of IIS 4.0, might be good for beginners but doesn't cover the details. As others have already pointed out that it assumes the Beta version of IIS. It tells about the programming details which is not appropriate while discussing IIS installation. Waste of money as far as I am concerned.

This book contains helpful information about setting up IIS4 and it's many components, but doesn't spend enough time talking about IIS4 administration and support. If that's what you're looking for, don't buy this book.

This is a book written on a shoestring. A book which provides less factological information than 20 years old yellow pages....
I particulary enjoyed reading about selected places, where the author even did not mention cost of real estate, but mentioned that general Sherman was there and burned it. If someone really retires by this book, then the consequences must be tragic. To find places which have more 70% of the total population retired from elsewhere, and minimum house cost $200,000 one perhaps does not need a book for ($)....

I have read several retirement books dealing with various subjects about what to consider when retiring. Although I am about 1/2 way through this book, I am a little surprised and quite happy with the information so far. I liked the author's "at a glance" tax breakdown tables, and in several cases he asked questions and stated perspectives that I had not thought about before (and as I said, I have read other retirement books).

Howells style of writing and is very readable and interesting (unlike some other rather "dry" or limited portrayals of retirement information) and he sets forth reasonable criteria in my opinion. I have not yet picked up on the "male oriented hunting and fishing" slant mentioned by another reviewer (and I am a female). I really like this book.

take a look at the follwing review...

Finding Ideal, Affordable Locations for the Golden Years

A book review by Robert J. Bruss (a San Francisco Bay Area real estate writer and attorney)

--Published in the San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle, August 21, 2000; The Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2000.

If you, a parent or relative plan to retire soon and are considering moving, first read John Howells' fourth edition of "Where to Retire; America's Best and Most Affordable Places." For many years, Howells and his wife have traveled the nation investigating the best, most affordable retirement locations. This great new book is the result of those travels.

The book focuses on 150 ideal places to retire but isn't primarily about specific retirement communities, although many are mentioned. For example, the famous Sun City, Sun City West and new Sun City Grand near Phoenix are t briefly discussed. More important, primary retirement regions are profiled, including specific towns preferred by retirees.

Howells begins each chapter profiling a retirement region, then he zeros in on the pros and cons of towns that appeal to retirees.

This new edition seems more direct and frank than the last one. To illustrate, when discussing Orlando, Howells says: "At one time I considered Orlando one of Florida's better retirement ideas. That was before it became so busy. In a short time, the city made a remarkable transition from a sleepy crossroad of citrus orchards and cattle ranches into a dynamic city, the fastestÿ2Dgrowing in the state."

Then he explains why he no longer considers Orlando a great retirement town.

It's no surprise that most of the featured retirement areas are in the Southeast, South and Southwest, with a few in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Howells explains that recommending that people move to Montana, Illinois or Maine for year-round retirement would be irresponsible because of the inclement winter weather.

Each retirement area profile is quite detailed, with stateÿ2Dbyÿ2Dstate and townÿ2Dbyÿ2Dtown information. The weather details, income taxes and property taxes are highlighted. Also emphasized are medical facilities and recreation availability, especially golf courses. Transportation and cultural activities, however, could have received more emphasis.

Howells doesn't hold back on expressing his personal feelings about an area, such as: "I don't believe that all Southerners have suddenly changed into color-blind liberals, totally free of racism and full of brotherly love. My point and opinion is that the overall Southern attitude toward race relations has taken a dramatic turn for the better. From my perspective, the South today harbors no more racism than the rest of the country."

Especially valuable are the profiles of retirement areas that might easily be overlooked. For example, the author profiles inexpensive but delightful retirement towns in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. While emphasizing positives, however, he doesn't neglect their negatives, such as hot, humid summers.

Even if you're not planning immediate retirement and a move to a more desirable area, this new book is an enjoyable read. Having visited many of the retirement areas discussed, I find the author's explanations to be remarkably accurate.

Where does the author choose to live? He says only that he and his wife live in California a block from the beach, and spends part of each year at their second home in Costa Rica.

--ROBERT J. BRUSS

For those wanting to learn about the ropes of investigative journalism, this book will prove disappointing. It features interviews with so called famous investigative journos, such as John Camp - whose reportage apparently brought down evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, Sydney Schanberg (The Killing Fields) etc. This should have proved fascinating reading, but this doesn't come through. For starters, it fails to recap the stories written by these journalists. So in the feature of John Camp, it describes vaguely that he uncovered the seedy money trail to Jimmy Swaggert, but fails to convey the excitement of how he broke the news, what the stories were, and how he did it. Second, the "stories'' are in question and answer format. This would be fine, except that some questions are seriously inane. For example, "do you have researchers to help you'', and worse, "do you use computer records in researching a story'' ? For those who want to be inspired about investigative journalism, reading Woodword and Bernstein in "All the President's Men'' would offer far greater insights. On the other hand, this book, while having the potential to be gripping, has turned out to be dry and boring. It had the opportunity to mine some great journalists on their biggest scoops. All it succeeded in doing was ask questions that elicited little value added. I don't care two hoots about whether they use computers. I would expect that few who pick up this book to learn about investigative journalism would.

"Raising Hell" is a collection of interviews with notable investigative reporters. The length of these talks give these journalists plenty of space to describe how they go about their work, which can take them from Vietnam and Cambodia (Sydney Schanberg, whose story was the basis for the movie "The Killing Fields") to the Boeing beat in Seattle (Byron Acohido, who won a Pulitzer for his coverage). Also interviewed are Gerald Posner, whose book on the JFK assassination, "Case Closed," is a brilliant and readable defense of the Warren Commission; conservative advocate David Brock, author of "The Real Anita Hill"; and John Camp, whose stories about Jimmy Swaggert led to the televangelist's downfall. Journalists interested in learning more about the investigative side of their profession will find this worth reading.

This is the worst book I have ever purchased in my life. It was not a book, but a booklet and the advice was irrelevant, and out of date. When I started substitute teaching, I was desparate for some advice on how to manage behavior in the classroom and I definitely did not find my answer here.

Follow suggested comments to absent teacher and you will soon be waiting for the phone to ring. "Although you didn't provide me with any information" slap on the wrist to absent teacher will make you subject of teacher lunch conversation and assure teachers do not request you in future.

This manual is an excellent resource for the fledgling substitute. It discusses how to gain the attention of your students quickly and subversively to be able to get on with the business of learning. Also it is full of suggestions on how to report back to the regular teacher.

This book is a compilation of three reprints of significant geologic papers first published in 1924 and 1948. While the works offered here are now classics, and it is nice to have them readily available, geology has moved far beyond the information offered here. Thus, the book is of minimal use to people who wish to learn about Oregon's geology as we know it in 2002.
This supposedly scholarly book should include information about the importance and significance of these original papers (reprinted in their original format) and chapters of updated geologic information . But it does not, and the casual and unwary "lay" reader may be mislead.
For example, the 1924 paper by E.T. Hodge proposes that three volcanoes in Central Oregon are the remnant of one massive peak which he dubs Mount Multnomah. But now we know that there was never any such mountain, and that Three Sisters are separate volcanoes with different histories. The other two papers, written in 1948, may be more useful, but they are also understandably out of date, and readers who wish to keep current on Oregon's geology would do well to look elsewhere.

I thought that this CD was going to be a guided meditation/hypnosis CD, but it's just music. The music is kind of nice an new age-y, but it wasn't what I was looking for.