Through no deliberate intent, I've been reading the Matt Scudder series backwards. I started with A Long Line of Dead Men (#11) then went on the Even the Wicked (#12) and that's all well and good (I've done the same thing with his Burglar series, having read #'s 4, 5, 6, and 7 in that order), but then I dropped back to Eight Million Ways to Die (#5) because it was the only audiobook my library had.

Now I've come to #2, this book. It's very interesting to see Scudder's life in this way, because I already have insight into his future actions. In the later ones, Matt is a recovering alcoholic, in Eight Million, he begins his treatment after deciding to do something about it. However, in Midst, he doesn't yet seem to be aware that he even has a problem. Although he's never far from his next drink, when someone mentions the word "alcoholic," he rationalizes it away.

The mystery is never the reason to read Lawrence Block (even though I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate that because he works hard to create the mystery), it's the characters. And Scudder is not exception. I don't even remember what the mystery was in Eight Million Ways to Die, but it stand out as my favorite because of the way Block writes about Scudder's struggle with realization.

Matt Scudder is one of the most interesting characters in fiction, but I haven't read all his books because they are invariably dark and I have to be in the mood for them. But read them I will.

A note on the audiobook presentation: Alan Sklar's voice fits this material nicely. This is a wonderful addition to the Chivers Audio presentations of Block's works. The only one I liked more was Block's own reading of Eight Million Ways to Die.

This book depicts the best from collections of early Native American Pueblo silverwork. The photographs allow the reader to identify key characteristic features of traditional Native American jewelry. The informative verbal descriptions do not insult the reader nor the makers. There are few books that portray the early Southwest jewelry as well as this one.

The nine chapters in this book are essays that are written by experts in their fields of expertise, with contributions by Garrity and Sanders who are credited on the cover.

Each of the chapters can stand alone, although they are presented in a sequence that build upon the preceding one. Each chapter ends with endnotes and references. Chapter 1 introduces information systems success measurement as a discipline. It does so in clear terms and is consistent with each of the subsequent chapters. Chapter 2, Dimensions of IS success, is especially strong in that it introduces models, including DeLone and MacLean's model for IS success, and variations that show different viewpoints. It decomposes the dimensions into domains,provides questionnaires, and ends with an appendix that gives example ratings and measurements. This chapter shows how to quantify factors and portray success in hard numbers.

Chapter 3 extends the previous one by providing a 3-D model approach to measurement. Because I work in multi-cultural and multi-national environments I especially liked chapter 4's focus on cross-cultural environments. In addition, the legal aspects of measurement that is chapter 5's topic is essential reading. Regardless of your specific interests do take the time to read this short chapter because it applies to anyone in IS/IT. One glaring omission here is UCITA (Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act), which is an optional modification, on a state-by-state basis, to the Uniform Commercial Code (which is covered).

The remaining chapters address (Ch 6) Comprehensive Model for Assessing Quality and Productivity, (Ch 7) Development of Process and Outcome User Satisfaction, (Ch 8) Interpretive Approach to IS Success Measurement, and (Ch 9) Five Secrets to Systems Success. Each contained one or more interesting concepts and/or sparked ideas. Because much of my work as an IT consultant involves process improvement strategies and service level management I found this book to be an invaluable source of information. Each of the chapters contains valuable information, insights and ideas that will be useful to anyone in IT management or service delivery roles.

I did my dissertation on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, with one chapter focusing on "Inherit the Wind," a play in which I once had the role of Reverend Brown. Consequently, if you are using the play or either one of the available film versions, I can strongly recommend Suzanne Pavlos' CliffsNotes for Lawrence and Lee's "Inherit the Wind."

Pavlos begins with the life and background of the playwrights, looking at themes in their other works such as "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" and the influence of Maxwell Anderson's play "Winterset" dealing with the Sacco-Vanzetti trial. The introduction to the play section is especially strong as she covers both the passage of Tennessee's Butler Act in 1925 and the ACLU's test case in the Scopes Trial. More importantly, she specifically details the major differences between the play and the history. Despite Lawrence and Lee's insistence their play "is not history," I can tell you that there are a lot of history textbooks and reference works that have confused the two. I would not like to think that this play is being taught without students understanding the differences. After all, Lawrence and Lee were concerned more with McCarthyism than the teaching of evolution in public schools. This section also includes a synopsis of the play, a list of characters and a detailed character map.

Of course there are critical commentaries (with glossaries) reflecting the five act/scene divisions of "Inherit the Wind" as well as Character Analyses of Brady, Drummond, Hornbeck, Cates and Rachel. The Critical Essays cover dramatic conventions and devices such as the chorus character and dialect, themes including freedom of thought, external and internal conflicts, and a note on proverbs. The book ends with the traditional review section and a resource center that covers both tradtiional and on-line reference materials.

A final note: if by chance you screen the Stanley Kramer film version, please be aware that the screenplay worked in several elements from the actual Scopes Trial, specifically the exchange in which Darrow/Drummond is cited for contempt of court and the speech of forgiveness given by the presiding judge. Also: "Inherit the Wind" was not only the longest running drama in American history when it closed on Broadway in 1957, the 1960 film was the first "in-flight" movie used by TWA to lure first-class passengers.

This book is a beautiful gift from John Piper. It was an advent poem written for his congregation in Minneapolis. It will touch your heart deeply and then, at the end, the gospel! I have given this book to many as a gift. Buy it for anyone you wish to bless with the gift of Jesus. The illustrations are beautiful sketches by John Lawrence. It may be given as a gift to a child with caution. (read it yourself first and decide.)

I've often thought that Christians needed a "reality check". When I read this book, I discovered that I was the one in need. I have never read a more honest,helpful, and relavant book. I wish Dr. Crabb lived in my neighborhood. Inside Out deals with why Christianity doesn't seem to solve the real issues of every day life, and how we as individuals can really make a difference in our world. As the title implies, we must begin our work inside ourselves. We must face the truth of how we ourselves fall short of God's perfect plan for our lives, and even go so far as to do something about it! It is not a book that is easy to read, but well worth the effort.

This is one of the very few print resources available for those seeking information in this field. The data is comprehensive, listing organizations and institutions by species, area of study and interest, and even a name index for those involved in the field. While it can be tedious to get though all of the dense information, this guide is really the only thing I have found that allows schools and organizations to unambiguously list the types of investigations they pursue as well as the goals and philosophies behind their work and research. An absolute necessity for those looking to pursue post-secondary education in the field.

Good good study and day days' up !

The Internet and the Information age has brought a new era of privacy, or lack there of. Identity theft is rampant and personal privacy is eroded in the name of ecommerce efficiency or "homeland" security. Internet Privacy for Dummies is an excellent text empowering the individual to fight big brother. What can you do to protect your privacy, in ten easy steps. What laws are on your side. And what forms can you fill out to vaporize that pesky telemarketer - all right there for your easy use. An excellent text - highly recommended.

I was moved from tears to exultation as I read this autobiography of an opera diva's struggle to regain her strength and her singing voice following the onset of the crippling disease, polio. Marjorie Lawrence tells of her childhood in Australia, her musical training in Paris, and her brief career as an artist on the stages of The Paris Opera and The Metropolitan Opera in New York City. During a honeymoon/performance trip to Mexico City, she was taken with the disease which both changed her life and deepened her faith. Her poignant disclosure of her feelings of pain, doubt, and fear bring the reader into her personal trauma as she fought for her life. I highly recommend this book to those who are battling incapacitating illness, depression, or hopelessness, for it demonstrates the ability of one human soul's strong determination to overcome a very grave situation. The story is also a "must read" to any who would become performing artists in any field of music for it does not gloss-over the demands of self-discipline needed for achievement in a highly competitive field. Written by a singer who simply tells her story of tragedy and recovery, "Interrupted Melody" is on a reading level that even young teenagers can comprehend. This book was made into an Academy Award-winning movie in the 1950's. It's message still rings true today.