I found this book very useless. It doesn't talk about GNOME internals, all it teaches you is what to expect from the icon when you click on it. I was very disappointed with this book.

This book, despite its size, is really just a presentation of Gnome. Many, many pages are taken up with descriptions of various programs that work under Gnome. It is nice to know what is out there, but I quickly needed more information than this book could provide.

Most of all though, this book is very out of date.

I have used Windows for years, even created as well as used software applications. But Linux/Unix has long been a mystery to me. I installed Red Hat 7.1 onto my home computer and the automatic installation was easy enough but then I was dumbfounded. I tried to get some jobs done, like installing software, viewing files etc. but didn't know how.

This book does not tell you everything. In fact, you need to get some other book that is completelly about Linux administration and command line use. But for using the Gnome windowing system, this book is a great start. In a couple of days I was using Gnome like Windows, with no trouble.

Now, I just need to dive deeper into Linux admin and command line use... ;)

This book is written for version 8.8 of sendmail. Sendmail went through some major changes with version 8.9 and these are not covered in this book. Also, the current version of Sendmail is 8.12.X.

Maybe the O'Reilly people should consider an update!

I wasn't very happy with this book. It reads like a technical manual. Not very intuitive and is probably useful if you are already compitent with sendmail. If you are already compitent, what's the point? Was difficult to find even the simplest details on how to do something. Impossible to read cover to cover. Like reading an encrypted phone book.

This is the quick reference guide to the larger tome _sendmail_ by Bryan Costales, et al. If you are an experienced Internet mail system administrator, you may be able to largely get by with using just this book, since it highlights the parts of the larger book that you would be most likely to use on a regular basis. However, if you need to go into any detail, of course you would also need the bigger book.

I have multiple copies of this book, and try to always have at least one copy that I carry around with me most anywhere -- you never know when you might run into a problem or be asked a related question to which you do not remember the answer off-the-top of your head, but which would be answered very quickly by thumbing through the quick reference.

I also have multiple copies of the bigger book, one at home, one at work, etc..., but you really don't want to carry such a monster volume around with you everywhere. However, you can do just that with this quick reference.

The most knowledgeable and experienced system administrators don't pretend to try to remember everything. What we do know is where to find the answers, and how to find them quickly. This is why we have whole bookshelves full of O'Reilly books like this.

Even Eric Allman and Bryan Costales don't remember every little detail about sendmail (the program) or about the various books, which is why they also keep multiple copies of these sorts of things.

This comic marks the end of the Stormwatch series and the beginning of the The Authority.

Throughout it's brief, bright lifespan, Stormwatch introduced us to brand-new heroes, cut from a far different cloth than the "silver age" Supermen of yesteryear. This was an admirable attempt at bringing superheroes up to date with the global politics of today, infusing it's characters with a wry wit and a jaded outlook. No longer were superheroes going to be aloof, intervening only for the benefit of mankind against the usual cavalcade of supervillians and extiction-level events, these guys played politics and played it rough.

Of course, in retrospect, this series just seems to be a warmup to the Authority, who take the superhero-as-politico two steps further, with far more violence and in my opinion, even better stories and artwork. But Stormwatch is still a great series, well written and lavishly colored and it's diehard fans will be disappointed at the cavalier and laughably cliche way in which their favorite heroes are shuffled off the stage to make way for The Authority (A few make the cut, I won't give away who). Fans of the series should buy it for the closure it represents and use it like the bridge it was intended to be.

This volume reprints the final two issues of Stormwatch vol. 2 as bookends for the Wildcats/Aliens crossover. The Stormwatch bookend stories in and of themselves are pretty slow, serving as bread for the "meat," the gory and destructive invasion of the Stormwatch team's orbital satellite by the critters from the "Aliens" movies.

Most intercompany crossovers have no bearing on the characters' regular series. Although entertaining, the intrusion of the Aliens on superhero worlds usually result in a clear-cut victory for our heroes, who then conveniently forget that they ever ran into the beasties who can usually kill anyone but Sigourney Weaver (e.g. Superman/Aliens and Batman/Aliens--don't Supes and Bats ever compare notes?).

But of course Warren Ellis would not be satisfied by playing the superhero game safe. Basically, the Aliens kill half of Stormwatch. Thankfully, Ellis spares the more interesting characters, who then go on to form the core of The Authority, one of the best superhero titles running. But the moral issues concerning the exercise of power by superhumans that forms the common thread linking Ellis's run on Stormwatch with The Authority are completely missing from this storyline. Too bad.

So the bottom line: the Stormwatch/Aliens crossover is a good one, and should be picked up by anyone who is a fan of The Authority. Let's not forget the art by the always-dependable Chris Sprouse (Tom Strong). Just don't expect too much.

Reading Final Orbit is like coming into a great movie halfway through.....I'm a big Warren Ellis fan, and I own all of the other Stormwatch trades, as well as his whole run on The Authority, but for a good portion of this story, I was lost. A brief "Story so far" and character bios would have been invaluable. As it was, I had a hard time feeling anything upon seeing the Stormwatch team being ripped apart by the Aliens. The characters are pretty generic; we don't even get to see their deaths onscreen.

The Alien sequence in the middle of the book is very cinematic, and zips along briskly. The rest of the book had me scurrying to my back issue collection to get some answers..What did Bendix have in that tube in his apartment? What did he do to honk off Jenny Sparks? Why did I.O. want The Weatherman's brother dead? To say nothing of the never-explained starship the Aliens are aboard....

If you can suspend your disbelief, and go with the flow, you'll enjoy Final Orbit. Be sure to check out The Authority trade paperbacks, too.

Nothing more than a collection of common sense. Don't even consider purchasing this tripe. Please save your money. This is advice a reasonably well mannered 9 yr. old knows.

It's important for people to know how to practice political correctness, and most of the advice in this book is accurate as well as common-sense, but there are a few things in here that aren't gentlemanly, nor are they polite or sincere.

This book covers many different kinds of awkward situations and how to come out of them in a gentlemanly manner. These situations include common occurrences between friends, while on a date, at work, at parties, in times of grief, and affairs of the heart. Most of this advice is common-sense, and only the most uncouth people would find a lesson to be learned from this book. For example, one of the situations covered in this book is what to do when your sports team loses, and your friend's team is the winner. The book claims that the gentlemanly thing to do would be to say "Congratulations. I have to admit it: Your guys really played a great game." Everyone knows that's the right thing to say, but if you were to ever say it, it would be quite obvious that you were being insincere.

There is also advice in this book that is the opposite of gentlemanly. In fact, it's downright rude and offensive. For example, if a friend asks you to borrow your favorite tool or article of clothing and you don't want to lend it out, the book suggests that you reply by saying "I wish I could help you, but I just don't lend my tools. It's one of my private rules." Others may disagree, but I think it's condescending to tell someone that you "wish" you could help them but you can't simply because you don't want to. The book never advocates lying as a possible way out of these types of situations, but I personally believe that it would be more gentlemanly to tell a little white lie to your friend about how your tool is broken instead of giving them such a harsh reply.

This is an entertaining book to read. The most interesting parts of the book are the "what NOT to say" sections. As a learning tool, this book is pretty useless. However, there are a few mild laughs here and there.

The premise of this book is simple but important. The authors present a series of touchy situations that can challenge a gentleman's tact, they show a few examples of what not to say in these situations, then offer a more thoughtful and responsible alternative. Each of these is followed by an explanation of why the suggested comment is most appropriate for the situation. Some of the situations concern a helping a friend in trouble, while others are about not making a fool of yourself or getting into trouble.

You won't remember every suggested comment is this verbatim, but I don't think that was the authors' point. The book's primary value is in getting the budding gentleman to think before he speaks (or to know when not to speak). If you often find yourself wanting to take back your words, this book could help you a lot.

As I said above, this book is limited in focus to making the right comment in those situations that often get the better of us. For a good treatment on the dynamics of everyday conversation skills, take a look at Alan Garner's *Conversationally Speaking.*

Strange story of the JLA fighting a race of beings who want to get to heaven, or some such junk as only DC can do it.

I had such high hopes for this one. JLA Heaven's Ladder is about the JLA stopping a dying race of aliens from destroying Earth and other planets while on their way out. The aliens see themselves as superior beings and earthlings as insignificant, the same way that we look at insects. The concepts sounds interesting, but the execution falls of the mark completely. The art is really nice and the oversized format allows it to really shine, but the plot is just too complicated and long. There are no breaks for the readers to stop at, which is also frustrating. I found myself not caring what happens about half way through and it was a struggle to complete it. For the record, let me state that Mark Waid is one of the best comic writers out there, especially for superheros (for a really good Mark Waid JLA story, check out Tower of Babel), but he loses it here.

I have to take issue with those who would decry this book. I think it's truely a noteworthy addition to the JLA of today. I, for one, LOVE the depth and imagination that is going into today's comics. The Watchtower Era JLA is the pinicle of said depth. Just when I think they've pushed the philosophical and metaphysical boundaries to their limit, they push harder. This book, while not perfict (It doesn't quite fit on my shelf, for one) is a great example of the writing that has made this title what it is today. Much like The Matrix raised my expectations of special effects and Sci-Fi, so does today's JLA raise my expectations of a good comic book. Heaven's Ladder is a great book, with a lot of depth, good art work, and wonderful character interactions. This book really leaves you feeling good.

Mr. Starr seems know a lot about China, but I don't think he understand China based on what he wrote in his book. His conclusion that "an abrupt collapse of the Party-state" is unlikely to happen. Just like those who predict Hong Kong will be a chaos after return to China's rule, Mr Starr failed to realize the fundermental change in China these days which will lead to a more stable China.

The book tried to cover a lot of areas, which I think, has done quite superficially. And it seems to me that the author wrote the book to prove his points, and not exactly as the title suggested, to help understand China.

He gave a comparison of data between China and USA (which is good for american readers), however, as soon as the comparison does not support his point anymore, he would happily omit the data on the US and jump to his "conclusion" on China. As an example, to show his point that China's "huge" defense budget might be a concern for the stability of the region, he omitted the US defense budget to prove his point, as opposed to explain why/why not China needs such as budget. One has to look at the geographical size, and complexities of borders of China to see why China's defense budget is not that huge after all, as compared to the US's.

And there are a lot of areas like this in the book, or presented in a way that made Chinese people look like aliens, or made the country looks like it's FUBAR.

It is true that China has its fair share of problems. However, objective presentation is still in rigueur, especially for academic research.

It is disappointing, as you consider Starr's background, and the institution he is associated with. I'm not saying that he does not understand China, but he does not portray China in a way that help readers to understand China. Instead, it will just perpertuate the stereotyping.

This is a typical book, written by a "westerner", to prove a point. Readers who have very little knowledge of China should take it with a big grain of salt.

For those intrigued by or concerned with the roles China will play in the geopolitical, economic, and cultural arenas in the near future, it is imperative to learn more about this huge nation characterized as a "Sleeping Dragon." Understanding China: A Guide to China's Economy, History and Political Culture provides a thankfully succinct "backgrounder" for beginners as well as a thoughtful, provocative review for armchair "China Hands."

Written by John Bryan Starr, the text is based on a seminar he taught at Yale for 17 years. As well as basic textbook data such as climate, topography, population figures, and gross national product, Starr traces the historical impetus that has led to this country's current condition. He talks about feudal systems and their inherent rule by dynastic clout and fiat, yet he points out that unlike European feudalism, "status was ultimately based on achievement." This tradition of mobile, fluid leadership eventually set the bloody stage for Mao to wrestle control of the country from Chiang Kai-shek during and following World War II.

Now, after over half a decade in power, the Communist Party is in deep trouble. It no longer attracts a youthful, zealous cadre eager to take its turn at the helm. Instead, a savvy, new generation of entrepreneurs are poised to re-invent China as a high roller in world trade as well as a vast, prosperous land of consumers rather than a bastion of socialistic ideals.

Starr concludes that due to the emergence of these entrepreneurs, and the weakening of the Communist Party, "Intellectuals have not recaptured the preeminent position their forbears enjoyed in traditional society." So who will lead China if the CP implodes as it did in the Soviet Union? The author reports that "Many Chinese people see the economic chaos and near anarchy of Russian society today as resulting from the collapse of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union." Apparently, they are willing to put up with a tattered, dysfunctional government to avoid that fate.

There is also evidence to suggest that the formidable People's Liberation Army is waiting in the wings of history. Currently dependent on the PLA to crush internal protest and orchestrate foreign policy, the CP may eventually be forced to step aside allowing China to return to rule by military elite.

Another of Starr's concerns is the degradation of China's ecosystem. He laments, "In the trenches where the war between economic development and environmental protection is being fought, economic development is winning most of the battles." For example, he points to the massive Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze River. Estimated to take 16 years to complete at a cost of over $10 billion, this hydroelectric monster will destroy a scenic area as well as potentially wipe out agricultural valleys and river ports. In spite of looming eco-disasters, current unrest, virulent corruption, and significant changes in leadership, the venerable dragon lumbers along. Yet Starr gloomily predicts that China will suffer even more dramatic turmoil, whoever or whatever is in charge.

I was hoping from the thickness of this book that it would have all sorts of useful information. It doesn't. It looks as though the author has simply gone through the Gimp's menus item by item and given a synopsis of each. There's very little material that is not already obvious.

Grokking the Gimp is a better choice; it goes through several projects to illustrate useful real-world techniques.

As a professional geek, I've ingested countless books covering computer hardware, administration, programming, and software packages. After getting my hands on the GIMP, and a copy of the "GIMP for Linux Bible", I thought I had everything I needed to start exploring the wonders of the GIMP.

Unfortunately, this book was not up to the task. While the first few chapters were adequate for explaining the basics of the GIMP's interface, the discussion of the more complex (and more useful) aspects of the GIMP (such as layers, channels, blending modes, etc.) was thoroughly obscure. After reading and rereading these sections, I became progressively more confused.

The many illustrations, presumably offered to clarify the muddy explanations in the text, are rendered nearly useless by being printed in black and white. Images intended to show differences in various layer operations and blending modes turn out virtually identical without color. After hours of frustration, I gave up and went shopping for another book.

A much better choice for those interested in becoming GIMP gurus is the excellent "Grokking the GIMP" (ISBN: 0735709246, also available here). After merely skimming the sections covering the topics which were incomprehensible in the "GIMP for Linux Bible", all of these concepts became immediately obvious. "Grokking the GIMP" is packed with clear, full-color graphics, which reinforce the straightforward yet thorough coverage of the text. Start your GIMP education here instead, and you'll be glad you did.

I wrote part of this book and though I can't vouch for the part I didn't write, I can say that the chapters I did write, the ones on scripting gimp in both it's native scheme and in perl, you'll find very educational. I wrote them with a total beginning programmer in mind as well as a seasoned coder. As developer of CoolText.com I am very familure with gimp scripting and I included a complete printed listing of the procedural database, the only one in print that I know of. I did this because I knew it would be handy to anyone codeing for the gimp and I am able to say that I've referred to my own book often.

General James Longstreet has always been one of the most controversial southern generals. Long before the end of the war, in fact dating back to the battle of Gettysburg, the revisionist history began and continued until well after the turn of the century. This book is a picture perfect example of that revisionist history. The generals from both sides of the conflict were very flawed and imperfect men. Longstreet was no exception. His vilification is however unjust. He was blamed for the ill advised failure at Gettysburg, for no one could bear to place the blame on the true culprit, General Robert E. Lee. Lee was a great general , but this battle was none the less a mistake. His mistake. Eckenrode's book however blames Longstreet for this defeat and for nearly every other defeat the Confederacy suffers in the last two years of the war. The idea that Longstreet had some nearly mystical power over Lee, a very strong personality in his own right, is simply preposterous. The only accurate information in the book seems to be related to Longstreets dismal campaign as an army commander in the west. He truly did show greater tallent as a corp commander than as an army commander. This was certainly one of the best southern generals of the war, but is unfortunately given no credit for this in this inaccurate account. The only reason I gave the book two stars instead of one was for the simple fact the book was well written, and easy to read, if not based in fact. It would seem its author was certainly a more gifted writer than he was historian.

Although this book was very easy to read, excluding the very boring aspect of the Seven Days Campaign which was very hard to understand, the book made Longstreet seem like the bad man in every situation. This book even made Longstreet seem bad at Fredricksburg, quite possibly one of the greatest defensive stands ever. The authors clearly do not like Longstreet and show it throughout the book. However, I am a Longstreet and Civil War fanatic and I would still suggest you read this book just to get everyone's opinion on the controversy that is James Longstreet.

This is a book that should hold the interest of any Civil War buff. It has a great deal of information about many battles and campaigns. However I believe the author to be overly hard on one of the souths finest generals. I have read a great many books on the Civil War and also many on General Longstreet. I believe this book to be the most unjustly critical. The author works hard to paint a poor picture of a competent commander. In the authors defense the book is a number of years old, and much information about The Civil War has come out since this work was written. The book is also very readable and hard to put down once started. However the author devotes much of the book to his own personal opinion of Longstreet rather than offering the facts and allowing the reader draw a conclusion. Quite often the book is in contradiction of itself. The author is quick to explain that Longstreet deserved little credit for southern victories due to the fact that he was merely a subornate to R.E. Lee. This logic does not seem to apply in the defeats suffered by the Army of Northern Virginia. For these it would seem he is held directly responsible being sighted as asserting his will on the Great Confederate Commander. This a book that is worth reading for the Civil war enthusiast, however I would reccomend it be taken with a grain of salt.........

I don't need to be guided through browser selection, Netscape v. IIS, or a re-hashing of the OSI model. The core of this book, IMHO, is found in chapters 9-13. If you're willing to spend the money for a 400 page reference with 100 pages of solid material, then it's worth buying.

The book is well-written and, even three years later, much of the discussion is valuable reference. Of course, the information on specific products is dated. However, the material on security/encryption schemes and authentication is first rate and clear. The guidance on extranet design approaches is still valid. This book should be in second edition by now. If it is, buy the 2nd edition new. As a used book, the security and authentication parts are worth a discounted price.

The author treats issues such as setting up a CA, authenticating browsers, choosing encryption algorithms and securing the https server well. It's very HTTP focused, and barely touches on how to get from the EDI way of doing things to the extranet way, but it's easily the best book on the topic I've seen. He has an unfortunate tendency to get off topic, for example delving into how to choose a browser, why tcp/ip is insecure, etc., but overall the book is well written.

Blah, Blah Blah, This book is far too wordy. Would make anyone who knew the slightest about computers fall asleep, Dull! Would hate for a newbie to pick up this book, would make you fear computing. Alot of info prestented is out dated and sometimes down right WRONG! Best thing to do with this book is put it by your bed and if you can't sleep read a paragraph and you'll be fast asleep.

Usually a computer manual would bore the reader to death with its technicalities. This book isn't the case. Although it comprehends a great deal of technical aspects it focuses on the humanistic and ethical aspects of the technology as well. It also discusses both the technology past and its future.

This book was the best beginners computer book I have found to date. I teach computers to Senior Citizens and middle aged adults. This book has helped me introduce them to computers with an understanding that is relative to thier way of thinking. It is not too technical so that the average person, someone who is not techie, can understand computers, their relationship to today's world and its future growth. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to get a look at computers from a non-heavy technical aspect.