This book provided me with a great blueprint for understanding what it takes to set and achieve any goal I set. On the following lines I have written out one of the paragraphs that Gary Ryan Blair includes in the very first commandment that made all the sense in the world to me. I hope you enjoy it.

"You are born with great capabilities, but you will not achieve your potential until you call upon yourself to fulfill it. You will rise to the occasion when it presents itself. Yet, to assure self-fulfillment, you must provide occasions to rise to. Clearly defined goals allow you to travel toward another horizon that represents the end of one experience and the transition to a new and better existence. The objective is to choose the right goals, and then to create the necessary causes-the effects will follow!

The stunning beauty of Texas caves can be seen in the book's many photographs (both color and black & white). The first part of the book gives a brief overview of the geology of Texas caves and cave biology. It provides descriptions of the seven largest "show caves" in the state (including directions, length of tour, camping, facilities, nearby motels, etc). State speleological parks which offer wild cave tours (through undeveloped caves) are also mentioned. The second part of the book includes chapters contributed by well-known Texas cavers. As a Texas caver myself, I was really happy to see a section on "Guide to Caving Etiquette," which can be useful to any reader who wants to know more about cave safety, Texas caving organizations, and establishing landowner relations. Another bonus is a chapter that includes tips for cave photography. This is a good companion book to "The Caves and Karst of Texas" which was put out by the National Speleological Society (1994).

I really enjoyed the stories in the book, they really touched my heart. I hope that everyone who reads it, is also touched by them.

Just goes to show you how good Amazon's recomendation engine is - I wouldn't have gone looking for this title, but I am very glad I have it now. This slim volume (only 120 pages, including the notes) goes a long way towards illuminating the importance of "intangible" items such as intellectual capital, research and development, brand names, etc., are to the economic growth and wealth of our society. As the preface to chapter one, Blair and Wallman quote Attorney Lloyd Cutler (commenting on the proposed breakup of Microsoft), "Given that no company can establish a monopoly on brains, how do you keep the people that make it work? There are no tangible assets to divest. There is intellectual property and that's about it - and a building." Exactly! As the events of September 11th so horrily illustrated, you could burn the plant to the ground, but as long as you have a repository of your critical business information, you can resume business anywhere. How we view and deal with our intangible assets may be the one thing that determines whether a company survives or not. I think all managers everywhere should read this book.

"Upon Further Review' examines the profession that strives to be ignored but finds itself under closer scrutiny than at any time in history. This book takes you through the history of officiating, looks at some of the profession's more colorful characters, relives some of the decisions that altered the course of a critical game and season, and examines the issues facing today's official.

A distinguished group of academics and practitioners revisits Blair's earlier book Ownership and Control: Rethinking Corporate Governance for the Twenty-First Century. In less than 90 pages, the participants review some of the most significant arguments in the field concerning Blair's contention that employees are legitimate stakeholders in corporations and that like shareholders, they too have firm-specific investments at risk, in the form of human capital. Blair looks at the current system and asks whether the allocation of risks and rewards is inevitable or should labor also be considered a residual claimant. The group seems to come close to consensus that firms should greatly expand their use of equity-based compensation systems in exchange for salary reductions. Blair suggests the use of restricted stock which can encourage commitment to the firm by requiring they continue their employment in order to reap the full benefits. In fact, many are already doing so, especially, as pointed out by Ronald Gilson, in high-technology industries. Some pension funds have recognized this in their proxy voting guidelines (see, for example TIAA-CREF which has different stock dilution guidelines for high-technology industries). An encouraging note comes from Jonathan Low, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Work and Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor who indicates that five different groups have approached the Department that are looking to set up screens or create funds based on workplace practices and investments in human capital. Low also cites a study by Wayne Cascio, of the University of Colorado, on the effects of massive downsizing. Three years after downsizing, sample companies had subsequent earnings increases of 183%, whereas comparison firms in the same industries that did not downsize had earnings increases of 422%. Cumulative stock returns over three years were 4.7% vs 34.3%. He concludes that pension fund managers "would be justified in encouraging a second look at such tactics."

This is the first book in the Girl Talk series and it was just great. The book was a comical mixture of romance, friendships, and the trials of starting a new school. I was highly disappointed when I found that this series was no longer being printed. I recommend this book and it's series for every adolescent female. I refuse to give up mine but maybe you can find someone else who will!

I first found this book at my library, and was amazed at how many locations it covers! I was born in western PA, and grew up in central PA, but there were some intruiging places in this guide that I'd never heard of before. If you are a history buff and have a nice, lazy weekend to spend following the "history trail" as laid in this book - do it! What a nice way to fall in love with PA all over again. It'd be twice as nice to do in the fall when the leaves are changing. I logged on to Amazon.com today expressly in the hopes of ordering this book - I can't recommend it enough and am looking forward to taking it with me on regional trips in the future.

THis book doesn't preach or even teach. It asks questions and our own minds give the lessons because that's where all the answers are anyway with regard to goals of all types

"When Dreams Come True" begins on a sad note when Brian McKenzie, the head gardener on a Scottish west coast estate, finds himself unemployed. After finding a job as gardener at Glasgow Green, he must move his wife and 3 daughters to a tenement in the Bridgeton section of Glasgow. But from day one of their arrival, the McKenzies find warmth and friendship among the residents of their Bridgeton close. The story centers on Norma, the oldest daughter, as she and neighbor, Midge Henderson, develop their ballroom dancing talents to the point of becoming the sweethearts of the Glasgow dance hall scene. Heartbroken when Midge deserts her, indefatigable Norma trains as a radio specialist with the allied forces during World War II. On an overseas mission, Norma falls in love with a fellow Scot. But, on their return to Glasgow, the class distinction so prevalent in those years threatens to split them apart. The analysis of characters and the value systems of the tenement areas of Glasgow make this book one you will be loathe to see end. All Glaswegians will be proud to know that out of the grime of Bridgeton a colourful panorama has been painted by Emma Blair.