Larry Hagman was born September 21, 1931 in Forth Worth, Texas. His 17 year old mother, Mary Martin, was a perpetual Peter Pan, who did not want to grow up. After a stint as a TV astronaut with a Jeannie in a bottle, Larry finally made it over to Dallas. Here's what he says about his autobiography: "In this book I'm going to describe how I did my best. A lot already has been said about me. I've been described as the Mad Monk of Malibu, the kooky actor in the caftan who led flag parades up and down the beach, didn't speak on Sundays, and occasionally roared up to the grocery store on a Harley while dressed in a yellow chicken suit. It's also no secret that I'm a recovering alcoholic whose life has been prolonged by a liver transplant. It's all true, but there's more to say, lots more. Some of it's funny, some of it's serious, and some contains the wisdom that comes from discovering that having it all doesn't mean you *actually* have it all. In writing this book, I decided to throw all that mumbo in the gumbo, to stir in the stories, the little-known details, and the lessons I've learned, and I wanted to do it before I couldn't remember it anymore or we destroy the planet, whichever comes first."

Larry Hagman shines through and co-writer Todd Gold doesn't get in the way. "As I see it, I've spent much of my life in the business of crowd control. Each night, millions of people are at home staring at a box, and I'm inside it. If they weren't watching TV, they'd be outside rioting in the streets, breaking windows, and overturning police cars. I help keep them sedated, and at the same time I help sell cars, aspirin, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. So far I've been pretty good at it. ... I even take a little credit for helping bring down the Eastern bloc."

That's not all faux bravado. As an amateur philosopher/sociologist, the "man in the hat" does a pretty fair job that'd make Marshall McLuhan proud.. While filming episodes of *Dallas* on-location in Moscow, Larry, a/k/a J. R. Ewing, "Walked around the city unrecognized. It felt great to be anonymous again. I walked leisurely through museums and churches without being stopped once for an autograph. All of us actors remarked on a similar experience. But then we ran into a group of East German tourists who picked up television signals from West Germany and they were fanatical *Dallas* fans. Our guide, a pretty little girl, had no idea why four hundred people suddenly went nuts seeing us. ... 'That's J.R.!' they screamed. 'J.R., we love you!' Our guide didn't understand and called for security. 'But you're just an actor.' She kept saying . ... Nine months later, I watched CNN's coverage of the Berlin Wall being torn down and realized that *Dallas* had impacted that side of the world. Pop music also had an effect, but ideas combined with pictures were even more powerful. Every time people in Hungary, Poland, and East Germany watched *Dallas*, they saw what they didn't have - the beautiful clothes, the big homes, the abundant food, and the lifestyle. Eventually, enough people began to say, 'Wait a minute, I want that stuff too! And why don't we have it?' ... When the people from the Eastern bloc countries saw what they were missing, they realized what a farce communism was."

How much did the Ewing family mean to Larry Hagman? Remember the oil painting of Jock Ewing (Jim Davis) that hung over the mantle at Southfork? It's the first thing one sees when entering Hagman's house.

This is an entertaining celebrity bio that gets its points across - the good, the bad, the happy and the sad.

With rumors abounding about the casting in the in-the-works big screen adaptation of the hit series "Dallas", I summit that the life of star Larry Hagman is more enticing than any episode of the landmark series.

Hagman, along with co-author Todd Gold, has written a thoroughly fascinating autobiography of a man that is a complex as any ever to be a Hollywood mainstay. Like his birthplace of Texas, Hagman is wide and vast and most intriguing. Telling of his beginnings as the offspring of Broadway legend Mary Martin and his lawyer-father, the actor reveals his many highs and lows in his ascent to the heights of iconic status.

He lets us in on his "experiments" with drugs, his "lean" years as a struggling actor, his marriage to his beloved Maj, his television successes (both "I Dream of Jeannie and "Dallas", as well as the many featured roles in big and small screen films), and his interactions with the famous and not-so-familiar.

With a wry wit and genuine humility, the star comes across as a man at peace with himself and so self-assured that he can alternately and honestly tell of his strengths and shortcomings.

He may have never won an award for his distinctive television characters but to his legion of fans, he is a winner.

This book has it all. I could not put it down. It takes you from the Larry Hagman who had about 30 cents in his pocket, to the wheeling & dealing of his contract on "Dallas". It is funny, it is sad. It is the closest you can get to knowing the man without being married to him. It is full of advice & philosophies that I feel will enhance my own life. It truly is an intimate look at the life of one of the greatest actors and entertainers that ever lived.

When I closed the last page of the book, I realized that without knowing it, I was reading a love story. In Hollywood where stars change spouses like the seasons, Larry Hagman has been married to his wife "Maj" for almost 50 years! After reading the book, upon reflection, I remembered how Larry was advised by his wife, how he has always treated her with respect & admiration. You can still see the sparkle in his eye when reading the words he writes about his wife. Their relationship is truly one of equals. It is heartwarming to see a man who is wise enough to know that nothing can replace the love of one good woman, and a best friend for life.

The book is written in his own words and style, and you can tell by reading it that it was not done by some ghost writer looking to make a buck. The only problem with the book is that when I finished it, I wanted to pick up the phone, call Larry, and say "Hey let's go fishing". He truly seems like an old friend by the end of the book!

Well, not really a review.... But to correct a recent review on Amazon. The movie is now called, "Drive me Crazy" Featuring Melissa Joan Hart(taking over the Silverstone role) The sound track has the title song from Britney Spears (Melissa & the male lead are featured in the video, they are the ones at the raw juice bar & at the DJ's table), it's getting heavy rotation on Mtv's TRL. Movie will be out next Friday(Oct 1st.), with the sound track due out Sept 28th! And also, the ONLY way to get the song(since it's a remix) is from the soundtrack! However there is a import of it, good luck finding it! Also, there is a auction for it here on Amazon.

This is a good John Hughes-ish novel. It's written well, practically perfect in a way that sounds so realistic that it's pretty eerie. Maybe not really eerie, but still. It's about love and make-overs.

In this story of star-crossed lovers, we meet the preppy Nicole who's popular, school-spirited and fashion friendly. Nicole is part of the elite clique at school, where everyone lives in nice houses and their parents are always out. Our other protaganist is the grungey Chase, who's antisocial, idealistic and angsty. Chase is part of a bored group of Ninetendo, computer-chatting buds who seem consist of a designated driver and a geeky idiot. They've been living next-door since they can remember but they aren't friends anymore, of course.

The story doesn't end here.

It all begins when Nicole is waiting for the ever-so popular jock, Brad Selden, to ask her to the prom. She waits by the phone, hints to him and flirts but nothing happens. She feels that all is hopeless until--BAM!--he finds someone else. And it happens to be Chase's ex-girlfriend, Dulcie. Of course, Nicole is thinking "What the H***?" while Chase is confused himself. Then Nicole gets an interesting idea--why doesn't she and Chase go?

Oh about no . . . says Chase. But Nicole gives him a complete American Eagle/Abecrombie make-over that sends Chase's army cargos out in the Dumpster. Soon Chase is a hot preppie, being Nicole's little puppet and soon her "love slave." But what happens when Nicole actually starts to LIKE Chase?

Hmm, the plot thickens. Typical teen story, eh? Well, too bad, because this was an amazing potrayel of modern teenage life filled with friendship, cliques, hopes, failures, and of course, love. Another Todd Strasser novel mixed with John Hughes's ideas.

Thank you Todd, for writing this extremely comical approach to a typical teenage dilemma! I'm surpised that it hasn't had more publicity, i recommend this novel to every teenager who isn't afraid to admit that they would love to be Nicole or Chase secretly. Read this book.

I liked the book.. but not THAT much..I thought the ending would be more exciting..but unfortunately it wasnt, but still it was an OK book..but I wouldnt really recommend it.. It's about a Allegra..she's in love with this guy ,Andros Bliss, and when she heard that it was th elast night on earth she thougth that it was her last chance 2 spend time with him..so she stays with him instead of staying with her best friend , Derman , who just confessed his undying love to her..I felt sorry for him..I would've picked him instead of Andros..anyway..she makes out with the guy on the so-called "last night" so..in the end they say " the next day..(it turned out that it wasnt the ned of the world)..alice came up to her and said" oh..i was really scared,can we talk ,legs?" then allegra says "later" then they say" and she walked up 2 andross" and that was the end..i really got dissappointed..so i wont really recomend this book,.,

I read this book for two reasons. I was previewing it to decide if my 14 yearold cousin would like it and I just thought the idea of apocalyptic youth fiction was interesting. "How I Spent My Last Night On Earth" is like Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle" taking place in a 21st century high school. Instead of ice-9 killing off the world and all its creatures, it was to be a giant meteor.

Allegra or "Legs" reminded me of myself when I was a teenager. Smart, with a slightly bleak view of the world and no social skills. Unfortunately I never had the courage to pursue my own Andros Bliss when I was in high school. If only I had been faced with the end of the world!

Derman Bloom reminded me of my best/boy friend. He is someone that you would pity if only he hadn't done something so awful. And I'm not talking about 'the betrayal' as Legs came to call it. His treatment of Angie was less than respectable. He was taking advantage of a girl who thought she was going to die and who could never be sure if she was liked for herself or how she looked. At least he had the decency to keep her secret.

I found Angie to be one of the more interesting characters, though I couldn't identify with her. A Time Zone High book staring Angie is something I might like to read and give to my Angie-like too beautiful cousin.

All in all, I thought the book was fast paced, funny and enjoyable. Legs' journey of self discovery set admist a humorous backdrop (on the beach with crazy surfers waiting for the end of the world,) was priceless. I only wish the author had developed the friendships between Legs, Derman and Angie more. Then it might have helped readers see why she was so upset. This book made me wish I had a senior skip day myself, with or with out the apocalypse.

Welcome to the world of Time Zone High on the West Coast in an anoynmous town that's created in Todd Strasser's world, similar to John Hughes' Shermer, IL. Todd Strasser captures the Y2K scares in this scientic comedy about the end of the world.

The brainy and brave, Allegra Hanover (a Molly Ringwald-thinking girl of her time)is shocked to find that everyone at her high school is alarmed by the news of an asteriod hitting Earth and killing every human being. She's shocked by it, mildly, but mostly finds the thing unbelievable and nothing fazey. On her road to spending the last day she has one thing on her mind: Andros Bliss, the surfer hunk.

Like Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, Allegra wants the guy she knows can't have--the guy who doesn't even know she exist. Not only that but the book switches from John Hughes to a soap opera when she finds out her sort-of boyfriend might've done it with her bodacious comrad.

This book is excellent. It tells how a great mind thinks about the world's end and how she reacts to love and teenage rebellion. Legs is a really good example of a brainy teen. She's a leader and really into the things around her. A Holden Caulfield for the "Y" Generation, perhaps.

Fine picture of an often-maligned woman. A few historial inaccuracies, but well written and enlightening. Follows the same path as the much newer book by Kay duPont, "Loving Mr. Lincoln: The Personal Diaries of Mary Todd Lincoln," which, in fact, Jean Baker endorsed.

As I have learned after reading, and watching many documentries,and books about the Lincoln family.I have learnd one unpleasent thing.Mrs.Lincoln has been horibely treated in history.
I rember a kind of quote in the Lincoln A House Divided special where someone said that she was more intelegent then most men she knew.
Mary was intelegent.She studied politacts and was a Bell in Kentucky.Though she did have ovbius emotional problems and fits of depressions--So did Abraham.However this is often over looked becaouse of his status.

I think this has to be one of my favorite matriels out there about Mary.An excelent read,with informtiove information.
A good sense of what Mary must have been like.Which is something that most books lack about Mrs.Lincoln.This book is a true gem.

Jean Baker's biography of Mary Todd Lincoln is a well written work on an individual whose life was at once extraordinarily blessed and tragically cursed. Born in
Lexington to an upper middle class family with a long history in Kentucky, Mary was given both the traditional lifestyle of the young southern belle and the unusual
opportunity of an education. During a time when most women of her social class were almost invisible to the public world, Mary was better educated, more
outgoing, more inclined to express a personal opinion, and more ambitious than others of her set. To some extent these are the reasons she reached the White
House. They are also responsible for some of her social problems after leaving Washington. In fact, except for the early loss of her husband and children--a
common tragedy for many women of the time--most of Mary Lincoln's troubles were the outcome of her attitudes toward others and her extraordinary self
absorption. Even the loss of close family members merely presented an opportunity for her to assume the role of heroine in her own tragic drama, and she carried
her mourning to extremes rather than give up center stage. Focus became not the sad death of young men at the very beginning of their lives or of a national loss
of a great leader, but Mary Todd Lincoln's grief. When others refused to make her the center of their attention indefinitely, she apparently felt they were
unreasonable, and her outbursts alienated many who might have helped her far more and more readily than they ultimately did. To say that she was a woman with
great psychological and situation problems is an understatement.
Professor Baker tends to put a feminist spin on the events of Mary Lincoln's life, seeing her as a victim of the misogynistic, paternalistic environment of her times
and, as a woman ahead of her time, a prime target for male backlash. To some extent this may be--probably is--true, but not entirely. Certainly there were as
many, if not probably more, women who disliked her, some of them formerly close friends. In defense of the men and women of the mid nineteenth century, the
behavioral expectations of the day simply were what they were and putting their social mores on trial at this late date is not only unjust, it's pointless. Even in our
own society, which tolerates a far greater variance in behavior and where rapid communication allows us to share what's new more globally, there are still
behaviors that raise eyebrows. Like the society of Mary's day, we don't like to have our sense of what's "right" offended. To see this more personally, one has
merely to cross cultural lines, from say western to middle easter for instance, to feel the high dudgeon that the people of Mary's environment may have felt over her
breeches of expected behavior.
One of the figures in the story, most often vilified as the Bad Son, is Robert Lincoln. I had heard before the story of his consigning his mother to a sanitarium. The
book, while it makes of him just as much a villain, also provides enough details so the more critical reader might decern a less sinister view of these events. In his
defense I don't think that Robert Lincoln was quite the conniving, greedy man he is depicted--although I have to admit I've not read a biography of the man. He
certainly was able to provide a clear accounting of his management of his mother's funds. I suspect that he was merely a product of his age. That he was a very
rigid, conservative individual--as lawyers tend to be in any age--with political ambitions of his own can hardly be held against him. He certainly doesn't seem to
have used his mother's income to further his own agenda. From the author's own description of her, Mary Lincoln was self centered, outspoken, and eccentric.
She was also inclined to see others in black and white rather than in shades of gray, either for or against her, a friend to be clutched to her bosom or an enemy to
be driven away with every means available to her. Furthermore her shopping, which became the focus of her insanity trial, apparently was abnormal for the age. In
fact, even in our own time, excessive spending can be seen as a type of addictive or compulsive behavior and can and occasionally does lead to the bankruptcy
that Robert Lincoln feared would be his mother's fate if left to her own devises. Her 64 trunks--and the old Saratogas were not exactly carry-ons--of
possessions, weighing some 4 tons, would suggest that maybe her behavior really was a little out of hand. In his defense is the fact that he was surrounded by a
society that saw his mother's behavior as embarrassing if not outright insane and by advisors who agreed with his point of view and urged him to pursue the
course he did. That he should suborn perjury in an effort to bring his mother's behavior more in line with public expectations and her spending under better control
is tragic perhaps, but not necessarily evil. It might be pointed out that in growing up in the LIncoln household, there appeared to be only two methods of dealing
with mother, either rebel and fight for your own identity, as Robert Lincoln seems to have done, or allow oneself to be totally absorbed by her personality, as the
other sons seem to have done. Robert was never going to be his mother's favorite son. It might be pointed out, that he is also the only one to have survived her.
For those who are more inclined to understand the period itself, one of the more interesting aspects of Professor Baker's work is the clearer picture of the man
Lincoln that arises when he becomes a collateral, almost an incidental, character in the story. The events that lead to his death and ultimate cultural "deification"
are more evident, and his personality becomes more human. Factors in his personal life which may have effected his presidency are certainly much clearer.
Although I don't necessarily agree with some of Professor Baker's assessments, I think the book was very well written. It certainly kept my attention from beginning
to end. It is also very thoroughly researched. I think the chronicle of women's contributions to our world is far too under represented, and I welcome the addition of
this biography in partial remedy of that omission.

I thought this was a very controversial book until I went to these bars and found out the author is absolutely correct with 99% of his assersions. I would like to say it's the most interesting book I've read this year so far. I recommend it for men who want to know more than just what is going on with professional entertainers in clubs. Their is a lot of valuable human insight in this book too. Their is so much inside that the author must have had a hard time deciding on a name for the book.

This book opened my eyes to what really happens in these Korean/American bars. I couldn't hardly believe it all at first but it all turned out to be true when I went to see for myself. The author is sharp, witty and committed to telling the truth at all costs. I found his manner of writing easy to read and follow. I recommend others to read this book as soon as they arrive in Korea.

I've lived in Korea since 1994. Before that I was in the US Navy were I visited Korea off and on in the early 80's. Big change from pre '88 to now.

This book is right on the mark for Korean BAR GIRLS. The difference between a bar girl and a normal girl is night and day. I read the early edition "Keys to the Kingdom" back in '97 and wish that I had it when I came in '94. It would have saved me alot of wasted time. "Korean Bar Secrets II" is pretty close to the original "Keys to the Kingdom" except it was updated a little.

This book WILL save you some time and trouble. You may not agree with everything he says but, if you are around the bar scene long enough you will see he is right 99% of the time.

He has updated it to reflect the influx of Russian, Phillipino, and Vietnamese girls. But to be fair, it takes alot of time to research the differance. They may be different than the old Korean Bar Girl but they sure learn the Korean Tricks pretty fast. I'm convinced that this is the best book about the Korean Bar out. I sure don't see any others around.

This book is deffinitely worth the read! Especially if you are new to Korea.

I have not read the book in its entirety just yet I have read the first 5 sections in the book and I have found them somewhat tedious. The book is filled with diverse topics which only a few have been able to stimulate my interests.

This book provides insight into the tender moments Abraham Lincoln had with his wife Mary. Mary Lincoln does not come across as a shrew or a nag but as a loving wife that from time to time yielded to frustration and had to bear the personnal loss of two sons. Each time, Abraham seemed to know when to comfort her or when to leave matters unsaid.

I read and re-read this classic. Through Irving Stone's elaborate descriptive words, I feel, see and live what Mary Todd "Molly" did. I can smell the oranges, feel the velvet dress, and experience the political turmoil of the times prior to and during the Civil War. I don't even consider this book fiction. I am a romantic at heart, and she showed true devotion and undying love for Honest Abe. She taught me traits to look for in a man, and what to overlook. I am grateful to my father for giving me this book before he passed away.

This is a very unique book. It presents a range of material relevant to dsp and communications that you will not likely find together in any other book. I think the proofs and explanations are pretty clear, and the book is very readable. Although my math background is limitied to the math courses I've taken within my EE curriculum, I found the math in this book to be accessible and understandable.

What brings it down, however, is the absolutely insane number of errors and typos. The errata for the SECOND printing is 43 pages long! It's so thick that I can't even staple it together with a regular stapler. And that's just the mistakes that they've identified. Who knows how many others lurk in the text undetected.

I can understand a page or two of corrections, that is typical of most EE textbooks. And I can understand that since this is a first edition, there will be more mistakes than for a typical textbook which has been through several editions. But 43 pages worth of mistakes is unacceptable in my opinion. This material is difficult enough without mistakes in the proofs and explanations.

Without the huge errata I would have happily given this book 5 stars, but for now I give it 2.

This book deals with the actual Mathematical foundations of Signal Processing algorithms that are used in a wide array of applications (like beamforming, communications, voice recognition etc..). It starts with very good introduction of Vector Spaces and Linear Algebra, and follows it with sections on Detection/Estimation Theory, Optimization Methods and Iterative/Recursive Algorithms. In my opinion, the most important feature of the book that makes it impressive is its wide coverage of topics and the different angle (mathematical rigor combined with proper explanations) at which these topics are approached. Note that this book will make more sense to an advanced student in EE rather than a beginner

Having taken Dr. Moon's class in Fall 2000. I find this book to be a wonderful complement to his teaching style. The authors work on the basics of matrix and vector techniques in some detail, though never losing sight of the main objective of introducing the topics in a way suitable for a student of Signal Processing. The book also covers some advanced topics in iterative methods in SP, as also building on its solid base to touch upon Detection/Estimation theory. The high point of the book is the gradual, but fast paced and logical progression from the basics to more specialized topics, and the exhaustive set of examples in the accompanying CD-ROM. Also, the historical tit-bits which the author peppers us with (as Dr. Moon would do so many times in class!!) makes for some delightful and insightful reading. This book is a must for every Signal Processing student as also for anyone looking for computationally sound content on some topics on Communications. A caveat, though, beware of the typos, especially in the formulae, which will force you to keep looking up in the errata, time and again....And make sure you have some basic knowledge of MATLAB before you begin this book.

And not much else. The author tries to pack too much info into a single book. It did work for Lammle for the CCNA study guide. However, CCNP covers a lot more. For a recap of technologies this book is fine. If you are looking for a deeper coverage of routing protocols however, check out "Cisco IOS for IP Routing" by Andrew Colton (ISBN 0972286209). That book explains the mechanics of modern routing protocols, such as RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, and BGP in great detail.

I like the exam notes series of books. I read the MCSE 4.0 and this one for the CCNP 2.0 and liked both. I don't like that Sybex makes it difficult to save their PDF file to your hard drive for easier access. With this one you must have the CDROM in the drive to use the online form of the book. That bugs! The material was good. I did like the electronic flash cards on the CD. They weren't too in depth but they did make you think about specific critical subjects. I thought the routing section was as good as their routing study guide book. 4 Stars.

I used this book, along with the Todd Lammle CCNP study guides to pass my exams while attending a CCNP boot camp.

This book is a nicely put together document that helps you cram at the last minute.

I bought this book recomended by some site. I quickly found out although it does go into some detail of Netscape browser it highly discourages people to use them and goes further by asking them to skip the netscape sections. This book encourages people to support Microsoft and encourages people to use code that is not compatible with other browsers in a since.

A lot of helpfull info in it but because of its bias strategy I give it a 2. Book is somewhat old now but decided to learn the older stuff so what I learned to code would be compatible with almost any browsers. Im gonna have to say I would discourage making this book a choice for your studies.

This book is a great for anyone wishing to learn HTML. It's clear and very informative. Beginner and intermediate HTML users will find it a great buy.

It's only short-coming is the absence of a list of tags and their uses. "HTML 4" by Elizabeth Castro has this, and it is very useful for a quick reference. However the Castro Text is less suited for a beginner.

The 6 in 1 guide covers HTML, CSS, and DHTML as well or better than many texts that cover only one of these subjects. The book really explains why things are done, instead of showing you how to do something but not telling you why you'd want to do it.

You'll be very happy with the book if you're just starting out.

Excellent reference book for the beginner in web publishing. HTML is the only way to go and this book will give you a firm understanding of "how to do it". There are a lot of books on this subject, but this is the one of choice.

If your an NT 4.0 Admin then buy a copy of this book used (its cheap enough). For the money its an excellent resource. I purchased it full price and found that it was somewhat useful in instituting security polices for the Web servers I was responsible for. You should also consider getting some of the Hacker expliotation books just to understand more of the mindset of how a Hacker attacks.

For the last last few years, I have concentrated on NT auditing. I have read about 6 books on NT security, attended many security conferences, including SANS. I also search the net and study using MS tutorial courses. I attended 5 Microsoft NT courses. (It is hard work trying to find all those little bits of information.) I regard this book as the easiest one to start anyone off on this topic and the best for auditors. It is written for auditors (and not sysadmins). It is unfortunately out-of-date every time it is released (the last version for NT 3.51 as well), but that is not their fault, rather the fault of NT with its numerous security bugs that keep on coming (Watch out for SP7). It is still a good reference and the only audit book. Get "Hacking Exposed" as a companion to provide the updating info, and for the latest on NT security holes in working details.

Not a good idea to breeze through if you have not seen this before. This is a very good book, alot of tools exists today which does this but the book tells the registry locations and gives explanations. However if you attended SANS, this book might not be for you.