By now, everyone knows all-too-well that our world is going to pieces next January 1st. Olsen-Ecker tells us exactly how it's going to happen. This book is funny. Very funny! The photos alone are worth the price. I was especially thrilled to see the tribute to Quoi Chang, one of my all-time heroes! Now I've got to go and round up some pigeons!!!

That Olsen-Ecker guy is a real crazy kook. The book really puts this whole Y2K thing in a perspective we can all laugh about and silence the hysteria. Olsen-Ecker is one of the great creative minds of the 20th century. It is not just a book but a survival manual for the next millenium. Save those cheese doodles, take the stairs, and cancel that flight to Hawaii. The Y2K hysteria is upon us people! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!

Buy this, read it, keep it on your desk. Any time you read in the "real" press that Y2K is going to bring disaster, open this book at random; remind yourself that *this* is what the pundits are predicting. They're nuts. (Well, the author is clearly nuts also, but I mean that in the nicest way.)

And, it's cheap enough that you can buy a batch and have them handy to hand to people who whine about Y2K preparedness. I did.

Dr. Michael Bradley's book, "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!" is an
inspiration and should be on every parent's night stand, indefinitely.

From the frightening statistics on teen suicide today to safety and privacy issues, you will finally understand what you're dealing with as a parent and what you can do to make the experience better for your teenager and your family.

Dr. Bradley's grasp of teen fears, trials and needs is a pleasant reminder to be kind to our teens in an otherwise punitive society. This book is a guiding light for parents trying to love sometimes unlovable kids while also providing security in the face of panic. He offers excellent guidelines to help conquer your fears while also helping your teen deal with their own tumultuous world.

Before I even finished this book I began using the "dispassionate" techniques Dr. Bradley recommends. The results have been dramatic. My 13 year-old and I have not had a screaming fight in a while (they were happening every other day) AND we have been communicating in a way I thought was lost forever. Dr. Bradley uses an upbeat and candid style to get across all that ails today's teens, from medical insight that supports the notion that our kids are crazy (his term, not mine), to an environment that inundates them with sex, drugs and rock and roll at a very early age. His case studies are enlightening, and sometimes terrifying, but a wonderful way to get his point across without bogging down the reader with too much psychobabble. I highly recommend this book not just for parents of teenagers-my relationship with my 10 year-old is already benefitting from my newly learned parenting skills-but for every parent who has, at one time or another, been frustrated while trying to communicate with his or her child.

Superb! I am the mother of two teenagers and also a professional working with children and teenagers - this book was worth every cent and every second I spent reading it.
I found it very helpful personally, I am already reaping the benefits in my family...
It will also go on my short list of book recommendations for parents of troubled teens.
It is transforming, empowering - and reassuring. Just add a caring parent (even if confused, angry, ineffective - as we all are from time to time).

Just one burning issue - I hate the title which may be fine for parents but is insensitive to teens. I discarded the dust jacket, so all my recently raging teen would see was an innocuous grey cloth binding, as I read the book. Please retool the title for future editions which will surely follow.
And thank you Michael Bradley !!!

I used this book for my step 3 and did very well, so I'm recommending it highly to any of my friends or anyone still looking. I used the starred items to cram a couple hours before the exam and got a ton of points just from those! I also used ALOT of the memory aids from the book on my exam! My friend used it for her step 2 as well and did great, but for step 3 I can definitely say you GOTTA have it.

This book had everything I needed--really good diagrams/algorithms/etc; an outlined format; AND fantastic memory aids throughout the book that helped me process the info alot faster and retain it for the exam. It's why I did so well on my step 3, although you really have to have this one before you sit for any of your clinical steps.

This book was a major part of my success on Steps 2 AND 3. I'm enthusiastically supporting it. I like the memory aids and the well-conceived layout. The outlined format allowed me to get through it 2 or 3 times before each exam. Quite thorough.

This book was wonderful and refreshing to read. Unlike the majority of Mormon Fiction, this story is believable. The charaters are well developed and realistic. The story is written so that it entertains and teaches at the same time. I love the philosophical questions that the main charater Specher has. They are questions that any young person asks and attempts to find answers to. This book is perfect for those lazy Thursdays when you are in a thinking mood and need something to indentify with.

I SELDOM PICK A BOOK UP THAT I CAN NOT PUT DOWN,BUT THIS ONE WAS LIKE THAT.. .I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT EACH CHARACTER WAS DOING NEXT!

A BOOK SIMILAR TO THIS THAT READERS WILL LOVE IS STOLEN MOMENTS BY BARBARA JEANNE FISHER. ..IT IS A BEAUTIUFL LOVE STORY THAT TOUCHES THE DEPTH OF ONE'S HEART, WITH EVERY POSSIBLE LOVE KNOWN TO HUMANS IN IT. ..IT IS ONE THAT YOU WILL WANT TO READ OVER AND OVER, AND EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE CAN IDENTIFY WITH.

BOTH GREAT BOOKS.

When my friend recommended this book to me, I was suspicious, because he couldn't explain what he loved so much about it, but I can!! It's inspiring! It made me think about my life and what I want to get from it. Actually, it made me think of lots of things, too many to mention here. And it just gets better as you read. Great story. I can't wait to read the sequel and find out what happens next!

i would have to classify this book as a "beginner cookbook"

it's an awesome value, considering that it's half the price of New Rider Cookbooks(flash 5 magic, flash deconstruction, etc).

but most importantly, the tutorials are practical.. those found in new riders ones aren't so... more of pointless razzle dazzle... don't get me wrong; new rider books are usually on the mark... but this book is simply far better overall than new rider ones

but do not make the mistake of thinking that you've mastered flash after having completed this book... i realized that regardless of the different methods everyone takes in learning, there's really no short cut... having achieved certain flash results means nothing more than "monkey see monkey do"

i highly recommend Foundation Flash 5 for learning Flash; with flash vqs by katherine ulrich, you'll learn what's available to you in flash 5, but won't learn the workflow... which i think is more important... once you find yourself midway on the flash ladder, go thru new masters of flash by friends of ed.. to give you some inspirational motivation as well as to see the full potential of flash.. which i think is as difficult to master as the never-ending photoshop.

I strongly suggest for those of you who really want to learn how to use Flash, to buy this book. This book serves as a "beginner cookbook"! Last Fall, I took Flash 5 course by Brad Kaldahl and his book is excellent! In his introduction, he states:

"If you have never worked with Flash you will appreciate the easy to use, short, step by step projects. Rather than describing each palette and menu item and giving an explanation of what they do, you will learn by doing. From the second chapter on, you will be quickly producing exciting web content.

As an educator I designed this text because there are no book that tell you where you should start and provide a logical, easy to understand, progression for learning Flash. Both my students and I agree that the most enjoyable way to learn complex software is with short projects that show cool, fun, interesting technigues that can be used (or modified) immediately."

Authors who plan to write books on graphic design, animation or 3-D models should follow his example!

i already wrote a review on this book, but let me write a better convincing one.

despite the fact that this cookbook is 200 pages in length, one can obviously conclude that it probably took longer for him to devise this book than it would for another lazy author who just wants to make money(and those of you that possess many books know what i'm talking about!) =) so, what's my point? he clearly cares that you learn and get the best out of the book and i would have to categorize him as one of the noble people in the world who don't care about money but are passion driven and want to help people. i even emailed him encouraging him to keep on writing... where is the director book???? =P and the specific details of the book... i don't think there's a need for me to mention any... IT WORKS! why does it work.. b/c his philosophy of "collection of short hands on projects" logic is the same advocated by technology experts at IVY LEAGUE schools such as MIT(which i believe the author carefully researched as well to make sure we effectively learn... what a guy..) ok, i'm not gay..

and as per the review below stating something along the lines of "...leaves you with beginner knowledge." ignore that guy... how does one walk without learning to crawl first? and besides.. if you have some software experience, i'm sure that you can figure everything out on your own thru trial and error after having completed this book.

Having only the cursory knowledge of Iwo Jima from the immortalized "photograph" and monument near Arlington National Cemetary, reading "Flags of Our Fathers" was an eye-opening experience. Born in the late 60's, I grew up in with war and its after-effects having little impact on my own personal life (somehow my immediate family escaped any time in the military). In this deeply personal account of the events surrounding Iwo Jima, James Bradley gives the reader a detailed account of the famous battle that no high school history class lesson could do justice to. From the "underground city" of Iwo to the facts surrounding the quite accidental photographic capture of the incidental second flagraising, the book is both educational and fairly quick read.

I was a little put-off early in the early stages of the book. In leading up to the actual battle, Bradley seemed to have already elevated the six flagraisers to godlike status. But having finished "Flags," one can easily forgive the author for the high reverence he holds for these individuals now knowing how each of their stories ended. Having recently visited Washington, I stopped at the US Marine Corps Memorial near the end of my trip. I did not know the names or stories of the men behind the impressive statues. Reading "Flags" made me initially regret what, at the time, had been a fairly unemotional visit to yet another DC monument. While that changed as I read "Flags" (I pulled out the photos I had taken several times while reading), I ultimately believe that the surviving flag raisers (particularly the author's father, John Bradley) would be quite happy that I did not associate them with the celluloid or bronze images that dogged them for the remainder of their lives.

It is heartening to see the success of this book. While not a scholarly historical work, Bradley has done a great service in recording these men's stories and the brave efforts of all who have ever fought for their country.

Seriously, five stars are just too few for a monumental book like this one. This book is an instant classic that should live for all time! If you are like me, you have a whole story built up in your mind around one of the most famous photographs in American history -- the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. If you are also like me, there is little reality behind that story in your mind.

Written by the son of one flag-raising Marine, this amazing story should be read by everyone. It tells a tale of heroism, horrible circumstances, and the lasting consequences of an unexpected event in a compelling, unforgettable way. This book rivals All Quiet on the Western Front for its revealing insights into the nature of war, comradeship, and courage.

To set the stage, Iwo Jima was the first Japanese soil the Marines invaded. The Emperor had issued orders that the ground was to be defended to the last man. Iwo Jima was filled with tunnels that harbored over 20,000 Japanese troops who could shoot from relative safety while Americans were out in the open. The tunnel system was so extensive that Marines would literally be kidnapped while standing next to their buddies, and no one would know where they had gone. Rocks would suddenly open up to reveal mortars.

Tough fighting went on for days. The Marines lost 7,000 dead and had another 15,000 or more wounded out of 70,000 men. Ironically, the worst of the fighting came after the flag photograph, and three of the six Marines in the photograph died in this later action.

As tough as Iwo Jima was, living with the aftermath of the photograph was even harder in many ways. Two of the three survivors had their lives deeply affected in negative ways. The story of all three riveted me more than anything I have read in years.

I read fairly few books about war, but I cannot recommend this book enough to you. As Americans we owe it to those who fought in this battle to remember what actually happened and what the repercussions are. You will be moved at a deeper level than you can possibly imagine by this outstanding book.

Remember Iwo Jima!

I was only 5 when the attack on Iwo Jima took place. My own father, by virtue of age, good luck and a naval officer's commission escaped conscription into this particular hell. My personal wartime experience is a vague one of watching free movie musicals at the Ottumwa Iowa Naval Air Station, squashing and saving tin cans for the war effort and finally weaving red white and blue crepe paper into the spokes of my junior bike in celebration of VJ day. Thanks to a new book about World War II, I am discovering what it was really like back then to feel true patriotism. It is a bittersweet revelation, but a very valid one.

"Flags of Our Fathers" is a book which appeals not only to the die-hard WWII buff but to any person, male or female, with an interest in a teeth clenching, powerful and poignant story. It describes a horrible battle, the incredible selfless sacrifices of young men and the angst of their families.

James Bradley & Ron Powers have brought to vivid life the real people behind the famous flag-raising mythos, the surreal war in which they so valiantly fought and the survivors' eventual reentry into civilian life. This is an adventure story of true horrific experiences. On the surface it is a "good guy-bad guy" saga in which our good guys finally triumph. The good guys lucky enough to come home are quiet, self effacing and seemingly forever linked to the ghosts of those who did not survive. In an age before psychologists had discovered and mined "survivor's guilt" and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, the luckiest of these largely teenaged boys trained, fought, were wounded, came back and resumed living to the best of their ability. I defy any woman not to bleed for the mothers and fathers who waited and any man not to cry for the "uncommon valor" of these very young sons. Bradley's personal experiences with his own hero father, his intimate interviews with families of these sons and his own quiet faith are melded with the poetic prose of Ron Powers into a seamless whole.

This is a meticulously researched, lovingly crafted and stunning battle book, written by exceptional men about exceptional men. It is sure to become a classic.

A friend lent me a copy of "The Catch Trap" and the prospect of reading a book about the circus in the 40s and 50s seemed like pure torture. Still, for some strange reason I picked it up and started reading (about a month after it was lent to me). Over the course of the next week, I found it increasingly difficult to put the book down. I stayed up literally all night one night because I just couldn't put it down. Though I'm usually not a big fan of long novels full of lots of detail, this book is riveting. The characters are full, rich, complicated people with complex, endlessly fascinating relationships. When I finished the book, I was genuinely sad to leave these people I had grown to love. The Santelli family had become real to me, almost as if I belonged to them in some way, and Tommy and Mario were my friends. And I felt like I knew so intimately what the life of traveling circus performers had been like. In addition to great characters and a great story, Bradley does a superior job of

I was given this book several years ago and was extremely skeptical. I don't usually like love stories and I'm not a big science fiction fan so when I saw that it was a love story by a science fiction writer I was sure I would hate it. I didn't. In fact I started reading it one Saturday afternoon and didn't put it down until I finished it that evening. The relationship between these two men (Tommy Zane and Matt "Mario" Santelli) was so moving and so real. All of the characters in this book are so multi-dimensional that you think you know each of them intimately and you start to feel like one of the family. Set in the circus world of the 40's, this book takes you on a fantastic ride through the lives of two young men who risk everything to be together. I've probably read this book over two dozen times and I love it just as much each time. In fact, my copy is so worn out that I had to order a new one. Read it! You won't be sorry.

I would have given the book a 10 and perhaps should have but I am a petty person and the typos in it were very numerous and distracting. Other than that this book is by far the best I have ever read. I have not read any of her other books and seeing as I don't like fantasy books there is a good chance I never will read anything else by her. But because of this book alone she is my favourite author. I fell completely in love with the characters and the entire circus theme. The love story was well done and reasonably real. I would love to read a novel exploring the lives of the older members of the family (ie, Lucia and Joe, or even the older Mario). I loved this novel and all the characters. I could not put it down while I was reading it and as soon as I finished (in the middle of the night) I began reading it from the beginning again. This is a wonderful novel. Read it.

If you're bored or sad or feeling lonely or just down, this is the perfect fix. With a cute animal photo and a brief sentence on every page, this book helps you see that everyone has bad days and that tomorrow promises wonderful new things. The black and white pictures are works of art and the captions match them perfectly. This book made me smile and laugh and cry. I received it as a gift from a good friend and I want to run out and buy copies for everyone I know who has ever felt down and out! A great gift idea!

Initially I was intent on purchasing the blue day book calender. I was really just killing sometime in the book store. But I found this little book and couldn't help but buy it. It's got the most adorable pictures, and a commentary that made me laugh and cry. If you don't feel better after reading this little book, I would seriously recommend some serious help for you. It's so perfect in its simplicity.

I bought this book after quickly thumbing through it. The animal pictures are adorable and humorous. As someone who has struggled with depression there are a lot of books that are to indepth for me or not what I need at a particular time. There are times where you need something short and easy to get you through the moment. This is the book for that. The pictures are organized appropriately with the text. Though a quick read (3-5 minutes), I found myself saying "He's right that is how I feel" as well as laughing. I am trying to decide who else I could buy this book for.

"Democracy in America", published in two parts (the first in 1835, the second in 1840), is the great work of Alexis de Tocqueville, a young, aristocratic Frenchman, who traveled through most of the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States during a 9 month period in 1832. Tocqueville had originally set out to study the U.S. prison system but what he saw inspired him to write about much, much more.

The foresight he had for such a young man is really impressive to read 160 years later. What he saw in the morals, work ethic and government structure of the United States led him to accurately predict many of the ways in which the U.S. would lead and has led the world. At the same time Tocqueville was not oblivious to many of the ills in the America he saw. He very wisely writes of the cancer that the institution of slavery was to not only all black Americans, but to the white, Southern farmers and workers as well.

I hate having to give these books "stars" for ratings because in many cases it takes away from the ultimate importance and classic status of a book like this one. Tocqueville does tend to jump around and venture off into different topics that don't fit with the rest of their chapter, which could be attributed to his youth. Also, a few of his predictions, naturally, were way off. A native Texan, I had a good laugh at his view that "the province of Texas is still part of the Mexican dominions, but it will soon contain no Mexicans." But overall Tocqueville's view of America was honest, accurate, and the perfect explanation of why, on a daily basis, people continue to risk their lives to gain the freedom that only the United States of America offers.

De Tocqueville was an amazing man who posessed amazing insight into the workings (and not-workings) of American society. One only laments the fact that he was not a middle caste American politician arguing amongst great minds during the Constitutional conventions. Then again, we are equally lucky of the fact that he was a curious Frenchman of the leisure class who happened to be passing through. This is what gives de Tocqueville the ability to refrain from emotionalism and give us an outsiders view of what makes America good, bad and just plain different.

See, de tocqueville recognizes, as did our founders, that liberty and democracy are key ingredients to a healthy society. On the other hand, he points out that too much freedom or democracy lead to lazy, public-opinion driven conformity, over-emphasis on materialism and restlessness. Another contradiction de tocqueville points out is that although self-government is generally a good idea, there are times when an all powerful aristocracy is just more efficient. He can see all sides.
The best part then is that de Tocqueville doesn't come to any final conclusion. He just observes and reports on America's inner workings as seen by an aristocratic Frenchman.

A few reccomendations to the de tocqueville virgins. First, as this is the unabridged, it may be advised to read the first book, pause to read something else, then read the second book. I read it straight through and found that not only would I have benefited from reflection, but much of the second book is a rehash the first. Second, keep in mind during the second book that the word 'democracy' is also de tocqueville's word for 'capitalism'. The word 'capitalism' would be introduced only years later by one Karl Marx. So when de tocqueville says that democracy increases industriousness, what the reader should hear is that capitalism increases industriousness. This in itself is a brilliant observation by de tocqueville. Democracy and capitalism really are the same thing, different scale. The producer, like the political candidate, cater to the consumer or the voter. Both systems allow the individual to choose the goods and services he wants and reject those he doesn't. This is why one may also want to read 'Wealth of Nations' with this book.

The only other thing I can tell the reader before he or she embarks on a fascinating reading adventure is to keep in mind why de tocqueville wrote the book. He intended it to be read by the french who were not familiar with or had misconceptions about America. Of course, it provides contemporary America with an amazing historical survey. Like the introductory exclamation to MTV's 'Diary' show says, "You think you know, but you have no idea".

The specific edition I am reviewing is the Heffner addition which is a 300 page abridgement. I also own an unabridged edition but I have only read Heffner cover to cover. What is amazing about de Toqueville is how uncanny many of his observations are over a century and a half later. He accurately predicted in 1844 that the world's two great powers would be the United States and Russia. He aptly pointed out that Americans are a people who join associations and he is so right 156 years later. Although there are both religious extremists on both ends, ie fundamentalists and atheists, he was dead on that, as a whole, we are a religious society but that our religious views are moderate. De Toqueville shows how American characteristics evolved from democracy as opposed to the highly class structered societies of Europe. From de Tocqueville, it could have been predicted that pop culture, such as rock music etc, would develop in America because the lack of an aristocracy causes a less cultured taste in the arts. In a thousand and one different ways, I found myself marveling at how dead on de Toqueville was. Most controversially, those who argue that we have lost our liberties to a welfare state might well find support in de Toqueville. Here, 100 years before the New Deal, he forsaw that a strong central government would take away our liberties but in a manner much more benign than in a totalitarian government. There are certain liberties that Americans would willingly sacrifice for the common good. Critics of 20th century liberalism in the US might well point to this as an uncanny observation. By reading "Democracy in America," the reader understands what makes Americans tick. De Toquville was an astute observer of who we are as a people and should be read by all educated Americans.

I want to note that there are several editions of this great work and in deciding which to buy, be aware that each has a different translator. I feel Heffner's translation is slightly stilted but, he did such a wonderful job in editing this abridgement that it, nontheless, deserves 5 stars.

Bradley Stone's book, "e-RPG", is a must read for any AS/400 (iSeries) RPG developer wanting to make the leap to web development.

Having a background in RPG III green screen programming, I was able to use this excellent resource to configure my AS/400's HTTP server for CGI programming, gain an understanding of RPG IV ILE concepts, use system APIs in my RPG programs, and begin coding RPG CGI web enabled applications.

Brad provides numerous examples, with source code, of procedures that are needed for web development. Following his examples has led me to a basic understanding of HTML and JavaScript that I've been able to build on considerably.

I was immediately able to code a simple "Hello World" web application with RPG, and 3 weeks later I had a more complex functional application that blew my bosses' socks off.

This book is an absolute must for any programmer who uses RPG and wants to start putting applications on the web.
Brad Stone shows you everything you need to know form setting up the AS/400 (iSeries) as a web server, using HTML and JavaScript, using RPG to create the CGI needed to process web pages and completing it with an example online shop !!
This book made things seem extremely easy I was expecting to need in depth knowledge of API's but no he explains them with easy to understand words and even gets you to create what you need into a service program.
All I need to say is wow!!!

This book is perfect for any AS/400 programmer who would like to extend his knowledge to include writing CGI programs for the world wide web. Bradley starts by explaining what is really happening when you click a URL, and what happens when you answer web page prompts and press submit. Then it goes on to demonstrate how to program these events in RPG using modern techniques, including ILE concepts.

The book includes a perfect amount of instruction, but for those of use who like to get our hands dirty by "trying now and reading later", the examples are excellent. A CD is included with all of the source needed to use the examples.

One of the examples is a complete "Shopping Cart" application!

Thanks for an excellent job, Bradley!