No comments about THE POWER OF THE DRAGON.

1 comments about Climate Change 1994: Radiative Forcing of Climate Change and an Evaluation of the IPCC 1992 IS92 Emission Scenarios.

1. The IPCC-1994 follow up on the first two reports of the IPCC working group one (WG1) reports on climatic change gives a good compendium of our knowledge on anthropogenic (and natural) radiative forcing of the atmosphere and the climate system. The book fills the hole that new findings in the last couple of years have created. It will be mostly for specialists that have to know things before the rest. If you do not belong to this group, wait for the 1995-IPCC report due in the beginning of 1996.

5 comments about The World's Greatest Fighter Teaches You: How to Master Bruce Lee's Fighting System (The World's Greatest Fighter Teaches You, 1).

1. Joe Lewis was in the peer group of Lee ,Noris, Urquedez, and Wallis .This makes a technique book by him a good thing .
   The Deal with Bruce was ,He was a skilled on hitting vital areas of his opponents , and developed a style of broken rythm fighting , kind of like Mahamad Ali's boxing , but with Karate .
   Ledgend has it Lee was allways trying to instigate a rivalry between Noris and Lewis . Lee would tell noris , Lewis thought he could be better , and vice versa . Lewis would then bust Lee's chops , that he should be on the tournament or PKA circut and "really" prove himself in a competition situation .
   What ever the case may be Bruce Lee was in great shape and developed a very effective combat style . Norris,wallace and lewis , are skilled as well. But Lee wrote alot , and had may concepts on fighting that are still being persued today ,namely adding more Kung Fu to Karate and Tae Kwon Do sparring .Bruce americanized chineese Martial Arts. These people mentioned are more openminded than they are credited for . After all Martial arts is multi faceted . It is defensive there are forms , breaking , weapons , zen, breathing , stretching,different types of competition , Entertainment . That's why it's an Art . It can be a Sport ,it can be self defense ,sometimes it can be , just physical fitness .. all the fighters we have mentioned have been in movies , so there is that aspect ,too .Comming up with combinations that look good on film . And can these things be brought back into your style . Can you make your own form ?
   You don't necissarily have to start doing acrobatic circus tricks , to create your own form , it may just be the concept of Multidirectional fighting , kicking forward with the right , then kicking back with the left , then kicking to the side with the right , or adding a kung fu techniques like punching forward or kicking back at the same time . why isn't that in any Tae Kwon Do forms . At some point it is up to you to add to what is allready there , and find other souces of insperation .
   One thing i can say for bruce Lee , is i don't think i've ever seen him act like a forrest animal in any of those movies , and that's quite an acomplishment for a chinaman in Martial Arts :>)



2. This book was somewhat interesting but also a bit of a disappointment (was I really expecting to master Bruce Lee's Jeet kune do). First off there is no way in the universe you are going to master Bruce Lee's art in a book 208 pages long. You would do well to order "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" written by the man himself, Bruce lee.
   This book should have been titled "The Friends Of Bruce Lee remember him". The book had many chapters written by people who knew Bruce Lee and had nothing to do with mastering Jeet Kune Do. I will say some of the stories were interesting and funny, as when Bruce was shopping for clothes with Mr. Lewis and a sales clerk kept bugging Bruce. He (Bruce) ending up knocking the guy on his rear end with his famous one-inch punch. Serves the guy right because he kept asking Bruce "What do you do for a livin man?".
   I felt the book was one big advertisement for Joe Lewis's video's and a ploy to get people to buy those at his various websites.
   He even has martial arts domain names for sale at the end of the book. I have no doubt Joe lewis is a superb martial artist but I feel he is using Bruce Lee's popularity to sell his products. That's not such a bad thing maybe but I'll say it again I was misled a bit by the book's title. Definitely buy Bruce's "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" because it will keep you thinking for years about his various methods of defense and attack. One thing Mr. Lewis did elaborate on that I liked was having "oneness of mind" when in combat or competition. When you want to punch or kick, go ahead and do it without a second thought.
   This requires much training and novices will have to devote lots of time to master it.Also putting your best weapons forward and not telegraghing your strikes. This also requires much practice but well worth the effort.
   All of these concepts were taught by Bruce. In closing I will probably end up buying some of Joe Lewis's dvd's so I guess the book had it's intended purpose. We all miss Bruce and Brandon, maybe they are somewhere in the universe sparring with some funny-looking aliens. Oh no Bruce, they have 4 arms and 3 legs!



3. I agree with some of the other reviewers that Joe Lewis could be called arrogant, especially if you use a title for a book beginning with "The World's Greatest Fighter". Joe Lewis was a great champion in semi-contact karate before he moved on to full contact karate (kickboxing minus kicking to the legs) and became world champion in this martial arts form too. The problem I have with the titles he won is that a "world champion" in semi-contact Karate in the US could better be termed a "Champion of North America". Contrary to an organisation like the WUKO, the foreign participation of these tournaments was limited to Canada. The same argument applies to his world title in full-contact Karate. Lewis only fought Americans in a time that only a tiny segment of the Martial Arts community was engaged in Full Contact. Lewis never fought a single match in which leg kicking, elbowing, kneeing or grappling was allowed.
   The good thing about this book is that it does deliver what is says it will: it lifts up the veil of secrecy about what Bruce Lee actually taught Joe Lewis. This information wasn't available to the public before. The chapters by fellow martial artists are also very insightful. The book's real value is more historical then than practical. Most kickboxing coaches of today would find the techniques and methods expounded in the book outdated.
   Conclusion: a worthwhile purchase for Bruce Lee enthusiasts.



4. I was in the book store at the mall killing time when I saw this on the shelf. I was amazed at how pretentious the title was. However, as I flipped through it and read a little, it turned out to be so good I ended up buying it. Rather than being a book showing lots of techniques, it focuses more on the theories and conceptual parts of JKD. Things like timing, distance, speed, broken rhythm, and gives lots of the training methods Bruce Lee created for Joe Lewis to develop these attributes. It was also very interesting to see Lewis' interpretation of what Bruce Lee taught him. It was interesting because he was already an accomplished fighter and he also got to put what he learned into use in the ring. I have been training Jeet Kune Do for 8 years under one of Dan Inosanto's associate instructor's and I honestly think that this is one of the best JKD books I've ever read.



5. It doesn't matter if you like Joe Lewis or not, some of the BEST Martial Artists of ALL Time have contributed to this long overdue book by 'The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time' ... No one is taking anything away from Bruce Lee ... No one is riding any body's coat tails ... Everyone who contributed to this book recognizes what Bruce Lee did for the Martial Arts here in the United States ... Joe Lewis has done everyone a good deed by bringing everyone thats anyone in American Martial Arts together in one publication while being fair to their honorable friend who made it all possible for them, Bruce Lee.

1 comments about Grant, Lee, Lincoln and the Radicals: Essays on Civil War Leadership.

1. This is a slim volume of four essays that turn their attention to three issues of the Civil War: the significance of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee in their conduct of war for the Northern and Southern sides, and the relationship of President Lincoln with the Radical Republicans during the War. These essays probably assume readers already well versed in the history of the times, although they are not too obscure for the general reader.

   Author Bruce Catton establishes immediately that the Civil War was not the classic "war of professionals, with set rules, established values, and recognized limits." The Civil War was all-out warfare fought by soldier-citizens for whom the only acceptable outcome was total victory. It was Grant, after a series of failed generals, who finally dealt with the exigencies and peculiarities of the war and devised a strategy leading to victory. Grant was aggressive in his pursuit of the war and understood the need to destroy the other's army and not simply gain strategic points through maneuver, all done with untrained, yet willing, troops. It is clear that the North had an immense advantage in resources, but it was left to Grant to devise a multi-pronged, total war effort and use this advantage in resources by continually pressing the enemy.

   Lee was dealt a difficult hand to play in the Civil War. He was outmanned two or three to one; his advantage of internal rail lines did not prove to be that beneficial; Southern localism detracted from a united front; and the defense of the Southern agricultural system dependent on slavery required that troops be dispersed much too widely. The author, Charles Roland, points out that Lee was not given command of all of the Southern army until the war was essentially over, though his advice to Jefferson Davis was valued. As commander of the Northern Virginia army, Lee had an uncanny ability to predict Northern strategy and troop movements. His strategy to penetrate into Northern territory to strike fear into the civilian population, aid Northern peace advocates, and perhaps end the war was a bold initiative. But the Southern army was routed at Gettysburg in July of 1863, partially due to poor strategy and execution; it was not Lee's finest moment. The author suggests that Lee did not, at times, control his subordinate officers sufficiently well to prevent uncoordinated or ineffective battlefield actions. After Gettysburg the Southern war effort was doomed, but Lee prolonged the Confederacy for a year (1864-65) by resisting the final push of Grant towards Richmond with a series of excellent counter moves and stands. The author calls that effort "one of the most prodigious military efforts of the modern age."

   The essays by David Donald and T. Harry Williams are brief, but in depth, looks at the Radical Republicans and their influence on President Lincoln. While the essays are interesting and informative, they are actually a continuation of an insider dispute among academic historians as to the significance of the Radicals during the War. Donald claims that all Republicans generally shared the same beliefs and that it is virtually impossible to identify a group of Republicans or a set of policies that can be definitively labeled "Radical." He holds that differences among members of a party are normal. However, he does not disagree that there was widespread disagreement, even disapproval, with Lincoln by many Republicans. Williams, on the other hand, finds that a group of Republicans were doctrinaire about their beliefs concerning the eradication of slavery, opposed to the more pragmatic approach of Conservative Republicans. These Radicals even made attempts to usurp executive authority and privilege in the conduct of the war and in the choice of Cabinet members. Lincoln was largely able to deflect such pressures. The post-Civil War period is not covered in these essays, but it would seem that what influence the Radicals may have had was fleeting given the return to dominance of the white elite in the South.

   All of these essays are mere glimpses into the Civil War era. Perhaps they would be clarifying for some or stimulate more investigation by others.

3 comments about Empty Shoes: Poems on the Hungry and the Homeless.

1. For those who may have passed by the homeless in the cities and towns and have wondered just how to take them: over eighty poets who have had connections to the poor or the homeless in some way or another, give their best! They share many of the same questions, compassion and conumdrums, concerning the homeless, that you do. The poems are all different: all unique and all touching.



2. This is a wonderful collection of poems and 100% of the profits go to support the homeless. Please order your copy today; you won't regret it. Whether you are an avid poetry reader or someone who just enjoys the odd poem every now and then, this collection will provide you with hours of reading enjoyment and in so doing you will support such a worthy cause - and all for less than $20.



3. Such a lovely poetry anthology. Empty Shoes has humor and pathos. We hear in these poems the hope and the hopelessness that define human life.
   
   I saw a beautiful theatrical performance of poems from this book. The audience laughed and cried. Highly recommended.

No comments about "Secrets Of The Ninja" - The Ultimate Warriors!.

No comments about What if? Survival Guide for Physicians.

No comments about Petersen's The Best of Hot Rod.

5 comments about ASP.NET 1.0 Namespace Reference with C#.

1. Excellent book for ASP.net as a reference.



2. I'm afraid I'll have to call this book a failure. I feel that if I buy a "programmers reference" book it should be just that. If I go to System.Web.UI.WebControls I want to see a list off all the web controls and a concise breakdown of all the parameters of each. I don't want a story about the control and a "let's make a web page with this control" exercise. I long for the days of my C++ BIBLE.



3. I bought this book because I needed an ASP.NET reference. This book seems a bit schizophrenic. Part of it is tutorial and parts are reference. I haven't used it as much as I had hoped because I have run into several major errors.

   Examples

   Lists System.Data.ODBC when in fact this should be

   Microsoft.Data.ODBC
   Also forgot to mention the part about having to download it from MS website.

   Lots of errors in ADO sections in general. I have tried several pieces of code from the book that simply don't work.

   I certainly don't recommend this book.




4. This book is ideal for intermediate programmers developing web applications with Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET. It works best as a reference for those simply looking for ways to "make stuff work" who don't need the hand-holding of step-by-step instructions, but aren't ready for simple, austere object definitions. Using an appropriate number of examples in both C# and VB.NET, the authors have successfully put together a book that has helped my shop overcome several hurdles in the month we've been using it.
   In the new .NET paradigm, ASP exists only as a descriptive name applied to collections of objects that "make stuff work" on the web. Powered by C#, VB.NET, or almost any language you chose, the .NET framework Intermediate Language and Just-In-Time compilation has made an understanding of how "classic" Active Server Pages work obsolete.

   However, the name ASP seems to be maintained to provide familiarity to those of us making the transition from ASP 3.0 to "any-web-application-built-with-.NET." This book fulfils that calling by giving the right mix of definitions, examples, and background information without using excess space or time.

   The majority of the chapters cover most of the collections of objects (namespaces) that give an application functionality on the web. Without question, we used these sections the most. For those of us making the transition to C# at the same time we're getting used to .NET web development, these chapters were a life-saver. They gave all the answers we couldn't find in any C# reference manual tailored specifically for the types of web applications we were creating. Since we adopted .NET a few months ago, for the first time we were able to concetrate on functionality instead of C# as a frustrating language. I'm not sure how VB 6.0 programmers will look at it, but they seem to be getting the better reference books in the marketplace so far, so it was a relief to find every example done in both C# and VB.NET.

   While this book would be key for beginning .NET developers ready for more robust applications or intermediate programmers moving from another language, I suspect that advanced programmers will be disappointed. For example, XML and Mobile Devices get chapters, but they don't conatain enough information for real development. You would need to have a much better background in either subject to actually develop. However, if you had that background, these sections wouldn't tell you anything you didn't already know.

   The strength of this book is not as a "front-to-back" read, but as the dog-eared, coffee-stained reference that allows an intermediate level programmer to produce web applications that work--and work well. While not an expert, I've used ASP.NET Programmer's Reference to give myself a solid base of knowledge. By the time I master the material, I'll be well-prepared to tackle some of the more obscure .NET namespaces and cutting edge web technologies. ---Reviewed By Jay L.




5. Finally, a book I have been looking for; a readable reference with solid examples. Does a great job on the namespaces it covers. Looking forward to similiar books to cover additional namespaces. This is not a tutorial. Gets straight to the point and provides you with the information you need to use a class and its associated methods and properties. Provides just enough background to provide context for the namespaces referenced. If you are interested in a reference that show you what namespace to use for a particular purpose and concisely shows you how to use the namespace, then this book is for you.

No comments about Kung Fu (Cinema of Vengeance).