Web Books

This book is a must for anyone interested in Topic Maps. It would certainly pay to have some familiarity with XML, URIs, etc, because otherwise the examples will be hard going. If you do know XML, then you'll be away, because XTM is a very small and simple vocabulary.

Each chapter is by a different author, and each one comes at the subject from a different angle. Topics covered include tutorials for using the XTM specification, topic maps for website Information Architecture, Knowledge Representation, Ontological Engineering, e-learning, visualisation, relationship to RDF, information about various software implementations (a bit dated now, but still valuable), as well as sample topic maps and XSLT code.

Because of the diverse - even contradictory - viewpoints, the book as a whole provides an excellent overview of the field.

Since Tim Berners-Lee wrote of the Semantic Web
several years ago, there has been speculation about
how we might embed meaning within Web pages, as
opposed to merely displaying content. To answer this,
XML offers the separation of content from display.
From its user definable tags, different user
communities can define their own sets of tags and
associate meaning with those. XML offers the
infrastructure. But it is still fairly low level.
Assembler language, as it were, compared to more
powerful languages like C or Java.

So if XML is like an assembler, what is the analog of
C? This book puts forward XTM, XML Topic Maps, as the
answer. It consists of 17 chapters by different
authors, outlining various aspects of XTM. The
chapters can be divided into two types.

One type has nitty gritty explanations, replete with
examples of XTM written in XML. If you are a
programmer, these chapters are for you. There are web
sites listed with XTM definitions that you can

incorporate into your XTM, just like using standard
namespaces available on the web in normal XML.

The other chapters deal with the much deeper and
harder problem of how XTM may be used for Knowledge
Organisation and Knowledge Representation. They are
high level and abstruse, edging up to the issues of
semiotics and artificial intelligence.

As a side note: In the XTM examples and
implementations given, I was surprised to see no
mention of altavista's graphical representation of

search results, circa 1998. This was not in XTM, but
it conveyed the flavour. What happened was that if you
searched for, say, 'tornado', the results would appear
as a graph. The nodes would be the main keywords in
the documents containing 'tornado'. Nodes would be
connected to each other if documents contained both
those words. In this case, one might see two non
intersecting clusters - one related to weather
patterns, and the other to jet planes. By clicking on
a node, you could expand it into finer grained graphs.
It complements this book, whose main thrust is in
manually describing XML documents in an XTM format,
because it could achieve much the same visual results,
but derived automatically from arbitrary web pages.

In order to fully appreciate this book you will need a good working knowledge of XML and associated W3G documents, and more than a casual exposure to knowledge management. The first four chapters are a blend of historical information about XTM (XML topic maps) and fundamental technical information that describes design rationale and components of XTM (which is a separate open source initiative that is based on the ISO/IEC 13250 Topic Maps standard).

Chapters 5, 6 and 7 dive into the mechanics of XTM and knowledge management, and requires the prerequisite knowledge I cited above. This part of the book is not an easy read. This is not a reflection of the authors/editors ability to write as much as it is of the nature of the material. Knowledge management and development issues are given both wide and deep treatment in these chapters. Chapters 8 and 9 go deeper into the XML family as they relate to XTM (with an emphasis on XSLT), and address creating and maintaining sites that use XTM/XSLT as the core of a knowledge management strategy.

Related topics are covered in Chapters 10 through 13, including open source tools, RDF (widely used as a mechanism for weblogs and blogs that are gaining popularity), and semantic networks (intelligent agent-based systems). The final two chapters tie together the preceding material with a chapter devoted to topic map fundamentals for knowledge representation and a chapter about topic maps in knowledge organizations.

If you are interested in using an XML-like technology as the foundation of a knowledge management strategy, or are interested in learning about new directions in the integration of web technologies and knowledge management this book is ideal. For the technical reader the code examples, pointers to open source and commercial solutions and the website that supports this book (using topic maps, of course), this book is an excellent way to leverage knowledge of XML and use it to develop knowledge management solutions.

Yahoo! To The Max: An Extreme Searcher Guide is a outline of all of the resources and services offered by Yahoo! These varied services range from search engine and directory services through news and discussion groups to shopping and games. Many of these services are available to the general public however to make full use of all the Yahoo! resources and services, the author of this book encourages readers to join Yahoo! as a free member.

Yahoo! To The Max: An Extreme Searcher Guide is mainly for those who haven't really explored Yahoo! or those that don't realize that Yahoo! is much more than a search engine. Nonetheless, even the Internet surfing expert will find a few services or reference resources that he or she never even knew existed. As the author says, the best way to learn about the services offered at Yahoo! and on the Internet in general is to click on the various links and fully explore the areas that interest you the most.

Well I hadn't used Yahoo for the last several years because I could do whatever I wanted on Google. So, I didn't really know what I was missing until I read through this book and tried the myriad of little tricks detailed throughout. Yahoo has grown up and is a serious competitor to other search engines as well as a preferred site for some purposes. Author Randolph Hock introduces the reader to the details of various services of Yahoo including Groups, News, Mail, Messenger, GeoCities, Chat, Message Boards, Shopping, Auctions, Classifieds, and Finance. If that isn't enough he includes information on how to use Yahoo's city guides, maps, weather, people search, and lots of other useful stuff. Have you ever been to a website that did not have a search function? I've been to a lot of them. The author details how to deal with these situations using Yahoo and including site:www.sitename.com on the search line. When you do this it just searches that site! Or if you want to find all the sites that link to another site you can use the link syntax in the search box. I did that and it returned eight links. Surprisingly I did the same thing on Google and it only returned four and only one of them was the same in both engines. A couple of more searches following the instructions in the book and I was surprised to find that in several instances Yahoo returned more relevant results than my old favorite Google. With lots of details on how to use Yahoo effectively, Yahoo to the Max is a highly recommended book which has convinced me that I can often get the results I am looking for more easily from Yahoo than from competitors.

In 1994 Yahoo was started by two Stanford University graduate students, David Filo and Jerry Yang. It was at the time when the Internet was just beginning to take off and there were an increasing number of web sites available to Internet buffs.

These two enterprising students developed a collection of selected sites arranged in categories or a web directory that they made available to others. It soon became a very popular search engine, and in 1996 the company went public.

In 2004 the focus had changed from a directory function to a portal and search function.
Yahoo had also established its own "crawled" database, instead of relying on others.
Furthermore, in August of the same year, Yahoo came out with a home page that no longer even prominently displayed the directory.

I have to admit, that after reading Randolph Hock's Yahoo To The Max An Extreme Searcher Guide, I was quite surprised to learn all of the newest Yahoo features, and yes, it made me think twice about that other search engine whose name begins with G.
The resulting book is an excellent manual exposing all of the nifty features of Yahoo presented in an informative and accessible style.

According to the author, Yahoo is the best general portal on the Web, as it has the capability of integrating a broad variety of services and consolidates them nicely on a single page. Even Google has now recognized the usefulness of this approach, and as pointed out, they have been expanding into a wide range of other offerings (directory, news, images, shopping, local, etc) even to the extent of appearing to imitate Yahoo in several ways.


Hock exhibits a sharp eye for the small but important details of Yahoo that will help you better appreciate its value as a portal and its content rich quality.
This is quite in evidence as you read through the book's nine chapters, wherein the author has done an admirable job in explaining Yahoo's home page, effective search and browsing techniques, personalization of the site, groups, news, mail, buying and selling through Yahoo, financial page, and other miscellaneous tidbits as maps, travel, weather, health, photos, music, desktop search, etc.

I was surprised to learn that not only can Yahoo aid you with searches on the Web, but can also provide you with an easy, fast, and effective search of the contents of your computer.
Another feature that I have experimented with is the personalization of the portal pertaining to its appearance, contents, services, messages, and you can even add such features as calendar options, events and task listings, and many more.
It should also be pointed out is that most of the chapters include figures that aid you in fitting the pieces together in order to comprehend its usefulness.

As mentioned in the Preface, the book is not intended to be the definitive, "everything anyone might ever want to know about Yahoo!" book. Its purpose is to act as a guide to the serious "extreme" user in getting the most from Yahoo.
One last mention, as Yahoo is constantly changing, and to keep you aware of these changes since the publication of the book, a Web page has been set up.


Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures.com

I'm on the internet everyday. By using the "You Are Here College Internet Guide" I am able to quickly review the subject matter of dozens of internet sites, FAST. This helps me avoid wasting time going through the numerous garbage sites listed by search engines. This book is a 'must have' for college students and for anyone who frequently uses the internet.

Until I purchased this book I spent most of my time on the Internet looking for the sites I wanted to see. With the "You Are Here College Guide" I spend more time using actual websites and less time lost in the search engines. Now everything I do on the Internet, from researching to online banking, is much easier. The Internet is a tool and here is a book explaining how to use it!

YAH College Internet Guide is fantastic! Parents, buy it for your kid
in college - they'll love it. Students, get one -- you'll find a site
you really needed to know about.

A great book for those interested in learning a new language. Anyone with a basic knowledge of programming will be able to understand it. Although it is suppose to be learned in 10 minutes, it actually takes 10 days, but the point here is that u would master it at the end of the book.

Tim Evans has provided for all WWW users the best and simplest way to learn how to create first rate WWW pages using HTML. This is an outstanding "how to" type of book very suitable for everyone from novice standard and up. Tim takes you in a series of 10 minute lessons over a couple of weeks (or just a couple of days if your a fast learner) from knowing nothing about HTML authoring to producing quality WEB pages of the highest standard. And then adds to this with valuable advice for those new to Internet and a list of brilliant sites from which to retrieve more HTML tools

Short, sweet and to the point - this has the meat I need without any of the fluff. It helped me quickly get up to speed in no time. Easy to follow lessons with great tips.

If you need to quickly learn Dreamweaver, this is the book to get!

The books introduction says excatly how I feel about Dreamweaver, its complexity, its feature rich environment, and its power to captivate you, the user, when you click "Save As..." for the first time and realize how simple creating a web page could be.

What the introduction does not say is exactly how I feel about the book now that it is done and available for you to purchase. Although I am disappointed that I was not able to write more about a program that truly amazes me every time I use it, it does offer a beginner's level introduction to a variety of the features that are at your fingertips. I know that afyer reading this short book, the wheels will begin to spin and you will be just as captivated and amazed by Dreamweaver as I have become over the years.

Zak

Researched and compiled by Mike Varey, 1000 Historic Automobile Sites lists sites of interest in 40 different countries for automobile lovers, and ranges from historic racing circuits, to automobile museums, birthplaces of famous auto pioneers, historic car factories, and more. Each individual site listing offers a brief description, an address and telephone number, and notes on available hours. 1000 Historic Automobile Sites is commended as a unique and truly excellent resource for automobile buffs looking for exciting places to visit during their travel or vacations.

This book is amazing! Love cars? Love to see old cars, famous cars, special cars in museums? Then this book is like a magic carpet. It'll take you to see some amazing things.

Ms Yonge has put together a nice, affordable, helpful book. Its strength is in its ease of use and its compact size. Easily worth the price.

The Internet Job Search Site is repository of literally hundreds of thousands of job openings around the world. This particular Websites provides companies and jobseekers an instant access to today's global job market. The 110 Best Job Search Sites on the Internet highlights the brightest and the best of the International Job Sites now available on the Internet. The author of this book focusing the discussion on the whole job search process, using the 110 Best Job Search Sites ever. This comprehensive guide will also equipped you with some useful tips to coduct an effective On-Line Job Search from self assesment until salary negotiation. Up-dating with the current information on today's on-line job search, this book is a must read for every on-line jobseekers.

I create full web marketing plans for my clients who want to break into the Internet via the web with a focus on search marketing and call-to-action oriented content. This little book takes note of several emerging Internet-based marketing trends.

With insights and latest data on the full range of media, including TV, radio, internet (incl. rich media), outdoor and much more, plus Top 100 Markets, at-a-glance section organization, and a helpful glossary, this pocket-sized reference is a quick, lightweight companion on the way to the office, cab or flight. Take it to the hotel and review before the big client meeting. There are tons of ways to make the most of this handy tool. I've seen how it can make the difference when quick numbers and insights are what's needed to sketch out a media buying plan.

Awesome! Thanks Ron. Just in time. I'm looking forward to buying other things from your store. I appreciate it. We just landed a major national media account with stores in 15 media markets, and for a small agency, data costs are just sky high. This is great.

Margaret, Media Planning/Buying Service

I was very impressed with this book. It lists 300 great web sites for pet lovers separating them into very helpful categories. From dogs, cats, rabbits, iguanas to rats and gerbils. The dog section is big, listing great sites from dog breeds to vet info to card making. It has got a pretty big cat section too. My thoughts are, if you can think of a pet subject, this book probably has it listed. If you love surfing out pet sites, you will love this book. It is a great reference book to have on your shelf. It comes in handy when you have a quick thing you want to look up regarding pets but are not sure where to start looking.

Where pets and information intersect! This book is incredibly useful in spotlighting sites for pet lovers of all ages. If you have pets, need advice on care or medical issues, want information on pets before you acquire them, or just want to find some fun sites, "300 Incredible Things For Pet Lovers on the Internet" is a book you must have!

Great book, if you are eager to make your web searching more productive this is the book for you.

I thought I was pretty good when it came to getting around
on the Internet, but was I ever pleasantly surprised to learn
that I could still learn a great deal . . . and did by reading
THE ABOUT.COM GUIDE TO ONLINE RESEARCH by Wendy Boswell.

You'll also learn, too, regardless of your level of computer
sophistication . . . the material is very readable and
oh-so-informative . . . for example, to find the weather for
where you live, just go to the google website and type-in
weather: then your five-digit zip code . . . you immediately are
taken to a very visual listing that will provide all the information
you need by just looking at it (and not having to click further).

You'll get many tips that I've never seen elsewhere; e.g., this one
deals with how to deal with bibliographies:

There's EasyBib. a free automatic bibliography
composer; Cornell University Library's excellent in-depth article on how
to prepare an annotated bibliography; and writer Diana Hacker's informative how-to tutorial . . . all the specific web citations can be found in the book.

And you'll also find websites galore on such topics as finding crime
statistics, weird news, comparison shopping, job hunting, specific
diseases, and everybody's favorite, time wasting.

Lastly, if such terms as "blogs" and "RSS feeds" still throw you,
you'll no longer need to fear them if you just spend a little
time this most informative guide . . . I'd tell you more, but
it would take away from the time that I still want to spend
on trying just some of the things I've learned from Boswell's book.