Web Books

Every now and then, a book comes along which succeeds in accurately defining an aspect of the times in which we live. BLIND LADY BLUES: A COMEDY OF LAWYERS, MONKEYS, BANANAS AND JUSTICE is one such work. This clever, wickedly humorous satire is set in today's era of litigious avarice when greed seems to dominate legal proceedings and money appears more important than truth or wisdom. At the top of the list of bad-boy profiteers in this juriprudence nightmare is the snake-oil salesman of our day - the modern American lawyer. The author, Michael Sadler, plunges the reader into a bizarre yet strangely familiar world where lawyers have turned our justice system into a theater of the absurd. The story begins when a reluctant hero, Josh Wetwood, encounters a rather vitriolic talking monkey. Eekim, the loquacious simian, is a charismatic character who doesn't think much of humans. His disdain for the human race in general is only exceeded by a special and specific loathing for attorneys. The two discover a diabolical plot by lawyers to take over the world and set out to prevent this happening. Battling lawyers every step of the way, by both legal and more expedient methods, the two encounter a psychic farmer's daughter who enthusiastically joins their alliance. The intrepid heroes go on to recruit an eclectic band of misfits which include: a prim "lawyerphobic" secretary, a monkey militia leader, an accomodating computer/coffee-maker/doomsday machine, an "easy" going simian femme fatale, a psychiatrist who cures lawyers with prefrontal lobotomies, and an awkwardly laconic computer wizard. Against this small group of eccentric crusaders are lawyers of every size, shape and perversion. The confrontations and machinations between the two groups set in motion a series of rollicking, hilarious misadventures. One of the useful bits of information which can be gleaned from the tale is the exact and proper method for painting a lawyer's butt blue. BLIND LADY BLUES is written in a casual, entertaining style that everyone, even lawyers with a sense of humor (what few there are), can appreciate. Effervescent dialogue, which includes a liberal dash of word-play, jokes, bon mots, clever insults and ironic banter; lends a sparkling quality to the swift action of the story. In spite of the fantastic nature of the characters, BLIND LADY BLUES is a kind of Everyman's (dare I say Everymonkey's) parable of our legal system. The work is not to be taken too lightly. In addition to its humor, Mr. Sadler's book points out serious flaws in our legal system which sorely need corrective action. The wry, bittersweet ending to the story drives home a message of reform. As Mark Twain said (Mr. Sadler is fond of quoting Samuel Clemens): "Hanging its lawyers would not correct all of this country's woes but it would be lots of fun and could do no harm to anyone." With the publication of BLIND LADY BLUES, Mr. Sadler has effectively hung this country's lawyers on paper and his book is indeed "lots of fun." Review by Steve Cottrell, author of CIVIL WAR IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY and other works.

The business of oil exploration is easy to pluck for legends and lore, larger-than-life cowboys and greater-than-gargantuan greed. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ron Bitto has been chronicling the ups and downs of the oil patch, jetting all over the planet, wherever business calls. In Blind Sidetrack, he puts a face on one corporation, the fictional American Sidetrack, as it attempts to get its share of oil wealth using dubious means.

Bitto's compelling and irresistible tale takes the reader all over the world, following his main character, John Biondi, who works for the company president. The president is everyone's nightmare of a preposterously unfair, dishonest, greedy and abusive boss, facing the crisis of his career. Unwittingly, Biondi intensifies the crisis as he is seduced into the heat of it. With terror, corruption and avarice all around, he and his cohorts barely escape with their lives. The reader is inescapably drawn into the maelstrom of kidnappings and killings. And, in every godforsaken location, there's always booze and broads for diversion.

Back home in Houston, there are wives and children who experience their own stress at their husbands' long absences, filling their lives with shopping, raising kids, and agonizing over their own temptations.

Bitto's keen eye and ear for such happenings come mainly from firsthand observation. Clearly, though, his is more than a journalist's mission. He has a carefully modulated sense of adventure and tragedy, values and visions, fate and opportunity. His novelist's orientation includes a strong moral compass and an uncanny instinct for consequences.

Readers will particularly feel drawn to some of the characters who seem to populate every workplace: the aforementioned greedy and power-hungry CEO, the loyal and expedient functionary, the hot-shot who always finds the spotlight, and the facilitators who always seem to be playing both sides to their advantage.

It's a crazy world that Bitto fashions, full of love, friendship and affection as it is with backstabbing and turncoating. Not only does he paint a realistic picture from first-hand experience, Bitto has an exquisite sense of the surreal and absurd.

I enjoyed reading this books, explanations are thorough and clear, examples are thought provoking but not too hard,
teaches lots of principles in defense

Brandilyn Collins does Christian suspense better than most, and she never fails to keep one on the edge of their seat. This series definitely demonstrates the power of prayer and faith. I highly recommend this series to anyone who wants to read exciting and suspenseful stories that honor God.

I felt as if I were actually there as I read this book. It is apparently well researched, and definitely well written. Ecellent!

Online exhibitions vary immensely but good web design and easily-navigated displays are keys to their success, so art and computer collections alike need BUILD IT ONCE: A BASIC PRIMER FOR THE CREATION OF ONLINE EXHIBITIONS to make it all happen successfully. From building a reliable, easily modified exhibition format to using both art and computer experience to enhance the user experience, this is the item of choice for any seeking a specific guide to producing online exhibitions.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

a cool software i dreamed

I would recommend this seller to anyone. I received my book in good condition and it was shipped quickly.

Informatively written by Yuwu Song (Web Developer/Instruction Librarian at Arizona State University Libraries), Building Better Web Sites: A How-To-Do-It Manual For Librarians is a comprehensive and "user friendly" guide to web design goals, featuring a step-by-step toolbox for creating a site that best serves the needs of library staff and patrons. Individual chapters cogently address the use of HTML, web graphics, multimedia, interactivity, and more. The accompanying CD-ROM has links to key information, downloadable programs, templates, source codes, and sample products. A detailed, technical, in-depth resource, Building Better Web Sites is a very highly recommended instructional resource for corporate, academic, and community librarians looking to enhance their online presence.

This book provides a superb business introduction to the development of marketing product databases. If you plan to dynamically generate pages for your web site, read this book first.