Z Books

This is a complete work about complex numbers. Perfect for Mathematical Olympiads. A lot of difficult problems.

Mathematics is amazing not only in its power and beauty, but also in the way that it has applications in so many areas. The aim of this book is to stimulate young people to become interested in mathematics, to enthuse, inspire, and challenge them, their parents and their teachers with the wonder, excitement, power, and relevance of mathematics.
This book is a very well written introduction to the fascinating theory of complex numbers and it
contains a fine collection of excellent exercises ranging in difficulty from the fairly easy, if calculational, to the more challenging. As stated
by the authors, the targeted audience is not standard and it "includes high school students and their teachers,
undergraduates, mathematics contestants such as those training for Olympiads or the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, their coaches, and any person interested in essential mathematics."
The book is mainly devoted to complex numbers and to their wide applications in various fields, such as geometry, trigonometry or algebraic operations. An important feature of this marvelous book is that
it presents a wide range of problems of all degrees of difficulties, but also
that it includes easy proofs and natural generalizations of many theorems in elementary geometry.
The authors show how to approach the solution of such problems, emphasizing the use of methods rather than the mere use of formulas. Of course, the more sophisticated the problems become, the more specific this approach has to be chosen.

The book is self-contained; no background in complex numbers is assumed and complete
solutions to routine problems and to olympiad-caliber problems are presented in the last chapter of the book.
The aim of the core part of each chapter is to develop key mathematical ideas and to place them in the context of novel, interesting, and unexpected applications to real-world problems.
The first chapter deals with complex numbers in algebraic form and leads up to the geometric interpretations of the modulus and of the algebraic operations. The second chapter deals with various applications to trigonometry,
starting with elementary facts on the polar representation of complex numbers
and going up to more sophisticated properties related to $n$th roots of unity and their applications in solving
binomial equations. Chapter 3 is devoted to the applications of complex numbers in solving problems in Plane and Analytic Geometry. This chapter includes a lot of interesting properties related to collinearity, orthogonality, concyclicity, similar triangles, as well as very useful analytic formulas for the geometry of a triangle and of a circle in the complex plane. Chapter 4 contains much more powerful results such as: the nine-point circle of Euler, some important distances in a triangle, barycentric coordinates, orthopolar triangles, Lagrange's theorem, geometric transformations in the complex plane. This chapter also includes a marvelous theorem known in the mathematical
folklore under the name of "Morley's Miracle" and which simply states that "the three points of intersection
of the adjacent trisectors of any triangle form an equilateral triangle". As stated in the book, this theorem
was mistakenly attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. The proof of this theorem follows directly from Theorem 3 on page 155, a deep result which was obtained by the celebrated French mathematician Alain Connes (Fields Medal in
1982 and Clay Research Award in 2000),
in connection with his revolutionary results in Noncommutative Geometry. Chapter 5 illustrates the force of the
method of complex numbers in solving several Olympiad-caliber problems where this technique works very efficiently.

This very successful book is the fruit of the prodigious activity of two well-known creators of mathematics problems in various mathematical journals. The big experience of the authors in preparing students for various mathematical competitions allowed them to present a big collection of beautiful problems. This book continues the tradition making national and international mathematical competition problems available to a wider audience and is bound to appeal to anyone interested in mathematical problem solving.
I very strongly recommend this book to all students curious about elementary mathematics, especially those who are bored at school and ready for a challenge. Teachers would find this book to be a welcome resource, as will contest organizers.
This book is meant both to be read and to be used.
All in all, an excellent book for its intended audience!

Comprehensive and yet concise enough to cover lots of material. Lots of wonderful questions to challenge any math problem lovers.
Highly recommended.

Moore's poetry is striking in a number of ways and well worth reading. The fact that they have been translated into Spanish by the well-known translator and poet, Alicia Zavala Galvan, is also worth noting for the value it adds to Moore's book, but also for the access it now allows Spanish readers to Haiku. A nice job by poet and translator!

In this cluttered world where many busy themselves with the radio, television or CD players, enters the haiku. It is not a new type of poetry but one that has been rediscovered. The unique dimension in this presentation by the haiku specialist Michael Moore is that he presents them to us in two languages, English as well as Spanish. He is not a novice to writing haiku His three other collections: Chocolate Haiku, Chocolate Chips and Home Grown in the Haiku Garden attest to this. Alicia Galvan is right in her introduction when she states "translation of a literary work into another language can best be described as opening Pandora's box." However, she has carefully and skillfully translated these poems as if she had the secret to the lock. The task of the poet as an artist is to employed strong vibrant images in as few words as possible. Similar to his other collections, Michael's poems are like (candy kisses), too many of them will only leaves you feeling stuffed. A few at a time will lighten your day and be the inspiration that is often needed for the mind and soul after a full day's work. Contemporary View of Haiku is enriched by the subtle use of the oriental brush of Don Albert, a San Antonio artist. I would suggest having a copy of this near the dinner table and reading a few before meals to whet the appetite or before retiring in the evening. Contemporary View of Haiku would be a wonderful book to teach contemporary haiku to children, especially since it is a bilingual edition. (Trinida Sanchez)

Contemporary View of Haiku is a work that explore the free-verse style of an old Japanese art form in a bilingual format. ISBN: 0-9610702-6-9

Mustard Seed Press

Michael Moore's poetic microcosm is inhabited by the subjects usually associated with haiku: cicadas, fish, dragonflies, crickets, plum blossoms, gardens, and the seasons. But Moore juxtaposes themes with images as diverse as bungi jumpers, cotton candy, and a Navajo blanket. Haiku is an intuitive experience, and at times Moore's deft touch results in a surreal leap. Residing in the here and now details, he mines the evocative power of the common place object: a lounge chair, a wheelbarrow, a collar button, an habachi, a clock, a bullet, bike, and museum bench. Moore's perception lies beyond the threshold of utility. As poetic images, he redeems them. to read Moore's poetry is to dwell in the house of possibility:

Gently waking
the sleeping butterfly
a distant temple bell.

La campana lejana de un templo
suavemente despierta
una mariposa que duerme.

------------------------

Spider leaps
from the ceiling fan
ancient bungi jumper.

Arana brinca
del abanico del techo
saltador bungi antiguo.

Bienvenidos al microcosmo de Michael Moore. Su obra poetica celebra no solamente un jardin de temas asociados con el haiku pero tambien el inesperado poder de objectos que presuponemos. Sus poemas celebran el toque transcendental que redide en los detalles de nuestra vida cotidiana. La poesia haiku es un relampagueo. Michael Moore no los desilusiona.

Jacinto Jesus Cardona, Teacher and poet

Every recipe I have tried has been excellent! You can truly cook like a gourmet with this book.

The content of this book is outstanding. It contains everything even a novice will need to know for preparing complete meals. It's an easy to understand encyclopedia with lots of photos and summary information if you want to skip the details. I recommend it for anyone who cooks.

This book has some recipes but more importantly if you have ever come across a recipe and you didn't know what an ingredient was or how to do a certain technique this is the book you need to have. The recipes it does have are staples. The pictures are great too!!

It is unique to study the details of the negotiation process on such a complicated subject with scientific approaches. The study stimulates further thinking for both researchers and practitioners to be more productive to deal with the cultural aspects and complexity in international negotiation.

The authors deal with complex issues and are able to shed light on the many subtleties of the related negotiation processes. There is a most useful state of the art followed by a very good analysis of real world cases including one on China. There is a lot to learn from it even by people who are new comers in the domain. The book is going to be published in Chinese before the end of this year.

Excellent book, well documented, full of insights on negotiation over water conflicts.

He's too dangerous. When Burton Campbell walks into the health club she manages, Amanda Caruthers thinks she knows his type. He wants to introduce a karate class, to teach bullies how to fight better, to be even better bullies. Amanda has faced one of life's worst bullies--and abusive husband: faced him, then run away. That her body finds Burton attractive must be a sign she's not fully recovered, she decides.

Burt isn't sure what hurt Amanda, but he recognizes that something has--and it has nothing to do with him. Still, he can't fight the attraction, nor the feeling that he could help. For him, martial arts are not about fighting, but about self-control, about learning to face fear, about avoiding fights where possible. Clearly it's a lesson that Amanda needs to learn. But when Amanda discovers her ex-husband has tracked her down and pretends to be Burt's wife to change identities one more time, Burt realizes what he really wants--a real marriage, real love, real trust with Amanda. Unfortunately, helping her gain the confidence she needs to stay alive just might destroy the trust they need to develop a lasting relationship.

Author Kelle Z. Riley brings her own extensive experience in karate and the martial arts to a powerful story of love, fear, and despair. Amanda's fear realistically colors her entire life. Ex-husband Mason is creepy and scary, while being convincingly motivated. Burt's dark past, his problems with alcohol and his feelings of responsibility for the deaths of his sister and his parents add to the story's emotional depth and keep Burt from being the perfect fixer--which is the last thing Amanda needs.

Riley's strong writing won her finalist status with the Romance Writer's of America Golden Heart. DANGEROUS AFFAIRS is a moving story by an exciting author. I'm happy to recommend this one

Talented new author Kelle Z. Riley's book DANGEROUS AFFAIRS is an eye opening look at a situation that millions of women face each day - spousal abuse. Ms Riley's book is more than a thesis on the distressing epidemic of violence against women in this country; it's a beautifully written story of how one woman finds the strength, skill and courage to escape and triumph over her abuser. But it's not just the women who suffer from this type of abuse; their families also feel the impact. Ms Riley skillfully wraps this important woman's issue inside a tender love story between two people damaged by life - Amanda Caruthers and Burton Campbell. While Amanda has fled and is hiding from her abusive ex-husband, Burton feels guilty for not protecting his sister from her abusive husband. Together they overcome their pasts and create a future filled with love and promise. I highly recommend DANGEROUS AFFAIRS

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S Recommended Read!

Dangerous Affairs will probably rate as one of my "best of 2007" reads when all is said and done. Even this early in the year I know not much will be able to compare.

Amanda Caruthers has been on the run for several years, escaping her violently abusive ex-husband. She has known nothing but fear since the day she walked out on her marriage, convinced he would someday track her down. Yet Amanda still longs to stop running and find peace.

Burton "Burt" Campbell lives with guilt every single day. His twin sister had been in an abusive relationship that eventually killed her and Burt feels like he should have been able to save her. So he continues on, longing for redemption he feels he can never have.

When Burt walks into the health club Amanda manages, wanting to start teaching karate and self defense, Amanda is convinced he's just like her ex-husband... aggressive, domineering, and a bully of the worst sort? Why else would he think fighting is the answer to everything? She doesn't understand the real purpose of martial arts, that it is about maintaining control and not fighting. Burt sees the shadows in her eyes and knows something wounded her badly but that does not cool the feelings he discovers for her. Can Amanda and Burt overcome their fears and find peace in each other?

What a powerful... and empowering... novel! Kelle Z Riley strikes you deep in the heart with Dangerous Affairs. She brilliantly weaves a tale of two wounded people who come together to find that the only way to heal is by facing their fears together.

Mason, Amanda's ex-husband, is a sick and twisted man, all the more frightening for his cold reality. Yet, as unstable as he is, readers will actually come to understand what made him that way. It won't make you feel sorry for him, but it will help you understand his motivation.

Burt suffers with the feeling that he could have done more for his sister. He has chosen to act on this guilt by teaching others how to defend themselves. So he can't understand Amanda's reasons for hating what he is trying to do. Once he finally learns of her past, he comes to accept her viewpoint, but is determined to show her what martial arts is really about. There could be no gentler and patient man than Burt when it comes to helping Amanda conquer her fear. Even when he knows what needs to be done will break her heart, he does it with unflinching determination, bound to succeed with her where he failed with his own sister.

Amanda however, is the real heart of Dangerous Affairs. She is portrayed so realistically you can't help but feel her suffering and terror. Having myself been in an emotionally abusive relationship in the past, that no doubt would have turned violent had I not found the courage to break out, I can truly relate to Amanda. Her thoughts were my own as the memories came back. I know the fear, I know the feeling of worthlessness, and I understand the "maybe if I try harder he'll stop hurting me" thoughts. Perhaps that is why this book touched me so deeply. I really could put myself in Amanda's shoes. I felt her pain and I embraced her joy as she finally confronts the ghost of her former marriage.

When I say Dangerous Affairs was empowering, I really truly believe it is. People need to be even more aware of the sad reality of domestic violence. Women (and children) need to know this way of life is wrong and they need to know how to escape when they can and defend themselves when they can't. Riley brilliantly tackles this delicate subject. If reading about someone else's circumstances, even in a fictional setting, helps just one woman find the courage to defend herself and escape an abusive relationship, then that is something of which to be proud. All women should read this book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2007. All rights reserved.

he's my history teacher...i have to like it...i need an

This is the nastiest book i have ever read. Doc Freiberger is a genius. One of the best writers of our time. The pulitzer is not enough for him. He needs the nobel prize. Great book written by a nasty history teacher. Two nasty thumbs up!!!

Steven Z. Freiberger is one of those writers that comes along once in a generation. Dawn over Suez is the epitome of good history writing, in which Freiberger argues that the United States actually took over the British government for a period of time. A wonderful, compelling, fascinating read. How this got passed over for the Pulitzer is beyond me.

This book with it's extraordinary series of short stories and memorable characters touched my heart and soul when I was a teenager. I have never ever forgotten this book and I grieved when my mom accidently threw out my box full of stuff (with this book in said box) after I joined the Army.

The internet has been a magical place to locate long lost friends. Including this book. :)

In "Chocolate Pudding", the story focuses on the life of Chrissy, a young girl living with her alcoholic father and uncle. Lacking comfort in her relationships with people, Chrissy finds it in devouring chocolate pudding (a profound metaphor to be interpreted in any number of ways by the reader.) But Chrissy discovers that the pudding is not enough to satisfy her loneliness. Only when she develops an unexpected friendship is this hole filled.

This collection of 8 young adult stories contains some of the most thoughtful and sensitive material that I have ever read! Though at times the author is needlessly depressing; there are other times of small, rewarding redemptions. "UP ON FONG MOUNTAIN" tells the story of Jessie, a girl forced to write in a journal for an English assignment. In the journal entries, the reader learns about Jessie's blossoming romance with controlling, but intriguing BD and how she decides to deal with it. "PETER IN THE PARK" is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever read in my entire life. It is about a friendship between a naive little girl and a stranger she meets in the park. Sure, it is realistic and the feelings are true and honest; but, the ending leaves a chilling outlook on what life can be like if we do not seize our opportunities. I feel that this incredibly sad ending was too excessive and I thought about it for some time. "SOMETHING EXPENSIVE" is about a push-over type of girl whose existence is apparently dependent on the goodness of her mother.. When she learns that her mother is far from being a perfect angel, her life falls apart. She realizes that she must learn to stand on her own. "MIMI THE FISH" is just a space-filler in this otherwise great collection. It is a somewhat typical story of Mimi, a girl with an embarassing family, who has a chance with the boy of her dreams. There are some funny moments, but this story does not leave any kind of impact. "DEAR BILL, REMEMBER ME?" is a series of letters from Kathy to her older sister's ex-boyfriend-of-long-ago, Bill. Kathy is still in love with Bill. After many years of not hearing from him, she wants one last chance to express her feelings before his wedding. "CHOCOLATE PUDDING"----THE BEST STORY IN THIS COLLECTION!!! Chrissy has a sad life--she lives in a dumpy trailer with her alcoholic father and uncle who sporadically leave her alone. She has little in her life and has never fit in with her classmates. The only joy in Chrissy's life is chocolate pudding, until she has a chance to share this passion with an unexpected friend. The two stories I did not read were "Guess Whose Friendly Hands" and "Zelzah: a tale from long ago". I think that it is safe to say that the 6 stories I did read do not pretend that teen-age life is "sugar and spice and everything nice". NO WAY. There is plenty of salt and vinegar in these stories. In some respect, the stories are like what you might be expected to read in a high school English class. However, since you are not forced to think or reflect on the significance of the stories, you actually WANT to, believe it or not

Es una hazaña lexicográfica, pues permite encontrar palabras que uno no sabe que existen. Se puede navegar en él casi como en el ciberespacio. Permite además crear neologismos perfectamente legítimos. Aporta gran cantidad de información gramatical con ejemplos tomados siempre de la lengua viva, así como formas de construcción y pautas de pronunciación para extranjeros. Incluye revisiones críticas de los criterios de la Real Academia. No es perfecto -sin embargo-, por sus omisiones, pero es más consistente, más rico y más confiable que el de la Real Academia. Si usted trabaja con palabras, "this is a must".

Si se pudiera hablar de un diccionario de diccionarios de la lengua espanola, ese es precisamente el de Maria Moliner, quien dedico su vida a la realizacion de una obra capital de referencia, no solo para los hispanoparlantes, sino tambien para todos aquellos que se acerquen a la lengua de Cervantes y Quevedo. Una adquisicion indispensable para toda biblioteca.

I knew it would be a good dictionary, but not this good. Given that no dictionary can purport to be complete, this one surely tries. It is amazing how comprehensive it is and yet so easy to understand. I was blown away with the very first entry:

"a
1 f. Primera letra del alfabeto. Se pronuncia con los labios muy abiertos, y los dientes separados aproximadamente 1 cm; la lengua, con el dorso elevado hacia la línea de separación entre el paladar duro y el velo del paladar, y rozando con la punta los dientes inferiores, mientras los bordes siguen los molares inferiores. En la escala de altura, la «a» ocupa el lugar medio, después de la «i» y la «e» y antes de la «o» y la «u». Su nombre es su propio sonido. Letra griega correspondiente, «alfa»."

It follows this with three other "a" entries, a total of 31 definitions with examples, a few colloquial expressions and a usage notes section.

This is my very first CD ROM dictionary, so I don't know if its features are standard or not. It has a very quick word search engine that works very much like the help feature in many programs. As you would expect it lists entries in alphabetical order, but curiously enough, by last letter as well. It has a deep grammar section, cross-referencing capabilities and also suggestions if a word search comes up empty. Though I've yet to incorporate it in my word processor, I've read it can be accessed this way.

Now about the price. I purchased the 2nd edition online and paid considerably less (...) by having it shipped directly from Spain. This is a wonderful dictionary. I highly recommend it.

This little book/dictionary has a brief and succinct account on almost every main event, person, court case, legislation, etc. It even conveniently includes a copy of the US constitution at the end. If you are looking for a quick reference or maybe something to refresh your memory, then this book is perfect for you. However, if you are looking for an in depth analysis on various historical events, people, etc. then I wouldn't recommend this book.

Dictionary of American History, Michael Martin & Leonard Gelber

The authors attempted to provide a reference to events of American history such as economics, finance, labor, law, social welfare, literature, industry, science, religion, commerce, and foreign policy while not skipping political and military events. They carefully selected and edited this range of materials for the widest audience. Biographical items provide the essentials, as determined by the authors' judgments. They used 714 pages in this 1978 edition. You will be rewarded by any random search of the entries. There is an amazing number of facts that will educate and entertain the casual reader, and provide a starting point for more research. [One miscalculation was to list the ERA as Article XXVII.]

"Gas Industry" tells of the use of gas for lighting since 1806 in Newport RI. Baltimore in 1816 became the first city lighted by gas. Boston in 1822, New York in 1823, Philadelphia in 1837, the Capitol in 1847. "Income Tax" tells of its progressive features. It first exempted ordinary people (who earned less than $600 in 1861). By the 20th century most states had income tax laws to raise revenue. "Tenant Farmers" tells how the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1937 provided loans for the purchase of family farms. "Tenement Laws" improved the fire and health hazards of housing with new standards for plumbing, fireproofing, ventilation, and light. Old law tenements still existed in the 1930s until Federal laws allowed their replacement by low rent housing. "Granger Laws" were state laws that regulated railroads, grain elevators, and storage warehouses for the benefit of the midwest farmers. After these laws were declared unconstitutional in 1886 by a Supreme Court influenced by the railroads, Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887. Further amendments affected other industries. "Fair trade laws" allowed manufacturers to fix retail prices for their products for every retailer. In 1951 the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional any state law that affected interstate commerce.

"McCulloch vs. Maryland" was the 1819 Supreme Court decision that Congress could not be limited in its power if the end was legitimate and the means used were appropriate. The "Glass-Steagall Act" created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, restricted Federal Reserve Bank credit from speculation, and banks from dealing in foreign securities and as securities underwriters. [Its modification in the early 1990s allowed Investment Banks to use a perfectly legal form of "pump and dump" to swindle investors in the High Tech stock bubble of the late 1990s.] "Drake, Edwin Laurentine" drilled the first oil well in western Pennsylvania in 1859. The "Social Security Act" of 1935 provided for compulsory savings for wage earners to provide an annuity upon retirement. [Their figure of a "3%" deduction and monetary figures are long out of date.] "Wyoming" produces cattle, coal, oil, wool, and timber. In 1869 it allowed woman suffrage in national elections, and elected the first woman governor in 1925. It was called the "Equality State". "Palmer Raids" arrested and imprisoned thousands of aliens without a legal trial. Accused of violating the Constitution, A. Mitchell Palmer did not win higher political office. The "Yazoo Land Frauds" occurred when the Georgia legislature was bribed to give 35 million acres to a company for $500,000. This was declared unconstitutional and led to a long legal battle.

I'm a French studient and I'm studying English at University. The University library had it and I find it very instructive so I recommand it to the other students.

My name is Woodrow and I'm in this dang book. Let me tell you it's all a pack of lies. Most of the stuff Reavis wrote about me NEVER EVEN HAPPENED! Well, SOME of it may have happened, but I don't think he needs to be airing all of our dirty longjohns out in public. Doc, Wrong Willie, Jerry Wayne and all the rest of us agree Reavis needs some kind of therapy... and fast. And I don't mean the kind of therapy he's been getting from Charlie Daniels' brother, Jack, if you know what I mean.

Eat Gas Now by R. Wortham brings two things together that makes me giggle: first, a group of hunting buddies who enjoy each other's company probably more than hunting (it's a male bonding thing); and second, the diner that grace's any small town where local's sip coffee and trade yarns. This group reminds me of my 'lunch bunch' who just have a funny way of looking at things. I highly recommend this book.

Set aside a couple of hours and read this book non-stop. You won't have a choice because you cannot put it down until you have finished. One story just makes you hungry for another. Caution: do not attempt to read one of the stories to another person, because you will be unable to speak, having fallen into uncontrollable spasms of laughter. I tried to read one to my wife and we both fell on the floor howling.

This book appeals to outdoor persons of course, but the humor will not be lost on anyone.