Z Books

Filled with practical tips and expert advice on everything from writing cover letters that get noticed to preparing for interviews and evaluating offers, "The ABC's of Job-Hunting for Teachers" is a must-read for anyone searching for a teaching job.

This book is cleverly organized and includes humorous anecdotes and cartoons that let the applicant know not only what to do, but also what not to do when applying for a job. The information is up-to-date and, by discussing everything from appropriate dress and the importance of proofreading your
resume to understanding voucher programs and unions, the authors have made certain that no aspect of the job search is overlooked.

Michele L. Lucia, Ed.D.
Adjunct Professor, St. Mary's College of Education

"Absolutely 100% Guilty" is a 6-Tape, 12-Hour program, in which former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Vincent T. Bugliosi explores and explains virtually all aspects of the infamous (and massively bungled) O.J. Simpson murder trial of 1995. I, like many other Americans, was shocked and disappointed when it was announced on October 3, 1995, that the jury had declared Simpson "Not Guilty" of stabbing to death his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Mr. Bugliosi, with his usual flair and no-nonsense style (along with some well-placed humor), spells out in scathing and pointed detail every reason why the prosecutors for the State of California, who were assigned the task of convincing a jury to convict a double-murderer named Orenthal James Simpson, were very nearly totally inept throughout the entire year-long trial, mishandling large chunks of evidence in the case, and even ignoring certain evidence that would have undoubtedly aided their cause greatly.

This special video program, which was produced in 1999, is the "companion" set of videos to Bugliosi's 1996 best-selling book which covers the same topic (entitled "Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away With Murder"). This twelve-hour video series, hosted throughout by Mr. Bugliosi himself, is very nearly as detailed as the 513-page paperback edition of his book "Outrage".

This video set consists of not only Mr. Bugliosi's own words -- but there are many interview segments with some of the people who were closely associated with the O.J. trial. Such as: Police Detectives Mark Fuhrman, Philip Vannatter, and Tom Lange. Plus Nicole's sister Denise Brown, Nicole's friend Faye Resnick, L.A. Criminalist Dennis Fung, and several others, who all help to augment Mr. Bugliosi's commentary throughout the program.

I watched the majority of the Simpson trial on television, but via this captivating video series, I have been able to obtain an entirely fresh and enlightened perspective on those proceedings from a keenly-astute lawyer (and ex-California prosecutor) himself, Vince Bugliosi. Vincent's obvious command of the evidence in the case (even though he was in no way officially connected with the trial at all) comes through quite clearly and magnetically during this program.

It's rather startling to learn about the large number of blunders committed throughout the trial by the prosecution team (led by Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden), plus the multiple legal boners doled out by the trial's judge, Lance Ito.

Having a minimal amount of knowledge in the area of official "Rules of Law" pertaining to such a case as I watched the trial throughout the bulk of the year 1995, I had no true sense or inkling that Clark, Darden, et al, were performing so miserably in court -- until watching Mr. Bugliosi's assessment of the trial on these videos (and while reading his "Outrage" publication, which I also highly endorse).

For example, I had always thought when viewing the trial day by day, that there simply must have been SOME legal roadblock which caused the prosecution to NOT present to the jury two of THE biggest incriminating pieces of evidence in the case that would have gone a long way toward proving Simpson's guilt in the two brutal June 12, 1994, murders with which he was charged -- that evidence being: Simpson's 32-minute recorded statement to Los Angeles police the day after the murders (in which he admitted to having been bleeding the night before and further advised the authorities that he just simply couldn't remember how he happened to receive the deep cut on his left hand just hours earlier). .... Plus: The famous "Bronco Chase" of June 17, 1994, when Simpson attempted to flee L.A. in his friend Al Cowling's Ford Bronco -- with gun, passport, disguise, and thousands of dollars in cash safely aboard the vehicle. All of this equipment and money, according to Simpson, was needed to simply visit Nicole's gravesite.

~~ Pauses To Control Fits Of Laughter ~~

I kept telling myself that there MUST be some legal precedent that kept Clark and Darden from introducing this crucial evidence, damning to the defense's case, to the jury. But, alas, there was NO such legal reason to have excluded this critical evidence, and Mr. Bugliosi tells us this during this video program. (No wonder he's so boiling mad at this prosecution team.)

It was later learned that the prosecutors didn't introduce this valuable evidence at the trial for the flimsiest of reasons -- They didn't want the jury to feel "sympathy" toward Simpson. Plus, the lawyers decided not to use Simpson's police statement because they didn't want to have the jury "hear Simpson saying he was not guilty out of his own mouth" (paraphrased quote).

Mr. Bugliosi has a field day with that last piece of inane reasoning. Because, when you think about it for a second, you can see how flimsy (and silly) a reason that is to not introduce a critical piece of damaging evidence against the defendant. It's ultra-silly because the jury ALREADY OBVIOUSLY KNEW that Simpson had pled "Not Guilty" to both counts of murder -- which is the whole reason there was a trial in the first place! Why would hearing him say it on tape make a huge difference?! It's the entire reason they (the jury) were there at all, because he didn't plead "Guilty"!

Unbelievable.

Mr. Bugliosi claims that the recorded police statement given by Simpson on June 13th of '94 was not only a key piece of evidence in the case that never saw the light of day in the courtroom -- but Vince goes so far as to say that if he himself had been the prosecutor in the case, he could have convicted Simpson of murder in the eyes of even THIS awful jury, based on just that one single piece of evidence all by itself! (And knowing how Mr. B. operates in the courtroom, I certainly wouldn't have placed any bets against such a boastful assertion actually being achieved by Vincent. That would have been great to witness indeed -- instead of the weak prosecutorial effort we actually did see take place.)

In addition -- Instead of barely even attempting to strike down the absurd notion of the "Police Frame-Up", which was introduced out of thin air and manufactured from whole cloth by the so-called "Dream Team" of Simpson defense lawyers (including Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey, and Barry Scheck), if Mr. Bugliosi had been in Marcia Clark's seat in 1995, we most certainly would NOT have had the jury begin deliberations with the notion that any type of "Police Conspiracy" had occurred at any point in time following the Brentwood murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.

Mr. Bugliosi, on these videos, totally demolishes the idea of a "Police Frame-Up" with respect to the Simpson case. For one thing, Mark Fuhrman couldn't possibly have "planted" the bloody glove on Simpson's property even if he had WANTED to do so -- because 14 separate LAPD officers SAW ONLY A SINGLE GLOVE AT THE MURDER SITE BEFORE FUHRMAN EVEN ARRIVED AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME!

So, unless somebody got FOURTEEN different police officers to blatantly lie about seeing only ONE glove at the 875 South Bundy Drive murder scene BEFORE Detective Fuhrman even arrived there, then that point alone eliminates the fanciful notion that Fuhrman planted the incriminating glove.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg regarding the "Police Frame-Up" idiocy. Vince tells us lots more on these tapes -- simple stuff too, that SHOULD have been used by Clark and Darden at the trial, stuff that completely eradicates the "Frame-Up and Police Misconduct" line of defense. And it should have been utilized over and over again (relentlessly) by the prosecutors to totally extinguish the groundless and despicable allegations that the low-life defense team made against the LAPD officers, detectives, and lab workers. These police officials, as we can easily see now (with Vincent Bugliosi's help), actually did a very good job in handling themselves throughout the Simpson murder investigation.

But instead of hammering the defense viciously in an attempt to knock down the Frame-Up/Misconduct junk, Clark and Darden (et al) barely even grazed the surface with their weak arguments to the jury on this matter. It's almost as if they themselves (the lawyers for the prosecution) had reservations about fighting these allegations. Based on their actions, it's as if they, too, might have believed the defense's silly "He Was Framed" smoke screen to some extent. Amazing.

Vince methodically takes apart and ridicules the defense team's "Race Card" tactics as well (and deservedly so, IMO). The subject of "Race" was injected into the Simpson case due to the Mark Fuhrman "N Word" tapes that were allowed in as evidence during the trial by Judge Ito. And Vince tells us just why that whole "Sub-Trial" was a sham, and absolutely preposterous, right from the start.

If Mr. Bugliosi had been the lead prosecutor in the O.J. case, there's little doubt in my mind that the outcome of the trial would have been drastically different. Even with the very poor jury that sat in judgment of Simpson (a jury which thought a whopping four hours of deliberation was enough to sort out and evaluate the entire eight months of witness testimony), I'm confident that Mr. Bugliosi could have secured the proper verdict in the case -- and that verdict, per the overwhelming evidence that leads us there, is "Guilty as charged".

Another thing that burns both sides of Vincent's toast during this video program is the fact that he knows that the location (venue) of the trial COULD very easily have been changed. The trial should NOT have been held where it was (downtown Los Angeles, with a predominantly black jury). It should have been staged in Santa Monica, which would have probably changed the make-up of the jury greatly, because Santa Monica is populated by a majority of whites. That white vs. black fact alone might not have meant anything in the long run, but let's face facts -- statistics during and after the trial told all of us that a majority of whites felt Simpson was as guilty as Hitler; while a good-sized percentage of black citizens thought O.J. should walk. Vince gives us the reasons WHY Los Angeles D.A. Gil Garcetti fumbled the ball in this potentially-critical "venue" department.

This whole six-volume set is fascinating to watch, but Tape #6 is by far the most riveting portion of the program, as Mr. Bugliosi concludes the twelve-hour documentary with a lengthy section of "Mock Closing Arguments", complete with Lance Ito and O.J. Simpson look-alikes in the courtroom. Plus actors who fill in for defense lawyers Johnnie Cochran and Robert Shapiro as well.

But Vince does all of the talking on Tape 6 during his "Closing Arguments", as he gives what would have been his Final Summation to the jury if he himself had been the prosecuting attorney in the case against Simpson. Great, great stuff, complete with Vincent's occasional sly, tongue-in-cheek humor (e.g.: "Where does the defense GET guts like this?! Can you BUY them?! I've never seen any for sale here in Los Angeles! Maybe Mr. Scheck brought some with him from The Bronx!"). ~LOL~

Tape Six (all by itself) is most definitely worth the steep price that I paid for this intriguing set of videos (in my humble personal opinion, that is).

These videos contain lots of footage of the actual Simpson trial too, mixed in with the comments of Vincent and the others who are interviewed. Watching Vince evaluate, piece by piece, the various clips we find on these tapes, puts things in perspective. We see a clip -- and then Mr. Bugliosi tells us just why that footage is an absolute embarrassment to anyone prosecuting a man for murder (we see several scenes that play out in that form).

"Platinum Productions" produced this set of "Absolutely 100% Guilty" videocassettes. This progam, in a truncated version, was also made available for a limited time on the DVD format as well. But I have the VHS "Professional Edition", which consists of six individually-sleeved videotapes, housed inside a sturdy and attractive outer slipcase box. It's a good-looking set for the library shelf.

These now-out-of-print videos might be difficult to locate, but (obviously) I feel they are worth tracking down. When this program originally was distributed, a cleverly-titled website -- ojdidit.com -- was constructed for the sole purpose of selling these videos. An appropriate dot-com moniker, IMO. ~wink~

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Product Specifications:

> 6-Tape Set (VHS format).
> Tape Speed: Standard Play ("SP") Mode.
> Run Time: Approximately 2 Hours Per Tape.
> Audio Recorded In Hi-Fi Stereo.
> Video Aspect Ratio: Full Frame (1.33:1).
> In Color.
> Deluxe Boxed Set (Slipcased).
> Outer Slipcase Box Features Gold Embossed Lettering On The Back (Marked: "Vincent Bugliosi's Absolutely 100% Guilty; The Professional Edition").

> Two Other VHS Editions Were Also Marketed -- "The Library Edition", Which Included A Hard-Cover Copy Of Vincent Bugliosi's Book "Outrage" ... And "The Consumer Edition", Which Consisted Of Just One VHS Tape (2+ Hours Of Content).

> List Price (MSRP) For "The Professional Edition": $129.95.
> List Price (MSRP) For "The Library Edition": $249.95.
> List Price (MSRP) For "The Consumer Edition": $39.95.

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My Final "100% Guilty" Summation.........

Ladies and gentlemen of the video-collecting jury -- Vincent T. Bugliosi's "ABSOLUTELY 100% GUILTY" set of videos is an essential item for any collector of O.J. Simpson-trial material. Through the eyes of a man who knows of what he speaks (Bugliosi being a lawyer himself, who has handled hundreds of criminal cases in a stellar career while working in the Los Angeles prosecutor's office, to the tune of the enviable record of 105-1 in felony jury trials as Deputy D.A., and an unblemished 21-0 in murder cases), this special video program succeeds in providing the viewer a candid, refreshing, and completely forthright assessment of the facts in the murder case against ex-football great O.J. Simpson.

If you truly believe that evil L.A.P.D. "conspirators" attempted to "frame" O.J. Simpson for two murders in 1994, I suggest you hunt down a copy of this video set. Vincent can then give you the straight dope on the "Trial Of The Century" -- and he can tell you via his very powerful style of presenting the facts just exactly why O.J. Simpson is "Absolutely 100% Guilty".

Perhaps the most handy reference collection we have seen come through our ProCert Labs, Stephen L. Nelson's From A To Z collection of quick reference guides really hits the spot. If you are using a Microsoft Office product (and if you are not: its time you bought yourself a computer), this handy reference guide will prove indispensable.

Stephen L. Nelson has been writing quick reference guides for some time now, and it shows in this series. Organized alphabetically, each guide excludes an index because, after all, it is one. The navigation is easy and gets right to the point. I looked up "Selecting Text" and learned that there are six different ways to do so. I discovered each of the six ways in less than half a page; a testament to the concise and straightforward instruction in store for every reader.

And don't let me fool you; the information available in each guide addresses the complex as well as the mundane. You will find quick reference tidbits on everything from Autoformatting (a bane to every Word user) to managing Text Formulas in Excel (which most of us would use if we knew they existed.)

For you Access jockeys, having the Access 2002 From A To Z quick reference at hand will make Applying Filters as easy as cooking with Ron Popeil. The finer points of PowerPoint are described in understandable detail, and if you are looking to quell your questions about Outlook, you will find them the fastest in this quick reference.

Bonus Situation: MOUS. Aside from being a valuable desktop reference, each quick reference guide includes information about passing the Microsoft Office User Specialist exam, and promises that the guide includes all the information you will need to pass the test. Our quick review confirmed this, making these books an excellent choice for those of you who are working toward MOUS certification.

The current series of quick reference guides includes:

Word 2002 From A To Z
Excel 2002 From A To Z
PowerPoint 2002 From A To Z
Access 2002 From A To Z
Outlook 2002 From A To Z
Windows 2002 From A To Z
Each quick reference is about 200 pages, with the exception of the Windows XP quick reference, which tops out at 250. Under twelve bucks apiece, you can't miss with any one of the From A To Z quick references from Redmond Technologies Press. Each book individually provides excellent coverage of every function of its technology, and the entire collection represents a comprehensive must have for anyone who relies on the MS Office suite for advanced productivity.

This book provides you a comprehensive understanding of Chinese accounting and auditing, including historical background and future perspective. If you are going to do business in China or with people in China, it is recommende to read this book.

There are few people who can capture all the complexity and paradox of South Africa in modern times as Brink can. This book may be big but it crystallizes a time in South African history that was very real, scary and complex.

A guide for travelers...armchair and actual. The fantastic diversity of a great continent on which the world's eyes are focused. Complete travel information on every one of the 56 countries, new and old, plus historical and political background. 408 pages with index. A few black and white photographs.

So I'm biased. The entry on Ron Milner is one of the most fabulous pieces of non-fiction writing ever recorded in the history of African American Dramatists. Seriously, this is a wonderful resource. This book includes the expected entries on Hughes, Hurston and the like, but also entries on the lesser-knowns, such as Ron Milner.

This biographical profile deals with the lives and scientific pursuits of 160 African-American scientists, mathematicians, and their inventions. It is a very well-done piece of work, and an excellent fact book for libraries both public and private. Individual entries can be read independently, which makes it an easy and suitable source of inspiration for young students seeking role models. Individuals covered go back to the 18th century when Benjamin Banneker was the only recognized African-American scientist/inventor.

What I particularly like about the book is its insightful introductory chapter. From it two things stand out. First, the insights of that chapter and the individual entries I read together paint vividly the difficult path many of those included in the book followed. The path was difficult not only because any scientific activity is a difficult pursuit, but also because these people faced very high artificial barriers-to-entry. Second, denied formal education and training, the scientific endeavors of African Americans progressed in a unique way; they began with invention, then science, and math. This is almost the opposite of what happened elsewhere, where the language of math advanced science and led to inventions.

It is quite clear that success in science, as elsewhere, was a function of political freedom. Many of the early African-American scientists, mathematicians, and inventors were people who somehow gained their freedom from slavery. As political freedom increased so too did the number of scientists, mathematicians, and inventors.

I like this book, I like it very much.

Amavilah, Author
Modeling Determinants of Income in Embedded Economies
ISBN: 1600210465

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has a wonderful mix of animal tales, supernatural tales and magic!The author has a superb handle on the written word and keeps the true feel of a good storyteller. You can almost imagine yourself hearing these tales told around a campfire! Children and adults will enjoy the rich mixture of tales. Highly recommended!

Many books have been written concerning the life and writing of Agatha Christie, but, so far, this book must take the prize for being the most comprehensive, well-informed and accurate guide to the work of this remarkable author. This is not a critical appraisal of Christie's works, but rather the sort of book you need at hand when reading a Christie title. Dawn B. Sova has compiled an outstanding array of knowledge on Agatha Christie's books, with all sorts of information which should further any devoted reader's enjoyment of Mrs Christie's work. An excellent achievement.