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The title to my review is tongue-in-cheek; however, to use Woolner as an introduction to the Prakrits (Middle Indic languages) requires a grounding in Sanskrit and in historical linguistics. The first portion of the book provides the basic introduction to what languages and literature is considered Prakrit, the phonetics of Prakrits, and the fundamental grammar. The second portion provides texts to read in Sauraseni, Maharastri, Jain Maharastri, Ardha-Magadhi, Magadhi, Avanti, Bhasa, Pali, etc. There is an adequate but not great index supplied. For anyone interested in reading classical Indian drama or Jain scripture and philosophy, this is a must have text and reference.

A health care facility looking to introduce telemedicine as part of its services should not do so lightly. A well-intended but poorly instituted plan inhibits the sustainability of a successful program. Before implementing any sort of telemedicine program, spend some time thoroughly researching your organizations needs. A good resource to discover the best course of action is through Introduction to Telemedicine: second edition. The emphasis of this text is on obtaining the second addition. Telemedicine is a rapidly progressing field. It is important that any research materials used be as current and relevant as possible.

Introduction to Telemedicine is a very basic text structured towards healthcare organizations with little or no understanding of telemedicine. The text introduces the reader to the basics of the technology and common terms before thoroughly outlining important considerations to help create a sustainable telemedicine program. Well-known experts in the field independently write each chapter causing a great deal of repetition within the text, but this serves to enhance many of the important points. A multitude of relevant and current resources from books, web sites and research studies also assist in the process of discovering more about telemedicine.

The most valuable aspect of the text is the outline for beginning a program. A general framework discusses important steps and considerations. Much of the detail is left for the organization to ponder given that it is too difficult to delve into all the possibilities unique to each facility. However, the guide is still valuable as it allows an organization to learn from past successes and failures of others instead of wandering into uncharted waters alone. The major pitfalls and important reflections listed are invaluable to the provider. For instance, the team members selected to implement the plan is essential, but instead of a team of executives running the entire operation, a bottom up approach is strongly advisable. The people in the field are more aware about what type of services are needed and potential problems that might accompany a telemedicine program in their job.

A concerning fact repeated throughout the text is the substantial amount of failed telemedicine programs. Programs fail for numerous reasons, from funding that runs out to too broad a program, to poor training or technical implementation. However, this should not discourage a program, but serve to stress the importance of proper planning. Telemedicine has the potential to enhance the delivery of health care in many areas, but it is essential to research and plan appropriately in order to ensure its success.

What are some of the potential benefits from a telemedicine program? In the chapter Successfully Developing a Telemedicine System by Peter M Yellowlees, Smith is sited on his vision:
...where health care will be provided through both integrated and virtual systems anywhere, anytime, and where clinicians will focus on long-term relationships with patients, suppliers, funders and insurers, with the patient's role being much greater and more assertive than at present. Smith predicted that `industrial age medicine' will invert to become `information age health care' where `instead of being viewed as the apex of a system of care that hardly recognizes the large amount of self-care that occurs now, professional care will be viewed as a support to a system that emphases self-care'.

Smith's vision fits nicely into the field of complementary medicine. More and more people are disillusioned by the concept of the doctor knows best, and are beginning to take charge of their own health through their own personal research and alternative health modalities. With this new emerging concept of taking charge of ones own health, telemedicine has the opportunity to assist in the revolution by encouraging self care while still maintaining valuable technological connections with patients and the various specialists caring for them. Empowerment by the patient allows them a greater sense of hope to change their medical direction rather than solely relying on others to care of them. In addition, there may also be cost savings as well as a host of other benefits to the provider.

The future possibilities for telemedicine are expanding and can be of benefit to many. Patients in remote locations around the world can have access to needed care through remote consultations or monitoring. Specialists can consult through internet connections on cases more quickly. Patient medical records can be accessible to any patient's doctor without the need to have them copied, mailed or reentered. Even medical training is conveniently accessible as a continuing education option for medical staff. However an organization plans to implement a telemedicine program, the results are potentially of great benefit if approached properly. With vision and planning, the world can more closely to a comprehensive medical system accessible to the world.

The race to build the first railroad in Alaska at the turn of the twentieth century and reach the vast untapped mineral wealth of the interior was a daring, high risk adventure played out between rugged visionaries and some unscrupulous promoters. The hardships, perseverance and the actual engineering achievement of the people who finally succeded in building the railroad in this forbidding territory have long been ignored. If you have ever viewed the swift unpredictable rivers, huge mountains and glacier activity along the Southeastern coast of Alaska, or traveled the remaining original railroad bed to McCarthy and Kennicott the very thought of attempting a railroad line extending over 200 miles from the coast to the interior through this terrain is just plain incredible. The "Iron Trail" is written in a turn of the century style which is perhaps a bit flowery but entertaining just the same. Most of real people and places have been renamed for the book but are identified in the forward. Throughout reading this book I couldn't help thinking what a marvelous movie setting and adventure story is behind this truly spectacular engineering achievement.

a ground breaking guide to walking in Japan where few foreigners ever have the chance to explore.

Ken introduces the Cobol Programmer to C. He does a very good job of translating the concepts and principle. My problem with it is there are no exercises to test you. If he had included that I woud have called it a complete book. But in terms of understanding concepts I recommend it to any Cobol programmer. I still refer to it when I have problems understanding something in C or C++

A story written 100 years ago, this book is charming for its time, mannerisms, humor, and clever plot. From a first person point of view, a love story related in a third person point of view. Follow this story as it unravels into an interesting escapade for our prankster of a hero and the beautiful damsel he is trying to be near. A classic worthy of any library.

this is a really good book, but expensive. Helpful to those who are going to open a bookstore. wish i had know "what to do when it just fails miserably."
oh well.

"Marchers of Valhalla" is a very interesting collection of 3 of Robert E. Howard's most revealing tales. The best, by far, is "The Grey God Passes," an excellent, brooding re-creation of the battle of Clontarf in 1014 A.D. between Celtic Christian Irish and pagan Vikings. This fine story was unpublished at Howard's death in 1936 and only saw print in 1962. The other two stories, "Marchers of Valhalla" and "The Thunder-Rider" belong to that sub-genre of "racial memory" stories first made prominent by Jack London, a writer that heavily influenced REH. Both feature the typical Howard skill in storytelling, and "Thunder-Rider" in particular offers a special insight into Howard's view of modern life, but they seem to be final drafts that were going to be polished and expanded a little more before being in final form. Still, even lesser Howard is worth reading. In "MofV," crippled Texan James Allison remembers a past life as the warrior Hialmar of the Aesir. In "Thunder-Rider" assimilated Native American James Garfield, also a Texan, undergoes an Indian rite to recall his past life as Iron Heart, a 16th century "Comanche war-hawk." Is Allison speaking for Howard when he says: "I was born out of my time, and even the exploits of this weary age were denied me." Although the stories are very worthwhile, I really don't like the Marcus Boas illustrations in the Donald M. Grant editions (1972, 1979) of this book. They are incredibly garish, lurid and give a very peculiar spin on the text. One makes a Viking queen look like a Times Square hooker!

This book is now very much out of date. The surprise is that it is still useful though less so than when new. Many of the stores have closed but some are still there; particularly the specialty stores. The book is fun to read, too. As a small publisher, it's a help to me to find those small, independent stores. Martha@littlepearpress.com

JM Barrie wrote this curious memoir of his mother after her death. I don't know much about Barrie's personal life, I found it psychologically qute strange. He seemed obsessed with the idea of being her son and being close to her, yearning for her to mother him and to remain forever a little boy. (Yes - this was the writer of Peter Pan all right). He gives a vivid pictures of a provocative, strong minded, intelligent Scotswoman who wanted things very much HER way and was extremely mysterious and hard to pin down. Yet Barrie clearly got a great deal out of his relationship with her and genuinely loved her. This touching book made me feel there was a great deal more to find out about Barrie and now I want to read more about him. I do recommend this book.