Competitions Books

As a consumer, I can see how antitrust laws in USA are not compatible with my freedom of choice.

Worth reading to view another perspective of a film festival. Written like a documentary with interviews from participants in the festival. Good for other student filmmakers and anyone who wants to become a filmmaker. The dvd alone has enough to give you an eyeful of original filmmaking.

This is a magnificent book - a selection of maps submitted by children from around the world, aged 5 to 15, to the International Cartographic Association. Their dreams, interests, hopes and fears are interwoven into these poignant portrayals of our planet, its beauty, and its woes. Having been totally mesmerized by the copy I received, I immediately ordered five more, for each of my grandchildren, and for gifts. This is a book as much for adults as children, and my only regret is that it is a paperback. I will encourage the children to treat the book with love and care, because this is a keeper for life - mine, and my grandchildren's.

The premise, basically: the inseparable role of military in Chinese political & economic circles and how the technological considerations required primarily for defence have contributed to the overall public policy in China and what they mean now for China's modern clout in dealing with U.S. export barriers, the WTO, forces of globalization and the nation's economic & military modernization.

Feigenbaum's exploration is instructive, for it demonstrates in stark relief three facts about China's strategic posture that are often missed: its foreign policy in many cases is driven by domestic weaknesses; its increasing nervousness about internal stability (perhaps typified by the recent SARS scourge or the perpetual Fa Lun Gong); and its growing sophistication in the use of international cooperation, not simply military and police coercion, to work with domestic pressures on governance.

Strategists would do well to take notice because China's experience for the last half a century in Central Asia reveals much about its strengths, weaknesses and strategies in an era of American pre-eminence. Domestically, it lays bare the limits of the coercive power of the Chinese regime. Externally, it reveals just how creative Beijing's diplomacy can be. And strategically, it shows that China can nimbly -- and successfully -- appeal to common challenges as the basis for cooperation with countries that might normally see it as a potential threat.

Techno-Warriors is indeed a multidimensional book traversing defence, technology, economics and governance, but somewhat lacking (imho) in a coherent effort to string together all these different pontifications into a vision for the future of how Feigenbaum believes China will handle the issues he sets out to discuss.

A similar theme has also been addressed in "The New Chinese Empire" -- a book that encompasses the last 2000 years of Chinese history and how the posturings of several governments of the past in fact provide a common underpinning for Chinese governance in the present: thriving on weaknesses.

A reading of both these books in succession has left me thinking from a very fresh perspective about modern Chinese policy, particularly in contrast to the hackneyed economic odes found in popular media.

You are quite likely to find this a thoughtful, thought-provoking read, despite the demanding intellectual summons (which I take off one star for).

Most of what is written about the new economy focuses on how to become an entrepreneur or to make investments. Government is one way that communities are represented as a stakeholder with businesses. This book provides a solid framework by explaining the differences between new economy and traditional manufacturing and service companies, and outlines some of the current ways that legal jurisdictions are wooing these companies. In doing this, the book nicely summarizes the best books on the subject of the trends involved in the new economy. The book's main weakness is a failure to describe or propose a process for creating a new economy friendly governmental environment. Be sure and bring your magnifying glass, too. Many of the exhibits are extremely hard to read because of the small type used.

The first half of the book is background, and it explores the familiar territory of improved communications, rapidly evolving technology, globalization, and cascades of cost reduction in the context of knowledge-based enterprises. If you are pretty familiar with the new economy, you can skip this material. If you are not, it is a good and accurate summary of current thinking.

The second half of the book is the unique part. It suggests four ways that governments can benefit from the new economy.

(1) Make the place where new economy companies will be located more suitable for the needs of their employees.

(2) Make government operate along the lines of new economy principles.

(3) Focus government spending on areas where it will create a more fertile environment for individuals and companies to prosper in the new economy.

(4) Help to coordinate local efforts to create an effective clustering of specialist business activities from education to venture capital to fostering an entrepreneurial environment.

Each section has many examples of what governments have been doing in these areas in the past.

The tendency for most who read this book will be to try to provide some of everything on the list. That's probably not a good idea. A good first step is to spend time with new economy companies to find out what problems they have which government can help overcome. A good second step is to try some low-cost experiments to see what works, and what doesn't. A good third step would be to evaluate the potential benefits and costs of making these changes. I suspect that most governments can get the bulk of potential benefits from doing a small subset of the lists here. And, not all of the important items may be on the list. But this book is certainly a good introduction to some of what governments should be thinking about.

If you are working in a new economy business, you should take some time to acquaint your legislators about the problems and missed opportunities that state and local government present for you now. That communication process is all too often focused solely on taxes and getting rid of excess regulation. But your needs are probably greater elsewhere. Until you share that information, the agenda will be swayed in the wrong direction.

I also think that similar books need to be written for educators, heads of nonprofit enterprises, and those who administer governmental activities.

Done properly, this can be a case of building a bigger and better pie for everyone.

Find better ways to support one another!

This book was published as a senior manager's guide to keeping pace with opportunities from newfound technology at the onset of the digital revolution. Peter Keen lends insight into the complex and frenzied climate of the post-deregulation era of the mid-1980s, where telecommunications spawned fierce competition, innovation, risk and uncertainty. Industry successes and failures are examined in light of technological constraints and management challenges that anguished corporations at the time. Those who recognized the value of telecom and information technology were empowered to make sound decisions that resulted in the needed "edge" for their enterprises.

Industry contenders that harnessed IT early on are analyzed. Financial institutions that redefined the transaction process by automating the process to provision "real time" transactions that transcended time and geography barriers, are illustrations of such victors. Keen heralds American Airlines as a triumphant success in the airline industry-with its SABRE auto-booking system that placed terminals into virtually every travel agent's office-in tandem with its leading role as the first to offer a frequent flier program. Such initiatives forced competitors to follow-suit or be left behind. Not surprisingly, these same companies have maintained a competitive edge today (even when they've hit some potholes along the way). We can relate their long-term success to the soundness of their product positioning and telecom strategies at the time. These industry leaders blazed the trails on which the information highways are built today, setting the agenda for prevalent business models.

The predominant message that resonates within the book: telecommunication is a natural differentiator; and technology an enabler. In practical terms, this notion entails taking charge of change instead of reacting to it, recognizing when to act; paired with the ability to anticipate market shifts and being able to adapt; along with the ability to reposition within existing markets. While this book was published in 1988, the underlying lessons are still very valid and applicable in today's telecom-rich business environment. In dealing with telecom-centric changes, it outlines valuable and practical solutions that are traditionally-minded (planning, projection, analysis, implementation of policies, organization, and other key management aspects).

The technical dimension of telecom is touched upon, offering a glimpse of the past and the environment out of which the digital age flourished. It is equally enlightening to survey the landscape that produced the first generation formats and protocols that have now been replaced by second-generation (and in some cases, third-generation) counterparts. It brings into focus the intensely dynamic pace of technological evolution in the span of 16 years.

The shifts in market trends are also examined in the realm of human resources vis a vis the changing roles of senior managers. In the past managers were mainly approvers rather than iniators; helpers rather than taking on a more involved role. The new-sprung professional born out of the telecom age-depicted as the "hybrid talent"-is characterized as moving effortlessly between the worlds of technology and business, with marketing and planning sense as well as technological design skills. Such managers were seen as virtually nonexistent at the time, but these newly-emerged professionals have proven to be highly valuable in today's marketplace.

In its entirety, this is book effectively written and concisely laid out for ease of reading. It draws on concrete corporate successes that link directly to telecommunications and the information age. Although this book was published 16 years ago, its content is valuable for IT managers and planners alike, serving as a reminder of how today's success stories gained their needed `edge'. It offers a refreshing glimpse into the past...and a lesson in corporate history and telecommunication technology. It is as informative as it is engaging.

An excellent introduction to market-based mechanisms for electricity provision and alternative electricity market structures. Discussions on transmission planning and pricing could use more meat and consideration of the many unresolved issues. Basic economic explanations are a bit brief as well.

Perhaps unintentionally, this collection of papers is an eloquent argument for the preservation of minor languages, some of which might face extinction. The authors compare various languages, to demonstrate how different societies have implemented case.

One such choice is Kuuk Thaayorre. Spoken by only around 300 Aborigines in Queensland. As explained, many of the youngsters of this group are fluent in English, and only partially in the Kuuk Thaayorre. The long term prognosis for the latter is dubious. Yet from this very obscure language is derived an insightful analysis, that is quite possibly unique to the language.

Connie Shelton's Charlie Parker Mysteries are usually set in the New Mexico desert, but this entry is set in Scotland, which is a pleasing contrast. Charlie and her husband Drake have agreed to run Drake's friend Brian's helicopter service to the oil rigs while Brian is with his dying mother. They look on it as a lark and an adventure in a new part of the world, but they don't bank on some of the hardships that they will encounter. They are staying in a cottage on the grounds of a castle and they become acquainted with Robert and Sarah Dunbar, the castle's inhabitants. When the Dunbars discover that Charlie is a professional investigator, they ask her to try to recover two of their lambs which are missing. Later, they come to her with a more serious problem when their grandson is kidnapped. The third problem they face is serious opposition to the helicopter business from union workers who fear that the helicopter service will put the union's boat service out of business. There are lots of suspenseful passages in the book and Charlie and Drake are an attractive, loving couple. The main flaw is that the three mysteries are given a big buildup and the solutions to them are somewhat anticlimatic. Other than that, this is a good read.

I bought this book to get up to speed on what Data Acquisition was all about. This book is mostly about what to do with the data after it is logged. It primarily references road courses (not ovals). It talks about the six primary logging points (RMP, speed, G's, gas pedal position, etc). It does not talk about the setting up of the sensors and getting the sensors to work correctly with the logger. If you interested in becomming a DAG, this book will not get you in the door, but will give you an appreciation of how the data is used. The book references Pi Research hardware and software and they are, in fact, one of the premire data logging companies. Their sensor capture software is very complex to setup. The display software (that is referred to in the book) is much more intuitive and roubust. Excellent book and worth the read.

This book would be a great resource for someone who is new to data logging. There are many chapters that go over various traces (RPM, speed, TPS, steering wheel angle, lateral and longitudinal g, etc) and what to look for in that plot by itself and in conjunction with the others. The book certainly can't give you an idea of what systems are on the market today, nor should you expect it to. It's useful in giving an overview of how to use data logging and basic interpretation of the data.