Publications and Media Books

"Katherine's artwork is breathtaking.
> There is so much going on in each picture, that I often catch my daughter
> sitting alone with the book and just staring at the pictures. Art needs to be
> exciting enough to engage. The colors are fabulous, and the detail is
> wonderful!"

Reveiwed by Bill Cooper for Reader Views (7/06)

Kevin Aguanno provides us with yet another good management tool to enhance performance, work ethics, internal relationships, and improved outcomes. Taking a concept every manager has dealt with and learned either through education or experience, he discusses a brief history of rewards, as well as a more in-depth and analytical approach to the benefits and deficiencies of various rewarding systems. He asks and answers really legitimate questions, such as why reward at all, how do we reward properly and consistently, and what kinds of rewards are applicable to what types of circumstances.

Mr. Aguanno also chats about the differences in rewards and recognition, then the various types of rewards, emphasizing the reward needing to be suitable both to the person and to the accomplishment. This 40-minute CD is full of good management principles, good advice, and good rewards ideas. I recommend it to managers, leaders, and students of those sciences and arts.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (9/06)

There are many things that can stall the completion of a project; stakeholders coming in at the last minute, customers trying to sneak in changes, and escalation, just to name a few. While it is common practice to blame the customer for these "last minute" issues the problem usually lies in a poor process or poorly-executed process. The good news is that these pitfalls can be avoided and successful project completion can be achieved.

In "So, You Think You're Done," Kevin Aguanno breaks project completion into two stages: "How to get final approval sign off" and "Everything that needs to be done post signoff." One of the key points in the presentation is that it is essential to think of, and plan for, the end of the project throughout the entire project lifecycle.

In the first stage the key components are dealing with, understanding, documenting and managing expectations, barriers and process required to get final approval, lifecycle issues such as support/maintenance/training, scope barriers, business drivers and the business metrics the company will use to determine the success of the project. By having a clear understanding of what the project is intended to accomplish, who will be responsible for signing off on the project (and ensuring their involvement throughout the project), and what is not included in the project (i.e. training) there will be less risk of these becoming a barrier to project completion or escalation.

The second stage begins after signoff and involves completion of all documentation, analysis, and reviews. This includes all legal aspects of closing and invoicing the contract, administrative activities, a review of lessons learned, any marketing that can be done from the project, and a review of the product life cycle. These activities are often overlooked or rushed as the team hurries to move on to the next project. It is important to give these processes adequate attention, however, as they have key value in increasing success and performance of future projects.

"So, You Think You're Done" is full of essential tools in ensuring a smooth and effortless project signoff process as well as guidelines for ensuring all legal and administrative issues are covered, all documentation is completed, and all value for future projects is derived. This recording is a great tool for developing key processes and procedures throughout the project management process, and a useful tool to revisit time and again.

Yalkowsky has written a gem here: quite possibly the best book on solubility in aqueous media I have read, and right up with the best on solubilization in the same. One of the interesting conundrums posed is: why do people float on the dead sea? But my favourite was where it was showed that James Bond would be unlikely entirely to dissolve if he were dropped in a vat of acid by Blofeld. Excellent.

Against the background of rising temperatures and shorter tempers among film theorists, 'Studying Contemporary American Film' sets out to pour oil on troubled waters. Between classical models of film interpretation and analysis (auteurist, structuralist, psychosemiotic) and the current plethora of contending paradigms (cognitivist, Deleuzian,
post-feminists, deconstructivist and hypertextual) it treads a
delicate, but determined path. The authors accept that film analysis is a matter of being wise after the fact, and being aware of open or hidden agendas. In order to be clear and consistent, you don't have to be dogmatic; being able to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of certain critical positions doesn't mean that 'everything goes'. Although centered on close analysis of nine mainstream movies, this is not just another collection of essays on the authors' favorite films. The distinction classical and post-classical narrative, the Hollywood/Europe divide, the co-existence of linear narrative and videogame logic, and the differences between ontological realism and digital realism are all lucidly laid out and practically demonstrated. Highlights - to this reader at least - are the chapters on Die Hard, Lost Highway, The Fifth Element and Silence of the Lambs. The general movie buff may think the bullet points and numbered sub-headings rather too prescriptive; however, the authors tone is for the most part refreshingly dead-pan and descriptive, and students may be grateful for the many useful hints of how to ask the right questions and structure their papers accordingly. This is a guide in the best tradition of 'Teach Yourself Film Studies', of which 'Studying Contemporary American Film' could be seen as a welcome sequel.

Any individual expressing interest in the study of the media, be it a professor or a student, MUST read this book. Zelizer's analysis of the way in which media is viewed is not only so accurately examined but also incredibly thought provoking.

this book is very good I am in fact a wizard which is studying witchcraft so I need to know what my power on my birthchart is.

This audio book is a great orientation to dharma by a modern-day rinpoche whose innovation is his ability to bridge the world of tibetan buddhism with western modernity. In clear English, Rinpoche Tsem Tulku explains the role of protector deities and shares practical insight on tibetan buddhism. His instruction appears to transcend the limitations of religious confinement by providing wisdom that crosses different cultures. This audio book should be valuable for persons interested in gaining a deeper understanding about a unique and rapidly growing form of tibetan buddhism. I truly enjoyed this work and found it to be genuinely inspirational. I have happily recommended and shared this work with all my friends.

If you're a fan of soap operas, and communication about them on the internet, this is the BOOK for you! Ms. Baym's book is filled with insightful and thought-provoking information on a group of individuals in a newsgroup on the internet who all came together to discuss the good and bad of their favorite soap opera(s). And along the way, found a community of friends they never thought possible. In her long and dedicated research, Ms. Baym delves into the communication she discovered, both verbal and nonverbal of a group of people, many women, but also men, and discovers much more about them than what appears on the surface. Her conclusions are quite intriguing! She finds the common bonds between them and shows how they are not only gifted and talented individuals, but how they are able to personify themselves through they're words, acts and deeds. She also talks at length about the changes over the years and gives factual evidence as the internet became larger. The growth is written into her story. It is a fun-filled odyssey into one group of people brought together with one common bond from all walks of life, from locations all over the world and it is quite a fascinating journey. Don't waste any time - get this book!

Brava Nancy Baym!

The book is an excellent resource for understanding economics of Media. It covers the terrain in great depth.