Publications and Media Books

I was a bit disappointed in this book which seems to take somewhat of a critical perspective of the Midrash. Their companion book on the Talmud suffers somewhat from the same general malady. In other words, the Midrash is inspirational, and inspired, stories but that is about it. That was my impression. However, in fairness to the authors this is one of the few books that even attempts to make the Midrash accessible to the average non-Yeshiva reader. Be aware though, that this book very much oversimplifies the concept and sometimes shows a shallowness of scholarly understanding. A book which I prefer is linked from here: Learning to Read Midrash is a better book for my money but certainly more challenging. Learning to Read Midrash

The Oral Torah was handed down for generations from Moses. It is the complement to the Written Torah. Keep in mind that the original Torah was written without vowels or punctuation; the implication being that there had to be an oral Torah to understand the written one. Midrash refers to stories and details from the Oral Torah that clarify and add to stories in the Torah. The Oral Torah wasn't codified in the Talmud until about a millennium ago when anti-Semitism was so intense it appeared that the Oral Torah would be lost to posterity.

This book is presented in an easy concise format. The authors explain all of the Hebrew words that are used. The actual Biblical texts are juxtaposed with the Midrashic texts for easy comparison. Then each is followed by a D'rash, a short commentary. The root word of d'rash means to investigate. A lot of Christians tend to shy away from Jewish commentaries and such books are rarely sold in Christian books stores, even though Christians believe in the Hebrew Bible, the so called Old Testament. This is unfortunate because they are really missing out on a lot. Very few Christian ministers were able to answer my questions pertaining to the Hebrew Bible. A couple of ministers I consulted had never even heard of the story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38. The Jewish people are named for Judah/Yehuda.

I haven't read this book, but own it and just felt the other review -- left by someone who left a review intended for the book seller -- needs balance. Leaving through the book, it seems to be a serious and thoughtful and well-researched treatment of how imagery is used in advertising and the effect images have.

M. Glickman
Author, Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole-Body Vipassana Meditation

Arrived in great condition but not in time for when needed. Therefore, book was returned and credit was given.

In reviewing the audio CD from Mark Kozak-Holland I was very interested in how he relates Winston Churchill's methods to modern day techniques such as the "dashboard". Knowing little to nothing about Churchill before listening - I now want to read more. On the negative side - the audio CD had a few moments where there was a reference to slides that you cannot see when listening to the CD. If you look beyond the quality of the audio and listen to the content - you will be pleased.

Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (8/06)

In listening to this CD, which is less than an hour long, Mr. Kozak-Holland makes the attempt to create a comparison with Winston Churchill's management style and decision making skill with today's organizations and issues and challenges they face. He succeeds. Using the crisis faced by England at the start of World War 11, and the absolute requirement to make decisions at unprecedented levels, Mr. Kozak-Holland makes a compelling case for using the Churchill leadership style in today's organizations. He describes the need for true leadership in times of rapid growth and change, for people, systems, and finances.

Churchill succeeded in circumstances that were far more critical and dangerous than faced by many businesses today. His entire country and its people were at severe risk and he won. He won because of the character and principles he brought. By applying them in our world today, under important but far less critical circumstances, we can demonstrably show one success after another.

There is a real learning opportunity in listening to this CD. Good job Mr. Kozak-Holland.

Fans of the Broadway musical and costume design will love these paper dolls. The illustrations are wonderful.
Among the highlights are Eve Arden, Elaine Stritch, Bernadette Peters and the gorgeous Diahann Carroll, as well as the costumes from "The King and I" and "Evita".
I wasn't so sure about the likenesses of Lena Horne and Carol Burnett.
I would have preferred it if the book had been chronologically divided into two volumes so that each star could have been outfitted with more outfits.

A bit dry and not exactly riveting reading, this book worked well as a source for my masters thesis on women advertising copywriters. For that application is was outstanding. Anyone reading this book would pretty much have to enjoy saturating themselves workings ad agencies and creative departments. This is a highly specialized that book and does not look at ad agencies in a general way, but explores the dynamics of creative teams (copywriters/art directors) in London using interviews, research and analysis very specifically. This book is academic in tone. I found this book extemely helpful to my research and recommend it to anyone who needs to a source for the inner workings and sexual dynamics of advertising creative departments.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (3/07)

Agile methods have gained momentum in the software development world but have been slow to penetrate the database development world. Scott Ambler describes how this is slowly changing and what database developers can do to embrace and introduce agile methodologies.

"Agile Database Development" describes the current collection of philosophies around agile database development, the challenges and misconceptions around agile methodologies, and what needs to happen to bring the data community up to speed with the software development world.

A large problem that database developers run into when trying to implement agile methods is a direct result of tools are not flexible enough to align with the agile methodologies. There is a need for automated database re-factoring and testing tools that allow developers to embrace JIT modeling and iterative methodologies. This isn't to say that agile methods cannot be currently incorporated - they can - but it often means manual database re-factoring.

The biggest area that database developers can benefit from agile philosophies without requiring a lot of development changes is around documentation and modeling. Increased efficiencies can be gained through the utilization of whiteboard modeling, brainstorming, JIT requirements gathering, and minimizing unnecessary or untimely documentation.

"Agile Database Development" takes a critical look at how database development can benefit from agile methodologies and what needs to happen to fully embrace these concepts. While traditional methods may still play a large part it is important for the database community to understand and evolve its methodologies. The world is moving at the speed of change - it is better to keep up than try to catch up!

Rao and Mendoza appear to be targeting a business or technology audience, that might be eyeing these burgeoning markets and wondering if they should establish a presence. For this, the country profiles can be very useful, as these are focused on telecommunications and wireless. Rather than being a general interest introduction to those countries.

They also explain the various stages of buildouts of WiFi and other wireless ventures. The reader can clearly see that the stages of development vary vastly between countries.

The book can also offer you a cautionary note about the potential pitfalls in investing in a wireless venture. See for example the details about the regulatory structures put in place by the governments. These can be formidable barriers to outsiders.

While I have not yet finished reading the book, I have read enough to appreciate the author's sensible approach to resolving the mystery of whether Atlantis ever existed at all, and if so, where it might have been. The author begins with a well considered analysis of Plato's accounts of Atlantis, and what factors may affect the truthfulness and accuracy of those tales.

However, I am more impressed by the author's early recognition that sea levels were much lower 12,000 years ago, and the outlines of continents would have been different, and so would the regions of human population (mostly along now submerged coastlines). This fact seems too often overlooked in previous or competing theories.

On the downside of this book, the first chapter was written with all the academic rigor of a cocktail party monologue, reminiscent of Erick von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods". There seem to be a number of editing errors, or inconsistencies. The author seems to confuse "descendant" with "ancestor". Additionally, he neglects the archeological evidence of stone-age man using flint tools in America, while supposing that Atlanteans enjoyed a global, cosmopolitan culture, along side primative shanty-towns. Even with the ghettos in America, you find plastic spoons from McDonald's.

I almost threw the book away, but the following chapters made me glad I did not, and I look forward to completing the book and this review in the weeks to come.

"BEYOND THE COLD WAR". Edited by E. Dennis, George Gerbner and Yassen N. Zassoursky. 180 Pages. The International Publishers, First Printed in 1991. Price $ 21.95

"Beyond the Cold War" is a collection of critical and analytical essays on the state of media in the US and USSR region. The amnioticity and tension between the Soviet block of nations and the United States and its allies is viewed by a number of journalists. Psychological and media war, Political maneuvering, war by proxy and fear of mutual annihilation is viewed analytically. Prior to the Cold War, the images of opposite mass media had been objected by the "Iron Curtain" and aftermath, the blind folded eyes of the both sides were opened. As viewed by one writer, the American image on Russia was based on the concept of the mysteriousness of the Russian soul. He further states that USA helped the USSR to wipe out Tzar's reign.

The first writer brings out the way that American media corrected their perspectives before and after the Glasnost. He mainly tries to highlight the American efforts to bring the Cold War to an end. The history of images of both sides is discussed. The images built up were almost imaginary during Cold War period. This essay is well analysed and manured with facts.

2nd writer is a pro-Russian. He brings out Russian attributes of the Cold War. He describes availability of the information of US in USSR and visa versa. The 3rd writer too describes an Epoch of the Cold War and post Cold War. His effort to describe the US and USSR relations is successful. He perceives that even during the Cold War, the US-USSR people were better relations in comparison to the other nations, which he derives with valid reasons.

Next writer also tries to describe the roles of Soviet and American television during this crucial period, which he perceives as a successful role. Following the next has tried to describe the image of Soviet Union and United States. His effort to emphasize that the Soviet Unionist images is not primitive, but impressive.

Following Writers thinking is based on coverage of electronic media of Reagan - Gorbachev summits. Being a pro American, he points out the defensive role of American journalists towards Gorbachev's move, the fear of being called as manipulated by Gorbachev. Comments of this kind point out the liberal thinking of writers.

A Chinese writer points out the images of 3 distinct Newspapers. Giving the information, he visualises this movement positively. Next, 2 Russian writers disclose data collected through surveys and trying to derive at the positive aspect of Perestroika and Glasnost.

A Chinese writer has discussed the image of USSR in Chinese mass media. China, being the next largest Communist country perceives USSR as a giant being the fighter against Fascism, stander against American imperialism and the balance of power. China's perception and its international relationship between USSR are analysed with relevant facts.

Another Chinese writer has discussed the image of US in China. The given data shows that Chinese mass media have projected US image to the Chinese than the USSR's. In this China imaginations on US as an enemy is discussed and the question whether the Cold War is over is discussed extensively. The writer at one instance view US as an enemy and at the same time he tries to describe that China is a Non aligned country and it has a neutral foreign policy.

Lastly, one writer giving the details of conceptions of various newspapers and personnel describes the insight of the various personnel/News papers on Cold War. He perceives that even the real Cold War is over, the mass medial Cold War will prevail.

The essays in this book are not in a chronological order, but they contain almost all the details on the Cold War. As the back cover says these essays are suitable for upper-division graduates.

... the back cover of this book exclaims the bi-line statement, and I thought it curious that a new coin has been excavated and was noted for
the world to see, that Cleopatra was not the "raving beauty" for ions that we believed her to be.
Setting that asside, she had a very colorful life.
I read this book when it was first published, and just found notes that I had taken while reading it, and decided it was about time I proclaim to the world, something about this noteworthy work.
This book should be "required reading" for any budding ancient Egypt scholar.
It is a "beauty" of a biography.