Programming Languages Books

I like the way Ms. Lemay wrote the book, She makes it easy for a beginner like me in VBscript easier to understand the language. It is like one of her Teach Yourself books! I highly recommend this as a good reference!

If you want to learn vbscript quickly (and correctly), pick up this book. Vbscript is rapidly becoming a great scripting language for MS internet web sites. This book gives tons of great examples that actually work when you type it in! And there's several thorough programming references in the appendices

Excellent step by step lessons on using ActiveX and VBscript. This book cleared up alot of questions I had. I just bought this book a week ago (May 1999) and I wish I had bought it a long time ago. Although this book was published in 1997, it is unbelievably useful today!

This book does a very good job of getting you right into ActiveX, and then slowly adds the VBScript. While the examples on the CD are well documented, I couldn't get a few of them to work (SelectedIndex) for one. However, I would recommend this book as both a good reference and usuable tool. Note that you should have a pretty good understanding of HTML. If you don't, you'll have problems, but the CD has an HTML book on it that is easily indexed. It helped me out greatly.

This is an excellent book written by someone who was involved in-depth with NXT programming as the NXT product evolved. Lots of good examples of C code will speed your learning curve.

While the official NXT-G programming language included in the LEGO Mindstorms NXT set works well for many people, what if you want to increase your programming potential or simply prefer a text-based language rather than a graphical one? John C. Hansen's book provides the answer to both of these questions by teaching you how to program the NXT in NeXT Byte Codes (NBC) and Not eXactly C (NXC).

The book begins with an introduction to some basic programming concepts and then shows you how to set up NBC/NXC. Since these unofficial languages are based on the standard firmware, you don't have to download custom firmware to your microcomputer, making setup a breeze. Chapters 2 through 4 discuss the NXT hardware, NXT firmware, and basic construction concepts, respectively. If you're new to the NXT set, you'll find these chapters helpful.

Chapter 5 covers the BricxCC IDE, which supports NBC, NXC, and a number of other languages. This is definitely one of my favorite chapters. BricxCC is an incredibly powerful but user-friendly program, and this chapter shows how to effectively use and customize BricxCC. Perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book is Chapter 6, which discusses free NXT utilities that perform miscellaneous functions.

The real power programming begins in Chapters 7 and 8, which cover NXC and NBC. If, like me, you've programmed the RCX microcomputer in Not Quite C (NQC), you'll be glad to see that Hansen created NXC with a lot of the same features and same "feel." Naturally, these chapters are most easily understood if you have a background in C or programming in general, but such knowledge is not required. The book assumes you are a beginner and explains fundamental programming concepts. If you need more information about a basic concept that the book doesn't discuss in great detail (for example, using arrays), you could easily consult an online resource.

Chapters 9 through 16 teach you how to build a basic robot (Versa), program basic and advanced NXT outputs, program basic and advanced NXT inputs, create an intruder alert robot, explore "games that people play" on the NXT, and control an NXT robot remotely. It is through these chapters that you get practical experience in using NBC/NXC.

In conclusion, if you're looking for an effective and user-friendly text-based programming language for the NXT, then this book is for you. NBC, NXC, and the BricxCC IDE are outstanding resources, and this book teaches not only the basics but also quite advanced concepts (which will be of interest to expert users out there). Bear in mind, however, that this isn't primarily a book of building instructions. Its purpose is to teach you how to effectively program robots--and it accomplishes that purpose very well.

If you are interested in programming your NXT beyond what NXT-G can do (the environment that comes with the retail kit) this is the book for you. You don't have to change out the firmware as you do for other text based programming languages, so you can continue to use NXT-G. In fact both types of programs can reside on the NXT at the same time.

There is a great chapter giving details on the Bricx integrated development environment and all the tools that come with it. It is very complete.

The versa bot that is detailed in the book is a great platform to add to and make your own modifications to. I have already made several of my own modules for it and wrote programs to take advantage of them with NXC.
There are several other bots to be built in the book that I have yet to get built, as I am still adding to the versa bot, but I definitely will though. The etch a sketch one looks really cool and I am sure programming it will teach me a lot.

Thanks should go out to John Hansen (the author) for all the contributions he has made, and continues to make to the Mindstorms Robotic community. The Mindstorms is a great platform to aid the young in learning and teaching the old to stay young.

Summary: An excellent 'next step' for getting the most from this powerful computer system

Mindstorms NXT is robot building tool from Lego. The centrepiece is a large "brick" containing a 32-bit ARM7 computer - the kind of computer you might find in a PDA or a Smartphone. The kit includes a graphical programming environment capable of quite complex programs as well as being accessible to beginners and youngsters. The kit also includes motors and sensors, wheels, gears, and a whole lot of technic-style Lego to hold them together.

John Hansen's book takes all of these components and organises them in a coherent and easily understandable fashion. He describes how to use the various components and explains the sensors (that range from a simple contact switch to a sophisticated ultrasonic distance sensor). However, the real strength of the book is in its approach to programming of the system.

Power Programming describes how to maximise the capability of the kit by programming it using a conventional, textual programming language that is close to standard C. This is both more natural to anyone who already has a smattering of programming knowledge and, ultimately, capable of more complex and much faster programs for the NXT. Best of all, the system that Hansen describes is a free, open-source toolkit usable on Mac, PC and Linux; just download it from the WWW and you're ready to roll.

NXC (Not eXactly C) and the complementary assembler, NBC (NeXT Byte Code) are explained in a clear and authoritative way (Hansen is the author of the compilers too) before the book explores the rest of the system. Each item is introduced in the context of a real robot (you can build these from the step by step instructions) but in a style that explains how it actually works; so the reader is left understanding how to apply each item in their own programs. Later chapters dig deeply into advanced programming of the sensors and communication between several robots without ever becoming inaccessible. And, lest I have made it all sound too dry and worthy, there are detours to examine such things as playing Space Invaders on the NXT and producing a Bedroom security system and remote controlled car.

This is a well-written, clearly presented and very well produced book from an acknowledged expert. It's not for young children but anyone with a little programming knowledge and an interest in computers and robots will find it entirely indispensable. Just beware that, while the tools it describes are free, it could well convince non-owners that they need to buy a NXT!

Brianna Spencer has a serious problem: She's living in a small town in the Wild West, where law and order aren't properly established yet and a woman needs a man to protect her. But her father hasn't returned from a trip for months, and while she is quite capable of running their mill on her own, several men in town have started making her life difficult once they were sure her father wouldn't return. Worst of all is Joseph Corners, who wants to force her into an unwanted marriage in order to get her mill - even if it takes kidnapping or rape to have her. Her only chance to escape this fate turns out to be Sloan McAlister, a railroad agent, who feels very attracted to her. But he has lived a wild, dangerous and free life for so many years that he's not really interested in marriage. A hot affair is a different matter...
This novel is well-written with interesting and convincing characters and a good plot. I especially liked the fact that the situation of women in this time and place is convincingly described. On the one hand, they had to be tough and relatively independent to survive in the Wild West, on the other hand, the social rules restricting a woman to being dependent on a man and essentially helpless made it very hard for women to make it if they didn't have a strong husband, father etc. The dilemma of being attracted to a man and having sexual needs, but knowing that you'd be automatically ruined of you gave in to these needs is also realistic and well done. Apart from that the erotic scenes are spicy and Sloan quite attractive. So I would recommend this novel as a good western romance with an erotic element. Personally I felt it should have been a bit longer, then some of the plot could have been given more depth. Apart from that it's simply a fine book. If you enjoy this type of book, you might also want to try a novel by Sarah McCarty.Promises Reveal (Berkley Sensation Historical Romance) Caine's Reckoning (Hell's Eight Erotic Adventures)

The Old West is a dangerous time and place to be female and alone, and not only is Brianna Spencer attempting it, she's succeeding. All she needs now is the money owed to her, and she will have made it-through one year, at least. That's why Sloan McAlister finds her on the docks, trying to collect on a debt owed to her. He rescues her from the lecherous advances of the town loser and right away, her spunkiness calls out to him. He might be one of the good guys, but the life he leads is in no way lawful or easy. He feels that he has no right to touch her or claim her, so he turns away, but it's only a matter of time before his heart and "other parts" lead him back to her.

This was a very sweet and sensual story. Mary Wine sprinkled about enough Old West charm to make this a very enjoyable story and an interesting little look into life in an old miner's town. It's charming and quaint, and also dirty, rough and brutal. It's a world where only the strong survive and while Brianna is willing and capable, there's only so much she can do with what God gave her, so the men in the town sit and wait, waiting for that inevitable moment when she will falter. Luckily for her, when one such loser does make his move, Sloan McAlister is there to save the day. This finally puts Brianna in his arms and now that he finally has her, well, his momma didn't raise a fool.

The sex in this book is not very explicit or kinky. Nor is it dirty or lewd. It was very sensual and loving and also very sweet. Sloan McAlister was the type of dream hunk who exists only in our fantasies. The type of big, strong and exciting alpha male who comes riding to our rescue dressed in a low slung Stetson and a black duster, while astride a great big stallion. *sigh* Droooooool.

I hope Mary Wine writes some sequels to this book because I would love to read about Sloan's fellow railroad agents. She teased me with just enough to make me want more. The plot in this book was simple, but had enough thrills to make this more than the usual romantica book. The villains in this book are disgusting and pathetic brutes and I loved it when Sloan put the fear of God into them. I highly recommend this as a sweet and sensual Western romance. :)

4.5 blue ribbons

Life in the West isn't easy for a woman alone and nobody knows that better than Brianna Spencer. Her father hasn't returned from spring hunting and everyone assumes that he's dead-everyone except Brianna. She isn't about to give up on him. She concentrates on taking care of mill business and preparing for the winter months. Both involve long hard hours but she's up to the challenge.

Sloan McAlister makes his living as a railroad agent. He's deadly serious and imposing but Brianna isn't afraid of him. When he rescues her from the tedious advances of Joseph Corners he discovers that she has more spunk than he ever dreamed she could have, but she's a `lady' and he doesn't need or want the kind of trouble getting involved with her would bring.

In her father's absence Brianna is responsible for keeping the mill running and making sure the bank note is paid. There's just one little problem with that - some of the accounts haven't been paid. Because of that, she's forced to visit the docks to confront the dock master about his overdue account. That's where Joseph corners her and tries to talk her into marrying him. His slovenly lazy manner disgusts Brianna and he's only gotten more persistent over time. With her father missing, he's not just interested in her as a woman, he wants to get his hands on the mill.

Fortunately for Brianna, Sloan witnesses the exchange and forces Joseph to let go of her. Joseph isn't happy about being bested but his cowardice and the rifle Sloan levels at him convince him to leave her alone - for now. Joseph isn't alone in his opinion that Brianna should marry so that she'd have a man around to run things, but she isn't about to marry just so she can warm some man's bed and let him run her father's mill into the ground. She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself and the mill by herself.

Brianna can't help but notice that Sloan doesn't have any of the traits she finds lacking or abhorrent in Joseph's personality and appearance. Of course that doesn't change the fact that he's a railroad agent and they're often moved from place to place so it'd be stupid to pin any hopes on him. That doesn't stop her from experiencing the first pangs of desire - especially after he steals a kiss. Sloan has no doubt that Brianna is a lady through and through but what he doesn't expect is for her sexual desires to match his.

Joseph isn't about to give up on obtaining Brianna for himself and Sloan feels that she belongs to him. What will happen when Joseph tries `jumping his claim?'

Mary Wine's LET ME LOVE YOU is one captivating humdinger of a historical romance. Right away you're presented with the question of whether or not Brianna's father is dead and if so how is she going to handle all her `womanly duties' as well as all the work at the mill. As disgusted as I was by Joseph I have to admit I was eager to find out what sort of scheme he'd come up with to try to force Brianna to his will. He's just a weasily slimeball of a character who you'll love to hate. Brianna and Sloan compliment each other beautifully - they're both strong, determined and willing to work for what they want. I really loved getting to know all the characters in this story and am hopeful that there will be follow up stories for Warren and Jed. They're also railroad agents and Sloan considers them family.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Her father has been missing for months, yet Brianna Spencer refuses to give up on the hope that he is alive and will return home soon. In the meantime, she is determined to keep their business afloat and the mortgage on their small home paid - no easy task for a woman alone in the Old West. Between fending off unwanted advances and marriage proposals from men intent on reaping the profits from her family's mill for themselves and trying to collect on outstanding debts, Brianna definitely has her hands full.

When Sloan McAlister finds the lovely Brianna being manhandled on the river dock, every protective instinct he has as both a man and a railroad agent scream out. A lady like her doesn't belong amongst the ruffians that habit the docks, yet he admires her courage and fortitude in her attempt to collect on the debt owed her by the dock master. A hard-working woman with such strength of character is worth marrying, especially when she is as comely as the fair Brianna. But the transient life of a railroad agent does not make relationships possible, nor does the danger. Despite knowing this, Sloan finds himself drawn to her again and again - a lucky thing for Brianna as her life becomes a series of life-threatening events that the handsomely powerful agent seems more than capable of rescuing her from...

I have intended to read Mary Wine's work for some time. I have a number of friends who have raved about her work, and their tastes in reading material are similar enough to mine that I had confidence I would enjoy this author's work. Enjoy is an understatement. I absolutely adored Let Me Love You! Of course, now I have to go shopping for the rest of Mary Wine's work - I should have known this would be an expensive review! LOL Not that I am complaining - I love finding new authors whose work I can count on to entertain me.

Mary Wine's writing is absolutely stellar. She infuses her story effortlessly with all the elements necessary to draw her readers in to the story from the very first chapter - danger, romance, suspense, and a just the right amount of sensual heat. Setting this story in the Old West could prove tricky for some authors, but Wine proves her mettle with period pieces easily, peppering the tale with small details from that time that serve to flesh out her world perfectly.

Sloan McAlister. What can I say about this man? From the first moment he appeared, he reminded me of Clint Eastwood in a very good way! He had the same demeanor, the effortless but controlled power, the strong sense of justice and I could almost see the steely gaze and set of his jaw. This man just totally did it for me. He rescued Brianna time and again without ever hinting that he thought her frail or incapable. And though he lived the rough life of a railroad agent, his sense of romance was infallible when it counted.

Brianna Spencer is that rare heroine who, although she finds herself in frequent need of rescue by Sloan, could never ever qualify as `TSTL" (Too Stupid To Live). No, she is a strong, capable woman who unfortunately finds herself the target of some very dastardly people when they believe her to be vulnerable. I liked Brianna immediately, and if I can't have Sloan for myself, I am very glad he ended up with her! J

At the end, Mary Wine does more than deliver a happy ending for Brianna and Sloan, she ably ties up all of the loose ends from the story for all characters - even those that we've not yet met `onscreen', so to speak. And I find myself hankering more than a little for sequels starring Sloan's fellow railroad agents...

If you enjoy historical westerns with a lot of romance and a bit of suspense, you will not want to miss Let Me Love You! I know I will keep this one close so I can revisit Sloan and Brianna whenever the mood strikes me!

The Magic Scales by Sam Wilding is a griping fantasy, young adult novel cram packed with everything a fantasy lover would want! I'm going to go about this review a little differently because it seems everything is linked and if I tell too much about The Magic Scales it will spoil everything. And we can't have that.

War, strange creatures, wizards, Scotland and an asthmatic boy's journey to find answers will just wrap you in a cloak of adventure and mystery so you better hold on to reality, or you'll be forced into another time and place without a way to return. Absolutely amazing, Sam Wilding must be a great bedtime story teller for his son, whom in which he wrote this story for. I also love the setting for The Magic Scales, I love the idea of Scotland being such a magical place and one day I will travel there in hopes of finding a little bit of that magic.

More for the young adult genre, it is also easy for older readers to fall into this page turner and enjoy the experience. Make sure you have plenty of time, because once you start reading you'll not want to stop. Sam has a way of spinning a web of words that will entrap the reader... it really is an enjoyable read! 5 Hearts

[....]

The sudden disappearance of James Peck's father sets off a series of strange goings on in the tiny hamlet of Drumfintley, in Scotland. On Bruce Moor, the last place his father was seen alive, James discovers a squashed stoat next to giant unearthly footprints. The same day he follows a mysterious stranger and overhears his conversation with an invisible hissing beast named Sleven, then disappears. Reeling from shock, James passes a trash bin and is summoned by a talking goldfish inside. The fish tells James his name is Mendel and demands that he rescue him.

Mendel explains he's actually a wizard from another world called Denthan. He's been turned into a fish and now the mysterious stranger and Sleven are trying to kill him. He desperately needs James's help, not only to protect him but also to save Denthan. James is baffled by the bossy fish wizard, yet he's certain the same dark magic that brought these creatures from another world is somehow linked to his father's fate.

He enlists the help of his best friend, Craig and his golden retriever, Bero, who carries the goldfish in a tiny barrel around his neck, like a St. Bernard. Lured by a string of clues related to Mr. Peck's vanishing, and with Mendel as their guide, they enter the gateway into Denthan, a strange world containing magic scales and two suns, one of which will explode very soon.

Much to James and Craig's horror, they arrive in the midst of a war between hordes of terrifying creatures, including reptilian Hedra wizards, monstrous hairy Osgrunfs, giant insect-like Centides, several species of Trolls, Manimals, and many more. Magically the boys become warriors and it's clear they're going to have to fight their way through Denthan to get back home.

And that's only half of this amazing adventure. Wilding successfully weaves a story within a story in this sophisticated fantasy. "The Magic Scales" is full of breathtaking action scenes, with plenty of surprises to keep readers guessing. Harry Potter fans will definitely find the Vision Pool in "Book One of the Denthan Series" well worth diving into.

This book gripped me early on and kept me hooked. Loved all the wild characters, the bubble-magic and the strange, new, monsters. James, the main character, has to deal with asthma, a nagging mum, Tree Trolls, reptilian Hedra and a bunch of snapping Centides all at once. Reminded me of early JK or perhaps Roald Dahl.

I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a few things about what it would be like to have asthma to boot. I felt The Magic Scales had all the elements of a good fantasy...adventure, magic, excitement, and interesting characters. I'd recommend this book to the 8 and up crowd, and especially anyone who's interested in stories that take place in other parts of the world (this takes place in Scotland and it has some pretty cool Scottish sayings to learn, like "ye numpty!"). I believe this is going to be a series, so I look forward to the next book!

this book is the greatest that i have read ever.
though that i have a little expiriance with HTML and CSS , but this book give you the actually way to write your code only at XHTML and CSS , with a great way of explaining .

Clear and concise, this book has taken me from knowing nothing about web design to publishing a site of my own in 3 weeks. While there is much more to learn, my site is running smoothly and 100% W3C Strict compliant.

I've been studying at web design and construction for over 10 years. Since I'm both dyslexic and limited in my short-term memory, I've had problems with doing more than just the basics. Understanding XHTML and CSS have been problematic for me, and I've had to rely on programs like Dreamweaver and Front Page to write my pages. This book is finally bringing home how web pages are constructed, and how CSS is used for both styling and positioning things. Virginia has put together the best method of presenting the material in a manner that I can comprehend, and hopefully retain. I've purchased a lot of books on web construction, but none have helped me as much as this one has, and continues to do. I'll keep it over all the others as a reference in the future.

Virginia DeBolt's newest book is an excellent resource for modern, standards based design. It combines the depth of a well qualified instruction with lively, real world examples of practical web applications. This book will save you so many hours of work and research by showing you how techniques have evolved and how each application meets the various standards. Webpage structure (including columns), various navigation methods, working with images and picture galleries, banners, links, blogs, and much more are all discussed. Also included (in color) are inspirational website designs showing these modern CSS based techniques.

In the course of designing our numerous large websites for parent support I have read over a dozen design and coding books on html and css, and this is one book I return to over and over again.

This is an excellent book on how to use Linux or Unix. I recommend it as "The Book" for people starting with them.

While there are lots of books configuring and securing Linux, they do not tell how to USE Linux easily and efficiently after it is installed and configured. Stan's book does this wonderfully.

It's not one of those books that spend 25% of the book teaching you how to install it. If you have a shell account some where, this book is for you.

This book is great for novice users or occasional users of the Unix system. I have used this book for both purposes. The index makes it easy to find what exactly you need help with, the script writing clears up any ambiguity, and the highlighted warnings are absolute lifesavers. I would recommend this book to be in any office where Unix is used or any curriculum where Unix is thaught.

If you know nothing about UNIX OS, then this is the book for you. It's your easy way to become a Unix advanced user.

Too bad this book is out of print. I was impressed by the content, the ease of looking items up, and the examples. I wish the book had been updated for Rev. 13 of AutoCad. If you have Amazon try and locate a copy for you and they find one, consider yourself a luck programmer.

inside AUTOLISP first edition 1989 Dear Authors, I would like to order the lastest book that you wrote, Please contact me as soon as you can. Thank you

I did not need any other book on AutoLISP programming - This book went with me anywhere I did - the toilet , my bed , my computer desk. It DID NOT teach DCL programming so I bought another (by Christian Immler). If you want to see what I used AutoLISP for - check the website mentioned below. If you can get the book it - DO IT ...

This book provided tools for me to reason and develope my own applications. Fantastically written. A must for any serious user

A man struggling with his internal demons and imperfections is vetted for the position of positions, to become the Messiah of Israel. If chosen, our protagonist will assist G-d in deciding who will enter the second Garden of Eden. The Messiah Interviews: Belonging to G-d by Jerry Pollock is one man's journey to find spiritual meaning.

The author begins with an autobiographical summary of his early years. Pollock, who in this account is represented as Yoseph, recaps his time with his twin brother Yinnon. Yoseph and Yinnon attend the same schools, marry and divorce at the same time, vacation in Israel together; in fact, their daily schedule is synchronized. There is only one major difference between the two, while Yoseph is able to get through life basically unfettered, Yinnon is a tormented soul -- emotionally traumatized, suffering from bouts of depression, and later diagnosed as bipolar. We learn that the root cause of this suffering is an emotionally detached father and a cruel and hurtful mother. By the end of the autobiography it becomes apparent that Yoseph and Yinnon are one and the same, and in the second part of the book the brothers meld into one character, Yoseph. While this might be temporarily confusing, the psychological comportment of the character carries meaning as the story progresses.

In the following fictionalized part of the book, we find that Yoseph has been selected to interview for the position of the Messiah. Because G-d has never shared with the general population the identity of the person for whom he intended to fill this job, it is open to speculation. Yoseph, blemishes and all, is considered for the post and interrogated before a tribunal of Old Testament high rollers, the Seven Princes. During this phase, Yoseph (and by extension, the reader) is questioned as to his values, his spirituality, and his views of mankind. The fact that G-d gave man free will to choose whether or not to follow the Ten Commandments is a pivotal part of this discussion. With all our shortcomings, it is fair to say that most of us have broken at least one or two commandments, Yoseph and the sages being no exception to this rule. Yoseph readily confesses to his limitations, making amends for past indiscretions, and what follows is a poignant discussion that challenges us to look honestly at our flaws, examine our beliefs, and be guided by a higher source.

The sage's questions are relentless; however, Yoseph successfully walks through these land mines, explaining the difference between transgressions and iniquities, how science and faith can coexist, how Yoseph, if selected, will help judge those to be admitted to the new kingdom, and why an imperfect man might be the perfect candidate for Messiah. In addition to these ethical issues, there is a substantial amount of information about the Third Temple and the rudiments of Judaism.

In telling this story, Pollack explores both his intellect and his heart. This engaging conversation will encourage the reader to examine his/her own values and assumptions. If this leads to personal growth and reflection, then The Messiah Interviews has fulfilled its goal.

Quill says: A book that asks us to reflect on our values and make a positive contribution to the world.

Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (9/08)


"Messiah Interviews: Belonging to God" is an interesting mix of fact and fiction. As stated in the Publisher's note in the opening pages, "All of the first chapters, with the exception of the My Blue Heaven chapter in the Yesterday section, refer to true biographical events. The biblical characters described in the Today and Tomorrow sections are humans and angels of the Hebrew Bible. The Messiah Interviews that the protagonist has with these famous individuals have never taken place, as they are the creation of the author."

I have not read Jerry Pollock's previous book, "Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul" so I was unfamiliar with the author's background when I began his current work. However, the pieces quickly came together for me as more and more was revealed and they completely fell into place once the Messiah interviews began. I found the "biographical events" to be very interesting and revealing once I completely understood them.

The main part of the book focuses on Yoseph being interviewed to see if he "can be the Hebrew Moshiach or Masciach, the Messiah for humankind." (p. 61) All of this comes about during a session of time line therapy. Once in an unconscious state, Yoseph is greeted by the archangel Michael at the Third Temple, is told that he is an interview candidate, and so begins the process. The interviewing is conducted by numerous notable figures from the Hebrew Bible such as the angel Gabriel, King David, and Methuselah. The part of the interviews that I enjoyed the most was when Moses asked Yoseph to recite The Ten Commandments and to "dig deep into your iniquities" (p. 184). I found his answers and reflections to be very well thought out and intriguing.

The interview form that the majority of the book is written in is definitely unique and creative. I enjoy the fact that the author tied true biographical events and self-discovery into the process as it made for very interesting reading. "Messiah Interviews: Belonging to God" is recommended for those who enjoy books on religion, spirituality, and self-examination, intermixed with the element of fiction.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/08)




In the "Messiah Interviews" the author takes us on a spiritual journey through his life as Yoseph. He exposes his imperfections, and shows us how he learned from his lessons. We also learn about the trials that he has been faced with in this life. As Yoseph continues on his journey, he discovers that he has been selected, by heavenly beings, to be interviewed to become the Messiah. He is interviewed by the angels Gabriel and Michael, Methuselah, Chanoch, Seth, Kind David, Moses, Jacob, Abraham and Isaiah. These interviewers question him on his faith and beliefs.

The Heavenly Beings that were questioning Yoseph were also interviewing other more perfect beings for the role of Messiah. Personally, I felt that Yoseph would be more qualified to lead us into the Messianic Age because of his imperfections and lessons that he experienced through his life. The Messianic period is to take us into an age of peace. Yoseph discovers that he is ready for this role. By writing this book, he starts us on this journey as we learn and yearn to develop a closer relationship with our Creator.

As I read "Messiah Interviews" I learned so much about biblical events and about my own spiritual beliefs. Previously, I had no knowledge about the Shechinah Third Temple, and limited knowledge of the Old Testament. It was also interesting for me to learn more about Jewish beliefs. I feel that my knowledge has greatly increased since reading this book, and I find myself interested in learning more. The author, Jerry J. Pollock is a man of science. It was fascinating to see how he combined his scientific knowledge with his spiritual beliefs. This made him even more credible in my eyes.

As Yospeh was interviewed, he teaches us through his answers. As I was contemplating his responses to some very in-depth questions, I found myself questioning what my own personal responses would be. I found this to be especially true when I read his answers regarding the Ten Commandments. I found the "Messiah Interviews" by Jerry J. Pollock, Ph.D., to be profoundly thought-provoking and feel that readers who are on their spiritual journey will truly benefit from having read this book.

What lies in the future for humanity after it breathes its final breath? "Messiah Interviews: Belonging to God" is Jerry Pollock's spiritual journey of dealing with the uncertainty of what awaits him at the ultimate end of the road. Calling for readers to make their own decision, he offers his own opinion the matter, and hopes to give food for thought when deciding. "Messiah Interviews" is a different sort of book on the afterlife, highly recommended.

After purchasing this book over a month ago, I have attained the necessary tools and techniques to be able to create complex looking documents that weren't hard to create at all. The book was easy to read and the CD that was supplied had really great layouts that helped me put together some of the documents I needed for my job. Also the various toolbars were really helpful, so I didn't need to go searching; it was right there! After using Office 2003 / XP for quite some time I felt that something was missing...and this was it.

I am a business consultant that works with Microsoft, HP, Oracle, HP, Xerox etc. and teaches how to conduct sales presentations to CXOs for a living. I can say that this book has taken the look, feel and ease of creating a first class executive level business case to a level I could have not imagined. At first it is quite daunting and overwhelming. But I had to get some business cases together for 50 marketing professionals in Sydney on a special workshop and I crashed into it. The MODD system once you "get it" is easy, fast and addictive. I ripped through Excel, PowerPoint and Word integrated data and information in no time flat with the MODD tools. It scared me it worked so well. This stuff is like awesome and it is refreshing to actually see a program work without a hitch. ( I wonder how they did that?)Krieger has made me look really, really good. Go for it!

I have trained over 3,000 people in Microsoft Word. None of them had ever heard of or used styles. Styles are necessary if you're going to use Word correctly. So, I bought this book for two reasons. First, I find that a woman writes a better book about learning software. I think women authors seem to explain software in better detail, especially for beginners. Second, the back cover describes a CD that has "Dozens of professional designs and layouts." I like examples for learning.

So, I opened the book. It looked very good. Good topics, easy reading, nice coverage of Word, Excel,and PowerPoint. But, not a single reference to Word styles. Did I waste my time? No. I then looked at the CD and guess what? There is more information for Word users on the CD than in the book. Don't get me wrong - the book is good. But the CD has articles that explain more about how Word works than most people know. And as for styles, I found them when I loaded the samples, they were filled with styles. And, the CD tells much about their use.

How about Excel and PowerPoint? They are also covered very well on the CD, along with great examples in the book.

So, this book is about integration of three programs, yet each is covered very well. In today's world of business, if you know how, you can always find a job. You will learn the "how" with "Document Designer." You'll also learn the "why", and, if you know why, you can always be the boss.

This book is like having an assistant to help with my documents. I create a lot of my own documents at work, and they have to look good. The book is a true help with that, not to mention the tools that come with the book. And, I can't believe how many how-to articles and tip sheets come along with the tools on the CD. Those articles are so great for quick and practical answers to the whatever I need to get done - I use them all the time.

This is the first book on Office that's not a theoretical reference or a laundry list of all the stuff you can do but will probably never use. The book and the tools actually help me get my work done. The tools save a lot of time, and they help me do things I didn't think I could do (like complex page layouts in Word or formatting Excel charts). I think Office 2003 is great, but I can do a lot more with it since I started using this book.

SQL Server Compact Edition is meant for storing data on mobile devices such as Smartphones and PDA's or for inclusion in applications running disconnected on some user's laptop in an isolated environment. This wonderful book written by Prashant Dhingra and Trent Swanson, two Microsoft developers, is a large book about a small topic, SQL Server Compact Edition. The authors take the time to cover every aspect of working with Compact from installing it and working with the tools necessary to building your database, to programming, to synchronization with a central server, to (my favorite topic) tuning and (my least favorite) security. The book's approach is to provide you with plenty of explanations and documentation, but then to focus on step by step instructions so that you can do the things you need to do with this handy tool.
The topics are not limited to the developer's side of the box, but instead spread out to cover installations, maintenance and various methods of synchronizing the data with central sources. All of it is covered in a great deal of depth, making this a very thorough book. They even go so far as to show you how to tune queries and adjust the database structure to optimize performance and enhance integrity. It's a very thorough book.
If you're just getting started with SQL Server Compact, I can recommend this book as a must read. If you need to just support Compact, not necessarily develop on it, this book is also very useful.

SQL CE based app uses - VS, SQL Server, .NET, .NET CF, Windows Mobile and SQL CE.The book explain the landscpae and how various pieces fit together.

The developer who want to learn all MS technologies can find it useful as example walkthrough them VS, SQL Server, .NET, ADO.NET, .NET CF, Windows Mobile, IIS Security technologies

Ofcourse must for teams who are developing using SQL CE.

The sheer size of the book was pleasantly surprising considering the subject matter. I was expecting something a lot smaller.

I agree with the other commenter that parts of it are a bit repetitive, but in the author's defense, it's a very fine line between being thorough and being repetitive and it's a lot better to err on the right side. I think he was clearly trying to make sure that newer developers got a firm basis in the technology even if it could be a little much. And, other than the first few chapters, there's nothing even approaching redundant.

The strenght of the book is the depth of examples. Can I say that every single scenario I've ever encountered or can envision was covered? Probably not. Can I say that every scenario that you'd expect to encounter and many advanced ones that you run into rarely are covered - Absolutely. The code is there for all of it and the examples clearly state everything you need to understand about the example. Moreoever, I have not been through every samplem but I've been through a lot of them approaching just about all, and I have yet to find a problem with them.

All in all I think the author did a phenomenal job and although it's a fairly dry (albeit critical) subject matter, the book is never boring. The coverage is always thorough and never leaves you wanting. He did as good of a job as can be done on this subject and his attention to detail is commendable.

If you're interested in doing Sql Ce development, this book is a must have.

The book provides a good overview of SSCE; although I did find quite a bit of repetative content, especially in the introduction and first 2 chapters.
There are heaps of exercises and code examples to assist both the novice and experienced SSCE developer/administrator/windows mobile programmer and covers everything you'll need to know to get your first application running and/or synchronising with SQL Server 2005.
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