Conferences Books

various authors, that is to be understood as various quality in writings

This book is a report from a conference held in Ankara in June 2002. The conference addressed the changes that are happening in the world. Globalization is accelerating yet localizing processes remain powerful.

The presenters at this conference are trying to predict the future. While predicting the future is easy, being right is very difficult. These authors present differing view points, some in direct conflict with each other.

Their views range over nearly every issue imaginable: AIDS, nuclear weapons, environment, OPEC, terrorism, government and non-governmental organizations. Many of these subjects are addressed by different authors and each gives a different slant, a different point of views. The authors are from various countries, including Turkey, United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, and Denmark so you would expect differing points of view. The opinions of these authors are very thought provoking.

You can be sure that the future will not be exactly like what any of these authors believe, but their thinking certainly provides a starting point to thinking about the future.

So many books of English diplomatist Harold Nicolson are still in print. Books about him and his family continue to pour out. It is a pity, therefore, that PEACEMAKING 1919 is not still readily available to readers. --In November 1918 at the time of the armistice, Nicolson was a passionate Wilsonian. Within four months, at the Paris peace conference, he was thoroughly disillusioned. Wilson had too quickly made territorial concessions to Italy, contrary to the principles of the very Fourteen Points which had made a Wilsonian of Harold Nicolson. And the American idol would fall farther and faster thereafter. --Woodrow Wilson rendered more and ever more to Caesar while asserting that he was doing the work of God and the American people. Nor was Wilson the only sanctimonious hypocrite among the leaders of the Allied and Associated Powers at Paris. --Nicolson's diaries and reflections convey, as he intends to convey, the sense that the peace made at Paris to end World War I was the product of poor planning, disorganized diplomacy, growing fatigue and a very large disconnect between experts and decision-makers. --PEACEMAKING 1919 was written as a manual for young British diplomatists who would face future peace conferences. If they heeded Nicolson, they would then be in a position to avoid the disaster known as the Treaty of Versailles. For peace should not be made, as it was in Paris in 1919, in an atmosphere of a "riot in a parrot house." -OOO-

British diplomat and diarist, Harold Nicholson's account of his work with the Peace Conference. The book includes his diary for the period as well as memoirs written after the fact. While initially enthusiastic about Wilson and his promises to negotiate a just peace, Nicholson's book recount a conference which soon slipped into traditional infighting and intrigue. Wilson's willingness, as seen by Nicholson, to sacrifice any principle in favor of obtaining agreement on the League of Nations soon soured Nicolson on the American President. Written and published years after the conference, Nicolson reflected the then general view by the British that the conference had failed to achieve as satisfactory peace. The book is an invaluable primary source and provides insights into the day to day operations of the committees where much of the work of the conference was done.

The book is very complete, with a lot of different types of electrical insulation for a lot of different applications. It covers almost everything in terms of insulation from low to high voltages. The approach gives the chemical, mechanical and electrical propreties, but it lacks on some practical approach. It is a more academic book, and contains few examples of application and tests (no photos at all). Besides that, it is a good book for developers, as could be useful for consulting different types of materials that can be used for electrical insulation applications.

A must read for all serious biomedical engineers

Book was ordered due to recent inspection requirements in Texas for home building construction. The book is the reference guide against which all inspections will be conducted. In that regard, the book is invaluable to any residential building contractor.

The new International Residential Code, (IRC), promises to be an extremly user friendly building code for houses. It has all of the aspects of construction including construction, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and even energy codes combined into one easy to use format. There are sketches galore! For those used to dealing with the previous model codes, this code will exceed your expectations for its user-friendly nature. There are some changes to building code requirements to which inspectors and builders are accostomed. The separation between the house and garage is limited to a single layer of 1/2" drywall. The alternative building material such as ICF (insulated concrete form) wall systems and ISP (insulated structural panels) are now inside the conventional aspects of the code. Certain shear wall provisions have changed. Footing design can now rely on an assumed 1500 psf minimum soil bearing pressure. But there are other problems. The seismic map has been hinged to the postal zip code and consequently, several different seismic zones are within a single community. Other problems will certainly be resolved by the code body in the years to come. As ever, changes are slow, but local jurisdictions will surely allow for these changes locally This Item is available at$47 & $55 and I don't know the difference.

The book arrived in just a few days, in excellent condition. It was given as a gift, so I am unable to review the actual book.

This fourth updated edition of a classic reflects ongoing changes in technology and business management, providing an important tool for modern offices and home business users alike. From a comprehensive coverage of modern office procedures and Internet resources to advice on conducting meetings and using basic accounting programs, this is packed with practical tips.

This book follows the USCC movie rating system. Each movie and video entry covers a synopsis of the movie and then rates it based on issues that would be of concern when viewing the show in a family setting. Excellent!

This source generally accomplishes what it tries to acheive by rating many movies from a somewhat Catholic perspective and can be useful in screening out some obviously offensive films. It may also help you to identify some good films you where previously unaware of.
It has three weeknesses from my perspective. 1: It is generally week in reviewing many foriegn classics. Even several important works of Kurosawa and C. Theodore Drieser and others are not reviewed in this book. So as a guide to findings foriegn classics, you may be dissapointed.
2: The reviews are often taken from a very superficial viewpoint, I suspect many of the reviews where done by someone given an assignment to review a set number of films and that person may have lacked the insight or experience to review the film adequately. For example, in reviewing the various Mutiny on the Bounty films, all reviews predictably laud those films which portray Fletcher Christian as the hero and Captain Bligh as the villian. 'The Bounty'(Mel Gibson) is panned for not being true to this pattern. Those who truly know the full story of the Bounty know that Chritian was far from perfect and that the unfortunate Bligh had his good points. Not to mention that Chritian's subversion of authourity led to the Deaths of many. Is he really a hero? Another Example, this guide predictably pans 'Tombstone', largely for its violence. However a review of the true history of this event shows that the film was not far from the truth of events, including the ugly but real violence. Doc Holiday's deathbed conversion to Catholicism is portrayed and did happen. Why not point out these positives? Just because violence is in a film should not discredit it (all to often in this book). It is the context and use of violence which matters. Anyone familiar with just war theory knows that the Church does not condemn all use of force.
3: At times supports films that a Catholic should outright reject. Example, this book does not pan the film 'Dirty Dancing'. A silly movie in which the heroine tries to help finance an abortion for Patrick Swayze's dance partner. This is shown as a real selfless act. In addition the multitude of dance scene's in which the couples are generally grinding their midsections with one another can only send one message to impressionable youth about where happiness comes from. Hello!~ someone wants an abortion as a result of this behavior!

This book systematically goes through the theory of Quasi random sequences. It is a very nice compendium of the main results, and contains a few interesting insights. But don't expect much in terms of intuition about the results, and what is more important for a field that borderlines theory and applications, any solid examples or such references. But don't despair. Mandatory only if you are looking into using theory results from the area.

This book is a mathematical introduction and summary of quasi-Monte Carlo methods and is geared towards mathematicians. The author does an excellent job of detailing the results in the field, with all theorems being proved in detail. I would recommend this book to both pure mathematicians interested in quasi-Monte Carlo and to applied mathematicians and software developers who need to understand the theory behind these very important methodologies. Quasi-Monte Carlo methods are "beating out" the standard Monte Carlo techniques in areas of financial engineering and transport theory. This book belongs on the shelf of those interested in this very important topic.

This is my prefered edition of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Anyone leading a parish RCIA program should be familiar with these rites. As in all official liturgical ritual books, there is an official introduction which sets forth the official theology and expectations for the use of these rites.

The rites are as follows: (1) acceptance into the order of catechumens with optional rites (2) period of the catechumenate with liturgy of the word, blessings, anointings etc (3) rite of election (4) the scrutinies with special rites for Holy Saturday (5) sacraments of initiation.

The modifications to the above cycle are given for children who have reached catechetical age, adults in exceptional circumstances, for those in danger of death, for those already baptized seeking full communion, and for uncatechized adults (Catholics baptized but not raised in the faith).

An appendix gives the forms for the various rites when combined with other rites. A variety of songs and hymns are included as are the national statutes regarding the catechumenate i.e. the national implementation of the material provided as a forward.

This book is the entire text of the RCIA rites. Chapter Headings include: Period of Evangelization and precatechumanate; Election or Enrollment of Names; Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy; Rites for Particular Circumstance; Additional (Combined) Rites; Acclamations, Hymns and Songs. This is not commentary and opinion on the RCIA rites, this is the rites themselves.

The Foreward begins "This edition of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" contains the approved English translation of the 1974 emended second printing of the "Ordo initaitionis christianae adultorum" prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and a number of other rites and liturgical texts approved for use in the dioceses of the United States of America."

So I think you get the picture -- this is probably a good book for pastors, deacons, and lay people who are running an RCIA program. It may also be useful for those catechumenates (like myself) who are very detail-oriented and want to know the exact text of each rite, and what we are going to have to say when it comes time for our part.

Unless you like reading liturgy, this book is not for the average catechumenate. To that person, it will seem extremely dry.

I received my BA in African/African American Studies and am very interested in religious history, so I was very interested to read this book. While the book contains EXCELLENT information regarding the Sabbath in Africa and gives excellent quotes from African leaders regarding the Sabbath, I found it a bit "academic" and hard to stay focused at times.

I encourage anyone interested in African History or religious history to read the book. Just be advised, it reads more like a book can be a bit "thick" to read at times.

Sabbath keeping in Africa has a rich history. There is old history and new. The interesting area is that of the Ethiopian Sabbath keepers who were constantly persecuted. From the early church starting with the Ethiopian Eunich to today with the many Adventist and Church of God groups Sabbath keepers have a heart and desire to keep that day in spite of hardship.

Bradford does a great job showing how African Christians are heartfelt and hearty in their beliefs. These Christians already struggle in the lands they live in, yet, the Sabbath communities are very united and strong.

With the growth of the Sabbath church of God groups, Bradford should expand his research using this as a jump off point to show how Adventist, church of God and Wesleyans have a common starting point.

This book is a good read for any Sabbatarian wishing to learn about the Sabbath keepers in Africa. Not much is mentioned about earlier Sabbath history, like the Sabbatarians of Ethiopia. For Christian Sabbath keepers, it is nice to learn that the Sabbath has been kept in Africa for more than 100 years. Charles Bradford does an admirable job of piecing together the non-adventist history and honors other groups in addition to the adventists.

This is a good book if you are planning or facilitating a strategic change effort. The Search Conference is a very specific way to plan change. It brings together a cross-section about 25 to 40 people from inside the organization (or community) for an intense two-night, three-day meeting, usually in a remote setting.

Fred Emery, who wrote the epilogue, is best known as the Australian who helped pioneer the concept of self-managed work teams in the 1950s and 1960s. His wife Merrelyn is a co-author of the book.

I have used a Search Conference to help a major food manufacturer optimize its supply chain. Governor Roy Romer of Colorado used the technique to help resolve a regional conflict over water resources, and Microsoft used it for planning in a very creative product development group.

This approach is especially well-suited to more introverted, analytical types of people (engineers, software developers, etc.)

For those who have strong experience as facilitators of interactive meetings, this book is all you need to plan a good conference. If in doubt, it would be a good idea to use an outside resource, because this is far different than the typical conference where people stand up and give speeches.

The book tells you what to do and why to do it.

For larger groups (up to 1,000 or more) it would be advisable to use a technique like Real Time Strategic Change. For more creative groups, a Future Search might make more sense.

The Search Conference: A Powerful Method for Planning Organizational Change and Community Action
By Merrelyn Emery and Ronald Purser
Copyright 1996 by Jossey Bass, Inc. Publishers, San Francisco, CA

As we look more and more to encourage participative processes for creating community plans and improving business strategies, the Search Conference offers a design developed to maximize common ground and community building. The book written by Merrelyn Emery and Ronald Purser, The Search Conference: A Powerful Method for Planning Organizational Change and Community Action, provides an easy to comprehend, outline of the psychological theory and background that are the basis for the design of the process and reasons for its effectiveness. This isn't just a book about theory, however. It is a step by step assistant to managing successful Search Conferences and generating participative democracy. When managed correctly, participants in a Search Conference agree to take on the responsibility of committing to be a part of the collaborative solution.

Purser and Emery use real examples of Search Conference designs and results to illustrate the necessity for certain elements of the process and where others can be readily adapted as needed. The "Pointers" and "Pitfalls" section reinforces specific elements that effect the outcomes of the Search Conference event. The section, "Some Rules of Thumb for Search Conference Managers" (Page 233) is especially helpful. Having experienced a Search Conference with an improperly trained process manager, I would hope that more managers would read this book and stop sliding into the "pitfalls" that can easily be avoided if you guide the process according to the documented suggestions.

The book is published in hard cover with easy to read text. 306 Pages. Interesting insight and epilogue by Fred Emery.