Bryant Books

This shows how an expert system works.

I also want to contact the authors and see if they have a new verison out. I would like this very much. if you know of the authors or how to contact them.. let me know.. campbell@suu.edu

thanks..

Gregory W. Bryant's book of poetry, DIARY OF AN OPEN MIND covers many subjects. One of my favorites was his discussion of life as it appears today. His poem, "Past and Present" starts out with "remember when..." and discusses what life once was, what it is now and what we can do about it. "The Price of Love" tells of a fortunate young man who works hard only to be extremely unlucky in love. "Soul Mates (scenario 1)" tells of perfect love, while "Soul Mates (scenario 2)" shows how it can go wrong through the fault of neither party. "Before and Aftermath" discusses Hurricane Katrina and what the causes of such massive national failure for the victims was and the atrocities that continue to plague the poor and the common.

The book is smooth and easy to read. It is even easier to understand and covers subjects that all of us have dealt with at one time or another, from rowdy children to the death of a dear friend. For lovers of poetry this would be a nice book to read.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This little book presents examples of scientific classifications and discuss their methods and objectivity. In this process the author relates her own thoughts to the most important philosophers such as Hillary Putnam and Georges Rey.

I found it useful when I first write this review, but I think the book is unclear in important respects, e.g. the understanding of "objectivism". I have now got Marc Ereshefsky (2000): The Poverty of the Linnaean Hierarchy : A Philosophical Study of Biological Taxonomy, which I think is MUCH better (see my review here at Amazon.com).

This book is good for those who aren't currently too active, want to get started on the road to making exercise a part of their daily lives, and are convinced that the "no pain no gain" mantra is not for them. Would also provide the information and motivation needed to a lapsed exerciser, who wants to get back into a more fit lifestyle. If you're already a dedicated fitness buff, you might not find the information in this book too useful. But you should, because some day you might not enjoy the pain, and this book will show you how to stay active without suffering.

I really enjoyed this, in several sittings. The majority of the book introduces us to major religions, compares their truths and highlights their strengths, all of which is great for appreciating the wealth hidden in our existing beliefs.

The final section highlights two paradoxes; 1) That science accepts that the universe as no longer objective, but tends to disregarded subjective realities such as the experience of God as unscientific, and 2) That as science can only measure what it can control, an omnipotent God is by definition beyond the realm of science. Obvious perhaps, but the implications are worth the read.

It is a great book for opening the mind, esp. in relating religious texts to the cultures in which they were written, and their resulting strengths and weaknesses.

This multimedia course is geared towards those who most likely have had Irish in school-- and I mean in Ireland-- years ago. It is not meant for beginners. I quote the back cover: but "at those who have studied Irish in the past and understand a great deal of the language, but have had few opportunities to use it in recent times." The "great deal" is the clincher. If you have not attained a past level of at least upper-intermediate fluency in speaking, listening, writing, and reading, you will flounder. Therefore, as one who has picked up admittedly less than "a great deal" of his smallish Irish by study outside of Ireland, I found this course more marginally but still relatively useful.

Why? It fills a niche left so far empty. It's arguably the first comprehensive multimedia learning platform oriented-- as its presenter, participants, and preparers show-- to Irish in its native habitat, as in our 21st century. (The author also wrote a useful "Teach Yourself Irish Grammar" in 2005; I review this and two other grammars, Donna Wong's "Learner's Guide to Irish," and Nollaig Mac Congáil's "Irish Grammar Book," on Amazon, as well as some of the other titles mentioned in the review you're reading.) While beginners can select from O Siadhail's formidable "Learning Irish," the Teach Yourself Irish series, or Transparent Learning's "Irish Now?" CD-ROM, to name the three usually found easily around the world, after this, what next?

The three TT videos record the 20 TV programs broadcast originally on RTE; these for learners will seem fast-paced. There's a helpful website link via RTE that explains more about the workings of the language as a refresher, as the intent of this book + video is to sharpen conversational skills and not duplicate grammatical book-learning. (Wong, Mac Congáil, and TYIG can all help the latter need.) The TT book itself is designed to be used with the videos, although it can be bought separately. The book has CD exercises that the video does not. The videos overlap with but do not duplicate most of the textbook and CD.

Here are the differences. The chapters in the book start with learner's tips, go on to dialogues, follow with activities for practice (if you don't have sufficient basic comprehension already, you need to review, as they move briskly), a glance at key phrases or idioms, a bit of grammar, a reading text, and a review. Answers to the exercises are appended.

For the videos, the dialogues are acted out--this is very helpful, as three conversations are given, one each with Munster, Connacht, and Ulster accents (and dialectal usages once in a while). This feature aids a learner's ear for the crucial differences in stress and grammar that arise and challenge you once you leave behind "caighdean" or standard "school" Irish. These differences are rapidly commented on by Sharon Ni Beolain, the affable host, but you need to understand the bulk of the basic conversation on your own first. What's explained are the more subtle points that a teacher or tutor would comment upon. There are other video features not in the text. For me, this lack of integration is a definite shortcoming of the text proper.

Why? The most glaring and frustrating instance is when you get a "soundscape" of "everyday" conversation ambiently recorded. I know immersion is the reason. But it is often hard to hear the details of what is said or likely mumbled-- and as no captions are available and no text is offered, you cannot advance much in your comprehension. The visit made by the host to native speakers is only alluded to in the text by a picture and caption; again, with only an English caption provided for the conversation, it helps comprehension to a degree, but it would have been much better if the videos had always provided both English and Irish captions that a learner could switch between for self-study. Irish captions, in fact, are rare, when I expected them to be parallel to the English option. This lack is the worst shortcoming that I found in the videos. Repeated viewings enable one to better "hear" the Irish, but for words or phrases you're still unsure about, there's no text or any way to verify or correct your mental version of what you think you're listening to.

A similar shortcoming exists with the enjoyable "reality show" that brings together six people to see if they'll divide into three couples, as they compete to find romance and to win a house in the Gaeltacht of their choice! This offers a great chance to accustom your ear to the various dialects and accents, but with only English as a caption, this falls short of its potential. I have to admit that the graphics for this currently "up-to-date" video series look surprisingly shoddy, and that in a few years the haircuts and fashions will be terribly if amusingly dated!

All in all, there's finally a choice on the market for intermediate learners, and for that RTE is to be commended. Four stars for effort; three for execution? But the lack of a total match between textbook and videos, as well as the absence for the most part of Irish captions added to not any captions in large segments does mean that you will have been expected to have a sharp ear for mastering the Irish you hear but will not be able to read-- neither on the video nor on the page.

Bryant's creative historical account of John Brown's life and raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is told through the eyes, and heart, of his 15 year old daughter, Annie. Annie struggles to understand why her father would oppose the violence of slavery with the violence of war. Bryant teaches middle-grade students about the abolitionist movement, how the raid played a pivotal role in West Virginia's secession from Virginia, and how John Brown's opposition of slavery changed our nation, while giving us a glimpse of a daughter's love for her father, despite her doubts about his motives and methods. This book would appeal to adolescents who are learning to question societal decisions. Father By Blood is the winner of the 1998 Silver Bay Children's Literature Award.

Okay, so everything doesn't rhyme in here - unlike its predecessor "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". Once I got over that, I did enjoy the sweet, soft pastel illustrations. The bunnies are adorable, filled with detail that children delight in noticing. Kids also have a fascination with "boo-boos" and plenty of things happen to these rambunctious cuties. Every time momma calls the doctor, he (or she - we are in the 21st century now) gives the same answer, which kids love to shout out with glee. They don't care that it doesn't rhyme. Oh, to be innocent again.

An excellent review of flap (local and regional) surgery.

Good for the senior resident and junior attending level.

Stevie, Lisa, and Carole need a vacation. And they're getting one -- with Dorothy DeSoto and her mom! Then, Stevie's competitive spirit won't rest. Although she has left her precious horse Belle at home, Stevie can't forget her worries that Belle just can't do a flying change. Will Stevie lighten up before she ruins her vacation and her horse?