Phillips Books

FIVE BIG IDEAS: 1. The purpose of schools can be viewed by different models. The tribal model suggests that the purpose of school to teach moral and civil literacy. The factory model suggests that the purpose of school is to separate out and track the educated elite, the semi-skilled and low skilled workers. The hospital model suggests that school is the great equalizer that can diagnose, teach, test and cure the ills of society. Schechty suggests that we need to use the best aspects of these cultural, economic, and nurturing models.

2. Students need to be thought of as knowledge-workers where groupwork, self-discipline, loyalty, respect for others, respect of self, sensitivity to social and ethnic issues are stressed. Students need to go beyond the 3R1s. They need to learn how to think, create and solve meaningful real world problems.

3. Education needs to develop a vision that supports that idea that the purpose of school should be student success at doing knowledge-work. Every student can learn if they are provided with the correct work and mode of interaction. Motivated students will achieve by risking failure. The learning results must be valued by the community.

4. In implementing change, resources such as people, knowledge, time and space need to be developed. Questions such as, who is affected by the change, how do you market that, what are the values of the affected constituents, and who1s support is needed, need to be answered. Defining existing conditions, desired conditions, constraints and next steps are all part of a change system that need to be developed and marketed. 5. Methods of setting expectations, providing feedback and setting courses of corrective feedback need to be established. People know what is expected by what is inspected and respected. A system of rewards and consequences need to be put into place at all educational levels. If a person does well his or her only reward cannot be that that he or she does not get punished.

THREE IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE

1. Models of participatory leadership need to be implemented. Employees must be involved and valued as important contributors. Vision tied to purpose must be results oriented. Teachers need to be viewed as leaders and leaders need to be viewed as teachers. Leaders must teach others to make decisions not make the decisions themselves. The district office should support not direct the individual sites.

2. Existing policies, procedures, rules, and regulations need to be reviewed to identify constraints and develop new strategies. A human resource department would need to be established in order to provide the needed support and training to assure that the vision remains aligned with the purpose that every student will be successful at doing knowledge-work.

3. At all levels of the school system, goals and objectives need to be established to increase the rate and frequency of student success in the employees area of responsibility. Evaluation systems to be ongoing and tied to rewards and consequences. If goals are not achieved, then plans need to be put in place to help that employee or student increase their chance for success.

Five big ideas: 1. A need to redesign our schools: Our society has moved from a simple agrarian society, to an information-based society. Schools began in this country promoting Protestant morality. They later changed, and began promoting the American culture to the immigrant masses. Today, education must change again. Schlechty claims that the educational reform movement cannot further proceed without a clear purpose for schooling in the 21st century. The entire structure on which schools are based must change in order to fit the cultural, economic, and social aspects of the next century.

2. Manual work to knowledge work: In our information-based society, the means of production is based on knowledge and the ability to use it to create and solve problems. Working conditions of the 21st century will require that people be able to work well in groups, exercise self-discipline, and exhibit loyalty while maintaining critical faculties. The workplace needs people who know how to learn. Therefore, curriculum must be treated as material to be processed and worked on by students.

3. Clear purpose = student success: Within a knowledge-based school, the purpose of school is to create knowledge work at which the students will be successful, and that the students learn the skills that society values.

4. Participatory leadership for compelling vision: Ideas are formed by people. It is of little consequence whether the ideas go bottom-up or top-down. The important factor is that the leadership process involves individuals at all levels. People who lend their support wish to feel a part of the change. Everyone must be involved. Everyone must feel connected.

5. Changes can occur if...: a) the nature of the change is conceptualized b) the people who are called on for support who were not part of the conceptualization process must be made aware of it c) feedback is solicited from those not involved and it must be incorporated into the change process d) people are motivated to act in the direction of the! change e) a system of support and training are provided to those involved.

Implications for education: 1. Teachers are the leaders. Site-based management must increase. Participants must feel they are valuable contributors to the system. Teachers will teach each other to make decisions. They must become risk-takers and trouble-makers.

2. All stakeholders must become more conscious of education. Business' success and the success of society as a whole depends upon the people that emerge from the schools. We all have a stake in education.

3. A change of attitude: Schools need to redirect their thinking. What is our current purpose for schools?....student success. We must rethink the way we teach, the way we think about the learners, and the way we view ourselves. Our roles must change. A vision must be created in order to guide those changes.

"Can our schools prepare children for the next century?" This is what Phillip Schlechty asks of all educators, parents, and the community. His book exposes what schools need to do to keep current in the new and upcoming age. He advocates an educational renaissance for administrators, community, parents, teachers, and even the government. He states that leaders who are in current positions capable of producing change are usually the ones who are hesitant to generate said change. Therefore, leaders are needed who are actively participating in the visionary process of schools, rallying support to current educators, sharing innovative ideas, and actually initiating the process of change. These leaders need to be at all levels of the educational process. Schlechty also states that leaders need to be proactive in thinking and future planning. Ideas abound in his book for individuals and groups seeking to reform education.

Schools for the 21st Century or... the ABC's of SCHOOL RESTRUCTURING Phil Schlectly What is Restructuring-Schlectly says it this way, If you do what you1ve always done, you get what you always got. Schlectly says that altering the existing rules, roles and relationships must change from the classroom to the superintendent of schools. Change what you do. We could never have gotten to the moon if we spent time refining the combustion engine. We expect 95% of Kids to do what 5% used to do. How to restructure? 1. Develop a shared understanding of the problem 2. Create a shared vision 3. Focused school activity on students. ASK THIS QUESTION EVERYDAY Is there anything here we did today that will harm kids? ALSO ASK THIS QUESTION EVERYDAY Is there anything here we did today that helped kids? 4.Create a results oriented management system. What results do we want is the answer to all questions.Typical statement is we must reduce class size...What's better is results orientated. The results we are after is more personal attention from adults to children. 5.Ensuring a pattern of participatory leadership - It1s easier to make decisions by myself than to give decisions to staff. Why should we adopt this participatory model? Schlechty's analogy! SHEEP Must have dog barking and bitting- sheep move only in big flock, follow the one making most noise-very dumb-will find a green field and stay for life-Very unionized-week leadership-move from behind ! CHICKENS Can1t be herded- only way to get them to move is by being the one they are familiar with-the one who feeds them-Very independent-don1t move from behind-only way to move chickens? Be the one who feeds them, walks by and they follow! Schlechty also gives this analogy "CANARYs in the mine are like AT RISK students in the schools. They1re just die a little earlier. Our schools were built and structured around the game of monopoly, read rules, get the advantage- The problem is kids are playing nintendo-You learn rules by playing the game. You quickly share information -Networking answers to new level of problems will benefit the player. Schlechty defines the different models of schools out there. A School can be a Tribal Center, a Factory or a Hospitals. Schlechty defines knowledge work and that it is what should be the core curriculum of schools. Performance Evaluations =People know what is expected by what is inspected and what is respected. The key steps to moving forward on reform is defined through the superintendents role. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CHAPTER!

Five Big Ideas and Three ways Schools for the 21st Century: Leadership Imperatives for Educational Reform will help create a vision of a future educational system:

Big Ideas:

1. The purpose of schools must be defined by educational leaders with support from the community. The purpose will reflect the values and commitment of the stakeholders, and shape the goals that schools will pursue.

2. To foster Educational Reform is to foster change. Change in our educational system can be embraced, if there is an understanding of the history of schools evolutionary process. School structure can be reshaped when purpose and vision of schooling are understood.

3. Unless there is a rationale for change, reform will not occur. There are some who believe that "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." Educators must constantly look to reformulate the purpose of schools and create new visions and goals.

4. New visions and goals will be created. Restructuring efforts will consider participatory leadership and followership, accountability and assessment of schools.

5. The creation of a new framework for schooling will address the needs of children and society. Components of the framework include staffing, the distribution of knowledge, and the utilization of time and space, physically and virtually.

Three Implications for the creation a vision of a future educational system:

1. Addressing the five big ideas will raise the collective consciousness of all the educational stakeholders for the need to reform. The process listed above will open our minds to a common vision that can be clearly stated and shared by all the stakeholders.

2. Technology is changing the global workplace. Therefore, technology will be a catalyst for rethinking how we do and redefine school. Becoming digital implies leaving behind an analog and linear approach to an anywhere, anytime, multidimensional approach to learning.

3. Education and schools in the twenty first century must be reinvented and supported by the glo! bal village and must be designed for the betterment of the students, at all age levels.

John M. Marion, Educational Technology Doctoral Student, Pepperdine University

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

From my own column (ex of Mania Magazine), Andy Mangels' Hollywood Heroes:

If you're a fan of science fiction television history, there is one indispensable book you must have in your collection. Science Fiction Television Series is subtitled "Episode Guides, Histories, and Cast and Credits for 62 Prime Time Shows, 1959 through 1989." It's written by Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia, both well-known writers for magazines like Starlog and Cinefantastique. Kenneth Johnson, producer/creator of V, The Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Alien Nation, and more, contributed the introduction.

The hardcover book is a whopping 691 pages (!), and has photos throughout. Each series is given a historical overview, with interviews for the writers, producers, actors, cameramen, and more! Plus, you get an episode guide with correct titles, guest star information, and trivia. I've had this book on my shelf for a few months, and besides using it for research, I'm immensely entertained browsing through its pages.

What are some of the shows covered? Alien Nation, Auto Man, Captain Power, Cliffhangers, Greatest American Hero, Kolchak the Night Stalker, Logan's Run, Man From Atlantis, Misfits Of Science, Planet of the Apes, Quantum Leap, Spiderman, Starman, Star Trek, Superboy, Twilight Zone (all three series), V, Voyager, and Wonder Woman. And that's just to name a few! Plus, appendixes cover unsold SF pilots, and Emmy Award nominees and winners.

It's unlikely you'll find Science Fiction Television Series in your stores, as it's a specialty book largely aimed at researchers and libraries. It's well worth the price!

Once again, this gets my highest recommendation.

One of the most fascinating 'episode guides ' that has come on the market , a must have for any one associated or fan of the SF genre. An upto date episode guide / summary with an added bonus of interviews , with key actors directors of many favourite sf shows.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

A "Can't Put Down" novel! Well done sequel to Bought & Paid For by Michael Halfhill. It includes just the right amount of back ground information to make it a stand alone novel without taking away from the new journey of Jan Phillips. It's refreshing to see this level of mystery & intrigue in a novel with a gay lead character. Kudos to Mr Halfhill! I hope there will be a third look at the exciting life of Jan Phillips.

Jan Phillips, who we first meet in Halfhill's earlier novel Bought and Paid For, is now in his late twenties, but with his slight build, glorious yellow hair and boyish looks he appears very much younger. For some time he has been head of the secret Mundus North American branch, and owner of The Templars of Laws, the very successful high end law firm. Living in the luxury Pittsburgh apartment inherited (as were his Mundus appointment and the law firm) from Tim, his late saviour and lover, he is awakened at 4.00am by a visit from a troupe of clowns from a travelling African circus. He is left to confront two naked figures in clown make up: a mute boy and a female who it turns out is a mutilated boy, escaped victims of slavery; but can they be trusted? So begins his first real Mundus assignment as he sets out to break an African slave ring.
Jan has remained celibate since the mistake of his failed marriage and his all be it too late return to Tim. While purchasing a house warming gift for his brother/cousin he literally stumbles into Michael Lin, a tall handsome man of twenty four of Chinese descent, and immediately fells something special, a feeling clearly reciprocated; and so begins his first loving relationship since his earlier disasters. But will Michael be able to cope with the dangerous clandestine side or Jan's life?
Jan tries to balance the various aspects of his life as he assembles his team and plans his assault into Africa.
This follow-up to the earlier novel has a sense of adventure and mystery, but sometimes the dialogue is a little stilted, too obviously informing the reading of the details of the plot. However the dialogue between Jan and Michael is much better handled, more natural, and their developing relationship is very touching. I hope there will be further adventures for Jan, and especially more involvement between Jan and Michael.

"Scimitar" is a minimally written, complicated story. A contradiction? No. Because of his writing skills, Michael Halfhill manages to convey Jan Phillips' feelings in a straight forward way that draws readers into the plot from the beginning.

Halfhill's first novel, "Bought and Paid For," introduced us to Jan, then an underprivileged 18 year old boy who met a man, Tim, who changed his life forever. Ten years later, because of the late Tim's legacy, Jan has become the leader of a worldwide organization, The Mundus Society. Mundus brings to justice those who commit crimes against humanity, or crimes that would otherwise be overlooked and gone unpunished. In "Scimitar," Jan and his Mundus Society associates travel to Egypt and the Sudan with carefully laid out plans to expose and bring down a slave ring. The author did his homework, researching facts about native Bedouin tribes whose way of life played an important role in "Scimitar."

Michael Halfhill is a gifted story teller, unfolding his tale precisely, and allowing the reader a hint of what might be coming up next. His characters are well defined, and the reader can tell who's speaking by their speech patterns alone. There are many beautifully worded sentences and phrases throughout "Scimitar." The following is just one that caught my attention, "A regal moon attended by a court of shimmering stars crowded the predawn sky." Wow. Simply stated, yet so beautiful.

I recommend that a prospective reader read "Bought and Paid For" prior to reading "Scimitar" as it lays a sturdy foundation for what will come. Although "Scimitar" is a stand alone novel, previous knowledge of characters and events clarifies certain aspects of the story and adds understanding and depth to Halfhill's plot twists.

The conclusion of "Scimitar" is not what this reader expected, but it suited protagonist, Jan, perfectly. The ending fit in with Jan's background and reinforced his purpose in life--a fine example of how unwaveringly Halfhill is true to the characters he created. An excellent five-star read, I highly recommend "Scimitar" and look forward to reading Halfhill's next Jan Phillips novel, "Sons."

From the first paragraph of Michael Halfhill's sequel to "Bought and Paid For," "Scimitar" captures the reader, sets the mood, gets inside his character's head, and mixes description with emotion. Halfhill writes, "Jan sat on one side of a well-worn sofa that faced a large multi-pane window. Cheerful sunlight shot prisms through the waxy glass illuminating a galaxy of dust particles floating in the heavy Victorian style room. He sensed the décor was meant to make clients fell comfortable-instead, it made him feel as if he were in a confessional box at Saint Dominic's Academy." (p. 6)

In "Scimitar," Jan Phillips is more powerful at twenty-nine and certainly less naïve than the eighteen-year-old underprivileged lost boy who first entered the world of the elusive Tim Morris. The story continues. . . Jan is a successful attorney in the late Tim's prominent law firm, The Templars of Law. Jan is seeking absolution from the guilt, pain, and emptiness he feels because of Tim's unexpected death. Tim left his vast wealth to Jan, and, by default, he has become the North American master of the Mundus Society-a clandestine organization that operates outside the realm of international law. What Jan really misses is Tim's love and companionship.

Having been bought and paid for by Tim, Jan wonders what his life would have been like had he led a normal life, and had been free to choose his own destiny. What would have happened if Tim hadn't gotten him involved in Mundus, if Jan hadn't fallen in love with him, and Tim hadn't died leaving him with an overwhelming legacy?

"Jan recalled a line from the Bible that defined this sense of loss perfectly-the years that the locust hath eaten. But of course the relationship ended and the days and months without Tim were forever snatched back into a void where he could never follow." [p. 136]. In this eloquent description, Halfhill shows the deep sadness Jan feels whenever he remembers Tim. Jan even keeps the St. Roi apartments just as Tim left them as a tribute to his lover's memory.

The flashbacks are not the main attraction of Scimitar, but rather serve to enrich the complicated plot involving the Mundus Society. Jan is thrown into Project Scimitar in his first official business when escapees of the African Slave Trade show up asking for his help. Jan would like to send them on their way, but he can't help but feel that he must somehow assist the two youths, apparently from Cirque Afrique, who show up in the middle of the night, on his doorstep-naked. His involvement becomes imperative when one of them carries the international emblem of the Mundus Society, with the official seal of the African Chapter. Unsure exactly how to proceed, Jan enlists the help of Tim's friends and contacts, including a physician, Max Atwater. This is the first step as Jan becomes more involved in the dangerous world of Sudanese slave traders.

Sonia Santos has replaced her mother and now runs the household at St. Roi; Jan and Sonia represent the next generation to inhabit the apartment surrounded by its surreptitious world. Han, his bodyguard, Joachim Nusbaum, and Daniel, Jan's cousin, have joined the team for Project Scimitar.

Even though the author leaves some of the characters' plots unresolved, it serves to entice the reader to read the next novel in the series. There is some question about what happened to Kevin, the kidnapped, mutilated missionary's boy. And what happened to Jan's love interest, Michael? These unresolved issues loom in the air and add to the intrigue, and beguile the reader to read Sons, when it becomes available.

Michael Halfhill has firmly established himself as a writer who allows the reader to use his or her imagination. Halfhill's descriptions include, "Makeshift markets filled with vendors peddling every imaginable ware crowded the cobblestone alleys that led into the heart of the city." [p. 179] This, and many other examples of the writing style of Michael Halfhill, conjure up vivid images whereby the reader need not go far into the recesses of their brain to imagine the scene. Yet the author does not spoon-feed the story, he simply makes the reader hungry for more. The humor and intrigue of Michael Halfhill's novel, interwoven with his impressive narrative and action-filled plot twists, earn "Scimitar" five stars.

Scimitar by Michael Halfhill
ISBN: 1420807005


At age 18 Jan literally was bought from his mother by Tim Morris and groomed to inherit the handsome lawyer's role as chief executive of a mysterious society working to maintain balance in world order. Tim plucked Jan from a life of poverty, limited choices and a precarious future, and gave him the world. A place of international intrigue and dangerous conspiracy where wealth and power comes at a cost. Tim initiated Jan into sex, but the boy wanted more than the older man was able to give.

This is the second in a projected series of Jan Phillips novels, but it doesn't matter if you haven't read the first book. There's all the back story needed to bring you up to speed on the high-powered lawyer and shadowy non-governmental organisation, Mundus. However I suggest you do catch up on earlier book, BOUGHT AND PAID FOR, because the beating heart of this story goes deeper than the tense thriller it appears to be, though it's perfectly okay to enjoy the novel on that level if that's your choice. The book has developed characters and emotional resonance above the average disposable action adventure yarn.

We pick up the story two years later. Now almost 30, Jan appears to have it all, but he's empty and alone. He keeps Tim's elegant Philadelphia apartment exactly as it was, a piece of his mentor. Jan can't move on because he's wracked with guilt for having left Tim for a disastrous marriage. Guilt ties him to the past preventing him becoming the man Tim wanted him to be. Jan visits a therapist, because that's what you do in these circumstances. It works only to show Jan that no one but himself can help with the pain.

When two young people made-up like clowns arrive at Jan's door early one morning, bearing the seal of a Mundus agent, he takes them in. They're not part of the circus that's in town. That was a cover to get them to Jan. Naked and painfully thin, they've escaped the clutches of African slave traders. One is mute and the other shockingly mutilated. The smaller one who can't speak was already with the circus when the other arrived, after slipping away from the Sudanese camp where slaves were held before being sold.

Jan's associate Max Atwater, a medical doctor, assesses their condition. The mute appears to be around 16 and little more than a vegetable, but the bigger one was operated on professionally so it's a slick organisation. This isn't fantasy. Young people from former eastern bloc countries are held as sex slaves in Western Europe. We think of slavery as belonging to the past, but that's not true. It's easier to deny it exists than face uncomfortable reminders of our own dark past.

Jan sends the two to Idaho with Max for safety and recuperation, while he decides how Mundus can most effectively go after the slavers, headed by someone known as the Pasha. Jan opts to spotlight the horrors of the slave trade by capturing the head of the snake and ensuring a high-profile trial at the Hague: effective and vigorous pursuit symbolised by the scimitar, or curved Arabic sword, of the title. The Pasha strikes the first blow, however, as Jan is targeted by a lethal stalker.

It's lonely at the top of any organisation, but Jan's sense of responsibility makes his position difficult. He abhors violence yet sends operatives on a potentially fatal mission that depends on force of arms as well as skill and cunning. For the first time Jan understands Tim's dilemma, that ultimately drove Jan away, unable any longer to tolerate fear for his own safety and resentment of a lover who seemed to put Mundus first.

Jan has no one to share his life, no close friends with whom to relax and be normal. Loss and longing permeate the book. Jan doesn't easily forgive. It's why he's so hard on himself. Jan is frayed round the edges, jaded and cynical, with an abrupt manner, sarcastic humour and the arrogance of a man used to having every need met, save the one most important to him.

When Jan goes looking for a housewarming gift for adopted brother Daniel, intern at Jan's legal firm, the Templars of Law, he meets Michael Lin, owner of an Oriental import/export company. A mutual spark of attraction, and determination not to let happiness pass by, leads Jan to court Michael. But Michael is wary. Too many men have wanted him only for his exotic appearance, something Jan can identify with. Their burgeoning relationship, romantic and very sexy, non-graphic but nicely erotic, is a highlight of the story.

Michael, too, looks for love but he wants all of Jan, to know he'll always be there. In a tense, atmospheric sequence Jan baits the stalker at his beach house, mistakenly thinking he can separate his two worlds. So the tables are neatly turned: Jan knows from experience that love isn't enough if fear eats away at a relationship until there's nothing left.

We follow Jan into the field as he pursues the Pasha in an exciting trek into the desert. Find out why Jan and his colleagues half-dye themselves blue to avoid detection, as the book reaches a nail-biting climax in a crater known as the Lion's Den, the Pasha's hideout, valley floor lined with bodies. The fallout from a complex denouément leaves Jan sore of heart and soul. He finds solace in a way that had my spine tingling, a delightful conclusion to a carefully crafted tale that satisfies on every level.

Halfhill is onto a winner with Jan, a man you can't help falling in love with, whether you see him as lover, friend or with a protective eye. I hope this series continues, to follow Jan through the years, like Joseph Hansen's Dave Brandstetter.

When I saw this exhibition 4 years ago it blew me away. Shomei Tomatsu is such a treasure and captured Japans post war period like no other, with such depth and meaning. This is a great book, great print quality

This is book is beautiful. I had the pleasure to see the exhibition of Tomatsu's work at the Corcoran a few years ago, and several images were burned into my mind. Particularly the image of a bottle after an atomic blast, the cigarettes & bubble gum series, and an untitled piece with a big blob of reddish orange pigment splat in the middle of the frame. (I am writing this from memory and don't have the advantage to just flip thru the book at this moment to find the exact titles...) His work is very much street photographer - and he's good at evoking emotion. Think Robert Doisneau with an Asian flair for simplicity.

This is a high caliber photographic book. The images are stunning and the layout is easy to navigate. The text is informative and well written, but nothing compares to the visuals.

As I stumbled across the Shomei Tomatsu exhibit last August I had no idea how much his work would impact me. Everytime I look at this book I find something new. In this book, Shomei Tomatsu documents pre and post war Japan in the 1950s. He depicts startling images of westerization on Japanese Culture, and the effects of hiroshima. The everyday moments he captured speak in volumes and sheds a new light on an era that changed Japanese culture forever.

I saw the book laying in the library, between all the other photography books. 80% of the all the bookcovers doesn't look inviting enough to open it. This was one 20% that I took. Now all the books that looks inviting on the outside can really disapoint you when you open the it. I think that from the 30% that is left, 27% of the books are very disapointing on the inside This book is the uposite, what a wonderfull suprice. This is a book word it to open. The inside off the book is just how it should be first a lot of information and criticts about Shomei and her work. And that the work of Shomei, it's deep, tatsing, it's got a feeling a soul. She's got a great feeling about how to see a composition, to organize the contrast. And last but not least, the differsity she put in here work is amazing. From black and white, untill full clor and everything between there. From subkects of human beens untill abstract architecture and evreything between there. From very personal images untill very detached. From really close untill verry far. From very meaningfull untill very unmeaningfull. From a frozen image untill a fast movement image. Yeah, I think this a book is an inspiration for every artist in business.

This book is the best book on software project management available for three reasons: (1) it talks to the basics of what makes a successful project and manager, (2) it describes what does not work in a software project, and (3) it walks through practical steps that can be used on real software projects to solve real process problems through the complete life cycle. The book is well written, concise and does not subscribe to any fad methodology or proscribe any silver bullet solutions (smart work and attention to detail are the only effective methods). In fact, the author spends much time debunking industrial myths. There is a good section on cookbook solutions and an example project included as a learning tool. I use this book on the job and highly recommend it.

Unlike most text books, it is a very easy to read book allowing one to read it from cover to cover. The book is an excellent source for novice project managers who need a guide to the many aspects that come with the job. Personally I refer to it often for suggestions on which documents I should produce or what actions to take while managing a project.

Don't confuse the ease of reading this excellent book with the depth and power of the information within it. Being involved in software project management myself, I related to the ideas the author expressed and feel I have learned much from reading the book. Other project managers in my company are now reading this book and share similar opinions.

The book contains good explanations of various techniques for formalising projects. It also contains a number of case study experiences which are very apt.

I recommend this book to project managers of all levels and to managers of software companies.

This book covers Software Project Management broadly with a lot of good information for both the new project manager as well as the old hand. The material is presented as a comprehensive overview rather than a detailed instruction. By itself the book does not go deeply enough into any of the areas to provide a novice with enough useful information so it's a good book to use in conjunction with books providing more detail.

Despite its lack of detail, the book presents many important points - the importance of the human equation, analysis/organization tools such as Tony Buzan's MindMap, having a Management Information Center, and using standards without having a programmer's revolt. There is only passing mention of key issues such as scope creep, the tendency of management to try to throw more personnel at a project in trouble, needing to build testing into the initial design process, and the pro's and con's of the various development methods (waterfall, spiral, etc.). A number of references are quoted, including many IEEE documents (IEEE is the publisher) plus books by Gerald Weinberg, Capers Jones, Tom Demarco, and other recognized gurus - which make good adjuncts to this handbook.

Phillips perpetuates one of my pet peeves, the issue of including the top ten risks in the risk assessment document. What if there are only 7 risks which seem to be significant? What if there are 12? Granted, it would be unwieldy to track & evaluate dozens of risks routinely, but it doesn't make sense to suggest that exactly 10 be tracked.

The discussions of Configuration Management are quite lengthy and in a bit more detail than other topics covered.

Although the book is fairly short at 500 pages and is easy reading, there is a substantial amount of information covered. The 5 star rating is for the breadth of information covered, with the caveat that other references would be needed by those unfamiliar with the concepts presented.

This is a well written book for the people interested in succeeding with software project management. The author spells out the key pit falls to software development and offers realistic solutions. There are many up to date helpful graphics and tables throughout the book. This is easy reading and keeps the reader interseted.

I've read the Soldiers of Summer twice already.... Not because he's my father, but because it brings you back to a time when we weren't on the edge of fascism, and police did their job based on talent and skill instead of cameras and patriot acts.... A talented police officer, writer, and professional bodyguard tells a compelling story about life behind the badge... Beautifully written. It's a refreshing look at a time when Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Dio, Ozzy, and all the metal greats were about to rule the airwaves. A time when black was black and white was white... a time of national and cultural identity and strength.... As Joseph put it.... Before 9-11-2001....

The Soldiers Of Summer is one of the finest novels I have ever read. Mr. Phillips takes us on a journey that begins in the quite of a suburban morning and ends on a battlefield of wills and emotions in the upstate of Fort Drum, NY. Phillips' protagonists are five New York City police officers who believe their two week training duty for the Army Reserve will be like a vacation for them but upon arrival find out this is not the case. After getting chewed out by their Platoon Sergeant, James Corey, for being late, they encounter their commanding officer, Captain Lyle Longjohnson, a strange man wearing dark glasses at night and slapping a riding crop against his thigh as he speaks. Things go progressively downhill after that; late night guard duty, full work days that begin at dawn, and forced marches ensue, leaving them their only consolation, alcohol. They name their bivouac area Whiskey Hill and vow not to succumb to their Captain's willful attempts at trying to destroy them due to his mistaken belief they're trying to prevent him from getting a promotion to Major he covets.
However, along the way Phillips treats us to an insiders view of what the cop life in New York really entails and how alochol becomes an escape, much the way Joseph Wambaugh did in his novels about L.A. cops, a fraternity that has much in common no matter what coast you live on. Broken marriages due to infidelity abound but here you find out why they happened, as Phillips' emotionally bloodied protagonists forge their way to a conclusion that becomes inevitable if the reader has been paying attention.
As far as Mr. Phillips writing, it is smooth, easy and flows well allowing the reader to fully enjoy his gifted prose style much the way readers have enjoyed those noted few who came before him. Yes, Soldiers is a real literary find and a stunning achievement for someone the reading public knows little of but should know much about to give him his proper place in the American literary scene of today. GET THIS BOOK TODAY!!!!

What happens when a group of ordinary men find themselves in the middle of chaos, disorder, and violence? This is the question explored by author, Joseph L. Phillips, in his new book, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER. The main characters, Welles, Devlin, and Griffin, a group of New York City police officers, journey into the throes of chaos at a two-week summer camp for the Army Reserve. Mr. Phillip's offers his readers an intimate look into what "can" or "might" happen to a person and the choices growing out of such unexpected events. Set in 1978, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER, is a crazy beer-soaked romp that travels from New York to Canada and back again, skillfully incorporating the anti-war sentiment of Vietnam into the storyline. It mirrors the world in which we live as well as some people we would rather not meet! A poignant and disturbing look at the various sides of human behavior and character, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER is a novel intended to enlighten and challenge its readers, as well as to make them take a deeper look at the positive and negatives sides of humanity. The "good guys" head off to summer camp in good spirits, while trying to recover from hang-overs, in the comical opening scene. The characters are realistic and will be familiar to many as an old friend or the neighbor down the street. They are the "average guy", caught-up in his middle-age-years during the late 1970's. Phillips gives extensive background scenes on the characters, relating their mishaps and obstacles to past experiences in a way that aids the reader in understanding the complexity of the characters, their motivation and their goals. A good book for audiences who enjoy genre fiction novels of this nature, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER, is not without some problems. Mr. Phillip's presents an interesting, action-packed story, but he leaves the reader confused and distracted by some of the "telling" interspersed in the story. Elaborate sentence structure, and a seemingly "too literate" langauge from characters at certain points in the story, detract from the flow of action. However, Mr. Phillip's does an excellent job overall with the dialog and is most often real, true and vibrant. This brings the characters to life and creates clear personality traits and tendencies that the reader will recognize and identify with. There are some passages that leave the reader a little off-track and confused. Still, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER succeeds in its effort to tell a story about real people who must deal with situations unusual and foreign to them. The fact that these people are police officers simply makes the tale more intriguing. Even with its problems, THE SOLDIERS OF SUMMER is a vivid tale that engages the reader as it explores the harsher side of humanity. A good book for the "summer reader" to take along to the beach with them.

I have always been more the fan of literay works with emphasis on characters than the genre novels that seem to dominate today's market and in The Soldiers Of Summer I have found one. Mr. Phillips, a retired police officer, takes us on what could have been just another cop tale but this one has a twist. These men are members of the Army Reserve doing their two weeks summer camp during the summer of 1978. It should be a vacation but it turns out to be a nightmare they can only cope with by sequestering themselves into their own tight knit group where whiskey and their camaraderie becomes their only source of relief. They also have their own personal demons to deal with from problems on their job, lingering nightmares for some from the Vietnam War, to broken marriages and relationships that have made their lives a bitter pill to swallow. There are a few comedic interludes along the way, a weekend trip to Lake George that ends in a fight and a trip to Canada that goes awry. This novel has all the makings of a damn good movie also along the lines of The Last Detail, and if someone doesn't snap up the rights they're crazy. This is a great read with characters that will stay with you long after you've put it down, so don't let this one slip by.

I'll admit it, I've always liked books by ex-policemen about life in the cop shop and beyond. Joseph Wambaugh's Lines and Shadows is still one of my favorites. The Soldiers of Summer, however elevates the genre several steps beyond ordinary fiction and into the realm of literature. Joseph Phillips, who patroled the streets of New York in the 1970s and 1980s, in the pre-Guiliano wild days, paints a portrait of policing that is at once compassionate and compelling, with riveting characters who will remain in your head long after you put this book down. His prose style is short, sweet and to the point, enough so that Hemingway would be proud! Even if you're not an avid fan of cop books, this one's worth a read. Give it a try--you won't be sorry.

Mr. Phillips demystifys the acting process in this book. He clearly outlines tools that help the actor, if properly used, to master the craft. A must-read!

This is an interesting and useful book. What attracted my attention when I first saw the book was the cover photo of Mr. Phillips. His energy, humor and directness leap off the cover, inviting the reader into a very informative "conversation" about the acting tools he has developed and used over a long career. I don't know why, but Mr. Phillips' bio does not appear in the book, though it became apparent as I read that he taught a number of fine actors including Bruce Dern, Sandy Dennis and Judd Hirsch, acted in a wide array of plays, films and television, and taught at both the Actor's Studio with Lee Strasberg and the H. B. Studio with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof. These are impressive credentials.

The tone of the book is practical and personal, like Mr. Phillips' collection of tools, which he calls The Process. He describes the 17 tools of The Process and gives exercises for each that can be done alone, with a partner or in a group. He also describes how to use these tools in a role. He illustrates how The Process works using examples from productions and humorous and touching anecdotes based on his own experiences with fellow teachers and actors and his own students. One thing I particularly like is that, after describing a tool in a narrative form, he also gives step-by-step instructions for easy reference. There are also two wonderful little chapters, one on 9 types of actors and what you can learn from them about what to avoid, and the other is on what to look for--and what to avoid--in an acting teacher. Very useful. At the heart of Mr. Phillips' Process is a kind of Zen approach to acting, which stresses neutralizing first yourself, aiming for what in Zen is called Beginner1s Mind, and then the script, the other actors and the acting space. These particular tools are invaluable for cancelling out ingrained and inhibiting bad habits in acting.

I have made good use of the tools that make up Mr. Phillips' Process, both in my own personal work and in the interactive interpersonal dynamics workshops I lead.

All in all, I can call this a good read and an invaluable collection of tools. All we have to do is put them to use.

Incidentally, the caption on one chapter in the book is "A good actor is a bad actor who never gave up." I really love the optimism and encouragement. It fits perfectly with what I see in Mr. Phillips in the cover photo.

Have you ever looked for a book that would demystify the personal approach to acting, often called "The Method" (Philip's calls it "The Process")and used by actors all over the world from Marlon Brando to Meryl Streep to Robert DeNiro to Anthony Hopkins to Danny Glover? Gordon Phillips's book, "Take it Personally" is THE book.

Phillips's book takes up where Stanislavsky, Strasberg, Hagen and others leave off: he lays out in very simple, workman like terms, the steps to becoming the kind of personal actor that is so admired and even worshipped in television, film and theatre today. He starts off by listing the qualities of successful actors and letting you know what chapters in his book can help you to develop those same qualities, and takes you step by step through those chapters with a view to making you an exciting,charismatic,moving, and, most important, believable professional actor.

Phillips has worked with some of the finest actors of the 20th century (Bruce Dern, Sandy Dennis, Judd Hirsch, to name but a few), and has spent years refining a process of acting that will give every actor the opportunity to create real, living, breathing, three dimensional characters that will move and delight audiences, critics, and even the director! The key is being personal. Hence the title, "Take it Personally."

This book is for beginners and professionals alike. It follows workbook step by step processes, and chapters can be read and reread as the actor practices acquiring the tools necessary for working as an actor in all media. The book is also an entertaining read for the person interested in how the actor works. It is full of anecdotes from Phillips's long career in theatre, television and film. I highly recommend this book!

This is an interesting and useful book. What attracted my attention when I first saw the book was the cover photo of Mr. Phillips. His energy, humor and directness leap off the cover, inviting the reader into a very informative "conversation" about the acting tools he has developed and used over a long career. I don't know why, but Mr. Phillips' bio does not appear in the book, though it became apparent as I read that he taught a number of fine actors including Bruce Dern, Sandy Dennis and Judd Hirsch, acted in a wide array of plays, films and television, and taught at both the Actor's Studio with Lee Strasberg and the H. B. Studio with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof. These are impressive credentials.

The tone of the book is practical and personal, like Mr. Phillips' collection of tools, which he calls The Process. He describes the 17 tools of The Process and gives exercises for each that can be done alone, with a partner or in a group. He also describes how to use these tools in a role. He illustrates how The Process works using examples from productions and humorous and touching anecdotes based on his own experiences with fellow teachers and actors and his own students. One thing I particularly like is that, after describing a tool in a narrative form, he also gives step-by-step instructions for easy reference. There are also two wonderful little chapters, one on 9 types of actors and what you can learn from them about what to avoid, and the other is on what to look for--and what to avoid--in an acting teacher. Very useful. At the heart of Mr. Phillips' Process is a kind of Zen approach to acting, which stresses neutralizing first yourself, aiming for what in Zen is called Beginner1s Mind, and then the script, the other actors and the acting space. These particular tools are invaluable for cancelling out ingrained and inhibiting bad habits in acting.

I have made good use of the tools that make up Mr. Phillips' Process, both in my own personal work and in the interactive interpersonal dynamics workshops I lead.

All in all, I can call this a good read and an invaluable collection of tools. All we have to do is put them to use.

Incidentally, the caption on one chapter in the book is "A good actor is a bad actor who never gave up." I really love the optimism and encouragement. It fits perfectly with what I see in Mr. Phillips in the cover photo.

Have you ever looked for a book that would demystify the personal approach to acting, an approach that is often called "The Method" (Philips calls it "The Process")and is used by actors all over the world from Marlon Brando to Meryl Streep to Robert DeNiro to Anthony Hopkins to Danny Glover? Gordon Phillips's book, "Take it Personally" is THE book.

Phillips's book takes up where Stanislavsky, Strasberg, Hagen and others leave off: he lays out in very simple, workman like terms, the steps to becoming the kind of personal actor that is so admired and even worshipped in television, film and theatre today. He starts off by listing the qualities of successful actors and letting you know what chapters in his book can help you to develop those same qualities. Each chapter is written clearly and concisely and covers an integral part of what Phillips considers the simple process of developing a box of tools that you can use in your work as an actor. By working on your "tools" (Phillips book includes practice excercises)you will eventually have at your fingertips what it takes to make you an exciting,charismatic,moving, and, most important, believable professional actor.

Phillips has worked with some of the finest actors of the 20th century (Bruce Dern, Sandy Dennis, Judd Hirsch, to name but a few), and has spent years refining a process of acting that will give every actor the opportunity to create real, living, breathing, three dimensional characters that will move and delight audiences, critics, and even the director! The key is being personal. Hence the title, "Take it Personally."

This book is for beginners and professionals alike. It follows workbook-like step by step processes, and chapters can be read and reread as the actor practices acquiring the tools necessary for working as an actor in all media.

The book is also an entertaining read for the lay person interested in how the actor works. It is full of anecdotes from Phillips's long career in theatre, television and film. I highly recommend this book!

This is a wonderful way to begin the Cavendish Chronicles! Even though this is the third book in the series this book is the prequel to Silent Knight and MidSummer's Knight. It is wonderful to see how the Cavendish family got started! Thank you Tori!

Talent is one of many good words that come to mind when you read this book! Brandon Cavendish's parents prove once again that opposites attract!

Embark on an adventure when men weren't the best species around! This book is a prequel of Midsummer's Knight. It was awesome to read and know about what happened before the subjects in Midsummer's Knight. This is a great story about Brandon Cavendish's father and mother who seem an unlikely pair but prove once again that opposites attract!

The white rose of york was no hothouse flower. Nay, Mistress Alicia Broom was a long-stemmed beauty with a dangerous secret of royal proportions. But for a chance to claim her as his promised bride, Thomas Cavendish would fight the hounds of hell... Though plots and plans and barking dogs seemed to pursue the Earl of Thornbury wherever he went, Alicia knew she'd found a champion. Mayhap Thomas Cavendish was not what people expected, but the gentle knight had become her heart's desire

I've never been so touched by a book that has such a wonderful story line. Not many romance books start out with two virgins and the guy usually isn't the shy one. I totally related to the guy in this book and I'm a female. I love the characters and am looking for more books by this author! She's wonderful!

The only thing you can say about Carly is sizzling! Once you start her books you can't put them down. This one is no exception.

I LOVED THE STORIES. I READ THE BOOK IN ONE DAY. LOVED THE ROMANCE!

This is the first book in along time I would recommend. The plots are interesting and the romance is great. Pour a cup of tea or a glass of wine sit back and enjoy.

Going All The Way by Carly Phillips

Regan Davis' fiancé left her. With their engagement now broken off, Regan decides that a no strings attached, hot affair is what she wants now. Regan was raised as a good, dutiful, Southern girl and now she wants to be naughty. When she meets Sam Daniels she knows he is her man.

Sam has no intention of settling down. He loves traveling the world as a pilot working for a computer company. The occasional affair is all he wants. When he meets Regan he is instantly and intensely attracted to her, so Regan's offer for a weekend of hot sex is irresistible.

Throughout the weekend, Sam and Regan find themselves wanting more than sex from each other, but Sam can't give up flying and Regan's family would disown her for being with a man like him that will not meet their expectations, so it looks like a quick affair is all they have, or is it?

Going All The Way is sexy and romantic. Sam is a very desirable and handsome man. When charming southern bell Regan enters his life he quickly discovers that she has something he never knew he wanted. Sam and Regan spend a sensual and loving few days together that bloom into a lasting love when the weekend is over. Going All The Way is quick but really satisfying.

Her Secret Thrill by Donna Kauffman

Natalie Holcomb is a corporate lawyer. She is visiting her very good friend Liza at a huge party she is throwing when she meets cattle rancher Jake Lannister. Jake's friend Con and Liza are going at it pretty heavily in the bedroom leaving Jake locked out without his wallet. Natalie, feeling the need to escape the raucous lovers herself, takes Jake out to get coffee.

Their conversation is nice and Jake and Natalie clearly connect on many levels and soon the mutual attraction they share leads them to a hotel room. Natalie and Jake are very compatible and they want more than just one night of simmering, deep, passion but their careers have them flying around the country often. They decide to meet when their itineraries allow, keeping their relationship simple.

Jake and Natalie are at a crossroads, in both their personal lives and their careers. They need to make some decisions soon because what was meant as casual fun has turned into so much more.

Jake is gorgeous! No woman could resist him and Natalie is the perfect match for him. She is very responsive to him both sexually and emotionally. He draws her out of her shell and frees her passions. They are very sensual and loving couple. Her Secret Thrill is a romantic, passionate and fun story.

Good Time Girl by Candace Schuler

Roxanne Archer is tired of being a good girl so she gets a make over and heads off in search of a cowboy to fulfill her fantasies. Roxy goes to a bar where she meets Tom Steele. The chemistry between them is instant and they head straight to her motel room for a night of unbridled passion. Roxy and Tom decide to continue their affair throughout the summer. At the end they will go their separate ways

Roxy travels the rodeo circuit with Tom. They learn a lot about each other and as time goes by they start thinking more along the lines of forever instead of for now. Neither think that they have a future with the other though so they keep their feelings to themselves. What will happen when the summer is over? Will they be able to walk away?

Good Time Girl is as heartfelt as it is sensual. At first Roxy and Tom experience exploding passion. As time goes by they still create a lot of heat in the bedroom but their relationship grows more tender and comfortable. Roxy seems to become a different person though and I found it odd that she changed so completely. Tom is a great guy. He is passionate and handsome, and his devotion to his family is really endearing.

Undone is a terrific anthology. Going All The Way is quick and intensely seductive. Her Secret Thrill is romantic and sensual and Good Time Girl is heartwarming and steamy. Undone contains three very fine stories from three wonderful authors.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

THIS IS NOT THE TYPICAL KIND OF BOOK I READ . BUT IT WAS A NICE CHANGE. BEING A ROMANTIC AT HEART I LOVE THE STORIES...

WedgeWorks II is marvelous in that it teaches a method to make beautiful Mariner's Compass quilts. The writing style is very easy to understand and I appreciate it coming with plexiglass templates so I don't have to trace and make my own. My criticisms are that it doesn't show you how to make an oval Mariner's Compass nor resize the blocks. Resizing the blocks really isn't that difficult to determine, you just extend out the lines of the plexiglass (or reduce) on paper to make a block the size of your choice. But I wish she'd covered how to make an oval block. My understanding is that she does this in another book but I am of the opinion is that if you're going to write a book on how to make a specific type of block, you should cover the main styles which is both round and oval for this type of block.

Criticism aside, I think it's a great book and well worth the money. I can envision myself making many Mariner's Compass bed size quilts and in a relatively short period of time instead of taking months just to make a lap size quilt.

I made a traditional Mariner's Compass block. It took me two all day classes and many nights at home too. It was pretty, but I vowed never to make another.
Then I bought Cheryl's book with her plastic wedge templates.
Her directions are clear and it's easy to cut exact with her templates. These are really big squares too--about 20 inches and very suitable for a center medalion.
It was actually fun to make this Mariner's Compass.
I'm glad I bought this book and I'll be making more of this pattern.

I made a traditional Mariner's Compass block. It took two full days of class and much homework to finish. It was pretty, but I vowed I'd never make another.
Then I bought Cheryl's book. The plastic templates are sturdy and
I got a very even cut with my rotary cutter. It was fun to make
this Mariner's compass and it turned out beautiful. Her directions are clear and the templates are exact. This makes a really large block, about 20 inches, so it is suitable for a center medalion. I'm glad I bought this book and I'll be making more Mariner's compass.

I have considered myself to be an intermediate quilter, not highly advanced. I was afraid of trying this, but am involved in a family quilt project and this compass was "assigned" to me.
I worked on it and found the instructions made perfect sense. Once I figured out the technique, I was able to do it! I'm impressed!
My compass block looks great, lies flat and I am proud of it!

I haven't made a compass from the book yet. However I read through it and am very impressed with the instructions, which seem simple to understand and concise, and with the templates provided with the book. I also have Cheryls' book, Quilts without Corners, which I would evaluate as equal to this book. I am more than happy with her books, so much so that I have looked up what other titles she has and intend to purchase more of her books. I would recommend this to anyone with basic patchwork skills, so have a go and Happy quilting friends.