Richardson Books

I got this book since it is the only book on H.264 I know of.
There is a single chapter on H.264, chapter 6. The free
on-line papers from Richardson are mostly what is in that chapter.

There are plenty of H.264 overviews on the net for free
which cover the subject in greater depth which are more current.

I almost didn't get this book because some of the other reviews are pretty bad. I'm glad I got it!

This isn't a standard. So you won't find every table that's part of h.264, but you'll find enough that the standard will be accessible after you read this book. And given that the goal is conversational instead of documentary, Richardson has done a terrific job of simultaneously describing a host of relatively difficult concepts, explaining how they fit together, and explaining their places in the MPEG4 and H.264 standards.

This is probably not a first book on video compression; for that, you might try Digital Video Compression (with CD-ROM). If you get that other book, though, only read the first half. (The second half is absurdly dated and not very helpful.) I think it's reasonable to read the first half of that book, then this one, and then jump right into the standard itself (for whatever purposes you want to do that).

The book does not go deep into the H.264 standard.
It seems that it was supposed to be a review of MPEG-4, with H.264 added as an afterthought.
I expected the level of the Mitchell / Pennebaker classic book on MPEG, but was disappointed.

I like the book on overview of H.264 (because it is no worse than most of overview papers, even those in IEEE by H.264 chairs).

This is the first text book published on H.264. It has a nice overview of digital video compression techniques followed by chapters focusing on the specifics of each of the MPEG-4 and H.264 standards. Buying this book relays much of the same information but is more cost effective than buying each of the papers and articles on the subject from IEEE and others.

It appears that this book was rushed to publication in order to be first. Particularly in the chapter on H.264, there are many typos and incomplete figures. In some places, a new technical term is used without proper introduction. I look forward to a cleaner second edition in the future.

So a librarian (or someone) who never reads romances created a genre list for libraries to have and included this author (though my local library didn't have that particular book, so I took out another one) Well unless this book was vastly misrepresentative, the original list maker was way off the track. This book was both cookie cutter and fundamentally boring. There was no romance, sparkle or passion. It was tedious with cipher characters and nothing interesting or remotely unpredictable happening. You compare this to Loretta Chase's Not Quite a Lady, or Lisa Valdez' Passion (which had a hero who was already engaged, and that was so emotionally wrenching!) and it falls with a thud.

Sebastian, Earl of Charrington, has decided it's time to marry. For years, he's been in love with a woman in a painting, but he's finally convinced himself that no woman could live up to the image he's built up in his mind of who that woman is, and he's settling for Barbara, the daughter of his mentor and business partner.

Barbara is mostly concerned with fashion and parties and having a good time, and she doesn't love him any more than he loves her. Still, she's very beautiful, wants his title, and he doesn't expect anything more from marriage. His affection for her father quiets any other doubts he may have.

Then he commissions a portrait of Barbara by C. A. Manners, the same up-and-coming artist who painted the portrait he so admires, only to find out the "C" stands for Cecilia, and it's a self-portrait.

The Good:
You could really see that Sebastian and Cecilia fell in love with and respected each other, that it wasn't just a superficial attraction.
The fiancee, the woman standing in the way of their happiness, wasn't a vicious shrew. She wasn't suited for Sebastian's more serious nature, but she was a genuinely nice person.

The Bad:
The hero and heroine are both almost too good to be true--the secondary characters almost feel more real.

The Verdict:
If I were still of the opinion that I didn't care for Regency romances, A Lady of Talent would convince me otherwise.

Here is an old premise - the man who falls in love with a portrait. In this case, Sebastian, the Earl of Charrington has nursed feelings for the unknown lady of a portrait for years and been searching for a lady with her imagined character. However, he is now marrying the well monied Barbara Wyatt, daughter of wealthy business associate. Not a marriage of affection, one of exchange, especially as Barbara is very socially ambitious.
He decides to have her portrait painted by a talented newcomer, C.A.Manners. Who turns out to be a lady - Cecilia. Moreover she is the subject of the portrait. Cecilia has problems of her own. She is struggling to be established as an artist, and does not much enjoy the portrait painting she must do, as opposed to the serious historical matter she would far rather be tackling.
Naturally Sebastian is immediately drawn to this lovely, intelligent, serious, talented lady...
Scene set for drama and hard choices?
Well yes and no. There is drama and much heartburning by the pair, but they were not a truly sympathetic hero and heroine. There was something unattractive about them both, despite their possession of all the usual virtues and sterling character heroes and heroines need.
I think they both were just too full of those virtues. There was a certain smug disdain for society, a "oh I'm too far above the shallow butterflies" attitude. A little of this is fine, but we got it far too much. It was hammered home in nearly every chapter. I began to like Barbara and the spendthrift brother more after a while. They seemed far more human.
For all that, Richardson has a very readable style and portrays the period convincingly. Pity about the distant Sebastian and Cecilia.

That Sebastian loves a portrait with greater passion than he does his fiance' does not bode well for their marriage. When he meets the artist who painted it and finds that the well loved picture is a self portrait, his life becomes complicated. The woman who owns that face is far more suited to him, but obligations demand that he marry the shallow young woman who does not love him anymore than he does her, unless another way can be found.

*** More than one great novel or movie begins on the premise of falling in love with a portrait. Combining this with an almost Shakespearean in complexity shuffle of romance makes for a very workable novel that has the potential to cross genres in acquiring fans. ***

Sebastian, Earl of Chattington, is entranced. The bad news? The lady in question is not his fiance. The good news? The lady in question is just a woman in a painting. The lady in the portrait is a vision of loveliness, and has been his muse. Whether she exists in real life or not, he knows he will never meet her. He decides to commision the painter of the mystery portrait, in hopes that he will catch the essence of his fiance.

The painter, however, is actually a "she." And it was actually a self-portrait. Which means, of course, he is about to meet the woman of his dreams--in the flesh!

The painter is Cecilia Manners, and painting is her passion. Intelligent and thoughtful, Cecilia has no idea that Sebastian is in possession of her self-portrait. And she takes Sebastian's fiance in immediate dislike. Will mutual attraction lead Cecilia and Sebastian to one another?

The good news? "A Lady of Talent" has an interesting storyline, and Evelyn Richardson seems to know the period better than most writers. The bad news? "A Lady of Talent" is very slowly-paced, takes much concentration, and the dialogue is a bit stilted. When the characters talk to each other, especially when they're talking about themselves, it hardly seems natural. It almost sounds like they're giving a speech. My criticism has nothing to do with the period. I've read countless Regencies that don't sound as stiff as this.

All in all, I'd give it 2 1/2 stars. If you can handle the grueling pace, the story is somewhat enjoyable.

this book, though very interesting, has a very significant bias, those women who refused to enter into the relationship were not represented in this book, thus rendering the picture very incomplete (as the author claimed that this book shed light on all women),

This is a great topic for a book, it's productive for women to read about the experiences of others with this type of relationship but be careful if you are looking for real answers. This book was PUBLISHED IN 1985. That means it is fifteen years old, and a lot has happened since then. I found the book to be dated. The author's point in writing the book is that culturally and economically, (some) women have reached a position where they can entertain having an affair with a married man and perhaps benefit by the experience; and her other motivating topic is the great man shortage. She seems to say that given the shortage, and the fact that (many) women can now engage in an affair just for the experience and then let it go, dating married men is a viable option. This is obvious to us now, in the year 2000. Are women well advised to steer clear of married men? Her warnings are abundant. We all know the rule: If he cheats on her, he'll cheat on you and married men never leave their wives. I felt that I had been warned adequately without her book. Perhaps the examples of how the affairs got started, how the participants tried to create a romantic world belonging to the two of them...things like that were interesting.

The author stated that she removed from her study the women who actually married the men that they had affairs with. Why???? That would have been very interesting, and it would also be tremendously elightening to have interviewed some of the men...if they could be found. I think if she did that she'd have a best seller on her hands!

I felt depressed after reading this book. It reminded me that in many ways, even with all the progress that has been made, it may very well be still a man's world.

This book was more of an analytical, case study type book than one would think. Seemed to be written for the therapists out there, and not for the layperson trying to gain insight.

this book is empowering to those who fit the title, and informative and myth-shattering to others. i cannot disagree more with the previous reviewer, this book is extremely accessible. while reading through the descriptions, case studies, and most importantly the "stages" of these affairs, i was angered, enlightened, and ultimately empowered to do something about my situation. i believed there was something "deranged" or "weak" about me for falling in love with a married man, and against all better sense - but this book showed me how intelligent, otherwise self-respecting women can "let" this happen. turns out, affairs with married men (with a few exceptions which are explained in book) are formulaic. even the loss of self esteem and withdrawl from friends was almost universally experienced by the women in this sample. if you are involved in an affair with a married man, you need to read this. if you are a married woman, you need to read this. and yes, if you are a man with a "mistress", you should read this too. the book is well organized into the stages the relationship usually goes through, and what happens after. there is also a lengthy discussion about what has "set up" the conditions in our society so that all these affairs could even happen; including the so-called "man-shortage" of the 80's, and the emergence of women in the workplace over the past few decades. another excellent read for women who are "Other Women" is "This Affair is Over!" (see my review there) - these two books have literally changed my life, and you could even say *saved* me from future heartbreak and time wasted. here is a gem from this book: on how a woman falls in love without intending to: "It is his marital staus which sets the stage for the creation of the second world: the hiding of reality. His marital status leads to the relationship being carried on in private and with time constraints. ...Single woman-married man time is mostly intimate... the time together is treated as 'special' 'worthwhile' and 'important'. Even minor annoyances can be ignored because there is no reason to magnify them because the realtionship is, after all time constrained. Unexpectedly, but as a direct result of the man's marital status the stage has been set for her to care about him, perhaps even to fall in love. The necessary cultural props are in place: the two are alone together."

I apologise to anyone who emailled me before, but the responses were overwhelming and I was unable to reply.

Being in a relationship with a married man is hard. It is wonderful and it is unbelievably difficult. You can't talk to anyone about it - even people whom you thought would accept it/be happy for you (they don't have to actively support it) can be surprisingly judgemental. The secrecy adds to the... well, insanity. I read this book and was astonished and relieved to find that I was one among many, that my experiences and feelings were common - it was the closest I have come to a validation that I am not crazy. ;) Yes, it is of an academic nature, but even that helps. I highly recommend it.

This book is very clear and easy to read. The definitions are highlighted and defined on the edges of the pages. Sections are divided well, and images captioned with relevant info. The book offers online quizzes and additional material to round out the learning experience. A good buy for Intro to Business courses.

Good book. Its what i needed for my business class, and I saved about $20 buying it online new, over buying it new at my colleges bookstore. Thanks Amazon!

I received it fast and the sale was easy, but it wasn't in as high as condition as I would have liked. The cover was beat up along the bottom of the book.

The authors call Hong Kong a "highly developed country with few natrual resources" while China is a less developed country with a great deal of natrual resources. For the price and edition number, both the authors and the editors should have caught that error - enough said.

Another ripoff, make sure you order expedited shipping or the next edition may be out by the time you order this one. but don't be fooled there is a lot of great material in this new edition. A lot has changed in business in 2 years. Students: enjoy the book. Authors and publishers and dumb professors who keep using the new edition: enjoy screwing broke college students over. :)

An "indispensable book for bikers, hikers, walkers, joggers and families who want to enjoy our Nation's trails." This colorful paperback book includes a map for each state showing their statewide bicycle trail system. Photos of various scenic trails around the United States are included as well. This book includes a state by state listing to bicycle trails & rail-trails for all 50 states ranging from 1 mile to 235 miles and shows information about trail surface (asphalt, concrete, smooth crushed gravel), trail use (biking, roller blading, horses, wheelchair, hiking), end points (from point A to Point B), and points of interest for each state's "highlight trails." Shawn E. Richardson provides information for major bicycle contacts thoughout all 50 states as well as information for nationwide bicycle contacts. Whether you plan to bicycle around the Country or just in your own regional area, this book is a must for any cyclist!

If this book even bothers to list the trail you are looking for, all you will learn is the trail surface condition. You can get more information free online.

Biking USA's Rail-Trails is worth sampling! To view the front cover, back cover and sample pages, check out the web sight to Biking USA's Rail-Trails. This book is your complete resource guide to all major smooth surfaced rails to trails, towpaths to bike paths, and highways to bikeways across the USA.

This book is of little value to those interested in cycling Rails-Trails. Anyone who know anything about Rails-Trails will tell you that one of the best and most well-known Rails-Trails anywhere is the Virginia Creeper Trail. The author of this book is apparently unaware that this trail exists. Much of the information provided is in the form of a travel book with symbols indicating the type of trafficc permitted on the trail. Most of the information in this book can be obtained on the Internet.

This book is really useful and gives you, along with the travel information, some history for each main city. According to my Bulgarian friend, the information in this book is really accurate, except for the bus line numbers...! The book even gives you the Cyrillic names of the city.

If you plan to visit a lot of Bulgaria, it's a must!

The book is ok--it leaves out an important issue---atm's and credit cards--you may not be able to use them in Bulgaria. Also, the book says it is ok to drink the water in Bulgaria. I did drink the water --and then spent a day on Cipro. Becasue there are not a lot of books out there on Bulgaria--this one will do in a pinch.

I bought this book based on the fact that both authors had lived/traveled in the region for many years. I just came back from a trip to Bulgaria and this book was just horrible. In most parts(I haven't read the whole book) they describe towns as a mere array of buildings with their histories and how unworthy a visit they are. Practical information is useless(even taking into account that bus/train schedules can change frequently, the book tells you next to nothing. The section on the Rila monastery for example states something like "try to catch onwarding transportation from there". Try to catch?? Have they been there at all?).

I could go on and on but in short--Do NOT buy this book. This is not the first time a Rough guide has disappointed me, I gave it another try for nothing. Very disappointing and a waste of money.

I very much liked this guide. It was excellent for history and background as well as how to shop. The ONLY thing that I can really fault this guide for is that all names are in English. If the place names were in Cyrillic as well, it would be helpful in recognizing locations!

Rantings and usual rhetoric that defies logic or fairness. A total waste of time.

As always, an excellent collection of readings. However, not all that much is new compared to the 4th edition (ISBN: 0070523797). I suggest buying the last edition (which is selling used for only $...) and saving yourself a bundle. Use the ISBN to search, otherwise the 4th edition doesn't come up on Amazon searches.

As always, Feminist Frontiers is a great collection of essays -- a great textbook for any Women's Studies class. However, not much has been updated in this 5th edition. As far as I can tell, it is virtually the same as the 4th edition. I think getting a used copy of Feminist Frontiers IV (ISBN 0070523797) is a much better value. Either way, you will thoroughly enjoy the readings in this book.

I enjoy hiking and have often fantasized of taking six months off from work and hiking the Appalachian trail. Reading this book, a diary of one who completed the trail, and who was subject to frequent bad weather and mice crawling over him in trail shelters, among other things, brought me back to reality. I would give the book 4 stars were it not for the many typographical errors I found.

I found this book to be very enjoyable. I enjoy hiking and since reading this book I have hiked on several stretches of the Appalachain Trail. The book really put you in the "boots" of Mr. Richardson as he journeyed. I admire him for his perserverance and faith. Not only was it a joy to read the book, I learned several hiking tips. The book was well written and easy to understand.

I have to believe that this book was self published. No reputable (or unreputable for that matter) publisher would print a book with as many spelling errors as this one had. I cannot imagine that even the author bothered to read it through prior to printing and missed this many spelling errors. One can find as good of trail journals on the internet for free. I wouldn't bother buying this book.

It is a nice little book. Good as a gift. It doesn't contain that much useful information, but creates a mood. For someone who enoys and appreciates beautiful and impractical things.

It's tiny and has beautiful images. Nothing spectacular but it's a good quality little book about lingerie.

My expectations were not fulfilled in terms of quality information. With a poetic mood you will find some vague and brief descriptions of different types of lingerie.
However, the photographs are really good, has a lovely cover and in the end is a cute little book that looks great in you nightable!

This book is very basic, written in textbook form. There are even tests at the end of each chapter. This book is written for high school students, and doesn't have alot of technical info

This book contains many description of auto bodies repairing...easy to understand in general...