Ross Books

John P.Williamson married my Great Great Aunt Sarah, my great great grandmothers sister. I recently pulled out of my trunk of family heirlooms a book about him and started reading it. I am not yet finished but close. What a man. I can only imagine what a good job his translation is. For his day and time, for the modes of transportation they did not have, he sure got around and met quite a few important people.

this is a good dictionary but lacks some words (like full list of names for uncles) and doesn't give a full transcription regarding stops series

After searching libraries, the net, and schools for an accurate, good Dakota dictionary, I finally found this book. I was, to be blunt, amazed! Not only does it have a great listing of words (that you can actually use), but it also includes a short introduction of grammar and usage.

I got to test my new skills at a recent Powwow in Minnesota, where I had an entire conversation (although slow!) with a Dakota man. Although he needed to correct me on a few words and some grammar, he was impressed. He was shocked when I told him I had only begun learning within the last six months! I could not have done it without the aid of this book! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is an excellent English-Dakota dictionary, but be aware that it does not include a Dakota-English section. The Dakota-English volume is sold separately (ISBN 0873512820) and is also high quality. The English-Dakota volume does include a pronunciation guide and clear grammatical overview.

Steve's first book (Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO with Gerald Kendall) transformed the perception of a PMO from a project cost management/efficiency cop to a potential profit center, raising the bar for most organizations. He (along with Richard Lanza) has pushed the envelope again making the case for the PMO as the best qualified entity for preventing financial losses to the corporation due to project fraud.

The term project fraud may at first seem a harsh characterization of the poor project success rates that most management accepts as the status quo. However, Rollins and Lanza do an excellent job of mapping the COSO Control Framework to the execution of project objectives and the performance of project personnel. They include diagrams, descriptions and questions to assist in the performance of a Project Fraud Risk Assessment. The underlying conclusions are that poor manmagement of project fraud can seriusly hurt corporate business objectives and that the PMO is best suited to perform this function.

This is must reading for PMO Directors struggling to get the visibility and executive blessing needed to effectively fulfill their mission.

This is a necessary reference for effective project management and Section 404 compliance under Sarbanes-Oxley. The book provideds an abundance of checklists and questions that will make this an ongoing well used reference for ensuring continued corporate governance. The reality of project fraud and its widespread impact is clearly spelled out. Rollins and Lanza accomplished their objective with well stated structures for breaking down the work steps needed to prevent fraud and establish effective internal controls for managing projects. You get your money's worth with this book.

Sub-Title: Preventing Project Fraud And Ensuring Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance

Sarbanes-Oxley is one of those things that you really wish Congress had to apply to themselves rather than just imposing it on the rest of us. It has certainly made life interesting. In terms of project management, it's intent is to ensure that a project proceeds to work on its stated mission, correctly utilizing the projects resources, and eliminate improper dealings with project vendors for personal enrichment.

A key problem is to distinguish between fraud and mismanagement, conspiracy and incompetence. An interesting project discussed in the book is the California State Welfare Automation Project where the project was so confused that they still can't say if fraud ocurred. From this example the reporting procedures that may prevent the reocurrance of such situations is developed by looking as many areas where fraud can at least be expected to occur.

This situation wouldn't be so critical if the law weren't written so that people can be put in jail for not instituting proper controls where proper controls are a matter of opinion. This book gives the best analysis of current thinking, subject to change of course as the courts deal with the problem.

As a project manager, I was very interested to read this book. The consequences of unchecked fraudulent activity in the public and private sectors does more than affect the "bottom line." It erodes public confidence in the ability of managers to protect the assets assigned to their care.

Within organizations, fraud robs employees of the resources they need to fulfill their obligations. This book gives project managers, auditors, and fraud investigators a "blueprint" for taking effective collaborative action to both uncover and prevent fraud during the life of projects. Since so much business activity is project-based, it's a wonder we had to wait so long for it.

The book's organization makes it easy to follow the argument that fraud can be dealt with effectively. The Preface clearly states the purpose of the book. Each chapter is divided by important topics within. This is accurately reflected in the table of contents. Each chapter is also neatly summarized at the end. It has a helpful index at the back of the book as well.

The Appendices are helpful, too. They supplement the text by providing a "List of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Sections," "Decision Tree for Software Development Projects," and "Project Fraud Management Policy Template."

The authors have the necessary professional credentials and the extensive experience needed to synthesize the subject matter. They have the all-important credibility to support their contentions.

I thought the book brought together the best of project management and financial auditing to offer concerned professionals a "roadmap" to more control. It provides checklists and guidelines that enable project managers and internal auditors to work together.

The book should, of course, appeal to the above-mentioned professionals. It should also be read and understood by top-level corporate managers who want to make use of available professional skills to effectively fight fraud.

Like most people, I have more books than space for them, so I have a revolving door policy -- I sell or donate books that I don't need "at hand" or don't absolutely adore. This book is staying in my library -- unless I give away my spinning wheel, spindles, wool, etc. Not likely.

Mrs. Ross focuses on sheep wool, and goes into sufficient detail on other natural spinning fibers, including (thank you, Mrs. Ross) which types of sheep wool would be best to spin with them. Her explanations of fiber selection, preparation, and spinning are wonderfully clear -- but it's the tables I turn to when deciding what wool to order. They cover everything I can think of -- sheep breeds, wool quality of each, micron size as compared to Bradford count, how may twists per inch is appropriate for various yarn types, etc. I always have an excellent idea of which type of wool/fleece to select for any project.

I bought this when I owned only a hand spindle; personally, I have no intention of ever counting treadles when I spin anyway, but there's still plenty of useful information for any kind of spinner -- and if I ever want to get particular (and make some of the awesome yarns she shows!), I'm set to go. A shame there's not a more recent publishing; I'd buy another copy.

I am an intermediate handspinner, and consider this book an essential resource. Once you have learned the basics of handspinning, this book provides information to both improve your yarn and a guide for creating designer yarns. If you are going to buy one book to take your spinning to the next level, this is it.

If you are a handspinner, have you coveted those new eyelash and slub yarns that are all the rage for scarves and boas? Handspinning, though time-consuming, can be gratifying to one's creativity. If you would like to learn the elements of yarn design, from grading fleece, to scouring and processing, up to controlling twist and creating unusual yarns, this is an essential reference. While not new and not covering eyelash yarns, this book is absolutely a must for learning the properties of yarn as you design your own.

This is just a great book!
There are lots of B&W photos and also illustrations on most of the pages to show how the yarn is held or what it's supposed to look like. This was a great help to me. The book covers fiber prep (washing, carding, etc),the parts of the spinning wheel and control over yarn design in handspinning. She talks about controlling twist and spinning and plying techniques and explains the difference between woolen and worsted yarns.
Described in detail, she explains how to make yarns of many kinds, from thick soft ones to fine gossamer.

I think this is a great book for both beginner and experienced spinner.

A solid, fluid look at experimental economics! In these turbulent times on Wall Street (and really in markets around the world) this proves to be a great source of how we've come to this point, but more importantly, where we can go from here.

Miller provides in-depth insight into past financial market events and by doing so sheds light on what might happen today on several fronts. Three examples: His discussion of the 1998 Long-Term Capital Management debacle is relevant for understanding current risks in hedge funds. His analysis of 1980s portfolio insurance should add to concerns about the proliferation of capital guaranteed notes. His take on market circuit breakers, which he describes as regulatory folly, raises the question of what would happen today if these were triggered.

While the book reviews a large and varied body of academic research, focusing heavily on the experimental economics that the author subscribes to, it offers practical conclusions that anybody interested in finance will find worthwhile. As a financial journalist, I found it very useful.

However, because it covers a lot of ground, readers may want to pick and choose what they want to read from the index. The chapter and section headings, while entertaining, are not good guides for this purpose.

But that's not my only reason for thinking this a great book.

Ross M. Miller makes three large claims here. I think he makes good on the first two. I'm not so sure about the third, but even there he makes a case that needs to be made.

First, he explains that one branch of economics has become an experimental science.

Second, he says that this variant of economics has produced important results - theorems disclosing how markets might best be structured or restructured, and how the privatization of now-public goods might be accomplished, in ways that could produce enormous productivity gains.

He more pessimistically claims though, thirdly, that these theorems probably won't produce such gains, because in doing so they would hurt politically powerful interests.

The idea of "experimental economics" is simple enough: a college professor need only ask his students to co-operate in a simple auction-based game, so that he (and they) can observe the process by which prices come into existence under simplified conditions. Once a body of observations has developed, he and other experimenters can vary the rules and conditions of the game and observe the effect the changes have upon the trading strategies of the players and the game outcomes.

It was at Harvard University, in the 1940s, that such experiments got their start, in the classroom of Professor Edward Chamberlain. In the decades since, a body of observations has developed that in some respects supports neoclassical economic theory, but that in one crucial respect calls for its modification. Neoclassical theory needs to be modified to account for the possibility of irrational price bubbles. What is of greater policy importance, though, is that post-Chamberlainian experiments have given us a good idea of how markets can be structured to prevent bubble formation.

About 1975, when Ross Miller and I were grad students in economics, there was a consensus "economic view of the world." Economists who had to deal with the real world -- policy makers and development types -- didn't really believe it, but the mainstream did. Not only believed it, but took it for granted.

That's not true today. The consensus is fragmenting. If you want to understand the underpinnings of this intellectual shift, read Ross's book. It's written clearly, even excitingly, with well-chosen examples. And it is written by a real economist, who's trying to understand what's right and what's wrong about how we think about the economic world.

All of the Aqualog books are excellent value, although they are not particularly cheap. They are full to the brim with first class colour photographs and to reproduce these in a book is an expensive process. Whether they are about Freshwater Rays or some other species of fish they are the most comprehensive identification books you can buy. They never become dated because as new fish become available to the aquarist trade the books are updated.

They will not normally tell you how to set up a tank or what plants or rockwork you need. They will not tell you which filter to use or what type of substrate. They are mainly a fish identification encyclopaedia and nothing more. But for those aquarists who are particularly interested in a particular species they are indispensable.

If you are serious about keeping freshwater stingrays, you must have this book at home.

Aqualog has always been the reference books to have, this one is no different, this is the book that everyone else follows for classification, and reference.

Beautifull pictures with accurate species information, and the ability to update the book makes it a must buy!

I got the book from Amazon.com and it was indeed true to the editorial write up. However I must add that this is a book strictly for the avid freshwater sting ray aquarist. A problem with freshwater stingray is their many "morphs" within the same species and this book has a really comprehensive pictorial of the many "morphs" within the same species. Now I can identify the thirteen freshwater stingrays in my care with certainty. Note that this is not a book on care nor setup of aquariums for frewater rays. It is more a identification and writeup of the characteristics of the many freshwater rays. Strictly for the advanced aquarists specializing in freshwater rays only and hence fully worth the price and the 6 weeks wait I had.

While still new to caring for freshwater rays, a friend loaned me a copy of this book, and it quickly became my bible! With many color photos and illustrations, including a dissection photo, this book is a great reference tool for identifying and sexing rays. For those looking to keep rays as pets, the book covers the basic requirements for keeping rays, including tank size, subsrate, and water conditions. The book is also full of helpful words from the author's own experience of keeping freshwater rays, and can help you avoid common problems, diseases, etc. For those who do not plan to keep rays as pets, this book is worth a look simply for its wealth of information on one of the less known types of freshwater aquatic life. An interesting, informative, and essential book for any aquarist!

Although the only real written work Ross has left us, it is a wellspring of information regarding his thinking on good (and bad) course design. There are also comments regrading how the game was played in his day and a number of other informative and enlightening segments.

The overall style of the book is a collection of short comments on concepts, courses, and techinques of course building. As such, it lacks the flair that we see in other books written by the same generation of architects to illustrait a greater story (as with, for example, Macdonald's Scotland's Gift). Even so, Ross' character comes out.

In addition to the rare look we get at the thinking of a master course architect, there are also numerous photos and design sketches that bring into clear view what is being discussed.

Lastly, for those hoping to hunt down a Ross course near you, there is an index of Donald Ross designed courses and clubs included.

It should be kept in mind that this is a book for the architecture crowd. People looking to "shave off a few strokes" will need to look elsewhere. It is hoped, though, that this book will be available before the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst, as there will no doubt be an increased interest in Ross and his courses.

In the introduction to this book, Donald Ross's daughter says, ". . .he approached every new course with the idea that the golf player, champion or duffer, should complete his round challenged by the layout and enriched by the beauty of nature."

In his career, Donald Ross designed more than 400 courses in the United States. His most famous is Pinehurst No. 2, considered one of the ultimate tests of tournament golf.

This book was created from an old manuscript Mr. Ross wrote in 1914 that was never published, intended as a guide to future golf architects, supplemented with other published commentaries by and about Ross.

Mr. Ross had an unusual background for a golf course architect. In a time when engineers usually designed and built the courses, he had served as the pro and greenskeeper at Dornoch in Scotland, after training at St. Andrews with Old Tom Morris and at Carnoustie. The lure of much higher income and the opportunity to build lots of golf courses drew him to the United States with his first job of rebuilding Oakley in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Here are some of the ideas he shares in the book:

"These are my standards to laying out a golf course.

Make each hole a different problem.

So arrange it that each stroke must be made with full concentration and attention necessary to good golf. Build each hole in such a manner that it wastes none of the ground at my disposal, and takes advantage of every possibility I see."

A sandy loamy soal is best, with very little humus. This gives you better playing conditions and a longer season. Long Island and Cape Cod are best.

Avoid clay soils because they are hard to drain. Unfortunately, most land around major cities is clay soiled. Favor fan-shaped and oblong tracts of land so that the clubhouse can be returned to with little wasted land after 9 holes.

Start out with two or more easy holes.

Favor par 4s unless people insist on par 5s. Par 4s make a better test, especially 425-450 yard ones.

On par 5s, provide two paths to the green -- one for reaching in 2 and one for reaching in 3.

"Select your putting green locations, if possible, to give desirable undulating surfaces."

"Make all the short holes difficult."

"The holes should be trapped so that par golf depends on skill rather than physical strength."

"Bunkers should so be placed as to be clearly in view, and in such locations as to make all classes of golfers think."

He recommends designing from the land, rather than on paper. He also suggests building the best few holes the land will allow, because golfers are attracted and retained by memories of great and challenging holes. He ends humbly with "I am not much of a writer. I find my thoughts run far ahead of my hand and figures when I sit down to write."

There are about 60 pages in the book that will be valuable to architects and greenskeepers, but will not do much for golfers. You may choose to skip those.

The book lists the known Donald Ross courses, and has many beautiful black and white photographs and illustrations.

One of the pleasures of reading this book for me relates to having played on many Donald Ross courses, and belonging to a country club (Brae Burn in West Newton, Massachusetts) that has a Donald Ross course. The book features 3 photographs from our course (the 1st, 2nd, and 17th holes). I will certainly have many new thoughts whenever I play this course after reading this interesting book. To golf's pleasures, I can now add thinking about what the architect was trying to accomplish.

I also came away with a greater appreciation for Donald Ross, because he was trying to make golf more challenging and less frustrating for the average club golfer like me. This made me want to play many more Donald Ross courses in the future. I hope you have that reaction, too.

Use this book to help you pick courses that will improve your enjoyment of golf!

What else do you enjoy doing where the designer or architect makes a difference to you?

If you like this book, there is a new book out with color photographs of 18 of Mr. Ross's finest holes that you should see entitled: Golf as It Was Meant to Be Played which I also reviewed.

This book is timeless. Written over fifty years ago the text and accompanying photos and sketches are well done. If you want to understand a Donald Ross Golf Course then you need to read this book.The photographs are from a time gone by - you can picture yourself there.

Donald Ross was the pivotal figure in the establishment of golf as a recreational sport in the U.S. His courses remain as challenging today as they were during his times.

This book gives the reader insights into how to view a course with a critical eye. And after reading it, one can quickly identify the trademark features of a Ross design and perhaps score a little better on it.

The book also provides a comprehensive listing of courses.

--The man who is going to play every Donald Ross course.

I really recommend all parents and children to read this
book whether they are involved or not in gymnastics. It
tells you everything there is to know about the world of
recreational and competitive gymnastics. It also motivates
kids to stay fit,healthy,and doing their best in any aspect
of life. It also informs parents the benefits of hard work
and discipline on children .

I really recommend all parents and children to read this
book whether they are involved or not in gymnastics. It
tells you everything there is to know about the world of
recreational and competitive gymnastics. It also motivates
kids to stay fit,healthy,and doing their best in any aspect
of life. It also informs parents the benefits of hard work
and discipline on children .

A wonderful book for those who want to or have just started gymnastics, this book will guide you and makes a great introduction to gymnastics. The book was written Elfi Schlegal, a former Olympian, and has many full-color photographs of famous gymnasts and young gymnasts performing basic gymnastics skills. Some things this book talks about are getting started, finding a gymnastics club, what to look for in a coach, eating healthy, conditioning and warm-up excercises, different gymnastics skills, competitive gymnastics, and much more. Many tips and quotes from famous gymnasts are also in this book, too. This book is a wonderful choice for all beginning gymnasts, and a very wise purchase.

Nice book, but do not be misled by info in reviews here - there is almost nothing on men's competitions or male competitors. I originally purchased it for my nephew, but found that all of the photos of young competitors were little girls.

And the investigators just planned a calm vacation on a shore town...

Kingsport offers a different feel for Call of Cthulhu campaigns. Few other locales are as tied to the Dreamlands as this small town. Not that Kingsport lacks some of the rugose and eldritch horrors of the Mythos, but Keepers can construct scenarious around some of the more fantastical, less ghastly elements that Lovecraft wrote. Chaosium delivers much potential intrigue in detailed descriptions of locals and locales.

The included adventures range from merely good to the brilliant and harrowing, "Dead in the Water," one of the more challenging adventures written for the game. My players still talk about the dangers of the Star Mother years since their encounter - a testament to some ingenious writing and plotting.

A Must-By for any CofC Keeper.
I can say that "Dead in the Water" has a lot of material and looks very intense and draws out many of the unique characteristics of Kingsport.

This book is perfect for create any adventure you wuold like to set in Kingsport.
Here you find all the information you need: people, buildings, legends, maps, and so on.

Lovecraft is, I think, best known for his adjectives. More than Cthulhu, even than the Necronomicon, Lovecraft distinguishes himself by a flood of adjectival description for every object, person, landscape, and sensation. The effect is hypnotic, causing the reader to feel immersed in the actual location. I have always thought of Dunwich's adjectives as grubby, ramshackle, and decayed; for Arkaham, I think of dark, secretive, ancient, and haunted. After reading the Kingsport sourcebook, I have an even stronger feel for that location: quiet, contemplative, shrouded in mystery. The rhythm of wave and tide pacing the flow of time from one generation to the next. The ubiquitous mists sheltering the town from the march of progress, allowing memories to accumulate. It seems like the perfect location for an ancient mystery to resurface.

One excellent aspect of the Lovecraft country books is the inclusion of at least some of Lovecraft's original stories dealing with the town - that is why we're here, after all. Kingsport's stories are "The Strange High House in the Mist" and "The Festival". I would have also liked to see the inlcusion of "The Terrible Old Man" as well as "The White Ship", but that might conceivably be giving away too much.

There follows some short sections on what life is like in Kingsport, the history of the town, and the low-down on the local cult (which I thought was pretty good). Afterwards is the standard breakdown of the locale into neighborhoods/regions. Each section lists any interesting residents, locations, and any useful items or information located there. I find this to be an excellent inspiration for ideas. If you are not completely into one-shots, an excellent long-term idea would be just to explore the town, investigating history and mystery. I know that my gaming group actually likes this sort of thing better than epic quests and whatnot. I also really like the town directory, sorting people, places and things into categories for easy reference with their page number.

About half of the book is scenarios. There is a short section on how to use character dreams during gameplay and then 3 scenarios. I really can't say much about them without being a spoiler. I can say that "Dead in the Water" has a lot of material and looks very intense and draws out many of the unique characteristics of Kingsport.

I have already the Arkham book, with plans to soon purchase HP Lovecraft's Dunwich, but I have to say I absolutely love HP Lovecraft's Kingsport. It is fll of interesting descriptions, characters, and adventures, as well as a facinating cult that could easily center in a campaign. If there is one thing I do find annoying about this book, it is its size (not very large), but it was still easily worth my money. And one complement I have to give it is that it has finally found a way to drive away those omnipresent ghouls.
All in all, it is a very good book, that portrays a very creepy little town, with enough horror in it to drive more than one investigator mad...

This is a very good book. I recomend it to anyone that doesen't know how to speak centipedish. I think that all hoo-min kind should read it. (you'd know what I mean if you have read the book!)

There's not much substance to this story of Harry (actually, Hxzltl, in Centipede), a many-legged creature who lives down-under (ground, that is), beyond the world of the HOO-MINS. Unless, of course, you are an eight to 10-year-old reader, who likes animals of every kind, especially buggy ones, and adores characters who like you rebel against their parents' every instruction.

In that case, Harry is made to order, and you'll enjoy him so much you will read this book two or three times at least.

Perfect for second, third or fourth grade readers who prefer chapter books with illustrations, this 153-page story of an insect mischief-maker will delight kids who like to read down-under (blankets, after lights-out). Alyssa A. Lappen

Meet Harry, he's young, charming, has many legs and he's poisonous. He lives with his mother, Belinda and best friend George, in tunnels under the ground. Like many young centipedes his age, he doesn't always listen to his mother and heed her warnings to stay away from the "no-top" world, where humans live and danger lurks around every corner. And because of this, we are treated to Harry and George's many adventures, as they leave their safe home underground, to go up above and experience the forbidden "no-top" world. Lynn Reid Banks has written a very creative and imaginative story, about the world, from a centipede's point of view. Her writing is witty and down to earth, full of funny dialogue and great, fast paced scenes. Your kids will be turning pages to the end, to find out what happens when Harry and George, finally come face to face with the dreaded human. The perfect book for youngsters aged 8-10, Harry the Poisonous Centipede is a winner.

Harry is a centipede who gets into a lot of trouble. George is a centipede who is best friends with Harry and lives with him. Blinda is Harry's mother and she takes care of George. One of Harry and George's adventures was going to the no-top-world. What will happen? Will they be eaten by other insects or will they survive? Read to find out!

I thought that this book was excellent for me, a third grader. I really understood it and it was the best book I have read in my entire life.

This book is for all ages. From Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds, it has it all. It is loaded with interesting facts and stories about the begining of baseball to the current day. It's a great book to read with the kids. "Hey Batta Batta Swing!: The Wild Old Days of Baseball" is a perfect gift for any baseball fanatic.

Sally Cook, James Charlton and Ross MacDonald have a major league hit with HEY BATTA BATTA SWING! Fans and non-fans alike will enjoy dipping into this deliciously nostalgic book that combines wit, style and fascinating baseball lore. Buy a copy and keep it on hand for when you need a gift for the hard-to-buy-for...but you're likely to end up keeping it for yourself!

Sally Cook's new book is a great way to welcome both baseball season and summer. It's the most fun you'll have with baseball unless it is going to say, a Red Sox/Yankees tied-to-the-end game! And it's not for kids only - it's a PERFECT Father's Day gift, for baseball fans and history buffs alike.

Sally Cook's new book is packed with interesting baseball facts and history, and it's written in a light-hearted style both children and adults will enjoy. Even for someone who is not a baseball fan, I was amazed to discover the game was part of American culture as far back as the middle of the 19th century. The illustrations are fun and perfectly suit the subject matter.