Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5 (Apple Pro Training)

Book Description

The scalability, performance and Emmy Award-winning workflow of Final Cut Pro 5 make it the first choice of professional editors everywhere. For those clamoring to get in on the action, this best-selling volume uses a series of class-length lessons designed to provide a strong foundation in all aspects of the digital video editing powerhouse. Readers follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the book's hands-on exercises, using the project files on the accompanying DVD. Master teacher Diana Weynand covers everything from basic editing skills to complex topics such as creating transitions and motion effects, real-time color correcting, titling techniques, and more. Previously published as Final Cut Pro HD, this revision has been updated to cover all of Final Cut Pro 5's new features, including higher quality effects, RT Extreme with Dynamic RT, editing multi-camera projects, closer integration with Apple's other creative tools and more.

Customer Reviews:

for final cut pro beginners.......2007-10-18

very useful, pretty easy to read. would they consider publishing a smaller version for all the commands only?

Good tool for learning.......2007-10-18

Book is very comprehensive, covers topics in depth and allows the reader to work through projects. Final Cut is quite a program, and to try to learn about it on your own would be a challange, this book bridges the gap.
Not once could I complete the project tasks in the estimated time given, i.e. 1 hour, I don't know if I am the only one who can't pick it up as quick as the book says, for me personally the concept of completing the book in the time stated is unrealistic, nevertheless I got it eventually and now have a much broader understanding of the program, so in this sense I found it useful and it has fulfilled it's purpose as a learning tool.

Excellent source of information.......2007-10-17

I am new at editing having only used Final Cut Pro for very basic and simple editing. This book is superb for beginners who wish to take their skills up a notch with plenty of tidbits for experimentation. I recommend beginners to have a copy of this book in their library if only for referrence.

great lessons... sytematic, clear........2007-05-09

Excellent lessons... just perfect... sssshhh.. I'll let you in on a little secret... you listening? Give Apple 99 bucks and get 50 one hour lessons! 2 bucks an hour with a pro at the Apple store!

Really good start for learning Final Cut Pro 5........2007-04-08

Anyone aspiring to be an director needs to be a good editor first. You need to understand how the film will be put together so that you can plan your shots, actors, special effects, music etc. Editing is the final part, where everything comes together. The best editing work is only as good as the sum of the components - story, acting, photography, sound effects, music, etc. When all these things come together with great editing, there is the potential for a great property.

Final Cut Pro (FCP) is an industry player in film editing. The price of Final Cut Studio (Final Cut Pro is part of this package) is cheap for professionals and within reach of the serious hobbyist. By serious I mean you don't just by the starter kit and then put it on the shelf. Make no mistake FCP is very functional, and it is entirely probable that you will be fully intimidated by the plethora of options available to you. This is where the "Apple Pro Training Series: Final cut Pro 5" comes in. Don't expect to be the next Tony Scott or Steven Spielberg yet. That can't be done in any book. It will however, give you enough grounding to start experimenting with FCP with confidence.

Do all the chapter exercises in order and don't skip any. I don't recall any errors, which is rare. I can't recommend this book enough.

Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut

Average customer rating:

JTHM
Insanity and Murder are Funny
The darkest, goriest, most awesome story ever!
Amazing Book
Jhonny kicks your [...]

Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut
Jhonen Vasquez
Manufacturer: SLG Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0943151163

Book Description

Mayhem and violence rule in this collection of issues one through seven of Jhonen Vasquez's Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, as well as material seen before only in Carpe Noctem magazine. Dark and disturbingly funny, JTHM follows the adventures of Johnny (you can call him Nny), who lives with a pair of styrofoam doughboys that encourage his madness, a wall that constantly needs a fresh coat of blood, and--oh, yeah--his victims in various states of torture. Join Nny as he frightens the little boy next door (Todd, known to fans of Vasquez's work as Squee), thirsts for Cherry Brain Freezies, attempts suicide, draws Happy Noodle Boy, and tries to uncover the meaning of his homicidal existence.

Customer Reviews:

JTHM.......2007-08-24

VERY FUNNY LIGHT READING IN THE VERY DARK ZONE,IF YOU LIKE OVER THE TOP GORE THIS BOOKS FOR YOU!!

Insanity and Murder are Funny.......2006-11-26

Well actually, they really aren't, but after reading JTHM you might think they are. Jhonen Vasquez has an amazing talent; he is capable of making the most disturbing things laugh-out-loud hilarious. For this I wish to give JTHM Director's Cut a 5/5, but I cannot. But before I explain why, let me attempt to explain the meaning behind Jhonen's madness. Naturally, this is merely _my_ interpretation of his work.

JTHM is an attack (and a very violent one at that) on normalcy through the use of satire and parody with disturbing, dark themes. Due to the dark themes and disturbing content, this work could be labeled as "gothic" (and often is), but that would be rather insulting. Ironically, "goths" tend to adore the disturbing and the dark simply because it is not "normal," but they end up carving a very specific mold of normalcy out for their own clique. "If you don't fit a certain image, you're not goth and you're not one of US," a goth might say. JTHM is not only an attack on what MOST of us would consider normal, but also an attack on what GOTHS consider normal. It is an attack on all those arrogant people out there who deliberately exclude others because they don't fit in with their own definition of what normal is.

This theme pervades the entire series, from when Johnny is brutally torturing bullies for making fun of him for what he wears, to the little comments JV sometimes scratches in at the corners of his panels. But, it is not JV's attack on normalcy that is the most interesting aspect of JTHM, it is the contradictions. On the one hand, much of this comic book is rather demented and disgusting, but at the same time the book is hilarious--pulling the reader in two different directions at once. Also, sometimes there are comic strips that are completely pointless and filled with excessive (and unnecessary) violence, while there are others that have Johnny going on thought-provoking philosophical ramblings. This tension from pulling the reader back and forth (between violence and humor, and between pointlessness and meaning) is so instense that if you try to read too much at once you'll either sweat excessively, vomit profusely, or pass out from lack of oxygen because you're laughing so hard (or a combination of all three). I suggest reading in small dosages, you've been warned :)

This actually brings me to one of my only complaints. The JTHM series once featured "Meanwhiles" which are mini comic strips whose sole purpose is simply a brief, funny intermission between the JTHM series. The lack of meanwhiles lowers the value of the book (since they are really funny). But, the Meanwhiles also served as a means to break up the tension in the Johnny series. Since JTHM is so intense, the random and so often silly nature of the Meanwhile comic strips served as a pleasant deviation, and the lack of these pleasant little breaks means it's much more difficult to read JTHM in longer bursts.

My only other complaint is in the sturdiness of the actual book itself. I've only read through JTHM a few times, but already pages are falling out all over the place. I feel kind of bad negating a star primarily because of this reason (since it is not Jhonen's fault), but pages falling out really does detract from the overall experience.

Despite the lack of Meanwhiles and the overall flimsyness of the book itself, this is a solid purchase. Unless you're too easily offended or puke all over the place at the sight of blood, this graphic novel should not disappoint. Highly recommended!!!

The darkest, goriest, most awesome story ever!.......2006-11-05

I was introduced to this by my crazy friend, and I love it. Jhonen Vasquez has a very dark sense of humor, and has very comedic ways of showing someone kill people. I would HIGHLY suggest that one peeks into the book (click "Search inside this book") and read a couple of pages. In all honesty, though, if you don't like the few pages that are shown through Amazon, then you probably will not like the book. I think that the artwork is extremly well done, but it might not hold the interest of certain "normal" people.

Amazing Book.......2006-09-07

For anyone thinking of buying this book, the title explains the content: Johnny is a homicidal maniac. And this isn't an 80's horror film kind of homicidal maniac (one who likes to kill whislt in silhouette), oh no; the tortures and murders are shown in detail. The art work is very different compared to pretty much any other art work you'll find. Jhonen's use of skinny-as-hell characters and geometric drawings make this truly unique. Some may not like it, but that's a personal preferance.
That aside.
The story is non-linear in its own way (let's get one thing straight: it's not Tarentino non-linear), with different events taking place that can pretty much be interchanged with themselves (until part five), which gives the reader a simular sense of Johnny's psychosis. The dialouge is well crafted, logical (irony!) and often philisophical. If you're an intellectual, you'll thouroughly enjoy what the book has to offer...if you can manage some gore.

Also, the Happy Noodle Boy one-page segments are kept in this "Director's Cut" edition. These I found to be hilarious in their own, beyond random way. Seriously, these things are extremely random. Basically, it follows Happy Noodle Boy throughout a day in his life, which is often filled with swearing, yelling at people and usually ends with Noodle Boy getting shot.

In all, this is a great book and I highly suggest you pick up a copy. I find it very hard to believe anybody could whole-heartedly dislike this book.

Jhonny kicks your [...].......2006-08-09

dude, this book is the most awesome book ever. it just is.
Oh, and I LOVE that he listens to clasical music!!!!!!! thats one smart...put psycho....guy!!

But I must say one thing...
There are chicks on the internet that think that he's "hot" and they say that they'd "so do him"
but,
1. he'd kill you
2. HE'S A FRIGGEN COMIC BOOK CARACHTER YOU WEIRDOS!
3. You must be a freak if you HONESTLY think that.

yeah..i wouldnt do 'im...i wouldnt be evil to him like everyone else in the book...but yeah...i wouldnt think that a comic book character was hot. thats just odd. like...not good odd, like, say...invader zim-odd...but odd like.....say...my uncle that steals my grandma's bath towels odd......thats just stupid.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Baby Board Books)

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Loves reading
Average
Love Love Love!
Buy "Where's My Belly Button" instead

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Baby Board Books)

Manufacturer: Child's Play International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0859537285

Product Description

This award winning series has been specifically designed for babies. A great introduction to books through well-known nursery songs and interactive text. By Annie Kubler. Ages: birth - 2 years Manufacturer: Marlon Creations

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-09-15

My son who is 2.5 years old loves the book and we read it about 10 times a night.

Loves reading.......2007-08-27

My little absolutely loves these books. I have to read one or more of the everyday.

Average.......2007-08-15

This is a cute book, but my 10 month old daughter isn't that crazy about it. She has other books she likes much more.

Love Love Love!.......2007-08-09

I purchased this book for my son when he was 15 months old and he loves this book. He brings it to me to read to him over and over again. The illustrations are fun, he loves the song, and he knows all the body parts now. Many times I have seen him flipping through the book on his own "studying" the pictures. Given I don't usually pay to buy new books that cost more than a dollar or two, this one was definately worth it!

Buy "Where's My Belly Button" instead.......2007-06-13

This is merely a verbatim book version of the old playschool song "head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes . . " It could be made a bit more worthwhile if the art was engaging or dynamic in some way, but it's blah (think Precious Moments meets Charlie Brown) and does little to enhance a young childs perception of where to find his/her head, shoulders, knees . . well you get to idea.

Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers

Average customer rating:

Wierd title, great book
The dirt DIVA endorses Amy Stewart's book, baby!
Amazing Introduction to Exciting World of Flowers
Flower-ific!
the flip side of all that loveliness

Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers
Amy Stewart
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1565124383

Book Description

We buy more flowers a year than we do Big Macs, spending $6.2 billion annually. We use them to mark our most important events, to express sentiments that might otherwise go unsaid. And we demand perfection. So it’s no surprise that there is a $40 billion global industry devoted to making flowers flawless.

Amy Stewart takes us inside the flower trade—from the hybridizers, who create new varieties in the laboratory, to the growers, who produce flowers by the millions (often in a factory-like setting), to the Dutch auctioneers, who set the bar (and the price), and ultimately to the neighborhood florists orchestrating the mind-boggling demands of Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. There’s the breeder intent on developing the first blue rose; an eccentric horticultural legend who created the world’s most popular lily; a grower of gerberas of every color imaginable; and the equivalent of a Tiffany diamond: the “ Forever Young” rose.

Stewart explores the relevance of flowers in our lives and in our history, and in the process she reveals all that has been gained—and lost—by tinkering with nature.

Customer Reviews:

Wierd title, great book.......2007-10-07

When I saw Amy Stewart's name on a new book I had to have it. I enjoyed her book about earthworms so much that I didn't think she could match it, but I was wrong. This is a wonderful expose of the flower trade around the world. From Holland to South America she tracked down the progress of cut flowers from their hybridizing to the final sale. It all has the ring of truth - that sense that the research was thorough, that nothing was skimped, and aspects of the flower business were presented whole cloth as well as facts being recorded and shared.
Last year I saw roses grown in Ecuador for markets continents away. I read about Dole closing down huge flower-growing greenhouses in poor towns where that was the only source of income. In our hacienda were bouquets of roses enormous beyond belief. Amy Stewart's book places this into perspective for me within the whole world of the flower industry.
In slaking her own curiosity about the natural world, this writer helps us understand our world better. This book is not just about flowers, or even the natural world - it is also about international trade, politics, business affairs and economic and social issues.
An excellent package. I can't wait for her next book.

The dirt DIVA endorses Amy Stewart's book, baby!.......2007-08-28

As an opinionated garden columnist, who preaches organic gardening to anyone who will listen . . . I was thrilled to read a book that finally tells the true story behind the floral industry. The system is ridiculous and needs drastic change. This will only happen when flower consumers are educated enough to see what their purchases are doing to the soil and to the farmers and their families, who work amongst toxic pesticides just so we can have a nice, long-lasting, unscented, superficial flower on our table.
Plus, the book is beautifully written.
AMEN AMY!

Amazing Introduction to Exciting World of Flowers.......2007-08-24

When you go to the supermarket and see groceries, most of us have at least a basic understanding of from where and how the food came to be there, such as the fields where crops grew, ranches where livestock were raised, slaughterhouses, processing facilities, etc. But how many times have most of us thought about flowers? Especially considering just how short a period of time there is between when a flower is picked, when it is displayed in our homes, and when it finally wilts, there are an amazing number of processes and work involved in flowers. Travelling around the world, from the "design" stage (yes, you'll read about how flowers are "engineered") to planting, to selling, to transportation, to marketing, all the way to the florist's shop or the supermarket, Stewart covers it all. You'll even learn a lot about some of the "allied" professions in the flower trade, like logistics, retailing, biotechnology, and more. And best of all, the book is written in a very easy to read style. If you have any interest in flowers and/or you just like learning about how things work, then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

Flower-ific!.......2007-07-04

I brought this book with me on a vacation to Hawaii last week, outwardly hopeful that it would be as great as it sounded, but inwardly nervous that it was not beach-appropriate. But I am delighted (and relieved) to report that it was fantastic, and I could barely put it down. (I went for a wedding, and I would even break it out when I had a spare five minutes.)

I was really impressed with Stewart's ability to take a complicated, international industry and reduce it to enjoyable anecdotes, from a 3rd generation violet grower in California to the early morning Dutch flower auction. Even better, I feel smarter now. (If I hadn't borrowed it from the library, I probably would have broken out my highlighter.) There's just so much information packed in there -- she clearly put a tremendous amount of hours and research into this work.

Having said that, I think you have to like flowers, at least a little bit, to really enjoy Flower Confidential. If you don't, I could see how you'd want to chuck it out the window -- for me, it would be like reading a towering stack of Car & Driver with no end in sight.

[...]

the flip side of all that loveliness.......2007-06-01

As a flower junkie and floral designer, I was vaguely aware of the flower industry's workings, but this book spelled it all out pretty clearly for me. The Big Idea I have taken away from this is that we the flower-buying public need to demand quality, cleanliness and sustainability from the flower industry in the same way we are coming to demand it from those who supply our food. "Fair trade" is a phrase most Americans associate with coffee-- we should expect similar standards with respect to the flowers we purchase as well. All that loveliness should not come at the expense of the health of those producing it or of the integrity of the environment.

Average customer rating:

Great book!
Entertaining but unsatisfying
Great Read!
The best way to learn, with empathy
Interesting read!

Cut
Patricia Mccormick
Manufacturer: Push
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439324599

Amazon.com

Burdened with the pressure of believing she is responsible for her brother's illness, 15-year-old Callie begins a course of self-destruction that leads to her being admitted to Sea Pines, a psychiatric hospital the "guests" refer to as Sick Minds. Although initially she refuses to speak, her individual and group therapy sessions trigger memories and insights. Slowly, she begins emerging from her miserable silence, ultimately understanding the role her dysfunctional family played in her brother's health crisis.

Patricia McCormick's first novel is authentic and deeply moving. Callie suffers from a less familiar teen problem--she cuts herself to relieve her inner frustrations and guilt. The hope and hard-won progress that comes at the conclusion of the novel is believable and heartening for any teen reader who feels alone in her (or his) angst. Along with Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and E.L. Konigsburg's Silent to the Bone, McCormick's Cut expertly tackles an unusual response to harrowing adolescent trouble. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Callie isn't speaking to anybody, not even to her therapist at Sea Pines, the "residential treatment facility" where her parents and doctor sent her after discovering that she cuts herself. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly become involved with the other "guests" at Sea Pines -- finding her voice and confronting the trauma that triggered her behavior.

Customer Reviews:

Great book!.......2007-09-14

This book is an excellent read for teens. I would recommend it to any parent of a teenage girl. The story moves very quickly but it gives some really good insight into what happens in the minds of victims of an illness like this.

Entertaining but unsatisfying.......2007-08-06

I thought the story that happened at 'Sick Minds' was good, but the main character's story was bad. The ending left much to be desired, and it seemed that the main character never really had much of a change.

Great Read!.......2007-07-24

I really enjoyed this book. I feel it is necessary for teens to read a book like this to understand different problems that can occur to people. Many teens judge others who experence the issues, like those in "Cut", and can really open your mind and heart. I enjoyed this book a lot and would definatly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The best way to learn, with empathy.......2007-07-24

This book is staying in my library so that it can circulate to the people who need to read it: anyone who might encounter a teenager who is suffering the way the protagonist suffered. Anyone who might encounter an adult who is or who has suffered in this way. Anyone who is going through this themselves.
Reading about cutting in the clinical and self help literature was fine but this book did an excellent job of creating sympathy and understanding.
One quibble: The trauma that precipitated our protagonist to cut herself didn't match up well to the trauma of other cutters. Perhaps this was deliberate so as to keep our attention on the recovery process, and not on the originating trauma itself. But it didn't ring quite true, the way the rest of the book (especially the other "guests" in "sick minds".)

Interesting read!.......2007-07-08

Patricia McCormick wrote a very interesting novel on a girl who cuts herself. Callie, a young adult, blames herself for her families problems. Her brother Sam had really bad asthma, which makes her mother worried and always busy. Her dad has to work more so he can get more money to pay for everything. Callie lives at Sea Pines, or as the girls there call it "Sick Minds" rehabilatation center. At first Callie doesn't talk and doesn't care about cutting herself, but over time Callie starts talking to other people and another girl who cuts herself comes and tries to keep her down, but with the help of the other girls their and her pyschologist, Callie finally realizes that the problems at home are not her fault and finally wants to get better. Callie becomes closer to her dad and the rest of her family. Patricia's book was an easy which I would recommend because it shows the true meaning of family and how you shouldn't be so hard on yourself about problems.

Average customer rating:

Linear Algebra
Excellent summary
excellent detail
Linear Algebra Review
What a great help...

Schaum's Outline of Linear Algebra
Seymour Lipschutz , and Marc Lipson
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071362002

Book Description

This third edition of the successful outline in linear algebra--which sold more than 400,000 copies in its past two editions--has been thoroughly updated to increase its applicability to the fields in which linear algebra is now essential: computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, and quantitative analysis. Revised coverage includes new problems relevant to computer science and a revised chapter on linear equations.

Customer Reviews:

Linear Algebra.......2007-09-25

This is the Higher level Linear Algebra book that covers the entire topic range. Helpful.

Excellent summary.......2007-05-03

I wanted to brush up on Eigenvalues for a compression algorithm and this was the perfect way to efficienctly recall everything from college. Very useful and succinct.

excellent detail.......2007-03-14

this text is very user friendly. the sample problems are completely worked out, so there is no guessing where the solution comes from. it's a great review book, and very easy to understand for a first time learner of linear algebra. although, i did find a few typos and insignificant errors. for example, when asked to find a parametric representation of the line passing through the point p(4,-2,3,1) in the direction of a vector u=[2,5,-7,8] , the equation for x2 is mistyped as x2=-2+2t. (2t where 5t should be)

Linear Algebra Review.......2007-01-04

I have found it to be an excellent addition to my library.

What a great help..........2006-11-15

I found the book to be a great asset in getting re-acquainted with Linear Algebra and vector calculus basics. Lots of example problems with solutions and some to work on your own.

The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones

Average customer rating:

Opinionated New Yorker at Large
Anthony Bourdain is the man.
an easy read through a very odd mind
the not-so-nasty bits
Gotta Love Tony

The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones
Anthony Bourdain
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1582344515
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Book Description

The good, the bad, and the ugly, served up Bourdain-style.

Bestselling chef and No Reservations host Anthony Bourdain has never been one to pull punches. In The Nasty Bits, he serves up a well-seasoned hellbroth of candid, often outrageous stories from his worldwide misadventures. Whether scrounging for eel in the backstreets of Hanoi, revealing what you didn't want to know about the more unglamorous aspects of making television, calling for the head of raw food activist Woody Harrelson, or confessing to lobster-killing guilt, Bourdain is as entertaining as ever. Bringing together the best of his previously uncollected nonfiction—and including new, never-before-published material—The Nasty Bits is a rude, funny, brutal and passionate stew for fans and the uninitiated alike.

Customer Reviews:

Opinionated New Yorker at Large.......2007-10-09

Remember that boyfriend who was all attitude in high school? The hipper-than-thou, leather-jacket-wearing punk, whose mere presence could cause your father to grind his teeth into tiny nubs? That drugged-out hedonist who you hated and loved and were SO happy to leave behind, but who you secretly wished had followed you to college?

He's back. The bad news: he's still all attitude, and he can still cause ruin to family dentistry. The good news: he has decades of kitchen experience under his belt (or somewhere - the jerk is as skinny as a rail), and he writes in a way that will make you run out and sample all the small local diners in your town. For me, that means roach coaches serving burritos and tacos - and damn, I've had some food. Mole as smooth and velvety as a newborn's skin. Soft tacos that reach around your mouth and pull all your tastebuds into the center, and then fountain out pure lime, cilantro, and carmelized carne asada. He has ruined my already poor waistline.

Read this book, watch him on TV, go see him. He's saved up his energy and built up his opinions and vitriol and phrasings all these years in his kitchens - he's too bright, too good, too chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin' out over the line to last.

Anthony Bourdain is the man........2007-10-06

I have never been bored while reading Anthony Bourdain's books or while watching his television shows, and this book is no exception. Read his earlier stuff first, he will make you laugh out loud. Not for the weak of heart.

an easy read through a very odd mind.......2007-09-27

Let me say I love Bourdain's writing style and narrative. Self aware and sardonic without taking the joy from life, I was snagged by his autobiographical "Kitchen Confidential" and enjoyed seeing this carry over to his TV travel show "No Reservations" and delighted when people I know say they have encountered Bourdain professionally and he is exactly what he seems.

"Nasty Bits" is an anthology of notes, short essays and light fiction. Stuff too short to stand on its own but put together as a group it works nicely as a way to pass time or read when you don't want to get too wrapped up time wise. There is a small disappointment in one of two items that a fan will feel have been rehashed. "Food and Loathing in Las Vegas" is a do over of his travel show in Sin City as is part of his essay on Chinese food, but in general,it's all good.

The title sounds like Bourdain is giving up useless items but if you know his style, he's telling the reader this is what he likes. Bourdain likes the 'nasty bits.' Those food items like sweetbreads and organ meat that many Americans run from. Strange meats and stinky cheeses are among his passions and so with the title, he tells the knowing reader this is what he consideres 'the good stuff.' So take out a bib, get comfortable and dig in.

the not-so-nasty bits.......2007-08-17

Bourdain's international travels have mellowed him somewhat since the days of "Kitchen Confidential." His writing, however, is still a riot. His insights from the kitchen--culinary and otherwise--are a pleasure to behold. The selections here are short and varied, covering everything from Ferran Adria in Catalunya to Las Vegas and the beaches of Brazil. It's a "No Reservations" Bourdain with glimpses of the former reckless bad boy. I guess we all have to grow up...

Gotta Love Tony.......2007-06-27

If you like Mr. Bourdain's show "No Reservations", you'll most likely enjoy this book. One of Tony's best attributes is his story telling ability and reading this book is just like listening to his narratives on the show. Once or twice it was a little too much like the show. The Vegas article repeated some things he said on that episode of the show a bit too much. But most of the book seemed very fresh. His honesty and sense of humor shine through constantly. He's not afraid to admit he used to like heroin while noting that no one is less sympathetic towards other people's habit struggles than an ex-addict. His point of view is cynical yet refreshing. I especially enjoyed his articles about Mexican kitchen workers. I am a white guy in an area where whites are a very small minority and it is easy to get into the "damn Mexicans" mindset. Tony reminds me I don't really want to be like that and he's right. Each of the articles in this book stand alone so you can read them in any order. They're divided into sections so you can read what you are in the mood for - light, heavy, synical, silly. It's all there. And thanks, Tony, for the Namibia episode of N.R.. I laughed so hard it hurt. As for the people who say Tony should be smarter than to eat the stuff he does in faraway lands, boy do they miss the point.

Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You

Average customer rating:

Intense and worth it!
great workouts!!!
Mixed Bag
Making the Cut will Kick Your Butt!
Jillians Program Works

Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You
Jillian Michaels
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0307382508
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

Are you in good shape but struggling with those last ten to twenty pounds that stand between looking perfectly okay and looking knock-their-eyes-out great? Do you have an event on the calendar where you’d love to make jaws drop? Or do you just want to see for yourself what it would be like to have the best body you’ve ever had in your life? Then you need this book.

Making the Cut is a unique, intense thirty-day program from TV’s toughest fitness guru, Jillian Michaels. It has one purpose: to maximize your diet and fitness potential so you’ll get dramatic results at an accelerated pace. The program trains you in three essential ways—mentally, nutritionally, and physically. Making the Cut enables you to:

• identify your unique body type and metabolic makeup (are you a fast, slow, or balanced oxidizer?) and customize a diet plan that is perfect for you
• learn mental techniques that greatly enhance your self-confidence and sharpen your focus on success
• develop your strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance to levels that exceed anything you ever previously attained—or would have thought possible

Making the Cut takes you further faster than any other fitness program. Ever wonder what secret techniques models and celebrities learn from their high-priced personal trainers when they need to look their absolute best for a shoot or a scene? Jillian shares invaluable info about “peaking”—temporary short cuts you can employ when you have just a few days to get ready for your close-up. And she gets you hip to safe but effective supplements (break out the white willow bark and green tea extract) and tells you how to shed the last drops of excess water weight to put the ultimate finishing touch on the new you.

Other plans get you in shape; this one delivers ripped-up perfection. You supply the commitment and determination . . . Jillian Michaels supplies the astonishing results. Visit www.JillianMichaels.com for more.

Customer Reviews:

Intense and worth it!.......2007-10-18

This book was definitely worth my $17. I read the entire thing shortly after I got it, and, while I am a vegetarian and have not been following the nutrition plan, I've been following the macros for my "oxididation" rate (which is slow...go carbs!). I agree that some scientific evidence there would be nice, but I completely agree with what my personal outcome is. In fact, the whole beginning of the book was little more than validation for me, I was happy to see I am doing everything right as far as diet is concerned.

As for the people who complain about it not being friendly to those who don't have a gym membership, and it being difficult to find the exercises...I'd surmise you probably aren't ready for this book. SO many of these exercises can be done at home with little to no equiptment, and if you aren't at the stage yet where you can make a smart substitution when there is an exercise you can't perform with what you have, you probably shouldn't be buying this book. At that same token, if you can't plan ahead and have the exercises for the day laid out in advance, you need some better workout management.

The workout is tough, I started out as "Average", so I am interested to see where I end up once it is over.

The one thing I do wish there was, is a suggestion on where to go from here. The program is designed to get you to your peak. That's awesome, but how about some guidance for after that? (or maybe write another book, Jillian????)

That's my only suggestion, I love Jillian and her book otherwise :)

great workouts!!!.......2007-10-12

This book has very good workouts that help tone every muscle. I was a college athlete and these circuits are still very challenging. I noticed that my muscles were tightening and I was looking leaner. The recipes are good but nothing I could ever stick to. They have too many serving sizes if you are just one person and require ingredients from organic stores which can become pricey. I would recommend this book if you are looking for something challenging or need to get in good shape.

Mixed Bag.......2007-10-07

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. It has a larger and better collection of recipes than Winning by Losing, but there were still no quotes from actual clinical studies supporting her "oxidizer" diet plan.

Like her other book, it is really geared towards people who have access to a good-quality gym--there are no separate workouts for those who wish to do this program at home. Equally annoying is that there is no quick picture guide for the workout--you really are tied in to flipping through the book until you memorize the exercises, and many of the exercise variations don't have pictures at all. Finally, when you have to bring any kind of supplement usage into a fitness book....

However, she admits up front that her 7-day diet is really for losing water weight, not fat. Most authors featuring a diet of that sort do not.

I would check this book and Winning by Losing out of the library first before buying.

A much more home-friendly workout book is Minna Lessig's book: Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom. She has several pages of small pictures showing the beginning and end positions of each exercise, grouped by the type of workout you want to do. Her DVD of the same name is also quite good.

Making the Cut will Kick Your Butt!.......2007-09-21

I just finished the Making the Cut 30-day program and am very satisfied with the results. I joined a gym for a month to try it out (I usually work out at home), so I would have access to more equipment and machines. I found that I can probably do the routine at home with a couple of modifications. I lost 7 stubborn pounds (I was at a plateau for about 6 weeks) - discovered that counting calories does "count" when you are trying to get those last lbs off. You have to be fairly fit to do the workout at a decent intensity level; I'm pretty fit, but had to modify a few that I just could not do (yet), like a scorpion push up and a pike crunch. Her recipes are tasty and the menu has quite a variety.

That said, there are a few improvements I would make:

#1: Structure the meal plans with a little less variety so you can use up the groceries you purchase for the week. If you don't, you will have a lot of waste.
#2: Structure every recipe based on four servings, so if you are cooking for one or two you can modify them easily. Why make a salad that serves 10? Most people are doing this program by themselves or, maybe, with a partner.
#3: Alphabetize the exercises by name in the index so you can look them up easily. I have a good memory, but I needed to refer to the exercises a few times and it was frustrating trying to look them up.
#4: There seems to be a little confusion on the exercise (with # of reps, etc.) and the description of the exercise - for instance, she'll say in the exercise description: use both hands, then, in the workout schedule, it will say "single hand" and it doesn't seem to make sense.
#5: Suggestions for what to do "next" at the end of the program, and also include some inspiration in between the daily workout schedule.

Otherwise, TOUGH WORKOUT and GOOD RESULTS if you make the effort!

It's true, there's not a lot of clinical studies, etc. to prove her theories, but it is a no-nonsense approach to taking a step to the next level. The workouts are not for sissies; they are intense and heart pounding. Yes, a couple of the exercises are difficult to figure out without a picture, but I'd say that 95% are clear and concise and simple to figure out if you've had some exposure to a gym or are familiar with basic fitness moves.

Jillians Program Works.......2007-08-13

I am a exercise grue and this book is awesome. I had some extra pounds that just would not come off with any other exercise program except Jillian's. It will push you to your core but, it is so worth it you will hug yourself for completing it. She also has some great recipes as well. A must read.

Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut the Sugar Out of Any Diet

Average customer rating:

Good book
Concise and practical
best on the topic
very practical
Good Tips

Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut the Sugar Out of Any Diet
Ann Louise Phd Cns Gittleman
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0517886537
Release Date: 1996-09-03

Amazon.com

"Avoiding sugar is the easiest, safest, and most permanent way to stay slim" is the bold promise nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman makes in her book Get the Sugar Out. Gittleman, who also authored Beyond Pritikin, gives the hard facts about why refined sugar contributes to weight gain, mood swings, weak immunity, diabetes, and more. Low-fat diets, the book claims, frequently let people down, because manufactured fat-free foods often contain more sugar than their full-fat counterparts!

Don't be fooled, though: ridding your diet of sugar will not be an easy task. The 501 tips provided in the book may seem rather daunting at times. Luckily, Gittleman doesn't expect you to incorporate all of them into your life. She notes, "Even if you incorporate only one-tenth of the tips in this book, you're sure to reduce the sugar in your diet and change your life in a positive and noticeable way." So even if you find it's too difficult to give up your diet sodas, you can still improve your health by learning all the names sugar hides under (including tongue twisters such as xylitol, sorghum syrup, mannitol, and maltodextrin) and avoiding products that contain them. Some of Gittleman's suggestions, though, are not only simple, but fun. For example, you can substitute frozen grapes, raspberries, and blueberries for hard candy. This easy-to-read book even has 50 delicious recipes (how about Peanut Butter Muffins or "Gone Nutty" Frozen Bananas?) and a week's menu to get you started. So if you're ready to get going on "a satisfying, high-energy, low-sugar regimen," this just may be the book for you. --Jenny Brown

Book Description

This timely book is aimed at the millions of people whose low-fat diets aren't providing the health benefits and weight loss they expect. The reason? The "healthy" promise of low-fat products masks the excessively high levels of cornstarch, sucrose, and other forms of sugar. More than 50 recipes make Get the Sugar Out a great guide to low-sugar adaptations of favorite meals, snacks, drinks and desserts.

Customer Reviews:

Good book.......2007-08-09

I think that this book was very helpful. The background info about the dangers of sugar/sugar substitute consumption and the diseases/conditions related to sugar/sugar substitutes was concise and informative. Personally, I am not going to make use of all 501 suggestions, but with so many ideas, I found a bunch that are going to help me kick the sugar habit (hopefully!).

A very nice feature was that among the 501 ideas, there were also a bunch of recipes that look really good, and they're (for the most part) healthy.

I would recommend this book!

Concise and practical.......2007-04-01

A concise and practical handbook that is a real eye-opener, especially as it exposes sources of hidden sugars in the diet.

best on the topic.......2007-03-07

There are many fine books to tell you about sugar in your diet. This book however is the most concise with over 500 practical, easy to read and remember suggestions to really help you to get the sugar out of your life. It gets right to work with what it tells you. Particularly excellent for someone who already knows a lot about the dangers of sugar but wants to have practical , intelligent and doable suggestions you can begin following immediately after you read them. Excellent simple recipes which are not complicated are also included. A must have . A must read for anyone who is seriously wants to get the sugar out of their lives especially anyone with conditions that require sugar be eliminated to gain or regain their health e.g. obesity, diabetes, etc. Great!

very practical.......2007-03-01

What a great, practical book for anyone and everyone looking to get sugar out of their lives.

Good Tips.......2007-01-14

It's a good book with many tips that shows you sources of hidden sugar.

Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5 (Apple Pro Training)

Average customer rating:

Variety and quality
Beyond nuts and bolts
highly recommended! more than a how-to manual.
Great Product
Great Training for FCP Certification

Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5 (Apple Pro Training)
Michael Wohl
Manufacturer: Peachpit Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

MacOS | Operating Systems | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 032133549X

Book Description

In the only Apple-certified guide to advanced video editing techniques, award-winning filmmaker Michael Wohl delivers comprehensive training in the real-world skills that professionals use every day. Working through six hours of superb raw footage on two DVD-9 discs, you’ll learn to cut dialogue, action, comedy, chases, fights, interviews, documentaries, music videos, and multi-camera projects, as well as complete an entire audio mix.

Unlike other software books, Wohl teaches you to use Final Cut Pro’s advanced features while you explore the art of crafting a story on film. So, for example, rather than just learn how dynamic trimming works, you’ll learn why it works and in what situations you’d want to use it. And as you perfect your split edits, you’ll learn to match angles, cut for reactions, and use cutaways and inserts effectively in dialogue. You’ll discover how editing choices make comedy funny, drama moving, or chases suspenseful. Along the way, Wohl shares valuable tips on creating polished transitions, refining rough edits, and fixing screen direction errors. The book also covers audio editing and finishing, managing clips and media, transcoding video, and working with film and 24p—all in the context of making you a better editor and a more effective storyteller.

• DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 40 hours of training
• Focused lessons take you step-by-step through practical, real-world projects
• Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side
• Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast
• Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time
• Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned

The Apple Pro Training Series is both a self-paced learning tool and the official curriculum of the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program. Upon completing the course material in this book, you can become a certified Apple Pro by taking the certification exam at an Apple Authorized Training Center. To find an Authorized Training Center near you, go to www.apple.com/software/pro/training.

About the Author
Michael Wohl is best known as one of the principal designers of Final Cut Pro, a role he held for more than five years. As a director and editor, he has won numerous awards including the coveted CINE Golden Eagle award in 1993. Michael’s films have been featured in film festivals worldwide, and his first feature, “WANT,” will be released on DVD in 2006. He has taught classes on editing, directing, and digital filmmaking at institutions including the American Film Institute, UCLA, and Pixar University, and has been a featured speaker at film festivals and conferences including DV Expo, South by Southwest, and Macworld Expo.

Customer Reviews:

Variety and quality.......2007-03-31

The book presents a really useful range of techniques structured in an appropriate sequence that builds skills. The overall quality of the book is very good. Highly recommended.

Beyond nuts and bolts.......2007-03-21

This is not just another "how to" book it goes beyond the technical to cover the why of editing. The author uses actual feature film footage to convey the decision process for the art of editing.

highly recommended! more than a how-to manual. .......2007-02-17

This extraordinary book/dvd set is much more than a simple "how-to" manual. And, in its own way, it's all really more than a book on editing. It really addresses the entire film making process, albeit from the POV of an editor. Possibly it is most valuable in its emphasis on tone and genre. The exercises are truly instructive, in every sense of the word. My own method of getting through the lessons was to read the chapter all the way through, first. Then go back, at the computer, with the footage loaded and follow, step-by-step. One word of warning - this really is an advanced program. I don't suggest getting this book as a primer for first time users. Get it if you already have some proficiency with the basics of FCP. Otherwise I think it'll be a bit overwhelming. For me, this way actually better than sitting in a classroom learning from a live teacher (something I've done, as well). Highly recommended.

Great Product.......2007-02-15

I haven't exactly read this book yet, but I do own one and love it. It's so helpful. If anyone is interested in editing these are great books to read.

Great Training for FCP Certification.......2006-07-19

It is great to have a project ready to start editing on a moments notice and really provides some valuable working experience that will help you with a real job. Enjoy! This book is great resource for intermediate editors who wish to start the journey to be an advanced Final Cut Pro. I have enjoyed the entire Apple Training Series, the only thing I don't like about them is that it seems that a new book with a lot of similar material will come out every year depending on the FC studio releases.

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