IT-Enquirer, IT-Enquirer.com
"[This book] is an excellent tutorial for those who wish to tackle the development of dynamic web sites."

Steven M. Swafford, Columnist, ASPAlliance.com
"The authors have done a great job at explaining the material."

Read more...

The business meeting—a necessary evil or a vital and invigorating component of running an organization? According to management consultant Lencioni (The Five Temptations of a CEO), meetings should fit the latter description, but more often than not, he says, they don't. In this lackluster audio fable, Lencioni offers practical advice on how to revitalize your business by energizing your business meetings, but his pallid, passive prose would challenge the most skilled narrator, and Arthur is no exception. The voice Arthur lends Will, the young hero of this tale, resembles that of Sesame Street's Ernie on downers, and the various inflections he gives business owner Casey McDaniel and his management team don't make up for the characters' lack of character. Nevertheless, Lencioni's message comes across loud and clear—meetings should be interactive, not passive, and they should be structured (i.e., issues of immediate importance should be discussed in "weekly tactical" meetings, and issues that will fundamentally affect the business should be addressed in "monthly strategic" meetings). Although managers will find this advice worthwhile, they would gather just as much if they skipped the sluggish fable and listened to the last few tracks.

This pioneering study looks at the effects of prenatal testosterone on postnatal development and behavior. Hormonal effects on behavior have long been studied in animals; the unique contribution of this book is to suggest a connection between human fetal hormones and later behavior. It details for the first time testosterone's effect on social and language development, opening a new avenue of research for cognitive neuroscience.
The authors look at samples of amniotic fluid taken during amniocentesis at 16 weeks' gestation, and relate the fetal level of testosterone (which is present in fetuses of both sexes, although in different quantities) to behavior at ages 1, 2, and 4 years. They argue that the amniotic fluid provides a window into the child's past -- a chemical record of that child's time in the womb -- that allows informed prediction about the child's future brain, mind, and behavior. This is not the retrospective speculation of psychoanalysis, they point out, but an opportunity to study development prospectively and trace developmental precursors and causes of later cognition.
The study suggests that prenatal levels of testosterone affect a range of later behaviors in children, from the inclination to make eye contact with others to the size of the vocabulary. It also suggests that prenatal testosterone level may be related to the development of typically "masculine" and "feminine" behaviors. The study's ongoing research explores whether fetal testosterone has any link with the risk of developing autism. Connecting endocrinology and psychology, the authors propose that there is a biological component to behaviors often thought to be produced by the social environment.

The only resource a manager needs to turn a problem employee into a top performer 201 Ways to Turn Any Employee into a Star Performer arms managers with the strategies they need to deal with the full range of employee problems--including tardiness, low-quality work, constant complaining, and much more. Consultant Casey Hawley's unique approach to personnel problems replaces harsh discipline with positive, goal-oriented tactics that turn failing employees into team players. This straightforward guide gives managers the tools and training to:
Identify problems before they become serious
Develop the art of constructive feedback
Deal with defensive reactions from employees
Understand which problems need to be managed and which ones don't
Uncover the cause of a problem and help an employee talk about it
Foster discussion in group conflict situations • Create goals for employee improvement
Follow up on employee progress

(Institute of Medicine) Univ. of Western Australia, Perth. A report of the Committee on Nervous System Disorders in Developing Countries on the opportunities and prerequisites for implementing appropriate interventions for individuals in developing countries with nervous system dysfunction. Includes coverage cost and treatment effectiveness.

• COVER: How to Make Great Teachers - American public schools are struggling to attract and retain high-quality teachers. Is it time we paid them for performance?
• A Voter's Guide to Education - Here's a look at where the candidates stand on the education policies that will have the biggest impact on your child
• How They Do It Abroad - The U.S. can learn lessons from several nations that consistently train their teachers well
• HEALTH & MEDICINE: Little Athletes, Big Injuries - Kids suffer when coaches and parents pile on too much training. What to watch for
• PEOPLE: 10 Questions for Tim Russert - For more than 16 years, he has cross-examined politicians and newsmakers as host of Meet the Press. In this election, his studio is still the premier hot seat in politics. Tim Russert will now take your questions

The most intimate conversation yet with the world's most famous holy man.
When Victor Chan first visited the Dalai Lama in the 1970s, he assumed that, since he is a member of the race responsible for destroying Tibet, the Dalai Lama would treat him with disdain. Instead, they developed a close relationship, out of which Victor was able to pose some of the most personal questions ever asked of or answered by the Dalai Lama.
From the conversations in The Wisdom of Forgiveness, we discover under which circumstances the Dalai Lama believes he could be capable of violence; how the experience of profound spiritual insight feels in the body and mind; how he learned to love those who anyone else would consider an enemy; what his personal fears are; what the heart of a holy man looks like in medical tests; and how a highly developed spiritual person experiences pain.

The Wisdom of Forgiveness takes these two friends on journeys from India to Ireland; from the former Czechoslovakia to a pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites. If you've ever wondered why we love the Dalai Lama so much, this book makes it clear by placing us in the presence of a great being.

From its humble beginnings as a novelty in a handful of cities, cinema has risen to become a billion-dollar industry and the most spectacular and original contemporary art form. Though we often consider cinema to be synonymous with "Hollywood," in truth, it has spread to all parts of the
globe, and is enjoyed by audiences that cut across all sections of society.
In The Oxford History of World Cinema, a worldwide team of experts traces the history of this enduringly popular entertainment medium. Covering all aspects of its development, stars, studios, and cultural impact, the book celebrates and chronicles over one hundred years of diverse achievement from
westerns to the New Wave, from animation to the Avant-Garde, and from Hollywood to Hong Kong. An international team of distinguished film historians tells the story of the major inventions and developments in the cinema business, its institutions, genres, and personnel, and they outline the
evolution of national cinemas round the world--the varied and distinctive filmic traditions that have developed alongside Hollywood. A unique aspect of the book are the special inset features on the film-makers and personalities-- Garbo and Godard, Keaton and Kurosawa, Bugs Bunny and Bergman--who
have had an enduring impact in popular memory and cinematic lore. With over 280 illustrations, a full bibliography, and an extensive index, this is the buff's ultimate guide to cinema worldwide.
From the silent film era to the first "talkies," from martial-arts thrillers to reflective costume dramas, from the talents of actors to the talents of special-effects wizards, cinema has enjoyed a unique and highly visible history. The Oxford History of World Cinema charts this history with all of
the impact of the artform itself, and will delight anyone who has ever spent an evening at the movies.

Fleming offers an alternative to enlightened liberalism, where moral and political problems are looked at from an objective point of view and a decision made from a distant perspective that is both rational and universally applied to all comparable cases. He instead places importance on the particular, the local, and moral complexity, advocating a return to premodern traditions for a solution to ethical predicaments. In his view, liberalism and postmodernism ignore the fact that human beings by their very nature refuse to live in a world of abstractions where the attachments of friends, neighbors, family, and country make no difference. Fleming believes that a modern type of casuistry should be applied to moral conflicts, using examples from history, literature, and religion to explain this moral ecology that refuses to divorce organisms from their interactions with each other and with their environment.

Auri Rahimzadeh has been tinkering with computers ever since he was six years old and loves all technology. Auri collects computers and has been involved with many computer projects, including teaching computers alongside Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer. Auri has written hundreds of articles on various computer technologies; has contributed to many standards including HDTV, DVD, and interactive television; and is the author of Geek My Ride, a book on geeking out cars, another ExtremeTech title also published by Wiley. Auri has also contributed to computer education for students across the country and has promoted technology awareness through the Indianapolis Computer Society, where he has served as president for three years. Currently, Auri is a software engineer and spends his free time programming, chatting at Starbucks, and going to Pacers games

Read more...

Description: Are difficulties in dyslexia the same the world over? What can we learn from resources and practice in different countries? In this book, individuals, institutions and organisations have been gathered from around the world to report on the policies, resources and training for people with dyslexia and those who work with them. Over 50 countries are included in this guide, together with details of dyslexia associations and resources. This unique collection offers a wealth of information to parents, teachers and individuals who are seeking support. It also will be of interest to researchers, practitioners and policy makers. This book is also available as an electronic supplement to The International Book of Dyslexia: A Cross-Language Comparison and Practice Guide which is available from your bookshop or from John Wiley & Sons Ltd ISBN 0471498416 The complete volume is an extensive and wide-ranging guide to both dyslexia research and practice around the world.

Read more...

A meticulously researched, highly entertaining, idiosyncratic look at the how, why and what of bad language around the world.

Description
Have we always sworn like troopers? Has creative cursing developed simply because we can't thump someone when they make us mad? And if verbal aggression is universal, why is it that some languages (Japanese for instance) supposedly have no offensive words?
Language once reserved for the footy field---or the labour ward---has broken through the tradesman's entrance, much to the horror of a few refined individuals, but seemingly not anyone much else. Ruth Wajnryb takes an entertaining look at how this came about, and at the origins of some of our more colourful words and phrases. Stepping outside the confines of English, Wajnryb explores whether bad' words are mirrored in other languages, and the cultural differences that exist when it comes to giving offence. Why is it that in some countries you can get away with intimating that a person and their camel are more than just good friends, while pouring scorn on their mother's morals guarantees you a seat on the next flight out?
An amusing and idiosyncratic look at the power of words to shock, offend, insult, amuse, exaggerate, let off steam, and communicate deep-felt emotions, Language Most Foul is a must-read for anyone who loves language---or has ever stubbed their toe.

Ruth Wajnryb has gone where almost no linguist before her has dared to go This well-researched study of foul language is simply fascinating. Written with great humour, it is full of interesting history and funny anecdotes. Giving examples here is not possible without using four-letter words, so just buy the f...ing book.' The Age

A classy drive through the streets and byways of swearing Wajnryb is the grammarian you always wanted: wise, wearing her erudition lightly and enlivening it with sly humour.' Kirkus Reviews

About Ruth Wajnryb
Dr Ruth Wajnryb is an applied linguist, researcher and writer. She has a regular weekly column in The Sydney Morning Herald's 'Saturday Spectrum' in which she explores often offbeat linguistic topics with her characteristic intelligence and lightness of touch. This is her second book with Allen & Unwin and her eleventh in total.

Although there appears to be a general understanding that the human brain functions similarly in women and in men, an increasing body of knowledge indicates that neuronal connectivity, recruitment, and disease patterns exhibit gender differences. There are clear gender differences in genetic expression, physiologic function, metabolism, hormonal makeup, and psychosocial profile, which often modify the clinical expression of neurologic and other diseases. In addition, ethnic, cultural, and economic factors are frequently overlooked in dealing with health problems of women, even though they undoubtedly have a strong influence on the clinical course of the illness. The second edition of Neurologic Disease in Women, the only text to specifically cover this important topic, will help physicians and other medical personnel seeking information relevant to clinical care. Sections address general anatomic, hormonal, epidemiologic, and drug aspects of women's health; neurologic conditions that arise during childhood, pregnancy, adulthood, and old age in females; and particular neurologic conditions that present differently or predominantly in females. There have been important advances in several areas prompting new chapters, new approaches and additional information provided in chapters on hormonal effects in women and the use of HRT; the adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs on hormonal homeostasis, weight and bone health; and cardiovascular diseases in women. New chapters include ones on reproductive and metabolic disorders with AED use, and on movement disorders.

Read more...