Books and Musics

Whitney Houston

2012-02-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits

Whitney Houston, 1963-2012

Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48. Best known for hits "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "So Emotional," Houston is the only artist to consecutively chart seven No. 1 hits. During her illustrious career she earned 415 awards, making her the most-awarded female music artist of all time. Houston paved the way for female vocalists and will endure as one of music’s most beloved voices...Read more in Amazon's Whitney Houston Store

Community biography from

During the 80s and 90s, Whitney Houston was an unstoppable force in pop music. With sales estimated to exceed 200 million records, she is one of the biggest-selling female singers ever.

Whitney Houston was born to a family with impressive singing credentials - her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston, her cousin was five-time Grammy winner Dionne Warwick, and her godmother was the 'Queen of Soul' herself, Aretha Franklin. Her first break came when she sang backing vocals on Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” when she was only 16. She continued to record, sing and tour with her mother, but although she was offered recording contracts she turned them all down until, in 1983, she signed with Arista.

Her debut album Whitney Houston appeared in 1985 but it was not an instant hit. However, due to the singles “Saving All My Love for You” (which won a Grammy), “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love of All”, it eventually reached the top of the Billboard charts and lodged there for several weeks. Critical praise, awards, television shows and massive sales ensured a grand entrance into the music world for new superstar Whitney Houston.

Her follow-up album was 1987’s nine-times platinum Whitney. It debuted at the top of the charts in many countries and the success of the singles “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, “Didn’t We Almost Have it All”, “So Emotional” and “Where do Broken Hearts Go” gave her a record of achieving seven consecutive singles at No.1.

In response to an enduring criticism that she was somewhat bland, she experimented with a more urban feel on her next release. I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990) found her exploring her versatility as an artist, with a fair degree of success. The album was certified four-times platinum.

Her next endeavor was her acting debut in The Bodyguard. It was a huge box-office hit and the accompanying soundtrack album went on to achieve 17x platinum certification in the US alone. The lead single from the album was a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” which cemented itself to the top of the charts in many countries. Her next two releases were soundtrack albums, Waiting to Exhale (to which she contributed three songs) and The Preacher's Wife, both of which were supporting films in which she had acting roles.

In 1998 she released My Love is Your Love which continued her exploration of urban sounds such as hip-hop and reggae. Two years later she released Whitney: the Greatest Hits, but unfortunately this marked a slide in her fortunes. When Just Whitney was released in 2002 it received poor reviews and the singles failed to chart well. She followed it with a Christmas-themed record, One Wish: the Holiday Album, which performed even less well. Since then, column inches have been dedicated to her battles with drugs, and with her husband Bobby Brown (whom she had married in 1992 after a 3 year courtship and divorced in 2007).

In Memorial :

The"Thriller" of the 90's.Just perfect, June 21, 2001

Bob Waskiewicz (Wintersville, Ohio United States)

This review is from: The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (Audio CD)

"The Bodyguard" soundtrack is one of the biggest selling albums from the 90's.The 6 cuts from Whitney are all masterpieces.I was shocked to find out She co-wrote "Queen of the Night," along with Babyface.This has got to be one of the hardest rocking songs from Houston,and my favorite from the album."Jesus Loves Me" is another great song not played on the radio."I will always Love you," written by Dolly Parton,is beutifull.This was Kevin Costner's favorite song,and his idea to have Whitney record the number for the soundtrack.The Kenny G/AAron Neville duet,"Even if my heart would Break," is another great cut,but the real killer is "Its Gonna Be A lovely Day," by (The S.O.U.L.S.Y.S.T.E.M.)A fantastic rap,early 90's,HipHop sound. After almost 10 years,"The Bodyguard" soundtrack is still fresh.It would be great if Costner and Houston got together again for "The Bodyguard,Part2."Whitney's stlye has changed alot since the early 90's,and I think the record and Movie would be a huge hit.

Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter)

2012-02-14T20:54:00.000-08:00

Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter)

Following up on the great success of The Moment It Clicks and The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes, legendary magazine photographer Joe McNally takes us on another memorable ride with Sketching Light, another trip into the land of light--but this time running the gamut from small flash to big flash, and everywhere in between.

Of course, Joe includes coverage of Nikon Speedlights, but he also covers big flash, as well as "in-between" lights as the Elinchrom Quadra. The exploration of new technology, as well as the explanation of older technology. No matter what equipment Joe uses and discusses, the most important element of Joe's instruction is that it is straightforward, complete, and honest. No secrets are held back, and the principles he talks about apply generally to the shaping and quality of light, not just to an individual model or brand of flash.

He tells readers what works and what doesn't via his let's-see-what-happens approach, he shows how he sets up his shots with plentiful sketches and behind-the-scenes production shots, and he does it all with the intelligence, clarity, and wisdom that can only come from shooting in the field for 30 years for the likes of National Geographic, Time, Life, and Sports Illustrated--not to mention the wit and humor of a clearly warped (if gifted) mind.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Like Sitting Down With the Reigning Master of Flash Photography, December 13, 2011

Syl Arena (Paso Robles, California)

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This review is from: Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter) (Paperback)

If you are a student of light, then consider Joe McNally`s new book Sketching Light to be a must-read. Sitting down with Sketching Light is like sitting down for a beer with Joe as he talks you through his favorite pix in a photo album. The conversation will wander, stories will be spun, jokes will be told, detailed insights will be shared, advice will be given, and you'll walk away grateful for the opportunity.

Short bits to know about 'Sketching Light'...

>The book is Nikon-centric. Joe is Nikon-centric. Don't let this worry you. If you shoot Canon, or Sony, or any other brand, don't despair. Strip out all the Nikonian jargon and 'Sketching Light' remains a heavyweight when it comes to lighting. (And, if you shoot Canon, check out Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
-- written by yours truly. It will give you all the buttons and dials info that you need to drive a Canon Speedlite.)

> 'Sketching Light' is a book about the possibilities of flash and it covers the full spectrum. Joe shoots Speedlights. Joe shoots big lights. Sometimes you need just a breath of on-camera fill flash from a Nikon SB-910. Sometimes you need the punch of an Elinchrom Ranger. Sometimes you need one light. Sometimes you need to haul out every light that you can get your hands on.

> There are plenty of set shots that show Joe and his gear in action. You'll also find Joe's signature lighting diagrams--drawn by hand on napkins and sketch pads--for nearly every shoot in the book. I recommend keeping a highlighter and a black marker on hand so that you can annotate your "aha!" moments as you read.

> Yes, there are photos in the book that no mere-mortal could make. Joe is, after all, the Indiana Jones of photographers. Yet, there are also dozens of shots that you can make today with gear that you likely have around you right now.

> There are no photo captions in the book. At first, you'll hate this. You've likely grown accustomed to flipping through photo books, pausing at a pic, and having the caption give you the basics so that you can move on. 'Sketching Light' makes you earn your knowledge. I guarantee you, however, that as you read Joe's narratives and decode his photos, you'll be a stronger photographer for your efforts.

> This is not a beginner's book that lays a foundation of basic concepts and then layers new ideas on top. Rather, Joe starts right in at an intermediate level and keep moving. Think of 'Sketching Light' as a long conversation that jumps around and you won't be disappointed. Each "chapter" is really another "hey, let me tell you about this now...." And yes, you can jump around 'Sketching Light' and read the chapters for the pix that interest you today and then jump to another spot tomorrow.

> 'Sketching Light' may give you deja vu. If you've read Joe's blog, watched his videos on Kelby Training, or attended one of his seminars/workshops, then you've likely seen some of these pix and heard some of these stories before. I see this as being like catching up with an old friend rather than a shortcoming. Of course, there were pages and pages of material in 'Sketching Light' that I'd never seen before.

While wrapped in a cover that says "flash", for me, 'Sketching Light' is really about vision and using whatever gear you have to craft images that express that vision. It's about dreaming big and having the courage to fail. It's a book that says "go out there and create the images that only you can create."

Awesome and inspring... and an important note on Nikon vs. Canon, December 16, 2011

Hankk (Boulder, CO)

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This review is from: Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter) (Paperback)

Amazing book. He's a frikkin' genius writer, because he's so uninhibited and confident and smart that he gives you a brain-dump of everything in his mind. Take from it the bits you like, run with 'em, and have fun making some awesome shots.

If you haven't used a lot of flash before, you'll sometimes read over a page and have no idea what he's talking about. WTF? Not that he's overly technical... kind of the opposite, that he's so gushing and enthusiastic and dropping all the hip terms for everything ("start with a bit of a hot rim and then back it off, 'cause in a sidelight situation it's gonna blow it out by a stop... then it gets piped backed to the lens and baby, it's dark out there!"), that it's hard to bring him out of orbit and back into the land of 'OK, what button do I push?' But stick with it. Read the book, shoot, read it again, shoot some more. You'll get it.

McNally gets a lot of attention for using flashes in extraordinarily complex setups -- and yeah, he does. But he's always focusing on the people... the story... the eyes. He's not a landscape photographer. His stories about interacting with his subjects (models, celebrities, musicians, quarterbacks, astronomers, bagpipe makers) are what this is really about.

This book has longer stories, more details and more diagrams compared with the previous books. If you don't have his other books (Hot Shoe Diaries, or The Moment it Clicks) and you want to learn his techniques, *get this one instead*. It's fatter, it's got more writing, and the narratives are longer and more intricate. This one is more chapter-based with various techniques, and the other two are closer to "here's a cool photo, and here's a page about how I took it." If you have the other two and love him, then get this one since it's essentially all-new material, and his technique and philosophy are so useful and inspiring, that the more you read and see of his work, the better your photos will end up as a result.

*** Important note: McNally uses only Nikon and makes only passing mention of Canon. Everything is virtually interchangeable, *but* there's one important difference about flash exposure you need to know if you're a Canon shooter. All over the book, he's talking about the EV exposure compensation being a global adjustment (e.g., p. 213, 345) -- that is, if you change the EV on the camera, you program underexposure into the flash as well. That's how it works on Nikon, but *not* on Canon!

On Nikon: the camera EV and flash EV are indeed linked: lowering the camera EV lowers the flash output. So, to highlight the foreground, you go -2 EV on the camera, and then back up +2 EV on the flash to compensate.

But on Canon, this is *not true*: the camera EV and flash EV are independent. Dropping the camera EV drops the ambient exposure, but keeps the flash output the same! So to do the same as above on Canon, you want to do -2 EV on the camera, and leave the flash at 0 EV. If you do what McNally says, you'll end up over-flashing your subject on Canon.

This difference is *not* well documented, but you can find some more info on it at Canon's web page -- Google for "Canon EOS speedlite system tips" and click on the tips by photographer Stephen Wilkes, and there are a lot of sample photos for how this works. Neither system is better or worse -- but you do need to be aware of the differences!

*** Update February 2012. Nikon's new D4 will ship soon. The D4 offers the option to set the flash level using the Canon way, not the Nikon way... that is, on the D4, doing a -EV on the exposure will now leave the flash EV unaffected. Nice change, since it means you need to do one adjustment, not two, to lower the ambient level. It appears that this is an option (not a full-time change), and that this applies to the D4 only, not the D800. For details, search for an article called "Exposure Compensation When Using i-TTL Gets Easier with the D4" on Nikon's site.

Photographically Speaking: A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images

2012-02-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

Photographically Speaking: A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images (Voices That Matter)

David's best book to date, October 30, 2011

DanielJGregory

This review is from: Photographically Speaking: A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images (Voices That Matter) (Paperback)

This is the fourth book of David's that I have purchased (not counting his ebooks over at craft and vision), and it is probably my favorite. I have been teaching an intro to photography course using his within the frame book, but next time I teach this class, I'll be using this book instead. It does a great job of focusing on a something that matters more than f/stops and shutter speeds---the vision of the artist and the grammar to talk about it with others.

On of my biggest frustrations as a photographer when talking to others about their work is how little they are able to discuss why they like certain photographs and what it is about those photos that make them unique to their vision. With so many people creating and showing great images, it is not enough to just be a good photographer. You have to be a creative photographer whose work stands out as different from others. I have found that to understand how your work is different and what your sense of aesthetics are requires a vocabulary/grammar to discuss the work so that you can continue to push those elements in your work that are unique to your vision.

David does a good job in this book by helping the visual artist begin this process. The book starts with some background on how David came to this book and what to expect. He spends some time discussing vision and intention in photography; and how vision is often times lost in conversations of gear, technique and tangible skills. In these early pages, much of the conversation is about the nature and intention required in the building of a "good photograph"

The second part of the book looks at two critical components of a photograph. The first is the elements within the image and their impact on the viewer. Elements such as lines, color, repetition and light are discussed in-depth as a language to discuss images rather than as a set of rules that need to be followed to create a good image. The second component is the decisions that are made when the camera is pointed at the subject and the shutter clicks. From lens choice, focus points, to framing and exposure; all these critical decisions are often made very quickly with little thought while shooting. David provides a chance to look at the impact of these decisions, and how we can use our awareness of these components to make more interesting photos.

The third part of the book is a collection of David's images where he spends a lot of time looking at the application of the conversations in the earlier chapters of the book. We get to look at not only a variety of photographs and subjects, but also exactly how David uses these concepts in the creation and post-production of his own images. I found David's openness and honesty refreshing. He is willing to talk about what worked and didn't work for him and things he might change in the future. Having 20 examples of David's work builds a great foundation to start with before taking on your own work.

As I said, I am a fan of David's work; and I think he has an amazing gift to write so that you feel as if you are talking over a cup of coffee. He finds a way to make the conversation seem to be both educational and conversational at the same time. I have found him to be great mentor over the years and look forward to continuing to use his guidance to improve my own art for many more years.

Message, Elements and Decisions, October 25, 2011

Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA)
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Photographically Speaking: A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images (Voices That Matter) (Paperback)

Anyone who has read David duChemin's other books will know why I regard him as a thoughtful photographer. In this book he returns to the starting place, discussing composition.

The beginning of the book talks about photography as a means of communication of the photographer's vision, and defines a few concepts that the author uses throughout the remainder of the book, particularly "Message, Elements and Decisions". The selection of an Element or Decision should enhance the Message. Next he discusses what he calls Elements, like line, light and moment. For Decisions he considers topics like framing, placement and exposure. Finally he presents twenty of his own photographs, explaining how the Elements and Decisions explicate the Message.

Early in the book the author discusses photographers who say they don't need to understand what he means by Message, Elements and Decisions because they say they shoot intuitively. DuChemin charitably suggests that the best of these have probably internalized those elements. The remainder are probably just lazy photographers who would probably most benefit from duChemin's analysis but are those most unlikely to try to understand it. (This harsh conclusion is mine, not duChemin's.)

This is an excellent book and the author's analysis of his photographs will prove useful to readers in trying to internalize the concepts of Message, Elements and Decisions. Sometimes I disagreed with the author's conclusion that a particular technique had enhanced the meaning of an image, but even in those cases, I believed the examination of the technique would ultimately improve my own photography.

The concepts presented are not new and have been presented in many other photography books. In fact as I read, I wondered why he had not stuck to the traditional terms of description and analysis of the arts, like form and content, or technique and product. Although the author does not explain the advantage of a new taxonomy, he obviously feels that it will help the reader to get a better grasp on the underlying concepts. I'm not certain that it does, but on the other hand, it certainly is no worse than the more traditional form. In any event, my own belief is that multiple approaches to concepts help us to get a better grasp, and reading duChemin can only help, even if you are an experienced photographer.

It seems to me that the author's earlier works, like "Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision" served to develop concepts that had not been emphasized enough to photographers. This book covers ground that studious photographers will be familiar with, but the path may be more attractive.

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers

2012-01-29T01:51:00.001-08:00

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers

A significant update to a bestselling JavaScript book As the key scripting language for the web, JavaScript is supported by every modern web browser and allows developers to create client-side scripts that take advantage of features such as animating the canvas tag and enabling client-side storage and application caches. After an in-depth introduction to the JavaScript language, this updated edition of a bestseller progresses to break down how JavaScript is applied for web development using the latest web development technologies. Veteran author and JavaScript guru Nicholas Zakas shows how JavaScript works with the new HTML5 as well as other significant advances in web development as it relates to JavaScript. Begins with an introduction to JavaScript basics and then moves on to more advanced topics regarding JavaScript and advances in web development technologies Describes how JavaScript is implemented into HTML5 Covers browser/feature detection in scripts, event-driven JavaScript development, error reporting and debugging, offline application and data storage, and more Professional JavaScript for Web Developers, 3rd Edition is an authoritative JavaScript resource that every web developers should have.

HTML5 & CSS3 Visual QuickStart Guide (7th Edition)

2012-01-29T01:42:00.000-08:00

HTML5 & CSS3 Visual QuickStart Guide (7th Edition)

Review

If your budget only allows for one HTML5 and CSS3 book, this book is a terrific way to invest your money. I’ve reviewed HTML5 for Web Designers and Introducing HTML5 on this blog. I think this book is better than either of those books. That’s not saying the two books mentioned are not excellent books, because they are. I’ve read both of those books carefully and I still learned new and helpful things from HTML5 and CSS3. Plus, the VQS style is inherently easy to use with each topic detailed in small step-by-step bits. It’s so easy to find the one thing you need to know at any given moment with a VQS book.

Another advantage this book over the others I mentioned is that it can get a beginner going but it also offers a lot of good information for the experienced HTML and CSS wonk. If you’re teaching either of these topics, this book is classroom gold.

Definitely recommended. - Virginia DeBolt, webteacher.ws

About the Author

Bruce Hyslop began developing for the Web in 1997 and focuses on interface technical architecture, development, usability, accessibility, and advocating best practices. He is the author of The HTML Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press, 2010), a thorough discussion and reference of all HTML elements (HTML5 and prior). Bruce also teaches a CSS course at UCLA Extension and occasionally speaks on matters regarding front-end development. Over the years, he has overseen front-end teams or been a developer for more than 150 projects, including those for ABC, BBC, Disney, Logitech, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Nokia, Target, Toyota, and Yahoo!, among others.

Bruce is an independent developer and consultant to agencies, start-ups, and others, previously having spent a decade in the digital agency world. Formerly, he was the senior director of the Interface Engineering Group (IEG) at Schematic, where he oversaw company-wide efforts to define and implement best practices regarding HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and accessibility wherever they may be applied: the browser, desktop, mobile devices, and emerging platforms.

Bruce was an early adopter of Web standards. At a previous agency in the early 2000s, he lead companies such as Baskin-Robbins and Pacific Gas & Electric into the fray of modern client-side practices while managing development between offices in Los Angeles, China, and New York.

Product Details

Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: Peachpit Press; 7 edition (December 31, 2011)
Language: English

Mark R. Levin-Political utopianism is tyranny disguised as a desirable, workable, and even paradisiacal governing ideology

2012-01-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America

About the Author

Mark R. Levin, nationally syndicated talk-radio host and president of Landmark Legal Foundation, is the author of Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, which spent more than three months as a #1 New York Times bestseller and sold more than one million copies. His books Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America and Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover’s Story of Joy and Anguish were also bestsellers. He has worked as an attorney in the private sector and as a top adviser and administrator to several members of President Ronald Reagan’s cabinet.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

EPILOGUE

MY PREMISE, IN THE first sentence of the first chapter of this book, is this: “Tyranny, broadly defined, is the use of power to dehumanize the individual and delegitimize his nature. Political utopianism is tyranny disguised as a desirable, workable, and even paradisiacal governing ideology.”

Plato’s Republic, More’s Utopia, Hobbes’s Leviathan, and Marx’s workers’ paradise are utopias that are anti-individual and anti-individualism. For the utopians, modern and olden, the individual is one-dimensional—selfish. On his own, he has little moral value. Contrarily, authoritarianism is defended as altruistic and masterminds as socially conscious. Thus endless interventions in the individual’s life and manipulation of his conditions are justified as not only necessary and desirable but noble governmental pursuits. This false dialectic is at the heart of the problem we face today.

In truth, man is naturally independent and self-reliant, which are attributes that contribute to his own well-being and survival, and the well-being and survival of a civil society. He is also a social being who is charitable and compassionate. History abounds with examples, as do the daily lives of individuals. To condemn individualism as the utopians do is to condemn the very foundation of the civil society and the American founding and endorse, wittingly or unwittingly, oppression. Karl Popper saw it as an attack on Western civilization. “The emancipation of the individual was indeed the great spiritual revolution which had led to the breakdown of tribalism and to the rise of democracy.”¹ Moreover, Judaism and Christianity, among other religions, teach the altruism of the individual.

Of course, this is not to defend anarchy. Quite the opposite. It is to endorse the magnificence of the American founding. The American founding was an exceptional exercise in collective human virtue and wisdom—a culmination of thousands of years of experience, knowledge, reason, and faith. The Declaration of Independence is a remarkable societal proclamation of human rights, brilliant in its insight, clarity, and conciseness. The Constitution of the United States is an extraordinary matrix of governmental limits, checks, balances, and divisions, intended to secure for posterity the individual’s sovereignty as proclaimed in the Declaration.

This is the grand heritage to which every American citizen is born. It has been characterized as “the American Dream,” “the American experiment,” and “American exceptionalism.” The country has been called “the Land of Opportunity,” “the Land of Milk and Honey,” and “a Shining City on a Hill.” It seems unimaginable that a people so endowed by Providence, and the beneficiaries of such unparalleled human excellence, would choose or tolerate a course that ensures their own decline and enslavement, for a government unleashed on the civil society is a government that destroys the nature of man.

On September 17, 1787, at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Delegate James Wilson, on behalf of his ailing colleague from Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin, read aloud Franklin’s speech to the convention in favor of adopting the Constitution. Among other things, Franklin said that the Constitution “is likely to be well administered for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become corrupt as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.…”²

Have we “become corrupt”? Are we in need of “despotic government”? It appears that some modern-day “leading lights” think so, as they press their fanatical utopianism. For example, Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time magazine, considers the Constitution a utopian expedient. He wrote, “If the Constitution was intended to limit the federal government, it sure doesn’t say so.… The framers weren’t afraid of a little messiness. Which is another reason we shouldn’t be so delicate about changing the Constitution or reinterpreting it.”³ It is beyond dispute that the Framers sought to limit the scope of federal power and that the Constitution does so. Moreover, constitutional change was not left to the masterminds but deliberately made difficult to ensure the broad participation and consent of the body politic.

Richard Cohen, a columnist for the Washington Post, explained that the Constitution is an amazing document, as long as it is mostly ignored, particularly the limits it imposes on the federal government. He wrote, “This fatuous infatuation with the Constitution, particularly the 10th Amendment, is clearly the work of witches, wiccans, and wackos. It has nothing to do with America’s real problems and, if taken too seriously, would cause an economic and political calamity. The Constitution is a wonderful document, quite miraculous actually, but only because it has been wisely adapted to changing times. To adhere to the very word of its every clause hardly is respectful to the Founding Fathers. They were revolutionaries who embraced change. That’s how we got here.”⁴ Of course, without the promise of the Tenth Amendment, the Constitution would not have been ratified, since the states insisted on retaining most of their sovereignty. Furthermore, the Framers clearly did not embrace the utopian change demanded by its modern adherents.

Lest we ignore history, the no-less-eminent American revolutionary and founder Thomas Jefferson explained, “On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”⁵

Thomas L. Friedman, a columnist for the New York Times and three-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, is even more forthright in his dismissal of constitutional republicanism and advocacy for utopian tyranny. Complaining of the slowness of American society in adopting sweeping utopian policies, he wrote, “There is only one thing worse than one-party autocracy, and that is one-party democracy, which is what we have in America today. One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages. That one party can just impose the politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century.”⁶ Of course, China remains a police state, where civil liberties are nonexistent, despite its experiment with government-managed pseudo-capitalism. Friedman’s declaration underscores not only the necessary intolerance utopians have for constitutionalism, but their infatuation with totalitarianism.

It is neither prudential nor virtuous to downplay or dismiss the obvious—that America has already transformed into Ameritopia. The centralization and consolidation of power in a political class that insulates its agenda in entrenched experts and administrators, whose authority is also self-perpetuating, is apparent all around us and growing more formidable. The issue is whether the ongoing transformation can be restrained and then reversed, or whether it will continue with increasing zeal, passing from a soft tyranny to something more oppressive. Hayek observed that “priding itself on having built its world as if it had designed it, and blaming itself for not having designed it better, humankind is now to set out to do just that. The aim … is no less than to effect a complete redesigning of our traditional morals, law, and language, and on this basis to stamp out the older order and supposedly inexorable, unjustifiable conditions that prevent the institution of reason, fulfillment, true freedom, and justice.”⁷ But the outcome of this adventurism, if not effectively stunted, is not in doubt.

In the end, can mankind stave off the powerful and dark forces of utopian tyranny? While John Locke was surely right about man’s nature and the civil society, he was also right about that which threatens them. Locke, Montesquieu, many of the philosophers of the European Enlightenment, and the Founders, among others, knew that the history of organized government is mostly a history of a relative few and perfidious men co-opting, coercing, and eventually repressing the many through the centralization and consolidation of authority.

Ironically and tragically, it seems that liberty and the constitution established to preserve it are not only essential to the individual’s well-being and happiness, but also an opportunity for the devious to exploit them and connive against them. Man has yet to devise a lasting institutional answer to this puzzle. The best that can be said is that all that really stands between the individual and tyranny is a resolute and sober people. It is the people, after all, around whom the civil society has grown and governmental institutions have been established. At last, the people are responsible for upholding the civil society and republican government, to which their fate is moored.

The essential question is whether, in America, the people’s psychology has been so successfully warped, the individual’s spirit so thoroughly trounced, and the civil society’s institutions so effectively overwhelmed that revival is possible. Have too many among us already surrendered or been conquered? Can the people overcome the constant and relentless influences of ideological indoctrination, economic manipulation, and administrative coerciveness, or have they become hopelessly entangled in and dependent on a ubiquitous federal...

Product Details

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Threshold Editions (January 17, 2012)
Language: English

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Mark R. Levin Page

Biography

Mark R. Levin is a nationally syndicated talk radio host and president of Landmark Legal Foundation. He has also worked as an attorney in the private sector and as a top adviser and administrator to several members of President Reagan's cabinet. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book Liberty and Tyranny, as well as New York Times bestselling books Rescuing Sprite and Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America, Mark holds a B.A. from Temple University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.

Building a Bridge to the Life You Want

2012-01-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want
Do you have a plan for life? Think back on your life and how you arrived at where you are today. Did you envision where you wanted to be and then map out a strategy for getting there? Or, have you bounced around like a bumper car from one thing to the next? New research shows that only 15 per cent of adults have a written plan for their life.......................

Building Blogging Network

The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking: What Successful People Didn't Learn in School

2012-01-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking: What Successful People Didn't Learn in School

Publication Date: January 23, 2012

Endorsed by 3 New York Times #1 Bestselling Authors, including Leaders in Education, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship!

''Cliff Michaels delivers a powerful path to profits, passion, and purpose.'' ~ Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos / Author, Delivering Happiness (NY Times #1 Bestseller)

''Cliff's writing is full of creativity, inspiration, and practical lessons. I highly recommend this book.'' ~ Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe Giver, TOMS Shoes / Author, Start Something that Matters (NY Times #1 Bestseller)

In The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking, Cliff Michaels takes us on an inspirational journey while capturing the passion and wisdom of extraordinary people. On the cutting edge of life and business strategies for over 20 years, Cliff not only shares his triumphs and tribulations as an entrepreneur, he unleashes a fun system of timeless lessons anyone can follow. Drawing on classic mentors from da Vinci, Edison, and Mozart, to Jobs, Gates, Oprah, and Branson, Cliff suggests we all benefit from a real-world MBA - your Master's in Basic Abilities. With thought-provoking stories and whimsical quotes, Cliff has managed to write an original work with cross-over appeal from artist to athlete, educator to entrepreneur, and Main Street to Wall Street. This fast-paced book rocks the education and business world as it raises the bar for success principles!

''The 4 Essentials is a fun read. Like Cliff, it's full of passion with a blend of new ideas and timeless wisdom.'' -- Dave Logan Former Associate Dean, USC Marshall School of Business #1 NY Times Bestselling Co-author- Tribal Leadership

''Cliff's concept for a real-world MBA (Master in Basic Abilites) hits the nail on the head. He takes us on a life journey with pragmatic insights, offering a guide for anyone on their entrepreneurial path.'' --Sue Hesse, Director Foundation Partnerships, The Kauffman Foundation

''A visionary leader and pioneering entrepreneur, Cliff Michaels sets the bar for life and business training. The 4 Essentials is a winning formula.'' --Michael Caito Chairman, The Entrepreneur's Organization

Review

''The 4 Essentials is a fun read. Like Cliff, it's full of passion with a blend of new ideas and timeless wisdom.'' --Dave Logan Former Associate Dean, USC Marshall School of Business #1 NY Times Bestselling Co-author- Tribal Lead

› Visit Amazon's Cliff Michaels Page

Biography

Cliff Michaels is a writer, speaker, and social entrepreneur. Along his journey, he's been a life coach, business strategist, angel investor, real estate broker, and high-tech CEO. Having trained thousands of clients in personal growth and entrepreneurship, Cliff's lessons are now available on www.CliffMichaels.com. His result-oriented courses and tools (Success Strategies on Demand), enable anyone to find their path to a real-world MBA -- a Master's in Basic Abilities.

Cutting his entrepreneurial teeth with street-wise mentors, Cliff bought his first home at 19 with no money in the bank. His unique experience as a college freshman inspired research to prove a simple theory -- that a substantial gap existed between classroom education, corporate training, and real-world Essentials for success and happiness. After dropping out of USC as a sophomore, Cliff spent the next 20 years building companies in real estate, technology, and consulting. His companies have closed over $500 million dollars in sales.

Today, Cliff's mission is to inspire, give back, and raise the bar for real-world education and social entrepreneurship. With every book or course sold, Cliff donates to students, education programs and global causes.

Cliff lives in Santa Monica, California where hobbies include yoga, tennis, hiking, travel and long catnaps. He's also a recovering real estate junkie.

Killer Facebook Ads: Master Cutting-Edge Facebook Advertising Techniques

2012-01-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

Killer Facebook Ads: Master Cutting-Edge Facebook Advertising Techniques

Expert Facebook advertising techniques you won't find anywhere else!
Facebook has exploded to a community of more than half a billion people around the world, making it a deliciously fertile playground for marketers on the cutting edge. Whether you want to leverage Facebook Ads to generate "Likes," promote events, sell products, market applications, deploy next-gen PR, ,this unique guide is the ultimate resource on Facebook's wildly successful pay-per-click advertising platform. Featuring clever workarounds, unprecedented tricks, and little-known tips for triumphant Facebook advertising, it’s a must-have on the online marketer’s bookshelf. Facebook advertising expert Marty Weintraub shares undocumented how-to advice on everything from targeting methods, advanced advertising techniques, writing compelling ads, launching a campaign, monitoring and optimizing campaigns, and tons more.

Killer Facebook Ads serves up immediately actionable tips & tactics that span the gambit.
Learn what Facebook ads are good for, how to set goals, and communicate clear objectives to your boss and stakeholders.

Master highly focused demographic targeting on Facebook's social graph. Zero in on relevant customers now.
Get extraordinary advice for using each available ad element—headline, body text, images, logos, etc.—for maximum effect
How to launch a Facebook advertising campaign and crucial monitoring and optimizing techniques
Essential metrics and reporting considerations
Captivating case studies drawn from the author's extensive Facebook advertising experience, highlighting lessons from challenges and successes
Tasty bonus: a robust targeting appendix jam-packed with amazing targeting combos

Packed with hands-on tutorials and expert-level techniques and tactics for executing an effective advertising campaign, this one-of-a-kind book is sure to help you develop, implement, measure, and maintain successful Facebook ad campaigns.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Proven techniques you won't find anywhere elseFacebook offers a fertile and unprecedented opportunity for advertisers, marketers, PR pros, and businesses. Now you can better leverage Facebook with this practical guide from Facebook advertising expert Marty Weintraub. From hyper-targeting demographic segments to streamlining execution, he shows you in depth how to create, deploy, measure, and optimize Facebook advertising campaigns that truly deliver. Presenting cutting-edge techniques at a level of detail you won't find anywhere else, Marty includes great advertising examples and lays out proven tactics to help you improve ROI, avoid mistakes, and achieve success.
Find actionable tips on how to:

Master the Facebook Ads web UI and Power Editor
Target and segment Facebook users with laser-sharp demographic precision
Write great copy and design ads that pop for B2C and B2B campaigns
Set the right KPIs, decipher the metrics, and check your success
Use Facebook's Ad Manager to successfully optimize and report
Get hundreds of millions of impressions globally
Improve your ROI and showcase your brand

Help

Measure and improve your ROI
Support PR, marketing, and branding efforts
Understand crucial optimization factors
Effectively target based on personal and professional factors

Simply put, no one out there understands Facebook Ads better than Marty, and his ability to distill them down into actionable steps anyone can maneuver is nothing short of genius.
—Joanna Lord, Director of Customer Acquisition, SEOmoz
There's no fluff or platitudes here. This book offers well-researched insights and step-by-step guidelines for setting and meeting goals, creating ads, branding, targeting, community building, conversion tracking, and a lot more.
—Carri Bugbee, President, Big Deal PR, and Adjunct Professorat Portland State University
Discover powerful targeting techniques
See how to budget campaigns and bid your ads to maximize every dollar spent

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Marty Weintraub Page

Biography

Marty is author of "Killer Facebook Ads" (Wiley/Sybex 2011) and CEO of aimClear®, an online marketing agency that has managed Facebook ad campaigns generating over 10 billion impressions internationally. Client credits include MarthaStewart.com, Siemens, Second Life, Budget Direct, and other global brands.
He's written extensively for respected Internet marketing trade publications including SearchEngineWatch, SearchEngineLand, SearchEngineRoundTable, and been quoted in many others. aimClear Blog (aimclearblog.com) has been cited as among the Technorati Top 10 Small Business Blogs, Cison Top Ten Social Media Blogs, PRWeb's 25 Essential Public Relations Blogs You Should Be Reading, and listed in the AdAge Power150.

A fixture on the international conference circuit, Marty speaks regularly at Search Engine Strategies (SES), Search Marketing Expo (SMX), PubCon, SEMpdx, International Search Summit, All Facebook Summit, Socialize, OMMA, Search Insider Summit, Universities, and others. Marty founded and produces the aimClear® Full Day Facebook Marketing Intensive Workshop

He has been described as "not your typical agency type." A "social media maverick" and "more innovator than follower." aimClear has become internationally recognized for its work in demographic research, especially as pertains to search, Facebook, and LInkedIn.
Marty and his aimClear team specialize in paid and organic search and social online marketing. aimClear's services include blended search and social demographic research; search engine optimization (SEO) technical and semantic audits, analytics monitoring, and consulting; pay-per-click (PPC) audits, setup, testing, and ongoing management; online reputation management (ORM) dashboard configuration and ongoing monitoring; social media marketing consulting and data-driven community management; public relations; and copywriting.

Marty enjoys camping, canoeing, fishing, patronizing James-Beard-award-winning restaurants, and fine wine,
Specialties

SEO, Facebook, Google, Bing, LinkedIn PPC, Social Media & Community Management, Reputation Monitoring, Business Plan Consulting, Search & Social Demographic Research

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs [Paperback]

2012-01-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

With titles like: Be Quiet, Turn the Camera Around, and the Fabric of Family, each of the 30 exercises encourages you to have fun and experiment at your own pace. With step-by-step instructions and using natural light, you will explore everything from street, lifestyle, candid, and environmental shots. The projects are small artistic endeavors meant to change how you see and the pictures that you make. All that’s required is a camera, an intrepid attitude, curiosity, and some imagination.

About the Author

Chris Orwig is a visual artist who brings passion to all that he does. He is a pro photographer, speaker, and on the professional photography faculty at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California. He is the author of the bestselling title, Visual Poetry: A Creative Guide for Making Engaging Digital Photographs (New Riders/Voices that Matter).

Product Details

Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (September 30, 2011)
Language: English

Visit Amazon's Chris Orwig Page

Biography

Chris Orwig is a visual artist who brings passion to all that he does. He is a pro photographer, interactive designer, author, speaker and on the faculty of the world-renowned Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Apart from his professional endeavors, Chris enjoys getting out in the great outdoors any way he can - from mountain biking, cycling, camping, surfing, kayaking, snow camping, backpacking, running, etc. He currently lives in SB with his three favorite girls - his wife and (very cute) daughters!

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey

2012-01-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey

Customer image from JM

Harry Potter: Page to Screen opens the doors to Hogwarts castle and the wizarding world of Harry Potter to reveal the complete behind-the-scenes secrets, techniques, and over-the-top artistry that brought J.K. Rowling’s acclaimed novels to cinematic life. Developed in collaboration with the creative team behind the celebrated movie series, this deluxe, 500-plus page compendium features exclusive stories from the cast and crew, hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and concept illustrations sourced from the closed film sets, and rare memorabilia. As the definitive look at the magic that made cinematic history, Page to Screen is the ultimate collectible, perfect for Muggles everywhere.

Check Out Related Video here

About the Author

Bob McCabe is a noted film critic, broadcaster, journalist and screenwriter. He is the author of Dark Knights and Holy Fools: The Art and Films of Terry Gilliam and several other film books, including authorised biographies of The Pythons and Ronnie Barker, The Rough Guide to Comedy Movies and the BFI book on The Exorcist. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

Hardcover: 540 pages
Publisher: Harper Design (October 25, 2011)
Language: English

5.0 out of 5 stars Behold - the magic of the HP movies in one glorious tome!, October 26, 2011

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey (Hardcover)

A tome this most certainly is! Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey is a behemoth of a book, and I had not expected it to be this huge (not that I'm complaining). It is an oversized hardcover with an embossed photograph of Hogwarts on the cover. It looks like a magickal volume and in a way it is, for it captures all of the magic of the Harry Potter movies, from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone all the way to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two. Any self-avowed fan of the HP stories and movies will treasure this beautiful volume filled with movie lore, and many more.

The first color photograph one comes across as one flips the book open is a full size portrait of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts (Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in HP films 3-8). His face expresses both concern and puzzlement, and it is almost as if he is there to welcome readers on a journey of knowledge and discovery which is what this book ultimately rewards the reader with. Flip to the next page, and one's attention is captured by a double-page (full spread) painting of Hogwarts, majestic in all its splendor, though details are rather fuzzy. There is also a fold-out spread of the main cast in movies 1-8 - the actors portraying Dumbledore, Hagrid, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Prof McGonagall, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, the twins Fred and George, the Dark Lord, and many more.

So, the contents...the book (531 pages) is divided into three parts:

Part I: The Making of Harry Potter

Introduction

Setting the Scene

HP and the Sorcerer's Stone

HP and the Chamber of Secrets

HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban

HP and the Goblet of Fire

HP and the Order of the Phoenix

HP and the Half-Blood Prince

HP and the Deathly Hallows

Part II: The Art of Harry Potter

Introduction

Characters: Costuming

Locations: Set Design

Creatures: Special Makeup and Digital Effects

Artifacts: Prop Making

Part III: Epilogue

The Golden Boards

Acknowledgements and Colophon

The book goes in-depth into the many aspects of the film-making process, including valuable insights from and about the directors, actors, and all the other significant people who have worked on the movies, not forgetting the author of course. If you've ever wondered how the cast was put together, the process by which the directors for the movies were picked, etc. then this wonderful book answers all these questions and more. These details are enhanced by the hundreds of photographs that are found throughout the book, and what makes these pictures all the more extraordinary and valuable to the discerning reader is the fact that many of them were taken on set, during the making of the films, and apart from the photographs there are also full-color paintings in glorious detail. As a dragon fan myself, I was positively enraptured by the concept art of Paul Gatling depicting the mighty Hungarian Horntail in all its wondrous glory, which dare I say surpassed even the beauty of the dragon depicted on film? These are not minuscule drawings, but large-scale drawings in fold-out form. Other magical creatures get their share in this book such as the centaurs, dear old Buckbeak, the thestrals, the dementors, the process of transformation of Remus Lupin into a werewolf and many more. Be still my beating heart!

Remember all those newspaper headlines from The Daily Prophet, the Quibbler editions, and the Wanted Posters? They are depicted here in detail and also in the case of The Quibbler, in color! Ever wondered about the inspiration for those Death Eater's Masks? Its covered here in full-color. The significant places in the world of Harry Potter - Hogwarts, Diagon Alley (loved the map), the Burrow, Hagrid's Hut, the Forbidden Forest, and many more are also given descriptions and explanations in this magnificent volume.

As I continue reading through this tome, I have found some little things to gripe about - certain characters, albeit minor ones, are not really given any coverage, just a mere mention. Remember the ghost that haunts the abandoned toilet in Chamber of Secrets, i.e. Moaning Myrtle? Just a mention and that's it. I would have loved to see at least some description of the filming of the bathroom scene in HP and the Goblet of Fire in which Moaning Myrtle makes another appearance and helps Harry puzzle out the riddle, but no such luck. The book does however go into detail about the second task and the glorious underwater lake scene in Goblet of Fire, and how the lifecasts were conceived and made. But poor Hedwig gets left out here - except for a brief mention on p.238 and concept art depicting Harry and Hedwig overlooking Hogwarts.

Btw, for those who are wondering about how this compares to Harry Potter Film Wizardry, I'd say they are both complementary (I own a copy of HP Film Wizardry) to each other. While Page to Screen provides more details on the movie-making process and covers just about everything (I say just about as there are some things not covered), Film Wizardry provides more of an overview with many fun elements thrown in for devoted fans such as the various foldouts and inserts. For example, in HP Film Wizardry, readers will get a chance to peruse a copy of the Marauder's Map, Harry's acceptance letter to Hogwarts, a catalogue from Borgin and Burke's, stickers in the Advanced Potion-Making pamphlet, two boxes of treats (sans the treats) from Honeydukes of Hogsmeade (you can tear them out and fold them into actual treat boxes, not that I would!), a Quidditch World Cup Programme, a copy of the Yule Ball Programme, Educational Decree No. 29, a product catalogue of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and a Ministry of Magic ID card. Such goodies are not to be found in Page to Screen, so I'd definitely recommend getting both books. I've frequently found myself reading both together, and comparing notes.

My one complaint here is the absence of an Index - how could they have produced such a wonderful companion book to the movies and not have an index to help readers look up any detail that springs to mind? I can't fathom it, but I envision myself spending lots of quality time enjoying the delights of this book, so I shall not let this trouble me too much:) In fact, I am sorely tempted to purchase another book to keep as a collector's item as I can see myself thumbing through this copy until it becomes dog-eared! This is a beautiful volume of substance for any fan of the HP books and movies.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Companion to Film Wizardry, October 27, 2011

C. Heiremans
This review is from: Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey (Hardcover)

This new addition to my Harry Potter bookshelf is more than worthy of the considerable amount of space I had to clear for it. Page to Screen offers a more narrative and linear look at the making of all eight Potter films than its predecessor, Film Wizardry, with a more encyclopedic tone. That's not to say that this book isn't beautiful to look at; every single page features concept art, stills, or production photos, greatly enhancing the prose. Overall though, the pages are much more geometrically oriented, with text and pictures appearing in blocks, rather than the scrapbook style of Film Wizardry (and both are fantastic!)

The book is organized into two sections and almost feels like two books in one. Part one is a narrative of the making of each film, and part two highlights the people (and creatures), places, and things of Harry's world. Part one is more text-heavy and features numerous quotes from people who worked on all aspects of the films. One thing that I particularly appreciated was the (near) equal attention spent on each film. It is clear that every single decision about these films was made with love and care, with artistic considerations rather than monetary ones. Although we definitely learn about some of this in Film Wizardry, there is plenty of new information in this tome that makes it well worth the purchase. Learning more about the process of making these films and all of the thought that went into them helps the reader appreciate the films as more than a movie version of the books.

The second part is much more picture-heavy with "articles" about characters, props, sets, and creatures and resembles an encyclopedia. The artwork and stills in these sections are not just beautiful, they're eye-opening and are a testament again to the amount of thought, hardwork, and love that went into every part of these movies.

At 520 pages (and huge pages at that), this book has so much to offer by way of insights into and information about making the Harry Potter films. That being said, a second book of equal size and measure could undoubtedly be made without any overlapping information. Mind you, this is not a flaw of Page to Screen, just a request for a second volume :). My one small gripe with this book is that many times a prop or costume will be mentioned or discussed in the main body of the text without an accompanying picture. This is irksome when I want to look at the details being talked about rather than try to remember them.

With all of this being said, I can confidently recommend this book to any fan of the series, and even film making in general. I will be returning to this book for years to come.

Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter) [Paperback]

2012-01-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

Sketching Light: An Illustrated Tour of the Possibilities of Flash (Voices That Matter)

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Buy $50 in qualifying physical textbooks, get $5 in Amazon MP3 Credit. Here's how (restrictions apply)

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Joe McNally Page

Biography

Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed American photographer and long-time photojournalist. From 1994 until 1998, he was LIFE magazine's staff photographer, the first one in 23 years. His most well known series is the "Faces of Ground Zero -- Portraits of the Heroes of September 11th", a collection of 246 giant Polaroid portraits shot in the Moby C Studio near Ground Zero in a three-week period shortly after 9/11. A large group of these historic, compelling life-size (9' x 4') photos were exhibited in seven cities in 2002, seen by almost a million people. The exhibit and the book, printed by LIFE, helped raise approximately $2 million for the 9/11-relief effort. This collection is considered by many museum and art professionals to be the most significant artistic endeavor to evolve to date from the 9/11 tragedy.

Some of McNally's other renowned photographic series include, "The Future of Flying," a 32-page cover story for National Geographic, published in December 2003, commemorating the centennial observance of the Wright Brothers' flight. Joe is a 20 year contributor to National Geographic, and this story was the first all digital shoot for the magazine. This issue was a National Magazine Award Finalist, and one of the magazine's most popular covers. He has shot cover stories for Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, Geo, Fortune, New York, Business Week, LIFE and Men's Journal, among others.

McNally's advertising, marketing and promotional work includes FedEx, Nikon, Sony, Land's End, General Electric, MetLife, Bogen, Adidas, Kelby Media Group, Wildlife Conservation Society, and American Ballet Theatre.

In 2008, McNally published his critically acclaimed, award winning book, The Moment It Clicks, which has been touted as, "one foot on the coffee table and one foot in the classroom."

In 2009, McNally published his newest, much anticipated book, The Hotshoe Diaries. Just like its predecessor, it immediately cracked Amazon's top ten list of best sellers, within the first week of publication.

Joe McNally is known internationally for his ability to produce technically and logistically complex assignments with expert use of color and light. As part of his teaching activities, he conducts numerous workshops around the world.

The Digital Photography Book

2012-01-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Digital Photography Book

Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory—it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.

The Digital Photography Book

Scott Kelby, author of The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1 (the world's best-selling digital photography book of all time), is back with yet another follow-up with an entirely new book that picks up right where he left off with Volume 3. It's even more of that "Ah ha, so that' s how they do it," straight-to-the-point, skip-the-techno-jargon stuff people can really use today to make their shots even better.

This book truly has a brilliant premise, and here's how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot and you asked me, 'Hey Scott, I want the light for this portrait to look really soft and flattering. How far back should I put this softbox?' I wouldn't give you a lecture about lighting ratios, or flash modifiers. In real life, I'd just turn to you and say, 'Move it in as close to your subject as you possibly can, without it actually showing up in the shot.' Well, that's what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned, just like I would with a friend--without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak."

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 4 follows in the footsteps of the wildly successful previous volumes, giving photographers nearly two hundred more closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get them shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with their digital camera every time they press the shutter button.

More About the Author

Biography

I'm President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine, and a book author myself, having penned more than 30 titles.

› Visit Amazon's Scott Kelby Page

The Power Formula for Linkedin Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search

2012-01-19T23:36:00.000-08:00

The Power Formula for Linkedin Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search

Publication Date: March 1, 2011 This simple, user-friendly guide explains how you can access the full power of LinkedIn--including advice on making lasting business connections, building a unique personal brand, and generating significant business opportunities. Are you at a social-media disadvantage if you entered the business world before the rise of Facebook? Wayne Breitbarth argues that the opposite is true when it comes to LinkedIn: your experience and connections as a seasoned professional give you a leg up in harnessing the benefits of LinkedIn. You have already done a lot of the networking groundwork, and LinkedIn can extend your reach even further with minimal time each week. Using actual screenshots of the LinkedIn website, Breitbarth demonstrates how you can take advantage of all the features of this professional networking platform. He shows you how to create a compelling profile, use keywords to improve your ability to find and be found by others, build a solid base of connections, solicit valuable recommendations, and much more. His 6-week, 2-hour-per-week startup plan and weekly maintenance plan will motivate you to make the most of your time on LinkedIn. Wayne Breitbarth's pragmatic teaching style and engaging sense of humor are on display throughout The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, and he shares many specific examples, stories, and illustrations that are the direct result of thirty years experience in business consulting and business ownership. Whether you are an entry-level professional, a CEO, or anywhere in between, you can benefit from this practical introduction to a powerful networking tool.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Leading the reader through his own journey from skeptic to LinkedIn enthusiast and trainer, Breitbarth extols the benefits of creating a well-crafted LinkedIn account.

Perfect for readers who grew up before the dawn of the Internet era.

-Kirkus Reviews

I know of no one who knows how to use LinkedIn better than Wayne Breitbarth.
-Robert Grede, Best-selling author of Naked Marketing - The Bare Essentials and The Spur & The Sash--a novel

--Inside Endorsements page

This greatly simplifies the ability of those of us not in the Facebook generation to make sense of social media and leverage LinkedIn for business success.  

-Michael A. Dalton, Author of Simplifying Innovation

--Inside Endorsements page

Wayne Breitbarth's Power Formula for Linkedin Success explains how anyone can use Linkedin to propel business growth.
-Christina Steder, President, Clear Verve Marketing, LLC

--Inside Endorsements page

"The Power Formula doesn't read like a first book...Instead, it is polished and comprehensive enough to provide an excellent starting base for social media newbies.

--New York Journal of Books

From the Inside Flap

Wayne Breitbarth has written a great "how to" on one of the fastest growing social marketing platforms. Read it and learn.

-Jack Covert,President and founder 800-CEO-READ, Author of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time

--Book front cover

From the Back Cover

I highly recommend this book for novices in particular who will find Breitbarth's style user friendly and geek-speak free.
-Shama Kabani, Author of the best-selling The Zen of Social Media Marketing

To succeed in business today you need to thoroughly understand how to leverage one of today's most powerful tools, LinkedIn. A great first step is to read Breitbarth's book.

-Erik Qualman, international bestselling author of Socialnomics

About the Author

Wayne Breitbarth is the owner of M&M Office Interiors, and he also shares his passion for social media with others through private business consulting as well as dynamic presentations to local and national audiences. His listeners are captivated by his simple, straightforward approach that results from his diverse business background. He has received recognition for his public service in the Milwaukee community and resides just outside the city with his wife of thirty years.

The New Relationship Marketing: How to Build a Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using the Social Web [

2012-01-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

The New Relationship Marketing: How to Build a Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using the Social Web

Publication Date: October 25, 2011 One of the top social media thought leaders shares her secrets to expanding your business through relationshipsPeople have always done business with people they know, like, and trust. That's the essence of "relationship marketing." Today, the popularity of online social networking has caused a paradigm shift in relationship marketing. This book helps businesspeople and marketers master this crucial new skill set. Relationship marketing specialist Mari Smith outlines a step-by-step plan for building a sizable, loyal network comprised of quality relationships that garner leads, publicity, sales, and more. If you're a businessman or businesswoman feeling the pressure to shift your approach to using social media marketing, to better understand the new soft skills required for success on the social web, and to improve your own leadership and relationship skills through emotional and social intelligence, this book is for you. Outlines how to become a significant "center of influence" for your customers and prospects Explains the unspoken rules of online etiquette--and the common "turnoffs" that drive customers and potential partners away Details the unique cultures of Facebook, Twitter, and other popular online platforms Shows exactly what to automate and delegate to build your social media persona, yet still retain the personal touch Even if you currently have zero presence online, this book will help you see measurable results in a short time.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

People have always done business with people they know, like, and trust. That's the essence of "relationship marketing." But now the popularity of online social networking has shifted our methods of connecting with consumers, stakeholders, and potential partners. Businesses that master both new and traditional ways of nurturing customer relationships are gaining market share.
In The New Relationship Marketing, social marketing expert Mari Smith outlines a proven nine-step program for building a sizable, loyal network comprised of quality relationships that garner leads, publicity, sales, and more. This book will help you understand the new soft skills required for success on the social web, and to improve your own leadership and relationship skills through emotional and social intelligence. You will learn:

How to become a significant "center of influence" for your customers and prospects
The unspoken rules of online etiquette—and the common turnoffs that drive customers and potential partners away
How to navigate the unique cultures of Facebook, Twitter, and other popular online platforms
What you can automate and delegate to build your social media persona, yet still retain the personal touch

Relationships are the "new currency" in business. With Mari Smith's expert guidance, you'll get a step-by-step plan for cashing in.

From the Back Cover

Praise for the new relationship marketing

"A whole new exercise for your networking muscles! Mari Smith shows you how to bridge the gap between technical skills in the modern marketing world and good, old-fashioned people skills." --Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"My relationship marketing strategy is quite simple: 1. Be yourself. 2. Be the best self you can be. 3. Share the best parts of yourself with the world. That strategy, while quite effective, leaves the novice with many unfilled blanks. This book is the best way I know to fill them." --Mark Joyner, Founder of Simpleology

"The New Relationship Marketing shows you how to quickly and consistently boost your sales and income with the best social media techniques ever discovered." --Brian Tracy, author of The Psychology of Selling

"The New Relationship Marketing fuses traditional and online relationship building strategies into a loyalty-generating success system." --John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine

"This is not just a theoretical look at how social media works but exactly what you need if you're stuck and want to know what to do to be successful. I fully endorse the author and recommend the book without reservation." --Michael Port, New York Times bestselling author of Book Yourself Solid

"Mari Smith GETS what social media is all about. More than any other technology, it's changing the face of business, communication, and maybe even human nature. Everything successful boils down to relationships, and Mari will show you how to leverage social media for your success." --Ali Brown, entrepreneur, mentor, andphilanthropist featured on ABC's "Secret Millionaire"

About the Author

Mari Smith is a passionate social media leader, specializing in relationship marketing and Facebook mastery. She is coauthor of Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day. Fast Company describes Mari as "a veritable engine of personal branding, a relationship marketing whiz and the Pied Piper of the Online World." Dun & Bradstreet Credibility named Mari one of the Top Ten Most Influential Small Business People on Twitter. Mari travels extensively nationally and internationally as an accomplished social media speaker and trainer. With her popular blog at MariSmith.com, and her large, loyal following on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, Mari is considered one of the top resources and thought leaders in the world of new media marketing.

Elv1s 30 #1 Hits

2012-01-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

see Elv1s 30 #1 Hits Video

Biography

Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.

Elvis’ musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the…Read more in Amazon's Elvis Presley Store

Amazon.com

In 1987, RCA released a one-disc Elvis compilation called The Number One Hits that featured 18 tracks. So how did the label come up with 12 additional number ones (13 if you count the sensational "A Little Less Conversation" remix that brings the King into the 21st century as a bona fide dance/electronica star)? Well, the '87 compilation featured only Billboard number ones. "In the Ghetto" and "Burning Love" never reached the top there, nor did "Way Down," despite every copy of that 45 selling out on both sides of the Atlantic following Presley's 1977 death. Instead, the new compilers have used the major pop charts in both the U.S. (including Cashbox) and U.K. to determine inclusions. The tracks have all been remixed from original masters, which proves awesome at best (some of the songs have never sounded crisper if, at times, slightly antiseptic) and problematic at worst. Purists will definitely quibble. "A Fool Such As I," for instance, sounds like Elvis rerecorded his vocals. Hank Garland's great guitar solo also sounds different. It might be an alternate take. That's definitely the case with "The Wonder of You." A few lyrics are even different, meaning this isn't the same version as the original 45. Of course, none of that should matter to the youngsters who've been singing along to "Hound Dog" on the Lilo & Stitch Soundtrack, or to any other newcomers. Despite the complaints, this is arguably the best single disc Elvis primer to date. Real fans will want to explore much deeper for treasures to be found, but albums like this guarantee that this is one king who will deservedly live very long, if not forever. --Bill Holdship

Product Description

Slide-pack edition of this release, a no-frills CD packaging featuring an outer slipcase with the original cover artwork and an inner 'slider' including a CD. There is no CD booklet in this package. For those wanting to delve into the magic that is Elvis should start here. 30 of his #1 singles including 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Suspicious Minds', 'Love Me Tender' and more, plus the remix of 'A Little Less Conversation' by Junkie XL.. Sony/BMG. 2007. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

21- Adele (Download Mp3)

2012-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

21- Adele

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Adele's 19 was strong. 21 is simply timeless.

Madeline (USA)

In the past two years, Adele has refined and reinvented her unique sound that always puts her aching yet powerful vocals and lyrics at the forefront. These are songs that could have been released in the 60s as easily as 30 years from now. Adele has injected her trademark piano ballads with the best from several different musical genres including Americana roots and country, r&b, blues and gospel. The music is exciting and simply is. It lives, breathes.

There are a few tracks towards the middle that are remarkable only because Adele sings them-- and while they aren't quite filler, they aren't as memorable as standout tracks like "Rolling in the Deep," "Set Fire to the Rain," "Someone Like You," and "Turning Tables." Adele set the bar so high with these songs that anything else short of magic, is sort of a letdown. However, as a whole--this album so involves you that you can feel these stories as your own.

I played a couple songs for my mom, who at forty years older than I, generally criticizes my music taste, and the first thing she said was "Wow, this girl really knows how to write a story--those songs are beautiful."

21 is haunting, pulsing, soaring and very intimate. It's music that will be remembered.

Alan J. Norman

This review is from:

21 (MP3 Download)

From start to finish this album is a testament to what good music should sound like.

Crisp, poignant, vulnerable, melodic and soulful. You can tell Adele crafted this album carefully because such attention to detail is paid. Personally I haven't seen songwriting of this caliber in popular music in a long long time. She is a throwback to a time when artists wrote poetry to music and people could relate in their own lives making this album, in my opinion, an instant classic.

From the thumping beats indicating a sense of urgency in "Rolling in The Deep" to the whispful and pulsating landscape of "Set Fire to The Rain" to the BRIDGE.. THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE in "One and Only".. the kind of chord change/structure that gave me goose bumps the first time I heard it.. to the loungy rendition of The Cure's "Lovesong" and the heartbreaking and deeply personal "Someone Like you" Adele takes you on a journey with her. This is the album you put on and live your life to. The kind of album you put on to garner inspiration and ultimately, heal.

This is the kind of album that can mend a broken heart. And I would like to thank Adele for breaking through where many other artists have tried and failed. Personally I didn't care for "19" all that much but "21" has made me a fan forever.

Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America

2012-01-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America

Mark R. Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny made the most persuasive case for conservatism and against statism in a generation. In this most crucial time, this leading conservative thinker explores the psychology, motivations, and history of the utopian movement, its architects, and its modern day disciples – and how the individual and American society are being devoured by it.

In Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America Levin asks, what is this utopian force that both allures a free people and destroys them? In the end, Levin’s message is clear: The American republic is in great peril. The people must now choose between utopianism or liberty.

About the Author

Customer Reviews

tom0702 "tom0702" (Calif)

This review is from: Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America (Hardcover)

I HAVE NOT YET READ THE BOOK. I HAVE CALLED IT A 3-STAR
SIMPLY TO STAND OUT AND REVEAL THE RESULTS OF MY RESEARCH.

After painfully walking through all 19 pages of the 1-star
reviews, I was in search of one which was an "Amazon
Verified Purchase" (AVP) since I would then be interested
in their comment.

Result: of the 182 1-star comments on 19 pages, NONE show
up as Amazon Verified Purchase. Not even ONE !!!

I decided to review the 5-stars. In the first 10 pages,
there were 42 Amazon Verified Purchase comments.

Conclusion: VERY high probability that 1-star reviewers
are liars when they imply that they've read the book since there's
a high probability that they don't even own the book. Conversely,
5-star reviews have a high incidence of purchasing the book.
Its those 5-star AVP commentators that I take seriously as I
do any-star AVPs.

NOTE: I have begged Amazon to please add an option to allow me
to decide if I want to filter out non-AVP comments so that I can
significantly improve my chances of reading comments from folks who
have actually read the book.

I don't mind that I'd miss a very very very small percentage who
may indeed have purchased the book elsewhere and decided to
comment on Amazon but that would be a very small percentage.

The benefit of a "filter out non-AVP" option would be tremendous!
And I'd like the option to have it then grade the book ONLY on
AVP comments. That would be MY option, not mandatory.

OK, I should be getting my book in the mail today or tomorrow.
I'll then remove this comment since I too am an honest man.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): An Hour a Day

2012-01-19T01:50:00.000-08:00

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): An Hour a Day

The third edition of the bestselling guide to do-it-yourself SEOGetting seen on the first page of search engine result pages is crucial for businesses and online marketers. Search engine optimization helps improve Web site rankings, and it is often complex and confusing. This task-based, hands-on guide covers the concepts and trends and then lays out a day-by-day strategy for developing, managing, and measuring a successful SEO plan. With tools you can download and case histories to illustrate key points, it’s the perfect solution for busy marketers, business owners, and others whose jobs include improving Web site traffic.

A successful SEO plan is vital to any business with an online presence
This book provides strategies for setting goals and gaining corporate support, developing and implementing a plan, and monitoring trends and results
Offers hints, tips, and techniques for everyone from one-person shops to Fortune 500 companies
Companion Web site includes downloadable tracking spreadsheets, keyword list templates, templates for checking rank and site indexes, and a calendar with daily SEO tasks that you can import into your own calendar system

Fully updated and expanded, Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day, Third Edition will help you raise your visibility on the Web.

The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Guide to SEO!A Step-by-Step Guide
More timely than ever, this comprehensive, can-do book offers expert advice, practical instructions, and smart tools to help you increase visibility for your website on Google and other major search engines. In this new edition of their bestselling guide, veteran search marketing consultants Jennifer Grappone and Gradiva Couzin give you the very latest SEO and social media strategies and tricks of the trade in a workable, day-by-day plan. Perfect for busy self-starters in organizations large and small, this book will quickly help you increase your visibility and presence on the web.

Develop and implement an SEO strategy using the winning An Hour a Day approach
Discover how search engines work now, and make them work for you
Optimize your site so you can be found, then make the sale
Use Facebook, Twitter, and other sites on the Social and Mobile Web to put your site in the spotlight
Find out what "link juice" is, and start making your own
Get visibility in local, social, shopping, and other featured search results

You'll also find:

Essential hints, tips, and techniques for everyone from one-person shops to Fortune 500 companies
Engaging right-brain vs. left-brain sidebars, where the authors discuss key issues from their unique perspectives
Real-world "From the Trenches" case studies that illustrate successes to learn from and mistakes to avoid

Praise for Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day, Third Edition
"From strategy to implementation and optimization, this valuable resource gives you easily digestible, bite-sized nuggets containing proven, field-tested principles—it's SEO done right."
—Amman Badlani, Manager, Online Marketing and Analytics, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
"Tightly written and to the point, it gives you the knowledge you need to make a big difference in how your site appears in search engines."
—Rafael Baptista, SEO Specialist, Tripadvisor.com
"SEO: An Hour a Day is an immediately actionable guerilla field guide. Gradiva and Jennifer have a terrific grip on what real SEO practitioners should undertake short, mid, and long term."
—Marty Weintraub, President, aimClear
"If you read even half of the book you'll be an SEO star. Imagine what will happen if you read the whole thing!"
—Avinash Kaushik, Author of Web Analytics 2.0 and Google Analytics Evangelist

About the Author

Search marketing consultants Jennifer Grappone and Gradiva Couzin have improved the Internet presence of Fortune 500 companies and other firms in the media, entertainment, software, retail, and nonprofit industries. Jennifer, a former web project manager and corporate video producer, began focusing exclusively on SEO in 2000. Gradiva, a programmer and civil engineer, has been working in SEO since 1999. Together, they deliver a well-rounded, left-brain/right-brain approach to successful search engine optimization and social marketing.

Product Details

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Sybex; 3 edition (January 11, 2011)
Language: English

Finn (Texas, USA)Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Search Engine Optimization (SEO): An Hour a Day (Paperback)

As an seo consultant this book has played a HUGE role in helping me acquire the knowledge of seo i have today. I was a virtual seo newbie when i got this, my job requirements as an internet and ecommerce manager had been changed to include seo techniques and practices and i was more than a little worried that my ignorance of the subject would be found out, but by the time i'd read this twice i practically felt like i'd been involved in seo for years (yes, the transition was that smooth).

Here are my thoughts on this book.

Search engine optimization: an hour a day is a great read for anyone who wants to know all about SEO. It's a well structured book that takes you by the hand, one step at a time, and leads you through everything from the basic fundamentals to the most advanced SEO techniques used by seasoned professionals. It's incredibly detailed, maybe too detailed, from the fundamentals of keyword and website analysis to paid advertising, so much that at times it seems it's a little more information than you can handle all at once(especially for an seo newbie).

I've read reviews that said it was too wordy but i think the book was meant to be taken a little at time, especially by newbies, not just rushed and digested in a single reading. You need to practice the techniques a little at a time to really grasp the importance of each. The fact that the book uses scenarios from real businesses as examples for readers to follow helps to give people who are unfamiliar with the whole SEO concept a clearer picture of what the authors are talking about.

The text and language of the book is easy enough to understand. The tools and resources mentioned throughout the book and especially at the end are very useful for anyone who's interested in keeping up to date with the ever changing rules of seo.

Another invaluable resource that really makes me feel this book is worth it's weight in gold is the third part which outlines a detailed 3 month seo plan to get your website to the top of the search engines for your chosen keywprds. Believe me it works! I know because i use it all the time for many of my clients. If you want to get your website to the top of the search engine rankings, "Search engine optimization: an hour a day" is all you need.

John Eggert, Executive Coach

This review is from: Search Engine Optimization (SEO): An Hour a Day (Paperback)

These two women know what they are doing!! Their expertise in communication on the web is mirrored in the layout, organization and basic user friendliness of the book. I would absolutely hire the authors to do my web optimization work except they have convinced me that I can do a good bit of it myself.

I picked up the book thinking it would be a book on web technology and, although that is true, it is even more about marketing tactics and strategies. The thinking they had me do, very nicely stepped out in hourly increments, has had as much of an impact on my overall marketing strategy as it did on my SEO strategy. In fact, I suspect the authors would say there is only a very fuzzy line between the two.

For me, the practical impact of the book was to show me how to narrow and focus my web presence [...] from a generalized executive coaching practice to the very specific niche of senior executives in technology-oriented organizations. Now I just have to do it!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!!

John Eggert, Ph.D.
Executive Coach for Technology Professionals
The Idea Leadership Company
JohnEggert@IdeaLeadership.com

Leonard Cohen - Songs From The Road (CD/DVD)

2012-01-18T23:30:00.000-08:00

Songs From The Road (CD/DVD)

Editorial Reviews

Following the celebration of his 40th year as a Columbia artist in 2007 and coinciding with his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2008, Cohen thrilled his fans by announcing his first tour dates in 15 years. He's gone on to play the most prestigious and beautiful venues in virtually every corner of the globe, mesmerizing and charming audiences with performances that were hailed as some of the best of his career. When legend Cohen takes to the stage, raved Ireland's The Independent (June 2008), it's no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions.

One dozen of Leonard Cohen's most famous songs from those recent world tour performances at auditorium halls, festivals, arenas, and stadiums from Tel Aviv to London, from across Europe to the California desert and his native Canada are now collected on Songs From the Road. The 12-song program filmed in high definition and recorded in 5.1 surround sound will be issued in three separate packages: CD+DVD in a beautiful softpak with a 12-page book, Blu-ray, and 2-LP 180-gram audiophile vinyl in a gatefold jacket.

Amazon's Leonard Cohen Store

Music

Photos

Biography

A singer-songwriter more than equal of Bob Dylan in his use of language and his ability to tranlate the timeless themes of great literature into great music, Leonard Cohen parlayed unsurpassed lyrical skills and a distinctive disposition into a brilliant, if fitful, career. Born in Montreal in 1934, Cohen published poetry and prose before striking out as a composer and performer; in fact, he was… Read more in Amazon's Leonard Cohen Store

›

Visit Amazon's Leonard Cohen Store

for 73 albums, 7 photos, discussions, and more.

Customer Reviews

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

2012-01-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

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Publication Date: September 30, 2011 | Edition: 1

Bestselling author/photographer Chris Orwig offers 30 photographic exercises to renew your passion for capturing the people in your world. This is not a traditional portrait photography book. The goal isn’t flattery, but connection and depth. Whether you are a student, busy parent, or seasoned pro photographer, these exercises provide an accessible framework for exploration and growth.

With titles like: Be Quiet, Turn the Camera Around, and the Fabric of Family, each of the 30 exercises encourages you to have fun and experiment at your own pace. With step-by-step instructions and using natural light, you will explore everything from street, lifestyle, candid, and environmental shots. The projects are small artistic endeavors meant to change how you see and the pictures that you make. All that’s required is a camera, an intrepid attitude, curiosity, and some imagination.

About the Author

Dazzling Photoshop: How to Create Masterpieces in Photoshop

2012-01-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

Dazzling Photoshop: How to Create Masterpieces in Photoshop

About the Actor

Jim Zuckerman is a master at inspiring photographers to constantly think outside the box. He will expand your creative horizons beyond what you thought possible. Jim has been doing special effect photography since 1969, and when Photoshop came along he fell in love with it because he realized there are virtually no limits to its creative potential.

Product Description

This workshop is for the beginner through advanced amateur photographer.

Have you ever seen a great subject in bad light, had perfect lighting conditions but no subject, or shot a subject only to have problems in your composition? Photoshop provides the photographer with the tools to create images that sometimes only exist in our imagination.

With this DVD, Jim shows all the techniques he uses to create some of his favorite Photoshop images and will have you creating your own dazzling Photoshop masterpieces. Even though Jim starts at the beginning, this DVD is not just for beginners. Because Photoshop can not be taught in a linear fashion, like mathematics, Jim quickly gets into very creative techniques that intermediate and advanced Photoshop users will love to learn.

In this DVD, Jim uses CS4 however, this program is designed to help users of any version of Photoshop because it focuses on techniques rather than teaching a specific version of Photoshop.

The program is divided into the following chapters:

Introduction & Actions: Jim introduces his goals for this program and teaches how to create custom actions in the action pallet to help speed up your workflow.

Snowflake: Jim shows a simple technique he uses to mirror an image, creating a snowflake pattern from an picture of a tree. It is a great technique with many potential applications to creating very interesting nature abstracts.

Mountain Lion: Learn how to turn an image into a poster art silhouette. Jim transforms an image of a Mountain Lion into a eye-popping silhouette.

Bubble: Jim has always been interested in creating surrealism in his images. He shows all the steps he uses to create a reflective bubble within an image.

Chopper: Combining two images with blend modes is one of the keys to creating real looking composite images in Photoshop. See how Jim transforms a photo of a helicopter he shot flying over his home into an explosive battleground scene.

Tall Ship: Often times the condition for capturing spectacular images just are not right. Jim shows how he combines a dramatic seascape with an shot of a tall ship, turning an average picture into a real masterpiece.

The Taj: The Taj Mahal has been photographed from every conceivable angle. See how Jim overcomes this fact and creates a never before seen angle on the Taj Mahal in Photoshop.

T-Rex: One of Jim s favorite subjects are dinosaurs. Watch as he creates a photo-realistic image of a dinosaurs in a landscape using models he photographed in his home.

Knights: Jim creates an image that he conceived years ago but was unable to shoot in a traditional way. Combining several photos, Jim puts together one of his favorite shots of two knights in a foggy forest.

Doggy Bag: In this pre-conceived composite image, Jim uses a combination of techniques to create a realistic looking photograph of a puppy in a shopping bag.

Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image (Voices That Matter)

2012-01-18T14:21:00.000-08:00

Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image (Voices That Matter)

Publication Date: September 11, 2011 | Edition: 1

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, YOU’LL LEARN ALL THREE ASPECTS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE STUNNING PORTRAITS(HINT: IT’S NOT JUST THE LIGHTING)

Scott Kelby, the world’s #1 best-selling author of photography books, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine, and Publisher of the just-released Light It magazine, has reinvented how lighting books are written by finally revealing the entire process from start to finish. You see everything from the complete lighting setup (and all the gear used), to the shoot (including all the camera settings and a contact sheet of the progression of the shoot), to the all-important part that most books don’t dare include–the post-processing and retouching in Photoshop. This book also breaks new ground in the visual way it teaches you the lighting setup. There aren’t any sketches or 3D models–you see the lighting layout in a full-page photo, taken from above during the live shoot, so you can see exactly where everything’s positioned (the subject, the photographer, the lighting, the background–you name it–you see it all). Plus, you’ll see side, over-the-shoulder, and more behind-the-scenes views, so you can absolutely nail the lighting every time.

LEARN THE LIGHTING SETUPS THE PROS USE
Each year, Scott trains thousands of professional photographers during his Light It. Shoot It. Retouch It. LIVE! seminar tour and now, for the first time ever, he’s taken that incredibly popular style of learning and put in into book form. Now everyone can have a real-world reference for getting the same looks today’s clients are clamoring for.

You’ll learn:

The step-by-step layouts for creating the most-requested and sought-after lighting looks
How to get more out of one light than you ever thought you could (this is worth it alone!)
How to control and shape your light without breaking the bank
The camera settings, gear, and power settings for every shot
The retouching techniques the pros really use to make their subjects look their very best
How to retouch hair, eyes, lips, skin, and lots of other little retouching tricks that make a really big difference
How to create high-contrast portrait effects without buying expensive plug-ins
A host of insider tricks, invaluable shortcuts, and kick-butt special effects to give you a real advantage over the competition

Plus, Scott includes a special bonus chapter that shows how to create these same studio looks using off-camera hot shoe fl ashes and the modifi ers made for them. There’s never been a book like it.

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Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash

2012-01-18T14:17:00.000-08:00

Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash
Publication Date: August 30, 2011

This guide to on- and off-camera flash picks up where Understanding Exposure leaves off, helping free photographers from the limitations of "auto" to get the images they want when natural light isn't enough. For the many amateur photographers afraid to venture past natural lighting, here is the book that will finally help them explore the exciting possibilities of artificial light. In his trademark easy-to-understand style, Bryan Peterson explains not only how flash works, but how to go beyond "TTL" automatic flash exposure to master manual flash, allowing readers to control the quality, shape and direction of light for a perfect exposure, every time.

About the Author

Bryan Peterson is a phenomenon in how-to photography, with more than half a million books sold, including Amphoto's #1 bestselling title of all time, Understanding Exposure. He also ranks as one of the bestselling authors in the entire category, from any publisher. A professional photographer and internationally known instructor, he is also the author of Learning to See Creatively (9780817441814), Understanding Digital Photography (9780817437961), Beyond Portraiture (9780817453916) and Understanding Close-Up Photography (9780817427191). He is also the founder of the online photography school The Perfect Picture School of Photography (ppsop.com).

The Passionate Photographer: Ten Steps Toward Becoming Great (Voices That Matter)

2012-01-18T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Passionate Photographer: Ten Steps Toward Becoming Great (Voices That Matter)
If you've got a love and passion for photography, a feel for your camera gear and settings, yet your images still fall short--The Passionate Photographer will help you close that disappointing and frustrating gap between the images you thought you took and the images you actually got. This book will encourage you to determine what you want to say with your photography, then translate those thoughts and feelings into strong images. It is both a source of inspiration and a practical guide, as photographer Steve Simon distills 30 years of photographic obsession into the ten crucial steps every photographer needs to become great at their passion. Simon's practical tips and advice are immediately actionable-- designed to accelerate your progress toward becoming the photographer you know you can be.

Core concepts and suggestions include:

The power of working on personal projects to fuel your passion and vision

Shooting a large and targeted volume of work, which leads to a technical competence that lets your creativity soar
Learning to focus your concentration as you shoot, and move outside your comfort zone, past your fears toward the next great image
Strategies for approaching strangers to create successful portraits
How to edit your own work and seek second opinions to identify strengths and weaknesses, offering opportunities for growth and improvement with a goal of sharing your work with the world.
The critical need to follow, see and capture the light around you

Along the way, Simon offers inspiration with "Lessons Learned" culled from his own extensive experience and archive of photojournalism and personal projects as well as images and stories from acclaimed photographers.