Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 2: Learning Curve

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Spider-Man learns that he can get paid for taking photos of himself, and decides that the Kingpin is not a nice man. Perhaps confusing himself with Daredevil he decides it is more damaging if he can get information on him doing some crime, rather than just beating him up.

Also decides to come out to his would-be girlfriend.

real good spidey book.......2007-01-23

1. i don't like the ultimate universe idea at all. i dislike the infinite earths dc junk also. when you have iconic characters i don't think it's good to confuse the average non-comics fan (or even the average comics fan) with earth-2 superman, superboy prime, ultimates nick fury, etc. they water down the legacy and the impact of the great classic storylines and characters.
2. despite the above, this is a pretty nice comics collection. it's a good read, but just don't confuse the alternative ultimate universe with the real 616 universe.
ultimate spidey 1 was just like the first spider-man movie for the most part. this one is the rise of spider-man as a super-hero, getting acquainted with his powers and whatnot, and he faces off against the kingpin.

Spider-Man: Year One.......2006-07-08

In the wake of the radioactive spider bite that turned a geeky High School student named Peter Parker into a would-be superhero, the murder of his Uncle Ben, and Spider-Man's previous battle with evil businessman Norman Osborne (the "Green Goblin"), Peter now finds himself supporting his widowed Aunt May by taking up a job selling photographs to the Daily Bugle's grouchy chief editor, J. Jonah Jameson, with Uncle Ben dead. Having barley survived the attack by the Goblin, Spider-Man explores the more urban side of evil by infiltrating New York City's underworld, and it's large, muscle-bound boss Wilson Fisk, the ruthless Kingpin, whom the man who shot Uncle Ben had ties to.

As Frank Miller captured the essence of an amateur, inexperienced would-be hero in "Batman: Year One," BMB does the same to Spider-Man as the "Ultimate Spider-Man" saga continues. Here, Peter is still getting used to properly using his powers to do good and learns there is more to crime fighting than just swinging fists. In addition to getting his butt kicked by new bad guys, Spidey also has deal with cranky J. J. Jameson slandering his already bad name with false headlines. The unique thing about Spider-Man is he was always considered a criminal by the same general public he protects than a hero--unlike Superman or, to smaller extent, Batman. If you ever doubted superhero comics would ever pass the test of time, "Ultimate Spider-Man" is enough to convince newcomers to the genre. Keep working your way up the line, true-believers and newcomers alike, because in the next volume, Spidey locks horns with Doctor Octopus and Kraven the Hunter!

People have lost their MINDS!.......2005-09-24

I'm not Bendis-bashing. I like most of the guy's work. But this series is flat, campy (not in a fun way), and just all around poorly-written. I still can't figure out why everyone's going crazy over this book. The artwork is nice, if you like your Peter Parker looking like an anime character with a butt-cut.

I simply felt saturated with placated coolness while reading this. It's MTV and Disney Channel after-school sitcoms. It's those stores in the mall that play their music way too loud and only sell offensive t-shirts and stickers.

No, I'm not a geezer, but I'm getting this crap crammed down my throat in all other arenas of life. I'm not looking for it in my Spider-man. Like it or not, Peter Parker IS a dork. He doesn't dress like the other kids, he doesn't talk like the other kids. He doesn't get Mary Jane on his first try.

I haven't read the newer volumes in this line, but if it tells you anything, Bendis is writing like 4,000 books simulatneously. And as good as his other works are, that could only mean that he's writing this line in the ten minutes at night before he goes to bed.

Even better than vol. 1.......2005-07-13

This review refers to Ultimate Spider-Man vol. 2 Paperback edition, Learning Curve:

Bendis and Bagley proved they could do Spider-Man fans proud with their first volume, Power and Responsiblity. Now, Learning Curve grows and matures. This volume sees Peter gaining his job at the Bugle and battleing the Kingpin, who provides the plot for most of this book. It also conatins great chariterization moments for Parker, when he realizes that his being Spider-Man could potenitally harm the ones he loves.

Bendis's scripting is as delicious as ever, and in this edition he's grown into the chaacters. He's obviously more comfortable with the title than he was in the previous graphic. His sceen with Aunt May trying to talk to Peter about sex is worth buying the book for, alone.

Bagley's pencil work is still as fluid and flowing as before. It's a little rougher than I perfer in some places but it is still far ahead of most artists in the industry.

This is a great graphic for Spider-Man fans, young and old. Nothing in here should offend young readers, and it's enjoyable for all age levels. Highly recommended for young and old readers alike.

Aiding Democracy Abroad: The Learning Curve

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A Decent Start
Great overview

Aiding Democracy Abroad: The Learning Curve
Thomas Carothers
Manufacturer: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Democracy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0870031694

Book Description

Aid to promote democracy abroad has emerged as a major growth industry in recent years. Not only the United States but many other Western countries, international institutions, and private foundations today use aid to support democratic transitions in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Though extensive in scope, these activities remain little understood outside the realm of specialists. Debates among policymakers over democracy promotion oscillate between unhelpful poles of extreme skepticism and unrealistic boosterism, while the vast majority of citizens in aid-providing countries have little awareness of the democracy-building efforts their governments sponsor.

Aiding Democracy Abroad is the first independent, comprehensive assessment of this important new field. Drawing on extensive field research and years of hands-on experience, Thomas Carothers examines democracy-aid programs relating to elections, political parties, governmental reform, rule of law, civil society, independent media, labor unions, decentralization, and other elements of what he describes as "the democracy template" that policymakers and aid officials apply around the world.

Steering a careful path between the inflated claims of aid advocates and the exaggerated criticisms of their opponents, Carothers takes a hard look at what such programs achieve and how they can be improved.

Customer Reviews:

A Decent Start.......2002-11-22

As the previous reviewer suggests, this is a good place to start looking at issues related to the implementation of democratic aid programs. Unfortunately, the book is founded on several unspoken assumptions. The most important of these are a certain blind faith that the governments supporting these programs are truly interested in their success, and, similarly, that the governments being "democratically reformed" are similarly interested...

One area where Carothers makes good points is his explanation of the need to build within a populace a sense of what democracy means to them. Oddly, though, he then writes a chapter suggesting that civic education is ineffective. Despite the attempt at critique, I put this book down with a feeling that Carothers still basically believes in the "magic hand" of democracy despite having written a book that is supposed to be a critique of such thinking.

If democratic development requires a process of developing democratic principles within a nation's citizenry, it seems antithetical if not mad to exclude civic education as an integral component of this process. Of course, after reading the activities Carothers considers civic education, it is no wonder that his evaluation is that it doesn't work. Namely, he gives examples of projects that had U.S. democracy experts come into countries, create pamphlets and posters extolling a very American view of democracy (with a primary emphasis on voting), attempt to push these pamphlets and posters primarily upon adult groups, and then sit back and wonder why their efforts failed. It strikes me that even a moderately thoughtful development worker would know beforehand that efforts such as these would fail. There are decades worth of development literature suggesting this is exactly the wrong method for introducing change. A proper civic education program is much more open-ended, assists the participants in developing their own authentic concepts of what democracy and human rights means to them, and includes youth as well as adults. Unfortunately, Carothers seems to associate civic education with only the first case and claims it doesn't work. You wouldn't have to extrapolate his argument too far to reach a conclusion that U.S. schools should stop teaching social studies, political science, and government courses...

It seems suspect to me that Carothers would reach these conclusions... The U.S. government has put a great deal of money into limiting access to quality civic education worldwide, particularly in its efforts to stamp out liberation pedagogy and liberation theology by largely labelling it socialist propaganda. Further, it's simply too easy for aid programs to ignore this field, as many of the host country governments are patently uncomfortable with encouraging the development of a citizenry that has the tools to critically analyze policy and act upon this analysis.P>If you are looking for a first or yet another analysis of the bureacratic failings of development agencies, this is a decent start. If you want a more in-depth analysis of the difficulties associated with the development of democratic governments that truly listen to their people and respect human rights...look elsewhere. Carothers has some serious blind spots.

Great overview.......2000-06-07

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the controversial and critical world of democracy promotion. Carothers offers subtle insights into US efforts to promote democracy abroad and elucidates many of the complicated dynamics involved. It's the first book I have read that moves beyond democracy theory to look at the facts of assistance--the political agendas, the lack of donor coordination, the difficulty measuring results, etc. I highly recommend it.

The ABAP Developer's Guide to Java: Leverage your ABAP skills to climb up the Java learning curve

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The ABAP Developer's Guide to Java: Leverage your ABAP skills to climb up the Java learning curve
Andreas Schneider-Neureither
Manufacturer: SAP PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1592290272

Product Description

SAP has officially opened its doors to the world of Java and this all-new book is an indispensable guide for readers who need a rapid and in-depth, hands-on introduction to Java programming. SAP Web AS 6.40 supports both ABAP and Java, giving SAP developers a platform with an incomparable arsenal of modern and proven technologies to develop powerful, professional, and stable applications. With detailed insights and step-by-step instruction, this book helps you leverage ABAP development skills youve already honed, for a smooth and error-free transition to Java. The authors highlight each fundamental aspect pertaining to the development of business applications in both languages, and the differences as well as similarities are analyzed in detail. What does object orientation mean in each respective context? What do variables and data types look like? Which language constructions exist? These and dozens of other essential questions are answered clearly and concisely. This book helps any serious developer learn exclusive techniques to master development tools and objects, application design, and much more. Learn about Java Enterprise Beans, OpenSQL for Java, JDBC, Security, and thats just for starters. Youll save countless hours of trial and error and avoid costly mistakes while quickly advancing your critical Java skills. In addition, a complete chapter is devoted to application layers, giving you mission-critical information on data acquisition and persistency, the design of business logic (Enterprise Java Beans), possible presentation technologies (Web Dynpro), as well as connectivity (JCo). Highlights Include: The programming languages of SAP Web AS (Old ABAP world/new Java world)- Object orientation, variables, data types, language construction, exceptions Development tools and objects - Development environment, Java Dictionary, Java APIs, version control, deployment, testing Connectivity - JCo, EJB-Proxy-Class, Web Services Procurement Logic and Persistence - Open SQL for Java, JDBC, SQLJ, Container and Bean Managed Persistence, JDO Business Logic - Session and Message-Driven Beans Presentation Logic - Web Dynpro, Java Server Pages Best-practice approach for designing applications Recommendations for optimizing application performance based on current Web AS technologies

Learning Curves: A Novel of Sex, Suits, and Secret Affairs

Average customer rating:

Among the more enjoyable and intelligent chick-lit out there
Learning Curves about Life, Family, Business
Took a while to get into it but glad I stuck with it
Found it hard to get through
A witty quick read

Learning Curves: A Novel of Sex, Suits, and Secret Affairs
Gemma Townley
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345496019
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

From the dazzling author of Little White Lies and When in Rome . . . comes a rollicking new novel of love and lust in the boardroom.

Jennifer Bell used to travel the planet with her boyfriend, fighting the good fight for mother Earth. But after the breakup (not a good fight), Jen moved back to London to work for another mother: her own. Harriet Bell founded Green Futures, a consulting firm, after splitting up with Jen’s big-shot father, who runs a rival (and Harriet thinks corrupt) company. But Harriet can’t expose his crimes without proof. And she wants Jen to find some.

Since Jen hasn’t seen her dad in more than fifteen years, it’s a snap to infiltrate his company . . . under an assumed name, of course. Soon she’s worming her way into the good graces of the company’s managers to find evidence of wrongdoing. What she discovers is that her father’s world is a whole lot different from her own–filled with Palm Pilots, MBAs, martini lunches, designer suits, and Daniel Peterson, a guy who puts the gorge in gorgeous. Suddenly Jen is torn between Birkenstocks and Jimmy Choos, tree-hugging and air-kissing. Could it be that her Big Bad Dad isn’t the monster her mom made him out to be? Or is Jen simply being seduced by the power of hard deals, hot nights, and wads of cash? Only time will tell–preferably from a Cartier watch on the wrist of Daniel Peterson. . . .

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Among the more enjoyable and intelligent chick-lit out there.......2006-06-18

Since I used to live in London, I buy any chick-lit that's based there, whether I think it looks interesting or not. This book stuck out at me since it's rare to see a chick-lit book that explores mildly-intellectual things (business ethics for example) while still telling a single-girl-coming-into-her-own story.

The premise of the book is that Jen's mother wants her to infiltrate her estranged father's company to find evidence that he is linked to some illegal business dealings. Jen's parents divorced nastily fifteen years before, and her mother went on to start an "ethical" business consultancy to compete with her father's "big business" company. Jen joins the company, and quickly right becomes wrong, left becomes right, the good guy becomes the bad guy.

With a neat and tidy little twist at the end, the book is clever and tells a good story. It drags on in parts, and the dialogue isn't the greatest (the "real life" conversation between Jen and her boyfriend ordering takeout made me want to scream) but I definitely think it's a great escapist chick-lit book, ranking up there with Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding.

Learning Curves about Life, Family, Business.......2006-05-15

This book was truly enjoyable. This book is the 2nd I've read written by her. I enjoyed it and kept wanting to read more!

Took a while to get into it but glad I stuck with it.......2006-05-07

I had a really time getting interested in this book. I wasn't a big fan of the character, Harriet (Jen's mom), and wasn't looking forward to reading too much more about her and her interactions with Jen. Luckily Harriet was not in all that many scenes in the book.

Once I got going with the book I enjoyed it. I found most all the characters likeable. I didn't necessarily feel like I got to Jen all that much but there was enough to work with and relate to.

The book picked up and I sat down and read straight through the last 80 pages. I would recommend it.

Found it hard to get through.......2006-04-19

To me, this book was straight chick lit, and poor chick lit at that. The writing was so full of cliches and stilted language and the "intrigue" was not interesting. In fact I am having trouble finishing it even though it's a fast read.

A witty quick read.......2006-04-17

This "chick lit" book is better then most - an intelligent heroine does more then just worry about her love life. There is a bit of mystery to it as well. It is not often you read books about MBA students - as an MBA grad myself, it was great!

Average customer rating:

Lesson Learned
The Learning Curve

The Learning Curve
Melissa Nathan
Manufacturer: Arrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 009950426X
Release Date: 2006-09-04

Book Description

From the bestselling author of The Nanny, comes this captivating new novel about a teacher who is idolized by her class, particularly ten-year-old Oscar. Oscar’s father is a frazzled single-parent workaholic who resents any interference from his son’s teacher.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Lesson Learned.......2007-04-09

As with her previous works, Melissa Nathan's fifth and last book "The Learning Curve" is a warm-hearted, quick-paced pleaser that explores the tenuousness of love and life. Her protagonist this time around is Nicky Hobbs, a thirty-year-old primary school teacher who finds herself facing the sad thought that she may never be able to juggle both career and having children. Not that she's anywhere near to getting married or having children, but the thought is pressing itself upon her rather more these days.

At the beginning of the school year, Nicky instantly takes a liking to Oscar, one of her students, whose workaholic father is often absent from the picture. Oscar's father, Mark, believes he is doing his best to provide for his son; what he learns from his son about his teacher disturbs him - he believes Nicky to be a meddling busybody and is ready to give her a piece of his mind. Instead, during a confrontation at Parents' Night, it is Nicky who gives him a piece of her mind and helps Mark to see that some things have to change. To complicate matters even further, they develop a mutual crush on each other but can't reveal their feelings to each other. As Nicky applies to become headmaster at the school, she finds herself in competition with a Rob, a fellow teacher (and her college boyfriend), who suddenly is very interested in starting things all over again - or is he? Nicky finds herself questioning the motives behind both of the men in her life, while trying to determine exactly what she wants out of life, and what she is able to have in this world.

"The Learning Curve" is sadly Melissa Nathan's last, as she passed away two months after finishing this book from breast cancer. This last novel is full of her trademark wit and her uncanny ability to write about real life and the mix-ups that always happen in the name of love. While technically what the literary world would term "chick lit", Nathan's five novels have constantly risen above the sordid vapidness that the genre title often encompasses: she brought a warmth and intelligence that is lacking from most of this genre's formulaic plots and fabrications. Indeed, "The Learning Curve" examines the idea of women having to choose between career or children; why can't she have both and be successful at both? And it is debated marvelously under Melissa Nathan's sure hands. She will truly be missed.

The Learning Curve.......2006-09-19

What a wonderful book! I have enjoyed all of Melissa's books. It saddens me that this is her last book. I will miss her along with many others. My condolences to her family!

Average customer rating:

Now that I've finished the book maybe I can get some sleep!
What a great surprise read, and a refreshing perspective
Death on the Learning Curve
Alfieri
Death On The Learning Curve

Death on the Learning Curve
Pierce E. Scranton
Manufacturer: Elite Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Medical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Medical | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1600700144

Book Description

A hospital operating room may not be as safe as you think it is. Hiding among the sterile scrubs and gleaming instruments of an operating room is a whole lot of high drama: split-second life-and-death decisions...deep questions of ethics...roaring personality conflicts...the glory of saving a life-and the horror when a simple procedure goes terribly wrong.

Renowned surgeon Pierce Scranton, Jr., kept a detailed diary of his internship year at a busy California teaching hospital. This book is a vivid, fictionalized memoir of that year in the trenches. Through the intertwined stories of teachers, students and patients, it explores issues like: What happens when teaching and healing come into conflict? When is a new treatment to prolong life a good idea, and when is it a disaster? How did lawyers and bean-counters get so much power? And when do relationships between doctors and other staff "go too far?" This honest account is startling and sometimes shocking-but always gripping.

* A fictionalized memoir taken from the author's own diary of his internship year at a real California hospital.

* Gripping scenes underscore health and political issues that are of serious relevance to reader's lives today.

* Both startlingly informative and an engaging read, this novel will appeal to a wide audience.

Customer Reviews:

Now that I've finished the book maybe I can get some sleep!.......2007-09-30

I lost sleep while reading Death On The Learning Curve! That's because I stayed up until all hours of the night reading it, unable to put it down! It is a fast-paced, entertaining story of the life of interns during their intern year at General Hospital in 1971. It is a touching account of what interns are faced with on a daily basis. Life and death decisions that have to be made in a split second. If you like "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy", this is a must read! The author, Dr. Pierce Scranton, captures the humanity, panic, fear, doubts, exhaustion and jubilation that surrounds these interns like a cocoon during their intern year. The book is written in a fresh and entertaining style with Dr. Ned Crosby running across his old journal that he kept during his intern year, and reflecting on the scenarios as they happened 25 years earlier. The story is chock full of humor, adventure, and yes, even a tender love story! Thank you, Dr. Scranton, for writing such a wonderful and entertaining novel that allows us "lay" people to get an eye-opening view into the life of an intern and the bizarre, heart-wrenching human medical drama that an intern must face and do his best to fix; that "sometimes you have to hurt someone to help them". Now go pour yourself a Scotch...at least three fingers...you earned it!

What a great surprise read, and a refreshing perspective.......2007-09-23

Having worked with physicians for 28 years, and a large percentage of those being surgeons, I found this book full of insights I had never really appreciated. The prose is natural, the story line real, and the insights were amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone either wanting to pursue medicine as a career, or if your work or life brings you into the world of medical doctors on a regular basis - it will bring the challenges they confront and their point of view into a clarity and understanding rarely explained in such an entertaining fashion.

Death on the Learning Curve.......2007-09-21

This book is an informative, easy, objective read. It is directed toward the entire reading population and in particular medical and pre medical students for an introduction into a historical prospective of the first post graduate year of surgical training following medical school graduation. It involves the personal, medical, physical, romantic and intellectual challenges of a beginning surgeon. The outcomes of this one year of life are realistic and challenging for the caring beginning surgeon. The epilogue is particularly important.

Alfieri.......2007-07-09

Dr. Scranton's book is above all else - Honest. It is honest in its portrayal of the quality of medicine which occurs after a person earns and MD degree and becomes a physican; it is honest in portraying what these young people must go through to be able to be called doctor and it is intriguing, interesting, leaving the reader with: "I didn't know that!" The writing style keeps the reader interested and looking for the next event, the next experience, the next pain, the next disappointment, and the next feeling of accomplishment. It gives an insight into the microworld that we carry around inside us all, but seldom think about in real terms.

Death On The Learning Curve.......2007-06-19

This was a great book. The stories are facinating and humorous. I learned a great deal about the inner working of hospitals and interns. I hated to see the book come to an end.

Becoming a Learning Organization: Beyond the Learning Curve (Addison-Wesley Series on Organization Development)

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Becoming a Learning Organization: Beyond the Learning Curve (Addison-Wesley Series on Organization Development)
Joop Swieringa , and Andre Wierdsma
Manufacturer: Longman Group United Kingdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Organizational Change | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Organizational Learning | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0201627531

Learning Curves (Harlequin Signature Select)

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Girlish Dreams Stand on Scales. Able Anchors Tune Our Times. Beauty Bears the Weight.
Courageous and Thought-provoking
learning curve set on high
intriguing contemporary newsroom romance

Learning Curves (Harlequin Signature Select)
Cindi Myers
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0373836759

Customer Reviews:

Girlish Dreams Stand on Scales. Able Anchors Tune Our Times. Beauty Bears the Weight........2006-06-29

"Hey Judy's" review brought this book to my attention. I thank her, and John Michael O'Loughlin (author of COLLIE'S CAPTIVITY IN THE MONARCHY OF THE KINGDOM'S REALM) for the gift of LEARNING CURVES.

Though all the reviews were very well written and helpful to me, Judy's comments succinctly described the gist and guts of this delightful novel, and it caught me enough to immediately place the book on my Amazon Wish List. TV News careers are of interest to me, and certainly a book about the struggle to balance surface appearances with richness and depth.

This romance (which could fit the mainstream category) flowed freshly and freely in engaging entertainment. Jack Halloran and Shelly Piper, the main character pair, were immediately likeable as they battled the "bulges" ... of news anchor appearances mattering more to certain audiences than stories with prime-rib-potency or healing-heart-lift. The irony was refreshing of this male and female lead being placed on opposite sides of this conundrum. In this case, the guy was so gorgeous he endured decades of being seen only for his assets of skin, muscle, skeleton, and pheromones. And his baby blues. Can't forget those. The woman was supposedly too fat to be allowed in the limelight to present her research from her physical presence.

Here's a glimpse of some of the substance in this worthy novel:

"Shelly laid the receiver on the cradle and stared at her blank computer screen, sadness dragging at her like an anchor. She'd spent the afternoon with a woman who had almost died because she couldn't convince a doctor there was something really wrong with her. And now her best friend was having a completely unnecessary surgery - mutilating herself, even -- for the sake of vanity, or to please some man who didn't appreciate how special she was just the way she was."

The sub-plot couple, Yvonne Montoya and what's-'is-name (oh yeah, Daniel; too beautiful a name for that "azz") were drawn almost too clearly in their irritatingly ignorant choices in life paths and partners, being dictated nearly wholly by the visceral pull of (mostly) perverted needs and beliefs. Yet, the author does amazingly well with the way she grows and concludes this couple's bungling bump-and-grind, irrevocable evolution toward the idealized ceremony of the alter (more one of sacrifice than of mature partnership). I kept wishing Yvonne would get rid of her class "azz" of a fiancé. I kept wishing she would say, "Go Jump," to his demands of her. Yet, I was surprised that I felt satisfied at the conclusion of their sour dance.

And, of course I loved the resolution of the warming dance-steps of Jack and Shelly.

Not only was this novel a simple yet deceivingly complex weaving of a refreshingly entertaining romance with substance (yummy meat on the bones of the "fill-in-the-blanks" formula); it was allowed space at the end of the story for a few nonfiction details from the author and publisher's intentions and process for this "more-is-better" offering from Harlequin's SIGNATURE SELECT SPOTLIGHT. Marsha Zinberg, Executive Editor for this "brand new featured author program" is to be complimented. Don't miss her introductory letter to the reader from which I'll quote a short segment:

"Signature Select aims to single out outstanding stories, contemporary themes, and oft requested classics by some of your favorite series authors and present them to you in a variety of formats bound by truly striking covers.... In addition these books bring you bonus features .... more about ... the author ... the setting or inspiration for the book ... subjects related to the theme ..."

The content in the bonus sections in LEARNING CURVES was very interesting. I particularly liked the "Alternate Ending" section, and was giving huge thanks that it wasn't used. Though it was well written, fit well into the story, and might have been appreciated by many readers, for me that alternate ending would have undermined the fantastic work done in this novel to create a consciousness shift from a culture of too-many-fools lost in abject superficiality, to a growing collection of beings worthy of living within human skin, as they edge beyond the early phases of painful adolescence.

From my perspective as a voracious reader of entertainment fiction from multiple genres, as well as mainstream novels, I see this program as sheer genius in understanding and responding to a thrusting undercurrent of cravings from both readers and authors in what they want to read and produce.

Initially, I mistyped Ms. Zinberg's name as "Zingburg."

Freud I salute you. Thanks for the input!! As Freudian slips go, this was a zinger. And this program and this editor definitely have the most delightful, satisfying type of "ZING"!

And, thank Whomever, that the covers of these Select novels have appealing art related to theme rather than overblown sexy steam. I quit buying romance novels (un)covered with Superglued sexual embraces decades ago. To be honest, I don't recall ever buying one of those "covers." I didn't get into reading romance novels until they began using book cover art I didn't have to go crimson to carry.

PUHlease, let me add that big boobs are heavy to carry. Off, on, or installed. No wonder we have titanium backbones now to "go with." Maybe it's time to cut the cr(..) instead of brutalizing the fat. Where oh where has our little balance gone? Maybe a Harlequin Angel's trying to bring it back? Seesaw? A graceful, NATURAL, Hourglass? It's about time!

And, Thanks to Amazon for its gifts of gusto given in graphic grandeur, ever working to link "I want" to "I have." But, mostly, thanks to my husband who has always loved me "as is," even as I caused his hair loss! Actually he still has plenty of his gorgeous copper hair (surrounding the growing, glowing dome under the welding hat), and a thick abundance of white-spiced beard (which keeps the sparks away from his Adam's Apple).

My Best Wishes For Success to Cindi Myers, Marsha Zinberg and all involved in this venture!

Linda G. Shelnutt

Courageous and Thought-provoking.......2006-02-05

In LEARNING CURVES, author Cindi Myers tackles an important and largely ignored subject, the anti-fat prejudice of America. "Fat-ism" probably is the only politically correct form of discrimination still considered acceptable.

The heroine here wears a size 12, which she explains is the median size of the adult American women. Still, in many circles--especially in television news, where the heroine works--a size 12 is considered grossly obese.

Myers is to be admired for acknowledging this issue, and for addressing it thoroughly and well. A romance novel, particularly, would not seem to be the perfect forum to air these kinds of concern, but LEARNING CURVES does an excellent job of it. Even the title is clever.

The rest of the book is more conventional; there's not much left unexplored in romance fiction. Yet the subtext here takes LEARNING CURVES out of the ordinary and brings it somewhere unexpected.

learning curve set on high.......2005-10-28

I have enjoyed this book and would recomend it to my customers.This book breaks the mold,it gets the point across of not only learning to accept oneself,but points out that there are more pressing concerns in the world.This is a book that in short will make you feel.

intriguing contemporary newsroom romance .......2005-10-14

In Denver Shelly Piper learns that "perky" Pam Parsons was selected for the anchor spot on "First for News" though she worked diligently for ten years at the show; worse she learns that her size 12 did her in; even worse they offer her a spot on a weight reduction program to be shown over a year. Irate, Shelly quits.

Former Dallas anchor Jack Halloran, funded by his Uncle Ed Palmer, hires Shelly to co-anchor his KPRM public TV show "Inside Story". As they work diligently to make their show a success, the hunk, who quit his last show because no one took him serious as a reporter only a handsome visage, and the "fat" female co-star begin to fall in love. However, can they form a relationship off the air that will not destroy their terrific on the air affinity?

This is an intriguing contemporary newsroom romance that stars two wonderful protagonists struggling to overcome perceptions of how the media and consequently the audience see anchors. Jack wants to be taken serious instead of cotton candy while Shelly needs to prove that a big woman can perform the job. Though their romance takes a back seat to their journalistic relationship, fans of character driven tales will enjoy Cindi Myers fine look at the spotlights of TV news.

Harriet Klausner

Learning Curves, Vol. VI: Using and Negotiating Over-the-Counter Derivatives Documentation

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Learning Curves, Vol. VI: Using and Negotiating Over-the-Counter Derivatives Documentation
Christian Johnson
Manufacturer: Euromoney Institutional Investor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1843741954

Product Description

An experienced practitioner and regular contributor to Derivatives Week's Learning Curves brings you a practical guide to OTC derivatives documentation.

Addiction, Progression & Recovery: Understanding the Stages of Change on the Addiction Recovery Learning Curve

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Addiction, Progression & Recovery: Understanding the Stages of Change on the Addiction Recovery Learning Curve
Dale Kesten
Manufacturer: PESI Healthcare
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Group Treatment for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual

ASIN: 097497112X

Book Description

This entertaining and practical book points out a basic fact about changing harmful addictions - that many people need to develop a devotion to a healthy, positive addiction - to which they can cheerfully "just say yes!"

Based on thousands of observations made by the author during 23 years of active participation in the addiction recovery and treatment field, this ground-breaking new book describes five naturally-occurring stages of change on an Addiction Recovery Learning Curve that many people with the most serious harmful addictions will usually have to go through on the long road to lasting recovery.

Addiction, Progression, & Recovery illustrates how harmful addictions often develop gradually with many identifiable signs and symptoms emerging over time in a series of progressively worsening stages, and it clearly describes the lifelong learning process normally followed by people who successfully make the difficult transition from active progression into permanent recovery.

In this pioneering work, Dale Kesten introduces readers to the FACE to FACE Unified Addiction Recovery Model. This promising new developmental learning model offers a realistic and individualized approach to addiction treatment. It can help clinicians simultaneously assess, educate, motivate, and empower clients to eventually control or stop harmful addictive behavior by reframing their past, present, and future experiences as an honest and open-minded series of "Formal Addiction Control Experiments and Failed Addiction Control Experiments."

This innovative new model is not based on any abstract, academic, scientific, or partisan theory about how people might or should be able to change harmful addictive behavior. Rather, it accurately describes the natural and readily observable process by which most people actually do change or ultimately fail to change such behavior in the long run.

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