Open

Technically, Linux is the name for the operating system kernel at the heart of "Linux" distributions such as RedHat and Debian. When most people "use" Linux, they are in fact using the shell, the web server, or any other of the zillions of open source programs that (1) are available for, (2) are distributed with, or (3) can run atop the Linux kernel.

It used to be that there were only a few things you could do with a Linux box (namely run a Unix box as a web server) but the open source community has come a long way in providing (1) applications and (2) hardware support, so that you can now do a lot of things w/ your Linux box that used to only be doable on a Windoze box.

Schwarz et al have put together a smorgasbord of things you can do with your Linux box. These projects range from things you would tend to do on a Unix box (eg IP Masquerade, SSH, system security, even a chapter on writing Apache modules!) to stuff you would expect to need to do on a Windoze box (eg burning CDRs, syncing with Palm devices, and audio/MIDI/image/video processing).

The level of detail in the chapters (as well as the required level of Linux familiarity on the part of the reader) varies considerably -- a hazard of multiple authors and the breadth of the topics covered -- but each chapter starts off with a "Difficult-o-Meter" which more or less accurately states the level of Linux proficiency required.

That said, there are some real gems to be found in this book. There are some pretty hefty howto-like treatments in this book of topics such as system security, "undernets" (collaborative web sites), and setting up a web/IMAP/mail server.

There's a chapter on "Tools You Should Know", which lists the tools a typical Unix hacker should know: regular expressions, vi, dd, sed, diff, etc. Like some other parts of the book, this chapter doesn't give you a lot of information on these individual tools, but it brings them to your attention, so you at least know what to look for.

This book by itself won't turn a newbie into a Linux ninja after one reading, but it is a good overview of many different things that can be done with open source tools on a Linux box. I would highly encourage the prospective reader to take a look at the Table of Contents of this book. If you see a topic you're interested in, then this is a worthwhile book to buy. (I suspect that most folks running Linux at home at a beginner to intermediate level will find several bits of interest in this book.)

I've been curious about Linux for some time now. But, the only books that I could find, are all on installing, administering, configuring. Every one rehashing what the other said. None of them sold me on diving in.

When I discovered this book, I was apprehensive, but I went for it and purchased it. All I have to say is WOW! I never realised how flexible Linux is, or how much you could do.

I was thouroughly impressed on the variety of this book. I've finally been inspired to dive right in to Linux.

Are you a new Linux user, and want to learn more?

Are you an experienced Linux user, but are wondering what other interesting things you can do?

This book will teach you fun things. This book will teach you useful things. This book takes you on a tour you can't help but enjoy. At the end of the day, you'll find yourself not only entertained, but more knowledgeable about what you can do with Linux. It's probably more than you think!

This book helped me discover new interests and new possibilities, all in easy to read and entertaining prose. With that in mind, I'm giving this book the highest rating possible.

Lefebvre's 'Open Letter To Confused Catholics' is perhaps his most passionate tract, his most emphatic refusal. It's impossible to overturn the facts that Monseigneur Lefebvre lays bare. The Archbishop's diagnostic skills are nearly without peer in the modern Church. His historical bishop-making antidote is of course what got him into mortal trouble with Rome, although neither many of his public followers went swayed even by the excommunication, nor has his Society become troubled and shriveled. On the contrary, the Roman authorities continually come calling, even now, searching for a reconciliation. They come because their belly has grown hollow; that fact alone is a living echo of every word in this book. Apart from the incontestable expression of Catholic doctrine it encases, 'Open Letter' is refreshing again and again as Lefebvre's integrist beliefs clearly rebuke the often mindless motoric piety of American traditionalism, with its insipid Americanism ever odious and long ago condemned by Rome. Lefebvre's passionate defence is born of a European culture that by definition despised democracy, and it is what lends his effort here a particular, ravishing ecstasy, problematic as that may be in the post-Christian age. In the end, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre seems hardly to notice. It is there, in the heart of this man's ineluctable devotion, lies the virtue and vitality of this book. It's a challenging manifesto from a remarkable churchman.

In this book, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre doesn't sustain any doctrine that hasn't been previously defended by doctors of the Church like Saint Thomas Aquinas or popes as Saint Pius V, Saint Pius X, the blessed Pius IX or the venerable Pius XII: he just reasserts the traditional catholic doctrine and teachings on faith, moral and social issues; he never innovates or dissents.

Obviously, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre wasn't a schimastic or an heretic, as many modernists - some of them even in the highest ranks of the Church - dared to label him in a unfair and infamous way. On the contrary, in a time of generalized apostasy, he just fulfilled his duties of Archbishop, refusing the changement of Catholicism in a religious syncretism, which maintaining an external catholic appearance, intends to cross and to conciliate it with heretic protestantism, masonic moral relativism and marxist political demagogy, in order to form a new (false) religion that catchs the so-called "spirit of Vatican II".

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was undoubtedly a great figure of the Catholic Church in the second half of the 20th century: thanks to his almost unique efforts, orthodox Roman Catholic doctrine and pratice didn't vanished from our world, very especially, the beautiful tridentine mass.

This book should be read by every catholic concerned with his Church, in order to understand Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in his own words, full of plain common sense.

This book is NOT, contrary to popular calumny, in any way the diatribe of sedevacantist or schismatic ramblings of an old man, left behind as the world moves on. That is what it is NOT.

What it is, however, is a well constructed, well thoughout and, at times, harrowing description of the Catholic Church's descent from its strength and glory in the years immediately preceding the Second Vatican Council, when it truly shone as the Mystical Body of Christ, to the stumbling, division-ridden and at times clownish institution it has become today under the influence of reckless Modernists, thoughtless Liberals and careless Humanist theologians.

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre - a prominent player in the later days of the SVC, when it had become apparent what the European clique of bishops were up to - was ideally placed lead the Catholic "crusade" against this self-destructive bent. A lauded and popular French missionary in Africa, with the most orthodox credentials and with every prospect of 'making' Cardinal; following the SVC, he set up the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X in order preserve the traditions of Christ's faithful in the Holy Church as they had always been taught.

For this effort he was rebuked, reviled, accused of heresy and schism, denounced as a dinosaur and, worst of all, of being pre-Vatican II, and finally, by a brilliant piece of liberal-Modernist footwork, declared "schismatic and excommunicated" by a curial official in 1988.

Thankfully, the Archbishop knew that, with the Mercy of Christ, and the help of His Immaculate Mother Mary, as well as the prayers of all true Catholic faithful around the world - of which there were literally hundreds of thousands publicly attending the Latin masses said by the priests of the SSPX at the time of the Archbishop's death, and of which there are more now, ten years on - with all these things, Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church would win through.

This is the essence of the "Open Letter" - the most easily approachable of this learned man's works, and an excellent start for ANYONE who wants to understand why this passionate defender of the faith forfeited the easy path of capitulation in the face of almost overwhelming odds.

In the great tradition of all true "apologias", the "Open Letter" is concise, succinct, and, actually, very well written. It suffers little in translation from French to English.

Go on - read and learn what you thought had been lost.

If you're looking for an interesting, readable, and spirited guide to the Netherlands, then look no further. Ron Charles has written a book that is bold enough to have real opinions to help prioritize where to go, stay and eat. No photos, no ads, just the important stuff. Enjoy.

This book was by far the best of the 4 travel guides we took to Holland. I would prefer more photos, but the info in the book was solid and much different than the other books. A great companion in our travels.

Open Road`s Holland Guide is the book you will ever need while traveling in Holland. It has very good discussions on history, art, sights and the bars and restaurants guides and hotel listings are also very good and informative. Ron Charles really know how to write and whets your apetite for the culture and doesn`t let you down.

I would recommend this book for ANY user of SCO Unix, from the novice to the sys admin. It nearly every command and option from SCO System V Release 3.2, Version 4.0. In addition, this book also covers several important Unix utilities such as the vi editor, sed, awk, etc.

I would give this book 5 stars except SCO OpenServer has advanced well beyond this level (this edition is from 1993). Most of the information remains accurate, but there are some issues that exist. Keep in mind that there are some additional commands and additional options to existing commands that are not listed. Also, but more rare, there are commands or options that have been removed or changed in the OS. This is not as serious as it may sound as these issues will probably only be noticed by the more advanced users in rare circumstances.

This book contains all the basic commands needed by system analysts in an easy to find format. I recommend this book to all SCO Unix technicians and system analysts of SCO Unix systems.

O'Reilly has done it again, bringing Unix users a priceless reference book. The book is well organize into different shells and is easy to read. This book list all the commands with options and an example for it. Novice to SCO Unix should add this to their bookshelves.

This book is an exciting book, but you have to get into it before it becomes exciting. The book is very long and the chapers are about 25 pages each. This book should be for good readers (in 5th grade). P.L. Travers made a very good book though. Mary Poppins will always be my favorite character.

This is (to my knowledge) the third Mary Poppins book. It would have been 5 stars,but Travers doesn't seem to think of any new plots,just twists on the same ones. Still, it has very good story lines. There is the usual relitive of Mary, an old woman selling some magic item in the park. The object makes the 5 children and Mary fly home after getting Mrs.Banks some supplies. There is thev outing at bedtime where Mary has gone out - andis a geust of honor along with Jane and Michael. This does not have a bad day, but it has Mary coming and going in unusual ways. Mary Poppins is a bit more strict than in the movie,but still enjoyable. P.L. Travers seems to haver written this as the last book, but there are more after this. Ther5e are five children, not two. You should read the books in the order they were written to get an idea about these books. This is in the top ten on my must-read list. It is fantastic!

Marry poppins brings me to a totally different and fantastic world that I can never imagine

Explains many of the phenomena occuring in nature regarding both light and colour. Encourages active exploration by yourself. Good reference work but sometimes long.

Hundreds of optical phenomena visible to the naked eye are described in this classic text, ranging from colors in rainbows, halos, "sun-dogs" and other effects from water droplets and ice crystals in the atmosphere, to the iridescent colors of an oil spill and the visual effects of wet branches in front of street lamps. Explanations are aimed at the layman. Many line drawings and some b+w photographs accompany the sometimes wonderfully old-fashioned text. If you have ever wondered what some of the puzzling optical effects are that you see outdoors, then this book is for you.

It is impossible to truly review this book. Well over its 40 years old, it has become a classic. It attempts to explain, with little math but excellent science, everything we see from the appearance of the horizon, to the rainbow, to the light shining of telephone cables. This edition is old fashioned in appearance, there are no fancy full color spreads. It is a well written book, clearly organized that shows a grasp of the subject and a deep affection for it

This book is a wonderful way to introduce someone to the concept, but not the "how-to", of yoga. Because the author writes very honestly of his own physical limitations, it's particularly useful as a means to encourage anyone to try yoga, especially those who are intimiated by all the bendy yogis and yoginis shown in how-to yoga books. But Walton's attitude towards yoga is so wonderfully simple and refreshing, the book also can serve as a great pick-up to those who feel their yoga practice has grown a little stale or become too superficial. Pick up a copy if you can find one!

I loved this book. The drawings of bodies in motion are spontaneous and full of life. The author's ideas about 'creating your own yoga' are inspiring. After reading the book, I am reminded during the day of many possible gentle ways to keep the body in motion. Stretching is so lovely! I think I would enjoy reading this book again and again, because the book has a calming effect upon me. A sense of peacefulness comes across the pages.

This book was so inspiring. I have read many books on yoga, but this one is special. Although I think it is important to try the classical postures, this book eloquently and yet simply captures the way that those postures *should* be attempted, with care and respect for one's individual body, and with the goal of healing all aspects of the self. Both inspiring and wonderfully restful to read, this is a special book indeed. :) For beginners, I would highly recommend this book along with a more classic introductory book, and for more advanced students, I think this book will be refreshing and a joy. Thanks. :)

The book covers a lot of territory, the entire United States, listing some of the wonderfull small communities found in this country. Living in New England, I think the book skipped some of the many nice small towns found in our region. I wonder how many other towns in other parts of this nation it did not mention? Nonetheless, the book is a rather good resource for those looking for intersting places to visit. I just wished it had maps, and perhaps, some pictures, to help the reader understand the places pointed out.

America's Most Charming Towns & Villages is not a typical travel guide. Larry Brown showcases more than 200 small town destinations scattered throughout the United States. The prospective traveler is treated to information about historic inns, B&Bs, as well as great dining opportunities. Things to do and see hall mark the text, which is further enhanced for the business traveler or vacationer with suggested itineraries, maps, and an index. America's Most Charming Towns & Villages is especially recommended for those who with RV or car-drawn trailer are hitting the open road with the intent of discovering America beyond the narrowed confines of mere tourism.

Find out what USA Today already knows. This book is a gem for discovering Historical sites, basking in small-town beauty, and having a vacation that is truly realxing. When USA Today wrote about the 10 Best Small Towns to Visit for Christmas what book did they use for their research? Larry T. Brown's October 2000 edition of "America's Most Charming Towns & Villages." Here, readers found out about the unique celebrations held in these small towns: Nevada City's Victorian shopping complete with vendors selling apple cider and roasted chestnuts on their brick streets; Taos's farolitos and sundown procession with bonfires and dancers; Jonesborough, Tenn.where there are no stop lights, and the streetlights shine softly like old gaslights; and Leavenworth, WA - a town of enchanting Bavarianized beauty.

With summer vacations being planned, families who want to forego the expense and chaos of summer hot spots for an educational experience of historical riches and pristine beauty should get this guide to more than 200 towns.

I'd write more but I'm lacing up my boots to travel to Craftsbury, Vermont. I want to see this Colonial Christmas-card town before the warm weather approaches. Then I've got to plan my summer vacation to include Cooperstown, NY. I must see the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum and stop in at the Rose & Kettle restaurant for a home-cooked meal, housed in a ca 1810 home. This guide is a "Must Buy" for the explorer/traveler in your life!

The Open Ruy Lopez has been played by many famous Grandmasters since the end of the nineteenth century. It has been used in World Championship contests by Schlecter in 1910, Euwe in 1935 and 1948, Korchnoi in 1978 and 1981, and Anand in 1995. Timman and Yusupov have contributed many ideas to enrich this opening, although the hero of the Open Spanish has to be Viktor Korchnoi. The variation seemed to bring out the best features of his complex counterattacking style. Flear's book, together with Mikhail Krasenkov's older (1995) book "The Open Spanish" present the interesting development of this line. Flear's book has many games played in the late 1990's, while Krasenkov's has many older historic games. I have been looking for a defense based on the reply 1..e5 for some time now. My goal is to find a defense that I can play against a strong players, who, I will assume, have studied Opening Theory in depth. Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that the Open Ruy Lopez is not going to be it. Flear, while trying to be objective, is, I believe, too enthusiastic about the merits of the Open Defense. This is understandable, as he has spent a long time mastering it. I think that anyone who has the ability and practice of using books like The Open Ruy Lopez can quickly sift through the material (This does not imply gaining mastery of it by any means) and identify the critical variations. Any opening book that misses key lines or tries to disguise them is of questionable worth. Flear, to his credit, helps the reader find key positions, his book is well laid out in this regard. Looking at the opening from the Black side, it is clear that the critical line starts with 9 Nbd2. Flear is too optimistic of the possibilities for Black here. If a player of the Black pieces is willing to endure a worse ending and try to make a draw, then the Open is, I think, still a viable choice, but if you are seeking a confrontation with good chances of counterplay and a possible win, then the Open is in trouble. There is an ongoing trend among the SuperGrandmasters to find ways to suffocate a potentially dynamic defense. The Dragon, the Benoni, the Alekhine, among many, have suffered from this approach by White players. The Open has come under the same suffocating attack. It is a testament to its dynamic features that it lasted so long. The line 9 Nbd2 has been around forever, but in 1978 Anatoly Karpov adopted it against Korchnoi and hit him with a shocking piece sacrifice 11 Ng5!. This move is credited to the mind of Karpov's trainer Igor Zaitsev, but I suspect Mikhail Tal did early analysis on it as well. Somehow Korchnoi survived but when Challenger Anand tried to withstand the attack in 1995 Kasparov smashed him in a game that sounded the Death Knell of the Open Ruy Lopez. Shirov-Timman 1996 helped undermine another line, that, if Flear is correct, is now winning for white. Only Sokolov's 11 Bd5 move seemed playable, but this has no winning chances for black, (unless somehow white blows a fuse in a sacrificial attack against the black position, I think it more likely black will lose after Nxf7.) I think the clearest indication the line 9 Nbd2 Nc5 10 c3 d4?! 11 Ng5!! is trouble for black is that GM's have stopped playing it. Instead they have fallen back on the old Berlin variation with 10...Be7 11 Bc2 Bg4 12 Re1. This line is where the true theoretical verdict on the viability of the Open Ruy Lopez lies. If Black can get decent positions here then all would be ok. In fact, since that day in 1978 many Grandmaster games have been fought here, and Black held his own, until the late 1990s, as the theory of the lines here (with 12..Qd7 and 12..0-0) developed twenty five moves deep or so, and move orders became more refined, gradually Blacks counterplay is stifled. The Qd7 lines, in which Korchnoi won some tough hand to hand battles, look untenable now. Theory has moved beyond Flear here and it looks even worse for Black. The lines with 12..0-0 look a bit safer but I have trouble seeing how Black can find many winning chances here, he has to go into contortions just to hang on. I laugh when someone recommends the Open for beginners to teach them the dynamics of chess. While I think the Open is a very strong weapon if played against someone unfamiliar with its fine points, the thought of a novice trying to hold some the positions in the Berlin variation is laughable. Perhaps one point in its favor is that if the White player must play to win against the Open then perhaps he should avoid the possible endgames that can follow 9 Nbd2. 9 c3 Bc5 offers a sharper game where both sides have chances, but white can probably get an edge in the key lines. If everyone played 9 c3 the Open would be played alot more. As it stands today I cannot recall a Super GM game with the Open at a major classical Tournament this year. The only Spanish line seen regularly are the Anti-Marshall (see GM Adams) or World Champion Kramnik's Berlin Defense (not to be confused with the Berlin variation of the Open) Otherwise the Petroff is the safe e5 defense of choice at high level. Players like Shirov have dabbled with the Archangel but it seems too unstable to really tell what the state of theory is at any given time (maybe that is a good thing for dynamic black players.) The Berlin defense, while complex, does not fit the image of "dynamic conterattack" The Marshall Attack, does, but few are willing to tace it and avoid it with set-ups that can be almost as troubling as these Open Ruy Lopez lines. Poor Nigel Short had a rough time in 1993 playing this against Kasparov. The Berlin did hold up for Kramnik in his match, although Kasparov showed signed of improvement in Astania, defeating Kramnik and the "Berlin Wall". I am left still seeking a defense against 1 e4. I have doubts about those who claim 1..e5 is better than the Sicilian. What else can Black play if he wants to win? the Alekhine? Yikes..However I have not given up yet on 1..e5. But I will wait for a new champion to emerge, following the path blazed by Korchnoi and Yusupov, to lift the Open Ruy Lopez out of the mud and lead the way for all of us. When that day comes I will be the first to join in playing ...5 Nxe4!

This is a very solid introduciton to a fun opening. Flear should be commended especially for the time he spends at the end of the book addressing lines which make rare appearances in Grandmaster play but which the casual player will encounter often (such as 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1?!) and can have a lot of sting if you don't know how to handle them.

The book is built around illustrative games and while it strives for theoretical accuracy, Flear is clearly writing for the player of the black pieces. He makes some unusual recommendations (such as the Dilworth Gambit, where black gives up two minor pieces for a rook and pawn).

Like all opening books, this one is probably a waste of your time and money if you don't already have a solid understanding of tactical and endgame fundamentals. But if you do and you're looking for an alternative to the theory-intensive Marshall attack, which allows black to play for the win and avoid the tradiitonal "Spanish Torture," then the Open Lopez may be for you, and this book is as good a starting point as you're likely to find.

This is an excellent work for anyone looking to play the Black side of the Open Ruy. It uses complete games with fairly deep analysis, and seems to cover all the lines (something that can't be said about that many opening books now-a-days). I wouldn't recommend this book though to someone that doesn't have a thorough understanding of positional play, as a lot of lines lead to imbalances that are much too complex for a beginner (the Dilworth Attack comes to mind, with Black getting a pawn (sometimes 2) and a rook for 2 pieces, and yet White still gets the minimal advantage due to the bishop pair).

The other good thing is the book isn't biased to one side or the other, though to me it would seem to be a bit too detailed to be extremely effective to study from the White side unless you have all the time in the world, given that White also has to know the Closed Variation, Steinitz, Old Steinitz, Schlieman, and Bird Variations, just to name a few.

The other plus for this book is that it includes many games on lines in which Black must play exact just to survive (for example, the variation where White sacrifices his knight on g5 gets a few games coverage), and explains why the moves that fail truly fail.

A must have for anyone that plays the open ruy as Black.

I ordered this book back in November 2003 and received it late in February of 2004. Needless to say, I was happy when I received it, but I was even happier to find that it contained a wealth of material that helped to me to understand the nature of portal development and therefore make more educated decisions in my own portal projects.

I have been investigating a number options including PHP / Mambo, .Net's iBuySpy, and the various Apache offerings as well as Plumtree. The investigation has been daunting because there are so many disparate perspectives on the subject when it comes to standardization and implementation.

This book does not necessarily solve the "grand design" problems associated with portal development, but it certainly helps to solidify one's understanding of the JSR 168 portlet spec and the tools available develop upon that spec. Given that understanding, one can gain a more coherent perspective of not only the solution, but really the problem itself.

One of the problems with the open source community is that it doesn't have the same type of backing that folks like Microsoft have. Compare Jetspeed to .Net's iBuySpy. The .Net offering has way more documentation and it is far more cohesive and direct. Of course, that's because they want you to try it out and subsequently get entrenched in their product and so on. As an open source developer one is often left to fend for one's self through experience and hearsay. The learning curve can be discouraging to say the least. This book, however, helps to alleviate that suffering greatly.

Also, it doesn't put me to sleep like O'Reilly books.

The content of this book is top notch. Each chapter stands alone as an insightful overview of a particular topic (like Lucene).

But the chapters are not tied together into a cohesive whole. I still highly recommend the book but it is not what you may think it is. You are not going to get a working portal from this book.

I was pleasantly suprised to find a book on JSR 168 and even more surprised with the excellent content of this book. The authors explain what it takes to make your portal's portlets JSR 168 compliant and they also give you valuable examples with popular open source tools. Nicely done - I highly recommend this book!