PT

This well-written book focuses on the the Polikarpov Biplanes that were the standard fighters of the VVS (Red Air Force) before world war 2. This is actually the first of a 2 part series, the second book (Aicraft Number 162) deals with the Polikarpov monoplanes.

Although ample imformation over the planes' performance in combat is also provided, the 'in action' aspect really takes a backseat to the description of design and development. This is not neccesarily a bad thing as the text is a very good and enlightning read and is well illustrated. Both with numerous period photographs as well asline-drawings, that are used highlight specific details and to illustrate the differences between various types.

In addition to photographs and line-drawings the book provides a dozen aircraft profiles (in colour), that cater specifically to modellers.

This book is a collection of papers taken from the 26th Annual Advances in the Astronautical Sciences Conference held Oct 29-Nov 1, 1979 in Los Angeles. Despite the claim that the book is 948 pages long, its printed length is actually 435 pages, which is still plenty hefty.

The conference from which the text of this book was taken occurred before the first flight of the shuttle 'Columbia', and is therefore greatly insightful into the early phases of shuttle planning, operations, and design. Needless to say, the program was wildly optimistic at the beginning, and this book reflects that misplaced optimism with papers presented on things like follow on STS derivatives, a 74 passenger shuttle variant (to ferry workers to all the work that would need to be done in space), and most fallacious of all, the concept of launch on demand, in which an orbiter could be launched with minutes notice. Also touted was the incredible economics of the shuttle which was supposed to reduce the cost per pound of orbited payload tenfold, when in reality, it has been more expensive than disposable boosters.

There is a great deal of technical information on the shuttle in the volume, accompanied by a very large number of excellent illustrations (for instance, external tank slosh baffles, and other hard to find photos and drawings), therefore, I highly recommend it for serious shuttle historians, but be forewarned that it is very heavy reading, and also contains numerous papers not related specifically to the shuttle on subjects as diverse as VAB reconfiguration, financial regulations pertaining to the operation of large platforms in space, and the excruciating "Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System," which delves into way more detail on the functional configuration of TDRSS satellites than anyone ever wanted to know.

I gave it four stars overall. The shuttle material was interesting and not commonly known, so that part of the book rated five stars, but the large quantity of non-shuttle information of dubious historical significance brought it to a four star overall rating. This is an excellent shuttle reference overall, just be prepared for quite a bit of extraneous or marginally applicable material.

Writing soap notes is exactly what I needed. It not only shows you how to write soap notes but also has exercises for you to complete. The correct answers are included in the back of the book. I would recommend this to any health care professional needing to learn or improve their soap note writing ability.

This is based on a two-part epsiode of the ROAD TO AVONLEA television series that spanned seven years and 91 episodes. Based on "WHEN SHE WAS BAD SHE WAS HORRID PART I", Sara Stanley is being disaplined by Aunt Hetty when she meets a look-alike named Jo Pitts who has a bad repuation! Sara switches places with Jo (like PRINCE AND THE PAUPER) and goes to the mainland with Gus Pike while Jo convinces everyone that Sara is a deranged psycho-child! Gus and Sara run into Gus's murderous father Abe Pike and are held hostage! The book ends there and is continued in DOUBLE TROUBLE (#24) which is based on "WHEN SHE WAS BAD SHE WAS HORRID PART II". I enjoyed this story because it makes you think and laugh and it's good soul food because of it's heartwarming theme. These stories are very heartwarming and set at the turn of the century in the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Actually the idea of look alikes being mistaken for each other goes back way beyond Shakespeare, but Mark Twain's "The Prince in the Pauper" is the obvious inspiration for "But When She Was Bad." This was a two-part episode of "Avonlea," and the story is continued in "Double Trouble,the next volume of the "Road to Avonlea" series of novelizations. The plot is that Sara Stanley, orphaned heiress from Montreal, meets Jo Pitts, lowly street urchin. Once they successfully fool Felicity, Sara decides to go after bigger fish in the form of Aunt Hetty.

Of course, the fun here was watching Sarah Polley play two roles, but this story, for which Marlene Matthews did both the original teleplay and the novelization, has a deeper undercurrent. I always thought Aunt Olivia was the key to keeping the peace at Rose Cottage, and this is certainly proven now that she is married to Jasper Dale. Nothing Sara does is good enough for Aunt Hetty and the whole situation explodes over buying a new dress for Sara. Many is the time that I thought Hetty King had gone too far, but she never goes as far as she does in this story, where she opens her mother and says something unbearably cruel to Sara. Of course, in the tradition of "The Prince and the Pauper," when Sara takes Jo's place, she finds she is in way over her head.

Will Aunt Hetty survive the new and not-so-improved Sara Stanley? Will the real Sara Stanley have to pay the price for Jo Pitt's crimes? To be continued...

One has to know and understand the original German text of the Dreigroschenoper to be really able to judge the quality of the English translations. This one, used among others by Helen Schneider on her album with Weill songs, has nothing of the sarcasms of the German lyrics. Better read the 1954 translation of Marc Blitzstein or the translation made by Frank McGuinness in the early 1990s.

Of all the translations on the market, this one is the best -- most are watered-down, tepid versions. Manheim & Willet's was used in the late 1970's revival of the piece by the New York Shakespeare Festival, which starred the late Raul Julia and Ellen Greene (of "Little Shop of Horrors" fame, in the role originally intended for Lotte Lenya).

If you are interested in therapy movement systems as a patient or professional, consider learning about varied forms of active qigong such as Wild Goose... or for the unusual, possible Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics (as originally intended or contemporarily interpreted). Most correctly practice full Qigong sysems will address the same concerns raised for therapy and health herein, and do so more effectively, thoroughly, and with easier comprehesion by the beginner than this "form" and system created by the author which is being labeled as Tai Chi. It is not Tai Chi Chuan... or even Tai Chi.

As a continuing student of TCC, I'm always interested in medical viewpoints concerning TCC, and I enjoy surveying perspectives on Tai Chi from the martial to the health-oriented, looking for new approachs that can address whatever motivation a person may have for learning TCC. However, this package did not fall anywhere in that range because I do not consider what I read or viewed here to be TCC in any manner. I see little here of use that could not be found elsewhere in a movement system designed for the needs addressed without attempting yet another new age Western rewrite of a martial art. Heed my warning and avoid wasting your money as I did.

This program is now taught nationally to health and fitness professionals. It has received positive reviews in the "Physical Therapy Journal", "GeriNotes" for the Geriatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and presented at the national meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. It is endorsed by internationally famous GrandMaster WilliamC.C.Chen. In addition, this useful program is now availably internationally: in Spanish, Portuguese, German, Norwegian in my new book for the public:"Tai Chi Mind and Body" (DK Publishing). As coauthor of this original book for health care professionals and instructors, I encourage you to read the following reviews by leaders in tai chi, physical therapy and the media. Sincerely Tricia Yu

"The movements of the T'ai Chi Fundamentals Form are the simplest and easiest to learn...a unique exercise suitable for all ages and physical conditions...a perfect form of movement for senior citizens and people with physical limitations."
- William C.C. Chen, Grand Master, T'ai Chi Ch'uan

"Provides a simple, systematic approach which maintains the integrity of the traditional Yang style form."
-American College of Sports Medicine's Health and Fitness Journal

"...as relaxing to watch as one of the orchestral nature videos screened locally on Classic Arts Showcase."
-David Medaris, reviewer, Isthmus Newspaper

"This is a work that gets to the root of tai chi. It will be of value to anyone who practices or is ready to fall in love with this wonderful art."
-Kenneth S. Cohen, MA, qigong master and author of The Way of Qigong

"The visual quality is superb. ... This program is of value for people who wish to learn about tai chi and want to engage in one rendition of the practice."
-Stephen Wolfe, PhD, PT, FAPTA, review in Physical Therapy Journal

"I have 28 videotapes on tai chi on my shelf. ...[Yu has] created the best video on tai chi that I have ever viewed. ... Brilliant and inspired work."
-Jennifer Bottomley, PhD, MS, PT, review in The Gerentologist

"This program is suitable to an older population, including those with chronic health conditions. ...[It] evokes the peaceful spirit an focused concentration of tai chi practice."
-Jane Mahoney, MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School

Physical Therapists Review The T'ai Chi Fundamentals Program:
" This is a very important contribution to literature and to the video-instructional realm of professional education. T'ai Chi Fundamentals for Health Care Professionals and Instructors is a remarkable gift to the world of rehabilitation. Many accolades for your brilliant and inspired work.
I have 28 videotapes on my shelf--you have created THE best video on T'ai Chi that I have ever viewed. You have made the very strong connection between the exercise form and its applicability in the clinical environment.You've accomplished a major feat in your production of the video and book entitled," T'ai Chi Fundamentals for Health Care Professionals and Instructors".
Jennifer Bottomley, Ph.D., Ph.D., MS, PT, President, Geriatric Section of APTA

"The video is extremely well done both to facilitate learning of T'ai Chi as well as to perform and practice the techniques. Ms. Yu's manner and teaching style are
appropriate for the audience and subject, and Ms Johnson's clinical expertise evident as she offers clinical application of the techniques. The video and instruction book are professionally done and easily understood. Both are aesthetically pleasing and make learning these techniques fun and relatively easy. Any health care practitioner would benefit from these materials."
Dale Avers, PT, MS Ed., Past President, Geriatric Section of APTA

"Essential for any health care practitioner wanting to incorporate T'ai Chi principles into health and wellness class.
oWell thought out and clear.
oWonderful blend of Eastern and Western health and movement principles.
oBoth book and video provide straightforward and clear instructions regarding proper movement patterns to achieve maximum benefit of the exercise.
oThe very clear, well described, easily reproduced movement patterns can provide a needed template from which researchers can maximize consistency of exercise
technique when studying the effectiveness of T'ai Chi.
oA great resource for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention as well as rehabilitation.
oMakes exercise fun.
oHas multisystem benefit.
oProvides the health care practitioner with a much better understanding of the parallels and consistency of traditional T'ai Chi with western health and wellness exercise programs."
Rita Wong Ed, PT, Chairperson, Physical Department, Marymont University

I have found the use of the T'ai Chi Fundamentals extremely helpful as an adjunct to the more traditional kinds of physical therapy I do with my patients. The chronic pain patients which are a focus of my practice have greatly benefited by the slow, gentle movement patterns. The compliance is very high with this difficult patient population. Patients with spinal stenosis and other similar low back pain with radicular symptoms find the back position comfortable. It has opened up a new world of standing exercise for them. I used the program with an older male patient who had a right below the knee amputation and left ankle fusion. He was losing his ability to community ambulate, because of balance difficulties and low back pain. Four treatments later, which included an emphasis on T'ai Chi Fundamentals practice at home, he was pain-free and able to walk any place in the city.
Christine Zampach, M.Ed., PT,
Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, UC-San Francisco

This book teaches about high performance engines by presenting case studies which are actually taken from SAE papers. Due to the style of writing used, it is a little hard to absorb. I find myself having to reiterate many of the sections to understand the concepts completely. I prefer reading texts that get to the point more quickly. I know that many of the concepts presented are interrelated, but there is little attempt to relate them. Many of the illustrations and graphics are not printed clearly (some graphs are not readable). It does present a fair amount of information that is useful, its just a little hard to extract.

P T barmnum , is a very interesting man, and this book is the same.However if your reading level is under the age of 12 you might find yourself wishing you picked up a Grishim best-seller. The description are delightful to say the least

This book contains helpful chapters on the common cosmetic and performance improvements. It does not, however, give tips on applying graphics or customizing gauges. The chapters are brief, which means that they lack detail but make it possible to stuff a lot in a small book. But be warned; don't be misled like I was into thinking that graphics and gauges are covered. They are not.

Mr. Ferraro is obviously a person who understands ProE extremely well and has a book that is very well outlined to teach the beginner. However, the publisher should have gone to the expense of hiring a proof reader. The text is filled with errors in the the text when it refers to tables and figures and some of the lessons are in error, which makes it very difficult for the student to guess what it is he is suppose to do in some instances. The book (and CD in a few cases) both are in bad need of an updated version to eleminate errors.