Ford Reviews

Suffice it to say that I already knew more than this book could tell me, courtesy of 3D Artist magazine, 3D, Digital Video, and the internet. Au states at the outset that the book only addresses academic educational programs-i.e., semesters, quarters, admissions, registrars, matriculation, baccalaureate degrees -that lot, rather than the highly-concentrated, intense immersion training offered at training centers such as NYU's CADA or the Renaissance Center in Tennessee. the book doesn't mention either one, and omits many programs, for example, in my geographic area. Nor does it offer any plain-English assessment of the programs it does cover.

The computer industry is growing at an incredibly fast rate, and it is very hard to get guidance in this field. I found Gardner's Guide to be a great help in my search for an excellent school. And it helped me save money in the long run on my applications because I was able to focus my attention on fewer schools that were better for me.

As founder of 3DARK, one of the Internet's largest and most comprehensive resources for 3D computer graphics and animation enthusiasts, I am often asked, "Which 3D/CG schools are the best?" or "Are there any good 3D/CG schools in my area?"

Gardner's Guide is the definitive resource for answering these questions. I've had the good fortune to meet with the author personally about his guide and it's very clear that he puts a great deal of effort into providing budding 3D, computer graphics, and animation enthusiasts with an abundance of clear and accurate information.

Typical entries for each of the schools in this book include information about:

Degrees offered, curricular, facilities, student body, faculty profile, deadlines and financial aid, admission requirements, expenses, and contact information.

Basically everything you need to know in order to make informed decisions about which school you would like to attend is in this guide.

Considering the cost and importance of getting a good education, the price of this guide is well worth the investment many times over!

I would highly recommended it.

Zero Z. Batzell Dean

Having been a member of COUM TRANSMISSIONS from 1971 to 1976 I must say that Simon Ford has done a commendable job in his overview of the work of COUM and TG.I have corresponded with the author and he recognises that there still remains more to be told.There certainly is much about performances and first hand experiences that needs to be added.Hopefully in a subsequent edition ,or in a new contribution by another author, this will be addressed. Another reviewer asked the question "what became of Foxtrot Echo and Fizzy Paet?".We are alive and well and living lateraly,as allways, in England.

It took me all of 1999 to get hold of this book, and finally amazon.com sold me a slightly damaged copy for $32. People are waiting for a second printing and/or a US edition. The cover looks cheap, white with a cut-out and rearranged photo of TG members from the «20 Jazz Funk Greats» album cover. But that's about the only negative thing I could say about the book. This will stand as the definitive work on the subject for a LONG time. It's incredibly thorough, and with many picures and illustrations never or rarely seen before, including many photos of the pre-TG hippie version of Genesis P-Orridge. It tells the full story from GPO's birth in 1950 up to the split of TG in 1981.

While TG has been the subject of quite a lot of writing before, in two of the RE/Search books and many music mags, the performance art COUM period has had very little attention and critique. This is fully rectified here. When TG put out their first LP, you're more than halfway thru the book. Ford's unfolding chronological work is strong on both personal biographical detail and assessment of COUM/TG's place in art history.
I see TG/GPO as much stronger conceptualists than actual artists, much like their mentor William Burroughs. But as such, they have wielded an extremely strong influence on others, and sown the seeds of whole new genres of art and music. The unorthodox use of synths, «industrial» noise and cut-ups are now commonplace, while in the 70's it could cause riots when presented to an audience most used to the popular music of the time.
The COUM group's extreme use of bodily fluids and food in performance could be viewed as a continuation of the ground-breaking work of people like Hermann Nitsch and Otto Mühl. Coum did some far out stuff, but were in my opinion not as much pioneers in their field as TG was. But the scandalous 1976 «Prostitution» show at the ICA in London must have been a lot of fun. Backed by tax-payers' money, Cosey Fanni Tutti tore out nude pics of herself from men's magazines she had posed in, and presented them as art. If it's in a gallery, it must be art, right? Not quite. The exhibition created a massive moral outrage.
For record-collecting geeks, a full discography listing ALL releases (official, semi-official and bootlegs) is included in the back of the book, but in the book itself only the recordings released while TG was active are discussed. Which is a perfectly valid decision, as these are the original «manifestos» authorized by all TG members.
An indispensable book for anyone with an interest in 20th century art and music history.

Anybody interested in truly subversive music / art / anti-art needs to read this. This obsessively documented and well written tome lays out the attempts by Coum Transmissions / Throbbing Gristle to wreck civilization, and for good reason. Dadaists P-Orridge, Tutti, Sleazy and Carter meet in post industrial collapsed welfare state Britain and decide that things must be changed or at least destroyed and set about to do so. Musically influenced by the Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, 50-Foot Hose, Nico and a number of other artistes you've never heard of, t/g created the soundtrack for industrial society's post-mortem. On the surface apolitical, t/g was severely antiauthoritarian on all levels, deconstructing the 20th century while advocating a true revolution of the cortex, where everyone would be free to think for themselves without the restraints of normality or even sanity. Simon Ford does a very good job of putting t/g in context, and reminding us blase 21st century dwellers just how provoking they were. These four people shook the art and music world, and the reverberations affect people who've never heard of them, let alone the many that have heard of but never heard them. Read this while listening to "Second Annual Report", "Special Treatment", "Rafters" and "D.O.A." Can the world be as sad as it seems? Don't worry, t/g is long gone and civilization is safe.

I was a winner with this book. Yes, I loss some money at the tables, but I did come out ahead on two out of three sessions at 3 different casinos. When I didn't follow the book to the letter I got hammered. When I followed the rules I won. I don't think I would have made the money I did without this book. It's worth the 29 bucks. I made that back 20 times over.

This is by far the best place betting system I've ever seen or used. Also, the come betting strategy described is respectable but really only benefits the player when the table is hot. But lets be honest, if your lucky, a hot table is a 20 minute roll and one doesn't realize a hot roll existed until its almost over. The reality is you don't need a hot table to win a lot of money with this system. Anyway, I think the most important thing to pull out of this book is managing your bankroll and win/loss limits. By incorporating controlled money management skills with this place betting strategy you will become a CONSISTENT winner and a casino nightmare. Hats off to Roger Ford!!!

If you want to learn a proven method of winning at craps, then I recommend this manual. It contains a complete step-by-step set of instructions that make learning how to win easy, even if you have never played the game.

I had not played craps prior to reading "Advantage Craps." I am now able to win between $300 and $500 per day betting small. If you want to learn how to play the game correctly and make a lot of money playing, then you must purchase this manual.

I also liked the ...free coupons I got with the book. This makes this book the bargain of the year. Before you risk a dime in any casino, buy this book, try this system and prosper!

This book starts off with long descriptions of interesting facts that lost my interest after about 5. And the rest of the book followed that drawn-out precedent, with some entertaining action, dialog and humor mixed in. I enjoyed the interesting view on America it exemplified that you don't often find in contemporary novels. Jesse James was also portrayed in an astonishing light, but it got old and boring after a while. As soon as the shock wore off, I was just waiting for it to end to see exactly how Jesse was assassinated. I was not let down, but this book just had too much information and too many details without enough plot and dialog for my liking.

Hansen is an exemplary wordsmith and this is a wonderfully written book. Steeped in vivid detail and obviously painstaking research, it's enlightening and informative. If it fails at all its in its excesses. Can there be too much detail? Too deep an examination of the people and events surrounding the principal players? Unfortunately the answer is "yes," and those excesses make this book a tough, slow read. The fine quality of the writing, however, will certainly make up for some of the lapses in storytelling for many readers, especially those with higher literary standards.

An astonishing book--literary fiction, not genre fiction (as the title's allusion to MARAT/SADE reveals--and a dazzling exploration of greed for money and fame; violence; psychology; the way we invent oursleves. I agree with the above reviewer; this book is Shakespearian. I have read and taught much historically based American fiction and this us a masterpiece.

Their has to be a better book than this one! It reads like the most boring math textbook you've ever suffered through. You get one explanation and that's it. If you didn't get it, too bad, moving on. It needs about another 900 pages of explanations. "Curl up with"??? Gimme a break.

Excellent book! It was assigned for my Data Structures course. Basic knowledge of C++ and the way classes work is required, but it is an excelent reference. I would NOT sell this book back to the campus bookstore for anything after completing the class.

This book presented the material on data structures in a clear and concise manner. The written exercises were appropriate for the subject matter at hand and they enhanced comprehension of the material in the chapters. This book teaches the abstract concepts of Data Structures, while also teaching how to practically go about implementing them in C++. Particularly useful is the concept of an abstract data type, and the emphasis on separation of implementation from specification. The bottom up approach to Data Structures is brilliant, this book is a must for college students. This was my Data Structures textbook, it was excellent!

Conrad is a real star, I'm rather fond of him. Under Western Eyes is about living in a time of revolutionary urgency, individual fragility in a delicate system, and personal honor.

To summarize; Razumov, the 'Hero' is a university student in Russia post 1905 but pre 1917 who keeps to himself and has no real family and no close friends. A fellow student and a revolutionary, Victor Haldin, assasinates a local oppressive Tsarist autocrat. He then takes a chance and takes momentary asylum with Razumov, asking him to help him get out of the city. Razumov is an evolutionary progressive, not a revolutionary. Not willing to risk association with a radical like Haldin and destroy his entire life, Razumov turns him in to the police, and Haldin is subsequently hung.

The rest of the novel deals with Razumov's struggle with himself- he betrayed, and he has to live with a lie. Complicating things, he falls in love with Haldin's sister in exile. Raz can't bear it though, and eventually he does the right thing, but things get messy.

Thats the general plot, but the real meat of the novel is in the characters and the ideas underlying the conversations between them. The idea of how you justify revolution, the chaos of revolution vs the order of gradual reform, the unwillingness and helplessness of the individual caught in it all. And there's a continual theme of the diference between East and West.

Razumov reminds me a bit of Crime and Punishment's Raskolnikov- an isolated university student waxing the time away in a single apartment, brooding over Big Ideas and being slowly crushed by a powerful conscience. The stuff of modernity. Dostoyevsky was a little bit better, so thats why Under Western Eyes only gets 4 stars.

If you are familiar enough with Conrad's writing you will know he has a few favorite words - like "inscrutable" and "destiny". They reflect I believe Conrad's literary outlook. He likes to take characters, give them a haunted past with some shameful secret, emphasize a fatal weakness, introduce some culminating stimulae, and watch the tragic unfold. I think he could have written a brilliant biography of Richard Nixon. But to the point..."Under Western Eyes" is a quintessentially Conradian book. But unlike many of his other novels - Lord Jim, Nostromo, Victory - "Under Western Eyes" treats of period politics (namely the revolutionary movement on the rise in Europe) as he weaves his tale of betrayal and tragedy. There are no heroes in this book (save perhaps one) but only a motley collection of victims, fools, and eccentrics. There is not much action, despite its subject matter. I don't want to give away too much. The story unfolds in Moscow and Geneva, not around political machinations but around the tragedy of the central character, a young Russian thrown into the revolutionary movement entirely against his will. The saga of the young man's anger, self-loathing, and attempts to extricate himself from his "situation" form one salient plot of the novel. The ultimate solution to his unsought conundrum also serves to redeem him in his own eyes, if not those of others.

"Under Western Eyes" is also an attempt by Conrad to explore the peculiarities of the "Russian character". This is another line of development in the work. I put this in partentheses because such notions of racial character are naturally not so well received now as in Conrad's day. Whether you agree or not, Conrad (who himself was Polish) offers some interesting personal insights into the nature of the "inscrutable" Russian soul - its ability to persevere, its mysticism, its ultimate radicalism. Such issues were particular relevent to the time the book was written (1908), as Russia was then already breaking out in revolutionary violence. The story's narrator - a retired English bachelor - are the "Western eyes" under which Russia is regarded.

I might label "Under Western Eyes" a comic-tragedy, in that the primary factor behind the story's tragic chain of events is a misunderstanding. It is ultimately for the book's central character a journey of personal redemtion. Within the context of this, however, Conrad details some of his views on Russia, its people, and the nature of the revolutionary movement. I did not find it as engaging as some of Conrad's other works but anyone interested in the Russian revolutionary movement, or radical politics of the period in general, or with a bent for stories of betrayal, tragedy, and love should take a look.

"Perhaps life is just that," reflected Razumov, pacing to and fro under the trees of the little island, all alone with the bronze statue of Rousseau. "A dream and a fear." It is on this small space of remote land that young Razumov finds what we all seek after--a place for quiet contemplation (reminds me of Hemingway's "A Clean Well-Lighted Place"). And in this very thought-provoking Rousseau-inspired environment Razumov stumbles upon the thesis that all of life is but a dream--a dream full of constant fear. The taciturn, exiled, young Razumov reminds us of Joyce's Stephen Dedalus, and even more so Dostoevsky's Raskolnikov. Indeed, Conrad attempted to continue the legacy of the great Russian novelists, by forcing an eclectic grasp on some of Dostoevsky's themes (like the need for, and final apparent conclusion of, man's suffering) whilst straying away from other Dostoevskyian qualities. All in all, Under Western Eyes is about ideas--as Conrad repeatedly suggests-an ideal gripping psychological tale of a young intellectual's suffering for choosing the path of the czarist leaders. If Razumov, like Stephen Dedalus, was more skeptical, more prone to the need for exile (not the exile he indeed does embark on to Geneva via the Councilor's strategic plan) would he have ultimately had his eardrums smashed by a revolutionary brute? Certainly, Razumov must confess for his betrayal of Haldin; Razumov realizes the intelligence, love, and raison d' étre of Haldin altogether too late. Razumov, who knowingly understands that because of his actions Haldin lost his life, gives up his own body for lifelong suffering. And by doing so, Razumov seems to willingly accept his punishment, and further he lives no longer in fear. Upon completion of this wonderful novel, we can bask in the warm sunny glow of Conrad's wit that shines upon us--"Peter Ivanovitch (or any person who opposes despotic cruelty) is an inspired man." Joseph Conrad is an inspired man.

Whitey Ford's new book,with former Yankee beat writer Phil Pepe,is a winner.Picking the top 5 players at each position might seem easy,until you sit and think about the long line of great players the Yankees have fielded.Not that theres a lot of controversy,but a couple of Ford's picks might surprise you.Its an enjoyable rehash for older fans with mostly familiar anecdotes.It's also an education for younger fans who might not be familiar with past Yankee greats.And the cover photo is indeed a Yankee cap,worn by them in the early 20's,although I feel that the navy blue cap with the white interlocking NY would have been a better choice.

Reading Whitey Ford's "Few and Chosen" is like listening to him....soft-spoken with a twinkle in his eye. This is a book you can pick up and put down and not miss much. The stories are usually short (sometimes too short) and the anecdotes are just about what you'd expect to hear from "The Chairman of the Board".

I appreciate Whitey Ford's honesty with regard to players who preceded him. He doesn't comment on them much because he didn't see them play. Still, he gives what impressions he has. After reading Tim McCarver's disappointing and overworked "Perfect Season" several years ago, "Few and Chosen" is like a breath of fresh air.

There are a few new facts (new to me, anyway) that come out in his book, like the small numbers of home runs hit by players before Babe Ruth. Things of this nature help to make baseball more interesting to many of us.

Whitey Ford pitched the first baseball game I ever saw in 1963. I'm glad he's still around to pass on his observations to us.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT WAS GREAT TO READ ABOUT WHITEY'S OPINIONS, REASONS, EXPERIENCES, AND SOME GREAT BASEBALL STORIES. I AM A BIG FAN OF WHITEY'S AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE 60'S. GLAD TO HEAR FROM HIM IN THIS ONE OF A KIND BOOK. WHITEY IS VERY HONEST, OPEN, AND HAS GREAT INSIGHT IN RANKING THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL POSOTION BY POSITION. A MUST READ FOR ALL FANS AND ESPECIALLY YANKEE FANS. THANKS WHITEY, FOR A GREAT READ AND A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Masters of Midnight contains four vampire tales written by four different authors. It includes:

His Hunger by William J. Mann - Jeremy Horne has always wondered what happened to his father and stepmother so when his job as a journalist offers him the opportunity to travel to the reclusive Maine estate of the eccentric Bartholomew Craven, he jumps at the chance to unravel the mystery. Little does he know that Bartholomew is a vampire, a vampire who plans on draining Jeremy and then seducing his lover, Minter, and turning him into one of the undead...

Sting by Michael Thomas Ford - Ben Hodges couldn't bear to continue living in the New York apartment that he had shared with his lover, Trey after Trey's suicide. So Ben accepted a job as librarian in a small Ozarks town. However, instead of bringing him peace, the town holds nothing but terror for Ben. For he discovers that there is an ancient evil that dwells in the town and has been gathering his strength to strike again. The only thing that Ben cannot figure out is how his new lover, Titus Durham, figures into the picture...

Bradon's Bite by Sean Wolfe - Braden Lugo grew up hearing the romantic love story of how his mother and father met. He didn't know where his mother was, but he knew that his father loved him and so he tried to learn how to be a good vampire. However, as Bradon grew older, he quickly learned that he preferred men to women, which was totally abhorent to his father. When Bradon was thrown out of his house, he fled to San Francisco, as far away from his home as possible. There he met Kirk Courey, a handsome blond man who would never believe in the dark side of Bradon's nature. But could Bradon love Kirk enough to stop himself from killing him?

Devoured by Jeff Mann - Derek Maclaine lost his lover in Scotland years and years ago, but he still feels the pang of that loss every day. He has taken many other lovers and knows that he will take many more, but the price that he paid to avenge his lover's death was too high. He regrets turning vampire, but he does nothing to turn aside from his nature and spends his days with sex and violence. But a new lover fascinates Derek as he has not been fascinated in a long time. But will he accept Derek's true nature?

As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others. I would have to say Bradon's Bite was my favorite because it was a nice, romantic tale with a bit of a twist to it. Sting was the most haunting of the tales and it will stay with you long after you read it - it is always amazing to see how many lives are destroyed by one simple action. His Hunger was good, but nothing particularly exciting and it was the least romantic/erotic of the four and I think I would have enjoyed it more if we got to meet Minter. Devoured was beautifully written with wonderful descriptions, but I didn't like the characters in the story at all - if you are looking for a man who has embraced the dark, violent side of his vampire nature, Derek would be it. Still, it is a nice anthology and if you enjoy vampire stories, I think you will enjoy this one.

A thrilling, erotically charged page-turner with literary merit. Kudos especially to poet/essayist Jeff Mann. Mann delivers a tasty meal on every page, mixing erotic content with a rich, descriptive, poetic voice. His surroundings, ranging from the moors of Scotland to the city streets of NYC to the mountains of West Virginia, are nearly as "human" as his living (and dead) characters. Not simply slam-bam-bite-me-man erotica, and not for the faint of heart. Let's hear more from Mann's devilish Derek.

Four different authors means a potpourri of styles and stories to choose from. From the archetypical "Barnabus" from the old "Dark Shadows" series to a new Lestat-like hero that hails from West Virginia via Scotland, this book offers variety, interesting twists, and...well, more than a smattering of sex.

William J. Mann pays homage to the 60's cult classic with an update for the new millennium. If gym bunnies are your fare, then Sean Wolfe offers an interesting twist that seems to coincide best with popular WB television fare. Two stories really stand out in this collection, however.

Michael Thomas Ford really shines in his unique twist on an old tale. Who knew those Razorback Mountains were fodder for such a captivating addition to vampire lore? Mr. Ford really shakes off his David-Sedaris-want-to-be style for a truly intriguing variation on what can sometimes be a stagnant genre. Hats off to Mr. Ford and all his names! Between panting hard you'll want to keep turning the pages to find out how this one, uhm, climaxes.

Jeff Mann's "Devoured" out-Rice's the honored diva in just 100+ pages. An epic novel captured in the space of a few chapters, Mr. Mann's lyrical prose follows a new vampire hero, Derek, from his inception in Scotland to the hills of West Virginia. Derek romps in what might be called, "a bit of the rough," which adds some great spice and thrill to what otherwise might have been a rather "twinkified" collection. Can't wait to find out what Derek gets up to next.

Buy it. Read it. Thank me later.

As I read this book, I often wondered if the author was horribly hungry as she wrote. The food descriptions were so vivid - I could almost smell and taste them. This was a surprise, as I hadn't expected the focus on food to be so intense.

Food does play a part in the narrator's (Melissa - the American au pair) life. As for many of us, she uses food as a substitute for something she truly craves and needs.

Anyone who's done research on losing weight and eating right understands this food replacement theory. Understanding the problem is one thing; doing something about it is quite another.

Melissa must also deal with an overbearing boss, rambunctious children - one of which is deaf, a needy quasi-fiance back in the states and a possible new love interest in London.

The story is an entertaining read, but after so many of Mrs. H-E.'s blowups, I wondered when the heck Melissa was going to get a backbone and stand up for herself and start taking charge of her life.

The ending is somewhat predictable and not quite the complete path I'd have hoped for Melissa. But it's satisfying to know she'll head in the right direction.

This is an enjoyable look at our Brit cousins across the pond. Melissa's observations are right on, often funny, and sometimes poignant and illuminating. As an author myself, of NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL, I could identify with Mr. H-E's writer's block. As the children in the book would say about this story, "Hoi, Hoi, HOI!"

I must say, as an American recently married to a Brit, I could relate to so much in the book... the food differences, the way we talk vs the way "they" talk -- it was all quite accurate, humorous, and I could barely lay it down!

After reading the multiple positive reviews for this book, I expected a book that is much more insightful than I found this one. I work for an Internet company, and found this book to be targeted more at Web neophytes, more specifically large businesses without a web presence, but who want some thoughts on how to get started with taking advantage of all of the benefits the Internet can offer their business. Most of its discussions end with Q4 1998, which in Internet time is woefully out of date. I unfortunately found no original insights from this book, and believe that anyone who keeps up with the industry would have a similar experience.

This book is a must read. I value e-business texts that are based on the case studies of successful E-commerce leaders. The 24 leaders who contributed to this book know what the front lines are all about!

This book should be required reading for middle and upper management of any company engaged in the eEconomy -- which is just about every one. I haven't seen such a clear, concise, practical and well-informed collection of essays on eCommerce in one place. Highly recommended.