5 comments about Transformation Game.

1. When I received the game, I was excited and immediately wanted to play it.
   
   However, my excitement was shortlived and turned to disappointment when I realised there were missing items hence I cannot play the game.
   
   I emailed to the email address given but thus far have not received any response.
   
   It'll be great if you could advise me on how I can have the missing items so that I can play the game.
   
   Thank you



2. Finally a board game, that is not based on owerpowering/winning over/undercutting others. The whole game is based on generating more connection between players, on all levels of depth. Spiritual (some could say New Age-y or Buddhist) in setup, the game leads each player through being born, and existence in the physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual realms until the player (the first one or each) blasts out through the final transformation. All this happens not before everyone needs to answer questions, act under certain circumstances, make decisions and express support towards others participating. The game includes hundreds of cards accompanying the movements on the board and describing what needs to be done at each step. I really liked how the game also helped to integrate the different world-view and the newly learned insights into my life by encouraging to write them down or follow them up after the game. Both good and bad events in life are handled with a nonjudgmental atmosphere encouraging equanimity in life and in our choices, overseen and supported by angels of different quality from the included angel card deck.



3. Excellent board game, very creative and really assertive. It helps you in your personal growth.



4. This is the most innovative game on the market for developing self understanding. I have been playing this game for years and now can laugh at the issues that come up whilst playing this wonderful game.
   A quick solution for extremely difficult situations if one really wants answers!



5. It's become a tradition with a friend of mine to meet on our birthdays each year. We read each others (tarot and other) cards and it gives us a chance reflect on the past year - our experiences, lessons learned, future plans. The cards often provide additional insight. I thought the Transformation Game might provide the same kind of feedback and give us both more a chance to participate; but the game was tedious, the directions unclear and some of the game feedback was not very positive. (One feedback was along the lines of "you haven't handled anger well, take 5 pain cards). I can see the intentions of the game and how it might work under some circumstances. But I think we'll stick with cards from now on. They are more specific, insightful and positive. Also cheaper.

5 comments about Game Programming for Teens, Second Edition.

1. Being that I am 25 years old, I have learned a lot for game programming from this book. Also, I own Blitz 3D, which is perhaps Blitz's best language. However, all of the code from this book is geared more towards 2D, which is good. However, I was hoping that Maneesh would have covered more with the 3D aspect, as most good games these days do involve the third dimension.
   
   Needless to say, this is perhaps the best game programming book for the beginner/hobbyist. You can create SNES/Genesis-quality games right out of the box with no problem. If you are a great artist, you can even make games comparable to today's console games, if only Maneesh would've covered more detail towards Game Programming in Blitz 3D. Great start to starting a hobby in making your own games, and it really has me sold on this book. I'm hoping that more books can come with this simplicity, and it's perhaps the most defined code I've used.
   
   Bottom line, good job Maneesh, great book, but just include some game code for the 3D version of Blitz in your Third Edition.



2. The reviews for the first edition of this book, and its software, were very positive. I bought it for my kids shortly after the second edition came out. This edition of the book is useful, but the software--supposedly the key to making the book work, since it is supposed to allow you to actually design games as you go along--is advertised on the back of the book as being unlimited, and it's not unlimited. It's a demo that expires after several uses. Supposedly there's an unlimited version on the author's web site; good luck finding it.
   
   Followup: I'm told the URL for the software is at www.maneeshsethi.com/BlitzPlusDemo.exe but I haven't used it yet to see if it's completely unlimited, or just has more uses.



3. Short: I am writing this review from the perspective of a high school student who started with Blitz, went on to a more advanced language, and is now revisiting Blitz again.
   
   Long: When I first picked up the book, I was a high school student with no prior programming experience. I had written code before, but it was HTML so I didn't actually write programs.
   
   I abandoned Blitz for a while when I finally got the chance to take a programming class(C++) in school and have recently returned and thus revisited the book to brush up. I took this oppertunity to write a review here.
   
   C++ is a more advanced, powerful, and widely used language but I still use Blitz to make simple games because it's hard to get good graphics in a C++ compiler without costly graphics pacakges to go with it.
   
   Opinion
   
   Short: The book is very intuitive and well written. The author does a very good job at explaining things and the book is very well paced. When going to a more advanced language I was helped significantly by the concepts I learned when using Blitz. I would highly recommend this book.
   
   Long: When I first got this book, I thought programming would be a daunting task. This book goes through it very well and has a nice pace that keeps you from getting overwhelmed. The author writes very clearly and is very good at explaining concepts. This is a great book to get started with programming.
   
   When I dropped this because I started programming in C++, I found transfering languages easier than I had hoped. I learned a lot of basic concepts in Blitz and was able to take many of them over into C++.
   
   For a short time, the only real changes that I experienced were different syntax between the two languages and some other basic priciples (such as library functions) not used in Blitz. By the time I got to a point where most of the material I was learning had no equivalent in BLitz, I had been using C++ long enough not have any problems.
   
   Conclusion
   
   Short: It's a great, well written introductory book for those looking to program for fun or those who want to go further but need a good starting point.
   
   Long: When I got this book, my purpose was to get something to introduce me into programming in a simple, easy to understand manner. I am happy to say that it works very well for this purpose. The Blitz language will not carry you especially far but if you are in it for fun or are just looking for a starting point, this will work very well. I still program with it myself a bit even after learning a more advanced language.



4. This was my very first game programming book. Eversince I have read 2 other books about programming, and am working on two more.
   
   Not only does this book give you a very good head start in game programming, it also gives you a sense of pride in programming. I don't know why, but it's just how the author explained everything.
   
   Overall, the book is very well put together, and it gives you a basic head start in programming in genaral.
   
   But be warned. If you want to do some 3D programming, this is not the book for you. It will only teach you the basics in both programming, and a little in graphics. Don't get me wrong, it teaches enough graphics to make a fine game. But you it doesn't teach you anything about maps, side scrolling, or other gene's. The only genre it really teaches would be like a space shooter.
   
   Use this book for a beggining in programming. Don't stop here though. Find another source that can teach you other programming techniques and languages.
   
   5 stars, all the way.



5. I really didn't like this book. It was written oddly, and doesn't teach you that much (which may have more to do with the fact that the programming language taught is really simplistic). The programs included are limited demos, and the final project (Invaderz!!!-what a wonderful name >_>) is not even explained in the book.

4 comments about Pursenality Plus: 20 New Felted Bags.

1. I was really disappointed in her first book. The first book had very basic patterns that I felt I could have figured out without a pattern book. They also had that quirky homemade look. THis book is much more chic and interesting. The construction techniques, colors, shapes, and hardware on all the purses in this book are wonderful. I can't wait to get my needles out and try some of the designs in this book. I also can't decide which one to do first. The designs are not too quirky, yet not boring either, with a good range of shapes, and patterns. Also there are great ideas for using chains, buttons and other hardware on the purse.



2. Eva Wiechmann's PURSENALITY PLUS: 20 NEW FELTED BAGS shows how to knit and few felt bags. There are over ten styles encouraging a range of looks and materials plus patterns for add-ons such as a cell phone holder or eyeglasses case. Projects on big needles explore both traditional and novelty yarns and accompany large-size clear color photos of finished results with tips on pockets, embellishments and more.



3. As I turned the pages I did not like any of the bag patterns so decided I did not want to own the book.



4. These patterns are not for the novice knitter nor are they particularly suitable for a knitter's first felting project. I have not made any of these purses but with forty years of knitting experience and after having read through several of the patterns, these purses require a fair amount of detail work and finishing. Also, it may be a problem finding the hardware (purse clips, grommets, etc.) in order to finish the purse. There are some interesting shapes and designs for those knitters who want a bit of a challenge.

4 comments about The New York Times Sunday Crossword Omnibus- vol 6.

1. I'm pretty good at word puzzles but these books by the NY Times are continually able to stump me. I keep doing them because they increase my vocabulary enormously. I always keep a dictionary close by, and disect each clue after I have completed the puzzles. NEVER have I done a whole puzzle without aid! This keeps me humble!



2. Two hundred New York Times Sunday crosswords at a nickel apiece is a great deal. The book is loaded with the work of well-known as well as less well-known constructors. Most of the puzzles are quite challenging and interesting to work and there is an ample number of humorous concepts included in the batch.
   The drawback to the book - i.e., the "price" we pay for the publisher's generosity - is the lack of perforation and/or distance between the working areas and the binding. Having to write around curves on the top couple of lines across is a bit irksome.
   Yet, all in all, this book is a true bargain and well worth the cost and the minor inconvenience.



3. Exciting crossword puzzles, as ever. However, the numbers in the grid itself are so poorly printed (cheap paper or ink) that misreading an entry is not uncommon. I prefer to speind time thinking of an answer, not staring closely at the puzzle to be certain what number is in a given square. There are plenty of preferable alternative puzzle sources for those who, like me, would rather pay more for an adequately printed product.



4. This collection has what it takes to keep me happy. The book itself is a well made soft-bound type where the pages don't come out, but I don't have much trouble with them. I just fold the thing over and work on either side. You can use either pencil or pen, but pencil can get blurry... The puzzles are long enough to occupy my mind for a few hours each. The clues are mostly solveable with a fair amount of thinking and puzzling. I have to peek sometimes. I like this kind of action over a set that either has me in the back half the time or I'm never in the back and can get the puzzle done in under an hour. The time frame's pretty current, so you have to know your current history along with the stuff from the last decade, which is good, in my book- tripped me up a few times already.. All-in-all, I'd say it's standard fare for this particular line. If you've never tried these puzzles, give them a whirl. They give good value for your money. If you do them in pencil, they erase well, so you can replay the book a few times before it wears out. When I started this type of puzzle, I needed a dictionary a lot, but rarely do now, having learned how to constructively solve and get the maximum type of enjoyment these books offer.

5 comments about Earn $30,000 per Month Playing Online Poker: A Step-By-Step Guide to Single Table Tournaments.

1. Excellent practical advice on winning single table tournaments.
   I wanted to find some guidance of a step by step format that would increase my winning ratio and show me errors that I was making.
   Knowledge is inexpensive. Ignorance is costly.
   This book is great value.



2. Like most of the rest, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this book.
   
   A couple of points:
   
   A) The title is a get rich quick scheme. Why was I so stupid? Don't be stupid like me.
   
   B) The book (like others about internet poker) recommends playing multiple games at the same time (up to 8). Fine, but do we need a few pages explaining why two monitors are better than one to accomplish this? Really?
   
   C) The book assumes that you are a top notch SNG player. If you are, you very well make $30,000 a month beating up on Donkeys using their system. If you aren't (hi Mom!), you won't make any money any how. And you certainly won't make more money from this book.
   
   D) I forget the exact amount, but you need to spend $$$ up front (something like $1500) on software in order to do what the book says. Anyone want to lay odds that the author is somehow connected to the websites selling the software you "need."
   
   E) Be sure to buy my book, "How to make $45,000 a month playing poker in your underwear." It will be on Amazon shortly.



3. Man, there sure is a lot of information on sit-n-gos out there now. And I've bought all the books on the subject. Some are better than others, but each has its own useful tidbits.
   This book, while a thin one, does give a lot of info on how to play the bubble in sit-n-gos. Since that is the most important part of a sit-n-go, that was very helpful to me. I also learned about the SnG Power Tools software from this book, which has helped me also. It's pretty expensive at $80, but helps a lot when deciding which hands to push all-in with on the bubble. But, you ask, what if you're trying to decide to call an all-in on the bubble? Which hands do you call with? Well, you can set up SnG Power Tools for that too.
   I realize that this is supposed to be a review on the book, rather than on the software explained within. But the software has helped me a lot, and I found out about it because of this book, so I have to mention it. And the book was a whole lot cheaper than the software!



4. this book was a total waste of money, i bought 3 other poker books at the same time.
   
   this book is like a brochure, had no in depth ideas, was a basic outline of online sit and goes. i would greatly recommend you stay away from this book, and would recommend moshmans sit'n go stragegy book 100 times better book



5. Probably should have been a bonus gift as an ebook. Not much information was useable.

5 comments about Loop-d-Loop: More than 40 Novel Designs for Knitters.

1. I'm a 33 year old knit-o-holic and I love youthful designs so this book piqued my interest when I saw so much buzz in blog-world (especially that darling ballet t-shirt!). However, when I went to the Loop-de-Loop website, I was more than a little turned off by the horrid modeling of the projects in the book. Several projects still captivated me enough to purchase the book through the Amazon Marketplace and hoped that the website photos were not the photos in the book.
   
   Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened this book! The models, while a few are very thin, are much more normal size than the website models, and the photographs are beautifully done. I also love the photo of Teva on the back flap. I think it's because she looks like me - I mean we're probably around the same age, look to be about the same body type, and we have the same attitude about knitting and designing.
   
   Is it just me, or are the Stewart, Tabori, and Chang books the ones you gravitate towards as well? I could (and do) sit and read these books like a novel. The photos are gorgeous and they obviously hold high standards for the products they publish, in quality of the design of the book and the design of the patterns. Take a look at Weekend Knitting and Last-Minute Knitted Gifts if you don't believe me!
   
   Ok, nuff said. I think this is a great book with designs that can appeal to a wide range of knitters and knittees. I made the ballet T-shirt in one day and am on to number 2! I want many things out of this book so I can't name them all...just check it out and see for yourself!



2. I bought this book looking for some interesting designs, but I found most of them to be either silly, ugly or both. They are different, but not wearably different. I just don't know how much demand there is for Robin Hood style neck warmers. Knitter friends have made similar comments after looking at the patterns.



3. A wonderful and inspiring volume for the thinking knitter. Lots of great design and the details on the garments are exciting. Worth having in your knitting library just to keep your ideas fresh and your knitting mind open.



4. Loop d Loop is a mixture of awesome, inspiring designs & directions that can be confusing. I started one of the projects 4 times & could never get it to look right.
   But I loved the design so much that I took what I learned from the false starts & changed the pattern to be even more what I wanted it to be. Now it's going just fine & I feel kind of proud of myself for showing some flexibility & creativity. A strange tribute to a book of patterns, but - there you have it.



5. like everyone says, unless you're a model, the sizes are not for people who eat anything other than air. i mean, i am a small athletic woman and even the larges are too small.
   
   i also found that i have to re-write the patterns as i knit to make sense of them or to correct things that are plainly left out.
   
   this book is not as bad as twinkles big city knits, but it's getting there!
   
   i give it two stars because i appreciate patterns using needles larger than size 4. and as i am a professional photographer i really enjoy the photography. i also LOVE the asymmetrical hat. although, i did change that pattern to be worked in the round and grafted at the top.

5 comments about The Art of Checkmate.

1. i own this book for 15 years now and it is as good as new, very good binding and paper quality. it was my firts book on chess and i think it was good choice .
   
   Its an excellence choice for beginners who whant to improve pattern recognition and mate understanting .
   
   The book was first puplished in 1953 its a classic .it really doesnt matter that its half a century old dont forget that mate patterns dont change and that this book manage to survive the test of time.
   
   An excellence choice !



2. The Art of the Checkmate is a book I purchased about 10 years ago and feel this book deserves to be an essential part of any chess players library. The book focuses on checkmates (no surprise) that at some point you will face as a chess player. Don't think that these moves are just a novelty and not played in todays games, many examples in the book show GM's being defeated from these moves. With smothered mates, corridor mates, Boden's mate, pseudo-sacrifice, and double checks, as well as a host of others you will benefit from knowing these moves. The book can be purchased for less than a few days lunch so there's no reason to skip this one. Overall I think this book is required reading by all ratings from novice to GM.



3. I have bought and sold hundred's of chess books over the years, this one is a keeper . My copy is well worn from heavy use. It is the best book of its type I have ever come across! Teaches ALL the basic mateing patterns, and how to apply them, in a very simple, but USEFUL way.



4. Art of the Checkmate is an awesome book. I've read it, put the patterns and quizzes into "Chess Workbook" software, and I've drilled through it at least 5-6 times. If there is one thing that you need to learn how to do in chess, is to checkmate your opponent. Each form of the mating patterns should be memorized. I found that after drilling through this book a couple of times, I am far more dangerous than before. I instantly, recognize and operate my pieces toward checkmating the king. It became effortless for me to become a dangerous player. After I read this book the guys at my club were suddenly shocked to find their king so often in my cross-hairs for potential checkmates. Against good players, these threats rarely lead to checkmates, but they lead to bad trades, bad sacrifices, loss of tempi, and bad moves by my opponent which ultimately weaken my opponent.
   
   Get this book and become a dangerous chess player. It's for beginners, but the only problem is the descriptive notation.



5. What's the point of writing yet another review for this book? Well, I couldn't help it! This book is fantastic. Two features I really enjoy: the patterns are mostly explained through entire game miniatures and the authors give extensive historical notes on the players.

5 comments about Brain Building in Just 12 Weeks.

1. There are two books that come to mind that, though they do not fall in the realm of religious inspiration, are so thought-provoking that they are life changing. They are: 1. Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin and 2. Brain Building: Exercising Yourself Smarter, the latter of which I will comment on.

   I purchased this book about 4 years ago when I was working a full-time job and going to graduate school to earn a Master of Education degree in Mathematics. The math courses suited me for the most part, since they pertained to both my major and my interests in working with numbers. The education courses, on the other hand, were intimidating, because I grew up with an inferiority complex about my abilities to perform in courses that demanded both extensive amounts of reading and the ability to comprehend several themes and passages.

   It was during this period that, because I was going to school and working full-time simultaneously, on many days the only opportunities I had to study were either during my lunch hour or right after I arrived home late at night with thoughts of having to be back at work the next morning. Fortunately, it was also then that I was already enthralled enough with Marilyn's books and Parade column to buy this publication.

   Among the several helpful suggestions Marilyn pointed out in this book is that when reading, do not hesitate to write your thoughts and opinions in the margins alongside key paragraphs and sentences. This particular approach, in a manner of speaking, places you on a more equal footing with the professor or author, and it is a valuable reminder that your interpretations and viewpoints are just as important as, if not more important than, the material you are trying to focus upon.

   Despite my limited time and resources, this piece of advice helped me to participate adequately in classroom discussions. Except for a couple of B's, which I received before I even bought this book, I ended up graduating with A's in every course.

   Thank you, God! And thank you, Marilyn!




2. I would highly recommend this book. It really is excellent. (I don't know the authors in any way.) In addition to this book there is one more book that I would recommend to go with it, and that is, "Reasoning Skills Success in 20 Minutes a Day" from "Learning Express". The Reasoning Skills book helps out with the part in Logic that the Brain Building Book recommends.



3. I enjoyed the many exercises in this book, and it had a lot of good ideas on how to improve your thinking and expand your learning. Many of the tips are fun, like suggesting a subscription to a magazine of your choice, and also various books and tools she suggests to help in your brain building. Some of her beliefs are assumptions, such as suggesting that if you are "religious" it is because of your parents. This seems to be a pretty narrow view of religion. She also seems to try and stress the importance of being a leader and not a follower, but then she constantly pressures the reader to write in the margins of the book. This is fine, but she seems to try and pressure the reader into feeling inadequate if you choose not to do it. She makes many more assumptions about people in general, but overall there are many good tips in the book and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in various ways to improve your brain power.



4. angelfire.com/zine2/fictiononline/myworks.html
   
   This book was first published in 1972. At that time the writer Marylin vos Savant was supposed to be the smartest person on earth, with an IQ of 230, the highest IQ measured on the Stanford-Binet test until then. I don't know whether this record has bean beaten or not. Anyway, she wrote a book in collaboration with Leonore Fleischer about brain building through exercises.
   
   It is an interesting book with some good, down to earth advise and some brain teasers. But to me, what made the book unusual was the curious fact that in more than one numerical brain teasers, the number "9" is listed as a prime. Huh???? And the book is written by - I reitereate - one of the smartest persons on earth!
   
   There seems to be no hope for us mere mortals.



5. She writes with eloquence, even if she's a bit of a vocabulary enthusiast. But it's basically a workbook where she wants you to do some activity to expand your horizons every week or so. Like "summarize a newspaper editorial in as few words as possible and ask your friends if they get the gist of it" or "look up a new word every day", mixed in with some brainteasers here and there.
   
   It was enjoyable enough to read and play with the exercises, but it's one of those books you have to revisit. Ideally, you'd spread the reading of it over a year or so and work through the exercises as you go. But once I start, I have to get through it.
   
   I have yet to actually implement the program as she's presented it, but the exercises are good, and no doubt if you applied yourself to this program over the year, you'd be very well set.

No comments about The New York Times Crosswords For A Lazy Day: 130 Fun, Easy Puzzles (New York Times Crossword Puzzles).

No comments about Man, Play and Games.