Signaling and the Cytoskeleton

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This monograph explores the relationships between cell signaling and the cytoplasmic cytoskeleton in fundamental cell processes, thus bridging the gap between two very active aspects of molecular cell biology. It covers the two main - and reciprocal - questions of these relationships: How are structure and function of the cytoskeleton affected by external signals which impinge on the cell? How does the cytoskeleton influence the cellular signaling processes which determine cell behavior?

Book Description

After spending some time on Earth, Lowe and his junk tech team return to space, where they confront a psychotic killer whose hand is on the trigger of a deadly super-weapon. With nowhere else to turn, Lowe teams up with Gai--they will have to put their adverse feelings behind them if they are to have any chance against this crazed killer. The explosive finale to the most action-packed Gundam series is here!

Who Owns the Sky?: Our Common Assets And The Future Of Capitalism

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Corporations Own the Sky?
Creative ways of making clean air a sustainable business
Don't waste your time and/or money
A Way Out For George Bush ?
A brainstorm of workable solutions

Who Owns the Sky?: Our Common Assets And The Future Of Capitalism
Peter Barnes
Manufacturer: Island Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1559638559

Book Description

Global warming has finally made clear the true costs of using our atmosphere as a giant sponge to soak up unwanted by-products of industrial activity. As nations, businesses, and citizens seek workable yet fair solutions for reducing carbon emissions, the question of who should pay -- and how -- looms large. Yet the surprising truth is that a system for protecting the atmosphere could be devised that would yield cash benefits to us all.

In Who Owns the Sky?, visionary entrepreneur Peter Barnes redefines the debate about the costs and benefits of addressing climate change. He proposes a market-based institution called a Sky Trust that would set limits on carbon emissions and pay dividends to all of us, who collectively own the atmosphere as a commons. The Trust would be funded by requiring polluters to pay for the right to emit carbon dioxide, and managed by a non-governmental agency. Dividends would be paid annually, in much the same way that residents of Alaska today receive cash benefits from oil companies that drill in their state.

Employing the same spirit of innovation that brought millions of dollars to the nonprofit sector through his company Working Assets, Barnes sets forth a practical new approach to protecting our shared inheritance -- not only the atmosphere, but water, forests, and other life-sustaining and economically valuable common resources. He shows how we can use markets and property rights to preserve and share the vast wealth around us, allowing us not only to profit from it, but to pass it on, undiminished, to future generations.

Who Owns the Sky? is a remarkable look at the future of our economy, one in which we can retain capitalism's virtues while mitigating its vices. Peter Barnes draws on his personal experience as a successful entrepreneur to offer viable solutions to some of our most pressing environmental and social concerns.

Customer Reviews:

Corporations Own the Sky?.......2003-04-24

In the book, Who Owns the Sky?, Peter Barnes makes a compelling and interesting theoretical argument of the need to address a systematic problem, which is how to allocate common resources and issue them a value in a manner congruent to capitalism. Barnes's revelation examines the idea of the putting a price on our common assets (natural resources) through our capitalistic market ideals. The market, therefore, would set prices on natural resources that the common people of our country have inherited through mutual ownership, and use the ideas of the market to charge for the use and exploitation of the resources. This idea of placing ownership of natural resources into a common trust is Barnes's most dynamic point or theory. His theory basically would charge anyone (mainly corporations) exploiting the resources and give the money back to the people in dividends. The companies that are environmentally sound would also be given subsidies for taking the effort reduce resource use or degradation.
A trust is a legally supported concept of an entity designed to hold and manage assets or in this case natural resources for the well being of the people, the beneficiaries. Barnes uses this democratic idea in a modern way where resources and their value can be assimilated into capitalism without throwing off the market. His catastrophic finding is that people will benefit from dividends and more importantly the wealth and health of environment will become sustainable through the market. This theoretical scheme seems like a solution that would the allow the environment and capitalism to mutually coexist in some form of harmony, which almost seems like an oxymoron.
This book was an excellent road map for a feasible change in democracy for the better. Capitalism would be able to continue thriving, the environment could begin thriving, and the people of this democracy would actually get rewarded in a fair way for the abstinence in resource use and abuse. However, my optimism in Barnes's theory is minute because of the corporation's ability to act as such a catalyst in the government's decision making. Corporations have so much money that I find it hard to believe Barnes's theory is highly plausible. The corporations will use every mechanism in the book including, lobbying, donations to high government officials, and mass communication to disable the theory of a general trust that would take money from the rich and give to the poor.
The last argument against Barnes's theory of a general trust is the idea of capitalism in itself. Big government involvement is a taboo issue where less is more. The idea of a trust is seen as a socialist idea where the government intervenes with the innocent corporations in attempt to play good cop, bad cop.
Who Owns the Sky?, is an incredible book with magnificent ideas, but the answer to the question of who owns the sky is simple. As of right now the corporations do and to change that would take more than a theory that benefits the people as a whole, but rather a theory that somehow benefits the driving force of the market, the corporations.

Creative ways of making clean air a sustainable business.......2003-04-22

Who Owns the Sky presented a very ambitious plan for conserving the atmosphere. In this book Peter Barnes looked at earth's atmosphere as a valuable commodity that everyone owns. In many ways this argument made sense. Everyone uses air, so everyone should consider it important. Barnes explained many reasons why too much carbon secretion is disturbing the climate, not to mention the life on earth. If we need clean air to maintain quality life then the people polluting the air should pay for their damage. Writing in a time dominated by capitalism, it was not far fetched to associate ecological toll on a natural resource to a monetary tax being placed on polluters. All humans and other life needs air therefore there is already a natural sense that one should protect something that is vital to life. Barnes used the association of air as common property to all to be guarded with expensive fines for those who threaten that property. This will convince non-conservationists that the atmosphere is a resource that is valuable.
What is the Sky Trust? The Sky Trust is Barnes' economic investment system that sells rights to polluters and distributes the revenue to all citizens equally. This is one kind of cap-and-trade system that will best relate the energy companies responsible for pollution with the government and its citizens. Shareholders are all equal. All citizens are shareholders. Shares are not transferable. The Sky Trust will be a transparent pseudo mutual fund in which all shareholders will see where every dollar goes. The Sky Trust will affect consumers according to how much impact they have on the atmosphere. This will be measured in the amount of energy a consumer gets from carbon burning sources. The tax paid by the energy companies to the Sky Trust will be transferred to the consumer. This means the people driving SUV's will have to pay more because they need to buy more fuel to run their vehicle.
There are some serious questions that some people have about how the Sky Trust would work. My first one just happens to be the title of this book. Who is to say that the citizens of the United States own the sky? Sky is property of commons, in order to ration does some kind of ownership needs to take place? Why now? What is an accurate economic value to some huge space of gas? What will the effects be on the U.S. and Global economy? When the extra cost of the Sky Trust tax is passed onto the consumer who will be left out and what businesses will die? Entering all the extra charges onto every good and service might collapse the economy.
Barnes does have a working example of his plan, in the Alaskan Permanent fund. This program showed me that there could be good effects to government-organized sale of natural resources. The idea to create an investment portfolio that will outlive the natural resource, while at the same time getting the most money for a scarce resource to discourage overuse is very positive. The positive effects of the Alaskan Permanent Fund also apply to the Sky Trust. If Sky Trust money is entitled to the citizens of the U.S. then they can decide how they want to spend this extra money. Families will benefit from the tax advantages and an opportunity to start a savings because it will provide opportunities that would not be possible before. Parents that are trying to save for their children's college education will be able to give their next generation more of a chance for social and economic advancement than they had. Entrepreneurs will be able to have the capital it takes to get a small business off the ground.
I really like the idea that Barnes advances that sustainable business is possible. He talked about changing the DNA of business to be more socially conscious. Business should view giving back to the community as crucial to the business cycle. It is simple for businesses to make small philanthropic contributions but it is quite another thing to factor in the effects to the community and the environment on level terms with the dollars and cents of the bottom line. I like the ideas in Who Owns the Sky, but I question the feasibility. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in ways of changing the institutions of society to preserve the world's riches while creating social harmony

Don't waste your time and/or money.......2003-04-01

As an economics student, this book makes NO sense whatsoever. His ideas are SO far fetched it almost looks as though it is a sci-fi book. Whoever gave it 5 stars must not know how capitalism really works, and how gov't works. It was so off base that I don't even know where to begin. As soon as you read the into and the first chapter you'll notice that the author's propositions are whimsical at best. One thing is caring about our environment (I do), but to create this NGO (Non-Gov't org) to collect environemntal taxation is one of the most nonsensical ideas I've ever heard! Just do yourself a favor and don't buy this book, that is, unless you really want to make the author rich and make yourself miserable.

A Way Out For George Bush ?.......2001-10-23

Review of ‘Who Owns The Sky’ by Peter Barnes pub Island Press 2001

Chris Rose

This is a great little book that should be read by any environmentalist who really wants to save the atmosphere. Original and iconoclastic, its main fault is that it is so packed with big and new ideas so that it is in danger of being overlooked as too complicated.

Really it should be called ‘Let’s Own The Sky’ as it’s a rationale and rallying cry to take the common asset of the sky into common (as distinct from state) ownership. Barnes suggests a way to get Americans (or anyone) to take a stake in the sky as a waste disposal resource, and then charge for polluting it. Americans want to protect the climate says Barnes, but only if they can do so without any economic pain. Done right, via a ‘sky trust,’ Barnes says, would be a money-earner for most. Result – incentives to pollute less.

In the Barnes plan a Sky Trust would be funded by emission permits sold to energy companies at the top of the ‘carbon chain.’ The revenues would be paid out to citizens in equal dividends, like the Alaska Permanent Fund does with that State’s oil revenues.

Barnes is an entrepreneur with impeccable capitalist if Californian credentials. He has proposed a cap-and-trade system which charges polluters rather than handing out emission rights for nothing. As such it might appeal to less-government libertarians and egalitarian environmentalists alike.

...and you can get a notional non-transfer-able share of America’s sky. Barnes has a blueprint but is it a Bushprint ? Where else though is George Bush to go if he is to regain any credibility on the climate, after rashly rejecting the Kyoto Protocol, the climate treaty accepted by every other nation ? America needs some fresh thinking and this might be it.

A brainstorm of workable solutions.......2001-10-10

Who Owns The Sky?: Our Common Assets And The Future Of Capitalism offers opinions and economical solutions to the complex problem of global warming. Author Peter Barnes (cofounder and president ofthe socially responsibile telephone company "Working Assets") argues persuasively in favor of treating the sky as a commonly owned asset, through a non-governmental Sky Trust that would charge rent for carbon emissions and pay equal yearly dividends, which would make the burden easier to bear for workers and firms that have the most difficult transition to a lower-carbon economy. A unique melding of capitalism, enlightened self-interest, environmentalism, and hope for the future, Who Owns The Sky? is just what the world needs most - a brainstorm of workable solutions to one of the potentially most monumental of global environmental problems.

Advances In Space Research Volume 16, Number 11, 1995 - Space Debris

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Advances In Space Research Volume 16, Number 11, 1995 - Space Debris

Manufacturer: Pergamon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKEOGO

Advances In Space Research Volume 19, Number 2, 1997 - Space Debris

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Advances In Space Research Volume 19, Number 2, 1997 - Space Debris

Manufacturer: Pergamon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKGVF6

Artificial Space Debris (Orbit, a Foundation Series)

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Artificial Space Debris (Orbit, a Foundation Series)
Nicholas L. Johnson , and Darren S. McKnight
Manufacturer: Orbit Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Aeronautics & Astronautics | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0894640127

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... Caged
Courtney Ryley Cooper
Manufacturer: Little, Brown, and company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010IEN4

Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors: 8-9 August 1996, Denver, Colorado (SPIE Proceedings)

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Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors: 8-9 August 1996, Denver, Colorado (SPIE Proceedings)

Manufacturer: SPIE-International Society for Optical Engine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Aeronautics & Astronautics | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0819422010

Effects of Perturbations on Space Debris in Supersynchronous Storage Orbits

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Effects of Perturbations on Space Debris in Supersynchronous Storage Orbits

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423553888

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NMSPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A305163. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The current mitigation measure supported to address the space debris situation in the geosynchronous (GEO) region is to boost satellites into supersynchronous orbits in the time before stationkeeping fuel is expected to be exhausted. Because this solution does not remove mass from space, debris generation by fragmentation events remains a possibility. This study examines the consequences of collisions in the storage orbits and possible interaction with GEO. Pertinent background information on GEO debris, including summaries of the sources and management strategies, is covered first. Next, the methods and tools by which the effects of collisions can be analyzed are discussed. A low- velocity breakup model is needed to provide the delta-velocities imparted to the fragment debris; a simple hybrid model is applied here. An analytical study of the effects of perturbations, including solar and lunar third body gravitation, Earth oblateness through degree and order four, and solar radiation pressure, follows in order to evaluate the magnitude of these disturbing forces on the fragmentation debris. Validation of these results is achieved by conducting a numerical analysis using proven numerical and semianalytical orbit propagators. The results show that currently practiced reorbiting distances above GEO do not isolate debris from GEO after the occurrence of collisions in storage orbits.

Image Intensifiers and Applications and Characteristics and Consequences of Space Debris and Near-Earth Objects: And Characteristics and Consequences of ... Society for Optical Engineering, V. 3434.)

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Image Intensifiers and Applications and Characteristics and Consequences of Space Debris and Near-Earth Objects: And Characteristics and Consequences of ... Society for Optical Engineering, V. 3434.)

Manufacturer: SPIE-International Society for Optical Engine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0819428892

It Came from Outer Space (Science Solves It!)

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Science? Not in this book...

It Came from Outer Space (Science Solves It!)
Henry Barker
Manufacturer: Kane Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fiction | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 157565122X

Customer Reviews:

Science? Not in this book..........2005-01-22

I'd like to start out by saying that I'm a big fan of the "Math Matters" series of children's books by Kane Press. I've read about 10 of them to my 3-year-old, and despite his young age, he does learn some of the math concepts from the books. They are entertaining and not painful for me to read multiple times, like some children's books.

I was therefore very disappointed in the multiple problems with the first book we read in the "Science Solves It" series, _It Came from Outer Space_.

Here are some problems I found (in the order that I found them in the book), all of which should have been caught by the author, artist, editor, and advisors to the book:

1. The stars in the artwork are drawn as 5-pointed star shapes. Shouldn't they be circular? OK, let's pass this one off to artistic license.

2. On pages 5 and 11, the moon is about 3/4 full (waning gibbous moon), but it is the wrong shape! The shape drawn -- essentially a "fat" quarter moon -- is impossible. Hasn't the artist Barry Gott ever looked at the moon?

3. Also in the same drawings, there is a star drawn in the "dark" part of the moon! Furthermore, it moves significantly between the two pictures. This is either showing that we can see through the solid mass of the moon when it is not illuminated by the sun, or that stars are closer than the moon. Both are clearly untrue.

The following two items I don't have direct experience with, so I might be wrong, but I'll list them anyway:

1. It seems that if a rocket nozzle were to fall from orbit, I think that it would be much more damaged and burned than shown (it seems to be undamaged), and it certainly would not have gotten stuck in a tree since it would have been traveling quite fast and with a lot of momentum, particularly considering the fiery re-entry that is shown. Perhaps it would even completely burn up, given the relative thinness of the nozzle? If it didn't fall from orbit (e.g. if it were from an early stage of a rocket), then it wouldn't have been burning up in the atmosphere, more likely, it would have just tumbled (though still fast), and would not have burned up. But even in that case, I don't see it getting stuck in a tree. In either case, I expect it would just plow through the tree.

2. Having the kids take the rocket nozzle home without contacting anyone (NASA, police, parents) seems like a bad idea to encourage. I would expect it to be potentially toxic (due to the rocket fuel, since it probably wasn't fueled by liquid oxygen / hydrogen) and at the very least, extremely "sooty" (assuming the re-entry scenario), not the kind of thing that comes out of the carpet!

In summary, there is no science in this "Science Solves It" book, and I am very disappointed in it.

Book Description

This text seeks to provide a comprehensive technical foundation and practical examples for casting process modelling technology. It highlights fundamental theory for solidification and useful applications for industrial production. It also details shape and ingot castings, semi-solid metalworking, and spray forming.

Solidification and Casting: (Materials Science and Engineering)

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Solidification and Casting: (Materials Science and Engineering)
Brian Cantor , and K O'Reilly
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0750308435

Book Description

Written by leading experts in their respective fields, Solidification and Casting provides a comprehensive review of topics fundamental to metallurgy and materials science as well as indicates recent trends. From an industrial perspective, the book begins with chapters on the casting techniques most commonly used in industry today. It then describes the underlying science fundamental to solidification mechanisms, including fluid flow, the effects of cooling rates, modern simulation, and modelling methods in use and their application in various casting scenarios. Next, the authors consider the microstructure of cast materials and their defects, and explore how different casting processes can control these parameters. The book concludes with the most recent developments in the field and discusses new processes and materials, such as novel alloys and composites, metallic glasses, ceramics, and superconducting oxides.

Average customer rating:

very good book for undergrads in metallurgy

Solidification and casting
G. J Davies
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

very good book for undergrads in metallurgy.......1998-12-05

very fluent English. simplified untangible since of solidificatio

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One of the top two manufacturing books

Introduction to Manufacturing Processes
John A. Schey
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Industrial & Technical | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0070311366

Book Description

This revision aims to address changes that have taken effect since the publication of the second edition. The most significant change has been in the attitude of industry to concurrent engineering. In 1987, mostly lip service was paid to it; today, it has become general practice in most competitive corporations. In the second edition , the author discussed this as the manufacturing system. In the third edition it becomes the focal point.

Concurrent engineering involves the whole product realization process, including product concept, performance criteria, mechanical design and analysis, materials selection, process planning and modeling, production control, automation, assembly, management, and others. An introductory text cannot possibly cover all of these topics, hence the emphasis of the third edition remains on the physical principles and the application of these principles to processes. The major difference relative to the second edition will be the emphasis on interactions between process and design. Capabilities and limitations of processes will be highlighted to show what they mean in terms of design possibilities, and design modifications will be suggested for ease of manufacture. Impact on the environment and possibilities for recycling will be woven into the entire text.

Customer Reviews:

One of the top two manufacturing books.......2001-05-22

John Schey's manufacturing book is one of the top two in the field - the other being Serope Kalpakjian's. Schey writes a well balanced, clear, and insightful book.

Science and Engineering of Casting Solidification

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Science and Engineering of Casting Solidification

Science and Engineering of Casting Solidification
Doru Michael Stefanescu
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Mathematical Analysis | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

ASIN: 030646750X

Book Description

Casting of metals evolved first as witchcraft, gradually became an art, then technology, and became only recently a science. Many of the processes used in a metal casting are still empirical in nature, but many others are deeply rooted in mathematics. In whatever form, casting of metals is an activity fundamental in the very existence of our world, as we know it today.

Foundry reports indicate that solidification modeling is not only a cost-effective investment but also a major technical asset. It helps foundries move into markets with more complex and technically demanding work. However, to the best of the author's knowledge, there have been no attempts to synthesize the information that can be used for engineering calculations pertinent to computational modeling of casting solidification.

This book is based on the author's thirty years of experience with teaching, research and the industrial practice of solidification science as applied to casting processes. It is an attempt to describe solidification theory through the complex mathematical apparatus that includes partial differential equations and numerical analysis, which are required for a fundamental treatment of the problem. The mathematics, however, is restricted to the element essential to attain a working knowledge of the field. This is in line with the main goal of the book, which is to educate the reader in the fast moving area of computational modeling of solidification of casting. For the sake of completeness, a special effort has been made to introduce the reader to the latest developments in solidification theory, even if the reader has no engineering applications at this time.

The text is designed to be self-contained. The author's teaching experience demonstrates that some of the students interested in solidification science are not fully proficient in partial differential equations (PDE) and/or numerical analysis. Accordingly, elements of PDE and numerical analysis, required to obtain a working knowledge of computational solidification modeling, have been introduced in the text while attempting to avoid the interruption of the fluency of the subject. Numerous modeling and calculation examples using the Excel spreadsheet as an engineering tool are provided. The book is addressed to graduate students and seniors in solidification science, as well as to industrial researchers who work in the field of solidification in general and casting modeling in particular.

Customer Reviews:

Science and Engineering of Casting Solidification.......2007-01-10

A classic text, essential to any engineer working with metal solidification.

Continuous Casting: Heat Flow, Solidification and Crack Formation (Continuous Casting Vol. II)

Average customer rating:

Highly professional title.

Continuous Casting: Heat Flow, Solidification and Crack Formation (Continuous Casting Vol. II)
J. K. Brimacombe , I. V. Samarasedera , and J. E. Lait
Manufacturer: Iron & Steel Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

Highly professional title........2000-04-18

In most cases it is hard to find books that deal with metallurgy & material science, that enlight production related aspects. This is one of these rare titles. Either if you are a ConCast Steel Mill Metallurgist or if you are a Material Science Student, you will find that this title is a very important part of your professional book shelf.

Melt Spinning, Strip Casting and Slab Casting: Proceedings of a Symposium Sponsored by the Materials Design and Manufacturing Division (Mdmd), Solidification Committee and the the Sic Joint

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Melt Spinning, Strip Casting and Slab Casting: Proceedings of a Symposium Sponsored by the Materials Design and Manufacturing Division (Mdmd), Solidification Committee and the the Sic Joint
Metals and Materials Society. Meeting (125th : 1996 : Anaheim, Calif.) Minerals
Manufacturer: Minerals, Metals, & Materials Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0873393147

Modeling and Control of Casting and Welding Processes IV

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Modeling and Control of Casting and Welding Processes IV

Manufacturer: Tms
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Modeling and Control of Casting and Welding Processes: Proceedings of the Third Conference on Modeling of Casting and Welding Processes, held on January 12-17, 1986, in Santa Barbara, California

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Modeling and Control of Casting and Welding Processes: Proceedings of the Third Conference on Modeling of Casting and Welding Processes, held on January 12-17, 1986, in Santa Barbara, California

Manufacturer: Metallurgical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Modeling of casting and welding processes: Proceedings of a symposium (Conference proceedings / the Metallurgical Society of AIME)

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Modeling of casting and welding processes: Proceedings of a symposium (Conference proceedings / the Metallurgical Society of AIME)

Manufacturer: Metallurgical Society of Aime
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

So it's kind of like a parlor game, then?...

The question is apparently of Ancient Eastern extraction....

It seems to be a gut thing. The answer just feels right and then you come up with reasons....

Given a relatively level playing field -- i.e., water deep enough so that a Shark could maneuver proficiently, but shallow enough so that a Bear could stand and operate with its characteristic dexterity -- who would win in a fight between a Bear and a Shark?

As they head cross-country, the family is besieged by a dizzying barrage of voices: television and radio personalities, public service announcements, bear and shark pundits, Freudians, theologians, and self-published authors, in addition to the Bear v. Shark fanatics, cultists, and resisters they meet at roadside gas stations and restaurants. Overwhelmed by factoids, statistics, and ten-second debates, the Normans -- along with the rest of country -- can't seem to get their facts straight, much less figure out a way to actually communicate with one another. Sound bites and verbal tics predominate; misheard, misunderstood, and just plain mistaken information is absorbed, mangled, and regurgitated to hilarious effect; and the most inane subjects -- from the disappearance of Dutch culture to the Shakespearean bias toward the bear -- are vigorously and obsessively debated. These meaningless exchanges of misinformation leave Mr. Norman disenchanted, world-weary, and ambivalent about the impending show, but the family eventually makes it to Vegas for an apocalyptic and surprisingly emotional ending.

Written in quick, commercial-like segments that mirror the media it satirizes, Chris Bachelder's debut is a fiercely funny, razor-sharp novel about the odd intersection of zealotry and trivia, about the barriers to human connection in a society that values entertainment above all else. Through a clever act of novelistic subterfuge, Bachelder makes us laugh at our penchant for absurd and useless information while drawing us into a dazzling spectacle of his own imagination.

Download Description

In this brilliant satire of our media-saturated culture, the sovereign nation of Las Vegas -- the entertainment capital of the world -- is host to Bear v. Shark II. After a disappointing loss in the first matchup between the land and the sea, the bear is back with a vengeance and out for blood. All of America is obsessed with the upcoming spectacle, so tickets are hard to come by. With an essay entitled "Bear v. Shark: A Reason to Live," young Curtis Norman wins a national writing contest and four tickets to the event. The Normans load up their SUV and embark on a road trip to Vegas. As they head cross-country, the family is besieged by a dizzying barrage of voices: television and radio personalities, public service announcements, bear and shark pundits, Freudians, theologians, and self-published authors, in addition to the Bear v. Shark fanatics, cultists, and resisters they meet at roadside gas stations and restaurants. Overwhelmed by factoids, statistics, and ten-second debates, the Normans -- along with the rest of country -- can't seem to get their facts straight, much less figure out a way to actually communicate with one another. Sound bites and verbal tics predominate; misheard, misunderstood, and just plain mistaken information is absorbed, mangled, and regurgitated to hilarious effect; and the most inane subjects -- from the disappearance of Dutch culture to the Shakespearean bias toward the bear -- are vigorously and obsessively debated. These meaningless exchanges of misinformation leave Mr. Norman disenchanted, world-weary, and ambivalent about the impending show, but the family eventually makes it to Vegas for an apocalyptic and surprisingly emotional ending. Written in quick, commercial-like segments that mirror the media it satirizes, Chris Bachelder's debut is a fiercely funny, razor-sharp novel about the odd intersection of zealotry and trivia, about the barriers to human connection in a society that values entertainment above all else.

Customer Reviews:

In the end, I liked it but it should have been a short story.......2006-08-24

I picked this one up at one of those discount book warehouses based upon reading the first page in the store. When I got around to reading this book, I had a hard time trying to decide if I liked it. The book is a satire about the influence of television, infomercials, entertainment-as-news and advertising in America today. It is written in a collection of sound bites, news clips, and slogans. It reminds me in many ways of Chuck Palahniuk's work. Much of it is very funny and original. But, the stylistics get a bit annoying after awhile. I think this would have been an excellent short story. Still, I think this was good writing and very witty. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

Which is more annoying...........2006-05-31

It poses the question of which would win, given a level playing field, enough water to maneuver, but not so much the bear couldn't keep its purchase: a bear or a shark. The style of the writing, however, asks if it's more annoying to watch network television, or to read a book written in sound-bytes, commercial breaks, and slogans. I liked reading it, but I also like watching television, foreign-language commercials, and amateur videoblogs, so I'm really easy to entertain.

Not funny. No real plot. Poor satire. Not well written.......2006-03-29

I was greatly disappointed with Bear V. Shark. I expected something funny. It is not. I expected satire and political humor, it has none. If the author was trying for a book like, "1984" or "Brave New World" or "Fahrenheit 451" or "Animal Farm" or "The Jungle" he missed by a huge margin. Truly good satire tells a story, and makes a message. BearV. Shark does neither.
The book is so inconsistent and difficult to follow that it becomes almost unreadable. It reminded me of the ramblings of a psychiatric patient (was that the author's intent?) I did finish the book hoping it would wind up in a glorious manner, but it just plods along and ends.
None of the characters are in any way believable. None of the situations are engaging. None of the attempts at humor are funny. I was really, really disappointed. Did the other reviewers actually read this book?

Buy This Book.......2005-09-28

I bought this book because the author is my friend's neighbor (say "howdy" to Henry for me, Chris)and I bought it used, cheap. Authors don't make any money on used book sales, and I feel a little bad about that because this here is a fine piece of what the pretty folks call "litter-chure." It's witty, ironic, and well done, and maybe best of all the chapters are short so it's great for in the bathroom. If I didn't own this book, I'd buy it new because Bachelder is the sort of author we want to support. That is, he is pretty good at what he does and we will all benefit from his writing more of these fine books.

Screamingly funny *and* scary as hell.......2005-05-24

This book is easily the most downright amazing satire since _Snow Crash_. And it is just as frighteningly prescient too; like it or not we live in the world of this book now.

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