Finding Meaning at the Movies

Customer Reviews:

Values, not Dogma: A Thoughtful Guide to the Movies.......2001-06-25

Vaux' thoughtful commentary on a number of popular and award-winning films is refreshing in its heavy emphasis on "values" and critical "issues" (and its avoidance of preaching and dogma).

Typical of the entire book is her handling of Riddley Scott's BLADE RUNNER: she's not afraid to tackle this excellent and boxoffice-drawing (but also "mature") science fiction film head on, guiding readers point-by-point through its highlights in pursuit of key subject matter and possible discussion topics. Actually, the result is a better/deeper appreciation of the film itself, whether or not the reader originally was only looking for dramatic illustrations of values!

Liberal-to-moderate and/or "mainstream" Christians should enjoy and benefit from this intelligent, well-reasoned guidebook -- and should be pleased by its freedom from religious doctrine and dogma. Protestants and Catholics alike should be able to make good use of the stimulating, conversation-starting notions she shares, while enjoying the subject films themselves as both art and entertainment. (Nor is there any reason that Jews or Muslims, or persons of other or no religious orientation, should not benefit, as well.)

More conservative/fundamentalist readers, however, may find Vaux's book personally disturbing in its tolerance of several "pop" movies (including adult themes, language, partial nudity and at least suggested sexual behavior and sometimes graphic violence), and dissapointed in its lack of direct one-to-one correlations with openly "religious" subject matter. Those readers wishing to be "preached at" or to find a guide to so-called "religious movies" will need to look elsewhere.

Personally, I found Vaux' approach both refreshing and enlightening, and I thank her for this step forward in recognizing the deep commitment to critical values that runs through the majority of modern art -- including The Movies!

Going to the movies for more than entertainment........1999-06-21

Vaux presents an excellent study book for groups or individuals, focusing on themes from life which can influence getting more from movies than simply entertainment. Each chapter focuses on a single theme, with several related films (and many more listed in an appendix). Faith reflections come from the author's knowledge of the Bible and experience as a professor of theology. At the end of each chapter are questions for group discussion. Dr. Vaux gives brief synopses without giving anything away. Although she inspires thinking about a film's spiritual meaning and life values, she wants viewers to find this in ordinary or extraordinary street stories, not religious films where we might expect it. I found this book awakened me to a new appreciation of films I had seen, and also to films new to me, foreign as well as American, from the 'sixties and 'seventies, as well as the 'nineties.

Book Description

Nina West hasn't quite crossed the line into adulthood yet, but that's the only line she hasn't crossed. Left to her own devices after the untimely death of her parents, Nina is a young girl coming of age with no apologies or conscience. Too cool for school, too hot for television, and too scandalous to be believed, Nina is the twisted and surreal tale of an object of desire that gives as good as she gets, wreaking havoc from her quiet hometown to the glittering shores of California, she's a cross between Terry Southern's Candy and Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me. Written by underground idol Blag Dahlia, with a cover by Detroit pop artist Niagara, this ambitious comedy entertains and outrages with each turn of the page.

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blag

Blag
Sally Edwards
Manufacturer: Gestalten Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

What does Hip Hop look like nowadays? What is street style and why do skateboards, grafitti and Black Culture influence Western lifestyle more and more. The answers lie in London-based Blag magazine, one of the most authentic and challenging projects in the field brought together by Sarah and Sally Edwards. This Blag book presents the best of the no longer available and most sought after issues as well as adding 80% of new and yet unreleased material such as interviews with the true innovators of Hip Hop like Redman, The Roots, EPMD, Jungle Brothers, etc. Blag presents a vivid and most complex culture with photos, fashion, lifestyle and, last but not least, top-class graphic design which is provided by Yacht Associates of London who are well-known for designing record sleeves for England's finest bands (Blur, Pulp, etc.). The hard-edged combination of Sarah and Sally Edwards' editing and Yacht Associates' graphic design may be blamed for the fact that Blag became a "must buy" for agencies and artists who cannot afford to miss out on keeping up with the latest developments and trends in the field. The Blag book takes this further and intensifies both the editorial and graphic approach to another level. You may also consider "Lodown - graphic engineering" as a reference about what a vivid and colourful book you can expect. Check out: blag@blagmagazine.com

Customer Reviews:

blag.......2000-06-21

beautiful and stunning layout and design. taking hip hop and graphic arts combined to the next level.

Average customer rating:

Amazing!
Punk rockers can write!

Armed to The Teeth With Lipstick
Blag Dahlia
Manufacturer: Greedy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0966443209

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......1999-05-25

Blag Dahlia just continues to flaunt his talent in the face of all who dare doubt him. With an amazing book now to his credit... Blag Dahlia is sure to be one of the most incredible artists of our generation, who unfortunately, no-one will ever give a shit about.

Blag Dahlia Forever!

Punk rockers can write!.......1999-03-03

While not based on Blag's band The Dwarves there are enough subtle references for fans but not too many that anyone would be left out. Funny, twisted and thoroughly entertaining.

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Blag
Tony Saint
Manufacturer: Serpent's Tail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1852428449

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The Big Blag
Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1845962192

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Blag
Sally Edwards
Manufacturer: Die Gestalten Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MZ8MV2

Blag, blache, black and blake in place-names

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Blag, blache, black and blake in place-names
Hugh Robert Watkin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Shooters, Blags and Go-fast Jags
Jack Regan
Manufacturer: Lipstick Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1904762344

Customer Reviews:

Page Turner!.......2005-11-27

Definitely a page turner. Much, much better than I expected from a world designed for a RPG rather than novel writing. Great story of pioneering in a fantasy setting. Monsters and politicians alike try to do away with the clever, but modest hero.

Fantastic, Another Great birthright book.......1999-10-13

Another one of the great birthright books. If you like to see the monster win then this book is for you.

A Brain Above the Rest.......1997-11-17

This is not your average book. Richard Endier is not your average man. A plot of fast-paced action and intrigue takes place in The Spider's Test. The Spider, a fear inspiring awnshegh has focused its terrible gaze upon Richard. Revenge is foremost on its mind. For Richard Endier, the simple farm boy destined for greatness, has tricked, out-witted, and humiliated the Spider again and again. The Spider's main weapon is the fear it inspires, so it cannot a simple farm boy who has tricked it repeatedly live. When Richard creates a frontier settlement near the Spider's domain, the awnshegh sees the perfect opportunity for revenge. With only himself and his friends to protect themselves, the only way Richard can save even himself is by tricking the Spider yet again, this time with the biggest riddle of all.

Alfa Romeo Spider 1966-91 (Brooklands Road Test Books)

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Alfa Romeo Spider 1966-91 (Brooklands Road Test Books)
R. M. Clarke , and R. M. Clark
Manufacturer: Motorbooks International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Luxury | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Fiat Pinifarina 124 & 2000 Spider 1968-85 (Brooklands Road Tests S.)

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Fiat Pinifarina 124 & 2000 Spider 1968-85 (Brooklands Road Tests S.)
R.M. Clarke
Manufacturer: Brooklands Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Foreign | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1870642244

Book Description

The 124 Spider was based on a shortened Fiat 124 floorpan and never officially imported into Britain. It could have been a rival to the MGB and with a production run of 190,000 came close to matching the Abingdon total. In 1974 it was produced exclusively for the American market. In 1979 it became known as the Spider 2000 with the bigger engine and was available with a turbocharged engine in 1981. Fiat withdrew the car from America in 1982. Pininfarina took over the production and it was renamed the Spidereuropa but it was still a slow seller and finally ceased in 1985. This is a book of contemporary road and comparison tests, specification and technical data, driver's impressions, new model introductions, background. Models covered include: 1438cc, 1608cc, 1756cc, 124 Abarth Rally, 1995cc, Turbo, Azzurra, Spidereuropa.

Training and Experimenting with Tarantulas

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Training and Experimenting with Tarantulas
Karen Peebles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NTL0DY

Product Description

These are the experiments on tarantulas that made Karen Peebles famous the world around. Who would have known that it were possible to train pet tarantulas? Who could have guessed what these simple experiments would show? These are some of the findings from the 9 year experiments with 36 tarantulas in the home of Karen Peebles.

Web of Spider-Man #93 : The Test (Hobgoblin Reborn - Marvel Comics)

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Web of Spider-Man #93 : The Test (Hobgoblin Reborn - Marvel Comics)
Howard Mackie
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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When plants attack! Meet plotting plants that trap flies, frogs, and spiders.(life science): An article from: SuperScience

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When plants attack! Meet plotting plants that trap flies, frogs, and spiders.(life science): An article from: SuperScience
Judith Jango-Cohen
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000O767I8
Release Date: 2007-03-09

Book Description

This digital document is an article from SuperScience, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 898 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: When plants attack! Meet plotting plants that trap flies, frogs, and spiders.(life science)
Author: Judith Jango-Cohen
Publication: SuperScience (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 18 Issue: 6 Page: 6(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Alfa Romeo Spider 1966-90 (Brooklands Road Tests S.)

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Alfa Romeo Spider 1966-90 (Brooklands Road Tests S.)
R.M. Clarke
Manufacturer: Brooklands Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Luxury | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1855200279

Book Description

When the Alfa Spider was introduced to the UK in 1966 there were many rival sportscars. Twenty-four years later the Spider was still in production. Starting with a 1600 engine the 1750 model was introduced in 1968 and the 2000 in 1971. This is a collection of articles including road tests, buying second hand, owners impressions and a good content of technical and performance data, also including comparisons with contemporary cars. Models included are 1600 Spider, 1600 Duetto, 1600 GTV, 1300 Junior, 1750 Veloce, 1750 Duetto, 1750 GTV, 2000 Spider, 2000 Veloce and the Neuser Special.

Archaeological test excavations at Spider Rockshelter (CA-Teh-1432), Lower Mill Creek Canyon, California (Cultural resources report. Archaeology)

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Archaeological test excavations at Spider Rockshelter (CA-Teh-1432), Lower Mill Creek Canyon, California (Cultural resources report. Archaeology)
Eric W Ritter
Manufacturer: Bureau of Land Management, [Redding Resource Area]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Amazon.com

Chapter 1 of Information Rules begins with a description of the change brought on by technology at the close of the century--but the century described is not this one, it's the late 1800s. One hundred years ago, it was an emerging telephone and electrical network that was transforming business. Today it's the Internet. The point? While the circumstances of a particular era may be unique, the underlying principles that describe the exchange of goods in a free-market economy are the same. And the authors, Carl Shapiro and Hal Varian, should know. Shapiro is Professor of Business Strategy at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and has also served as chief economist at the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department. Varian is the Dean of the School of Information Management and Systems at UC Berkeley. Together they offer a deep knowledge of how economic systems work coupled with first-hand experience of today's network economy. They write:

Sure, today's business world is different in a myriad of ways from that of a century ago. But many of today's managers are so focused on the trees of technological change that they fail to see the forest: the underlying economic forces that determine success and failure.

Shapiro and Varian go to great lengths to purge this book of the technobabble and forecasting of an electronic woo-woo land that's typical in books of this genre. Instead, with their feet on the ground, they consider how to market and distribute goods in the network economy, citing examples from industries as diverse as airlines, software, entertainment, and communications. The authors cover issues such as pricing, intellectual property, versioning, lock-in, compatibility, and standards. Clearly written and presented, Information Rules belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who has an interest in today's network economy--entrepreneurs, managers, investors, students. If there was ever a textbook written on how to do business in the information age, this book is it. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

In a marketplace that depends so thoroughly on cutting-edge information technology, can classic economic principles still offer any real strategic value? Yes! say Carl Shapiro and Hal Varian. In Information Rules, they reveal that many long-standing economic concepts can provide the insight and understanding necessary to succeed in the information age. Shapiro and Varian argue that if managers seriously want to develop effective strategies for competing in the new economy, they must understand the fundamental economics of information technology. Whether information takes the form of software code or recorded music, is published in a book or magazine, or even posted on a web site, managers must know how to evaluate the consequences of pricing, protecting, and planning new versions of their information products, services, and systems. The first book to distill the economics of information and networks into practical business strategies, Information Rules is a guide to the winning moves that can help business leaders-from writers, lawyers, and finance professionals to executives in the entertainment, publishing, and hardware and software industries--navigate successfully through the information economy.

Download Description

In Information Rules, authors Shapiro and Varian reveal that many classic economic concepts can provide the insight and understanding necessary to succeed in the information age. They argue that if managers seriously want to develop effective strategies for competing in the new economy, they must understand the fundamental economics of information technology. Whether information takes the form of software code or recorded music, is published in a book or magazine, or even posted on a website, managers must know how to evaluate the consequences of pricing, protecting, and planning new versions of information products, services, and systems. The first book to distill the economics of information and networks into practical business strategies, Information Rules is a guide to the winning moves that can help business leaders navigate successfully through the tough decisions of the information economy.

Customer Reviews:

A must.......2006-08-25

If you're in the software business and you haven't read this book, chances are you don't know what's going on. This may sound a bit abrupt, but that is the way it is. Bsaic concepts like lock-in and the need to differentiate are discussed in a clear and useful way. If more people would read this, a lot fewer mistakes would be made.

An Corporate Information Seller's Handbook.......2006-03-11

Both authors are professors at the University of California at Berkeley. This book deals with how unchanging principles are being applied to the changing conditions and technologies of information marketing (software).

A unique condition to today's information economy is that it's products are costly to produce, cheap to reproduce and without fixed supply. Value must be created by 'versioning' and personalizing a product in a number of different ways. The other alternative is to become a cost-leader commodity seller.

How to lock-in your customers for the long-term is discussed, as well as how not to be locked-in by your suppliers.

The pros and cons of evolution strategies are explained. Should your product be backward compatible or cleanly break with old technology?

Best in this book is how different positive feedback approaches can put your company in the super-accelerated growth mode.

Five Bright Stars !

Very Practical .......2006-01-24

The arrival of the Internet and the information explosion it created has made it possible for inventors and entrepreneurs to build a business from scratch to worldwide marketing capability in a very few years. The authors of this book take the position that all too often we are deluded into thinking certain and tried and true economic principles have been abolished by this new Internet economy. They argue their position without jargon and with examples taken from the real world.

While old pricing ratios and old pricing strategies may not apply in the information age, new pricing ratios and new strategies have taken their place. Information goods can be costly to produce but cheap to reproduce. For example, a copy of a 100 million dollar movie on videotape costs a few cents to make. So pricing cannot follow, say, a 20% markup rule when the unit cost is essentially zero; "you must price your information goods according to customer value, not according to your production cost."

Several chapters cover pricing strategies and how to maintain control when some "view the Internet as one giant out-of-control copying machine." These strategies involve methods for differing your product from your competitors, avoiding sky-high initial pricing that encourages competition, and customizing. Interestingly, they note the "one-to-one marketing" strategy was "first described by economist A.C. Pigou in 1920."

Sometimes literally giving a product away works. The book describes how the former school teacher (Sheryl Leach) that created Barney gave free videos to day care centers and others located near the stores selling the Barney tapes. A note inside told parents where the stores were. It worked magnificently and Barney is now one of today¹s icons.

The development of digital watermarks has provided one tool for controlling piracy of your web presented material.

An important information age problem is recognizing and dealing with "lock-in." The writers compare cars with computers. You can switch from a Ford to a Chevy with no trouble, but changing computers may obsolete your present software. How do you convince customers to switch to your product or service when a switching cost is involved? The authors discuss several strategies.

Problems with "lock-in" and "switching costs" also often occur when you purchase durable equipment and service contracts. The authors advise you to carefully consider the costs of being locked-in to you supplier¹s parts and services. They especially caution regarding "evergreen contracts" which automatically renew.

Many interesting historical examples are used to drive home points. Edison, for example, with regard to establishing standards, invented the word "Hello" for answering the phone. He was hard of hearing and the English "Hallow" didn¹t grab attention as well. Incidentally, Alexander Graham Bell pushed for "Ahoy." The battles for standardizing railroad gauges and the classic standards battle that established AC power over DC power are detailed. (No mention of Tesla, a shame.)

The enormous role "blocking patents" can play when a formal standard-setting process is taking place within an industry is discussed. Most people think of industry standards as being dictated by the mighty corporations, but if the small guy is not invited to the table his firm "is not required to license its patents on fair and reasonable terms." The government may also monitor a standard-setting procedure with regard to monopoly considerations. When the steel electrical tubing people attempted to stack the deck, the plastic electrical tubing people cried foul and won.

Yet another interesting historical example is given in the discussion regarding how the concept of reasonable royalties and "just price" arose. It goes back to medieval times: "the just price of a horse was the price that would prevail at the open market at the annual fair, not the price that happens to emerge from a traveler in desperate need of a horse."

Like most growing fields the Internet has generated many unique and delightful terms. Vaporware is one such term. That is the promising of a new product and not delivering or delivering very late. This business tactic has been used by even the biggest (IBM, Microsoft), but as the authors note, it has often boomeranged.

While promising too much too soon is dangerous, the book makes the point that in this age of rapid technology progress "rigidity is death." the French became world leaders in the 1980s with their Minitel system, but today only 3 percent can access the Internet. A case where success also resulted in a high switching cost.

Each chapter of the book concludes with "Lessons" which are capsule summaries of the chapter¹s main points. Like the rest of the book, legalese and the jargon of academic economic courses are completely avoided.

This book is so readable and practical one can only hope other professors will use it as an example of how to write without arcane technobabble.

Cheap Text Book.......2005-09-20

I saved a lot of money buying this textbook on-line. It was in good quality.

A Must Read for Internet Entrepreneurs.......2005-06-16

Although this book was written in 1998, it is just as relevant if not more so today. The book discusses how Internet entrepreneurs should price their goods/services; how they can create lock-in effects to instill customer loyalty; and perhaps most importantly, how they can create network effects so as to exponentially increase their client base and barriers to entry. A brilliant book written by two leading authorities on economics.

Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy. (book review): An article from: Information Management Journal

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Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy. (book review): An article from: Information Management Journal
Diane Carlisle
Manufacturer: Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Online Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Information Management Journal, published by Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA) on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 782 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy. (book review)
Author: Diane Carlisle
Publication: Information Management Journal (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA)
Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Page: 60(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Information Rules - A Strategic Guide To The Network Economy

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Information Rules - A Strategic Guide To The Network Economy
Carl; Varian, Hal R. Shapiro
Manufacturer: Harvard Business School Pres
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IX5P6I

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