Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company (The Ucla Film and Television Archive Studies in History, Criticism, and Theory)

Book Description

Musser takes us into the long-forgotten world of early cinema--unexpectedly sophisticated and yet radically different from current movie-making. Focusing on Edwin S. Porter, most often remembered as the producer of The Great Train Robbery, Musser situates Porter's achievements within the vibrant context of turn-of-the-century popular culture and the commercial pragmatics of the Edison Manufacturing Company--the leading American film-producing entity from 1894 to 1908.

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The Art of Democracy 2nd Edition: A Concise History of Popular Culture in the United States
Jim Cullen
Manufacturer: Monthly Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Popular Culture in American History (Blackwell Readers in American Social and Cultural History)

Bound and Gagged: Pornography and the Politics of Fantasy in America

Claims to Fame: Celebrity in Contemporary America

Blue Chicago: The Search for Authenticity in Urban Blues Clubs

Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture

ASIN: 1583670645
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Book Description

"Cullen's strength comes from his understanding of how the different strands of American society intertwine in imaginative, unpredictable ways ... The shape and vitality of pop culture's next era will depend, at least in part, on commentators like Cullen." —Washington Post Book World

"A thoroughly engaging look at American culture ... Cullen's articulate prose is spiced with wicked wit and he loves a good story ... Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of complex cultural forces." —Publishers Weekly

"Reflecting both the strengths and weaknesses of an unusually dynamic area of historical scholarship, The Art of Democracy is one of the best surveys of the history of American popular culture." —Journal of American History

"An exceptionally well-written and engrossing introduction to the nonelitist art forms of American popular culture ... Highly recommended." —Library Journal, starred review

"Should be kept on hand to restore our faith in the things that matter to us." —American Studies

Popular culture has been a powerful force in the United States, resonating within the society as a whole and at the same time connecting disparate and even hostile constituencies. The novels of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the theater and minstrel shows of the mid-19th century, movies and the introduction of television and computers in the 20th century are the building blocks that Jim Cullen uses to show how unique and vibrant cultural forms overcame initial resistance and enabled historically marginalized groups to gain access to the fruits of society and recognition from the mainstream.

This updated edition contains a new preface and final chapter which traces the history of contemporary computing from its World War II origins as a military tool to its widespread use in the late 20th century as a tool for the masses. Cullen shows how the computer is reshaping popular culture, and how that culture retains its capacity to surprise and disturb.

The highly acclaimed first edition of The Art of Democracy won the 1996 Ray and Pat Brown Award for "Best Book," presented by the Popular Culture Association.

Book Description

In 1800, 13-year-old Pierre La Page never imagined he'd be leaving Montreal to paddle 2,400 miles. It was something older men, like his father, did. But when Pierre's father has an accident, Pierre quits school to become a voyageur for the North West Company, so his family can survive the winter. It's hard for Pierre as the youngest in the brigade. From the treacherous waters and cruel teasing to his aching and bloodied hands, Pierre is miserable. Still he has no choice but to endure the trip to Grand Portage and back.

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Historical Adventure.......2006-07-20

The Broken Blade is an exciting historical adventure that truly captures the colorful life of the Canadian Voyageurs. Though written for young readers this book can be enjoyed by adults as well. The novel is well written with characters that are realistic and action that keeps the river journey moving. Readers will be waiting to see what is around the next bend. I also recommend the sequel Wintering.

outstandingly funny.....................2006-03-20

The Broken Blade by William Durbin (163pp.) is a very funny book. I liked it, because it sounds beliveable. I didn't like it, because it didn't have enough adventure. It takes place in the 1800's, and the main caracter's name is Pierre. the historical subject is the Canadian trade. I wouldn't recomend it, because its not as exciting as i'd like it to be.

Danger, Courage, and Adventure.......2006-03-20

Title: The Broken Blade
Author: William Durbin
Pages: 163

"The Broken Blade" is an excellent book based on adventure, courage, and hope. This page turner is about a teenage boy named Pierre who sets out on a treacherous journey and returns a man. Pierre's father has an accident with an ax and chops off his thumb. Without his laziness, Pierre would have had HIS thumb missing. So Pierre has to force himself to live the life of a voyager to raise money for his family. During his trip he meets Indians, bears, death, and suicidal rapids. But overall he met great friends and an inner strength he never knew he had. This book tells of amazing faith and survival, you will never want to put it down! I certainly loved this book and I'm positive you will too.

Review of the wonderful Book; The Broken Blade.......2006-03-17

Title: The Broken Blade
Author: William Durbin
Pages: 163
The book "The Broken Blade" (taking place in France) was a very well writen, well thought out book. I especially liked how the book exploded into action on the first few pages. On page two Pierre (the main character in this book) is playing around off of his property when he hears commotion at his house. He comes home to find that his father has sliced his thumb clean off while chopping wood with an ax. His father gets medical attention but is unable to work for money. To help his family out financially, Pierre runs off at the age of 13 and signs himself up for the canoe crew of the North West Company to paddle many miles through dangerous rivers. The whole book is action packed with adventure and danger. Pierre found that paddling so far isn't as easy as it looks. His hands get blistered and the rest of his body gets too sore to even move.

Most of the conflict in this book is between Pierre and himself (debating whether or not he's going to make it) and Pierre and a devil of a man named Jean Beloit who was always making crude jokes.

The book ends when the crew finishes thier trip and heads home. When they make it back Pierre is 14 and all grown up, no longer a mere school boy but now a man, a voyageur.

The only thing I didn't like about The Broken Blade was in one scene when the brigade was heading down hill in the rapids and Pierres'canoe gets stuck at the end and another canoe is headed right for them. Pierres' Friend, La Londe, saves them but... well I won't spoil it for you!

a fun read.......2001-05-15

The title of the book I just read was Broken Blade it was written by William Durbin. It was published in 1999. The setting was on Lake Huron in Canada, around 1800. The main character is Pierre, along with Beloit and La Petite. The important point is that the only reason Pierre is on the river is because his dad cut off his thumb. The one part of the book that I did not expect is that Pierre is only 13 and is very well educated. I would recommend this book because is is fun and had a lot of adventure.

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)

Average customer rating:

The Hardys Take Up Fencing
Diamond In The Ruff
Not Very Exciting
Well Paced And Lots Of Action
Good Mystery

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0448089211

Customer Reviews:

The Hardys Take Up Fencing.......2005-06-06

By coincidence I happened to be in one of California's wine regions when I read this book. Since a good portion of this book takes place in California's grape growing regions, I was able to imagine many of the scenes in this book quite well. Because of this coincidence, I found this book to be very enjoyable.

The Hardy boys have taken up fencing. One day their fencing master, Ettore Russo, tells the boys that he must close the fencing school because he needs to find a piece of a sword that may hold the key to his inheritance. Intrigued, the boys follow clues that lead to California, where they believe the broken piece to be. Of course, at least one other person is also looking for the sword, and that person is stopping at nothing to be sure that person locates the sword first, even if it means someone else gets hurt.

This story is relatively less complicated than many other Hardy Boys stories. To spice the story up a little the author added a subplot about a voice identification system. These systems are quite sophisticated today, but at the time this story was written the systems must have been very new.

While several other reviewers have indicated that this story is mediocre, the author paced it nicely and the story is plotted well. I found myself intrigued by the mystery of the sword, which makes this story more of a true mystery with less of a criminal subplot. Further, other than a few incidents, there is relatively less violence in this book than in many other Hardy Boys books. While the story has less action, the quality of the mystery and the accurate setting in California keep this mystery in the four star range.

Though the Hardy Boys series is written in a relatively archaic fashion, as reading material for an increasingly younger audience they are excellent. The stories were once recommended for children ages 10 to 14. As children are exposed to more violence and seem to require greater levels of stimulation, the recommended age range has move to 9 to 12. I think any child capable of reading some of the challenging words in these books will enjoy them, regardless of how tame most of the action may be. Once a child has reached age 12 or so the stories may be of less interest, but given the combination of mystery and action, these books remain good safe choices for parents who want to know what their children are reading.

Diamond In The Ruff.......2004-04-30

Published in 1942 - Although I rate this book a three star which denotes an average book, I cannot slander this book for any particular reason. In fact I cannot find anything wrong with it to any degree - except for this: There are other books in the series that are better and it would be unfair to them to give this volume the same high rating as them. Broken Blade was less breath taking, less action packed and less exciting than several other HB volumes, but I still regard this as a very good volume. The plot is about a search for part of a sword and a race against time as the Hardys and unscrupulous characters hunt for the same sword simultaneously. Their objectives are the same but the goals are different. Who will find the blade first? Broken Blade is one of the least talked about HB books. People rarely list it among their best or worst and it tends to go unnoticed by comparison. RATED B-

REVISION: The 1970 revision was not as good as the first but I still regard it as a pretty good book in its own right and definitely worth reading.

Not Very Exciting.......2002-10-16

This review concerns the revised 1970 edition. Frank and Joe help their fencing instructor, Ettore Russo, by going to California, along with Chet, to find the guard end of a broken saber. The saber had belonged to Russo's grandfather, and proof that Russo is the rightful heir to his grandfather's estate is supposed to be engraved on the saber. Also looking for the saber is a gang on bank robbers, who have stolen some of Mr. Hardy's voiceprint records. Personally, I didn't care much for this book. I found that the first few chapters weren't all that important and could have been eliminated or shortened without hurting the rest of the story much. Also, the Hardys are told to track down a certain man who may be able to give them clues as to the whereabouts of the saber and it takes them very little time to find him. I didn't feel that the book had much action and the last chapter was pretty bad. Frank and Joe don't even catch most of the gang; the only one that they do catch is in, of all places, the city dump. You can read this book if you like, but its not one I'd strongly recommend.

Well Paced And Lots Of Action.......2001-11-11

This review concerns the original 1942 edition. Mr. Hardy's case of thieves stealing merchandise as it is being unloaded from ships leads Frank and Joe into another case concerning a broken sword blade. This book is well written, fast paced, has plenty of action and has a good beginning that quickly grabs the reader. My big problem with the book was that, while Mr. Hardy played a prominent role in this book, he was the only one of the other main characters of the series to do so, since most of the book was set outside of Bayport. Still, it was a really good book that most Hardy Boys fans should enjoy.

Good Mystery.......2000-10-08

This was a very good mystery book. It is about fencing (swordfighting) and the search for an old missing blade that has a will written on it. In order to gather clues to find the blade, the Hardy Boys go on-set at a movie filming to help with stunts. In the process they actually partially team up with their father who is working on a separate but closely related case (which makes this book a bit different from others in its series). Although the plot was rather predictable (gosh, could it possibly be that Frank and Joe save the day?!?), the book was still a fun read and will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys fencing.

Broken Blade (The Rune Blade Trilogy, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Horribly Great
Terrific book, engaging characters
Disappointed!
Objection!
Standard

Broken Blade (The Rune Blade Trilogy, Book 3)
Ann Marston
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061056278

Book Description

The Breaching of the Veil

A kidnapped Princess and a clanless man share a terrible secret--the dark powers of Maedun are preparing a new assault on the shinning Isle of Celi.

Using stolen Celae magic, the sorcerer Hakkar plans to rip down the veil of enchantment drawn about the island kingdom. Only the great sword Kingmaker can save the land. Until it, too, is shattered.

Brynda, daughter of Keylan, must teach her Rune Blade to sing death's song--or Maedun's Somber Riders will slain all Celi for their own!

Customer Reviews:

Horribly Great.......2002-01-31

It was soo good I have to read it over and over and over and over again. The story is so enthralling and it totally sucked me in just like the ones before it. I love it! ^^

Terrific book, engaging characters.......2000-02-19

Probably my favorite thus far. Marston does a wonderful job with her characters, making them vivid and alive.Unlike some authors whose characters are one dimentional. Characters so well done that they "spill" into later books. Her books are always a joy to read, the only "fault" is that I wish she could write them even faster than she does!

Disappointed!.......2000-01-03

I just have to say that I was disappointed with the conclusion of this trilogy. I bought all three books and expected to just read three books! It is a great story, but I just can't help feeling let down. I don't feel like there was any conclusions at all in this book considering it's the last in the trilogy. Now I have to get the next trilogy (was that the plan all along?) - and from what I can tell, only 2 books are out so far which means i have to wait for yet another series to finish - the reason I started this one is because I like finished series.

Objection!.......1999-10-15

I would like to object to "A reader from N.Y." I can see how this book may seem like all the others, but can you imagine all the work that went into it? I would certainly like to see you write something in that much detail, and following along with all the Celtic feast, traditions, and all the other little tidbits that make this series great! I'm in the middle of writing something to the like myself, but I can't get ahold of any good sources for learning about the cultures! Well, I've said what I felt I had to. If you want to reply to this, email me, I won't be checking the reviews often.

Standard.......1999-07-09

Entertaining, but the main failing of Broken Blade is that it is exactly like too many other sci-fi/fanatsy novels available today. Browsing through the sci-fi/fantasy section of a bookstore is bewildering - there are so many hundreds of books entitled "Dragonmaker", "Sword of Light", and such that you don't know where to turn. I've read too many other fantasy novels with plotlines and characters all extremely similar to this one. It was fairly enjoyable, but do yourself a favor and don't buy it. Check it out from the library.

THE BROKEN BLADE (Dark Sun Chronicles of Athas , No 3)

Average customer rating:

Classic Dark Sun the pulls you in
One of the best books EVER
Wow.

THE BROKEN BLADE (Dark Sun Chronicles of Athas , No 3)
Simon Hawke
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786901373
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Customer Reviews:

Classic Dark Sun the pulls you in.......2002-04-05

Great book that is a joy to read. The characters were very interesting,
although some might argue that they weren't described in enough detail.
The ending was very powerful and finished the book wanting you to read more about Sorak and his future fate.

Highly recommended to any Fantasy and Dark Sun fans.

One of the best books EVER.......2000-06-10

If you liked The Brazen Gambit and The Darkness before the dawn then you will love this book and you will read it over and over again. This book is superb for all you DARK SUN lovers.I mean Sorak, Ryann, and Cricket make this book great. When you read this book you can see with your own eyes see the carecters do thier actions and see the gift sight and what is really happening at the same time, and thats just the begging i mould tell you the rest but you have to read the book and if you find the book you should by it and happy hunting and reading.

Wow........1999-11-05

I don't understand how some people can't like this book. I mean what an ending! Some thin kof the character as a super character, no he is not, he had a lot of history and background and in Dark Sun world, even he is not _that_ supreme. This book very good, and no it's not your regular book where the hero destroys all, he loses as much as he wins. I wish the author wrote some more on the story. I hope to see TSR put Dark Sun back to life.

Average customer rating:

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GTGDH4

Average customer rating:

The Cloue Of The Broken Blade
Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RC6C3A

Average customer rating:

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OEIKJU

Average customer rating:

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

The Clue of the Broken Blade (Hardy Boys, Book 21)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IOJHAC

Book Description

Dashboards have become popular in recent years as uniquely powerful tools for communicating important information at a glance. Although dashboards are potentially powerful, this potential is rarely realized. The greatest display technology in the world won't solve this if you fail to use effective visual design. And if a dashboard fails to tell you precisely what you need to know in an instant, you'll never use it, even if it's filled with cute gauges, meters, and traffic lights. Don't let your investment in dashboard technology go to waste.

This book will teach you the visual design skills you need to create dashboards that communicate clearly, rapidly, and compellingly. Information Dashboard Design will explain how to:

Avoid the thirteen mistakes common to dashboard design
Provide viewers with the information they need quickly and clearly
Apply what we now know about visual perception to the visual presentation of information
Minimize distractions, cliches, and unnecessary embellishments that create confusion
Organize business information to support meaning and usability
Create an aesthetically pleasing viewing experience
Maintain consistency of design to provide accurate interpretation
Optimize the power of dashboard technology by pairing it with visual effectiveness

Stephen Few has over 20 years of experience as an IT innovator, consultant, and educator. As Principal of the consultancy Perceptual Edge, Stephen focuses on data visualization for analyzing and communicating quantitative business information. He provides consulting and training services, speaks frequently at conferences, and teaches in the MBA program at the University of California in Berkeley. He is also the author of Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten. Visit his website at www.perceptualedge.com.

Customer Reviews:

Buy this Book!.......2007-09-12

This book is great, it gets to the point, tells you what you need to know, provides many examples and is entertaining at the same time. The people who are still fascinated by all the colors in their kids Crayola boxes probably would object to some of Few's points.

Over-raed approach to stern looking dashboards.......2007-09-03

The key elements of dashboard design (avoid clutter, focus and limit visual cues, beware of rainbow colors, carefully chose when to show numbers, tables or (appropriate) graphs), converted in a very lengthy and expensive piece of litterature. And the results is by all accounts debatable in terms of look and feel, in particular as very little attention is given to who your audience is...
I would not recommend this book.

Another Tech Book Killed by Frills and Filler .......2007-09-02

There can be no doubt that the pages of this book contain some of the most original and decisive ideas about dashboard design of any book to come out on the market. Yet this strength cannot quite redeem it. This book is mostly pictures, figures, and graphs, many of which are not needed. The same could be said of dashboards in general. The prose is watered down and childlike, as if the author would spoon feed his ideas, one per chapter, to an infant audience. In the end I am forced to conclude that, like many tech books in HCI, a hard core text filled with complex ideas, lean, well-written chapters, and something like wit is both outside the reach of its authors and outside the bounds of contemporary techie marketing. This book may sell, but it does nothing to promote a sophisticated, confident HCI core at a time when awareness of the profession is still patchy. It will be a great day for HCI when its "Gurus" stop condescending to their audience.

Excellent Treatment of the Material.......2007-08-17

This is an easy to read book which does a fantastic job of conveying the topic material. I strongly agree with Few's perspective and think that you wouldn't go wrong with a design that's in alignment with this book.

Great design principles.......2007-08-08

This manual is a great resource for best practices and principles for designing dashboards. It doesn't matter if you buy or build, the material is golden.

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