Femme Noir: The Bad Girls of Film

Book Description

Often thought of as primarily male vehicles, films noirs offered some of the most complex female roles of any movies of the 1940s and 1950s. Stars such as Stanwyck, Tierney and Crawford produced some of their finest performances in noir, while such lesser known actresses as Peggie Castle, Hope Emerson and Helen Walker made a lasting impression on moviegoers with their roles in the genre. These six women and 43 others most frequently featured in films noirs receive biographies that focus primarily on their work in the genre and its impact on their careers, with a filmography of noir appearances.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific film book.......2007-09-11

This book is a terrific, must-have for any film noir aficionado. Ms. Burroghs has a first class style of writing, and the uniformity of the biographies is pleasing. This is one to buy.

Great on the trees, less satisfying on the forest.......2000-08-08

Almost all of the big (and not-so-big) "dames" who populated that extraordinary decade when film noir flourished make up this reference-volume of thumbnail sketches. The profiles tend to be rather assembly-line, though; after a colorful introductory paragraph, the first sentence of the next invariably reads, "Born February 7, 1919 in Goldfield, Nevada..." or some such. And whole careers are sketched, though emphasis is given to noir roles, including plot summaries and a selection of reviews; not to be morbid, but the details of their deaths -- too many of them painful and premature -- are welcome, reminding us that these vital woman, often underrated and badly used, continued to live after their careers had flickered out. Still, this big, thick, academic-looking book is welcome in immortalizing in print such black sapphires as Claire Trevor, Hope Emerson and (my favorite) Marie Windsor. (Others such as Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford are more satisfyingly covered in books of their own.) One could quibble with the inclusion of some actresses or, more seriously, the exclusion of others (where is the Mary Astor of The Maltese Falcon and, especially, Act of Violence?). The book's major disappointment, however, is the lack of a unifying theme, of a meditation on how these actresses came to portray the indelible femmes fatales, or even good gals, in film noir, and on what film noir tells us about the yin and yang of the sexes in postwar America. A solid (if pricey) reference work, it's just a little stolid.

A deserved recognition of forgotten actresses.......1999-09-17

This reader has mixed feelings about Karen Burroughs Hansberry's "Femme Noir." On one hand, the author resurrects undeservedly forgotten actresses such as Peggy Cummins, Sally Forrest, Dolores Hart, Virginia Huston, Dorothy Patrick, and the wonderful Marie Windsor. On the other hand, one is tempted to question the inclusion in a book sub-titled "Bad Girls of Film" the likes of goody-two-shoes Jeanne Crain and even the aforementioned Dorothy Hart. In her necessary selection, Miss Hansberry included actresses who, granted, appeared in film noir but but whose roles were not noir at all. Instead of Dorothy Hart, for example, who usually played the nice wife, one might have chosen Ann Savage, the femme fatale of the quintessential B-noir, Detour. With that said, "Femme Noir" obviously belongs on the shelf of most film buffs.

Great reference book -- and entertaining, too!.......1999-06-04

I loved this book! It was great to read about some of the stars that I've loved for years, like Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, and Joan Crawford, and still learn something new about their lives. Even more interesting was reading about actresses like Coleen Gray and Helen Walker, whose faces (but not names) I knew, and Peggie Castle and Dorothy Hart, whom I'd never heard of before. Also, reading the book made me want to see these movies. The author did a great job with providing facts in an entertaining, easy-to-read, engaging style. In addition to the entertaining text, the photos in the book were beautiful. Highly recommended!!

Book Description

Declaration of Independents is the state of the union address for the most energetic of today's youth cultures. The editors of Heckler magazine, the mouthpiece for the thriving community of skateboarders, snowboarders, and music fans, have assembled hundreds of photographs, original essays, interviews, and profiles of the famous, not-so famous, and utterly notorious figures of the scene over the last two decades. From the generation of Jake Burton, Tony Alva, and Ian Mackaye to today's greats, the editors of Heckler include the athletes and musicians that matter. Together they ponder the big questions: how did everyone get their starts, how has everything changed since the suits and sponsorships walked on the scene, and who still rips? Declaration of Independents puts Heckler magazine's years of frontline writing and photography together in one master document of the forces that will continue to shape our culture for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

A review from the Disabled Skater Himself.......2004-09-30

Aloha All,

I hope all you Canadian skaters out there enjoy this book. I know I do! Why, you ask? Cause I am in it! No joke. That's right, my name is Eric Franks (AKA The Disabled Skater). I still skate 7 years after the photo, and interview. It was by far, one of the best days of my life... The picture of me holding my REAL Keith Hufanegal Deck, standing in my walker (four-wheeled type contraption) was taken at Yuba City Skatepark, in Yuba City, California (U.S.A.), in April, of 98. I was there with my mom, (Lynne) and my two good friends: Jason and Gerald Lifur.

As it happened, I was just cruising around, and, Sonny Mayiugba (aka SM) noticed me, and came up to me asking, "do you mind if I take some pictures of you skating, and do an interview..." of course, I said yes! But, he also had to ask my mom. (cause I was under age at the time) Anyway, he actually took a pic of me skating up the side of a pyramid (at the park). The pic of me on the ramp was not published in the DOI? (For whatever reason). The pic of me actually skating is found in the magazine though. I think you can still get a copy of the issue via www.heckler.com or possibly EBAY, if they don't send you one? (for whatever reason)
Anyway, after about 20 minutes, he said, " look for yourself in next month's issue." Which was the actual magazine of Heckler. It was May 1998's issue (AKA The Simple Issue) Issue # 26 . I was so stoked, when later in May, I went to a skate shop called Zumiez, and found a copy.

Then, about a year ago, one of my friends, who owns a skateshop in California, called Unity, told me I was in this book! Then he went and showed me. Since then I have autographed a half dozen copies! I don't know how easy it is to get a copy in Canada? But in the U.S. you have to usually order it. I had to. Heckler never sent me any copy of the mag, or book. Lastly, all the other skaters, snowboarders, bands, many of whom I looked up to (and still do) are awsomely profiled in this book, such as Metallica, Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat (R.I.P.) and the still together, Fugazi, also appearances by: Green Day, Public Enemy, Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Duane Peters (of the band: U.S. Bombs) Steve Caballero, Christian Hasoi, and tons more! As always, keep on doing what you love, and do it the best you can.

Live to skate

Until next time, eh!

Yours truly in everything skating, love, unity, and Canadian,

Eric N. Franks

(The Disabled Skater)

AKA: The Canarican (Canadian American) (I Will be someday)

Amazon.com

PHP and MySQL go hand in hand; the former has been carefully adapted, through the efforts of the open-source community, to the latter. For situations that require dynamic content but don't merit the complexity and development time of Java or .NET enterprise applications, the PHP language and the MySQL database server fit the bill perfectly. That's the point Hugh Williams and David Lane make in Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL, which combines language tutorials with application design advice to yield a comprehensive picture of its subjects at a reasonable price. Williams and Lane--both Australian academics who use an online wine store in many of their examples--deserve tremendous kudos for their way of presenting recommended coding strategies. Though the code listings themselves aren't remarkably well commented, the authors do a commendable job of explaining in prose what the code is up to.

Case in point: The ever-essential task of using PHP to open a connection to a MySQL database, submit a query to that database, receive a response, and format the returned rows, if any. The book addresses this problem with a straight code listing, followed by text that explains what's happening in five numbered steps. Similar care goes to the other popular applications of the PHP/MySQL duo: session management, shopping carts, and authentication of users. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to use the PHP server-side scripting language and the MySQL database engine to underlie dynamic Web sites (those that rely on database queries) and full-on Web applications, such as those that require session management and maintenance of user rosters. Tutorials in both subjects begin with the basics and proceed through moderately complicated stuff, though there's no absolutely comprehensive reference here.

Book Description

There are many reasons for serving up dynamic content from a web site: to offer an online shopping site, create customized information pages for users, or just manage a large volume of content through a database. Anyone with a modest knowledge of HTML and web site management can learn to create dynamic content through the PHP programming language and the MySQL database. This book gives you the background and tools to do the job safely and reliably. Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL, Second Edition thoroughly reflects the needs of real-world applications. It goes into detail on such practical issues as validating input (do you know what a proper credit card number looks like?), logging in users, and using templates to give your dynamic web pages a standard look. But this book goes even further. It shows how JavaScript and PHP can be used in tandem to make a user's experience faster and more pleasant. It shows the correct way to handle errors in user input so that a site looks professional. It introduces the vast collection of powerful tools available in the PEAR repository and shows how to use some of the most popular tools. Even while it serves as an introduction to new programmers, the book does not omit critical tasks that web sites require. For instance, every site that allows updates must handle the possibility of multiple users accessing data at the same time. This book explains how to solve the problem in detail with locking. Through a sophisticated sample application--Hugh and Dave's Wine Store--all the important techniques of dynamic content are introduced. Good design is emphasized, such as dividing logic from presentation. The book introduces PHP 5 and MySQL 4.1 features, while providing techniques that can be used on older versions of the software that are still in widespread use. This new edition has been redesigned around the rich offerings of PEAR. Several of these, including the Template package and the database-independent query API, are fully integrated into examples and thoroughly described in the text. Topics include:

Installation and configuration of Apache, MySQL, and PHP on Unix®, Windows®, and Mac OS® X systems
Introductions to PHP, SQL, and MySQL administration
Session management, including the use of a custom database for improved efficiency
User input validation, security, and authentication
The PEAR repository, plus details on the use of PEAR DB and Template classes
Production of PDF reports

Customer Reviews:

MySQl-PHP textbook.......2007-02-19

As usual in text books, there is a lot of useless information that is not necessary, but since writers are paid by the word, this is to be expected.

I wish there was a section on MySQL commands.

I really like this book.......2006-11-18

I really like this book--direct, no-nonsense, and intelligently written with a minimum of jokes.

One thing that seems strange, that I'm hoping someone can clarify:

In the section of chapter 8 dealing with transactions and concurrency, there is no mention of setting transaction isolation levels (SET TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL command in MySQL). Instead, concurrency is achieved solely by setting table locks.

I can sort of understand this in that the authors are using MyISAM tables. But why no mention of transaction isolation levels using INNODB tables, given that this is the more standard way of dealing with concurrency issues?

Fairly Useful.......2006-11-06

The book got me off the ground with my first client application, a rudimentary database maintenance system. Most valuable were the techniques and thorough understanding required to build a satisfactory security component.

However, it falls way short as a reference tool and could have included a more comprehensive list of mysql functions.

Buy this book.......2006-10-26

If your having trouble deciding on a book for your php & mysql development buy this book. It covers all major aspects of php and mysql web development and then some. You will find something useful on every page of this book, and theres a good amount of book here.

Disappointingly poor index.......2006-06-28

I'm new to PHP and MySQL, but a programmer for over 3 decades. I'm customizing some PHP code, using code examples for ideas. When I (a) see something I want to understand better or (b) want to find the PHP analog for basic functions, I naturally turn to the index to try to find the information I need. However, I found the index very disappointing because of what it doesn't have. For example, simple and basic keywords are not in the index: "comment", "logical operator", "and", "or", etc. I'm going to have order a different book as a PHP reference.

Average customer rating:

Too much book, too much money.
MySQL help!
Thick and Lovely
MySQL Recipes Galore!!!
Excellent Reading for MySQL Users

MySQL Cookbook
Paul DuBois
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 059652708X

Amazon.com

Good programming--which is to say, programming that yields both efficient code and a profitable life for the programmer--depends on not reinventing the wheel. If someone else has solved the problem you're facing (and someone almost always has), you'd be foolish to waste your energy figuring out your own solution. MySQL Cookbook presents solutions to scores of problems related to the MySQL database server. Readers stand a good chance of finding a ready-made solution to problems such as querying databases, validating and formatting data, importing and exporting values, and using advanced features like session tracking and transactions. Paul DuBois has done a great job assembling efficient solutions to common database programming problems, and teaches his readers a lot about MySQL and its attendant APIs in the process.

DuBois organizes his cookbook's recipes into sections on the problem, the solution stated simply, and the solution implemented in code and discussed. The implementation and discussion sections are the most valuable, as they contain the command sequences, code listings, and design explanations that can be transferred to outside projects. The main gripe readers will have about MySQL Cookbook is that the author, in his effort to cover the range of MySQL-friendly programming languages, uses different languages in his solutions to various problems. You'll see a Perl solution to one programming challenge (Perl, in fact, is the most frequently used language, followed by PHP), a Python fix for the next, and a Java sample after that. Readers have to hope that they find a solution in the language they're working with, or that they're able to transliterate the one DuBois has provided. It's usually not a big problem. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to make MySQL databases do your bidding--in terms of queries, table manipulation, data formatting, transactions, and Web interfaces--through the database server's command line interfaces and (more importantly) through the MySQL APIs of Perl, PHP, Java, and Python. Particularly excellent coverage deals with formatting dates and times, management of null values, string manipulation, and import/export techniques.

Book Description

MySQL Cookbook provides a unique problem-and-solution format that offers practical examples for everyday programming dilemmas. For every problem addressed in the book, there's a worked-out solution or "recipe"--short, focused pieces of code that you can insert directly into your applications. More than a collection of cut-and-paste code, this book explanation how and why the code works, so you can learn to adapt the techniques to similar situations.

Customer Reviews:

Too much book, too much money........2007-07-03

If this was a quick reference book, then the information contained would be useful. This, unfortunately is a big book containing a little book's amount of useful info. Save your money and print out the mysql users guide that is available online for free. I found myself using the online guide as a reference even when the book was in front of me.

Bottom line: A wide range of methods for doing things you probably already know how to do if you are using mysql.

MySQL help!.......2007-05-28

The MySQL Cookbook weighs in at over 940 pages and will help you find quick answers to everything from beginner-level basics up through dba and software developer tricks.

The book is a collection of real-world tasks and compliments Paul's DuBois' other MySQL books very well. It goes beyond basic use and admin-level goodies - it has loads of code examples as well. As a software developer using MySQL for many projects, I find the MySQL Cookbook indispensible.

Thick and Lovely.......2007-03-08

If you deal with MySQL on a daily or weekly basis then this book is a perfect go-to. So many scenarios (recipes) are covered, from simple to fairly advanced.

This second edition is almost twice as thick as the first, but that doesn't mean it's too much to handle since you wouldn't entirely read it from cover to cover because you'll want to go try out so much of it.

This really is worth space on a shelf (digital or not). I would prefer the digital edition since it'd be a breeze to search through.

MySQL Recipes Galore!!!.......2007-02-09

At ~950 pages, the 'MySQL Cookbook' is an EXTENSIVE look at using MySQL from top to bottom. Upgrading this cookbook with lots of new material and Ruby examples, Paul DuBois takes a great book and makes it that much better. There is SO much material it would be difficult to easily condense it all, but I can provide a chapter listing that should make it easier to see all the yummies included within:

01. Using the mysql Client Program
02. Writing MySQL-based Programs
03. Selecting Data
04. Table Management
05. Strings
06. Dates and Times
07. Sorting Query Results
08. Generating Summaries
09. Obtaining and Using Metadata
10. Importing/Exporting Data
11. Generating and Using Sequences
12. Using Multiple Tables
13. Statistical Techniques
14. Handling Duplicates
15. Transactions
16. Stored Procedures, Triggers, Events
17. MySQL on the Web
18. Incorporating Query Results into Web Pages
19. Processing Web Input with MySQL
20. Using MySQL-Based Web Session Management

Add on 4 appendixes and 250+ tips/tricks/recipes/yummies (yes 250!) and you have an indispensable reference for any and all MySQL developers and/or administrators. Solid layout and regular fantastic O'Reilly writing make this a MUST HAVE book for MySQL users. Go out and get it now!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Excellent Reading for MySQL Users.......2007-02-09

The MySQL Cookbook removes some abstraction from reading the docs. The recipes are concise answers to real-world questions about how to accomplish specific goals with MySQL. It covers common vexing problems that would require significant spelunking in the manuals or web search engines. The recipes provide more clarifying context than the manual, making it easier to learn how to use all those arcane features you had barely noticed. Great as a reference or, upgrade your brain by reading a few entries a day.

Average customer rating:

Really comes in handy for a Quick snippet.....
most useful python book to have on your shelf
once read, does't read so many times
Good book for taking your python skills to the next level
Good stuff

Python Cookbook
Alex Martelli , Anna Ravenscroft , and David Ascher
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596007973

Book Description

Portable, powerful, and a breeze to use, Python is the popular open source object-oriented programming language used for both standalone programs and scripting applications. It is now being used by an increasing number of major organizations, including NASA and Google. Updated for Python 2.4, The Python Cookbook, 2nd Edition offers a wealth of useful code for all Python programmers, not just advanced practitioners. Like its predecessor, the new edition provides solutions to problems that Python programmers face everyday. It now includes over 200 recipes that range from simple tasks, such as working with dictionaries and list comprehensions, to complex tasks, such as monitoring a network and building a templating system. This revised version also includes new chapters on topics such as time, money, and metaprogramming. Here's a list of additional topics covered:

Manipulating text
Searching and sorting
Working with files and the filesystem
Object-oriented programming
Dealing with threads and processes
System administration
Interacting with databases
Creating user interfaces
Network and web programming
Processing XML
Distributed programming
Debugging and testing

Another advantage of The Python Cookbook, 2nd Edition is its trio of authors--three well-known Python programming experts, who are highly visible on email lists and in newsgroups, and speak often at Python conferences. With scores of practical examples and pertinent background information, The Python Cookbook, 2nd Edition is the one source you need if you're looking to build efficient, flexible, scalable, and well-integrated systems.

Customer Reviews:

Really comes in handy for a Quick snippet............2007-07-05

Hi whoever invented the cook book concept should be really brilliant.I have always had a liking for the cookbook series from o'reilly and this one is a clear winner.It really comes in useful as a quick reference for any small piece of code that u are trying to do to fit in to ur application and finding it difficult for and out of box idea in code.My favorites in python cookbook are the sections on Algorithms and Programs about Programs.A must have for anyone who wishes to explore the charm called python.

most useful python book to have on your shelf.......2007-06-06

I'm new to python but not programming. Like a lot of people I had a need to get up to speed really quickly on Python so I purchased several Python books (Learning Python, Python Essential Reference, and this book). What I've found is that once you learn the basics, I find myself using this book much more than the others. It's a great little "cheat". You start with wanting to accomplish something-or-other and simply look it up in the appendex and there is a real good chance you'll find something similar that will at least get you started. The scope that they cover is really impressive, and the examples are simple and to the point. Just what I need. There is not tons of description for each thing, just enough to get you started. This is truly and invaluable resource.

once read, does't read so many times.......2007-05-19

I expected this book explain the detail sample of python libraries that python library help does not explains.
This book gathers many examples wide domain of program, network, web programming, language basics, xml, design patterns, and so on.

But not include the detail explannation of python's libraries, I think gathering many samples is very easy in this internet world, so, to know many samples from the book like this is only the time consuming.

TO know short samples of library and extend yourself without detail knowledge of libraries, this book is worth reading, otherwise, choise another book.

Good book for taking your python skills to the next level.......2007-05-14

This is an excellent book for anyone who knows programming, and knows a little bit of python already. It is formatted exactly as a cookbook, many 2-3 page recipes for solving a specific common problem. As such it has many coded examples, all of which demonstrate good programming style and may introduce the reader to some of the more obscure features of the language. It also covers a very wide array of topics, many of which are pure gold. And possibly the best aspect of the book is that it makes a great compliment to resources available on the internet (which are mostly scattered and unorganized).
The drawbacks are that it doesn't cover any topics to a great depth, which is understandable given the nature of the book. Also, it talks about small atomic solutions, but will not help you develop your skills at developing large software systems with python. Lastly, as of this review, python 2.5 has been out for months, and python 3000 is in the works, so look for a new edition or a more contemporary text.

Good stuff.......2007-05-07

Lots of great ideas in this book. It will help you get your head around Python. A little advanced so I would start with Learning Python or Python for Absolute Beginners.

Introduction to Media Computation: A Multimedia Cookbook in Python

Average customer rating:

Introduction to Media Computation: A Multimedia Cookbook in Python
Mark J. Guzdial
Manufacturer: Pearson PTR Interactive
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Zope Python Cookbook
Richter
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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