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Tomas Gutierrez Alea: The Dialectics of a Filmmaker (Latin American Studies (Routledge (Firm)).)
Paul Schroeder
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0415936640 |
Book Description
Schroeder offers a thorough introduction to the films of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Cuba's leading filmmaker, covering all 12 of Alea's feature films and examining in depth his three best films within the context of revolutionary Cuba.
Book Description
This book weaves a fascinating narrative that separates surprising fact from entrenched mythology.
Customer Reviews:
Psychedelic Who's Who.......2007-08-23
Enjoyed this book immensely - reading it was like watching a good documentary. The information inside was mind-blowing.
THIS GUY STINKS.............2005-05-10
as a reporter and a writer, there isn't a cohesive paragraph in this mess of a book. Names thrown at you a mile a minute with no introductions, numerous subjects addressed in a single paragraph, disjointed sentences, NO feeling whatsoever in his writing. Just fact after fact after fact after........ GOD I had to put it down after 100 pages it made me sick. I was growng up during this era ON the west coast and it sure as hell didn't seem this boring!!!! AND NO MENTION OR CHAPTER ON THE SUMMER OF LOVE 1967. But then he would of just made it seem totally worthless and boring anyway..... I want my 16.95 BACK.
and i dont need my memories blandly reported by someone who I doubt was even close to being there.
Selvin's Scrapbook of Snapshots lacks Synthesis.......2004-05-04
Joel Selvin's chronicle of the span of years that saw the rise and fall of San Francisco's Ballroom heyday leaves one with a mixed bag of responses. While it is jam-packed with bits of "insider" history, it lacks synthesis, often making for a tedious read. Its title is misleading--"The Summer of Love: The Inside Story of LSD, Rock n'Roll, Free Love, and High Times in the Wild West" suggests a comprehensive exploration from the inside out. It would have been more accurately heralded under something like "San Francisco's Ballroom Era: Snapshots of the Players."
There is no in-depth analysis of the culture here--none of the great and privileged perspective that is often the gift of time and distance. Their is no insightful working over of how and why the elements came together the way they did. The text plods along, most of the time, with the certain monotony of required recitation --"this happened, then that happened,then this, then that..." It is distinguished only by chaotic leaps from scenes at one camp of personalities to those of another. It is the textual equivalent of a hastily compiled scrapbook covering some particularly seminal years in the rock n' roll counterculture. Some of the pages are given decidedly more consideration than others. We seem to be in Grace Slick's sidecar much of the time, but if this were the only exposure one had to the early days of the San Francisco scene, there is the danger of walking away thinking the Grateful Dead were a minor consideration, and Bill Graham was a pitbull who never had a good day.
The text is rife with other minor sins. The period's biggest events play out in an almost anti-climactic fashion, with Selvin often focusing on odd bits of detail when it seems there ought to be vibrant, big pictures. Among places where minutiae effects the frustrating sense of walking through a major event with a view through a straw are Altamont, Woodstock, and the death of Janis Joplin. Too many minor characters are unceremoniously punched in, and subsequently abandoned to fates we are left to imagine.
The text strives for cliffhanger transitions, structured with the same misguided melodrama of a soap opera. Clever turns of phrase make it to the page now and then, but more recognizable are attempts at lyrical grace that fall short of the mark. The content often smacks of secondhand news and the feeling that a peripheral perspective has been superimposed on the epicenter of dozens of critical moments and private conversations. A journalistic approach would have given more credibility to the many personal accounts. Was Selvin the ubiquitous fly on the wall in the lives of the people he writes about, or has imagination manifested the intimate details of conversations and events long since consigned to the quiet annals of private histories?
Selvin has offered up a few good nuggets--some precious gems in the rough--but one must be willing to mine for them. This is no motherlode, and upon closing the book, one is left with the feeling that this was a collection of narrative notes, still waiting to be refined to glistening. There are myriad fascinating leaping off points, but in the end, too many have us still hanging in the air.
A wealth of detail, incoherent presentation.......2003-10-01
I don't care how interesting the material is - if a book is poorly written, I invariably get frustrated and set it aside. I grow weary of wondering "Why can't this person write a coherent, orderly narrative? Where was the editor?"
So it was with this book. I thought it might be me, but then I found myself reading a similarly awkward piece in MOJO and, sure enough, Selvin was the author. He obviously has a passion for the subject matter, but I expect a higher level of exposition for my money.
My judgment: if you want a lot of colorful details about this fascinating period, you'll probably enjoy the book, as other reviewers have. However, if you put a premium on clarity of presentation, be forewarned.
Two stars, plus one for attention to historical detail.
The Summer of Love That Never Happened.......2003-04-02
"Summer of Love" may have been a bit over the top with it's tabloid style coverage of the rise and fall of the San Francisco music scene, but it was a fun read. Author Joel Selvin does have his facts straight and seldom misspeaks on this insider's account of bands like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Selvin devotes a fair amount of coverage of the Bill Graham organization and the Family Dog, the primary promoters of live music in the old ballrooms of San Francisco. That coverage is justified because it is doubtful that this music would have found a national audience without the vibrant live music scene in the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms. And it is all there: Quicksilver's obsession with firearms; the Lovin' Spoonful's narking out on the manager of the improv group, the Committee; Janice Joplin's turbulent love life; Marty Balin's courageous attempts to diffuse the violence at Altamont, the internal bickering of the Grateful Dead which lead them to serve "walking papers" to Pig Pen and Bob Weir for not having enough musical talent, and Bill Graham's fisticuffs with just about anyone who disagreed with him. If you loved the music of Haight-Ashbury, you will enjoy "Summer of Love." Oh by the way, the expression "summer of love" was just a media label for the San Francisco music phenomena and I think some of the other critics have taken the book title too literally.
Book Description
Not a travel planner, or guidebook, but a unique and entertaining collection of hundreds of multiple choice trivia questions, fill with secrets and interesting facts about all aspects of Walt Disney World.
Customer Reviews:
Great book, fun way to gear up for WDW trip.......2007-08-28
This book is a lot of fun, especially if you are about to take a trip to WDW. Lots of interesting information, but chopped up into small bites so it is easy to read a little at a time.
Great Fun!.......2007-05-18
If you love Disney, this book is really fun. Even if you have read a lot of other books and websites about Disney, there will be things in the book that will suprise you. My husband and I found that there were lots of new things to learn. Reading the book was a fun way to add a new dimention to our disney travel. We bring it on the plane and read it to get us motivated for our next trip.
Trivia details are great.......2007-01-10
the organization of the trivia could be less test like and more immediate with answers closer to the questions...
Good information and details
Interesting and informative.......2006-09-20
Mongello is a long time Disney World fan who has written a trivia book that will give the reader a lot of information that the typical guidebook will not. Of particualr interest to me was info on the age of some of the attractions as well as some history on popular attractions that are no longer a part of Disney World(such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Toad;s Wild Ride, etc).
My only gripe with the book is with the way it's laid out. You'll read a question on one page then have to get the answer to that question 20 pages later. It's not the way one typically reads a book. Still a very good book- 4.5 Stars.
Walt Disney Trivia Volume I.......2006-09-04
Awesome Book !! Loved it, could not put it down. Need a Volume 3.
Book Description
More fascinating facts and tantalizing trivia about the Happiest Place on Earth. Hundreds of multiple-choice questions with in-depth answers. Same popular format. All new information. Both a game and a reference.
Customer Reviews:
A Little Piece of the Disney Magic.......2007-06-28
The Walt Disney World Trivia Book is like the friend I've always wanted who flies me down to Disney (for free!)and proceeds to take me through every park, attraction, and resort, telling me things I never knew about my favorite place. With a loyalty only a true Disney connoisseur can possess ("ever hear of some guy named 'Bugs Bunny'? Hmph. Me neither."), Lou presents his information the way I like it-it's personal, frank, and fun. Kind of like Lou himself...drop him an e-mail, and you actually get an answer! If there is one Disney informant to swear by, it's Lou Mongello. Some of his facts I knew, some made me laugh, and some made me realize that perhaps I'm not the Disney expert I make myself out to be. All I know is that those around me will have to endure new rounds of Disney fact-spouting. I almost feel bad for them. They had assumed they were safe after our (sniff!) last Disney trip in 2005. Although I shouldn't really mourn the trip's passing; with the WDW Trivia Book, I'm there all over again.
Fun Facts - Everything you should know about Walt Disney World!.......2007-05-23
I purchased Lou's book after I had found his website when I was planning my latest trip to Walt Disney World. After looking at his site and even signing up for the forum, I knew I had to purchase this book I'd been reading about! And I am so glad I did. The trivia is fun if you're reading alone or if you take turns reading with a partner and it's multiple choice too. Even more, the answers are found following each section with a short statement to provide further information about the correct answer. What I really love about this book is that the layout makes it a simplistic read that doesn't get boring. Even though it isn't a guide book, anyone (or any family) planning to take a trip to WDW can benefit from the exciting learning experience the book has to offer. It is a must read for first timers and fanatics!
Disney Trivia.......2007-01-30
Fantastic book! What you may have thought you knew...but didn't! An interesting book of facts that help you understand the making of Walt Disney World. A must have book for Disney mania! Volume 1 is just as interesting!
Amusing means to while away time in the car.......2006-11-05
Written by Louis M. Mongello, The Walt Disney World Trivia Book: More Secrets, History & Fun Facts Behind The Magic is an all-new, unofficial multiple choice trivia book. Half the book is devoted to hundreds of multiple choice questions; the other half answers each question at length with fascinating tidbits about the history and operation of Walt Disney World. Enumerated questions and answers are in separate sections for easy self-quizzing. "You'll find what on top of the hot air balloon at the center of 'Dumbo the Flying Elephant'? - Perched atop the balloon is none other than Dumbo's friend, Timothy J. Mouse, who helped Dumbo discover the ability to fly using his oversized ears." Black-and-white photographs, "Did You Know?" bars, and an index round out this amusing means to while away time in the car while driving to Disney World.
Another Hit from Lou!.......2006-10-19
Lou has done it again!
After the first book, I guessed that the second volume would be filled with far less interesting, far more obscure facts, since the first one seemed to have all the big stuff in it. WRONG! Lou has dug up enough tidbits on the Magic Kingdom and evirons that make this more than just for the Disney-fanatics like himself and his podcast fans. He makes the book interesting for anyone who likes Walt Disney World.
While it is not a guidebook, I would recommend it to any family planning a Walt Disney World vacation as a great way to get psyched up for the trip.
Thanks Lou!
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Florida Fun Facts
Eliot Kleinberg
Manufacturer: Pineapple Press (FL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1561643203 |
Book Description
From theme parks to ballparks, the quirky to the educational, Miami to Tallahassee—every city and county in Florida are covered in this newly expanded edition:
What's responsible for more than 2,800 holes in Palm Beach County?
Which came first, St. Augustine or Plymouth Rock?
What's Osceola County's biggest city that technically isn't a city at all?
Where in Florida can you participate in the King Mango Strut?
What Oscar-winning actress hails from the small town of Bascom, Florida?
What's bigger, Walt Disney World or New York's Manhattan Island?
It's everything you need to know about Florida—and more!
Amazon.com
Alistair Cockburn's Writing Effective Use Cases is an approachable, informative, and very intelligent treatment of an essential topic of software design. "Use cases" describe how "actors" interact with computer systems and are essential to software-modeling requirements. For anyone who designs software, this title offers some real insight into writing use cases that are clear and correct and lead to better and less costly software.
The focus of this text is on use cases that are written, as opposed to modeled in UML. This book may change your mind about the advantages of writing step-by-step descriptions of the way users (or actors) interact with systems. Besides being an exceptionally clear writer, the author has plenty to say about what works and what doesn't when it comes to creating use cases. There are several standout bits of expertise on display here, including excellent techniques for finding the right "scope" for use cases. (The book uses a color scheme in which blue indicates a sea-level use case that's just right, while higher-level use cases are white, and overly detailed ones are indigo. Cockburn also provides notational symbols to document these levels of detail within a design.)
This book contains numerous tips on the writing style for use cases and plenty of practical advice for managing projects that require a large number of use cases. One particular strength lies in the numerous actual use cases (many with impressive detail) that are borrowed from real-world projects, and demonstrate both good and bad practices. Even though the author expresses a preference for the format of use cases, he presents a variety of styles, including UML graphical versions. The explanation of how use cases fit into the rest of the software engineering process is especially good. The book concludes with several dozen concrete tips for writing better use cases.
Software engineering books often get bogged down in theory. Not so in Writing Effective Use Cases, a slender volume with a practical focus, a concise presentation style, and something truly valuable to say. This book will benefit most anyone who designs software for a living. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered:
- Introduction to use cases
- Requirements
- Usage narratives
- Actors and goals
- Stakeholders
- Graphical models for use cases
- Scope for use cases (enterprise-level through nuts-and-bolts use cases)
- Primary and supporting actors
- Goal levels: user goals, summary level, and subfunctions
- Preconditions, triggers, and guarantees
- Main success scenarios
- Extensions for describing failures
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- Formats for use cases (including fully dressed one- and two-column formats)
- Use case templates for five common project types
- Managing use cases for large projects
- CRUD use cases
- Business-process modeling
- Missing requirements
- Moving from use cases to user-interface design
- Test cases
- eXtreme Programming (XP) and use cases
- Sample problem use cases
- Tips for writing use cases
- Use cases and UML diagrams
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Customer Reviews:
Working Effectively with Use Cases.......2007-03-03
Without use cases there are simply to few techniques available to analyze complex products. There has been a push to write complex mega-user stories in place of use cases but in my experience this is simple a replacement in words from use case to story. Working effectively with Use Cases is the heart of the matter and we must learn to transcend simple mechanistic methods to achieve break through results.
Both Stories and www.writingeffectiveusecases.com have a place in product development. Also, both are close cousins but each has a distinct strength. How do we balance the tension between performing complex analysis and understanding what users want, while driving the team in small increments of work?
[...].
Cheers
Very Easy to Understand.......2007-01-18
This book was recommended to me by a friend and former co-worker. Cockburn really seems to care about uses cases and has been a voice on the subject for some time. The entire field seems to be a bit confused, and the standards are vague at best. Cockburn does a decent job of helping the reader to understand the issues at hand and alerting the reader of what to look out for. It is still however, just another book about use cases and not the use case "bible" I was looking for. A book well worth reading nonetheless.
If only all books were as clear as this one!!!.......2006-07-20
This is a great book for anyone involved in software development. Use cases are not only a great tool for designers they are a great tool for anybody involved in the development process.
The book has three main sections:
Part I: The Use Case Body Parts
This section dissects every piece of the Use Cases. He does so in such a manner that it all makes sense. Each and every section is well explained. This is not as common as it should be in technical books.
Note: There are some exercises at the end of each chapter.
Part II: Frequently Discussed Topics
It's often that one reads a technical book about a specific topic and one is left asking, "What next?" This is that section that's missing from most books. It provides valuable information on where Use Cases belong in the process, how to scale, and other topics similar to these.
Part III: Reminders for the Busy
Just in case you forget everything you read... this section provides an excellent refresher as well as additional tips for better Use Cases
Appendices:
There are answers to the exercises, glossary, suggested readings, and an explanation of UML treatment of Use Cases. Cockburn is not found of the way people try to use UML Use Cases. He does mention this before but doesn't get off course trying to explain why he doesn't until this appendix.
All in all, this is a great book that should be on your bookshelf.
Good Investment.......2006-05-23
Alistair Cockburn has a gift for writing. His explanations are very easy to follow and the writing style makes it seem like you are reading novel. I tried a number of books on use cases and this is by far the best. It contains a number of different styles. I used this book as a basis for developing standards for the company I work for.
I haven't seen any other book on Use Cases that is as comprehensive. Even the authors of UML don't do Use Cases any justice!
not confined to UML diagrams.......2006-03-07
Whatever your programming methodology, if you are involved in the design or reengineering of a project, then use cases are a vital starting point. Cockburn explains how these can serve as an important part of the boundary between the programmers and the non-programmer users and management. Given that the two (or three) groups often have quite different backgrounds, you can see the need for accurate and comprehensive examples.
Hence Cockburn explains how to extract these from users. And to describe the cases in a graphical manner that is meaningful to many. UML is used, especially for the programmers, who are more likely to be familiar with it than the others. But the text also pragmatically does not confine itself to strictly UML. (Unlike books devoted to UML, rather than use cases.) There are plenty of examples given where you can draw general purpose diagrams. Provided, of course, that you can still draw all the key cases.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1678 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: Writing effective use cases. (Book Reviews).
Author: Donna McManus
Publication:
Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 49
Issue: 2
Page: 240(3)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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Writing Effective Use Cases
Manufacturer: China Machine Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 7111110900 |
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