Book Description
Profusely illustrated history of the life and work of the 5 great master craftsmen of the Guarneri family and the definitive commentary on their craftsmanship. An absolute must for collectors, connoisseurs, musical historians and students. Also includes lists of Guarneri violins still existing. Features 131 photographs, 16 in full color.
Customer Reviews:
Essential information, but..........2002-01-30
I would prefer to have my questions answered concerning this book. I have read this book thoroughly many times; what I wonder is what makes this book "collectible" and worth [price] rather than [price], as no description is given other than "paperback". Thank you.
"The Violin Makers of the Guarneri Family, 1626-1762".......2000-04-01
This is a wonderful book for those interested in learning about the history of the making of the violin. I myself am a violinist, and can appreciate everything there is to know about the violin. I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves the violin.
Book Description
In "Atomic Culture", eight scholars examine the range of cultural expressions of atomic energy from the 1940s to the early twenty-first century, including comic books, nuclear landscapes, mushroom-cloud postcards, the Los Alamos suburbs, uranium-themed board games, future atomic waste facilities, and atomic-themed films such as Dr. Strangelove and The Atomic Kid. Despite the growing interest in atomic culture and history, the body of relevant scholarship is relatively sparse. "Atomic Culture" opens new doors into the field by providing a substantive, engaging, and historically based consideration of the topic that will appeal to students and scholars of the Atomic Age as well as general readers.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc. on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1514 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: The nostalgia trap.(Book Review)
Author: Paul Boyer
Publication:
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc.
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Page: 67(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
The Simpsons is one of the longest running, funniest, most irreverent, and, according to some religious leaders, the most theologically relevant show on television today. Journalist Mark Pinsky explores the religious and spiritual aspects of Bart, Homer, and the rest of cartoon's first family--a show strongly denounced by many conservative Christians back in 1989, but now viewed favorably by fans from all across the theological spectrum.
Pinsky looks at the use of God, Jesus, heaven and hell, the Bible, prayer in the Simpson household, the evangelistic next-door neighbor Ned Flanders, and the town's church and pastor, Rev. Lovejoy. He also discusses whether the character of Lisa is the voice of Jesus, and explores the many moral dilemmas that the characters, in particular Bart and Homer, face. Pinsky concludes with a discussion that suggests that, on the whole, The Simpsons is supportive and not subversive of faith. This is must reading for any Simpsons' fan, and an insightful exploration of how religion and faith influences popular culture.
Customer Reviews:
Mistitled but good read.......2007-09-07
Who would expect such a clever critique of American religiosity from a cartoon sitcom? This is a very entertaining read that unveils how the Simpsons cartoon has more religious themes in it than we might have noticed. My one main critique of the book, is that it is mistitled. I can understand why it was named The Gospel According to the Simpsons because there are a series of these books (advertised in the back of the book) on the Gospel According to Peanuts, Harry Potter, Disney, etc. However, the author himself recognizes that the word "Gospel" is actually misapplied to the Simpsons, because for as much religious/spiritual content as there is in the show, it is not specifically Christian. That is, in terms of presenting the Christian Gospel (good news) of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. So the author even recognizes that this message is not conveyed in the Simpsons, but rather the belief system presented in the cartoon is more based on good works/good life getting you into heaven. I think the book would be more accurately titled "Faith and Morals in the Simpsons" or something like that, which probably wouldn't be as catchy.
What surprised me (and is to the credit of the author) is that though the author is a self-proclaimed Jew and member of a liberal synagogue (p. 192), he has a pretty accurate understanding of the Christian gospel. As a religion writer, he picks up very well on the ways that the Simpsons poke fun and satirize what is happening in many Christian churches in America today. Though the Simpson family is ostensibly Christian in the cartoon, each member of the family has their own twist on religion, that once again does not directly reflect the Christian faith so much as a generically moral-religious worldview. Specific chapters deal with Homer, Lisa, and Ned Flanders' "faith" as well as one on the preacher at their church, Reverend Lovejoy. The faith of other characters is discussed intermittently throughout.
The clever part of it is how well each of the different characters portrays (albeit in a parodied or somewhat exaggerated manner) many real-world views that people have about religion. And while the religious humor may startle some, most of the time the characters are just being more honest in expressing their thoughts then we are willing to be in real life. But for all the laughs, the series does not take an overly negative or mocking view of Christianity specifically, or religion in general. Part of the reason the writers try to avoid specific mention of the Christian Gospel, or use Jesus Christ as an object of joking, is to keep from offending people. Actually one of the best parts of the series is how it uses satire to critique, not the heart of the Christian message itself, but rather the oddities of American Christianity and the curious or misguided beliefs that many of its adherents hold to.
The book is a light and entertaining read, and while we don't look to a cartoon for moral guidance or how to live, the show takes a surprisingly moral outlook on life. And using humor, it engages in situations of temptation that parallel real life, and with some of the "major" temptations, the characters come out surprisingly well. Such as episodes where either Homer or Marge is tempted to cheat on one another, and all the opportunities are ripe, but they ultimately remain faithful to each other for the sake of love and family. But above all, the show teaches us to laugh at ourselves a little, which never hurts. :)
Interesting Read, No Matter What Your Faith..........2007-08-26
Once again, the Simpsons are poised to devour another hurried dinner, most of them blissfully unaware of their imperfect fallibility; however, Homer is disgusted with their behavior at the annual company picnic earlier that day. Marge hit the rum-spiced punch once too often, the kids ran amok, and he's convinced they're the "worst family in town". At his wits end, Homer seeks supplication from God:
"Dear Lord, thank you for this microwave bounty, even though we don't deserve it. I mean...our kids are uncontrollable hellions! Pardon my French, but they act like savages! Did you see them at the picnic today? Of course you did; you're everywhere, you're omnivorous, O Lord!"
And thus is the tenuous connection between the Simpsons and the divine.
"The Gospel According To the Simpsons", by Mark I. Pinsky, is an anecdotal collection of bits and pieces from the series, and an insightful - if sometimes lengthy - exposition of their deeper meanings. Pinsky's work deconstructs everything from Homer's convenient views, the blasé Reverend Lovejoy, to do-gooder neighbor Ned Flanders's squeaky-clean aura, leaving no stone - or Aunt Selma - unturned.
Though Pinsky muses about the spiritual reflections found in the Simpsons's travails, there's nothing here of real theological assertion. The most you'll find is something Simpsons fans have argued for years: the show is much more than a sarcastic cartoon - it's high satire at its best, using humor to pose moral and spiritual questions we struggle with daily. Regardless, it's a good "pre-read" to the upcoming Simpsons movie, whatever faith it's approached from.
An interesting premise and lots of fun (a conservative Christian Simpson fan's review).......2007-08-04
Some of the one star reviews that this book has generated tell me that some people have entirely missed the point of the book. The point of the book is NOT to tell how the Simpsons preach the Gospel. They don't.
However, not only is "The Simpsons" the best show on television, it is also a remarkably spiritual show. It is the only show in which the main characters go to church on a regular basis. No one thinks it strange that people pray. Prayers are answered. God exists and he acts. From time to time, organized religion is skewered with their wickedly clever satire. Then again, so is everything else, from rock stars to public education to family life to just about everything else. Pinsky's point is that religion is treated remarkably well on the show that has a bad reputation.
Pinsky focuses on each of the main characters (Homer, Marge, Bart & Lisa) and also on Ned (evangelical Christian), Apu (Hindu)and Krusty (Jewish) in order to show how religion and morality are treated in the show.
He also details several plotlines - two or three of them are explicitly based on a religious theme -and shows how they relate to his overall thesis. He backs it up with several interviews and quotes from the creators and writers of the show.
I saw this book's author interviewed on PBS's "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly" in conjunction with the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie". I'm glad I saw it and I'm glad I picked this book up.
Note, the show has managed to put about 150 more shows out since this book was written in 2001, but this fan thinks that the premise of this book is still correct.
I give this book a grade of "A"
The Simpsons and God in the same place...Who-diddly-knew?.......2006-12-12
Upon first watching The Simpsons, I don't think the average viewer's initial inclination would be to call the show spiritual or religious. Viewers may say the animated TV staple is smart, satirical, and funny, or maybe innocently irreverent; those who aren't fans may call it unwholesome or immature -- but religious? Probably not. However, as author Mark Pinsky posits in the opening pages of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS, America's favorite cartoon is, in fact, very spiritual. It explores religious issues in more depth, Pinsky believes, than any other television show in the medium.
And I think he's right. Just go back and watch your favorite episode of The Simpsons, and you'll probably notice some reference to God, Jesus, or religion in general sometime within the 22 minutes it takes you to watch the show. Or you could just pick up THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS to find a pretty comprehensive discussion of the role religion plays in Springfield. THE GOSPEL explores the nature of spirituality in The Simpsons, both by analyzing a few of the more religious characters (Ned Flanders, Marge and Lisa Simpson, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Krusty the Clown, Reverend Lovejoy) and by studying specific episodes of The Simpsons to determine the role God, Jesus, Satan, Heaven and hell, and the Bible play on the show. According to Pinsky, The Simpsons supports an interpretation of faith in which eternal salvation comes from works rather than grace (a point of view which is backed up by various episodes, namely "Homer vs. Lisa and the Eight Commandment"). While THE GOSPEL offers few groundbreaking insights, it is interesting, and suprisingly legitimate. It definitely made me more aware of some of the more religious aspects of The Simpsons, and since reading it, I find myself watching syndicated re-runs with a new perspective, pointing out religious aspects to my husband while he rolls his eyes at me.
While I did find this book to be interesting reading, I would caution future readers that there's a LOT of episode summary -- so much so, in fact, that it sometimes deters from rather than supports Pinsky's points. Many seasoned Simpsons fans may find themselves impatient with the lengthy rehashing of episodes; therefore, with that in mind, I'd recommend THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS especially for those who aren't very familiar with the show and, because of the show's questionable reputation in its early years, are hesitant to allow their children to watch it. To those people: You may be surprised at how wholesome The Simpsons really is, how supportive it is of family values and religious tolerance.
My only other small quibble with the book was the final chapter, which profiles some of the show's most notable producers and writers. I found the chapter unnecessary and thought it was a poor way to end the book; instead of being left with the religious aspects of The Simpsons, readers are left with the perspectives of those behind the scenes. It weakend the book for me a little bit.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS brought up some valid points and offered a new perspective on America's beloved yellow family. It was an entertaining, well-organized book with a clear point of view. One thing's for sure: The Simpsons will be a staple in our home on Sunday evenings for as long as it airs, as sure as Marge Simpson serves pork chops every Friday night. You all should watch it, too, if you don't already.
Interesting little book.......2006-05-20
This is far from a groundbreaking work on religion, to put it mildly, but it does provide an interesting, and, for the most part, a surprisingly valid way of looking at the pop culture phenomenon that is "The Simpsons." And this book has the notable quality, compared with most takes on theology, of being a fairly funny book (not so much because Pinsky is a wildly amusing writer, but because he quotes from some quite hilarious "Simpons" episodes). One unavoidable shortcoming is that this book might feel a little outdated because there have already been a number of "Simpsons" episodes touching on religion that have aired since this book was published (a fact that does support the author's contention that religion is quite central to the show).
Book Description
A companion to the best-selling The Gospel According to The Simpsons: The Spiritual Life of the World's Most Animated Family, this 10-session study, for youth and adults, embarks on an exploration of the religious themes prevalent in the popular animated comedy series. Each session correlates to a chapter in the book and suggests an episode for viewing prior to the discussion. Topics include prayer, morality, God, pluralism, the institutional church, hell and the devil, and the Bible.
Customer Reviews:
Never Came.......2007-04-03
I ordered this item but when the other books came this one was not with them. Although the paper said that it was in the shipment
good discussion starter.......2006-11-10
This is a great discussion starter in a small group or youth group setting. A great way to present to talk about God, the Bible, Heaven and Hell, etc...
Yay!.......2003-08-30
This was a VERY good book for any small group. Yay for Pastor Skip! :D
Excellent Book!.......2003-07-17
We started using the Gospel According to the Simpsons with our High School youth group and the response has been awesome. The episodes and questions provide an excellent way to engage the kids in discussions. I highly recommend using this series - although I also recommend sending home a letter to parents explaining what you're doing with the series.
A fascinating course for a church.......2002-11-02
We have been teaching this course at our Episcopal church to an intergenerational group of about 25-30 ranging in ages from 10-77. This is a wonderful course and even if you aren't a Simpsons fan, the series really is an eye-opener.
The only small bone to pick is that they use some (two)episodes for viewing that are unavailable via tape or DVD and this requires you to tape it off of TV when it airs, if you know when that is. Also some of the videos are out of print, so E-bay was a big help.
But the response to the course has been tremendous. People are really amazed that a "wicked, evil" cartoon can be so enlightening! I would recommend this for any church considering it.
Average customer rating:
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The Gospel According to the Simpsons.(Brief Article)(Excerpt): An article from: Sojourners
Mark I. Pinsky
Manufacturer: Sojourners
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ASIN: B0008I9YEM
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
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This digital document is an article from Sojourners, published by Sojourners on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 477 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: The Gospel According to the Simpsons.(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
Author: Mark I. Pinsky
Publication:
Sojourners (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2001
Publisher: Sojourners
Volume: 30
Issue: 5
Page: 53
Article Type: Brief Article, Excerpt
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
- Great Thing in a Small Package
- Hardening Cisco Router
- Excellent filler to your library, maybe not essential though
- A little thin
- "The facts Ma'am, just the fact".
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Hardening Cisco Routers (O'Reilly Networking)
Thomas Akin
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Similar Items:
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Cisco IOS in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly))
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Cisco IOS Cookbook (Cookbooks (O'Reilly))
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Cisco IOS Access Lists
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Cisco Cookbook
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Cisco Field Manual: Router Configuration
ASIN: 0596001665 |
Amazon.com
To harden a router is to render it more heavily defended and more difficult to attack. Because routers (by definition) serve as points of entry into your network, it makes sense to devote extra effort to their security. Hardening Cisco Routers shows how to make adjustments to the configurations of routers from Cisco Systems to improve their resistance to attack, particularly external attack. This is essentially a book of specialized Internetwork Operating System (IOS) commands, as well as explanations of their behavior. It'll appeal to the router administrator--employed either by an organization's internal network staff, an outside consultancy, or a service provider--who wants to know which IOS commands he or she should add to routers' configuration files to tighten their security without a lot of hassle.
The great thing about this book is that you can approach it in either of two ways. If you just want to clamp down on your routers' security weaknesses as soon as possible, you can begin with the checklists at the end of each chapter (each of which focuses on a particular area, like SMTP) or the big one in an appendix, which is comprehensive. These checklists include both "how" and "why" information, as exemplified by "Disable ICMP broadcasts with the no ip directed-broadcast command." If you want more information on the big picture, or want to prepare for a specific kind of attack, read the individual chapters for detailed advice on how to set IOS to behave as you want. --David Wall
Topics covered: Internetwork Operating System (IOS) commands you can use to protect Cisco Systems routers from a variety of attacks. Specialized sections deal with security assessment, auditing, access control, privileges, optional services, and the legal importance of your login banners' contents.
Book Description
As a network administrator, auditor or architect, you know the importance of securing your network and finding security solutions you can implement quickly. This succinct book departs from other security literature by focusing exclusively on ways to secure Cisco routers, rather than the entire network. The rational is simple: If the router protecting a network is exposed to hackers, then so is the network behind it. Hardening Cisco Routers is a reference for protecting the protectors. Included are the following topics:
- The importance of router security and where routers fit into an overall security plan
- Different router configurations for various versions of Cisco?s IOS
- Standard ways to access a Cisco router and the security implications of each
- Password and privilege levels in Cisco routers
- Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) control
- Router warning banner use (as recommended by the FBI)
- Unnecessary protocols and services commonly run on Cisco routers
- SNMP security
- Anti-spoofing
- Protocol security for RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, NTP, and BGP
- Logging violations
- Incident response
- Physical security
Written by Thomas Akin, an experienced Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Cisco Academic Instructor (CCAI), the book is well organized, emphasizing practicality and a hands-on approach. At the end of each chapter, Akin includes a Checklist that summarizes the hardening techniques discussed in the chapter. The Checklists help you double-check the configurations you have been instructed to make, and serve as quick references for future security procedures. Concise and to the point, Hardening Cisco Routers supplies you with all the tools necessary to turn a potential vulnerability into a strength. In an area that is otherwise poorly documented, this is the one book that will help you make your Cisco routers rock solid.
Customer Reviews:
Great Thing in a Small Package.......2007-08-13
Read it leisurely on Monday & Tuesday night. Write out your action plans & change controls on Wednesday & Thursday. Have a more secure network on Friday.
I bought this book with the Cisco Cookbook, and found this to be one of the most important books in a network admin's library. This is the security book that doesn't get mired down in endless pages of white papers. It simply points out major security flaws and holes, and why they should be covered.
What good is an Access List if you don't log what is or isn't stopping?
What good are your logs if you don't have timestamps backed up by NTP time sources?
What good is a complex password if 10 admins know it, and no one has individual logins?
The problems and solutions are quickly addressed with enough information to explain to your boss why this needs to be done. Then use the Cisco Cookbook or other guide to fine-tune your own solution that fits your needs.
Hardening Cisco Router.......2006-07-20
If you are new with cisco router's security I could suggest this book. However if you are advanced user, it would be wasted money.Overall I did not like the book...
Excellent filler to your library, maybe not essential though.......2005-08-22
No nonsense. No mucking around. Here's the problem, here's the solution. Have to say though, you probably wont find anything new to you inside this book; but its dead handy for checking you've covered most of your bases (then you'll write a common config script and probably never look at it again!! :) )
A little thin.......2004-06-24
It's nice to have all of this information in one place. A lot of it is available elesewhere but not all. The checklists are nice. But there's not so much to it. It doesn't cover any common hacks or vulnerabilities and is quite redundant to fill out the pages.
"The facts Ma'am, just the fact"........2004-06-02
Intended audiences: network administrators, security advisors/auditors, system architects.
This book is, pound for pound, among the best in my technical library.
Having almost no previous knowledge in router hardening (although I was aware of the basics of Cisco routers) a few hours with this book enabled me to review the "hardening" plan submitted by a highly paid security consultant, and provide useful comments on improving the proposal.
No doubt this book is the beginning, not the end, of my education on this subject. But this fine book got me off to a quick and productive start, which is high praise when compared to what could be said about so many other technical titles. Highly recommended.
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- Wicked Messenger: Bob Dylan And the 1960s
- Yes Yes Y'All: The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop's First Decade
- Younger Than That Now: The Collected Interviews with Bob Dylan
- 100 Tips For Guitar You Should Have Been Told (includes CD)
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