Category: Okay

Full Page Reading Book Magnifying Glass

Full Page Reading Book Magnifying Glass[rating:3/5]

While this magnifying lens (which is really a Fresnel lens) is very light and flexible: it does the job for me. Lately, it seems that the books I’m reading have increasingly small print (ugh!) and my glasses just aren’t cutting it. I’ve recently tried several different magnifying devices, without much success, and this one seems has been the most satisfying. Fortunately, the picture that Amazon provides gives a good representation of how it works – yes, one needs to hold it above the book; sure it bends (and distorts the text). Just the same, it does do the job (I bought mine for even less than Amazon’s price at a bookstore).

For those expecting the perfect magnifier, this is not what many will want. It is; however, an extremely low cost alternative to a new pair of glasses. I am finding that I can generally read about half a page before having to shift the lens to a new position – that’s a lot better than having to continually move other magnifiers as one reads. In comparing it with a traditional magnifying class (which can, depending upon size and source) be far more expensive, this is rather inexpensive, albeit imperfect, way to keep feeding one’s reading habits without breaking the bank.

Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function

Healing Power of Neurofeedback[rating:3/5]

I purchased this book based upon its title, “The Healing Power of Neurofeedback,” while noting its subtitle, “The Revolutionary LENS Technique. . .” To be honest, these are misleading as they should have been inverted. It would have been better to have named the book, “The Lens Technique: One Approach to Neurofeedback.” The book, sadly, reads like an infomercial for the “LENS Technique” created by Len Och and was written by one of his disciples, Stephen Larsen, who expounds upon the wonders of this interesting, but certainly controversial approach to neurofeedback that uses extremely low-level radio ways to help “drive” each individual’s EEG. Dr. Larsen constantly refers throughout his book something to the effect that “Len Och says this” or “Len Och says that.” It almost seems as if Len Och should have written the book, rather than Stephen Larsen. Interestingly, “treatments” are often no longer than one second (!) in length which would appear to be almost nothing.While the book contains some truly amazing stories where the LENS treatment has allegedly worked wonders, it does, as noted above, read like an advertisement for this approach. Unless this approach does provide a panacea for treating so many illnesses and disorders (which, for all I know, it may do), it would have been appropriate for Larsen to to adopted a more academic tenor as this is the introductory book on LENS.

Another disturbing factor is that neurofeedback DOES seem to offer many, many benefits that are not yet fully (or rightfully) recognized as a genuine treatment modality for a variety of health issues. It is for this reason, alone, that books that focus on various methods of neuro/biofeedback need to be extraordinarily cautious in reporting on their benefits. While Larsen, generally, attempted to do so, he did stray into areas that raise BIG RED FLAGS to those that are skeptical of Neurofeedback. Specifically, he discusses how the LENS allegedly helped bolster a patient’s “chakras,” may enhance “ESP”, and references questionable sources such as, “Vibrational Medication,” by Richard Gerber. Having just read Gerber’s book, my suggestion is that readers should RUN not walk from anything written by Gerber as he appears to be a real quack. It doesn’t serve the Neurofeedback community well to reference such New Age mumbo-jumbo.

While the book is, overall, quite interesting, I would very much like to see others conduct genuine studies on the efficacy of the LENS approach.

Journeys Out of the Body

Journeys Out of the Body[rating:3/5]

I purchased this book because I had heard of Robert Monroe’s work with binaural beats: a subject that interests me. I really wasn’t prepared; however, for the strange nature of this book which takes a look at numerous “experiments” Monroe conducted on his own, personal, “out of body” experiences. While the book reads like a science fiction diary, Monroe actually believes in and lucidly describes his journeys. It’s difficult to categorize this book but should interest those who have an open mind regarding the world of the bizarre.

Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History

Jesus Papers[rating:3/5]

Better written than Holy Blood, Holy Grail, the author provides some interesting material to ponder. Just the same, the book suffers from Baigent’s obvious bias and wanders from the main topic as part of his attempt to justify the opinions expressed. While the book does offer much to contemplate and provides what appears to be a great deal of good information, there are also so many flaws evident that it is impossible to accept all that is presented.

With regard to Christianity: yes, the past two thousand years have been filled with atrocities committed in the name of God and the author does a good job of highlighting many of those. Even so, his commitment to breaking down existing beliefs is also his downfall as too many arguments are based upon shoddy assumptions. Baigent even has the audacity to claim he saw a document, which he could not translate, and yet has the gall to suggest that it might be critical to the premise of his book. Overall, the book leaves one with many unanswered questions – for that reason, I’ve given it 3 stars.

PHP and MySQL Web Development, Second Edition

PHP and MySQL Web Development, Second Edition[rating:3/5]

Oh, this book seems to have so much going for it. At first, I was going to say that this was one of the most comprehensible computer books I’ve read in a long time (why, oh why can’t computer people write in a manner that is clearly understood to their readers?) – the authors seem to have the rare knack of explaining things clearly. Then, however, I discovered that there are errors in the book and the examples in the book DO NOT match those on the CD. The book also isn’t clear on what needs to be entered, precisely, in order for the examples to match those on the CD. I finally ended up comparing the two in order to make sense of things – this wasted a LOT of my time. Fortunately, my background is such that, so far, I’ve been able to figure things out.

When the problems started, I looked for an errata sheet – both on the publisher’s site (Sam’s Publishing) and on the site provided in the book (http://www.lukelaura.com). Nothing on Sam’s, at all, and the other site is nothing more than an advertisement for the book. Ugh!

This book had so much promise – had a better job been done with editing, it could have easily earned FIVE STARS.

At this point, I’m still able to figure things out and, compared to all of the other books I’ve tried, so far, on PHP and MySQL, this one still makes some sense. Oh well…