MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-431): Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance (Pro-Certification) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Taking the test which this study guide is focus to is a very important step before give any content's feedback (i'm still preparing myself for the test) But i will give my 1st impression about the book anyway.
Pros:
Very well organized book. Chapters and content are divided in small chunks of information (lessons). For busy people (like me) or those which like to do self study at own pace this is a big aid.
I like the writing style also. Not boring, not too technical altought you should have a previous SQL 2000 background if you want to take full advantage of this book.
I did like chapter 11, the backup and restore processes. This is a must for every SQL admin. and it is well covered. The same for the Maintenance Plan and Job topics (Ch 14)
The 15% off in the test price is a good bonus. You should consider this if you're in a low budget. Cons or critics:
The test engine is an added value but... i don't know ... after taking a few custom tests ... i am not pretty sure about their content's difficulty. I mean, IMO, questions seems too easy for me. I've took a lot of Microsoft tests before (i'm MCSA) and i've never seen easy questions like these in most of them. You must read a lot and think well before mark an answer and i don't feel that when i'm taking this book's test engine. Do not misunderstand what i'm saying, a free Test Engine is a nice bonus, i just want to give a non parcial review. I'm a customer too and we must rely in good study sources to avoid test failures.
Chapter 5: just a brief T-SQL review; use a Sybex SQL 2000 Design book for better preparation or buy the Ben Forta book instead (ISBN: 0672325675), you won't regret and it will help you a lot.
Chapter 12: hey! what happened with the pics here? ... too much words and just a few pics for this topic. Fragmentation concepts are easier to understand when you see how they works; here's when drawings and pics enter into action.
Final comment.
Currently, this is the only book for this test in the market. Sybex and the others are still in press, so there are not much choices either but overall, is a good election anyway; easy to read and very well organized. Find a good PC or laptop, VMWARE or Virtual PC and that's all you need for your study track (SQL 2005 evaluation version is included)
Need extra info? Try SQL 2005 Stanek pocket book ...
UPDATED 7/26/2006:
I already have the new Sybex book for this test. And 'till now, what i've read so far ... i've not found it better than Solid's book. Some Sybex chapters are just a re impression of their old 70-228 book. I keep you informed ...


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Exam Prep Guide

Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCTS Exam 70-431-and on the job. Work at your own pace through a series of lessons and reviews that fully cover each exam objective. Then, reinforce what you've learned by applying your knowledge to real-world case scenarios and practices. This official Microsoft study guide is designed to help you make the most of your study time.

Maximize your performance on the exam by learning to:

Install and configure SQL Server
Create tables and indexes, define columns, and implement constraints
Implement functions, stored procedures, and triggers by using Transact-SQL
Work with relational and XML data
Monitor, troubleshoot and tune queries
Maintain database availability with log shipping, database mirroring, and replication
Prepare a backup strategy and restore a database

Practice Tests

Assess your skills with practice tests on CD. You can work through hundreds of questions using multiple testing modes to meet your specific learning needs. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers?including a customized learning path that describes how and where to focus your studies.

Your training kit includes:

15% exam discount from Microsoft. Offer expires 12/31/10. Details inside.
Official self-paced study guide.
Practice tests with multiple, customizable testing options and a learning plan based on your results.
450 practice and review questions.
Case scenarios, practice exercises, and best practices.
180-day evaluation version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition.
Fully searchable eBook.

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to booktech@oreilly.com.

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Training Strategies for the Dressage Rider, Second Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)At last! A book that not only tells me what to ask the horse for, but also tells me how to most effectively submit my request! So often, an author writes a book full of great ideas that remain unusable by the reader because the author fails to describe how to ask the horse effectively. "Ask the horse for movement A" is only half of the equation. The rest of the statement is "by doing X with your seat, Y with your shoulders, Z with your legs, and adjusting your hands thusly." Mr. De Kunffy provides the whole statement. I am on the third reading of this book in a month, not because I didn't understand it the first time, but because of the depth, breadth, and significance of the material. Mr. De Kunffy tells me how to ride the horse in balance with my seat and legs -- not my hands -- with amazing results. He gives me the courage to reject any false quick fixes to meet with peer approval. I see immediate returns from my recovering saddle seat Morgan in the form of increased trust and reduction of fear. This is an excellent volume for those of us who lackacess to equestrian training meccas. I expect this volume will forever affect my interactions with horses. I thank the author for telling me, clearly and beautifully, what I can do to ride well and earn the trust and influence the development and performance of my equine partners.

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Training Strategies for Dressage Riders is a unique guide to the art and technique of dressage, written by one of the most renowned equestrian trainers in the world today. It offers a complete training system for both horse and rider, paying special attention to how a rider s actions can influence a mount. The book provides practical, in-the-saddle advice on a wide range of dressage topics, including:* The art of classical equitation* The development of the rider s seat and aids* Developing the basic gaits* Gymnastic improvement* Horse insubordination* Clinics and competitions judgingWhether you want to prepare for dressage competition or simply improve your riding skills, this is a matchless guide.

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Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels Review

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(More customer reviews)If you expect to interact with those in the training industry, you had best be armed with knowledge of Kirkpatrick's four-level model. For instance, if someone asks, "What are you doing about Level IV?" you need to come back with a robust response such as, "Well, we evaluate the impact of training by....". Kirkpatrick first presented his model in 1959 in a series of articles in the Training and Development Journal. In this book, the Godfather of training evaluation succinctly outlines his four-level model of training measurement: measuring reaction, measuring learning, measuring behavior, and measuring results. This book is an up-to-date enhancement of his model. It consists of corporate examples, which are always helpful, and survey templates. If you are looking for a model to increase training effectiveness, reduce cycle time of design and development of courses, or establish baselines, this is a good primer. I praise him for consistently encouraging formative evaluation. Less seasoned training professionals only conduct summative evaluation (Level 1-smiley sheets), but evaluation should not be seen as an event as much as a life-cycle process. The ISD process includes a formative evaluation approach, which is often over looked. If you read this book and measure all four levels, you will be on the right track to evaluation utopia.
If you are a serious evaluator or interested in calculating return on investment, a "must read" is Jack Phillips Return on Investment in Training and Performance Improvement Programs. Phillips expands Kirkpatrick's models to a fifth level, which is return on investment (ROI), and encourages ROI at Kirkpatrick's four levels, too. If you are interested in implementing Kirkpatrick's four-level model and/or ROI, you need to read Another Look at Evaluation Training Programs. This book is a series of "best practice" articles compiled by Kirkpatrick.
One final note: Keep in mind that Kirkpatrick's model is not the only one out there. For instance, there is: Kaufman's Five Levels of Evaluation, The CIRO (context, input, reaction, and outcome) Approach, Stufflebeams's CIPP (context, input, process, and product) Model, Alkins' UCLA Model, and The Phillips Five-Level ROI Framework. Choose a best-fit model that is based on your known organizational barriers and the decisions important to your stakeholders.

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MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-562): Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5 ASP.NET Application Development (Pro - Certification) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well, I just took and passed the 70-562 exam. This book was my only written source for the exam. I also looked up things on MSDN once in a while. I found the book to be very well organized and informative, and will keep it as a handy reference on .NET Framework 3.5. I read the entire book and completed most of the exercises and answered all the questions at the end, though I didn't complete the suggested practices. If I had, I would have never finished the book.
As far as the test is concerned, if you use this book and nothing else, I can almost guarantee you will not pass the test. A lot of the questions on the test are mostly related to remembering which XML configuration tags to use for specific situations. The questions at the end of the chapters on this book are good but will not help you on the test. I honestly don't know why the authors do that, but I digress... My suggestion is that you supplement this book with Transcender or MeasureUp. I used Transcender and some of the questions on the test were similar to the questions on Transcender, but not many. I didn't use MeasureUp so I can't comment on how effective it is. I had previously taken and passed the 70-536 exam and Transcender was of great help, that amount of help did not apply to exam 70-562.
70-562 is way harder than 70-536. The former had 50 questions, whereas the latter only 40. They give you 3 and a half hours to complete the 70-562 test so that should give you some idea.
I wish you good luck because you are going to need it.

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Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCTS Exam 70-562—and on the job. Work at your own pace through a series of lessons and reviews that fully cover each exam objective. Then, reinforce and apply what you've learned through real-world case scenarios and practice exercises. This official Microsoft study guide is designed to help you make the most of your study time. Maximize your performance on the exam by learning to:
Program a new application; add and configure server controls Manage data input, user state, and security Implement data source controls and data-bound controls Use AJAX-enabled forms and scripts Create and consume XML Web services and WFC services Design for accessibility, globalization, and mobility Debug, deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot applications Assess your skills with the practice tests on CD. You can work through hundreds of questions using multiple testing modes to meet your specific learning needs. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including a customized learning path that describes how and where to focus your studies. Your kit includes:
15% exam discount from Microsoft. Offer expires 12/31/13. Details inside.
Official self-paced study guide.
Practice tests with multiple, customizable testing options and a learning plan based on your results.
325 practice and review questions.
Code samples in Microsoft Visual Basic and Visual C# on CD.
90-day trial of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition.
Case scenarios, exercises, and best practices.
Fully searchable eBook of this guide, plus sample chapters from related books.
A Note Regarding the CD or DVD
The practice test materials are available as a download along with your ebook version of the kit, and will be located in your account. Please direct any questions or concerns to booktech@oreilly.com.

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Parent Management Training: Treatment for Oppositional, Aggressive, and Antisocial Behavior in Children and Adolescents Review

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(More customer reviews)Alan Kazdin is one of the preeminent child psychologists and a superb writer. His manuals are always top-notch, and "Parent Management Training" is another terrific book. Written for mental health professionals, the book outlines in detail parent management training (PMT), a behavior-based treatment developed for parents of children with conduct problems. The treatment has been shown to work in numerous studies, as detailed by Kazdin. In fact, PMT is one of the most thoroughly investigated child treatments.
The first section of the book discusses issues related to the treatment's efficacy. In addition, Kazdin provides a variety of pointers about how to actually implement PMT. Common barriers in parent training are explored and user friendly tips provided. The second section of the book is the complete PMT manual, including various reproducible forms used during the intervention. After reading this book, the therapist with a basic background in behavior therapy should be able to implement PMT.
"Parent Management Training" is a welcome addition to the world of treatment manuals. The book is ideal for therapists who want to expand their repertoires, graduate students who are trying to learn PMT, and graduate courses. The book, however, is not targeted toward parents. Most highly recommended.


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Currently in the mental health professions, there is keen interest in evidence-based treatments.Among the psychotherapies for children and adolescents, parent management training (PMT) is without peer.No other treatment for children has been as thoroughly investigated, and as widely applied as has PMT.In this book, Dr. Alan Kazdin brings together the conceptual and empirical bases of this treatment, as applied to children and adolescents with oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior.The book's first half provides the background, principles, and concepts underlying PMT, detailing the clinical application of treatment with concrete examples of how therapists should work with parents and children.Kazdin also highlights the wide body of research on PMT to demonstrate the empirical basis of this intervention, to convey what is understood about how PMT works, and to identify what can be done to enhance the effects of treatment.The book's second half is a treatment manual of PMT, as applied in outpatient treatment for children and adolescents referred for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. The PMT manual, which in its entirety is included in the book, details the particulars of the therapy: what is done to and by whom, what is said by the therapist, and what to expect at each stage of treatment.It also contains handouts, charts, and aides for parents.Both halves of the book move from the general (background, principles, and theory) to the specific (e.g., techniques; dialogues among the therapist, parent, and child; and materials used in treatment). Informed by research, the book remains concrete and grounded in clinical realities.Alan Kazdin is one of the most respected clinical psychologists in the country and has dedicated over twenty years to research and treatment for children.

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Arnheim's Principles of Athletic Training: A Competency-Based Approach with eSims Bind-in Card Review

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(More customer reviews)This huge book, now in its 12th edition was begun in 1963. It is intended for the education of atheletic trainers. Its primary concern is in preventing and when necessary treating sports injuries.
This new 12th edition is a major upgrade to the book. It has been extensively reorganized into major sections that have related subject matter concentrated together. In addition, each chapter has been rewritten to reflect the latest techniques, equipment, procedures, and drugs that affect sports medicine.
The biggest changes are in chapters devoted to the musculoskeletal injuries. These chapters have beeg significantly expanded and are now as comprehensive as possible within the scope of practice in atheletic training.
Finally, each book comes with a license to use the extensive on line support for the book. This is broken into two areas. First is additional information related to each chapter including flash cards, self-quizzes, and other resources. Second is the eSims area which helps students prepare for the atheletic training certification exam.
This is the standard in the industry.

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This market-leading text emphasizes the prevention and management of athletic injuries and remains the only text to cover all aspects of the profession of athletic training. A valuable resource in seeking professional certification, it also provides practical, career-oriented content for students in athletic training, sports medicine, physical education, physical therapy, and coaching.

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Training Your Retriever Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although geared toward training your dog to be a hunting retreiver, this book is a must use when training your retreiver, and I would venture to say, any dog. When used properly, this book can help you teach your dog skills which will make you and your dog much better companions. My dog once began to run out into the street in front of an oncoming car. Because he was trained to stop on command, he stopped running when I called, and he narrowly escaped death. This book will show you how to teach your dog these basic obedience skills, as well as skills you might not think very useful, but will come in handy later on. For example, it is essential to hunters that their retriever remain still and quiet when in a duck blind. I'll probably never be in a duck-blind, but this skill is useful when you need you dog to go lie down. I highly reccomend this book

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Sales Training Handbook Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great book for any salesperson. The price is high but there is some good stuff in here to learn

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This title includes downloadable, customizable handouts. A time-and-money saving program designed to turn every sales manager into a skilled sales trainer experience may be a wonderful teacher...but it is only through ongoing sales training and coaching that most sales professionals will reach their full potential. "The Sales Training Handbook" - filled with interactive exercises, participant handouts, coaching scripts, and more - provides the educational and motivational tools you need to conduct performance-based training sessions with your sales force. Designed to help busy sales managers quickly - and easily - it introduces proven methods to their sales teams.This time-and-money saving coursebook: covers all major aspects of selling and dealing with customers; focuses on selling skills for basic, intermediate, and advanced level sales professionals; and provides sales managers and trainers with an effective, turnkey sales training curriculum. Developing training programs is often a full time job in itself, while hiring outside consultants can be costly, inconvenient, and - worst of all - ineffective.From beginner techniques through advanced strategies, let "The Sales Training Handbook" furnish you with the proven training materials you need to train your sales team yourself - saving time and money while creating a controlled, effective, self-contained sales training program.'It is critical that sales professionals and customer service representatives at the front line have the tools of their craft continually sharpened. "The Sales Training Handbook" allows your sales professionals to compete head-to-head with sales professionals that have had the luxury of attending a structured sales course for weeks and attain greater results. The 52 mini-seminars will give you the format necessary to guide and lead your team to success' - From the Preface."The Sales Training Handbook" contains everything a sales manager or trainer needs to establish a successful, fundamentally sound sales team. Each mini-seminar is a focused, concise, hands-on tutorial on the finer points of sales and selling - challenging enough to involve participants without leaving them frustrated or overwhelmed, yet straightforward enough to be completed in just 15-30 minutes.Getting the commitment and the order; dealing with objections; cross-selling, up-selling, and even down-selling to better serve the client; and effectively using technology to complement sales efforts; "The Sales Training Handbook" provides 52 ready-to-use, results-based training sessions - complete with customizable trainer scripts and participant handouts that can be easily downloaded from the Internet - that provide in-depth information and innovative strategies for all major aspects of selling and dealing with customers.Whether you use them to provide a quick training component to a weekly training meeting, or combine selected seminars to create a customized training workshop focused on specific selling skills, the end result will be the same - measurable, bottom-line, and immediate sales improvements. By combining the best of today's innovative sales skills and technologies with strategies proven on the front lines, Jeff Magee has become one of today's most respected, in-demand sales trainers.Use each of the 52 no-nonsense, technique-filled mini-seminars in his results-based "The Sales Training Handbook" to noticeably improve your skills as a sales trainer - and dramatically impact the confidence and success of your sales force.

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Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book will be a "classic" for both professionals and patients alike. Dr.Sadigh masterfully weaves through the literature on Fibromyalgia, Stress & Pain, and Autogenic Training setting up "Part III", a tour de force on "Training, Biofeedback, and Treatment of Insomnia"
He walks you through a six step sequence of Autogenic Training Exercises as if you were sitting in his office. The chapters are clear, concise and have immediate clinical applications. Of particular interest and help are the "Case Examples" and "Common Difficulties" sections which follow each Autogenic Exercise sequence. These sections as well as the "Questions & Answers" chapter assist the clinician or patient as if the Doctor himself were right there answering your very questions.
This book is a landmark compilation crossing many boundaries that will be a mainstay on the book shelves of professionals and patients for years to come.
I only hope that Dr. Sadigh will follow this book with a CD or Tape Set consisting of the Autogenic Training Exercises that he so expertly presented in this book. Having a tape or CD to practice the exercises would truely give people suffering from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, and Stress & Cognitive Anxiety the opportunity to derive ongoing benefit from the information presented in this masterful book.
Thank you for you magnificent contribution in helping sufferers worldwide!

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Discover a scientifically supported method to reduce chronic pain! Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome is the most comprehensive book ever written on autogenic training and its uses in the treatment of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, CFS, and other chronic conditions. Autogenic training is one of the most well-established, well-researched methods of enhancing the body's natural, self-recuperative mechanisms. It is the only mind-body technique with an origin in sound medical research, and as a result, it benefits from a solid theoretical foundation that explains how and why it works.This unique book effectively combines research, theory, and practice perspectives so that practitioners, instructors, and students can benefit from its content without having to rely on other texts and treatment manuals for clarification and guidance.Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome is divided into three sections. The first brings you:
an exploration of the connection between stress and chronic pain
a comprehensive overview of the literature on fibromyalgia
scientifically supported stress management techniques
The second section:
reviews the history of autogenic training
discusses the requirements that must be fulfilled for the effective use of autogenic techniques in clinical practice
The third section of Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome consists of a detailed, step-by-step manual for autogenic training. Each "training session" concludes with an actual case presentation that illustrates the use of autogenic training in the treatment of a variety of psychophysiological (mind-body) conditions. This section also features a chapter dedicated to the most commonly asked questions about autogenic training and their answers.In addition to providing excellent reading material for clinical treatment, Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome can be effectively used as a textbook for teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology, nursing, and medicine.

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Training Your Dog: The Step-by-Step Manual (Howell reference books) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Hello! I'm An obedience trainer and instructor for obedience titles at AKC Obedience trials! This book might be older than some but take my advice! This book is written by an experienced trainer and handler. Most of all, I have trained several canine's by the methods listed in this book, and they do work. I have shown canine's, and won CD tiles at AKC events by using these methods, and have documented proof! Mrs. Fisher, which is one of the authors, holds a degree in animal psychology and gives you an in depth look into the mind of the canine...The book has great details in the why's of different methods of, reading your dog, and trying to understand why he thinks the way he does! On my very first obedience trial for an Obedience title, the dog got his first Qualification for CD Title when he turned 6 months of age. By using the methods in this manual he recieved his CD Title by the time his 3rd Show rolled around. It's a very good manual for both, the beginning trainer, and experienced trainer alike!!! My highest recommendations go out on this book!!!

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Eight carefully planned lessons teach you to apply canine/human learning patterns to train your dog simply, effectively, and permanently.

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Training Spaniels Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is well written and laid out in a way that makes sense. It's a step by step type of book that anyone can follow. I've read several books on training spaniels to hunt and retrieve. This is one of the better ones. I've owned and bred Field Bred English Springer Spaniels for the past 18 years and recommend this book to anyone with a pup to train. This was one of the first books I read on training spaniels and is still one of the best.

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Written by a leading gundog trainer, this book explains to the novice trainer what needs to be done step-by-step.

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Training for Life: Walk Your Way to Fitness and Weight Loss in 14 Days Review

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(More customer reviews)Following this book EXACTLY helped me to lose 14 lbs in 14 days. No fad diet. You lose it eating healthy foods and walking. I have found it to be the only thing I have found to lose all the weight I want to lose. It has changed my life. I strongly recommend it.

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Celebrity fitness trainer Debbie Rocker is one of the original developers of Spinning, the international fitness phenomenon, and a world record holder in cycling. In TRAINING FOR LIFE, Rocker shows readers how to use walking, the body's most natural form of exercise, to achieve total transformation in a mere two weeks. She presents her personalized fitness philosophy in a 14-day program that includes walking basics, dietary recommendations, and additional upper body workouts that tone muscles, build bone density, and speed weight loss. Readers will discover how they can build confidence, attain total fitness, and train their minds to think of exercise and eating right as fulflling, important parts of life.

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Taming and Training Conures Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was probably good for the time it was written (1981, according to the copyright), but it is really substandard in light of nearly 2 decades of further research into bird behavior. The first half of the book is about choosing a bird, caging and nutritional requirements, and grooming (wing and nail clipping). The remainder of the book is a cursory look at basic taming (of wild-caught birds, which isn't really an issue since importing birds has been outlawed for several years), and a brief explanation of how to train. If you want a good resource for training, you'd be better off with a more current book on behavior modification (try Mattie Sue Athan's books, for example). This book is mis-titled, and should not pretend to be a real "training" book. On the bright side, it has quite a few wonderful pictures of conures.

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Mind Training For Swimmers Review

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(More customer reviews)I just saw this book recommended by Xtreme Swimming Swim Team in Austraila (on their website),and I know why! This is a book everyone who wants to improve their game (whatever that game is) should read. All about positive thinking and how to aproach a competiton with confidence, it is an invaluable tool for anyone involved in sports and competition of any kind.

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"Mind Training For Swimmers" is truly everything you ever could want to know about positive thinking and how to improve your swim or sport performance. Written by Craig Townsend, Australia's Swim Guru, it is filled with examples and teaching points that are sound, thorough, and based upon solid scientific thinking. The author is the Director of It's Mind over Matter in Sydney, Australia; and he has worked in the area of mental training for swimming, sports and personal development for over fifteen years! He possesses a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, and for over twenty years he has researched and experimented with various methods of tapping the potential of the human mind. His program has received world recognition, and has now been put into book form. Bellissima Publishing, LLC is proud to have Craig Townsend among its writers. This is a must read book that should be required reading for every swim coach and swimmer! It is a book that can help anyone move towards positive thinking and self-recognition.

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MCDST Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-271): Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System, Second Edition (Pro-Certification) Review

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(More customer reviews)microsoft has finally figured out how to write a book for their certifications. hire someone outside their organization to do it. previous books have always fallen woefully short of teaching a person to the point that they can come close to passing the test. this book accomplishes this goal. admittedly, this is a verrrry simple and easy test. but i did find the objectives covered adequately to figure out the answers. this was microsoft's big failing in previous books. they skimmed over or inadequately explained the topic and then hit you with detailed and complex scenarios on the exam that were several levels more advanced than what they taugh you. this book brings you to the level you need to be able to figure out the answers you need. this is what microsoft should have been doing all along. kudos to them.

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Ace your preparation for the skills measured by MCDST Exam 70-271-and on the job-with this official Microsoft study guide, now updated for Windows XP Service Pack 2. Work at your own pace through a system of lessons, hands-on exercises, troubleshooting labs, and review questions.

The Readiness Review Suite on CD, featuring advanced technology from MeasureUp, provides 425 challenging questions for in-depth self-assessment and practice. You can choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on specific objectives. You get expert exam tips and detailed explanations for right and wrong answers-including a customized learning path that describes how and where to focus your studies.

Maximize your performance on the exam by learning how to:

Perform and troubleshoot installation or upgrade
Configure and troubleshoot hardware-such as print, display, and I/O devices
UPDATED-Manage access to files, folders, and add-on software
Configure the desktop and user environment
NEW-Set up and support Windows Firewall, security and privacy settings, and local policy
NEW-Use Microsoft Update and Automatic Updates to keep your system current
Resolve network connectivity issues-both local and remote
Optimize system performance

Your kit includes:

15% exam discount from Microsoft. Offer expires 12/31/10. Details inside.
Fully reengineered, self-paced study guide with expert exam tips.
Readiness Review Suite featuring 425 questions and multiple testing options.
Case scenarios and troubleshooting labs for real-world expertise.
120-day evaluation version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2.
Fully searchable eBook.
Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security eBook.
Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking, Second Edition, eBook.

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

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MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-646): Windows Server Administration Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This edition is useless for the new 70-646 exam. Microsoft Training and Certification has already stated that the second edition with the new content is due out July of 2011; although, they are currently testing using the 2008R2 content. Do not waste your money. I've tested twice using this self study including a completely different set of questions from MeasureUp and have failed the test twice. I have scored average 95% for ten certification modes on this book and the MeasureUp tests.

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Announcing an all-new Self-Paced Training Kit designed to help maximize your performance on 70-646, a required exam for the new Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Windows Server 2008 Administrator certification. This 2-in-1 kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features that exam candidates want most including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options. It also provides real-world case scenarios to help you build skills and expertise that you can apply to the job.
Work at your own pace through the lessons and lab exercises. Focusing on Windows Server 2008 administration, this official study guide covers planning server roles; maintaining server security; planning data storage, network load balancing, and server backups; managing software deployment and versioning; monitoring IPv6, server performance and capacity, and AD replication; scheduling server deployments; and designing a rollback contingency plan.
Then assess yourself using 300+ practice and review questions on the CD, featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific needs. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives. You get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get an evaluation version of Windows Server 2008 and an exam discount voucher making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.
Key Book Benefits:
Comprehensive exam prep study guide
In-depth coverage of exam objectives and sub-objectives plus instructive case studies and troubleshooting scenarios to enhance your performance on the job
300+ practice and review questions
Test engine that enables customized testing, pre-assessment and post-assessment, and automated scoring and feedback
Handy exam-mapping grid
Evaluation version of Windows Server 2008
15 percent exam discount voucher from Microsoft (limited-time offer)
Entire study guide in searchable eBook format

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Complete Handbook of Voice Training Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Here we have a book on vocal production and training that is just that: a book on vocal training. Yes, it contains exercises and other things, and great detailed explanations as to what things mean in vocal pedegogy. One would actually learn more about singing and voice production from this book, and doing it correctly, than from all the "singing for dummies" sort of books out there. The only draw back with the book is it is long, and it is not that exciting to read. He is not wordy, he is just to the point, all of the points of singing.
I would recommend this book for anyone seriously wanting to learn to sing, and I mean sing. Study it, read it, get an understanding of what singing is all about, and what you should be fixing as a goal in learning how to sing. Most books on singing don't give enough information so you could actually fix any realistic goals about singing, or what to expect from your own progress, or out of a lesson, or even from your teacher. People buy these other books, learn a few things, sing a few notes better than they did before, and think they are on their way to stardom.
Well, people, get real. Read this book and you will get a better understanding of what singing is all about. And on the first pages you will learn one important thing -- you will never hear your voice correctly, so no matter how wonderful you think it is sounding, you will need the ears of someone else (if not a teacher, at least someone with a good ear for quality sound) to let you know what you really sound like.
However, if you read this book carefully, you can also save yourself a ton of grief when choosing a teacher. There are tons of teachers out there who, quite frankly, have no business teaching at all. A former singing career, or the ability to sing oneself, is NO indication the person can actually teach what they know, or even that they understand what they did (Joan Sutherland is a perfect example; she sang wonderfully but would never consider teaching as she openly admits she has no clue how it all works). Reading this book will not make you an expert on the subject whatever, but it will give you enough information that you won't be led up the garden path. You will have a great idea of what to expect, what to anticipate, and what should be happening in any voice lesson you have. If your teacher doesn't cover any of these points, then you will have an idea they aren't a real voice teacher and that they don't really know much. Perhaps it would be better to seek out someone else's advice.
The advice in this book is excellent, but again, no book can teach you to sing, they can only enlighten you to what to consider and look for in learning technique.

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This fully illustrated guide is stocked with proven methods for teaching the fundamentals of vocal production, tone, and resonance.

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