But now, on the brink of menopause, Clea has become bored -- bored with her husband Turner and his endless business trips and dalliances; bored with the New York fast lane; bored with the games of adultery. Clea is ripe for a radical change of scene -- and she thinks she has found it in the seemingly idyllic town of Roches Ridge, Vermont. Falling in love with the town at first sight, Clea buys a decaying but atmospheric old stone house and prepares to embark on a different kind of dream life in the lush green countryside. Only this time her dream collides with a very strange -- and very funny -- dose of reality. Modulating between high comedy, social satire, and serious soul-searching, "Bedrock" is one of Lisa Alther's most engaging, most fully achieved novels. As Marilyn French puts it, " "Bedrock" is a hoot to read, but humor is only one of its graces. Lisa Alther writes with a profound acceptance of human variety and vagary that is rare in this mean age and that lifts the spirits."

    This book builds on the contributions and strengths of seminal technologies like Spring, Hibernate, and TopLink.EJB 3 is the most important innovation introduced in Java EE 5.0. EJB 3 simplifies enterprise development, abandoning the complex EJB 2.x model in favor of a lightweight POJO framework. The new API represents a fresh perspective on EJB without sacrificing the mission of enabling business application developers to create robust, scalable, standards-based solutions.EJB 3 in Action is a fast-paced tutorial, geared toward helping you learn EJB 3 and the Java Persistence API quickly and easily. For newcomers to EJB, this book provides a solid foundation in EJB. For the developer moving to EJB 3 from EJB 2, this book addresses the changes both in the EJB API and in the way the developer should approach EJB and persistence.

    Topics covered include:Basic version control commands and conceptsIntroduction to Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS)Advanced branching workflowsStrengths and weaknesses of DVCS vs. centralized toolsBest practicesHow distributed version control works under the hoodFeaturing these open source version control tools:Apache SubversionMercurialGitVeracity

    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 labs. 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:Use system types, collections, and generics to help manage data Validate input, reformat text, and extract data with regular expressions Develop services, application domains, and multithreaded applications Enhance your application by adding graphics and images Implement code access security, role-based security, and data encryption Work with serialization and reflection techniques Instrument your applications with logging and tracing Interact with legacy code using COM Interop and PInvoke Practice TestsAssess 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 kit includes:15% exam discount from Microsoft. (Limited time offer). 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 and lab exercises. Code samples on CD. 90-day evaluation version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition. Fully searchable eBook. A Note Regarding the CD or DVDThe 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.

    

    Today, Rails developers and architects need better ways to interface with legacy systems, move into the cloud, and scale to handle higher volumes and greater complexity. In Service-Oriented Design with Ruby and Rails Paul Dix introduces a powerful, services-based design approach geared toward overcoming all these challenges. Using Dix's techniques, readers can leverage the full benefits of both Ruby and Rails, while overcoming the difficulties of working with larger codebases and teams. Dix demonstrates how to integrate multiple components within an enterprise application stack; create services that can easily grow and connect; and design systems that are easier to maintain and upgrade. Key concepts are explained with detailed Ruby code built using open source libraries such as ActiveRecord, Sinatra, Nokogiri, and Typhoeus. The book concludes with coverage of security, scaling, messaging, and interfacing with third-party services. Service-Oriented Design with Ruby and Rails will help you Build highly scalable, Ruby-based service architectures that operate smoothly in the cloud or with legacy systems Scale Rails systems to handle more requests, larger development teams, and more complex code bases Master new best practices for designing and creating services in Ruby Use Ruby to glue together services written in any language Use Ruby libraries to build and consume RESTful Web services Use Ruby JSON parsers to quickly represent resources from HTTP services Write lightweight, well-designed API wrappers around internal or external services Discover powerful non-Rails frameworks that simplify Ruby service implementation Implement standards-based enterprise messaging with Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) Optimize performance with load balancing and caching Provide for security and authentication

    Since that time, this text has been revised, tweaked, and enhanced to account for the changes found within each release of the .NET platform (1.1, 2.0, 3.0 and now 3.5)..NET 3.0 was more of an augmentative release, essentially providing three new APIs: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). As you would expect, coverage of the "W's" has been expanded a great deal in this version of the book from the previous Special Edition text.Unlike .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5 provides dozens of C# language features and .NET APIs. This edition of the book will walk you through all of this material using the same readable approach as was found in previous editions. Rest assured, you'll find detailed coverage of Language Integrated Query (LINQ), the C# 2008 language changes (automatic properties, extension methods, anonymous types, etc.) and the numerous bells and whistles of Visual Studio 2008. What you'll learn Everything you need to knowget up to speed with C# 2008 quickly and efficiently. Discover all the new .NET 3.5 featuresLanguage Integrated Query, anonymous types, extension methods, automatic properties, and more. Get a professional footholdtargeted to appeal to experienced software professionals, this book gives you the facts you need the way you need to see them. A rock-solid foundationfocuses on everything you need to be a successful .NET 3.5 programmer, not just the new features. Get comfortable with all the core aspects of the platform including assemblies, remoting, Windows Forms, Web Forms, ADO.NET, XML web services, and much more. Who this book is forIf you're checking out this book for the first time, understand that it targets experienced software professionals and/or students of computer science (so please don't expect three chapters devoted to "for" loops). The mission of this text is to provide you with a rock-solid foundation to the C# 2008 programming language and the core aspects of the .NET platform (object-oriented programming, assemblies, file IO, Windows Forms/WPF, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, WCF, WF, etc.). Once you digest the information presented in these 33 chapters, you'll be in a perfect position to apply this knowledge to your specific programming assignments, and you'll be well equipped to explore the .NET universe on your own terms. "

    This book not only examines content creation and the concepts behind development, but it also give readers a background on the evolution of game development and how it has become what it is today. GAME DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS also includes chapters on project management, development team roles and responsibilities, development cycle, marketing, maintenance, and the future of game development. With the same engaging writing style and examples that made the first two editions so popular, this new edition features all the latest games and game technology. Coverage of new game-related technology, development techniques, and the latest research in the field make this an invaluable resource for anyone entering the exciting, competitive, ever-changing world of game development.

    We start of with the root of it all - the history of witchcraft and wicca. Then, we further move ahead by giving clarifications on what a witch really is. After which, we will provide you with the different gods and goddesses of witchcraft and wicca as well as different spells that you can use! If you are someone with minimal or no experience in witchcraft and wicca, this book is totally for you. We can help you get started really quick. If you're someone who has a little more experience and background to witchcraft and wicca, this book is still for you as you will find new bits to learn from this book. We've got heaps of resources and information all laid out in a quick, concise, and easy to read format to keep you learning for hours. In this book, you will learn the following awesome information: Bring you back to the past by learning the history of witchcraft! Teach you what it really means to be a witch! Provide you an ultimate list of gods and goddesses of witchcraft and wicca! An in depth tutorial on progression systems - and our personal recommendations! Provide you information about visualization, divination, rituals, and rites! An in-depth guide to spell casting! - Cast your spells the right way! An overview and discussion on how you can write your very own spells! A list of spells that really work! and much much more…. So what are you waiting for? Get your materials ready and learn the way of the witches today!!! ***SPECIAL OFFER!!!*** LIMITED TIME OFFER 40% OFF (Regular Price $4.99) This #1 Best Selling Critically Acclaimed Book is now available Globally on Amazon - Download it Now!

    

    Our beginners guide contains all the essential information you need in order to succeed. It covers the basic techniques, well illustrated with over a hundred images, and explains everything you need to know in an understandable way. Bonsai Empire is the world's most visited Bonsai website and has provided beginners with quality information for over a decade. We have developed this guide to help you get a taste of this fascinating and living art, and hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do! This book includes: - Over 100 stunning images - Over 80 pages - Explanations of the basic techniques - Care guides on the 10 most popular tree species - Background on the history, definition and styles Walter Pall: "Now here is the ultimate book to lead beginners. I am happy to have been able to contribute to this" Mauro Stemberger "Very clear" and "With great quality drawings and pics"

    But Fain Flinn--known in legends as Flinn the Mighty--has lost his honor and his pride. Now the land of Penhaligon faces a threat only Flinn can conquer.All seems hopeless, until a young woman recognizes the pulse of goodness that still beats in the knight's angry heart. Along with the girl, a fastidious dwarf, and a shy wildboy, Flinn sets out to regain his honor and his magical blade. Yet even Wyrmblight may not be powerful enough to cut through the intricate web of deceit spun by Verdilith, a malevolent dragon bent upon destroying the once-mighty hero.

    The Seventh Edition has been updated with stronger coverage of evidence-based practice, including content on how to read, interpret, and critique systematic reviews, which are considered by many to be a cornerstone of evidence-based practice. Also included in the Seventh Edition: a more balanced presentation of medical and social science methods and nomenclature; enhanced coverage of qualitative research; and more!

    

    Master the fundamentals of C++ and object-oriented programming Understand how C++11 features help you write compact and efficient code using concepts such as lambda expressions, move constructors, and assignment operators Learn the Standard Template Library, including containers and algorithms used in most real-world C++ applications Test your knowledge and expertise using exercises at the end of every lesson Learn on your own time, at your own pace: No previous programming experience required Learn C++11, object-oriented programming, and analysis Write fast and powerful C++ programs, compile the source code with a gcc compiler, and create executable files Use the Standard Template Library's (STL) algorithms and containers to write feature-rich yet stable C++ applications Develop sophisticated programming techniques using lambda expressions, smart pointers, and move constructors Learn to expand your program's power with inheritance and polymorphism Master the features of C++ by learning from programming experts Learn C++11 features that allow you to program compact and high-performance C++ applications TABLE OF CONTENTSPART I: THE BASICS LESSON 1: Getting Started with C++11 LESSON 2: The Anatomy of a C++ Program LESSON 3: Using Variables, Declaring Constants LESSON 4: Managing Arrays and Strings LESSON 5: Working with Expressions, Statements, and Operators LESSON 6: Controlling Program Flow LESSON 7: Organizing Code with Functions LESSON 8: Pointers and References Explained PART II: FUNDAMENTALS OF OBJECT-ORIENTED C++ PROGRAMMING LESSON 9: Classes and Objects LESSON 10: Implementing Inheritance LESSON 11: Polymorphism LESSON 12: Operator Types and Operator Overloading LESSON 13: Casting Operators LESSON 14: An Introduction to Macros and Templates PART III: LEARNING THE STANDARD TEMPLATE LIBRARY (STL) LESSON 15: An Introduction to the Standard Template LibraryLESSON 16: The STL String ClassLESSON 17: STL Dynamic Array ClassesLESSON 18: STL list and forward_listLESSON 19: STL Set ClassesLESSON 20: STL Map ClassesPART IV: MORE STL LESSON 21: Understanding Function ObjectsLESSON 22: C++11 Lambda ExpressionsLESSON 23: STL AlgorithmsLESSON 24: Adaptive Containers: Stack and QueueLESSON 25: Working with Bit Flags Using STLPART V: ADVANCED C++ CONCEPTS LESSON 26: Understanding Smart PointersLESSON 27: Using Streams for Input and OutputLESSON 28: Exception HandlingLESSON 29: Going Forward APPENDIXES A: Working with Numbers: Binary and Hexadecimal B: C++ Keywords C: Operator Precedence D: Answers E: ASCII Codes