Joseph Brown, founder of Brown & Sharpe, was a skilled clockmaker who invented new machines, and new ways to make things. Samuel Darling, an eccentric inventor from Maine, joined up and brought with him his engine for marking precise graduations on measuring instruments. Lucian Sharpe, with his son Henry and grandson Henry, Jr., guided the company for more than a century--and along with it the global machine tools industry. The men and women of Brown & Sharpe produced and marketed a dazzling array of measuring devices, machine tools and precision machinery. They truly helped shape Rhode Island, the nation and the modern world. The history of Brown & Sharpe covers more than 150 years of technological development, labor history and public policy, culminating in history's longest strike.
This is part 1 of the latest edition of the classic series, Quality Software. It teaches how to understand the dynamics of software development organizations, to plan software projects, and to act effectively to carry out those plans. Written from a technical and psychological perspective, this comprehesive book describes how to think about what you do. The notation takes almost no effort to learn. The diagrams are simple and easy to understand and used in a consistent manner. How Software is Built offers ideas for coping with the very difficult problems that face those who work on projects where they don't have enough time, enough information, enough skill, or enough money to do a perfect job of anything. Given these limitations, managers have to make tradeoff decisions in light of the best understanding of cause and effect they can muster. Reviewers say the book is a treasure, containing within it the best definitions of quality ever published. It's written with a great sense of humor that helps make the lessons and insights you will get from the book easier to take. For example, why is software development so often plagued by crisis? Weinberg helps the reader step back from developing software and examine the dynamics and patterns of software creation. By discussing patterns of quality, patterns of managing, and patterns of software faults, the author shows that quality software begins with keen observation and clear thinking about software development. The text is extremely thought-provoking and is spiced with anecdotes drawn from decades of software experience. The book is divided into three sections: "Patterns of Quality", "Patterns of Managing", and "Demands that Stress Patterns." Each section has a number of chapters that examine different systemic aspects of the specific issues. In the "Patterns of Quality" section, Weinberg challenges our assumptions about what quality is, how to obtain it, and how to recognize how to change it. For those of you who are intimate with the SEI (Software Engineering Institute) CMM (Capability Maturity Model), this section provides compelling reasoning about the model, and about how dangerous level 2 can be to an organization. One reviewer said of The "Patterns of Managing" section: "It was truly eye opening for me. I had been working on a measurement system at the company, and had been spectacularly unsuccessful obtaining useful metrics. I thought we needed these measurements so that we could understand what worked for us, and what needed to change. This section gave me a new understanding of how other people see the organization and their roles within the organization." "Demands that Stress Patterns" discusses what happens in real organizations with real customers and real products. How Software is Built develops a number of ideas about how to keep the development organization working productively.
This is Volume 2 of the latest edition of the classic series, Quality Software. Its fundamental purpose is to teach how to understand the dynamics of software development organizations, to plan software projects, and to act effectively to carry out those plans. Many books have described How Software Is Built. It's a complex subject, and indeed, that's the first title in this Quality Software Series. But people who use software (and builders, too) want to know Why Software Gets In Trouble. You might wonder why anyone would need an entire book on that subject. Why not just say "people make mistakes"? Why not? Because there are reasons people make mistakes, and make them repeatedly, and fail to discover and correct them. That's what this book is about, and believe me, those reasons (and how to prevent them) do fill an entire book. The reasons are both personal and organizational. If we're ever going to build better quality software, we'll definitely have to study the reasons people make mistakes. For software developers, designers, testers, their mangers, and their customers, that study starts right here. Written from a technical and psychological perspective, describing how to think about what you do. The notation takes almost no effort to learn and use it. The diagrams are simple and easy to understand and used in a consistent manner. The book offers ideas for coping with the very difficult problems that face those who work on projects where they don't have enough time, enough information, enough skill, or enough money to do a perfect job of anything. Given these limitations, managers have to make tradeoff decisions in light of the best understanding of cause and effect they can muster. Reviewers say the book is a hidden treasure, containing within it the best definitions of quality ever published. It's written with a great sense of humor that helps make the lessons and insights you will get from the book easier to take. For example, why is software development so often plagued by crisis? Weinberg helps the reader step back from developing software and examine the dynamics and patterns of software creation. By discussing patterns of quality, patterns of managing and patterns of software faults, the author shows that quality software begins with keen observation and clear thinking about software development. The text is extremely thought-provoking and is spiced with anecdotes drawn from decades of software experience. The book is divided into two sections: "Fault Patterns" and "Pressure Patterns". Each section has a number of chapters that examine different systemic aspects of the specific issues. "Fault Patterns" discusses different types of defects and how they occur. In addition, Weinberg examines what are software faults and how the organization deals with them means to how the people work. "Pressure Patterns" looks into managerial behavior and why managers lose patience and feel helpless.
Seed inoculation is the practice of effectively introducing a high number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium or Bradyrhizobium) on the surface of legume seeds prior to planting. The bacteria penetrates the root, resulting in the formation of root nodules that fix nitrogen from the air, and make it readily available to the plant. This book describes the need, the development and the use of rhizobia, and how this process may be reproduced successfully around the world, especially in underdeveloped agricultural countries.
A wonderful question and answer source for all current and potential Catholics The Question Corner is written from a lay member's perspective - truly a "book from the pews," instead of being dry and scholarly. Basic Christianity and Catholicism is pretty darned complicated, and 2,000 years of tradition brings a lot of baggage with it. Existing and future Catholics sometimes get left behind by the complexity, and this book addresses exactly that.Basic answers to basic questions make it easy to grasp everyday issues. It's comfortable to be an informed Catholic, or simply to understand Catholicism in general - from inside or outside, if the answers are right there. This is truly a basic instruction book from an "experienced," trained and experienced member of the congregation. Get a grasp on what's holy, and what's not Understand what's important in your religious belief - your faith life - and what's not Be able to answer those tricky questions about your beliefs, and to put those beliefs into practice into your life, and your family's life. The Question Corner, by Jerry Stephens, is a truly great resource There are two more books by the same author which expand into areas of greater faith life, and an understanding of how Christian beliefs are all inclusive in Catholicism, and everybody who honors God is also loved by him. Don't let small differences of belief cause discord - we all deserve respect from each other, with compassion and mercy from the same God.A third book completes the series, Embrace the Journey - How to Develop a Living Faith. Energize your religion Find ways and reasons to live a revitalized life in Christ, regardless of your current or chosen religious conviction. All faiths embrace the Creator, so let's search for common ground and live as He wants us to Buy all three books, or one at a time. You won't be disappointed
In the pages of this delightful book, Gerald Siegel looks back on a long and distinguished career as a professor of communication disorders. The book includes personal stories, articles, and addresses that convey the atmosphere of departmental and campus life at the University of Minnesota during his tenure there. Alongside these essays and addresses come a collection of brief professional vignettes and random reflections called "Gleanings," and a series of thumbnail sketches of the teachers from whom Siegel drew inspiration and encouragement at various times in his life, reaching back to his earliest childhood memories. The book offers an indelible portrait, written with warmth and humor, of a man dedicated to his teaching, his research, and his students.
A book of 32 religious messaged poems, honoring Our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. This book was written by Gerald Allen a 75 year old retired pipefitter who found his way to God in 2010 after the death of his wife of 52 years, Ronnie.Gerald now feels the Holy Spirit tugging at his heart to write these poems that bring a message to him and those who read them.Check out Gerald's first book, Jesus He's Our Personal Evangelist, published in 2014. Look for his third book to be out in 2016.
How can a colony on Mars survive when the greatest danger on the planet is humanity itself?All contact is lost with the first privately funded colony on Mars during a long and destructive sandstorm. Satellite imagery of the aftermath shows extensive damage to the facility and the fifty-four colonists who called it home are presumed dead. Three years later, a new mission sets down on the planet surface to investigate what remains of the derelict site. But it's not long before they realize the colony is not as lifeless as everyone thought.Not only that, but mission biologist, Dr. Jann Malbec, discovers that the entire colony had developed into to a human DNA editing experiment-with unsuspecting colonists as the guinea pigs. However, once the truth of what happened is revealed, powerful Earth based corporations begin to fight for control of this extraordinary research.Yet, Dr. Malbec realizes that returning this technology to Earth has the potential to doom humanity to a worldwide pandemic of apocalyptic proportions. She must do everything she can to prevent this from happening-even if it means that she might never see her home planet again.What Amazon readers are saying: ★★★★★ 'Surpassed Expectations - This was an outstanding read '★★★★★ 'It's been a long time since a book made me stay up all night just to find out the ending. This book is superb '★★★★★ 'Fast paced, intriguing science fiction thriller that just rolls off the pages.'★★★★★ 'A wonderful adventure... Like a blend of Heinlein and Weir...'★★★★★ 'I really enjoyed this book... A real roller-coaster. Great characters. believable plot-line and nail-biting suspense.'
A study of the rise of Off-Broadway, regional and non-profit theatres and other new alternative venues. The book charts the development of the regional theatres in America and how they have replaced Broadway, as the starting point for most new work in the theatre. As well as being a history of the growth of regional theatres across America, it also offers insights into what the future may bring for regional companies and their strategies for the next millenium. It includes interviews with leading artistic directors, and information on development of new plays and how funding sources operate. It also shows audience development strategies from different companies and addresses issues for specific theatres which are relevant to all theatre companies.
True American heroes need not have superhuman abilities nor do they need to act alone. Heroism in a democracy is different from the heroism of myths and legends, writes Gerald Pomper in this original contribution to the literature of U.S. politics. Through the remarkable stories of eight diverse Americans who acted as heroes by "just doing their jobs" during national crises, he offers a provocative definition of heroism and fresh reasons to respect U.S. institutions and the people who work within them. This new paperback edition includes photographs, an introductory chapter on American heroism after 9/11, a survey of the meanings of heroism in U.S. popular culture, and an original concluding theory of "ordinary" heroism.
A thirty day cure for the pain of leadership headaches. How does that sound? There is not a leader out there that has not felt the “pain of leadership headaches.” Indeed, what you have here is a collection of messages that are offered as a prescription for those who find that leadership makes them feel sick, even debilitated. Being a leader is a challenge for anyone who ever wore the mantel of “boss.” Every day is a challenge, as we encounter issues that test our judgment and at times, our patience.We call the doctor when we feel sick. Gerry Czarnecki has been “doctoring” leaders for a long time and concludes that what leaders need is the confidence in what they already know; which is having enough confidence to take the action in the face of uncertainty. Gerry gives you a dose of the remedy for this pain and frustration that every leader faces.These readings are short, yet loaded with experience. They include Gerry’s years of experience leading and coaching, as well as the experience of many who came before you, with real life problems. Indeed, if you have been leading for any period of time, you will recognize many of the circumstances.One caution, do not read this book in one sitting. That would be like taking a whole bottle of aspirin at one time. Take each section one day at a time, as the book is formatted for this type of reading. Let that message settle in and get into your “blood stream” so that it can influence your thinking slowly, but surely. Learning in small doses can give you time to think---and I want you to think.
