Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution
Author: Michael Rubin
The inside story of George Lucas, his intensely private company, and their work to revolutionize filmmaking. In the process, they made computer history. Discover the birth of Pixar, digital video editing, videogame avatars, THX sound, and a host of other icons of the media age. Lucas played a central role in the universe of entertainment technologies we see everyday.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Robert S. Weinberg, MD(Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center)
Description:This is a CD-ROM version of patient care information notes. In alphabetical order, in an easy to use index, are listed many common clinical problems and some frequently asked patient questions. The CD-ROM is easy to install and runs in Windows, but computer requirements are not listed.
Purpose:The purpose of the CD-ROM format is to allow the user to provide patients with personalized handouts about a variety of commonly seen topics. The user can easily edit the material and has the right to reproduce the information to give to patients or to use in news letters and brochures. However, the user is prohibited from placing the information on a website or on the Internet. The concept of accessible, simply written information for patients is commendable, and a valuable addition to the level of care provided by a clinician. The work meets the intended objectives very well.
Audience:The product is intended for the practicing general ophthalmologist. It also may be used by ophthalmic subspecialists, as many of the topics covered can be seen in any ophthalmic practice. The information is apparently written by multiple authors, who are not individually credited, as the style of different entries varies somewhat. That style is simple, straightforward, not pedantic, and easy to read for patients. The editors and the editorial board, presumably the multiple authors, are experienced practicing ophthalmologists.
Features:Common clinical problems are accessed through an index alphabetized primarily by clinical problem. There are peculiarities, however,such as the topic ""getting,"" expanded to ""getting used to bifocals"" and ""getting something in your eye."" Under the term ""refraction"" is the expanded topic, ""What is a refraction and why won't the government pay for it?"" -- a useful topic for a busy clinical practice. Omitted are a few topics such as cystoid macular edema, tearing in adults, and uveitis, but what is included covers a broad range. The topics are easily accessible, the program user friendly and intuitive, and the user can print items in regular or large print text. The product offers a simple way for clinicians to improve the quality of patient care they provide.
Assessment:This is an excellent addition to a busy clinical practice. Use of personalized patient care information should improve patient satisfaction with the level of care provided.
Library Journal
Before Star Wars creator George Lucas became one of today's most innovative filmmakers, he was just a geek with visionary ideas and talent. A filmmaker and educator, Rubin once worked in the computer division of Lucasfilm as a technological consultant for Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III; here, he recounts how Lucas bucked the Hollywood studios and made unique contributions to the film industry, drawing on interviews with past and present movers and shakers at Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Zoetrope studios. Like Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg, Lucas worked with an eclectic group of computer geniuses who helped launch a new era of filmmaking techniques and took computer animation and editing to new levels. There are many books on Lucas, but none quite like this one: the combination of Rubin's insider information and research gives readers a view of how movies came to incorporate digital advances. Complete with photos, it is a fascinating book that any fan of Star Wars, Lucas, or technology will enjoy. The accessible language is a big plus. Highly recommended.-Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
What People Are Saying
Steve Silberman
Steve Silberman, Contributing editor, Wired magazine
George Lucas is revered as a great storyteller, but his greatest story unfolded off-screen. Rubin spins this untold tale with historical perspective, exhaustive scholarship, and wit. This book is not just for the many fans of Lucas' films, but also for anyone who wants to understand what the recent rapid evolution of technology means for our culture, and the human story of how we got here.
Book review: 222 Geheimnisse der Einstellung, des Handhabens, und des Behaltens Großer Angestellter in Gesundheitsfürsorge-Praxen
Foundations of Python Network Programming
Author: John Goerzen
This may be the easiest book review I've ever written. If you program in Python and you want to write Internet applications, go buy Foundations of Python Network Programming by John Goerzen. There.
— Ron Dippold, Slashdot contributor
I've already folded down the corners of quite a few pages, and expect I'll refer to this book often in the coming months.
— Greg Wilson, Dr. Dobb's Journal
I think Apress is bringing a lot of helpful programming texts to the world. I intend to read this book to learn how to write client-server networking programs.
— Richard Bejtlich, TaoSecurity
As is typical of Apress books, there are a lot of specific code examples to help the reader see exactly how it should be done.
— Midwest Book Review, Harold's Bookshelf
This book is 99% good, and the only reason that isn't 100% is due to the wide scope of the book. Which, then again, is also a good thing.
— Tommi Virtansen
To guide readers through the new scripting language, Python, this book discusses every aspect of client and server programming. And as Python begins to replace Perl as a favorite programming language, this book will benefit scripters and serious application developers who want a feature-rich, yet simple language, for deploying their products.
The text explains multitasking network servers using several models, including forking, threading, and non-blocking sockets. Furthermore, the extensive examples demonstrate important concepts and practices, and provide a cadre of fully-functioning stand alone programs. Readers may even use the provided examples as building blocks to create their ownsoftware.
Table of Contents:
| Ch. 1 | Introduction to client/server networking | 3 |
| Ch. 2 | Network clients | 19 |
| Ch. 3 | Network servers | 35 |
| Ch. 4 | Domain name system | 65 |
| Ch. 5 | Advanced network operations | 87 |
| Ch. 6 | Web client access | 113 |
| Ch. 7 | Parsing HTML and XHTML | 127 |
| Ch. 8 | XML and XML-RPC | 145 |
| Ch. 9 | E-mail composition and decoding | 169 |
| Ch. 10 | Simple message transport protocol | 197 |
| Ch. 11 | POP | 211 |
| Ch. 12 | IMAP | 223 |
| Ch. 13 | FTP | 275 |
| Ch. 14 | Database clients | 295 |
| Ch. 15 | SSL | 321 |
| Ch. 16 | SocketServer | 341 |
| Ch. 17 | SimpleXMLRPCServer | 355 |
| Ch. 18 | CGI | 369 |
| Ch. 19 | modцpython | 393 |
| Ch. 20 | Forking | 419 |
| Ch. 21 | Threading | 443 |
| Ch. 22 | Asynchronous communication | 469 |
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