History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Great for Law Students young and old!

Legal Terminology with Flashcards
Cathy Okrent
Manufacturer: Thomson Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0766827615

Book Description

This comprehensive workbook is designed to familiarize the user with legal terminology as it applies to substantive areas of law. Containing more than 750 key legal terms and definitions, it is designed to facilitate learning and aid memorization in a fun and easy manner. The numerous exercises provided throughout the material utilize such proven educational devices as term search puzzles, multiple choice, true/false, matching, sentence completion, synonym selection and case application activities. It includes flash cards, as well as a Windows-based flash card computer disk, as additional memorization tools. ALSO AVAILABLE - INSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENT: Instructor's Guide (ISBN# 0-7668-2762-3). Call Customer Support to Order.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Law Students young and old!.......2000-03-06

This book is a great thing to have for a student just starting out in Law School or for the person that has completed his/her studies and is now a Lawyer. It is like a refresher for those who may or may not need it! A wonderful book to carry with you to court cases or class!

Microsoft Word 2002 for Law Firms w/CD (Miscellaneous)

Average customer rating:

Works Well For This Newcomer/Latecomer to Word
The Standard for MS Word in Law Firms
good for mds
Excellent book - Well Done
A Good Book, But Word is Not My Choice for Legal Documents

Microsoft Word 2002 for Law Firms w/CD (Miscellaneous)
Payne Consulting Group
Manufacturer: Course Technology PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 076153394X
Release Date: 2001-08-02

Book Description

This comprehensive guide won't waste your time with features irrelevant to the legal community. Microsoft Word 2002 software contains features that finally meet the requirements that law firms and legal departments have been asking about for years. And this book explains them all! It provides industry-specific information about Word 2002 to help you operate effectively and efficiently in your legal environment. Whether you are completely new to Word or simply updating to the newest version, this book will increas your productivity and guide you to making the most of this new software.

Customer Reviews:

Works Well For This Newcomer/Latecomer to Word.......2006-08-30

The book weighs a ton and there's lots packed in it. Have not attempted to use the CD-ROM. Index helped me find specific answers to specific issues, since I don't know the program at all and had to hit the ground running. Have not been able to find answers to more esoteric matters, but the book has been invaluable for my quick-fix situations. Legal-specific and more useful on a daily basis than the "Dummies" book my boss bought. Thank you, Payne Consulting Group!!!

The Standard for MS Word in Law Firms.......2005-02-11

Any law firm that uses MS Word has been influenced by the work of Payne Consulting. Payne Consulting was in a conference that went into a committee that worked closely with MS to influence Word and to make it compatible to what law firms got used to with Word Perfect. Interestingly, Word finally has a feature that offers you the opportunity to recover documents if you had not saved it the day before.....wow.....why didn't they do that for corporations.

Well, if you are a Word Perfect user in a law firm today, you will want to open up new vistas by learning MS Word for Law Firms. I recruit in Legal, and this tool is useful to improving your skills and making a transition to a larger law firm possible.

good for mds.......2004-01-02

real world advive for anyone interested in applications of word in a business setting

Excellent book - Well Done.......2003-06-11

I found the book easy to follow with a lot of useful information in the form of tips and cautions. I purchased the book to prepare for the Word 2002 MOUS exam (and passed). I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A Good Book, But Word is Not My Choice for Legal Documents.......2003-05-26

As a forced convert from Word Perfect, I was looking for a resource that would allow me to do two things: (1) learn Microsoft Word; and (2) integrate it into my practice.

Ms. Payne's book helped me with the first task and made Word a much easier program for me to utilize.

I was somewhat disappointed, however, in the second aspect. I would like to automate my litigation documents to a greater extent, but I couldn't fully realize this goal. At the end of the day, I'd like to turn out better, more polished legal documents, but, I think there are some limitations in either my own understanding or the software that prevent me from being as effective as I'd like. At more than 700 pages, Ms. Payne's book certainly contains a good deal of information and suggestions as to how Word can be used in a law firm environment, but I found it to be most helpful as a Microsoft Word resource.

Average customer rating:

A MUST-READ!

a must read for every law enforcement officer & anyone else

Good book

OUTSTANDING AND EFFECTIVE!

Verbal Judo: Redirecting Behavior With Words
George J. Thompson
Manufacturer: Institute of Police Technology & Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion

Never Be Lied to Again: How to Get the Truth In 5 Minutes Or Less In Any Conversation Or Situation

Tongue Fu!: How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse Any Verbal Conflict

The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership: Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up

Surviving Street Patrol: The Officer's Guide to Safe and Effective Policing

ASIN: 1884566154

Customer Reviews:

A MUST-READ! .......2006-12-03

Verbal Judo is not only a MUST for anyone in Law Enforcement, Public Safety or Security, but a potential life saver for just about anyone. It has been a favorite of mine for a while now. Written in very plain understandable language, the tactics are laid out in a very easy to follow manner. The "do's and don't's" of Verbal Judo are VERY easy to remember, and after you read this book (or, better yet, take a course), the right words will magically pop out of your mouth at the proper time. I have personally found this method to be the fastest method of de-escalating conflict and gaining control over situations without the use of physical force. The book is easy to read and the simple logic behind the principles makes perfect sense. Subject matter is broken down in a way that makes it easy to follow, and even if you are not a "reader", you will enjoy this.

a must read for every law enforcement officer & anyone else.......2006-11-17

book provides outstanding methods of how to deal with difficult people in stressful situations. I've used the techniques as a law enforcement supervisor and the officers were quite impressed that I was able to talk an erratic behaving person into compliance without ever using physical force. The guidelines in the book apply to anyone that has ever been exposed to a difficult and dangerous confrontation with other people. You just follow the guidelines and make them apply to your specific situation.
sgt t. short

Good book.......2006-04-16

An all around entretaining book. I just did not like the law enforcement example

OUTSTANDING AND EFFECTIVE!.......2005-11-19

The book is very good however, if you have a chance to take the course, don't miss it! I have been a certified Verbal Judo instructor for over 9 years and it has literally changed my life for the better in every area... and I mean that!

Just Words, Second Edition: Law, Language, and Power (Chicago Series in Law and Society)

Average customer rating:

Just Words - Flawed but Important
It's All in the Details (of Legal Discourse, That Is...)
Are Words Truly "Just" Words?
A female discourse?

Just Words, Second Edition: Law, Language, and Power (Chicago Series in Law and Society)
John M. Conley , and William M. O'Barr
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226114880

Book Description

Is it "just words" when a lawyer cross-examines a rape victim in the hopes of getting her to admit an interest in her attacker? Is it "just words" when the Supreme Court hands down a decision or when business people draw up a contract? In tackling the question of how an abstract entity exerts concrete power, Just Words focuses on what has become the central issue in law and language research: what language reveals about the nature of legal power.

Conley and O'Barr show how the microdynamics of the legal process and the largest questions of justice can be fruitfully explored through the field of linguistics. Each chapter covers a language-based approach to a different area of the law, from the cross-examinations of victims and witnesses to the inequities of divorce mediation. Combining analysis of common legal events with a broad range of scholarship on language and law, Just Words seeks the reality of power in the everyday practice and application of the law. As the only study of its type, the book is the definitive treatment of the topic that will be welcomed by students and specialists alike.

Customer Reviews:

Just Words - Flawed but Important.......2006-05-11

Combining the "science of talk" with the legal system is relatively new field, both in the academic world, as well as for myself. Conley and O'Barr strike an interesting chord in the study of the law in claiming that the study of language is inextricably intertwined with legal processes. In analyzing research and historical theories, Conley and O'Barr attempt to strengthen the school of thought that places added emphasis on the study of what and how things are said, as opposed to more simplistic analyses of the law.

Yet in their discussion of the purpose of the study of law, language and all the assorted terms that come with them (power, equality, etc.), I found that Conley and O'Barr tacitly failed to prove their points, or provide substantiative evidence for their claims. From the very first chapter, the authors claim that "the fundamental question in American legal history (is) how a legal system that aspires to equality can produce such a pervasive sense of unfair treatment." Who are Conley and O'Barr to claim knowledge over the primary purpose of the legal system? Undoubtedly, there are many scholars who would contend that the purpose of the legal system is not to advocate for equality, but perhaps for equity. Still more would argue that America is not truly based upon foundations of equality, but a never-ending struggle for control over the power systems put in place throughout our nation. By treating the legal system as if it is the sole foundation for democracy in America, Conley and O'Barr forsake the utilitarian view of the law as quite important in controlling the structural and material makeup of our nation. This avoidance of the structural realities within the US legal system are apparent in several statements made by Conley and O'Barr about the inherent fairness of the law.

Conley and O'Barr state that everyone is afforded the right to vote, which is clearly not the case. Immigrants, ex-felons, and children are all denied the ballot box, making the idea of "universal suffrage" quite laughable. Furthermore, Conley and O'Barr repeatedly invoke the idea that the law is meant to distribute equality amongst the masses, an argument that they fail to prove in a context which considers alternative theories of the law.

This all being said, Conley and O'Barr do present interesting claims as to the field of language and law study, as well as the implications of combining the study of Law and Society with Sociolinguistic studies. I was particularly interested in the second chapter of Just Words as the discussion over the nature of the adversary process was quite remarkable. The idea that the legal system could facilitate the revictimization of rape victims isn't exactly a new idea, but the contention that the system itself disempowers victims through its very structure is quite intriguing and worthy of more social research. An interesting study could analyze the difference between the mostly adversarial nature of US courts with the mostly inquisitorial nature of European courts. In finding new realms of "truth," perhaps there could be better system of legal processes that benefit the majority of all. Clearly, the adversarial process analyzed in Just Words certainly does not provide evidence towards the existence of a legal system that values equality.

It's All in the Details (of Legal Discourse, That Is...).......2006-04-19

In order to fully understand legal discourse, especially in a setting where justice is supposed to reign supremely and yet, is wrought with inequality, one must first recognize the importance of words and the ways in which they are used to un/successfully advocate an individual's cause. This book presents a solid case with thorough explanations of the discrepancies that arise in approaches to utilizing this litigious dialogue. Through its common illustrations of everyday problems with simple legal matters due to inability to speak one's case, it leaves the reader struggling to figure out, not only how this communication crisis can be resolved, but also how our legal system reached the point of elitism that it has, in fact, arrived at. There are some questionable elements of the text; I found that Conley and O'Barr often portrayed women as much weaker and incapable individuals than they have proven themselves to be in society as of late, and I often questioned how they obtained some of their data and conclusions. However, I would recommend the book, as it is thoroughly thought provoking and well written.

Are Words Truly "Just" Words? .......2006-03-26

In anthropology, linguistics is the smallest branch of the "four fields" (including biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology). In linguistics, only a small segment of researchers study issues pertaining to the courtroom and legal issues in general. However, despite the relative scarcity of material related directly to legal linguistics, John M. Conley and William M. O'Barr in Just Words: Law, Language, and Power demonstrate the importance of this emergent field of research.

Some of the findings discussed in this book are surprising. For instance, Conley and O'Barr contend that although the mediation process seems like it would be more congenial toward women, women on average receive less favorable outcomes through the mediation process than if they had gone to trial. Through reading this work, it becomes clear that the Western-style legal system works against minorities and women by giving preferential treatment to those who have mastered the language of dominance - mainly white educated males.

While social justice issues figure prominently in the book, the authors seek to provide material on all aspects relating to legal-linguistic studies. For instance, cross-cultural legal research and historical legal text studies are discussed as well as studies confined to the modern American courtroom. This book is ideally suited for anthropology, legal, and criminology students and lay readers alike.

JW

A female discourse?.......2006-03-25

A major point for Conley/O'Barr in this book is that the forms of discourse that they call most natural to women are subjugated in the legal system today, and therefore women are at a disadvantage. While I can see where characteristically feminine forms of discussion are generally not the very direct question/answer format of the formal trial in the American legal system, as a woman I felt very sold short by their own discourse on the subject matter. They repeatedly drove home the point that women are not assertive naturally and therefore are trampled in the male-dominated milieu of litigation. Running with this were the assumptions that most women now are like this, that women are less able to obtain higher education, and that even when the legal system tries to "accomodate" the female discourse via alternative dispute resolution, it still silences the voice of the woman in the case.
The authors tend to use court transcripts in which women are not just being cooperative with counsel, but being particularly subdued and submissive. The impression is not that the trial situation is intimidating for anyone trying to make his/her case, but that women are unable to sum themselves up succinctly, and this causes their stories not to be heard.
I was also surprised that, despite the relatively recent publishing date of the second edition, the authors still purported that part of this was due to women's limited access to higher education, even though at a considerable portion of American universities in this day and age women are the majority in undergraduate college classes. They position the women in these litigious circumstances as being fundamentally handicapped because they are presumedly not working, or at least not for as much money, and they will be "saddled" with the kids. I think that Conley/O'Barr consider only the extreme cases, not the cases of the modern woman who does work and bring in income, even cases where the woman may be the primary breadwinner. While I of course will acknowledge that there is still a significant portion of women who do choose not to work and this may be a difficult situation to handle in divorce, I still think that women are sold short as far as their abilities to take care of and defend themselves in this day and age.

Average customer rating:

A Perspective Worth Reading
Poorly Written.
superficial and lazy job
Would suffice to have merely read the first 50 pages.
Like talking face to face

D.A.: Prosecutors in Their Own Words
Mark Baker
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684831562

Amazon.com

Prosecutors serve a key role at the conjunction of crime and punishment, wielding an influence on our criminal judicial system second only to that of judges. For the most part, prosecutors exercise absolute discretion over their cases: they are the ones who select the cases worth prosecuting, determine the proper charge against the defendant, and decide whether to plea-bargain or go to trial. The best prosecutors approach their task with humility and courage; the worst have big heads and no backbone. In D.A.: Prosecutors in Their Own Words, district attorneys get a chance to explain who they are and what they do. Sometimes, they admit, it feels as if they are trying to shovel sand against the tide. In the face of reluctant witnesses, vengeful victims, vindictive defendants, death threats, political coercion, media scrutiny, public outrage, and the sometimes crushing pressure to win every case at all costs, these mostly anonymous civil servants are obligated to roll up their sleeves and bear the burden of proof against a never-ending flow of deviancy and brutality--all for low pay and little prestige. Mark Baker--who has previously given "in their own words" treatment to cops and bad guys--has put together a revealing and unromanticized insider's view of how American justice works (and how it doesn't) and the toll it takes on its practitioners. "Witnessing so much of the detail of the serious crimes--the brutal homicide, the rapes--you leave something behind by being involved with them," one prosecutor acknowledges. "You don't leave the office the same person you were." --Tim Hogan

Book Description

From the bestselling author of Cops comes a riveting and hard-hitting look at the criminal justice system, as told by those on the inside -- the district attorneys who prosecute crime in America. Often the unsung heroes of the justice system, D.A.'s -- overworked and underpaid -- represent the people when suspects are brought to trial. It is they who determine which crimes will be most actively pursued.

For D.A., Mark Baker interviewed dozens of D.A.'s from big cities, small towns, and rural areas across the country, and it is their stories and their voices -- by turns idealistic, tough, cynical, and hopeful -- that make up this compelling collective portrait of the men and women whose responsibility it is to see that justice is served.

Prosecutors have enormous powers of discretion. They can decide whether to go to trial or to offer a plea agreement (most of them hate the term "plea bargain"). They face tremendous pressure, especially on high-profile cases, and occasionally even threats from defendants (one-quarter of all prosecutors nationwide say they carry a firearm for personal security). Yet prosecutors are expected to keep a strong sense of perspective, to look at each case individually, to decide whether a particular defendant deserves special consideration, and ultimately to determine what is best for the community.

In D.A., prosecutors discuss what happens when idealism and high expectations run into reality -- low pay, skillful defense attorneys, questionable evidence, and duplicitous witnesses. In candid and unflinching detail, they recall their most memorable cases, wins and losses, and how they keep going in spite of the sometimes chilling crimes they face in court.

Like Cops, D.A. is a gritty, pull-no-punches kind of book that takes up inside the court-room and puts us at the prosecutor's table.

Customer Reviews:

A Perspective Worth Reading.......2003-02-12

I am glad I did not let other customer reviews dissuade me from reading this excellent book on prosecutors. The editorial reviews are much more akin to my experience.

Poorly Written........1999-10-10

Poorly written book. Disorganized. Would have been better if the author had focused on a specific geographic area, e.g. Manhattan/Bronx/Queens or L.A.-- alternatively, focusing on the culure and organizational dynamics of a single office (e.g. Manhattan) or unit (e.g. sex crimes). The author is all over the place, and really does not give the reader substantive info.

superficial and lazy job.......1999-09-08

Im sorry to say this is a very mediocre book. It's got no heart, ir poorly organized and feels like it was put together in a week. The author interviewed 30-some people and tries to use their experiences to tell a story much too large for the effort he has invested. All the quotes are anonymous, which leads to reader to wonder just how real they are. This is a good idea, poorly executed, one that promises far more than it even attempts to deliver. It's a deceitful book and a real disappointment. Stay away.

Would suffice to have merely read the first 50 pages........1999-07-02

This book did offer insight into the minds of prosecutors and their daily struggles and tribulations. However, it was extremely repetetive and the manner in which the book was assembled was cut and paste over and over with little coherency. I rate it two stars, and that is very generous.

Like talking face to face.......1999-05-25

With movies and tv shows that center on courtrooms as popular as ever - and an entire cable channel devoted to trials on television - it is refreshing to get a picture of prosecutors by hearing their own words. Oral historian Mark Baker sums up the situation in his chapter openers, but refrains from editorializing. Instead, he lets the prosecutors - and sometimes judges and defense attorneys - lay it all out for you by pretty honestly talking about themselves and what they do for a living. The various voices have the ring of truth about them. Some seem pretty impressed with themselves, while others ackowledge that the job of dealing with a constant stream of criminals lacks any form of glamour. Most, however, seem to be somewhere in the middle, and it is interesting to get a picture of people in this profession that shows them to be like someone you and I might actually know.

Average customer rating:

Believe the people who review this book as unsound
Not MacKinnon's Strongest, But Worth the Read
Worthless
115 pages of brilliant analysis
lunatics like this are few and far between...

Only Words
Catharine A. MacKinnon
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0674639340

Book Description

When is rape not a crime? When it's pornography--or so First Amendment law seems to say: in film, a rape becomes "free speech." Pornography, Catharine MacKinnon contends, is neither speech nor free. Pornography, racial and sexual harassment, and hate speech are acts of intimidation, subordination, terrorism, and discrimination, and should be legally treated as such. Only Words is a powerful indictment of a legal system at odds with itself, its First Amendment promoting the very inequalities its Fourteenth Amendment is supposed to end. In the bold and compelling style that has made her one of our most provocative legal critics, MacKinnon depicts a society caught in a vicious hypocrisy. Words that offer bribes or fix prices or segregate facilities are treated by law as acts, but words and pictures that victimize and target on the basis of race and sex are not. Pornography--an act of sexual domination reproduced in the viewing--is protected by law in the name of "the free and open exchange of ideas." But the proper concern of law, MacKinnon says, is not what speech says, but what it does. What the "speech" of pornography and of racial and sexual harassment and hate propaganda does is promote and enact the power of one social group over another. Cutting with surgical deftness through cases of harassment in the workplace and on college campuses, through First Amendment cases involving Nazis, Klansmen, and pornographers, MacKinnon shows that as long as discriminatory practices are protected as free speech, equality will be only a word.

Customer Reviews:

Believe the people who review this book as unsound .......2007-07-12

Read those other reviews first. MacKinnon does indeed address a great deal of legal precedent but does not make meaningful interpretations of any of the data: sometimes it's as if she's citing the existence of the moon to infer that the sun should rise.

One thing to add is that MacKinnon never mentions the important differences between images and words where pornography is concerned. This is somewhat astonishing, given the title, but less astonishing given the underthought quality of the book and its guiding concepts as a whole. Passionate defense of women's rights can be important, but invoking righteous hysteria by strongly misdescribing facts is a misguided tactic toward that end.

Not MacKinnon's Strongest, But Worth the Read.......2006-01-20

This is not a book about censorship, but rather a book about human rights, especially rights for those who have never really had them. It is a short read, and it is clear and to the point. If you have read Women's Lives Under Men's Laws, you probably don't need to read this book, as most of the information is equivalent; however, there are a few new facts.

[...] Personally, I appreciate MacKinnon's use of emotion. It makes her appear all the more real. Anyone who is at all interested in the pornography "debate" should check out this little read, but a better viewing of MacKinnon's work, please purchase Towards a Feminist Theory of the State or Women's Lives Under Men's Laws.

Worthless.......2005-05-16

I bought this book because I was intrigued by the title. I expected a book that considered words used with criminal intent, in general.

I am disappointed that pornography is the only crime considered here. I wish the author had examined other kinds of cases--not to mention many many more specific examples. There is probably a wealth of legal material on such crimes, if only the author had broadened her horizons.

While I agree that pornography can be a crime, I find the author's arguments used to ban it fundamentally flawed. As other reviewers have noted, this book is argued poorly, uses a shoddy set of examples, and definitely runs afoul of logic.

Had I been interested in an anti-pornography book, I would have preferred one showing practical means to legally limit its damage.

This book does not argue cogently that the first and 14th amendments are NOT considered equally in cases of criminal use of words.

Neither does it effectively show that words can be criminal, or suggest means to prosecute such crimes. A pity.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

115 pages of brilliant analysis.......2004-09-16

For so few words, MacKinnon really covers a tremendous amount of legal history, free speech precendent and experiential examples. The power of words is detailed better than a linguist could have done it, and the legal framework she argues from is backed up by citing real-world cases.

As i read I found myself shaking my head in agreement because she states her theories extraordinarily well and grounds them in truths most readers will be familiar with and able to recognize. Like a sign saying "Whites Only" is not considered "free speech" but is considered in itself an act of discrimination, breaking through the porn fundamentalist's tired excuse of "it's only words/images". Words have the power to promote prejudice, and in the modern technological age these words are a terrific force indeed.

Words and images contain real social content that can be really damaging to the humanity of certain classes of people when those with more power promote hate speech through them. That the legal system is set up by men for men's benefit comes across clearly with the history of rape law MacKinnon provides.

Isn't it odd that some people keep insisting snuff films don't exist without suggesting why men who videotape themselves raping women, killing animals, destroying property, etc. wouldn't videotape this crime as well? There are several court cases around the US where men have been convicted of murdering women and the videotapes they made doing it were entered as evidence at their trials. I've heard no cogent argument as to how, especially after Abu Ghraib, anyone could believe people really wouldn't do and record the horrors they visit on others.

This book is ahead of its time and should be considered must-read material for all lawyers and gender equity activists.

lunatics like this are few and far between..........2004-07-26

A joy to read. One is left wondering how a mind can get this obsessively warped. Mentions "snuff" porn on nearly every page - despite the fact that in over 30 years the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have never found a single shred of evidence. The only disturbing thing is that she actually has a doctorate - so much for university standards of integrity...

Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, and the First Amendment (New Perspectives on Law, Culture, and Society)

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thoughtful writing on critical race theory and the law

Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, and the First Amendment (New Perspectives on Law, Culture, and Society)
Mari J. Matsuda
Manufacturer: Westview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Discrimination & Racism | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Social Security & Welfare | English Law | Law | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0813384281

Book Description

Words, like sticks and stones, can assault; they can injure; they can exclude. In this important book, four prominent legal scholars from the tradition of critical race theory draw on the experience of injury from racist hate speech to develop a first amendment interpretation that recognizes such injuries. In their critique of "first amendment orthodoxy," the authors argue that only a history of racism can explain why defamation, invasion of privacy, and fraud are exempt from free-speech guarantees while racist and sexist verbal assaults are not.

Customer Reviews:

thoughtful writing on critical race theory and the law.......2000-03-10

this book examines how free speech in this country intersects with assaultive speech.it challenges the thought that all speech should be protected, and engages you to examine the intent behind many words that we take for granted.

Book Description

By turns harrowing and hilarious, this adroitly narrated winner of the Toronto Book Award re-creates the world in the imagination of Thelma. It’s a world in which she can escape some of her more painful childhood realities, like those games her father likes to make her play, where he’s the boss and she the naughty secretary. And her mother so fiercely favors her younger brother, the cherubic Willy, that Thelma finds herself perpetually in emotional exile. No wonder Thelma asks practically every adult she meets to adopt her. Along Thelma’s bumpy way from a rural English village to Canada to a law degree at Oxford, she meets many potential parents and even makes some friends, but it is with the companions of her fertile imagination—with the scaredy-baby Janawee, moody and timid Ginniger, and big, strong, stoic Heroin—that Thelma finds comfort. With them, too, she loses an already tenuous connection to reality, though ultimately Thelma’s spirit and humor prove to be as indomitable as her wit. “Moving and comic at once.... Hallucinatory, hilarious, and haunting.”—Boston Globe “Prickly, unsentimental...a portrait of terrible comic humanity.”—New York Times Book Review “Mesmerizing.... Lush, visceral prose ... rings with an authority rarely found in first novels.”—Washington Post Book World “A novel of astonishing power .... An instantaneous classic.”—Baltimore Sun “Elegant ... sings with an almost Victorian delicacy and sophistication.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS A DARK LITTLE BOOK, CERTAINLY NOT FOR EVERYONE.......2006-12-11

I did like this book. I read it today, in a few hours time. It was good; it was just very different. And there is nothing wrong with different.

The story revolves around Thelma. She has a mother who resents her from the start, a sexually abusive father, a brother who is conceived in an affair her father is not even aware of - {the brother is a whole different story!} - talk about dysfunctional families, this is THE one.

Thelma makes up friends in her mind since she has none that are real. No one likes her family and in the end they move from England to Canada to try and start over. Life doesn't change for anyone, especially poor Thelma who is made fun of, ignored both by children and her family, (excepting for her sexually sick Dad!), and invents her own little make-believe world.

It is a good book, just very odd and different. This book goes into the world of the insane, self-abusive, self-starvation, and was sometimes shocking. Most of the book tells of Thelma's life while she is a child and I found her life to be sad.

However, it is a good read, albeit different. It kept my attention -- certainly enough to read in one sitting! -- and Thelma DOES have a sense of humor all throughout her life. I was laughing at times.

In the end, she does, in her way, triumph, and you will end this book with a good feeling. The subject matter is sad, true, and sometimes shocking. Like mentioned, it is not for everyone.

However, I would say to check it out and just be prepared to find it a tad depressing. You will feel sorry for Thelma, but you will enjoy Thelma too. You will want to protect her.

One of the best books I have ever read? Hardly. However, it is a good book.

Thank you!
Pam

Intense and engrossing!.......2006-07-25

Definitely not a book everyone would enjoy due to the subjects of child abuse (mental and physical) and mental illness. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down until you learn what happens to Thelma. The book follows her from infancy to adulthood. It's a very intense book, yet there were parts that made me laugh out loud. One of the best books I've read all year......

Engrossing.......2005-05-19

Indeed, this book was engrossing.

Thelma is a starkly honest and brutally refreshing narrator. I did end up feeling sorry for her, what with all the horrible experiences she went through. I really disliked her father for what he did with her - playing naughty secretary and the like.
This book will draw a lot of sympathy from readers towards the little girl that is Thelma. How Thelma asks various people to become her parents is absolutely heart-wrenching.

The novel is about Thelma's coming of age - written in seemingly short stories about the different stages of her life.
Despite her rough experiences in childhood, she manages to get a scholarship to law school.
Mouthing the Words is about Thelma coming in to know herself, of accepting herself, trying to find out who she is - and, ultimately, finding that much-needed courage to mouth the words.

I really enjoyed this book. I could really relate to Thelma being a misfit.

Ms. Gibb writes powerfully, honestly, and expressively. I think she has really captured the essence of what it is like to speak through a child's eyes, in the face of neglect, abuse, and other experiences.

I had the honor of attending one of Ms. Gibb's readings, and even got my books signed. She is a very nice lady, and I am eagerly waiting to read her other books.

The Globe and Mail is not wrong!.......2003-07-27

"Mouthing the Words" is written so well. I've not read anything like it before. The story is a dark one, but the way that it is delivered is brilliant. We would all share terrible stories if we were able to do so in such an interesting way.
I was totally engrossed from the beginning. This is a novel you will read more than once. See for yourself! Her writing is gorgeous.

Can I have a resolution please?.......2003-07-16

I tip my hat to Ms.Gibb for her convincing portrayal of Thelma, a girl abused into insanity. But after a classic build up, there is a common let down. The story ends with no real resolution. That alone took away 2 stars from an otherwise masterful literary piece.

Jesus' Words Only or Was Paul the Apostle Jesus Condemns in Revelation 2:2

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PAUL - Faith without works? Hardly!!!
Truth is SHOCKING sometimes!
An indictment of Pauline Dispensationalism
Listen! Can you hear the cacophonous gnashing of teeth in the cemeteries (uh, excuse me, "seminaries")?
For those who love Yahweh

Jesus' Words Only or Was Paul the Apostle Jesus Condemns in Revelation 2:2
Douglas J. Del Tondo
Manufacturer: Infinity Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0741429659

Product Description

An attorney argues the inspired New Testament consists of Jesus' words only. Paul's status is questioned. First, Paul never made a valid prophecy. Second, Paul must be rejected under Deut. 13:5 because he taught the Law of Moses was nullified. Lastly, Jesus most likely intended we understand Paul was the person in Rev. 2:2 whom the Ephesians put on trial and proved was a false apostle. This Ephesus trial is alluded to in Acts ch. 19. Paul refers to it several times as well.

Customer Reviews:

PAUL - Faith without works? Hardly!!!.......2007-02-20

I have mixed feelings about this book. It makes a number of outstanding points but it has the wrong man on trial. I thoroughly agree that Christianity was corrupted by the doctrines of original sin, predestination, dispensationalism, and faith over works which are a result of Paul's writings being taken out of context and elevated over the Gospels. The real culprits were Augustine, Luther and Calvin, not Paul. The author does a good job in explaining how the earliest Christians and the Eastern Orthodox faith (I would include the Waldenses and Anabaptists) had a more balanced approach by subjugating what Paul wrote to a secondary status to what Jesus taught in the Gospels, even though they still revere him as a saint and read his epistles in their liturgy. I also commend the author for acknowledging Paul's initial revelations and his suffering and martyrdom as legitimate.

However, there are a number of false charges in this book and Prosecutor Del Tondo has called witnesses to the stand who completely contradict his own star witnesses - the Gospels. A good defense attorney would rip this case to shreds.

In chapter 12, Del Tondo's case completely unravels when he brings Robert Eisenman and the sectarian writings of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the witness stand. Del Tondo has obviously not read Eisenman's latest book in which he claims that the Scrolls tell the real story of the "Jamesian" Jewish resistance movement, the Gospels were a derogatory parody of the Scrolls, and that the "Jesus" of the Gospels was a Hellenistic god-man created by pro-Roman gentiles to undermine Judaism. In order to believe this, you have to completely trash Christianity, which Eisenman has done. At least in that respect, he's consistent. Calling Eisenman to the witness stand is like the prosecutor of a homicide case calling a witness to the stand who doesn't even believe the victims, (Jesus' words) were alive to begin with! YOU CAN'T BELIEVE ROBERT EISENMAN AND THEN QUOTE THE GOSPELS!!!

Carbon dating aside, you cannot connect the Jesus of the Gospels with the sectarian writings of the Dead Sea Scrolls which teach: absolute predestination of damnation for anyone outside the community; the prohibition of spreading knowledge outside the community; a contempt for ritually "unclean" persons (ie the lame and blind) who are not to have contact with the community; the prohibition of saving a man who falls into water or a cistern with a tool or ladder on the Sabbath; a vitriolic
hatred of surrounding gentile nations which are to be slaughtered and plundered. These writings could not have inspired the Jesus of the Gospels who preached in public, told his followers to make disciples of all nations, reached out and touched "unclean" persons, and healed a man on the Sabbath. The Sermon on the Mount is diametrically opposed to The War Scroll which reads like a manifesto for the Taliban. SO WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN PROSECUTOR DEL TONDO, THE GOSPELS OR THE SCROLLS?!!!

The Pseudoclementine writings are another bogus witness against Paul. These writings date no earlier than the second century and are in some respects more anti-Semitic than what Paul wrote. They show a contempt for the Temple and the sacrificial laws which they felt were added to a falsified Torah. These ideas are reflected in Stephen's speech in Acts 7, and the quotations of the Gospel of the Ebionites. The second century Ebionites probably descended from the so-called Hellenist faction which Paul drove out of Jerusalem which explains their polemic against him. They could not have been the direct heirs of James and the Apostles who continued to worship in the Temple. Eusebius spoke highly of James and the Jerusalem Church. He only condemned the second century "Ebionites" who were Jewish heretics as well.

Del Tondo charges Paul with advocating fornication in 1Cor. 7:15 in which he merely says if an unbelieving spouse chooses to leave, just let them go (in order to avoid strife). He makes the same charge in Gal. 5:21 when Paul uses the word "practice" fornication. Del Tondo implies that Paul allowed occasional fornication. Both of these charges are ridiculous and would be thrown out in any serious court of law. THIS IS A KANGAROO COURT!!!

We also have to throw out the charge that Paul was mentioned as advocating fornication in Revelation 2:14 which talks about those who follow the teachings of the original Balaam, not Paul!

Another bogus charge claims Paul advocated vexing the poor by making them work in 2Thess. 3:10. If you read the preceding four verses, Paul is talking about freeloading missionaries who are a burden to the community. The same admonition is given in the Didache which many believe to be an early Jewish Christian writing. In Ephesians 4:28, Paul tells people to work with their hands in order to help the needy. Paul's collecting tithes for the poor Saints in Jerusalem is more than enough proof that this is a ridiculous charge.

Romans chapter 8 is the heart and soul of Paul's teaching. There is no condemnation for those who walk in the spirit. Paul is merely saying that one cannot truly fulfill the law unless they are guided by the spirit. HOW IS THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS?!!!

Paul contradicts himself and can be very caustic and ornery. His writings should not take precedence over the Gospels. However, his actions speak louder than words. Paul's public beatings and floggings would be scandalous if he were some kind of Roman agent, an accusation Eisenman has suggested. Paul couldn't have made that up.

The only people who truly understood Paul were the early Christian martyrs like Ignatius of Antioch who committed the ultimate act of obedience to Jesus in taking up the cross - as Paul did. Paul wrote about the glory of suffering and dying like Christ. Paul wasn't writing to the Luthers, the Calvins, or the Billy Grahams for that matter. He was writing for the martyrs and catacomb Christians and set an example with his own suffering and martyrdom.

PLEASE,TELL ME!!! WHAT WERE PAUL'S HARDSHIPS, SUFFERINGS, AND MARTYRDOM BUT WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE ULTIMATE ACT OF FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE TO THE WORDS OF JESUS?!!!

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS? HARDLY!!!

Truth is SHOCKING sometimes!.......2007-01-04

Very Compelling evidence against the False Apostle Paul A must read for TRUTH SEEKERS!

An indictment of Pauline Dispensationalism.......2006-12-23

This book is an outstanding addition to the growing awareness among scholars and historians that there is something fundamentally wrong with the doctrine of the self-professed apostle Paul as it relates to other New Testament and Old Testament doctrine. Mr. Del Tondo's trenchant analysis of Paul's incompatibility with the teachings of Jesus also exposes dispensationalist doctrine as the fraud it truly is when it futilely and superficially attempts to overcome the contradictions between Jesus and Paul by assigning each doctrine to a separate and compartmentalized "church age" or "dispensation".

Listen! Can you hear the cacophonous gnashing of teeth in the cemeteries (uh, excuse me, "seminaries")?.......2006-09-24

Regardless of HOW the letters of the ravening Benjamite wolf came to be incorporated between covers of The Book, choose this day whom you will believe; the Spouter of Lies, or the Great King, Yahshua ha Mashiach! Because the words of the one do NOT agree with the Words of the Other. YAHSHUA'S WORDS ONLY!!!

For those who love Yahweh.......2006-05-22

A classic! A most enlightening, comprehensive, educative, courageous and brilliant book! It not only exposes the falsity of Paul as an apostle of Yah'shuah, but teaches on a whole host of fundamental principles with respect to following Yahweh and only Yahweh's words (Matthew 4:4). This great work should strengthen weak followers of Yah'shuah, including even those who do not consider themselves weak followers of Yah'shuah. Once again - a classic!

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