Michael Fitzgerald

Although Ruby is an easy language to learn, in the heat of action you may find that you can't remember the correct syntax for a conditional or the name of a method. This handy pocket reference offers brief yet clear explanations of Ruby's core components, from operators to reserved words to data structures to method syntax, highlighting those key features that you'll likely use every day when coding Ruby. Whether you've come to Ruby because of the Rails web development framework --Ruby's killer app -- or simply because it's a relatively clean, powerful and expressive language that's useful for a lot of applications, the Ruby Pocket Reference is organized to help you find what you need quickly. This book not only will get you up to speed on how Ruby works, it provides you with a handy reference you can use anywhere, anytime. In this book, you find essential information on: Reserved words, operators, comments, numbers, variables, ranges, and symbols Predefined variables andglobal constants Conditional statements, method use, classes, and modules (mixins) Lists of methods from the Object, String, Array, and Hash classes and the Kernel module sprintf andtime formatting directories Interactive Ruby (irb) and the Ruby debugger Ruby documentation You also get information on the RubyGems package utility and Rake, a build tool similar to make. If you're using Ruby daily and just want the facts-fast-Ruby Pocket Reference is your book.

A comprehensive study of UFO and alien topics, especially since the new millenium. Aliens are among us already and their activities have increased enormously with the arrival of the new millennium. Journey with the author as he examines human/extraterrestrial interaction from ancient times to the present. Sightings, contact, and abduction cases are all considered, as well as a detailed study of the evidence for life on other planets, especially on Mars and the Moon. Become part of the search for extraterrestrial life and attempts to communicate with it. Explore the coverups and conspiracies, doomsday scenarios, and the possibility that the increase in UFO activity represents an attempt by extraterrestrials to encourage us to change direction and work together for the salvation of our planet. Or...is there a much more sinister plan afoot? Prediction: By the year 2030, we will have definite proof of the existence of intelligent life on other planets. Mysteries beckon.

This is a provocative and novel investigation of the psyches of sixty artists, predominantly from the world of film, theatre and television/radio -- writers, actors, producers and directors ranging from Shakespeare and Voltaire to major late-twentieth-century figures such as Spike Milligan, Sam Peckinpah and Frank Sinatra, by way of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Orson Welles and Judy Garland. Irish artists featured include Oliver St John Gogarty, Jimmy O'Dea and Richard Harris. The chapters, which range from quite brief vignettes to more in-depth studies, examine the background of each individual before considering their personality, social relationships and work. Professor Fitzgerald brings his expertise to bear in elucidating the psychological factors, strengths and frailties that shaped the lives and careers of these prominent creators, many of whom are regarded as geniuses. The lives of extraordinary artists are of interest in themselves; when their stories are told from the perspective of expert psychological insight, the results are fascinating and revealing.

Autism and Creativity is a stimulating study of male creativity and autism, arguing that a major genetic endowment is a prerequisite of genius, and that cultural and environmental factors are less significant than has often been claimed. Chapters on the diagnosis and psychology of autism set the scene for a detailed examination of a number of important historical figures. For example:* in the Indian mathematician Ramanujan, the classic traits of Asperger's syndrome are shown to have coexisted with an extraordinary level of creativity* more unexpectedly, from the fields of philosophy, politics and literature, scrutiny of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Sir Keith Joseph, Eamon de Valera, Lewis Carroll and William Butler Yeats reveals classical autistic features. Autism and Creativity will prove fascinating reading not only for professionals and students in the field of autism and Asperger's syndrome, but for anyone wanting to know how individuals presenting autistic features have on many occasions changed the way we understand society.

A boarding school in the depths of the country, no escape. A bully tormenting one child. Then, the nightmare ends when the tormentor disappears. Stephen has a choice, tell no one of the collapse of the tunnel, and be free from persecution, or rescue the person who had made his life a misery and return to living in fear and trepidation.

Officiating a professional boxing match can be a thankless job. When a match goes well, no one focuses on the referee. But when a controversy arises, everyone remembers the man who made the call. Third Man in the Ring explores the lives of thirty-three officials as they discuss what goes on inside the ropes and recount the disputes and clashes that have occurred when they worked at home and abroad. The referees share stories from the high-profile fights they worked, with such superstars as Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, and Julio César Chávez. Readers will hear from Rudy Battle, the first ref to officiate a title fight in an Eastern bloc country, and Mills Lane, the third man during the infamous Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield ear-biting match. Several officials reveal memorable moments such as arbitrating contests in nations experiencing civil unrest. One referee admits fearing for his life after disqualifying a hometown hero in front of a packed stadium, while another recalls his experience officiating in communist North Korea. Referees describe from experience the differences between officiating a boxing contest in a traditional ring versus the increasingly popular mixed martial arts events held in an octagon. Readers will also hear stories from refs who have "gone Hollywood," consulting on film sets alongside such legends as Sylvester Stallone. An old boxing adage states, "The best referees are the ones no one knows are there." Third Man in the Ring sheds much-needed light on these hardworking officials and their stories.

Regular expressions remain a difficult part of the puzzle when learning how to program. Commonly used for sifting through large chunks of text, regexes are incredibly powerful although they may appear daunting to the newcomer. And variations among languages and environments make them even harder to master. Loaded with examples, this introductory guide walks beginners step-by-step through the fundamentals of regular expressions, and helps you decipher complex patterns. * Break down regular expressions into comprehensible parts * Learn common usage patterns through simple, easy-to-follow examples * Discover how finding unique patterns can help you avoid repetitive, hand-editing of text * Use common command-line tools such as grep and sed * Compare how regular expressions are implemented in different languages and environments

Ragged London describes life in the rookeries of London, where forty people would live together in one room. Although life was a constant struggle against famine, disease and violence, the people enjoyed a closeness that was more than the result of overcrowding. Their lives were lived entirely within the ‘mean streets’ of their little corner of London. They were born and raised within the rookeries, earned their meagre living there, enjoyed life as best they could, dressed in the latest fashion, got married, had children, died and were buried there. The lack of cooking facilities led to them inventing the takeaway, and there was absolutely no sanitation. In the poorest district of all, St Giles, only a single water pump serviced the entire population. It was a closed world, although the population explosion of nineteenth-century London led to millions of new arrivals in the already-congested rookery districts. The areas were lawless to a degree that dwarfs contemporary concerns about crime. Though life was cheap in the rookeries, they produced some of the best soldiers and sailors in the British armed forces.

The Making of Modern Streatham provides a unique exploration of south London: this isn't boring suburbia - there's something unexpected around every corner. With chapters on buildings, music and entertainment, transport, nature, wartime and a whole host of other themes explored, this fascinating new title is sure to be an eye-opener for those who think they know about their neck of the woods...

Amongst the large library of Hitler publications, Michael Fitzgerald's book stands out for its clarity of purpose and its insights, the why and the how. Hitler was above all anti-establishment, perhaps the biggest joke in history; one of the world's bloodiest dictators was in part motivated by socialist ideals and spurred to political action by his own experience of crushing poverty. His 'green' credentials are impeccable: such revelations make for fascinating reading.

What makes mathematicians tick? How do their minds process formulas and concepts that, for most of the rest of the world's population, remain mysterious and beyond comprehension? Is there a connection between mathematical creativity and mental illness? In The Mind of the Mathematician, internationally famous mathematician Ioan James and accomplished psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald look at the complex world of mathematics and the mind. Together they explore the behavior and personality traits that tend to fit the profile of a mathematician. They discuss mathematics and the arts, savants, gender and mathematical ability, and the impact of autism, personality disorders, and mood disorders. These topics, together with a succinct analysis of some of the great mathematical personalities of the past three centuries, combine to form an eclectic and fascinating blend of story and scientific inquiry.

This is a radically different biography of Hitler, revealing aspects of his life that are either unknown or hardly known, based on original research in primary sources, analysed and narrated in a fresh, insightful style. It is the first book to explain convincingly the origins of Hitler's anti-Semitism, to demonstrate the crucial importance of art in Hitler's life and vision for the German people, and to reveal the truth about the 1939 assassination attempt on Hitler. It is a lucid and cogent analysis of the genesis of the Holocaust and a penetrating insight into the complex and twisted mind of Adolf Hitler.

A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Catholic approach to interreligious dialogue in our time. When the Second Vatican Council published its teaching on Christianity in relation to other religious traditions (Nostra Aetate) everyone knew a threshold had been crossed. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald and Dr. John Borelli have been participating in the crossing of that threshold for many years. This book tells the tale of what it has been like to have been engaged in interreligious dialogue and what has been accomplished since Nostra Aetate was promulgated. The reader finds in this work a sober assessment of today's difficult situation and the inspiring story of a church that has tried to open itself to honest conversation with representatives of all the worlds great faiths.

This vital new book presents effective strategies to tackle the specific difficulties in social interaction and communication that are experienced by adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Focusing on the development of interaction skills through teaching social competence, the authors explain how to design an effective social skills intervention programme whose primary objective is successful peer interaction. They describe the methodology, philosophy and science underpinning their approach and include a template for a sample course currently administered over six months. Guidance is given on what resources to choose from the wide range of available intervention programmes, and many case study examples are also provided. The authors outline session formats, possible problems and solutions, and emphasise the significance of the therapist's attitude and the role of parents in building social confidence. This highly practical book is an excellent resource for anyone involved with designing and delivering socialisation training to adolescents with AS, from parents and teachers to counsellors and therapists.

The nature of artistic creativity and its relationship with 'difference' has intrigued people for centuries. The Genesis of Artistic Creativity is a revealing exploration of the lives of 21 famous writers, philosophers, musicians and painters including George Orwell, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Andy Warhol and many others, in light of the recognized criteria for diagnosis of high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Having diagnosed hundreds of individuals with AS during his professional career, Professor Fitzgerald examines here the social behaviour, language, humour, and obsessive interests and routines that accompanied creative genius in the past four centuries. From Herman Melville's eccentric breakfast habits and Simone Weil's intense dislike of being touched by other people to Ludwig van Beethoven's inappropriate marriage proposals and Vincent van Gogh's inability to form satisfying relationships with others, the author offers compelling insights into the association between creativity and autism spectrum disorders. This celebration of artistic genius and AS will prove a fascinating read not only for professionals in the field of autism and AS, but for anyone interested in the sources of creativity and the arts.

Aspergers Syndrome and the Arts.

Developers and system administrators alike are uncovering the true power of XML, the Extensible Markup Language that enables data to be sent over the Internet from one computer platform to another or one application to another and retain its original format. Flexible enough to be customized for applications as diverse as web sites, electronic data interchange, voice mail systems, wireless devices, web services, and more, XML is quickly becoming ubiquitous. XML Hacks is a roll-up-your-sleeves guide that distills years of ingenious XML hacking into a complete set of practical tips, tricks, and tools for the web developers, system administrators, and programmers who want to go far beyond basic tutorials to leverage the untapped power of XML. With plenty of useful real-world projects that illustrate how to define, read, create, and manipulate XML documents, XML Hacks shows readers how to put XML's power to work on the Internet and within productivity applications. Each Hack in this book can be read easily in a few minutes, saving programmers and administrators countless hours of searching for the right answer. And this is an O'Reilly Hacks book, so it's not just practical, imminently useful, and time-saving. It's also fun. From Anatomy of an XML Document to Exploring SOAP Messages XML Hacks shows you how to save time and accomplish more with fewer resources. If you want much more than the average XML user--to explore and experiment, do things you didn't know you could do with XML, discover clever shortcuts, and show off just a little--this invaluable book is a must-have.