"Satire is her oxygen. . . . In her new oddball comedy, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Sarah Ruhl is forever vital in her lyrical and biting takes on how we behave."-The Washington Post
"Ruhl's zany probe of the razor-thin line between life and death delivers a fresh and humorous look at the times we live in."-Variety
"Sarah Ruhl is deliriously imaginative and fearless in her choice of subject matter. She is an original."-Molly Smith, artistic director, Arena Stage
An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet caf. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. And a dead man-with a lot of loose ends. So begins Dead Man's Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative new comedy by playwright Sarah Ruhl, recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Grant and Pulitzer Prize finalist for her play The Clean House. A work about how we memorialize the dead-and how that remembering changes us-it is the odyssey of a woman forced to confront her own assumptions about morality, redemption, and the need to connect in a technologically obsessed world.
Sarah Ruhl's plays have been produced at theaters around the country, including Lincoln Center Theater, the Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory, Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, among others, and internationally. She is the recipient of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (for The Clean House, 2004), the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award, and the Whiting Writers' Award. The Clean House was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2005. She is a member of 13P and New Dramatists.
About this product: Just as the automobile radically changed people's lives at the beginning of the 20th century, so too has the revolution in online services (including blogging, podcasting, videogaming, shopping, and social networking) and cell-phone use changed our lives at the turn of the 21st century. In addition, many other services, activities, and devices--including the Palm Pilot, the BlackBerry, the iPod, digital cameras, and cell cameras--have been made possible by the combination of these two technologies. Whereas the automobile allowed people for the first time to work in cities and live comfortably in the suburbs, extending the long commute beyond the limits previously circumscribed by public transportation, the Internet and cell phone allow us to interact with others from around the world--or a few hundred miles--from where we work or live, giving rise to the telecommuting phenomenon and allowing us to stay in touch with friends and families in the new virtual environment. As Hanson demonstrates in her new book, these technologies enable us to work and play 24/7, anytime, anywhere. What does this mean for us as individuals and for society as a whole? What are the social implications of this technological revolution that we have witnessed in the short span of about 20 years? Do people of different generations use these technologies in the same ways, or do they adopt them to support their communication habits formed at different times of their lives? How does the illusion of control provided by these technologies affect the way we think about what is meaningful in our lives? Hanson examines the wide-ranging impact of this change. How do individuals posting their viewpoints on the Internet affect democracy? Is it possible to ever completely prevent identity theft over the Internet? How permanent is information stored on the Internet or on a hard drive? Do cell phones change the way people think about privacy or the way they communicate with others? Does email? Do videogames teach new social principles? Do cell phones and the Internet change traditional communication behaviors and attitudes? Hanson discusses these crucial issues and explores to what extent individuals do have control, and she assesses how social and governmental services are responding to (or running from) the problems posed by these new technologies.
About this product: Do more than you ever thought possible with wireless technology! Packed with insider tips, tricks, timesavers, and workarounds, this unique guide shows you step by step how to make the most of today’s most popular wireless networks and mobile wireless devices. From planning and setting up a wireless network, to using a media hub to enjoy your music and photo collections, to designing and downloading your own logo screens and graphics, this book delivers all the secrets you need to get more done in less time, save money, and become a wireless-savvy user!
The Insider’s Guide to:
Demystifying wireless and mobile technologies (see Chapters 1 & 2)
Planning, connecting, and extending the capabilities of your wireless network (see Chapters 3—6)
Choosing the right mobile device and service (see Chapter 7)
Staying connected on the road so you don’t miss a beat (see Chapter 8)
Working with mobile e-mail and messaging (see Chapter 9)
Getting the most out of your PDA (see Chapter 10)
Using your mobile device to find and download screen savers, games, and cool ring tones (see Chapter 11)
Controlling your home remotely--from wireless lighting to wireless babysitter cams (see Chapter 12)
Easy steps to securing your wireless and mobile networks from hackers (see Chapters 15 & 16)
About this product: Today, it is almost impossible to do business without a cell phone and a BlackBerry or PDA. These devices are the lifeline for companies large and small—and nobody knows this better than a hacker. Traditionally, security for mobile devices has held a low priority. Now, a certified ethical hacker explains in this book why this must change and how to change it. Packed with sobering examples of actual attacks, this unique resource shows you how to mount your counterattack.
About this product: How do you help your child choose between mandatory baseball practice and Hebrew school? How can you plan a birthday party (not to mention bar or bat mitzvah party!) for your child without sacrificing your values, sanity, and pocketbook? How can you keep peace on the homework homefront? And how do you deal with Santa envy–let alone the entire month of December?
As any modern Jewish parent knows, balancing family traditions and the realities of contemporary culture can be incredibly challenging.
Answering questions both old and new, Jewish and secular, internationally syndicated parenting columnist and award-winning Jewish educator and mother of four, Sharon Duke Estroff illuminates the ways that Jewish tradition can be used to form a lasting, emotional safety net for modern families. Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? is an instant classic.
“A warm book full of tangible advice that will fashion children into committed Jews and menschen; in short, into people who will be a blessing in their own lives and in the lives of all those whom they meet.” –Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of You Shall Be Holy and The Book of Jewish Values
“Brimming with humor and strategy, love, and secret parent handshakes.” –Melissa Faye Greene, author of The Temple Bombing, Praying for Sheetrock, and There's No Me Without You
“Sharon Duke Estroff has the uncanny ability to give solid, useful, and practical information on how to raise children while making you laugh out loud at the same time.” –Stephen Nowicki Jr., Ph.D., ABPP, coauthor of Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit In and Teaching Your Child the Language of Social Success “I'm not Jewish, but I love this book. I laughed through it all while still appreciating the serious lessons it teaches. Every mom (and dad) with kids will find themselves nodding and smiling to themselves as they discover each other on every page.” –Bonnie R. Strickland, Ph.D., ABPP, former president of the American Psychological Association
“This book belongs in the library of every parent and grandparent.” –Atlanta Jewish Times
"Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah is a valuable must-buy for all Jewish parents, and not just for Hanukkah. Not only does Estroff give practical child rearing advice but her joyful approach to Judaism is a healthy antidote to religious skeptics." -Hadassah Magazine
"Estroff’s witty, sympathetic tone and her attention to ethical matters make her a refreshing authority.” - Jewish Living Magazine
"Sharon Duke Estroff’s Can I have a Cell Phone for Hanukah? is a wise, witty, and insightful guide for parents — both Jews and non-Jews — who are faced with navigating their way through the shoals of contemporary American life." - Deborah Lipstadt PhD, History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving
"One of the best parenting books I've read this year." -Five Minutes for Mom Blog
"Sharon Duke Estroff has come to the rescue of parents raising children in today's 'overachieving, anxiety- filled culture,' with her concise, insightful and often hilarious guide Can I have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? The Essential Scoop on Raising Modern Jewish Kids." -Jewish Independent
"From play dates, homework and extracurricular activities, to bar/bat mitzvah,tzedakah and Jewish holidays, with humor and insight Estroff offers suggestions for coping with the day-today challenges of Jewish parenting...an easy read packed with a lot of good,practical advice." -Chicago Jewish Star
"With Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? a mother will have help navigating her way through the child rearing years and beyond. With humor and in a contemporary modern mind, the book offers wonderfully creative ways to take your children from one subject to another." -Shalom Newspaper
"Insightful and humorous, Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? covers many of the parenting issues us mommy bloggers banter about every day, such as choosing a kindergarten to teaching your children the value of a dollar. Estroff writes in a fun and catchy rhythm that makes her down-to-earth advice a joy to read, including text peppered with Jewish references that add flavor and voice." -Mommy Blog Spot
"Peppered with humor, Estroff's book addresses dilemmas that begin as early as the preschool years and evolve throughout elementary school, junior high school and high school. She discusses academic competitiveness, cutthroat soccer games and surviving homework. She guides parents who struggle with the idea that they must provide the most entertaining play dates, most exciting birthday parties and the most lavish b'nai mitzvah receptions." -Jewish News of Greater Phoenix
"Any parent feeling overwhelmed will find Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? filled with interesting, easy-to-read advice. Estroff has a sense of humor, noting when she’s made parenting mistakes and discussing the lessons she learned the hard way. Parenting in the 21st century may not be easy, but Estroff helps make the task a little less difficult." -The Reporter
"Sharon has filled 'Can I have a Cell Phone' with lots of practical advice for Jewish parents, including how to deal with Santa-envy, how to survive the homework struggle, how to plan a birthday party without breaking your budget and how to help shy kids make friends. Also, there are chapters on grade-school play date protocol and parenting in the Net generation." -Jewish Literary Review
"Ms. Estroff, mother of four, Jewish educational consultant, and author of a nationally syndicated parenting advice column, writes with wit, candor, and authority. She brings issues and wisdom from her personal parenting experiences, those of the families at her day school, and those from her readers together in gentle, measured, moderate, and reasonable, contemporary guide to raising children." -Juggling Frogs Jewish Parenting Blog
About this product: The Cell Phone Reader offers a diverse, eclectic set of essays that examines how this rapidly evolving technology is shaping new media cultures, new forms of identity, and media-centered relationships. The contributors focus on a range of topics, from horror films to hip-hop, from religion to race, and draw examples from across the globe. The Cell Phone Reader provides a road map for both scholars and beginning students to examine the profound social, cultural and international impact of this small device.
About this product: Modern technology is supposed to make life easier, but this is often not the case. The cell phone in the hands of a teenager, especially during school, is an excellent example. Many teachers have given up trying to police a device that fits in pockets, sleeves and inside of binders. The cell phone is quickly turning the classroom into a social club. In this small manual the author explains the techniques he found for controling this "varmint," and reducing classroom stress at the same time.
The book traces the impact of the cell phone from personal issues of loneliness and depression to the global concerns of the modern economy and the trans-national family. As the technology of social networking, the cell phone has become central to establishing and maintaining relationships in areas from religion to love. The Cell Phone presents the first detailed ethnography of the impact of this new technology through the exploration of the cell phone's role in everyday lives.
About this product: Interest in India has never been greater. Here Shashi Tharoor, one of the subcontinentÕs most respected writers and diplomats, offers precious insights into this complex, multifaceted land, which despite its dazzling diversity of languages, customs, and cultures remainsÑmore than 60 years after its foundingÑthe worldÕs largest democracy. He describes the vast changes that have transformed this once sleeping giant into a world leader in science and technology, a nation once poverty-stricken that now boasts a middle class of over 300 million peopleÑas large as the entire population of the United States! Artfully combining hard facts and statistics with opinion and observation, Tharoor discusses the strengths and weaknesses of his rapidly evolving homeland in five areasÑpolitics, economics, culture, society, and sportsÑand takes a fresh look at the worldÕs second most populous country.
About this product: Can the cell phone forever change the way people communicate? The mobile phone is more than simply a technical innovation or a social fad, more than just an intrusion on polite society. This book, based on worldwide research involving tens of thousands of interviews and contextual observations, looks into the impact of the phone on our daily lives, including changes in our accessibility, safety and security, coordination, and use of public places.
A particularly "good read", this book will be important to the designers, information designers, social psychologists, and others who will have an impact on the development of the various new third generation of mobile telephones.
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