Sid Meier's Civilization IV Special Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)If you've never played Sid Meier's Civilization and are thinking about buying for the first time, I recommend you read some of the reviews from the previous version Civilization III to get a glimpse of how exciting and breath-taking this game, its concept, and artificial intelligence truly are. If you're a veteran at Civ, THEN LISTEN UP!!!
I ripped open this package as soon as I got it, told my friends & family not to talk to me until Thanksgiving, and basically put my life on hold.
Right from the opening, you are blown away by the higher-grade graphics, details, sounds, and more lively persona of the game. Although many game elements have changed, you will not need to read the manual (who does?) to play. Right away you'll figure out the new console and controls. Starting off, you choose map style, map size, climate, sea level, and the civ – just like Civ III. These are the civs you can play for now (I'm sure there'll be expansion packs later):
Americans
Arabians
Aztecs
Chinese
Egyptians
English
French
Germans
Greeks
Incans
Indians
Japanese
Malinese
Mongolians
Persians
Romans
Russians
Spanish
Unlike Civ III, most of these civs have two leaders that you can choose, which allow another dimension of play. The movements and landscape are incredibly better with 3-D effects that are more colorful. Even down to the borders of the countries, the lines are more creatively contoured.
It's harder to over-expand or quickly expand your cities. In Civ III if you were Chinese, you could beat everyone virtually by getting your population to the point of overwhelming others in production capacity, units, and wealth. Therefore, you have to be more judicious with each city's focus, research, and commitments.
There no longer is a government angle like democracy, fascism, or monarchy. You achieve the governments as part of your research toward civic choices. Similarly, you research pacifism to get towards one of the religions. The religions seem to play a much more incorporated component to the game, but a subtle. The religions are: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. So, for example (and I apologize that this isn't politically correct), if Christian Napoleon fights the Persians with Islam, there seems to be a slight difference than Christian Napoleon fights the Taoist Persians, to the extent that religion plays a role. I've tried that combo a few times and continue to get similar statistically significant results. However, certainly for those civs that are keen on religion, you'd better go for it asap!
New military units are all over the place. I played Americans my last time and I noticed the Navy SEAL. That was pretty cool. Also units can now be promoted so their attack rate or defense can be incrementally improved over time. Figure a swordsman beating a Navy SEAL? Also, there are less worries about micromanaging the Workers.
Overall, the game speed is about 2X faster. In other words, what took me 6hrs to achieve in Civ III takes around 3hrs. That makes it more intense playing. You'd better keep you eye on everything.
In short, Fireaxis has done an incredible job. Hands down, the best game ever (ever). Sid Meier, if you're reading this, you are absolutely a master game developer and please NEVER retire!

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With over 6 million units sold and unprecedented critical acclaim from fans and press around the world, Sid Meier's Civilization is recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all-time. Now, Sid Meier and Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive game to new heights by adding new ways to play and win, new tools to manage and expand your civilization, all-new easy to use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options. Civilization IV will come to life like never before in a beautifully detailed, living 3D world that will elevate the gameplay experience to a whole new level. Civilization IV has already been heralded as one of the top ten games of 2005, and a must-have for gamers around the globe!

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Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice Review

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(More customer reviews)In "Spec Ops" William H. McRaven has written a comprehensive, thoughtful, theory of special operations. In so doing, he has taken a field of arms that is shrouded and myth and bravado, and applied rigorous logic to it; the end result of which is both a useful tool for the analysis of past operations, and a guidebook for future ones.
The key to this work's success is that it cuts through the mayhem, and "seat-of-their-pants" view that most people have of special operations, and breaks them down using simple, constant analysis. First McRaven considers the overall mission: Was it worth the risk? Was it executed according to plan, and if not why? What could have been done better? He then goes on to identify six key components of any special operation: Simplicity, Security, Repetition, Surprise, Speed and Purpose. He correctly points out that weakness in any one of these areas can be compensated for, to a degree, by strength in the others, but they all must be present to some degree.
Finally he considers the most critical aspect of any special operation; Did/can the attacking force achieve and maintain relative superiority over the enemy? I say critical because by definition the special forces will never have absolute superiority, it is only in their ability to temporarily achieve superiority that they can have any hope of success. McRaven, observes that failure to achieve relative superiority must inevitably result in a failure to achieve objectives at the minimum, and disaster at the worst.
By analyzing eight classic special operations, McRaven proves the merits of his theory time and again. Over the course of fifty years and a host of political environments, he illustrates the overarching validity of his arguments. In so doing he has provided both the special warrior, and the military historian alike with a powerful, valuable tool.

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Vice Adm. William H. McRaven helped to devise the strategy for how to bring down Osama bin Laden, and commanded the courageous U.S. military unit that carried it out on May 1, 2011, ending one of the greatest manhunts in history. In Spec Ops, a well-organized and deeply researched study, McRaven analyzes eight classic special operations. Six are from WWII: the German commando raid on the Belgian fort Eben Emael (1940); the Italian torpedo attack on the Alexandria harbor (1941); the British commando raid on Nazaire, France (1942); the German glider rescue of Benito Mussolini (1943); the British midget-submarine attack on the Tirpitz (1943); and the U.S. Ranger rescue mission at the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines (1945). The two post-WWII examples are the U.S. Army raid on the Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam (1970) and the Israeli rescue of the skyjacked hostages in Entebbe, Uganda (1976). McRaven—who commands a U.S. Navy SEAL team—pinpoints six essential principles of "spec ops" success: simplicity, security, repetition, surprise, speed and purpose. For each of the case studies, he provides political and military context, a meticulous reconstruction of the mission itself and an analysis of the operation in relation to his six principles. McRaven deems the Son Tay raid "the best modern example of a successful spec op [which] should be considered textbook material for future missions." His own book is an instructive textbook that will be closely studied by students of the military arts. Maps, photos.

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KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is the translation of a Russian text dating back to 1945, the hayday the Soviet Union. The chapters covering the history of the Spetznaz, past and present, is very interesting, especially the parts detailing the different branches of Special Action teams and how they relate, but the technical portion of the manual tends to be vague and too general to be of use unless you're already a student of Samooborona bez Oruzhia (commonly known by the Russian acronym "Sambo" and translated as "self defense without weapons"). Don't buy this manual if you're looking to study Soviet hand to hand combat. If that's what you're after, go to www.russianmartialart.com or www.amerross.com.
The author/translator, Jim Shortt, retained many of the terms common in the Soviet Union, which may seem odd to Americans (I wouldn't even try to explain "moral-political" to your average American, as I have a hard time grasping it!).
There is also a section on physical fitness and recovery which is interesting, and probably as relavent today as it was in 1945.
This is not a bad book, and I do recommend it, but only if kept in perspective.

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A rare glimpse into how Soviet Spetsnaz and KGB units protected and defended their country from perceived enemies - inside and outside its borders. Includes special sections for Alpha Teams on assassination, sabotage and kidnapping.

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The Intuitive Warrior: Lessons from a Navy SEAL on Unleashing Your Hidden Potential Review

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(More customer reviews)This 193 page book is from 2009/2010. It is about the lessons our author learned as a Navy SEAL, especially the lessons using his well-honed intuition. Michael speaks of how accessing that intuition saved his life and also saved lives of others who have learned to access it. This book is dedicated to "all UDT/SEAL Warriors Past, Present and Future."
Former Navy SEALS will likely LOVE this book, because Michael speaks of the 24 years he spent in the SEALS and the training and experiences he had. Michael was stationed in turbulent places such as Iraq and in places all over the world. I would say the book is about 50 % SEAL experience (including his similar work as an independent security contractor) and about 50 % intuition and other related skills. The "other" might amaze many of you.
Michael explains a little about many of the "other" intuitive-related skills he developed. He mentions martial arts training and how it helped him to improve his mind/energy balance and focus. He speaks of the telepathic abilities he developed, where he could not only read the minds of team members, but also those of enemies. He speaks of an Out-of-Body experience (OBE), of astral projection (being able to see things as if you were in another place), of meditation (and how to do it). He talks about the Law of Attraction (how we attract what we put our attention and energy on), including how synchronistic events interplay in our lives. Michael explains a little about the Mayan culture, the 2012 alignment and energy changes, ancient cultures and beliefs, past lives, Atlantis and Lemuria, angels, ascended masters, and guides, the importance of NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) (self programming), and getting your ego under control. Michael also taught some of these skills to other SEALS along the way.
You most likely know that SEAL training is probably the toughest training in the world. These men are truly "the elite" warriors. Our author has obviously developed both sides of his brain to the degree that few have or will. He has written this book to share his life-altering experiences with you, and from the perspective of one who MUST maintain razor sharp focus and clearness of mind at all times. This book is about training and utilizing the Warrior's Intuition to the degree and from the perception that few books will cover.
With all that said, Michael is also telling all who will listen and open their minds, that although most of us will never be SEALS, ALL of us can develop these intuitive skills. Wonderful book--small but packed with info--If you will open your mind to the possibility, it can suggest how to get started.


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From conflicts in Panama to the war in Iraq, Navy SEAL Michael Jaco has employed his powers of perception and awareness to save his life and the lives of his fellow SEALs. In The Intuitive Warrior, Jaco recounts the mentally and physically demanding training required of members of one of the most elite Special Forces units and how the intuition developed during that training can be learned and applied by anyone.Using real-life examples, Jaco explains how he tapped into his intuitive capabilities to predict attacks and protect his fellow soldiers. The Intuitive Warrior will teach you how employing the methods perfected by a genuine military hero can act as a catalyst toward developing a richer, more fulfilled life.

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