Mark Graham
Bio
I am a person who really likes to read and write and to share what I learned with all my education. My page will mainly be book reviews and critiques of old and new books that I have read and will read. There will also be other bits, too.
Stories (1801)
Filter by community
The Diary of Clotee, A Slave Girl
Just finished reading a youth book that is entitled 'Dear America A Picture of Freedom- The Diary of Clotee, A Slave Girl. This is the story of a slave girl who learned to read and write while doing her job as a fanner (someone who had a big fan and waved over a person to keep that person cool) living at the Belmont Plantation in the state of Virginia 1859. Clotee had her Aunt Tee and Uncle Heb and a few friends that helped pass the days till freedom came while doing all the Big House chores and just being safe right before the War Between the States. At the end of the book there is a recipe for Sweet Potato Pie, a song 'Go Down Moses' and a few other notes.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
The Art of Unit Testing
'The Art of Unit Testing' written by Roy Osherove and Vladimir Khorikov is a computer book that teaches how to write and use unit testing in forming many kinds of programs and codes to see what passes and/or fails in various programs created. The code chunks were easy to understand and learn from for Roy and Vladimir are writers that teach their subject. You will learn all about stubs and mocks and how they can work together. The main computer language he based this book on was Jest. I reviewed this book as it was being written and I re-read it now and I learned even more.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Geometry for Programmers
Here is another computer book that I reviewed for manning.com. This one is entitled 'Geometry for Programmers' written by Oleksandr Kaleniuk. So, who remembers their geometry course from high school? To be honest I was a business studies student in high school and did not take geometry, but I do remember other students complaining and it seemed a lot about this course. This book will give a very basic review of the basic and how it fits in with computer programming. The code is easy to understand the author teaches as he writes. There are many mini summaries throughout the chapters as well as at the end each chapter for even better understanding of the subject covered. I am thinking about trying to draw some of the illustrations as artwork that is what to me geometry is all about shapes in many contours and the vocabulary was another way that I may share some ideas, as in Spline.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Statistics Slam Dunk
Here is a computer book entitled 'Statistics Slam Dunk' written by Gary Sutton. This is a computer book that teaches as you read. The basic premise is to teach you basic statistics through all the facets of pro basketball. To me it was a fun way to learn what could be a boring subject. The reader will learn many statistical tests for the simple t-test to Cohen's D. The code is also easy to read and understand for the author explains it after it is presented. This is also a book I reviewed for manning.com.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Dark Witch
Nora Robert's wrote the novel 'Dark Witch' that is about a women named Iona, an American with Irish descendant who traveled to Ireland to seek out some family answers. This is a romance story with a lot of family interests and how family and friends can see each other for who they are. As the title offers it is a story of witches and dark magic. The reader at times will even read the magic spells as if they were using the spell for the rhythm of words will have that effect. Nora Robert's and the way she has of writing her books will have you thinking that you are in Ireland experiencing what Iona and hers are experiencing.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Dr. Spock
Believe it or not as an early childhood educator and even a licensed practical nurse I have never read 'Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care' book from beginning to end. Guess what I did just that and I found out that I actually did follow the rules that he set for several development stages of growth and development. This is a book that Dr. Spock wrote with another doctor Michael B. Rothenberg, MD. This is a book that starts out describing the parents then working through what is needed for a new baby as well as basic baby and childcare skills like bathing, feeding and dressing, etc. The book also cover the time of life known as adolescence, why schools are important. There are sections dealing with childhood diseases, medications, first aid and CPR and finishing up with various special topics. The illustrations were pencil sketches, but they were kind of cute in a way. Even though some of the ideas may seem far-fetched and outdated who knew that they still worked.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Memorial Day
In the month of May at the end there's a holiday known as Memorial Day. It is a day set aside to give praise and honor to all who served this country known as America. It is a day that family and friends have a barbeque of hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, and some form of dessert and some kind of beverage depending on the wants of those that tend to want iced tea, beer or some other form of drink. Just remember this saying while remembering on this day. "Lest We Forget."
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
McGuffey's Eclectic Readers
My new writing project is to write and share stories in Gregg shorthand. In these first short pieces I am a little rusty since I learned this skill in my Junior year in high school and I have been graduated for 41 years. Just remember this first 'lesson' and subsequent lessons are from McGuffey's primer reader and really not much to read. I am continuing to practice and review my shorthand so a few symbols will be slightly off kilter. Please comment on this and others that I am going to write and share.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Mehndi Designs #4
Still another Mehndi design that I colored for this rabbit intrigued me the way he was posed. I duplicated the colors I used with the animal, as well as with a lot of the flowers surrounding the rabbits. Again, I am hoping for comments and maybe $tips$ on the work. These images will be posted here on Critique and/or ART.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Mehndi designs #3
Here's a Mehndi design that I colored using colored pencils the medium of my choice. This design I colored shows some patterning of the use of the colors used especially on the top and bottom of the work. I am hoping for comments on this work and the others. I am going to post these on ART and Critique, so I am hoping for feedback. To be honest I am also hoping maybe to receive $tips$.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Mehndi Designs #2
Here is another Mehndi design that I colored. Mainly the medium I use are colored pencils. Coloring is a skill that one uses to relax that one learned back in nursery school. As an adult this is one childish activity that I still like to do. I am hoping for comments on this and future colorings.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Art
