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Handbook on Radiation Environment, Volume 2: Dose Measurements
by Dinesh Kumar AswalThe handbook aims to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding ionizing radiation dosimetry, catering to experts, policymakers, and interested readers. The content of the handbook is focused on two main aspects of dose measurements: external dosimetry and internal dosimetry. The section on external dosimetry covers fundamental principles and discusses monitoring techniques across various environments, such as nuclear, industrial, research, and medical facilities. It also covers advanced topics like Bayesian inference and retrospective dosimetry. The internal dosimetry section explores radionuclide biokinetics, simulation techniques, dose evaluation, and monitoring methods. Specific scenarios, such as radon inhalation and off-normal conditions, are addressed, highlighting the importance of precision and intervention. The handbook serves as a comprehensive resource for students, academicians, scientists, engineers, and policymakers interested in seeking an in-depth knowledge of radiation dose measurements and its multi-faceted aspects in protecting human health and the environment.
Flexibles Rechnen im Grundschulverlauf: Eine Längsschnittstudie zur Förderung und Entwicklung flexibler Vorgehensweisen beim Addieren und Subtrahieren (Mathematikdidaktik im Fokus)
by Anna KörnerDie Entwicklung von Flexibilität beim Rechnen gilt seit vielen Jahren als zentrales Ziel des Arithmetikunterrichts der Grundschule. Dennoch belegen die Ergebnisse empirischer Studien zu Vorgehensweisen von Kindern, dass viele Schüler*innen einen Hauptrechenweg bevorzugen und selten flexibel agieren. Flexibilität scheint sich also nicht automatisch zu entwickeln, sondern muss gezielt gefördert werden. Aufbauend auf Ergebnissen anderer Studien wurde für die vorliegende Untersuchung eine Unterrichtskonzeption zur kontinuierlichen Förderung von Flexibilität vom ersten bis zum vierten Schuljahr entwickelt und umgesetzt. Im Rahmen dieser längsschnittlichen Studie wurden die Vorgehensweisen der Schüler*innen beim Addieren und Subtrahieren sieben Mal im Projektzeitraum in leitfadengestützten Einzelinterviews erfasst, um anhand qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse mit darauf folgender Fallkontrastierung und Typenbildung charakteristische Entwicklungen im Grundschulverlauf rekonstruieren zu können. Alszentrales Ergebnis wird eine Typologie zur Einordnung der Vorgehensweisen beim Lösen von Additions- und Subtraktionsaufgaben vorgestellt, anhand derer Fort- und Rückschritte im Entwicklungsverlauf dokumentiert werden können.
Cybernetic Revolution and Global Aging: Humankind on the Way to Cybernetic Society, or the Next Hundred Years (World-Systems Evolution and Global Futures)
by Leonid Grinin Andrey Korotayev Anton GrininThis book explores the global technological transformations that have shaped development of society for eons, from the emergence of Homo sapiens to the modern day. Looking at a potential future for all of this century and the beginning of the next, the book explores how society is changing as a result of the two most powerful trends: technological advances and global aging. It studies the forthcoming technological wave – the Cybernetic Revolution, which will encompass AI, medical technology and biotechnology, robotics, cognitive, nanotechnology etc. In turn, it shows why and how global aging will become one of the most powerful factors, influencing the evolution of society and the World System as a whole. Lastly, the book demonstrates how technological innovations can change the way people live and the society of the future, assessing both the new opportunities and threats posed by uncontrolled technological progress. Accordingly, it will appeal to social scientists, political scientists, economists and historians who are interested in technological transformations and their social and economic impacts.
Extreme Values In Random Sequences (Springer Series in Operations Research and Financial Engineering)
by Pavle MladenovićThe main subject is the probabilistic extreme value theory. The purpose is to present recent results related to limiting distributions of maxima in incomplete samples from stationary sequences, and results related to extremal properties of different combinatorial configurations. The necessary contents related to regularly varying functions and basic results of extreme value theory are included in the first two chapters with examples, exercises and supplements. The motivation for consideration maxima in incomplete samples arises from the fact that real data are often incomplete. A sequence of observed random variables from a stationary sequence is also stationary only in very special cases. Hence, the results provided in the third chapter are also related to non-stationary sequences. The proof of theorems related to joint limiting distribution of maxima in complete and incomplete samples requires a non-trivial combination of combinatorics and point process theory. Chapter four provides results on the asymptotic behavior of the extremal characteristics of random permutations, the coupon collector's problem, the polynomial scheme, random trees and random forests, random partitions of finite sets, and the geometric properties of samples of random vectors. The topics presented here provide insight into the natural connections between probability theory and algebra, combinatorics, graph theory and combinatorial geometry. The contents of the book may be useful for graduate students and researchers who are interested in probabilistic extreme value theory and its applications.
Pearls and Pitfalls in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
by Hisham Marwan Dina AminThis is the first book of its kind in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. It comprehensively reviews the most performed surgical procedures, including basic and/ or advanced techniques for dentoalveolar surgery, craniomaxillofacial trauma, temporomandibular joint surgery, benign and malignant pathology, head and neck reconstruction, craniofacial deformities, facial cosmetics, and obstructive sleep apnea. Furthermore, the book discusses pearls and pitfalls for adult and pediatric office-based sedation. The authors present a step-by-step approach to the surgical techniques efficiently while avoiding complications. Pearls and Pitfalls in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is written by nationally and internationally recognized oral and maxillofacial surgeons and will be a valuable asset to residents, fellows, and junior surgeons.
Point Cloud Compression: Technologies and Standardization
by Wen Gao Wei Gao Ge Li3D point clouds have broad applications across various industries and have contributed to advancements in fields such as autonomous driving, immersive media, metaverse, and cultural heritage protection. With the fast growth of 3D point cloud data and its applications, the need for efficient compression technologies has become paramount. This book delves into the forefront of point cloud compression, exploring key technologies, standardization efforts, and future prospects. This comprehensive book uncovers the foundational concepts, data acquisition methods, and datasets associated with point cloud compression. By examining the fundamental compression technologies, readers can obtain a clear understanding of prediction coding, transform coding, quantization techniques, and entropy coding. Through vivid illustrations and examples, the book elucidates how these techniques have evolved over the years and their potentials for the future. To provide a complete picture, the book presents cutting-edge research methods in point cloud compression and facilitates comparisons among them. Readers can be equipped with an in-depth understanding of the latest advancements, and can gain insights into the various approaches employed in this dynamic field. Another distinguishing aspect of this book is its exploration of standardization works for point cloud compression. Notable standards, such as MPEG G-PCC, AVS PCC, and MPEG V-PCC, are thoroughly illustrated. By delving into the methods used in geometry-based, video-based, and deep learning-based compression, readers become familiar with the latest breakthroughs in the standard communities.
How Shakespeare Inspires Empathy in Clinical Care
by David Ian JeffreyThis book investigates how a study of Shakespeare’s plays may enhance empathy in doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Addressing the widely perceived empathy gap in teaching and medical practice that emerged after the Covid-19 pandemic, the book presents a new study into the psychosocial elements of human interactions. It offers invaluable insights into how students and practitioners may be supported in dealing appropriately with their emotions as well as with those of their patients, thereby facilitating more humane medical care. Fostering an empathic patient-doctor relationship, the author explores the emotional, cognitive and moral dimensions of care and describes how Shakespeare studies can be realistically incorporated into the medical curriculum through group reflections, workshops and special study modules.
Cryptococcus neoformans: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology #2775)
by Erin E. McClellandThis volume explores the latest developments in the study of Cryptococcus neoformans and its pathology, along with discussion on newly used therapeutics. The chapters in this book cover a wide range of protocols commonly used in Cryptococcus research such as animal models, genetics techniques, virulence factor phenotyping, and microscopy. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Cutting-edge and thorough, Cryptococcus neoformans: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource that will help researchers further enhance their understanding of this pathogenic yeast, and will aid in new discoveries and therapeutics.
Intellectual Disability in a Post-Neoliberal World
by Jennifer Clegg Richard Lansdall-WelfareThis book suggests and promotes new paradigms for intellectual disability. Challenging the predominant neoliberal agenda, it combines extensive clinical experience, conceptual analysis, and recent research. The authors explore the way that promotion of autonomy and choice overlooks the fundamentally relational needs of people with intellectual disabilities by examining four significant, repeating themes. What neoliberal policies are and how they suffocate innovation; the recurring scandals that characterise ID services in all cultures; the counter-intuitive belief that behavioural interventions can somehow address emotional distress; and fundamental tensions in the relationship between parents and services. Each chapter proposes alternative and hopeful ways to address the 40% of people with intellectual disabilities whose distress generates challenges for parents and staff. Written primarily for intellectual disability researchers, professionals, service managers, and policy-makers, this book constitutes a useful reading also for scholars in psychology, psychiatry and nursing, as well as specialist historians, geographers, sociologists, and social anthropologists engaged with intellectual disabilities.
Threats to Our Ocean Heritage: Potentially Polluting Wrecks (SpringerBriefs in Archaeology)
by Michael L. BrennanThis open access volume focuses on the environmental hazards and cultural significance of Potentially Polluting Wrecks (PPWs), and how mitigation efforts have assisted in documenting and preserving the history of these sites. It is an important resource on the subject of Potentially Polluting Wrecks that synthesizes previously published information that was not academically or scientifically produced. This includes numerous international studies of shipwreck databases and threats posed by world war wrecks containing oil and other hazardous materials that could spill. This book evaluates these materials and presents new analyses and investigations with modern technology that assist in locating, documenting, and remediating polluting wreck sites. Consequently, this volume calls for increased ocean exploration missions to locate sunken merchant vessels that may pose pollution hazards and site assessments to determine any potential risks. This book is of interest to government officials, educators, archaeologists and practitioners working in the field of underwater archaeology. This is an open access book.
Shipwrecked (The Islanders #3)
by Mary Alice MonroeJake, Macon, and Lovie fight to survive at sea in this third high-stakes adventure in the middle grade, New York Times bestselling The Islanders series by Mary Alice Monroe!Jake Potter&’s biggest dream finally comes true: he gets his very own boat! And it&’s just in time for another summer of fun on Dewees Island with his best friends, Macon and Lovie. But on their very first fishing trip, the engine dies, and the three friends find themselves adrift at sea. When a storm carries them to a small, uninhabited island far from Dewees, the kids must use every ounce of their strength, courage, and knowledge to survive as they wait for rescue. Will their friendship survive the ultimate test?
The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy
by Mike MadridAn insightful investigation of how and why the two major political parties have failed to appeal to the Latino vote—the largest ethnic voting group in the country—and the impact it will have on American democracy and politics for decades to come.In 2020, Latinos became the second largest ethnic voting group in the country. They make up the largest plurality of residents in the most populous states in the union, as well as the fastest segment of the most important swing states in the US Electoral College. Fitting neither the stereotype of the aggrieved minority voter nor the traditional assimilating immigrant group, Latinos are challenging both political parties' notions of race, religious beliefs, economic success, and the American dream. Given their exploding numbers—and their growing ability to determine the fate of local, state, and national elections—you&’d think the two major political parties would understand Latino voters. After all, their emergence on the national scene is not a new phenomenon. But they still don&’t. Republicans, not because of their best efforts but rather despite them, are just beginning to see a movement of Latinos toward the GOP. Democrats, for the moment, still win a commanding share of the Latino vote, but that share is dwindling fast. Now, in The Latino Century, veteran political consultant Mike Madrid uses thirty years of research and campaign experience at some of the highest levels on both sides of the aisle to address what might be the most critical questions of our time: Will the rise of Latino voters continue to foment the hyper-partisan and explosive tribalism of our age or will they usher in a new pluralism that advances the arc of social progress? How and why are both political parties so uniquely unprepared for the coming wave of Latino votes? And what must each party do to win those votes? By answering these questions, The Latino Century explores the true meaning of America at a time of rapid cultural change, the founding principles of self-government and individual responsibility, and one man&’s journey through a political party that has turned itself inside out.
Complicit: How Our Culture Enables Misbehaving Men
by Reah BravoA thoroughly researched and deeply personal examination of how women unintentionally condone workplace abuse in a post-#MeToo world—and what we can do to change things for the better. When Reah Bravo began working at the Charlie Rose show, the open secret of Rose&’s conduct towards women didn&’t deter her from pursuing a position she thought could launch her career in broadcast journalism. She considered herself more than capable of handling any unprofessional behavior that might come her way. But she soon learned a devastating truth: we don&’t always react to abusive situations as we imagine we will. When we live in a society where many feminist ideals are mainstream and women hold positions of power, how is it possible that sexual misconduct remains so prevalent? When many employers mandate trainings to prevent harassment of all kinds, why is workplace abuse still so rampant? Weaving her own experience with those of other women and insights from experts, Bravo reveals the psychological and cultural forces that make us all enablers of a sexist and dangerous status quo. By bringing these hard truths into the light, Complicit charts an accessible path toward a better future.
One Week to Change the World: An Oral History of the 1999 WTO Protests
by DW GibsonThe definitive history of Seattle&’s 1999 World Trade Organization protests, featuring over 100 original interviews and timed to the event&’s twenty-fifth anniversary.One week in late 1999, more than 50,000 people converged on Seattle. Their goal: to shut down the World Trade Organization conference and send a message that working-class people would not quietly accept the runaway economic globalization that threatened their livelihoods. Though their mission succeeded, it was not without blowback. Violent confrontations between police and protestors resulted in hundreds of arrests and millions of dollars in property damage. But the images of tear gas and smashed windows that flashed across TVs and newspapers were not an accurate representation of what actually happened that week. In the oral history One Week to Change the World, award-winning journalist DW Gibson pieces together a complex and compelling account of what really went down in Seattle, immersing you in the angst that defined the end of a millennium, complete with fight clubs and Y2K doomsday scenarios. In more than 100 original interviews with protestors, police, politicians, anarchists, artists, activists, union members, and many others, Gibson reconstructs the events in gripping detail; documents its antecedents and aftermath; and shows how so many of its themes remain just as pressing today, including the vitalness and difficulty of grassroots activism, the aspirations and limitations of globalization, the militarization of policing, the sensationalism of the media, and the undeniable power of the people. Timed to the 25th anniversary of the protests, this book is a page-turning drama, an essential history, and a practical handbook for how to make one&’s voice heard.
Hood Wellness: Tales of Communal Care from People Who Drowned on Dry Land
by Tamela J. Gordon&“A funny, thought-provoking, and profound memoir about the intersection of Blackness and health. Gordon&’s vision of a more just future feels both inspiring and possible.&” — Kirkus Starred ReviewWhat does self-care look like when struggling to make ends meet, living with a disability, or navigating intersectional marginalization? How can you prioritize well-being while divesting from systems built to destroy you? The answer: Hood Wellness, a groundbreaking exploration that challenges the oppressive systems deeply rooted in health and wellness industries in the United States. In a world where self-care is critical to survival, Gordon offers a revolutionary perspective that celebrates individuals' unique privileges, challenges, and desires. By defying the norms of multi-billion-dollar industries, Hood Wellness illuminates the possibilities that emerge when we prioritize well-being while divesting from harmful structures. Hood Wellness is also a deep exploration of people forced to overcome harrowing circumstances with little more than communal support and the will to get well. From terminal illness and police violence to embracing gender identity in a society that's attacking trans and queer rights, each story reflects America's extreme political, racial, and gender climates. Gordon challenges everything we think we know about wellness by calling out the wellness industry's inability to include those outside the margins of white, heteronormative identities. She lays plain that self-care as we know it is mostly just surface-level "cute," and communal care is the call-to-action that America needs. Drawing on elements of memoir, self-help, humor, critical race theory, and devastatingly honest storytelling, Gordon guides readers on a transformative journey toward a new paradigm of wellness. This compelling book serves as a beacon, empowering individuals to cultivate resilience and self-love in today's world. As Gordon shares her personal odyssey, she intertwines the stories of others, revealing her profound discoveries, triumphs, and passions related to self-care. Hood Wellness introduces readers to an inclusive and accessible self-care primer and an approach to well-being that holds the potential to bring about profound change in their lives.
The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage
by Jonathan TurleyA timely, revelatory look at freedom of speech—our most basic right and the one that protects all the others.Free speech is a human right, and the free expression of thought is at the very essence of being human. The United States was founded on this premise, and the First Amendment remains the single greatest constitutional commitment to the right of free expression in history. Yet there is a systemic effort to bar opposing viewpoints on subjects ranging from racial discrimination to police abuse, from climate change to gender equity. These measures are reinforced by the public&’s anger and rage; flash mobs appear today with the slightest provocation. We all lash out against anyone or anything that stands against our preferred certainty. The Indispensable Right places the current attacks on free speech in their proper historical, legal, and political context. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were not only written for times like these, but in a time like this. This country was born in an age of rage and for 250 years we have periodically lost sight of the value of free expression. The history of the struggle for free speech is the story of extraordinary people—nonconformists who refuse to yield to abusive authority—and here is a mosaic of vivid characters and controversies. Jonathan Turley takes you through the figures and failures that have shaped us and then shows the unique dangers of our current moment. The alliance of academic, media, and corporate interests with the government&’s traditional wish to control speech has put us on an almost irresistible path toward censorship. The Indispensable Right reminds us that we remain a nation grappling with the implications of free expression and with the limits of our tolerance for the speech of others. For rather than a political crisis, this is a crisis of faith.
Kotlin in Action, Second Edition (In Action)
by Dmitry Jemerov Svetlana Isakova Sebastian Aigner Roman ElizarovExpert guidance and amazing examples from Kotlin core developers! It&’s everything you need to get up and running fast.Kotlin in Action, Second Edition takes you from language basics to building production-quality applications that take advantage of Kotlin&’s unique features. Discover how the language handles everything from statements and functions to classes and types, and the unique features that make Kotlin programming so seamless. In Kotlin in Action, Second Edition you will learn: Kotlin statements and functions, and classes and types Functional programming on the JVM The Kotlin standard library and out-of-the-box features Writing clean and idiomatic code Combining Kotlin and Java Improve code reliability with null safety Domain-specific languages Kotlin coroutines and flows Mastering the kotlinx.coroutines library Kotlin in Action, Second Edition is a complete guide to the Kotlin language written especially for readers familiar with Java or another OO language. Its authors—all core Kotlin language developers and Kotlin team members—share their unique insights, along with practical techniques and hands-on examples. This new second edition is fully updated to include the latest innovations, and it adds new chapters dedicated to coroutines, flows, and concurrency. About the technology Kotlin is a low-hassle, high-productivity programming language flexible enough to handle any web, mobile, cloud, and enterprise application. Java developers will appreciate the simple syntax, intuitive type system, excellent tooling, and support for functional-style programming. Plus, since Kotlin runs on the JVM, it integrates seamlessly with existing Java code, libraries, and frameworks, including Spring and Android. About the book Kotlin in Action, Second Edition teaches you Kotlin techniques you can use for almost any type of application, from enterprise services to Android apps. The authors are all members of the Kotlin team, so you can trust that even the gnarly details are dead accurate. You&’ll start with Kotlin fundamentals, learning how the language handles everything from statements and functions to classes and types, and about its unique features that make Kotlin programming so seamless. As you progress through this masterful book, you&’ll get hands-on with the Kotlin standard library, functional programming in Kotlin, and advanced features such as generics and reflection. And this updated second edition now covers coroutines and structured concurrency to help you create efficient high-performance applications. What's inside Guidance from members of the Kotlin team Domain-specific languages Kotlin coroutines and flows About the reader For readers familiar with Java or another OO language. About the author Sebastian Aigner is a Developer Advocate at JetBrains, and host of the Talking Kotlin podcast. Roman Elizarov was the lead designer of the Kotlin language. JetBrains Developer Advocate, Svetlana Isakova, was a member of the Kotlin compiler team. Dmitry Jemerov is one of Kotlin&’s initial developers.
Red Sky Mourning: A Thriller (Terminal List #7)
by Jack CarrWith the walls closing in, Navy SEAL sniper James Reece is on a race to dismantle a conspiracy that has forced America to her knees in the latest high-octane page-turner that seems ripped from the headlines from the &“hottest author on the thriller scene today&” (The Real Book Spy), #1 New York Times bestseller Jack Carr.You think you know James Reece. Think again. A storm is on the horizon. America&’s days are numbered. A Chinese submarine has gone rogue and is navigating towards the continental United States, putting its nuclear missiles within striking distance of the West Coast. A rising Silicon Valley tech mogul with unknown allegiances is at the forefront of a revolution in quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence. A politician controlled by a foreign power is a breath away from the Oval Office. Three seemingly disconnected events are on a collision course to ignite a power grab unlike anything the world has ever seen. The country&’s only hope is a quantum computer that has gone dark, retreating to the deepest levels of the internet, learning at a rate inconceivable at her inception. But during her time in hiding, she has done more than learn. She has become a weapon. She is now positioned to act as either the country&’s greatest savior or its worst enemy. She is known as &“Alice&” and her only connection to the outside world is to a former Navy SEAL sniper named James Reece who has left the violence of his past life behind. Will there be blood? Count on it! Will the forces that threaten to destroy the United States be enough to light the fuse of Reece&’s resurrection? From &“master novelist&” (Ballistic magazine) Jack Carr comes his most intense thriller to date, pressing &“emotional buttons that other writers wouldn&’t dare explore&” (The Real Book Spy).
We Used to Live Here: A Novel
by Marcus KliewerGet Out meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house&’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can&’t believe the killer deal they&’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they&’re working in the house one day, there&’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in. As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family&’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can&’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?
The 3 Things: A Practical Path to Collective Recovery
by Maggie BoxeyThrough Maggie's drunken youth, she was reminded by her preacher father of The 3 Things: you are part of a family, be true to yourself, and glorify God in all that you do. But as Maggie shares in this transformational book, those old truths take on new meaning in modern life, recovery, and motherhood.Sometimes, simplicity can untangle the most complicated messes. Even in the darkest pit with the cold hard slab of rock bottom pressed against our face, there is a lifeline of truth, a rope of wisdom we can grab to pull ourselves out. As Maggie Boxey curled into a tight ball of overwhelming shame, addiction, and isolation, she could hear her preacher father&’s voice, echoing in her ears. &“You are part of a family. Be true to yourself. Glorify God in all that you do.&” These were the three things Maggie&’s Daddy would insist she repeat as a teenager before running out the door for &“sleepovers&” that were really trips to the darkest corners of town to binge drink with strangers. Each night, she would rattle off the 3 things before wandering off to pull herself further into the complicated mess it would take decades to untangle. It took her 25 hard, traumatic years for her to fully grasp the depth of her father&’s words, through her time serving in the Navy, through addiction, and through losing custody of her child due to her behavior and instability. The deeper Maggie sunk into addiction and isolation, the less she felt part of a family. Without community to see herself reflected back to her, it felt impossible for her to be true to herself. Instead of glorifying God in all she did, she resorted to foxhole prayers and felt unworthy of God&’s love. She lived in the undoing of the 3 things until she found herself in an alcoholic suicidal bottom with only two ways to go: end it all, or surrender to a new beginning. She chose the latter. With the 3 things as her guide, Maggie gathered powerful forces to aid her in her recovery: contemplation, community, celebration, and compassion for herself and others. She relied on her 12-step recovery community to help her get sober and put in the humble work to right the wrongs of her past. She became part of a family again, both chosen and inherited. Her compassionate honesty allowed her to be true to herself. And she remembered what it means to glorify God in all she did, whether that was taking out the trash, giving birth to her second child, or writing a book in service to others, The 3 Things. In The 3 Things, Maggie Boxey shares how she used her faith to regain all she lost and find the will to start again, even when it seemed hopeless. She shares her struggles of being a sober progressive liberal and *gasp* vegetarian living in military communities in the South. And as a die-hard Indigo Girls fan, she guides readers from all walks of life and religious backgrounds to get closer to fine.
Conan: City of the Dead
by John C. HockingTwo epics in one hardcover as Conan the mercenary faces hideously transformed wizards and undead creatures in action-packed fantasy combining Robert E. Howard&’s trademark sword and sorcery with concepts straight out of Lovecraftian horror. Combines the classic Conan and the Emerald Lotus with the all-new, original Conan and the Living Plague.The long-awaited follow-up to Conan and the Emerald Lotus brings John C. Hocking back to the sagas of the Cimmerian. In Conan and the Emerald Lotus, the seeds of a deadly, addictive plant grant sorcerers immense power, but turn its users into inhuman killers.In the exclusive, long-awaited sequel Conan and the Living Plague, a Shemite wizard seeks to create a serum to use as a lethal weapon. Instead he unleashes a hideous monster on the city of Dulcine. Hired to loot the city of its treasures, Conan and his fellows in the mercenary troop find themselves trapped in the depths of the city&’s keep. To escape, they must defeat the creature, its plague-wracked undead followers, then face Lovecraftian horrors beyond mortal comprehension.
Grendel Omnibus Volume 5: Grendel Tales
by James Robinson Matt Wagner Darko MakanFrom the visionary mind of Matt Wagner, this anthology sees several industry giants stepping into the world of Grendel to tell their own tales of anger and vengeance in a strange, dystopian future—where the force of Grendel looms as a part of everyone&’s lives!Perfect for longtime fans and newcomers to the Grendel saga, these dark tales from multiple creative teams explore the violent, alarming future of the post-Orion Assante era. With over 400 pages of gripping narratives and stunning art, this omnibus volume features new cover art by Matt and Brennan Wagner and is reprinted for the first time in the standard comics size.Collects &“Devil Worship&” the first Grendel Tales short story from Grendel #40, Four Devils, One Hell #1 to #6, Devil&’s Hammer #1 to #3, The Devil in Our Midst #1 to #5, and Devils and Deaths #1 to #2.
Hearts on Thin Ice: A Novel
by Katie KennedyA pro hockey player falls for an interior designer in this charming debut sports romance. For fans of Icebreaker and Set On You, this flirty workplace rom-com explores mental health, belonging, and finding your way in the world.Nick Sorensen had once been one of the fastest men in hockey—until the devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Now he&’s physically ready to get back on the ice, but his coach is concerned Nick isn&’t doing as well mentally as he says he is. Case in point: Nick&’s apartment is completely empty, apart from a single chair and a mattress on the floor.To prove he&’s fine, really, Nick hires Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer, to decorate his space. Alyssa&’s thrilled at the chance to prove herself to her demanding boss—with job security at last, maybe she can finally put down roots and create a home for herself too. But Nick turns out to be infuriatingly stubborn and impossible to work with, and just when Alyssa decides to throw in the towel on the whole thing, Nick shows up for her in a way she never could have expected. The icy path ahead of these two lost souls may be slippery and cracking, but when it comes to love, sometimes all you need is someone on your team.
My Lighthouse: A Story of Finding Your Way Home
by Ali GilkesonJoin a reluctant young lighthouse keeper, his extremely round cat, and his trusty rowboat Rockshore in a whimsical and tender tale of finding adventure, losing your way, and learning to appreciate what you already have.Fynn has always lived in a lighthouse—just like his father, and his father, and his father before him. His dad insists that living in a round house with a big lightbulb on top is special, but Fynn doesn't see how. All he knows is that it's weird—and often inconvenient.Exasperated by trying to fit all his favorite things in a round house and tired of being so different from everyone else, Fynn runs away from his lighthouse, seeking adventure on the sea. But when the winds and waves rise and things get very, very dark, Fynn finds that the light he needs most is the one that he's known all his life. Inspired by Rend Collective&’s hit song of the same name and paired with whimsical illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Lee Wildish, this is a tale families will return to again and again.
10 Little Race Cars (10 Little Vehicles)
by Annie BaileyFans of cars and trucks can count down from ten to one as they follow ten classic race cars zooming around the track. This sturdy board book is perfect for the youngest readers!Ten little race cars ready to compete.Time for some fun—Brummmm! Crowd is on their feet.It's the car race of the century! On each page of this action-packed board book, young readers can count down race cars from ten to one. Along the way, motorsport fans will spot cars inspired by some of the legends of the history of racing, including the Porsche 917, Lancia Stratos, McLaren MP4/4, and Bugatti Type 35. With noisy words on every page, this is the perfect book to read aloud with your little race car fan.Also available:10 Little Tractors10 Little Excavators10 Little Construction Trucks