Search results for ""planet!""

The Erice International Seminars are multidisciplinary seminars attended by over 100 eminent participants from all fields of Science. Each year, a few scientific issues are selected and experts are invited to present contrasting views during the plenary multidisciplinary sessions of the Seminar, followed by general debates. These sessions offer a unique opportunity for specialists to enlarge their fields of vision by being confronted to the ideas and suggestions from high level scientists in complementary domains of science. Associated workshops allow the experts to further refine and process the ideas evoked during the seminar. This year's topics are focused on the World Energy Crisis and more specifically on the Essential Technologies for Moderating Climate Change and Improving Energy Security and for Energy & Limits of Development. We also concentrated on Managing the Challenges of Climate Change, Energy Security and Pollution in Asian Countries. On Global Monitoring of the Planet we have focused on the Climate Change issues and specifically on the Sensitivity of Climate to Additional CO2 as indicated by Water Cycle Feedback Issues, Climate Uncertainties Addressed by Satellites, and the Basic Mathematics Needed for All Models. In Information Security we focused on Cyber Conflict and Cyber Stability. For Pollution and Medicine we focused on the Revolution in the Environmental Health Sciences and the Emergence of Green Chemistry.

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A quietly powerful graphic novel of hope, separation, and perseverance in the journey to reunite with those you love."Set in a near future of apocalyptic threat and space colonization, Fiona Ostby's debut graphic novel, Space Story, is a queer love story full of wistful longing. . . Refreshingly, most characters are women or nonbinary and are matter-of-factly represented as queer. Many particularly touching spreads create parallels: a left-hand panel in red, opposite one in blue, show Leah and Hannah in separate beds, facing each other across an impossible divide. The simple layouts and focus on relationships turn a cosmic dystopia into something universal."—Shelf Awareness, featured as one of the Best Books of the Week"This is a story filled with bitter-sweet moments (but with a happy ending), and I am in love with it."—BookRiot"Economical and poignantly told, Ostby’s debut graphic novel sets a queer family’s separation drama against an apocalyptic backdrop. . . This is a touching love story for hard times."—Publishers WeeklyTwo women fall in love and start a family on a dying Earth.Only one escapes to space.Her family is still on the planet.They won't give up until they find each other again.From debut author Fiona Ostby, Space Story weaves an interstellar tale of discovering love and finding strength, courage, and hope—even in the darkest moments.

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HIV/AIDS affects every walk of life, and has a profound influence on everything we do -- in our closest relationships, at work, at home, at school, college or university. Not a day goes by without a reference to the pandemic in newspapers or on the electronic media. Just as the virus infects the body and every cell in the body, so it affects every single person living on the planet. This book addresses various issues around HIV/AIDS, what it is, how it is spread, what can be done to avoid becoming HIV positive and how to live positively once someone is infected, all discussed in the context of the workplace. "Working with HIV/AIDS" has been developed around the SAQA Fundamental Unit Standard 13915 (Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS in a workplace, and its effects on a business sub-sector, own organisation and a specific workplace) for use on NQF level 3. In-line with the unit standard requirements, the book includes a variety of formative assessment activities, using individual, pair and group work assignments, that should appeal to a wide range of learners or readers, as well as actual case studies, fact boxes, other useful and up-to-date information and glossary terms. The book should appeal to a wide audience, from learners at schools and tertiary institutions to members of the general public.

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Text in English & German. Hot, sexy, and petite are all adjectives used to describe the ever so lovely Gloria. Standing a mere 5' 1" tall, Gloria is proof that good things come in small packages. She may be petite and has an ass to die for but her boobs are nice and big and they have just the right amount of bounce to them as she moves around on stage getting naked for you. Gloria is 21 years old and she comes from Kiev, Ukraine. While at University she started working towards a degree in psychology but decided to take some time off and travel the world while perfecting and focusing on her career as an erotic dancer. Gloria loves how sexy performing makes her feel. Stripping has allowed her to get in touch with her sexuality and feel empowered by it. She also enjoys going to the gym, dancing and relaxing on the couch on rainy Sunday mornings. How do you define beauty? MetArt has been pondering that question for the past twenty years. A world leader in artistic nude photography and film. MetArt has made it their mission to present the most enchanting girls to grace our planet, many of them undressing in front of the camera for the very first time. Visit www.MetArt.com today to get your access to the largest erotic photography portal in the world.

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I heard the rustle again, too close and too real to ignore. I clutched the flashlight, stuck my head out of the mosquito net… and found myself face-to-face with a jaguar. Four travelers meet in Bolivia and set off into the heart of the Amazon rainforest to find a hidden tribe and explore places tourists only dream of seeing. But what begins as the adventure of a lifetime quickly deteriorates into a dangerous nightmare. After weeks of wandering in the dense undergrowth the group splits up after disagreements, and Yossi and his friend try to find their own way back without a guide. When a terrible rafting accident separates him from his partner, Yossi is forced to survive for weeks alone against one of the wildest backdrops on the planet. Stranded without a knife, map, or survival training, he must improvise shelter and forage for wild fruit to survive. As his feet begin to rot during raging storms, as he loses all sense of direction, and as he begins to lose all hope, he wonders whether he will make it out of the jungle alive. The basis of an upcoming motion picture starring Daniel Radcliffe, "Jungle" is the incredible story of friendship and the teachings of nature, survival and human fortitude and a terrifying true account that you won’t be able to put down.

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A humorous and informative guide to surviving history’s most challenging threats, from outrunning dinosaurs to making it off the Titanic alive.History is the most dangerous place on earth. From dinosaurs the size of locomotives to meteors big enough to sterilize the planet, from famines to pandemics, from tornadoes to the Chicxulub asteroid, the odds of human survival are slim but not zero — at least, not if you know where to go and what to do.In each chapter of How to Survive History, Cody Cassidy explores how to survive one of history’s greatest threats: getting eaten by dinosaurs, being destroyed by the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, succumbing to the lava flows of Pompeii, being devoured by the Donner Party, drowning on board the Titanic, falling prey to the Black Death, and more. Using hindsight and modern science to estimate everything from how fast you’d need to run to outpace a T. rex to the advantages of different body types in surviving the Donner Party tragedy, Cassidy gives you a detailed battle plan for survival, helping you learn about the era at the same time.History may be the most dangerous place on earth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit. You can, and you should. And with a copy of How to Survive History in your back pocket, you just might make it out alive.

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Forget fast fashion and cheap trends - Serena Baker is here to help you craft the sustainable wardrobe of your dreams!In 2021, Serena Baker became the youngest ever - and first Scottish - winner of The Great British Sewing Bee. She thrilled the judges with her incredible attention to detail and wowed viewers with her distinctive 'refashioning projects', putting sustainability at the heart of her creations. Whether you're brand new to sewing or already know the ropes but fancy trying something a little different, Serena will take you on a journey to reinvent your wardrobe.In Serena Sews, you'll learn how to:- master must-have skills - from zip insertion to pressing perfection - to boost your sewing confidence and give your garments a professional finish- work with basic pattern blocks to adapt and rework as you build your repertoire- 'refashion' existing items like an oversized shirt into a summer dress, or an old pair of jeans into a cute crop top- save money and work sustainably by choosing pre-loved garments and fabrics for your projectsSerena Sews breathes fresh life into the craft of sewing to make one-off, versatile, long-lasting items to cherish. The magic of this approach makes Serena Sews a book to come back to again and again. It's brimming full of sewing happiness - for you, your friends and family, and the planet.

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Get your pedals turning with this ultimate guide to the 100 greatest bike routes around the world. Beautifully illustrated with National Geographic photography and divided by region, 100 Bike Rides of a Lifetime takes you across six continents to the most epic bike rides on the planet. Geared to everyone from expert riders to casual enthusiasts, this vibrant book offers a route for every type of biker, from quick jaunts in your own neighbourhood to multi-week challenge. You’ll also find essential information - the best time to ride, the best spots to refuel, cultural highlights along each route, where to stay, and how to relax post-ride. Bucket list recommendations include: Delightful excursions on 45 miles of scenic, traffic-free carriage roads through Maine’s Acadia National Park, A two-to-three-month expedition across the U.S. on the Trans-America Bicycle Trail from Oregon to Virginia, Romantic and picturesque day trips across 130 miles of trails in the rural hills of Tuscan, A multi-day ride along France’s classic Tour de Mont Aigual loop, A summer trek through the Andes of Argentina and Chile, A weeks-long trip through New Zealand’s Alps2Ocean Track, stretching from Mt. Cook to the Pacific Ocean. Inspiring and authoritative, this information-packed book will be the ultimate resource for every kind of cyclist.

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This lavishly illustrated travel planner features 500 of the world's most memorable driving experiences, from legendary Highway 1 in California to Japan's famous Irohazaka Winding Road. Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's legendary travel writers, Drives of a Lifetime spans the globe to reveal the best celebrated and lesser-known road trips on the planet. Inside this fully updated and revised edition--featuring more than 20 new drives--you'll find routes through spectacular landscapes, ideas for quick getaways, leisurely journeys of discovery, and revelations of secret worlds beyond Google Maps. Some are legendary long-distance odysseys; others are easy day trips close to home, taking you down charming local byways. All will inspire you to pack up the car and hit the road. The possibilities are endless: Take Colorado's San Juan Skyway for a 10,000-foot climb over towering mountain passes. Or travel the ancient Silk Road on an expedition across Central Asia and through time. Or why not drive the perimeter of Puerto Rico, a tropical paradise with many beaches along the way? Whatever your taste and budget, you'll find plenty of routes tailored to your interests. Alongside detailed descriptions, full-color maps guide the way and planning tips help you make the most of your journey; top 10 lists offer quick, easy side trip ideas. Beautiful, informative, and inspiring,

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THE TIME-HONOURED INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, UPDATED AND WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION AND AFTERWORD, CELEBRATING THIRTY YEARS OF INFLUENCING THE WAY WE LIVE For the past three decades, Wherever You Go, There You Are has helped catalyse the explosion of interest in mindfulness around the world. While mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation, its essence is universal and of deep practical benefit, potentially to all. In essence, mindfulness is about embodied wakefulness. Our minds are such that we are often more asleep than awake to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment. While it is in the nature of all our minds to default to autopilot and lose touch with the only time we actually have to live - to feel, to grow, to love, to learn, to give shape to things, to heal - our mind also holds the innate capacity to awaken to each moment. This book gives you a variety of ways to experiment with not missing your moments and take maximal advantage of them by tending what most needs tending to now. Given the myriad mega-challenges humanity and planet Earth are facing at this time, Wherever You Go, There You Are can provide both a personal refuge for meaning - making, healing and transformation, as well as a locus for collaborating with others to heal the suffering of the world.

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The coastal zone is one of the most dynamic environments on our planet and is much affected by global change, especially sea-level rise. Coastal environments harbour valuable ecosystems, but they are also hugely important from a societal point of view. This book, which draws on the expertise of 21 leading international coastal scientists, represents an up-to-date account of coastal environments and past, present and future impacts of global change. The first chapter of the book outlines key principles that underpin coastal systems and their behaviour. This is followed by a discussion of key processes, including sea level change, sedimentation, storms, waves and tides, that drive coastal change. The main part of the book consists of a discussion of the main coastal environments (beaches, dunes, barriers, salt marshes, tidal flats, estuaries, coral reefs, deltas, rocky and glaciated coasts and coastal groundwater), and how these are affected by global change. The final chapter highlights strategies for coping with coastal change. Readership: final year undergraduate and postgraduate-level students on coastal courses in a wide range subjects, including geography, environmental management, geology, oceanography and coastal/civil engineering. The book will also be a valuable resource for researchers and applied scientists dealing with coastal environments. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/masselink/coastal

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A literary legend's engaging review of his career, stressing the work he never completed, and why. Over seven decades, John McPhee has set a standard for literary nonfiction. Assaying mountain ranges, bark canoes, experimental aircraft, the Swiss Army, geophysical hot spots, ocean shipping, shad fishing, dissident art in the Soviet Union, and an even wider variety of other subjects, he has consistently written narrative pieces of immaculate design. In Tabula Rasa, Volume 1, McPhee looks back at his career from the vantage point of his desk drawer, reflecting wryly upon projects he once planned to do but never got around to-people to profile, regions he meant to portray. There are so many examples that he plans to go on writing these vignettes, an ideal project for an old man, he says, and a "reminiscent montage" from a writing life. This first volume includes, among other things, glimpses of a frosty encounter with Thornton Wilder, interrogative dinners with Henry Luce, the allure of western Spain, criteria in writing about science, fireworks over the East River as seen from Malcolm Forbes's yacht, the evolving inclinations of the Tower of Pisa, the islands among the river deltas of central California, teaching in a pandemic, and persuading The New Yorker to publish an entire book on oranges. The result is a fresh survey of McPhee's singular planet.

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During the Last Ice Age, Europe was a cold, dry place teeming with mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, reindeer, bison, cave bears, cave hyenas, and cave lions. It was also the home of people physically indistinguishable from humans today, commonly known as the Cro-Magnons. Our knowledge of them comes from either their skeletons or the tools, art, and debris they left behind.This book tells the story of these dynamic and resilient people in light of recent scientific advances. Trenton Holliday—a paleoanthropologist who has studied the Cro-Magnons for decades—explores questions such as: Where and when did anatomically modern humans first emerge? When did they reach Europe, and via what routes? How extensive or frequent were their interactions with Neandertals? What did Cro-Magnons look like? What did they eat, and how did they acquire their food? What can we learn about their lives from studying their skeletons? How did they deal with the glacial cold? What does their art tell us about them?Holliday offers new insights into these ancient people from anthropological, archaeological, genetic, and geological perspectives. He also considers how the Cro-Magnons responded to Earth’s postglacial warming almost 12,000 years ago, showing that how they dealt with climate change holds valuable lessons for us as we negotiate life on a rapidly warming planet.

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“Nye at her engaging, insightful best.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Acclaimed poet and Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to those less fortunate, in this collection of more than eighty original and never-before-published poems. A deeply moving, sometimes funny, and always provocative poetry collection for all ages. “How much have you thrown away in your lifetime already? Do you ever think about it? Where does this plethora of leavings come from? How long does it take you, even one little you, to fill the can by your desk?” ?Naomi Shihab NyeNational Book Award Finalist, Young People’s Poet Laureate, and devoted trash-picker-upper Naomi Shihab Nye explores these questions and more in this original collection of poetry that features more than eighty new poems. “I couldn’t save the world, but I could pick up trash,” she says in her introduction to this stunning volume.With poems about food wrappers, lost mittens, plastic straws, refugee children, trashy talk, the environment, connection, community, responsibility to the planet, politics, immigration, time, junk mail, trash collectors, garbage trucks, all that we carry and all that we discard, this is a rich, engaging, moving, and sometimes humorous collection for readers ages twelve to adult.Includes ideas for writing, recycling, and reclaiming, and an index.

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In the most exciting SF collaboration ever, Arthur C. Clarke and his universally acknowledged heir Stephen Baxter pool talent, fantastic ideas, unprecedented cosmic insights as well as page-turning plotting skills and breathlessly good writing to produce the most awesome novel of the future since 3001. ’Space is what keeps everything from being in the same place. Right?’ With these words Hiram Patterson, head of the giant media corporation OurWorld, launches the greatest communications revolution in history. With OurWorld’s development of wormhole technology, any point in space can be connected to any other, faster than the speed of light. Realtime television coverage is here: earthquakes and wars, murders and disasters can be watched, exactly as they occur, anywhere on the planet.Then WormCams are made to work across time as well as space. Humanity encounters itself in the light of other days. We witness the life of Jesus, go to the premiere of Hamlet, solve the enigmas that have baffled generations. Blood spilled centuries ago flows vividly once more – and no personal treachery or shame can be concealed. But when the world and everything in it becomes as transparent as glass and there are no more secrets, people find new ways to gain vengeance and commit crime, and Hiram Patterson finds new ways to keep his Machiavellian schemes secret.

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If you're a fan of Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, and Jedi Academy you'll love Diary of a Nerd! Diary of a Nerd stars Phil, a twelve year old boy living in Manhattan, NY. He is a talented, self-professed nerd...an intellectual who enjoys spending his days with his friends, known as "The Geek Team". Phil likes a girl in his class named Loren, but he also knows that he could never compete with Ted, Loren’s boyfriend. One night, while Phil is sleeping, Darth Vader appears to him like a vision in his dream, inviting him to use his strength to challenge the bullies and win the love of Loren. DIARY OF A NERD consists of two different diaries written by the same kid: one is the diary of a young genius, and the other is a quest for love. Phil eats, lives and breathes pop culture...his adventures are humorous and relatable...and have already gained him a cult following around the world! An international bestseller for kids, Diary of a Nerd has been published in 38 countries to date. Readers from all over the planet have gotten hooked on the misadventures of Phil and his friends in this line of illustrated books. In Volume 2: "The Thousand Lights of Hollywood", Phil and the Geek Team take a trip to tinseltown!

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The fundamental cause of many of the global challenges we are currently facing is our disconnection from ourselves, our fellow humans, other beings, and our planet. We have consistently failed to recognize the inner consciousness that dictates our relationships and decisions, an awareness that could be the first step toward humanity’s quest to set civilization on a more sustainable trajectory. Rooted in both secular spirituality and scientific evidence, Applied Spirituality and Sustainable Development Policy articulates a new model of sustainable development that is not just based on narrow definitions of GDP and economic growth, but that includes and even forefronts social and environmental development and inner transformation of human beings. Drawing on fields from physics to public policy, 18 pioneering authors discuss: A distillation of the spiritual gems at the core of the world’s major religions, including Indic and Buddhist philosophy Root-cause analyses of major sustainable development policy challenges like climate change Connections between spirituality and law, and how our legal frameworks can reflect these values The need for leaders to understand their spiritual nature in order to be authentic and transformative in their leadership styles Recognizing a global need for healing, this book rejuvenates how we think about development and nurture our innate spirituality, and challenges us to shift our collective mindset from one of having to one of being.

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It's been 45 years since the end of the Zurvan reign. The Earth is a peaceful planet where solar panels cover the deserts and green pastures feed communities who have phased out currency in place of a local trade system. Michael and Melody are benevolent Sararan leaders who have assembled a democratically elected council in Geneva to regulate the less populated world, but a darkness grows in the west. Letters from Native American tribes find their way to the council describing a disturbing resonance near Shaktis sunken palace. With the Zurvan Order having signed a treaty of alliance years before, the royal Immortal couple is puzzled as to the origin of this mysterious demonic signal. Meanwhile, Melody's ambassador finds who she believes to be the reincarnation of Pavonis: a young adventurous girl from the Balkans named Devonia. All Melody wants is a pupil to teach, but Michael wants a son, and becomes increasingly weary from both his wife's reluctance to bear children and his deteriorating mental state from engaging in shadow wars in Africa. Between Michael's perception of betrayal he feels from Melody, and his complex emotions regarding his forced indoctrination into the Zurvan Order almost a half century earlier, Michael seeks meaning at his mother's grave where a former enemy befriends him there; a woman who knew him at his darkest hour, her web of seduction spun and waiting...

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On an ocean somewhere in the world, is a mysterious island. A place shrouded in fog, that has never been discovered by humans. A land of peace and quiet, and chaotic, funny adventures. Welcome once again to the Island of Animaux, a land that continues to mysteriously change its position on the planet each day, to keep it hidden. A paradise, containing a wonderful collection of talking animals. A place we would all like to visit. The five new tales in Coffee and Ice Cream flow smoothly from the ones in the last book, A Surprise Party. As always, the greedy, dusty, bad-mannered Aubrey the Turkey is up to no good. Watch him open a new delicatessen in the worst place imaginable. See him ruin poor Georgina the Goat’s birthday. Be amazed as Walli Hog and Clifford Platypus take on many jobs so they can pay off the turkey’s huge debts. And then see Aubrey hold a magic show, full of rubbish tricks but ending with the most amazing spell ever cast. Once again, stories packed with fun, silliness, naughty behaviour and happy endings. Please enjoy the stories. And don’t be afraid to laugh, particularly at Aubrey’s expense. But please, please, please – continue to remember to keep the latest position of the island top secret!

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Are we quite alone as the owners of our ‘blue planet?’ This is the question a group of scientists ask of themselves when they uncover ancient -- and very unusual -- human remains in their work. They are able to analyse ancient DNA and link it to a veritable lost civilisation -- and with the appearance of flying craft. With their friends, they witness strange lights in the sky and the emission of great heat and radioactivity. The truth is out there…and can be uncovered… Then ‘hold on tight’ as the adventure takes the reader from such homespun evidence as crop circles and information they contain, to the mountains of Nepal where they encounter – of all things – the Yeti; and via the scientific laboratories of the United States, to the Mexican jungle, where a proverbial lost tribe awaits. Later, they encounter a visiting alien civilisation on a quest which they must satisfy at all costs. Inevitably, the latter’s higher state of wisdom is compared to our own modern morality and our future questioned. All this, and more! With a wide cast of journalists, academics, enigmatic computer hackers, an eccentric clergyman and an assortment of villains, Wanderers from the Stars is an enjoyable, educational and enlightening story of adventure and science for fans of the ‘lost world’ genre, and is astute from modern cultural perspectives.

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Sgt Andy Davidson wakes up in the 1950s. He's chained to a bed, his clothes are missing and the building's on fire. Norton Folgate needs his help. The streets of Soho are swarming with gangsters, rumours and betrayals. Somewhere out there is a mysterious alien artefact, and Andy and Norton have to get to it first. Because tonight they're going to save Torchwood. The huge and long-running public interest in new Torchwood adventures resulted in a server melt-down when its return on audio was announced by star John Barrowman on his Sunday night radio slot. Across the range, John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen and Gareth David-Lloyd have reprised the characters who starred in four years of hit Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, screened around the world. Star Samuel Barnett was the lead in the acclaimed Netflix series Dirk Gently, based on the character created by legendary novelist Douglas Adams. Writer James Goss has been selected by the Douglas Adams Estate to adapt the late writer's work for Doctor Who as novels, including City of Death, The Pirate Planet and The Krikkitmen... CAST: Tom Price (Sgt. Andy Davidson), Samuel Barnett (Norton Folgate), Lucy Sheen (Fat Kim), Liam Hourican (The Vicar), Wilf Scolding (Alejandro), Rachel Atkins (Margot). NOTE: Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

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By the end of the nineteenth century, the general Western conception of work had been reduced to simply gainful employment. But this limited perspective contrasted sharply with the personal experience of most people in the world-whether in colonies, developing countries or in the industrializing world. Moreover, from a feminist perspective, reducing work and the production of value to remunerated employment has never been convincing.Andrea Komlosy argues in this important intervention that, when we examine it closely, work changes its meanings according to different historical and regional contexts. Globalizing labour history from the thirteenth to the twenty-first centuries, she sheds light on the complex coexistence of multiple forms of labour (paid/unpaid, free/ unfree, with various forms of legal regulation and social protection and so on) on the local and the world levels. Combining this global approach with a gender perspective opens our eyes to the varieties of work and labour and their combination in households and commodity chains across the planet-processes that enable capital accumulation not only by extracting surplus value from wage-labour, but also through other forms of value transfer, realized by tapping into households' subsistence production, informal occupation and makeshift employment. As the debate about work and its supposed disappearance intensifies, Komlosy's book provides a crucial shift in the angle of vision.

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"Rapturous, disruptive and quietly, complexly devastating" Eley Williams "This is a time-tumbling, unexpected and arresting novel of apocalypse, upheaval and familial love" Seán Hewitt Pol suffers from a very rare hormonal disorder that ages him erratically: when he was thirteen, his body aged ten years overnight, and now in his early thirties, he still has the outward appearance of a twenty-three-year-old. But with his condition dormant, Pol and his wife Caroline manage to live an ordinary life in London. They're happy enough, even if having a young child has put something of a strain on their marriage. That and Pol's obsessive interest in the writings of an obscure seventeenth-century Puritan prophet, Bartholomew Playfere, and his premonitions of ecological disaster and the end of the world. But while Pol is failing to complete his research on Playfere, he encounters a radical new movement that argues that all economic and political events are part of an aeon-long struggle between the old and the young - that the 'hoarist' habit of violence, their need to conquer, has also affected how they treat the planet. The leader of this popular movement predicts an imminent inter-generational conflict - father against son, mother against daughter - that echoes Playfere's own prophecies. Against this increasingly fraught backdrop, Pol's dormant condition threatens to resurface - putting both the safety and happiness of his family at risk.

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Foreword by Amartya Sen (Nobel Prize for Economics, 1998) Afterword by Kailash Satyarthi (Nobel Peace Prize, 2014)In 2005, Nick Danziger began to create an archive of photographs documenting the lives of women and children in eight of the world's poorest countries. He returned five years later, and again in 2015. Had the United Nation’s millennium development goals made a difference to their lives?The stories he tells – in pictures and words – are unforgettable and have created a unique document, one that reveals the uncomfortable truths of a globalised planet. It is full of hope, sadness, pain, anger and beauty.Some of the women and children Nick followed died through sickness and poverty. One has become the most successful entrepreneur her African border town has ever known. Another – who once dreamed of becoming a banker – is now a gang member in the world’s murder capital. Yet another has confronted conformists and successfully changed his gender.The book will stand as a permanent record of their courage and humanity, but also as a reminder that much work still needs to be done if these goals are ever to be met. Too many people in India, Cambodia, Zambia, Uganda, Niger, Honduras, Bolivia and Armenia are still living in extreme poverty, without access to the health and education the goals were supposed to deliver.

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The most famous superhero duo of the Milestone Universe returns, reimagined for a new generation! Long ago, the stranded alien known as Arnus gave up hope of returning to his home planet. Tragically, he d also realized that his adopted home of Earth was beyond saving. Content with wasting away his long life in a human guise, Arnus was past caring until the day a young woman named Raquel Ervin crashed into his life. Soon she convinced him to put his incredible power to work again as the heroic Icon and to transform her into his sidekick, Rocket! But an innocent question on Rocket s part "Why can t we do something about the drugs on my corner? quickly set a chain of events in motion leading to the pair becoming the most hunted beings on Earth and they re not just being pursued by Earthlings either! Writer, director, and producer Reginald Hudlin (Black Panther), co-writer Leon Chills, and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite unleash a tale of power and responsibility that will stretch from the boardrooms of corporate America to the jungles of South America and the depths of deep space! If you ve ever thought there were certain things that a superhero story just couldn t do, it might be time to start thinking differently This volume collects Icon & Rocket: Season One #1-6.

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'The undisputed champion of South African crime' - Wilbur SmithA Financial Times Book of the Year 2022One last chance. Almost fired for insubordination, detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido find themselves demoted, exiled from the elite Hawks unit and dispatched to the leafy streets of Stellenbosch. Working a missing persons report on student Callie de Bruin is not the level of work they are used to, but it's all they get. And soon, it takes a dangerous, deeply disturbing turn.One last chance. Stellenbosch is beautiful, but its economy has been ruined by one man. Jasper Boonstra and his gigantic corporate fraud have crashed the local property market, just when estate agent Sandra Steenberg desperately needs a big sale. Bringing up twins and supporting her academic husband, she is facing disaster. Then she gets a call. From Jasper Boonstra, fraudster, sexual predator and owner of a superb property worth millions, even now.For Sandra, the stakes are high and about to get way higher. For Benny Griessel, clinging to sobriety and the relationship that saved his life, the truth about Callie can only lead to more trouble.Taut with intrigue, murder and suspense, exploding with action and excitement, The Dark Flood is a masterpiece from the author of Trackers and The Last Hunt.'One of the best crime writers on the planet' - Daily Mail

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'The undisputed champion of South African crime' - Wilbur SmithOne last chance. Almost fired for insubordination, detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido find themselves demoted, exiled from the elite Hawks unit and dispatched to the leafy streets of Stellenbosch. Working a missing persons report on student Callie de Bruin is not the level of work they are used to, but it's all they get. And soon, it takes a dangerous, deeply disturbing turn.One last chance. Stellenbosch is beautiful, but its economy has been ruined by one man. Jasper Boonstra and his gigantic corporate fraud have crashed the local property market, just when estate agent Sandra Steenberg desperately needs a big sale. Bringing up twins and supporting her academic husband, she is facing disaster. Then she gets a call. From Jasper Boonstra, fraudster, sexual predator and owner of a superb property worth millions, even now.For Sandra, the stakes are high and about to get way higher. For Benny Griessel, clinging to sobriety and the relationship that saved his life, the truth about Callie can only lead to more trouble.Taut with intrigue, murder and suspense, exploding with action and excitement, The Dark Flood is a masterpiece from the author of Trackers and The Last Hunt.'One of the best crime writers on the planet' - Daily Mail

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Edinburgh has a literary tradition like no other. In 2004, the capital became the first ever UNESCO City of Literature and its book festival is the largest public celebration of the written word on the planet. But that is merely scratching the surface. For centuries, work written, set and published in the city, or directly influenced by Edinburgh, has changed the face of the world. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume, The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Peter Pan, Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter are just a few of the many books and stories that owe their inspiration to Edinburgh or were created in the city and to these could be added the city’s influential literary journals or the other incredible achievements of its authors. Walter Scott, for instance, found the lost Scottish crown jewels, invented the historical romance, helped create tartan and turned the highlands into a tourist destination. He is also credited with uniting the highlands and lowlands and kick-starting the American Civil War. Edinburgh's Literary Heritage seeks to redress that. Covering authors, books, journals, ideas, festivals, attractions and landmarks, it tells the fascinating history of Edinburgh’s astonishing literary legacy, as well as being a guide to the locations where that legacy can still be found.

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Challenging the dominant design paradigm that centres humanity in its practice, Designing for Interdependence puts forward an ecocentric mode of designing that privileges a harmonious relationship between all life forms that share our planet. This book is about the practice of designing and design’s capacity to relate (or not) to beings of all kinds, human and others, in ways that are life-affirming. Sensitive to power differentials and the responsibility that this entails, Martín Ávila develops the notion of alter-natives, a concept that exposes the alterity of artificial things and the potential of these things to participate in the sustainment of natural environments. He proposes a design practice that encompasses humans, artificial things and other-than-human species in a 'poetics of relating', and provides methods that support the rewilding necessary for maintaining cultural and biological diversity and the stabilization of planetary dynamics. The book features real-life project case studies that illustrate some of the political-ecological implications of an ecocentric paradigm, which can help us to imagine alternative modes of relating to local environments and alternative modes of inter-species cohabitation. Avoiding dualistic thinking and the dichotomies harmful-benefit, construction-destruction, natural-artificial and life-death, Ávila pursues the work of caring for how our mattering through design can become constructive in creating more-than-human ecologies.

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While often seen as unplanned or spontaneous, informal settlement is better understood as a mode of production: a co-evolution of architecture, urban design and planning that embodies informal rules and shapes urban development. The Atlas of Informal Settlement is a comparative study of the spatial logic of informal settlement based on mapping and analysing the evolution of urban form (morphogenesis) in 51 contemporary settlements across the planet – the first of its kind and a fundamental change in thinking for urban studies and built environment professionals. Each of the 51 case studies uses maps and aerial photographs to examine key stages of development, showing how informal settlement adapts to different contexts of political economy, topography, culture, climate and land tenure; revealing a complex range of actors from settlers and states to land mafias and pirate developers. It demonstrates the range of design processes and formal outcomes; how the informal becomes formalized and vice versa. Interspersed with short chapters introducing key theoretical concepts, the Atlas shows how such practices may or may not produce ‘slums’, and how settlement is already a form of ‘upgrading’. Informal settlement is the primary mode of production of affordable housing and neighbourhood infrastructure within cities of the Global South; with detailed mapping and profiling of 51 settlements this book shows how such urban morphologies emerge in terms of architecture, urban design and planning.

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'May well be considered his masterpiece . . . Humour such as his is an endangered species' The Times The Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . All this books and stuff, that isn't what it should all be about. What we need is real wizardry.Once there was an eighth son of an eighth son, a wizard squared, a source of magic. A Sourcerer.Unseen University, the most magical establishment on the Discworld, has finally got its wish: the emergence of a wizard more powerful than they've ever seen. You'd think the smartest men on the Disc would have been a little more careful what they wished for. As the drastic consequences of sourcery begin to unfold, one wizard holds the solution in his cowardly, incompetent hands. Rincewind must take the University's most precious artefact, the very embodiment of magic itself, and deliver it halfway across the disc to safety . . . If he doesn't make it, the death of all wizardry is at hand. And the end of the world, depending who you listen to._________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Sourcery is the third book in the Wizards series.

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Perfect for ages 8 to 80!Adapted from A Short History of Nearly Everything, this stunningly illustrated book from Bill Bryson takes us from the Big Bang to the dawn of science, and everything in between! Ever wondered how we got from nothing to something?Or thought about how we can weigh the earth?Or wanted to reach the edge of the universe?Uncover the mysteries of time, space and life on earth in this extraordinary book - a journey from the centre of the planet, to the dawn of the dinosaurs, and everything in between. And discover our own incredible journey, from single cell to civilisation, including the brilliant (and sometimes very bizarre) scientists who helped us find out the how and why.The ideal book for curious young readers everywhere. ************************************************************************Reviews for A Short History of Nearly Everything:'It's the sort of book I would have devoured as a teenager. It might well turn unsuspecting young readers into scientists.' Evening Standard'I doubt that a better book for the layman about the findings of modern science has been written' Sunday Telegraph 'A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' Daily Express 'The very book I have been looking for most of my life' Daily Mail

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“This is an eye-opening glimpse at the worldwide impact of rising temperatures.” —School Library Journal. “Flooding and climate change have become increasingly important topics that need to be addressed, and our youngest readers — and a large hope for the future of this planet — will learn important information about our world and its climate in this informative text.” —Booklist. The Earth’s oceans are on the rise. Since 1880, global sea levels have risen steadily each year to a global average of about 8–9 inches (20–23 cm), and they’re still rising. By 2100, the sea could climb as much as 6.6 feet (2 m) higher than it is today. Rising Seas gives youth an eye-popping view of what the Earth might look like under the rising sea levels of climate change. Photographs juxtapose the present-day with that area’s projected future. The shocking images will help readers understand the urgency for action. This updated and expanded edition features three new locations — London, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Manila, the Philippines — as well as brand new sections about climate anxiety (and what you can do about it) and how the world worked together to close the ozone hole, giving young readers a reason to hope for a better future. The 8 extra pages and thorough revision make this an important warning for the future.

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‘A history of modern Spain told through one of world football's most intense rivalries’ Independent‘Sports Book of the Year’ Sunday TimesIt’s Messi vs Ronaldo, it’s Catalonia vs Castilla. It’s the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs Franco’s fascists. It’s majestic goals and mesmerising skills, red cards and bench brawls. It’s the best two teams on the planet going face to face and toe to toe. It’s more than a game. It’s a war.It’s Barcelona vs Real Madrid. Only, it’s not that simple. From the wounds left by the civil war to the teams’ recent global domination, historian and expert on Spanish football, Sid Lowe lifts the lid on sport’s greatest rivalry. Lowe has spoken to the biggest names and the forgotten heroes who defined their clubs. Men like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Johan Cruyff as well as the only survivor of the most politically charged game in history, the Barcelona striker who knocked Madrid out of the European Cup for the first time ever, and the president who celebrated his club’s defining moment by taking a midnight dip in the Thames. By exploring the history, politics, culture, economics and language, while never forgetting the drama on the pitch, Lowe demonstrates the symbiotic nature of the relationship between these two football giants. In doing so he reveals the human story behind this explosive rivalry.

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Project X CODE is a book-by-book series built for SEN and struggling readers aged 6-11. Welcome to Micro World, invented by Macro Marvel - an amazing theme park where you have to shrink to get in! Disaster strikes when CODE, the computer that controls the park and the robots inside, goes wrong and wants to shrink the world. Team X and Mini Marvel have a new mission - to battle the BITEs, collect the CODE keys, rescue Macro Marvel, stop CODE, and save the world! Each book contains 2 texts: Text 1 is 100% decodable to build reading confidence, and Text 2 is at least 80% decodable including the same target phonemes and Tricky words but with more varied vocabulary to develop comprehension and motivate struggling readers. Join Team X and Mini as they explore the Bugtastic zone in The Web. Find out if Cat can rescue Tiger in Cat's Quest. Follow Max, Ant and Mini as they look for their friends in Missing! and get up close to the Mantis-BITE in BITE Fright. Zoom around the Galactic Orbit zone in Jet Attack. See Cat race a jet in Return of the Jets, and explore the Red Planet with Ant in The Tower of Glass. Will Tiger and Mini escape from the BITE in Flight of Fear?

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'A work of exhilarating scope and relevance ... What a rare and powerful experience to feel a book in your very body' Naomi Klein'Health is not something we can attain as individuals, for ourselves, hermetically sealed off from the world around us. An injury to one is an injury to all.'Our bodies, societies and planet are inflamed. In this boldly original book, renowned political economist Raj Patel teams up with physician Rupa Marya to illuminate the hidden relationships between human health and the profound injustices of our political and economic systems. In doing so, they offer a radical new cure: the deep medicine of decolonization.Journeying through the human body - our digestive, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems - Marya and Patel show how inflammation is connected not just to the food that we eat, the air that we breathe and access to healthcare, but is also linked to the traumatic events we experience and the very model of health that doctors practice: one which takes things apart, rather than seeking to bring ideas and lived experiences together.Combining the latest scholarship on globalization and biology with the stories of patients in marginalized communities and the wisdom of Indigenous groups, Inflamed points the way toward a medicine that heals what has been divided and has the potential to transform not only our bodies but the world.

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An interstellar craft is decelerating after its century-long voyage. Its destination is V538 Aurigae ?, a now-empty planet dominated by one gigantic megastructure, a conical mountain of such height that its summit is high above the atmosphere. The ship's crew of five hope to discover how the long-departed builders made such a colossal thing, and why: a space elevator? a temple? a work of art? Its resemblance to the mountain of purgatory lead the crew to call this world Dante.In our near future, the United States is falling apart. A neurotoxin has interfered with the memory function of many of the population, leaving them reliant on their phones as makeshift memory prostheses. But life goes on. For Ottoline Barragão, a regular kid juggling school and her friends and her beehives in the back garden, things are about to get very dangerous, chased across the north-east by competing groups, each willing to do whatever it takes to get inside Ottoline's private network and recover the secret inside.Purgatory Mount, Adam Roberts's first SF novel for three years, combines wry space opera and a fast-paced thriller in equal measure. It is a novel about memory and atonement, about exploration and passion, and like all of Roberts's novels it's not quite like anything else.Shortlisted for the 2021 BSFA award for Best Novel!

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As featured in THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW - the new Netflix documentary about Black HolesFor readers of Stephen Hawking, a fascinating account of the universe from the perspective of world-leading astrophysicist Heino Falcke, who took the first ever picture of a black hole.10th April 2019: a global sensation. Heino Falcke, a man "working at the boundaries of his discipline and therefore at the limits of the universe" had used a network of telescopes spanning the entire planet to take the first picture of a black hole.Light in the Darkness examines how mankind has always looked to the skies, mapping the journey from millennia ago when we turned our gaze to the heavens, to modern astrophysics. Heino Falcke and Jorg Romer entertainingly and compellingly chart the breakthrough research of Falcke's team, an unprecedented global community of international colleagues developing a telescope complex enough to look directly into a black hole - a hole where light vanishes, and time stops.What does this development mean? Is this the beginning of a new physics? What can we learn from this about God, the world, and ourselves? For Falcke, astrophysics and metaphysics, science and faith, do not exclude one another. Black Hole is both a plea for curiosity and humility; it's interested in both what we know, and the mysteries that remain unsolved.

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As you read this, billions of neutrinos from the sun are passing through your body, antimatter is sprouting from your dinner and the core of your being is a chaotic mess of particles known only as quarks and gluons.If the recent discovery of the Higgs boson piqued your interest, then Why The Universe Exists will take you deeper into the world of particle physics, with leading physicists and New Scientist exploring how the universe functions at the smallest scales. Find out about hunt for dark matter and why there is something rather than nothing. Discover how accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland are rewinding time to the first moments after the big bang, and how ghostly neutrino particles may hold the answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe. ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

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Sometime in the future the intelligence of machines will exceed that of human brain power. So are we on the edge of an AI-pocalypse, with superintelligent devices superseding humanity, as predicted by Stephen Hawking? Or will this herald a kind of Utopia, with machines doing a far better job at complex tasks than us? You might not realise it, but you interact with AIs every day. They route your phone calls, approve your credit card transactions and help your doctor interpret results. Driverless cars will soon be on the roads with a decision-making computer in charge. But how do machines actually think and learn? In Machines That Think, AI experts and New Scientist explore how artificial intelligence helps us understand human intelligence, machines that compose music and write stories - and ask if AI is really a threat.ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

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Fresh, tasty and bursting with nutritious ingredients and lively flavours, the food of South East and East Asia has never been more popular and is showcased here in 65 delicious recipes. Food from South East and East Asia is often thought of as some of the most exciting and enticing on the planet. Whether umami-rich with miso sauce, spiked with gently building layers of aromatic spices, or stuffed with fragrant herbs, chilli and garlic, each mouthful packs a big flavour punch. This collection of recipes, from creamy and aromatic to sizzling hot, takes its inspiration from the cuisines of the region and is a must for any lover of exciting food experiences. Whether you need inspiration for small bites and platters for sharing with drinks, or speedy weekday dishes, you’ll find the perfect recipe here. Try Spiced Fishcakes from Thailand; Vietnamese Summer Rolls; or a spicy Indonesian Fiery Beef Satay. Quick and easy recipes for soups and noodle bowls include Sunshine Laksa or a Chicken Pad Thai. For an even more substantial meal, try a Thai Green Cauli Curry, Sweet & Sour Orange Chicken; or Citrus Ahi Tuna with Yuhu Dipping Sauce. Vibrant, fresh, healthy and often prepared in a flash, this style of food is the modern way to eat well every day and this essential collection of recipes provides all the inspiration you need.

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From shark attack survivor to the shark’s biggest advocate, Paul de Gelder tells us just why these majestic diverse animals need our help as much as we need them. Something happens to you the first time you dive with sharks… We have a perennial fascination with sharks. Portrayed in the media and popular culture as killing machines, we are awed by their power and strength. But the shark is so much more – a marvel of the sea, they have evolved over 450 million years into over 500 species, from the bioluminescent kitefin to the tiny dwarf lantern shark, the sociable lemon shark to the cow shark, which can birth up to 100 pups in one litter. Bringing balance to the ocean’s ecosystem, our planet is at serious risk when these amazing creatures are threatened. Paul de Gelder, who lost two limbs in a shark attack during a mission as an elite Australian navy clearance diver, spent time as part of his recovery learning all about sharks. He became so obsessed that, despite what happened to him, he is now an expert and has dedicated his life to helping save them. Shark is his love-letter to these unfairly vilified animals, and his warning to the world about what will happen if we don’t look out for them.

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Old Gods, New Enigmas is the highly-anticipated book by the best-selling author of City of Quartz and Planet of Slums. Mike Davis spent years working factory jobs and sitting behind the wheel of an eighteen wheeler before his profile as one of the world's leading urbanists emerged with the publication of his sober, if dystopian survey of Los Angeles. Since then, he's developed a reputation not only for his caustic analysis of ecological catastrophe and colonial history, but as a stylist without peer.Old Gods, New Enigmas is Davis's book-length engagement with Karl Marx, marking the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth and exploring Davis's thinking on history, labor, capitalism, and revolution - themes ever present the early work from this leading radical thinker. This will be his first book on Marxism itself.In a time of ubiquitous disgust with political and economic elites, explores the question of revolutionary agency-what social forces and conditions do we need to transform the current order?-and the situation of the world's working classes from the US to Europe to China. Even the most preliminary tasks are daunting. A new theory of revolution needs to return to the big issues in classical socialist thought, such as clarifying "proletarian agency", before turning to the urgent questions of our time: global warming, the social and economic gutting of the rustbelt, and the city's demographic eclipse of the countryside. What does revolution look like after the end of history?

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The highly anticipated sequel to SCI-FU is jam-packed with all kinds of hip-hop, sci-fi, and kung-fu goodness! Wax, aspiring DJ and sci-fu master-in-training, made it back safely from the alien robot planet of Discopia, where he defeated the Five Deadly Dangers and became the rightful king of Discopia. He doesn't want the crown, though. He just wants things to go back to normal. Wax and his crew thought the robot trouble was behind them, but strange creatures have been showing up in Brooklyn, and Wax is determined to take care of them once and for all. Little does he know, there's a new villain in Discopia, and she'll do anything to take the crown from Wax. Wax starts to worry he doesn't have what it takes to protect his family, friends, and all of Brooklyn from the new threats. Wax will need to kick his hip-hop and sci-fu training into high gear--and learn to rely on his family and friends for help--if he's going to have a shot at saving his neighborhood. From legendary cartoonist Yehudi Mercado comes the much-anticipated followup to his hit Sci-Fu: Kick it Off. With a second volume jam-packed with all kinds of hip-hop, sci-fi, and kung-fu goodness, Sci-Fu: It Takes 2 spins the perfect track of friends working together to protect their home.

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Ecodesign means integrating environmental factors into the design process of all types of products, from toys, packaging, household appliances to industrial products like compressors. It requires life cycle thinking, with the environmental impact minimized at all stages of the product cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to end of use. Ecodesign is also a key to success in the transition to a circular economy model. The ecodesign rules of thumb are a guide to develop products that fit in the circular economy. This unique book serves as a key guide for designers, organizations, governments, companies, or anybody else with an interest in a sustainable future, by addressing three main topics: First, ecodesign is explained for what it is and how it fits with the necessity for a sustainable planet. Second, ecodesign is shown to be a coherent and practical process with a plan and tools that can be used to provide solutions for the environmental challenges the world faces. Third, the impact of the ecodesign approach is elaborated for enterprises, governments, and consumers. Both legislation and consumer pressure for more sustainable goods and services require industry and academia to come up with meaningful solutions that consider economic, societal, and environmental aspects alike. This book provides the necessary clarity and tools to assess current products and support and inspire design of new ones to minimize the environmental impact and improve the circularity.

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Jasper and his friends must find a way to make peace between Earth and the Youli aliens before the Youli destroy the human race in this finale of the Bounders series, which Shannon Messenger calls “richly detailed, highly imaginative.” Jasper doesn’t know how his life got so messed up. Was it when Mira decided to leave him for the Youli aliens? Was it discovering his former pod now divided in a war between Earth Force and the Resistance? Or was it when the Youli gave Earth an ultimatum: Join the Intragalactic Council or be destroyed? Now the Youli have invited Jasper’s pod to visit their world. For Jasper, this means a chance to get his friends back on the same team. It also means seeing Mira again, and hopefully convincing her to come home. But once on the Youli planet, Jasper realizes there’s something off about Mira. She’s hiding a secret, and the more he pushes her, the more she avoids him. Meanwhile, the Intragalactic Summit approaches, a meeting that will decide the fate of Earth. But Jasper has a nagging feeling that Earth Force will sabotage the Summit—and then suffer the Youli’s wrath. And how can Jasper convince Earth to unite if he can’t even unite his friends? With humanity’s future on the brink of destruction, Jasper and his friends must learn that they’re stronger together if they have any shot at saving Earth.

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One fish, two fish, red fish, nearly thirty thousand species of fish-or fishes, as they are properly called when speaking of multiple species. This is but one of many things the authors of this fascinatingly informative book reveal in answering common and not-so-common questions about this ubiquitous group of animals. Fishes range in size from tiny gobies to the massive Ocean Sunfish, which weighs thousands of pounds. They live in just about every body of water on the planet. Ichthyologists Gene Helfman and Bruce Collette provide accurate, entertaining, and sometimes surprising answers to over 100 questions about these water dwellers, such as "How many kinds of fishes are there?" "Can fishes breathe air?" "How smart are fishes?" and "Do fishes feel pain?" They explain how bony fishes evolved, the relationship between them and sharks, and why there is so much color variation among species. Along the way we also learn about the Devils Hole Pupfish, which has the smallest range of any vertebrate in the world; Lota lota, the only freshwater fish to spawn under ice; the Candiru, a pencil-thin Amazonian catfish that lodges itself in a very personal place on male bathers and must be removed surgically; and many other curiosities. With more than 100 photographs-including two full-color photo galleries-and the most up-to-date facts on the world's fishes from two premier experts, this fun book is the perfect bait for any curious naturalist, angler, or aquarist.

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An astonishing exploration of planet formation and the origins of life by one of the world’s most innovative planetary geologists.In 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 3 took the first photos of the far side of the moon. Even in their poor resolution, the images stunned scientists: the far side is an enormous mountainous expanse, not the vast lava-plains seen from Earth. Subsequent missions have confirmed this in much greater detail.How could this be, and what might it tell us about our own place in the universe? As it turns out, quite a lot.Fourteen billion years ago, the universe exploded into being, creating galaxies and stars. Planets formed out of the leftover dust and gas that coalesced into larger and larger bodies orbiting around each star. In a sort of heavenly survival of the fittest, planetary bodies smashed into each other until solar systems emerged. Curiously, instead of being relatively similar in terms of composition, the planets in our solar system, and the comets, asteroids, satellites and rings, are bewitchingly distinct. So, too, the halves of our moon.In When the Earth Had Two Moons, esteemed planetary geologist Erik Asphaug takes us on an exhilarating tour through the farthest reaches of time and our galaxy to find out why. Beautifully written and provocatively argued, When the Earth Had Two Moons is not only a mind-blowing astronomical tour but a profound inquiry into the nature of life here—and billions of miles from home.

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